Wedding Anxiety

What causes "cold feet"? The term "cold feet" originally meant "without means or resources". In Ben Jonson's play "Volpone" in 1605, it literally meant a person who was too poor to buy shoes. Then in Fritz Reuter's novel in 1862, a character backed out of a card game because of "cold feet" and the term evolved. It is now defined as "anxiety and uncertainty about an undertaking to the point of withdrawing". So why the epidemic of pre-wedding jitters? Robert Butterworth, PhD, a Los Angeles trauma psychologist reports, "It is not uncommon for brides to experience anxiety, fear, stress, and even panic as the day draws near." At times, this stress can be so overwhelming that the bride feels trapped and decides to literally "run away." " Les Parrott, co-director of the Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University offers this explanation, "When someone does something that drastic, stress and the pressure to please is a factor. She is so concerned of not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, she just doesn't know any other way to cope." Isn't it natural to have concerns? Getting married is one of the biggest decisions most people face in their lives. Of course, there will be a time of reflection and even self-doubt that one is making the right choice. However, Susan Heitler, PhD, a clinical psychologist and family therapist from Denver believes that "jitters, which are basically anxieties, come up because there is something going on that merits attention." What do you do when wedding anxiety strikes? Kate Wachs, PhD, a psychologist and author of Relationships for Dummies suggests, "You may want to discuss premarital misgivings with a trusted friend, priest, minister, rabbi, or therapist", but she cautions on discussing it with your fiancé. "If you decide to talk with your partner, make sure he understands your doubts do not necessarily mean you want to call off the wedding." You may be able to calm your fears, or it may be necessary to postpone the wedding for a while. Carol Kleinman MD, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at George Washington University Medical School, believes that postponing it may be a viable option. "Many times, if it (the wedding) is meant to be, it will go forward anyway, but a little further down the line. If the other person can't tolerate that then maybe it's not meant to be." Anxiety Disorders The five anxiety disorders are identified as: Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Phobias (including Social Phobia, also called Social Anxiety Disorder). Anxiety disorders are categorized as: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). GAD is characterized by excessive, unrealistic worry that lasts six months or more; in adults, the anxiety may focus on issues such as health, money, or career. In addition to chronic worry, GAD symptoms include trembling, muscular aches, insomnia, abdominal upsets, dizziness, and irritability. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In OCD, individuals are plagued by persistent, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears; typical obsessions include worry about being contaminated or fears of behaving improperly or acting violently. The obsessions may lead an individual to perform a ritual or routine (compulsions)-such as washing hands, repeating phrases or hoarding-to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsession. Panic Disorder. People with panic disorder suffer severe attacks of panic-which may make them feel like they are having a heart attack or are going crazy-for no apparent reason. Symptoms include heart palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, sweating, trembling, tingling sensations, feeling of choking, fear of dying, fear of losing control, and feelings of unreality. Panic disorder often occurs with agoraphobia, in which people are afraid of having a panic attack in a place from which escape would be difficult, so they avoid these places. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can follow an exposure to a traumatic event such as a sexual or physical assault, witnessing a death, the unexpected death of a loved one, or natural disaster. There are three main symptoms associated with PTSD: "reliving" of the traumatic event (such as flashbacks and nightmares); avoidance behaviors (such as avoiding places related to the trauma) and emotional numbing (detachment from others); and physiological arousal such difficulty sleeping, irritability or poor concentration. Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia). Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is characterized by extreme anxiety about being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or ridicule. This intense anxiety may lead to avoidance behavior. Physical symptoms associated with this disorder include heart palpitations, faintness, blushing and profuse sweating. Specific phobias. People with specific phobias suffer from an intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation (such as spiders, dogs, or heights); the level of fear is usually inappropriate to the situation, and is recognized by the sufferer as being irrational. This inordinate fear can lead to the avoidance of common, everyday situations.

About Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia.. What Is It?? Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Approximately 1 percent of the population develops schizophrenia during their lifetime – more than 2 million Americans suffer from the illness in a given year. Although schizophrenia affects men and women with equal frequency, the disorder often appears earlier in men, usually in the late teens or early twenties, than in women, who are generally affected in the twenties to early thirties. People with schizophrenia often suffer terrifying symptoms such as hearing internal voices not heard by others, or believing that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. These symptoms may leave them fearful and withdrawn. Their speech and behavior can be so disorganized that they may be incomprehensible or frightening to others. Available treatments can relieve many symptoms, but most people with schizophrenia continue to suffer some symptoms throughout their lives; it has been estimated that no more than one in five individuals recovers completely. This is a time of hope for people with schizophrenia and their families. Research is gradually leading to new and safer medications and unraveling the complex causes of the disease. Scientists are using many approaches from the study of molecular genetics to the study of populations to learn about schizophrenia. Methods of imaging the brain's structure and function hold the promise of new insights into the disorder. Schizophrenia As An Illness Schizophrenia is found all over the world. The severity of the symptoms and long-lasting, chronic pattern of schizophrenia often cause a high degree of disability. Medications and other treatments for schizophrenia, when used regularly and as prescribed, can help reduce and control the distressing symptoms of the illness. However, some people are not greatly helped by available treatments or may prematurely discontinue treatment because of unpleasant side effects or other reasons. Even when treatment is effective, persisting consequences of the illness – lost opportunities, stigma, residual symptoms, and medication side effects – may be very troubling. The first signs of schizophrenia often appear as confusing, or even shocking, changes in behavior. Coping with the symptoms of schizophrenia can be especially difficult for family members who remember how involved or vivacious a person was before they became ill. The sudden onset of severe psychotic symptoms is referred to as an "acute" phase of schizophrenia. "Psychosis," a common condition in schizophrenia, is a state of mental impairment marked by hallucinations, which are disturbances of sensory perception, and/or delusions, which are false yet strongly held personal beliefs that result from an inability to separate real from unreal experiences. Less obvious symptoms, such as social isolation or withdrawal, or unusual speech, thinking, or behavior, may precede, be seen along with, or follow the psychotic symptoms. Some people have only one such psychotic episode; others have many episodes during a lifetime, but lead relatively normal lives during the interim periods. However, the individual with "chronic" schizophrenia, or a continuous or recurring pattern of illness, often does not fully recover normal functioning and typically requires long-term treatment, generally including medication, to control the symptoms. Making A Diagnosis It is important to rule out other illnesses, as sometimes people suffer severe mental symptoms or even psychosis due to undetected underlying medical conditions. For this reason, a medical history should be taken and a physical examination and laboratory tests should be done to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms before concluding that a person has schizophrenia. In addition, since commonly abused drugs may cause symptoms resembling schizophrenia, blood or urine samples from the person can be tested at hospitals or physicians' offices for the presence of these drugs. At times, it is difficult to tell one mental disorder from another. For instance, some people with symptoms of schizophrenia exhibit prolonged extremes of elated or depressed mood, and it is important to determine whether such a patient has schizophrenia or actually has a manic-depressive (or bipolar) disorder or major depressive disorder. Persons whose symptoms cannot be clearly categorized are sometimes diagnosed as having a "schizoaffective disorder." The World of People With Schizophrenia · Distorted Perceptions of Reality People with schizophrenia may have perceptions of reality that are strikingly different from the reality seen and shared by others around them. Living in a world distorted by hallucinations and delusions, individuals with schizophrenia may feel frightened, anxious, and confused. In part because of the unusual realities they experience, people with schizophrenia may behave very differently at various times. Sometimes they may seem distant, detached, or preoccupied and may even sit as rigidly as a stone, not moving for hours or uttering a sound. Other times they may move about constantly – always occupied, appearing wide-awake, vigilant, and alert. · Hallucinations and Illusions Hallucinations and illusions are disturbances of perception that are common in people suffering from schizophrenia. Hallucinations are perceptions that occur without connection to an appropriate source. Although hallucinations can occur in any sensory form – auditory (sound), visual (sight), tactile (touch), gustatory (taste), and olfactory (smell) – hearing voices that other people do not hear is the most common type of hallucination in schizophrenia. Voices may describe the patient's activities, carry on a conversation, warn of impending dangers, or even issue orders to the individual. Illusions, on the other hand, occur when a sensory stimulus is present but is incorrectly interpreted by the individual. · Delusions Delusions are false personal beliefs that are not subject to reason or contradictory evidence and are not explained by a person's usual cultural concepts. Delusions may take on different themes. For example, patients suffering from paranoid-type symptoms – roughly one-third of people with schizophrenia – often have delusions of persecution, or false and irrational beliefs that they are being cheated, harassed, poisoned, or conspired against. These patients may believe that they, or a member of the family or someone close to them, are the focus of this persecution. In addition, delusions of grandeur, in which a person may believe he or she is a famous or important figure, may occur in schizophrenia. Sometimes the delusions experienced by people with schizophrenia are quite bizarre; for instance, believing that a neighbor is controlling their behavior with magnetic waves; that people on television are directing special messages to them; or that their thoughts are being broadcast aloud to others. Substance Abuse Substance abuse is a common concern of the family and friends of people with schizophrenia. Since some people who abuse drugs may show symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia, people with schizophrenia may be mistaken for people "high on drugs." While most researchers do not believe that substance abuse causes schizophrenia, people who have schizophrenia often abuse alcohol and/or drugs, and may have particularly bad reactions to certain drugs. Substance abuse can reduce the effectiveness of treatment for schizophrenia. Stimulants (such as amphetamines or cocaine) may cause major problems for patients with schizophrenia, as may PCP or marijuana. In fact, some people experience a worsening of their schizophrenic symptoms when they are taking such drugs. Substance abuse also reduces the likelihood that patients will follow the treatment plans recommended by their doctors. · Schizophrenia and Nicotine The most common form of substance use disorder in people with schizophrenia is nicotine dependence due to smoking. While the prevalence of smoking in the U.S. population is about 25 to 30 percent, the prevalence among people with schizophrenia is approximately three times as high. Research has shown that the relationship between smoking and schizophrenia is complex. Although people with schizophrenia may smoke to self medicate their symptoms, smoking has been found to interfere with the response to antipsychotic drugs. Several studies have found that schizophrenia patients who smoke need higher doses of antipsychotic medication. Quitting smoking may be especially difficult for people with schizophrenia, because the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal may cause a temporary worsening of schizophrenia symptoms. However, smoking cessation strategies that include nicotine replacement methods may be effective. Doctors should carefully monitor medication dosage and response when patients with schizophrenia either start or stop smoking. · Disordered Thinking Schizophrenia often affects a person's ability to "think straight." Thoughts may come and go rapidly; the person may not be able to concentrate on one thought for very long and may be easily distracted, unable to focus attention. People with schizophrenia may not be able to sort out what is relevant and what is not relevant to a situation. The person may be unable to connect thoughts into logical sequences, with thoughts becoming disorganized and fragmented. This lack of logical continuity of thought, termed "thought disorder," can make conversation very difficult and may contribute to social isolation. If people cannot make sense of what an individual is saying, they are likely to become uncomfortable and tend to leave that person alone. · Emotional Expression People with schizophrenia often show "blunted" or "flat" affect. This refers to a severe reduction in emotional expressiveness. A person with schizophrenia may not show the signs of normal emotion, perhaps may speak in a monotonous voice, have diminished facial expressions, and appear extremely apathetic. The person may withdraw socially, avoiding contact with others; and when forced to interact, he or she may have nothing to say, reflecting "impoverished thought." Motivation can be greatly decreased, as can interest in or enjoyment of life. In some severe cases, a person can spend entire days doing nothing at all, even neglecting basic hygiene. These problems with emotional expression and motivation, which may be extremely troubling to family members and friends, are symptoms of schizophrenia – not character flaws or personal weaknesses. · Normal Versus Abnormal At times, normal individuals may feel, think, or act in ways that resemble schizophrenia. Normal people may sometimes be unable to "think straight." They may become extremely anxious, for example, when speaking in front of groups and may feel confused, be unable to pull their thoughts together, and forget what they had intended to say. This is not schizophrenia. At the same time, people with schizophrenia do not always act abnormally. Indeed, some people with the illness can appear completely normal and be perfectly responsible, even while they experience hallucinations or delusions. An individual's behavior may change over time, becoming bizarre if medication is stopped and returning closer to normal when receiving appropriate treatment. What Causes Schizophrenia? There is no known single cause of schizophrenia. Many diseases, such as heart disease, result from an interplay of genetic, behavioral, and other factors; and this may be the case for schizophrenia as well. Scientists do not yet understand all of the factors necessary to produce schizophrenia, but all the tools of modern biomedical research are being used to search for genes, critical moments in brain development, and other factors that may lead to the illness. Is Schizophrenia Inherited? It has long been known that schizophrenia runs in families. People who have a close relative with schizophrenia are more likely to develop the disorder than are people who have no relatives with the illness. For example, a monozygotic (identical) twin of a person with schizophrenia has the highest risk – 40 to 50 percent – of developing the illness. A child whose parent has schizophrenia has about a 10 percent chance. By comparison, the risk of schizophrenia in the general population is about 1 percent. Scientists are studying genetic factors in schizophrenia. It appears likely that multiple genes are involved in creating a predisposition to develop the disorder. In addition, factors such as prenatal difficulties like intrauterine starvation or viral infections, perinatal complications, and various nonspecific stressors, seem to influence the development of schizophrenia. However, it is not yet understood how the genetic predisposition is transmitted, and it cannot yet be accurately predicted whether a given person will or will not develop the disorder. Several regions of the human genome are being investigated to identify genes that may confer susceptibility for schizophrenia. The strongest evidence to date leads to chromosomes 13 and 6 but remains unconfirmed. Identification of specific genes involved in the development of schizophrenia will provide important clues into what goes wrong in the brain to produce and sustain the illness and will guide the development of new and better treatments. Is Schizophrenia Associated With A Chemical Defect In The Brain? Basic knowledge about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia is expanding rapidly. Neurotransmitters, substances that allow communication between nerve cells, have long been thought to be involved in the development of schizophrenia. It is likely, although not yet certain, that the disorder is associated with some imbalance of the complex, interrelated chemical systems of the brain, perhaps involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate. This area of research is promising. Is Schizophrenia Caused By A Physical Abnormality In The Brain? There have been dramatic advances in neuroimaging technology that permit scientists to study brain structure and function in living individuals. Many studies of people with schizophrenia have found abnormalities in brain structure (for example, enlargement of the fluid-filled cavities, called the ventricles, in the interior of the brain, and decreased size of certain brain regions) or function (for example, decreased metabolic activity in certain brain regions). It should be emphasized that these abnormalities are quite subtle and are not characteristic of all people with schizophrenia, nor do they occur only in individuals with this illness. Microscopic studies of brain tissue after death have also shown small changes in distribution or number of brain cells in people with schizophrenia. It appears that many (but probably not all) of these changes are present before an individual becomes ill, and schizophrenia may be, in part, a disorder in development of the brain. Developmental neurobiologists funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have found that schizophrenia may be a developmental disorder resulting when neurons form inappropriate connections during fetal development. These errors may lie dormant until puberty, when changes in the brain that occur normally during this critical stage of maturation interact adversely with the faulty connections. This research has spurred efforts to identify prenatal factors that may have some bearing on the apparent developmental abnormality. In other studies, investigators using brain-imaging techniques have found evidence of early biochemical changes that may precede the onset of disease symptoms, prompting examination of the neural circuits that are most likely to be involved in producing those symptoms. Meanwhile, scientists working at the molecular level are exploring the genetic basis for abnormalities in brain development and in the neurotransmitter systems regulating brain function. http://www.schizophrenia.com/

Zouk Fest Artistes Info

Future Shock - United Kingdom Futureshock. A Brummie duo, Alex Tepper and Phil Dockerty, known to raise pulses skywards on dancefloors from Bedrock to Bugged Out! with their genre-defying music, not only through remixes for Underworld, Moby and the Chemical Brothers but also their own mighty productions “Sparc” and “The Question”. Since touring with Underworld in 2002, Futureshock have continued a gruelling schedule of DJ sets and live performances all over the globe including Leeds and Reading Festivals, Homelands, Gatecrasher, Dance Valley, and Glastonbury. Their ‘Dex n FX’ show at Recharge@ZoukFest will be a tribal, tech funk, and acid house journey that shouldn’t be missed! Filterheadz - Belgium In the beginning, Bert and Maarten were kids of the seventies. But by 1998 remixes for Hooj, Platipus, Nebula & Deviant appear and they quickly establish their name as “first call” remixers. Filterheadz now stands for progressive, but with tough beats and a very sharp edge, though not above releasing techno on Headroom labels and their smash record ‘Sunshine’ on Intec. More remixes follow, including Green Velvet “La La Land”, Bedrock “Emerald”, and further mixes for Tiësto and Oliver Lieb, to name a few. “Tribalicious”, their debut mix CD on N.E.W.S. is a collection of tribal monsters, tech beats, spacious overtones and some downright offbeat stuff, all to be showcased at Recharge@ZoukFest! ATFC - United Kingdom Aydin Hasirci (pronounced Hass-er-jee) aka ATFC (Aydin The Funki Chile) has the potential to be big, really big. Even with three UK top forty hits under his belt and a number of top underground tunes and remixes, Aydin is still a DJ before anything else with 15 years experience under his slipmats since organising his own block parties at the tender age of 16. “In and Out of My Life” was his first UK hit for Defected Records and allowed him to play at Defected nights across Europe since 1997. His second hit “Bad Habit” had the distinction of being played four times in a single night at the Miami Winter Dance Conference’s Magic Sessions. Recharge@ZoukFest will now show you just how funky ATFC can be! Jon Cutler - United Kingdom Jon’s dedication started when he was a clubbing teenager, DJing mostly at local neighbourhood house parties before spinning at clubs and producing at an independent record label. Starting Distant Music in 1996, he displayed his evolving talent with productions such as “You Groove Me”, “Fluttie Pebbles” and various remixes. In 2001 Hardsoul - Netherlands Hardsoul consists of Holland's number one garage and house DJ Roog (Rogier van Bueren) and his brother Greg. With innumerable productions for various European and American labels under their belts, they shot to dance music stardom with the huge 2003 anthem “Back Together” with Ron Carroll. This has not diminished their passion for DJing, however, as Roog played the main stage at Sensation in the Ajax Soccer stadium to 40,000 people. He regularly performs on the Defected nights at El Divino in Ibiza and holds a residency New York's hottest club Cielo (no. 1 US Club, Dancestar Awards). Catch the energy and fervour of Hardsoul at Recharge@ZoukFest! Fluke & Simon Sez - Australia DJ Fluke and Simon Sez has been laying down hip hop beats at clubs across Australia to Jakarta. While Fluke had a long stint with Salt Melbourne, Simon held residencies at Melbourne’s most high profile hip hop/R&B night clubs. Pairing up ,they both Dj’ed at after parties for hip hop elite, including Ja Rule, Naughty by Nature, Ashanti, De La Soul, Black Eyed Peas and Crypress Hill. Back by popular demand from KL’s R&B sceme, the blazing duo will grace the deck’s once again. Back to Zouk Fest Back to Main

Butterfingers Live @ Hard Rock Cafe

 

To Toll or Not to Toll.. A Samy Vellu Dilemma

The Coalition Against Unfair Toll Increases (CAUTI), made up of concerned Members of Parliament, political parties, trade unions, consumer organizations and other NGOs - need your support in opposing the 10% increase in toll rates on the North-South Expressway (NSE). Last week, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu announced that the toll hike will take place on 1 January 2005. He said that the government will have to pay the concessionaire, PLUS the following amounts if the 10% toll hike was not implemented: - RM154 million a year in compensation OR - RM38 billion over the next 33 years. CAUTI is mystified and outraged by Samy Vellu's claim. Why? 1. The grand total for 33 years of compensation at RM154 million a year is RM5 billion, NOT RM38 billion. Why the discrepancy? 2. The 30-year NSE concession - which Samy Vellu negotiated and signed - started in May 1988, with a 12-year extension in 1999. This means that the NSE concession should end in 2030. Another 25 years to go! Why must compensation be paid to PLUS for the next 33 years, until 2038? 3. With another 25 years to go, at the compensation rate of RM154 million a year, the total compensation the government is liable to pay is RM3.85 billion -> one-tenth of Samy Vellu's hyperbolic claim of RM38 billion! 4. In Parliament, Samy Vellu also said that the NSE was built for 160,000 cars a day but is now being used by 1,200,000 vehicles. This means a traffic volume which is 7.5 times higher than the forecasted volume, which also means toll revenue of approximately 7.5 times higher than the forecasted revenue. This is a windfall for the NSE concessionaire! It is outrageous that motorists in this country have to pay increased toll rates when there are in fact more traffic jams, poorer services and deteriorating quality of road conditions on the expressways. The new Prime Minister's general election pledge is to lead a fair, just, open and accountable administration. He says he wants to listen to the views of the people. Let's pressure the government to respect public opinion by at least ordering a deferment of the unfair toll hike to allow for comprehensive public study on all its socio-economic implications. CAUTI believes there must be a way to mitigate the oppressive terms of the NSE concession, in order to protect the rights and interests of two generations of Malaysians.

Changes in the KL Club Land

Our snoops have revealed a changing landscape in the clubland,.. Cream opens up at The Renaissance Hotel.. Luna Bar opens up at Level 34 of Menara Pan Global complete with a swimming pool. So be prepared to get wet.. The Loft (not to be confused with Zouk's Loft) will be opening soon on the Heritage Row. 4 shoplots long, 2 Floors will bring the much craved space from the owners Gasworks.. Centro is still in the pipeline to open on Jalan Ampang.. near Zouk.. Zeta Bar at Hilton KL Sentral is really refreshing in the monotonous world of RnB and House. p.s: A big thank you to security manager Ravinthar, Sham & Mani for going beyond their call of duty. You are truly heroes and life savers. Thank you. Bar Med is now The Dragon.. Modesto's Hartamas has expanded to a new club outlet Ice.. Poppy is now so happening that door close at 1am with long queue's outside. We've created a monster. The extension renovations behind Passion & Poppy are still going on. Hopefully there's more space and staff.. Warp is now closed down and apparently changing to play RnB? Karaoke would be a better option guys.. The Backroom is also opening at a new venue in Chow Kit.. Bliss the Lounge is proud to present 12th street.. a night that is plenty of soulful r&b with DJ nesh & Angelo manning the decks.. Ladies walk in free! Call 03-21459198 for further information.. There's more for sure but will be revealed in due time.

Canon AXN Extreme Challenge

You think you've got the guts? Prove It It's Malaysia's first ever Extreme Stunt TV Production. Crazy Dares, Conquer Fears, Win Big Prizes, Be Seen across AXN Asia. Do you qualify? Be 18 Years and older. Got charms to win the audience? Then head over to the Qualifying Round Where: 1 Utama Shopping Centre (New Wing), Ground Floor, Highstreet Main Entrance. Petaling Jaya When: 8th January 2005, 9am - 3pm How Much: Just bring your guts. No money needed. Be early. First Come First Served. Wimps Need Not Apply. Visit AXN for more details.

Siem Reap / Phnom Penh Special Promotion

4 Days 3 Nights, from only RM1888 per person. (Minimum group of 4 persons travelling) Day 1 Kuala Lumpur / Siem Reap Meet at KLIA and depart for Siem Reap. Upon arrival meet by our representative and transfer to check in hotel. A short sightseeing; visit Les Artisan D Angkor a handicraft center for your own shopping. Continue to Bakheng Hill, and can view sunset and beautiful scenery of Angkor Wat. Day 2 Siem Reap – Angkor Wat After breakfast, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom / Bayon / Phimeanakas / Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King. After that, continue to visit the Angkor Wat – one of the seven wonders of the world. Day 3 Siem Reap / Phnom Penh After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival at Pochentong International airport meet and greet by the local tour guide and check in hotel. Our tours begin with visit to Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Toul Sleng museum which displays items of the inhuman acts of Pol Pot. After that proceed, to Independence Monument and free at leisure at Central Market to shop until you drop! At night, you may want to try your luck at Naga Resorts which is Cambodia biggest International Casino. Day 4 Departure Phnom Penh Bid farewell to Cambodia today. After breakfast, transfer to airport for departure flight to Kuala Lumpur and bringing with you sweet memories and enjoyable holidays with us. ** Optional – You may want to extend 1 more night at Phnom Penh for a trip to Choeung Ek Memorial (The Killing Fields) Note: The above itinerary is for information only. Final confirmation will base on local arrangement. Package Includes: Return Economy Class KUL/REP/PNH/KUL 2 nights stay at Empress Hotel in Angkor Wat & 1 night stay at Cambodiana Hotel in Phnom Penh or similar Daily breakfast Return airport / hotel transfer base on sit-in coach basis Tours & entrance fees as per itinerary Package Excludes: Tipping for Tour Guide and Driver Airport Taxes Any Optional Tour and Personal Expenses For enquiries, please call our office @ 03-9283 2268 (6 lines) OR send us an email : faltrv@fal.com.my (MAS Departure Every Thursday and Saturday)

Jay Chou 'Incomparable' Concert

Maxis presents yet another world-class concert. The one and only Jay Chou - composer, songwriter, musician, singer and the hottest superstar in Taiwan - is coming to Malaysia! The new king of Chinese pop will be giving an unparalleled performance for the "Incomparable to Jay World Tour" concert at Stadium Merdeka on 29 January 2005 at 8.00pm! As a Maxis subscriber, you get to enjoy special privileges to catch this not-to-be-missed performance. Get priority booking, special seats and discounts for Taiwanese pop superstar Jay Chou's 'Incomparable' concert. Visit Maxis One Club for more information

Tsunami Disaster Fund

Dear Friends, It was indeed a sad day for mankind where more than 150 thousands people lost their lives and millions lost their homes. I appeal to you, kind and generous citizens of the world to contribute to the "Tsunami Disaster Fund". Those who wish to donate can send cheques payable to the "News Straits Times Press Berhad" with the NST-BH Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund written on the reverse side and addressed to 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. As a word of caution, in the heat of the moment, there could be some unscrupulous few who may take advantage of the situation. If you are feeling generous and sincere about helping, please do it through the more established channels, like Mercy or the Red Cross, that genuinely are about helping and seeing your touching contributions reach those who are really affected and in need. We would recommend but we could sound biased, so please select carefully. Our prayers and thoughts goes out to those who have been affected. Your generous contributions is greatly appreciated. Have a safe 2005 New Year. From the management of Ascension Media Communications.

FONsidebutton2

FONsidebutton1

Amacam "Live"! Finale @ Espanda

Featuring Teh Tarik Crew, The Times, Dragon Red & Admonition Tuesday 28th Dec 2004, 8pm. Free Entry!!!

Funkshoppe's New Year's Party on The Beach in Penang

The party is organized in conjunction with the House Music Society of Penang, and will be held at a secret beachfront location in Penang. It starts at 4pm on the 31st Dec, and will go on until 2005. Music will be provided by host of Malaysia's biggest dance music radio show Move - our very own BadBoyBen and up-and-coming Funkshoppe artist DJ G. Imagine sweet, soulful house music in an environment not unlike a beachside villa in Ibiza and you're halfway there. The best thing about this party is that it's Free. That's right, no cover charge. We've had a really good year, and want to give something back to the clubbing community that has been so supportive of everything we've done. However, entry to the party is by invitation only . This email is the invitation. But numbers are strictly limited (because of the exclusivity of the location) so you'll need to contact us to see if there are still spaces on the guestlist. We will only release the exact location on the day of the party, and only to those who are on the guestlist. So if you're looking to do something a little different for NYE, then you know where to be ..  

New Years at Langkawi Island Beach

Ko Pha Ngan Trip Seats. Update!

There's another 3 seats left for the Ko Pha Ngan trip as highlighted in the December Events Listings below. And the good news is, instead of normal price RM550, you only have to pay RM410 for each of the available seat. This is because 3 persons can't make it for the trip, althought they have paid the deposit. For this seats you only have to cover the balance of RM550 which is RM410. Please contact Mr. Rizz ASAP to secure your seat at 016-3750733 as the trip is a week away.

‘Dangerous Children’ @ The Actors Studio

2005 Explodes with ‘Dangerous Children’ Featuring Adrian Chang, Fiza Salleh, Fariza Ariffin, Lee Chun Kit, and Brenda Ng. Written and Directed by Mark Beau de Silva Saturday 1 January 2005 @ 8.30pm Sunday 2 January 2005 @ 3pm & 8.30pm The Actors Studio @ BSC RM 22 / 32 (Adults) & RM 17 (Students, Sr. Citizens & Disabled) Call 20940400/20941400 or email tickets@theactorsstudio.com.my There's a new boy at Sekolah Menengah Seri Feri, and he's in for a treat! Used to the 'safe' confines of a co-ed school, Boon is shocked at Sekolah Menengah Seri Feri, an all boys' school, complete with scary repressed cikgus and sexually confused students. Then, amidst the confusion and change, he sees this weird brown boy flipping the Avon catalogue, and the weird boy smiles...and it begins. A friendship, between a boy, and a boy. Boon, and Eddie. As their friendship blossoms, Boon is introduced to a world where young girls regard pineapples as more than a fruit. He learns why some teachers never get to marry, and why there are weird sounds from the all boys asrama at night. It's a dangerous world at Sekolah Menengah Seri Feri, and the only way to deal with it is to be just as bad.

New Year's Eve at Charlie's Place

Christmas Dinner at Charlie's Place

Blonde Idol and New Years Eve at Bar Blonde

Do u remember the sounds of Randy Crawford, Patti Austin, and even standard jazz classics... well BarBlonde brings ya Fling Fling night! As we remember the songs, lets remember the flings we had... ahh nostalgia... Fling Fling Nostalgia Night Tuesday 21 December 2004 10pm