Five ways to green

Five things you can buy

1. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs
These energy-efficient bulbs cost less than $4 and are produced by major corporations like GE. If every household in America switched five regular light bulbs for five fluorescent bulbs, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the highways for a full year.

2. Outdoor solar lighting
These yard or patio lights cost less than $20, and they don't burn any electricity or produce any CO2.

3. Programmable thermostats
Though these thermostats cost from $50 to $100, they can actually cut your heating and cooling costs. Set the setting so it's a little bit cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer when you're not in the house. A difference of 2 degrees can reduce a home's CO2 emissions by up to 9 percent over the course of a year.

4. Air filters
Changing the air filters in your heating and cooling systems regularly can knock 2 percent off of your CO2 output each year.

5. Electric water heater blanket
Water heaters use a lot of energy and generate a lot of CO2. A blanket costs less than $18 and can cut your home's CO2 emissions by almost 4½ percent.

Keep green in mind!

Robbed, taken on terror ride

JOHOR BARU: It was a terror-filled morning for a retiree and his family. He was abducted and assaulted by several men. And then the culprits raided his home and tied up his wife and two children.

The robbers grabbed some money and jewellery and attempted to flee in the family car.

But one of them was caught in a high-speed chase that followed, with the police firing several warning shots at the Proton Perdana.

Another getaway car sped in a different direction, carrying Goo Tiam Chye, 69, in it.

He was later dumped at an undisclosed location.

The drama unfolded when Goo left his house in Taman Skudai Baru at 6.15am yesterday to buy newspapers.

Four men waylaid him and forced him into their car at knifepoint and demanded that he hand over the keys to his house.

When he refused, they hit him. The victim, whose son Sin Kok is the Gelang Patah MCA public complaints bureau deputy chief, then surrendered the keys.

The suspects drove him back to the house and while one of them held the victim in the car, three of them stormed into Goo’s house and tied up his wife, 60, and two of his children, both in their 20s.

They ransacked the house and grabbed about RM3,000 worth of cash, jewellery and mobile phones. The suspects then demanded the key to a Proton Perdana and as two of the suspects tried to drive the car out, a police patrol car arrived.

The four suspects, in two cars along with the retiree, sped off in different directions.

A high-speed chase ensued but within minutes, the Perdana’s anti-theft security system kicked in and the car stalled by the roadside.

Sin Kok said his father was injured on the leg and head and had been warded for observation.

State CID chief Senior Asst Comm Roslan Ahmad confirmed the arrest of a man in his 30s.

A Good School Bag

Guideline for Parents

The back panel support should be firm but flexible enough to ensure good contact with the child's back.

The school bag should be positioned with its botoom just along the child's hip level and top of the bag slightly above the child's shoulders.

To prevent straining the child's neck and shoulders, the school bag should not be positioned too low on the child's back.

It is important to teach the child how to adjust the shoulder straps to position the bag correctly. Tip : Bend forward and pull the lower straps.

Use the cross-chest strap to prevent the shoulder straps from slipping off.

To protect the child's back and spine, the school bag must always be carried on both shoulders.

The weight distribution in the bag is very crucial. The heavy items should be placed closest to the back, secured with the elastic straps.

The total weight of the bag is the most important factor with regard to the overall strain on the child's back. Teach the child to repack the bag daily and only to bring the necessary things, to avoid the extra weight.

4 Easy Ways to Motivate your child to do Homework !

Instead of using "homework"replace with the word "study". Example, "study time" instead of "homework time". This word change alone can help to eliminate the problem of your child saying, "I don't have any homework." Study time is about studying, even if they don't have any homework.

Establish a study routine. Example, the same time every day. Let your children have some say on when study time occurs. Once the time is set, stick to schedule. It may need a few weeks for the routine to become a hbait but persist.

Keep the routine predictable & simple. Example, include a five minute warning that study time is approaching-like bringing their current activity to an end, clearing the study tabe before starting etc.

Replace rewards (Example, money & treats) with words of encourgement. End the practice of bribery - Example, paying for good grades / special treats, etc. as they are only short term gains & does litte to encourage children to develop a lifetime love of learing.

Instead , make positive verbal comments that focus on describig te behaviour you wish to encourage. Example, "You followed the directions exactly & finished your work in 15 minutes. Well done !"