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Accessibilities + Disabilities
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News & General Info
Females
Tips on Staying Safe
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Museums
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Accessibilities with Disabilities
Not being able to do something is tougher than being able to do it but we just don't want to do it because we r lazy/procastinate/unconfident...
Not all of us are able to use all of our body parts and senses. Those who have eyesight problems (like me) have to wear powerful
glasses or contact lenses which hurt your eyes when u stare at PC for sometime in air-cond room, or rely on
voice-text recognition softwares to read the words in website. I can't imagine who hard and challenging it is to be totally disabled. I mean, has anyone seen The Eye, a Mandarin-Cantonese-Thai movie about a blind girl, played by Angelica Lee, who had eye transplant only to see spirits? Carrot toppings PizzaHut any1? It's hard to navigate or even understand what an image/link is about when there is no description about it. For instance, when a blind person goes into a site which uses image mapping as navigation, he/she cannot know which part of the image links to which/what page unless there is 'alt' tag in the link/image.
As for deaf users on the Net, they can't hear music, background music and sounds from greeting cards, movies, video clips, animations, etc. So the best way to enable them to know what is being said/played is to include caption as well. It may not be the same as hearing the sound but it's the closest to it - until sb come up with the technology to play the notes in the brain and thus enable the users to imagine it. But that only works for people who had at least had some hearing abilities before they became deaf.
For people who can't use their hands/fingers, fret not! Scientists and computer experts are developing softwares and hardwares that track eye target/movement on the PC, then command it to do sth with a blink (I think).
But being disabled doesn't mean that u r a failure... Opportunities can be created - you don't have to wait for them to come. Some of the disabled people are very optimist and even accomplish more, happier than us mere normal mortals! Help raise awareness and get more disabled people to access the Net! There are wonderful opportunities out there!
charitymalaysia.org
rnid.org.uk
deaf via Internet
WAI @ w3.org
blindness & Internet
^ DAYS & NITES OF MJ > INFO NAVIGATION
@: Portals (Search Engines) @:
Yahoo!
Search results by Hits (popularity) and category. Besides being a search portal, it also has lots of free (and fee-based) services - messenger, personal webpage (under Geocities), email, etc. Among the top search
engine since the late 1990's. It's email filter for junk mails is better than MSN's Hotmail. However it has shrunk the size that you can store
your mails - unless you pay for the extra space.
Google
No. 1 search engine! Search by analysing the links relevancy to your question, as well as
other webpages to what you are searching for. Simple interface like www.alltheweb.com
Googlism
will find out what Google.com thinks of you, your friends or anything! Search for your name here or for a good laugh check out some of the popular Googlisms.
MSN
Microsoft's search portal that has similar services to Yahoo! However, some of the pages need you to
store cookies (especially when you enter the .NET and passport zone). Which is inconvenient if you prefer high security and do not want to store cookies.
AskJeeves
Type your Questions to AskJeeves (MetaSearch). Jeeves would guess what you are asking and breaks that into several categories. There's also
a kid's version. Very suitable for beginners as you can ask/search the site like asking somebody else. Used to be among the
favourite meta search site 2 years ago but has slowed down a little. Still, it has some very good links for the searches.
DogPile.com
Metasearch - GoTo.com, LookSmart.com, FindWhat.com, Sprinks by About.com, etc
AllTheWeb.com
Simple interface and claim to be the fastest search engine. Search results are not bad either.
Find web pages near ur home @ NorthernLight.com
AltaVista.com
webwombat.com.au
Careers & Education, Entertainment, Finance, Games, Lifestyle, Motoring, Shopping, Travel, Auctions
* Meta Search = searching within many search portals. Meta = information about information.
^ DAYS & NITES OF MJ > INFO NAVIGATION
News & General Info
archieve.org
Web archieve from 1996-now
Book Magazine
WebRing.org
related info in ring(s)
asianinfo.org
Asia, individual countries...personal experinces, articles, opinions
4000 Yrs Of Women In Science
History of women's achievements.
audible.com
10000 words of spoken audio programs - publishers, seminars, history, sports, comedy,radio...
bbc.co.uk
1 of the leading news agency in UK
creative quotations
famous ppl's Quotes
discover.com
freethemes.com
Nua's surveys
statistics online
mistral.culture
Culture and arts
about-face.org
respect women!
POLIS (PDRM) Malaysia (BM)
Pencegahan Jenayah (Crime Prevention)
Domestic Abuse, Stolen Cars, Pickpockets, Gangsterism, Rape, Break In, Drugs
Carta Aliran Repot Polis
(BM) stats on crimes, apply to join the police, how to protect yourself, etc
Innerself.com ***
Huge soothing site - Full length articles, regular columns, abstracts, book reviews on health, society, sex, parenting, relationships, inner peace, articles, sex, sexual, Relationship, self-help,ezine, regular publication, sex help, health help, relationship help, parents help
^ DAYS & NITES OF MJ > INFO NAVIGATION
Females
Chinese and Indian baby girls were murdered before they were able to live to be toddlers in the old days.
There are still some news around the world that people kill baby girls as girls are seen as the weaker sex. For some, there
is just not enough bread to feed another baby. Others only want males - and lots of males! Why, some Chinese married
couples told boys to jump on their bed so that they will get at least a boy but I have not heard of any rituals
to get girls. For a lot of traditional thinking Chinese, the females don't really belong to the family. They would
get married and leave family anyway. There's no need to waste $ and love on them since they will go while the
males bring back $ and take care of family. That's the thinking but this doesn't ring true.
Because of many reasons, including preference of boys to girls, overpopulated China men seek brides from other countries now. So do Taiwan, Korea and Japan.
In the 60's, it was the glory of bohemian lifestyle with free love (and sex) and freedom. Feminists
burnt bras because bra was created by men to restrict women to stay only at home and be a darling-silent housewife.
Did burning bras get the message accross that women should be given equal rights? After all, men don't wear any bra.
But then men don't have softer breasts/chests like women, they say, so they don't need any support.
While men had fun eyeing the breasts outlines, it did show that at least some women dared
to take action to protest sexism and paved way for future feminists.
Although in Malaysia, we, females and males seem to be living in harmony - there is
inequality in law, daily life, etc. For instance, rights for women (like rape) are taken aback compared to other section of laws that apply
everyone (robbery). When somebody is robbed, we think that the robber is the guilty person. In a rape case, some people still
think of ways the person being raped taunted and teased the poor fella who couldn't control urges/lusts and wanted power
over the victim. Think about the person (female/male) being raped in her/his shoes. So many little girls cover themselves from head-to-toe, wearing
tudung (headscarf) and loose baju kurung had been raped. Did their rapists couldn't control their penis and lust? Had
they lost their mind? They, men who are the stronger sex. Stronger mind control, smarter?
Contrarily to the general beliefs that rape happens because of uncontrollable lusts and madness, researches show
that it was power - the need to be superior over others and express the control over others in violence.
Power + Violence = Rape
Syariah Courts have always been lamented for delaying the divorce process, siding
the men when it was they, the men who had insulted the court by not appearing in court many times. Still, the judges
delay the cases until the men appear - for all we know, the men could've gotten married and divorced 3 more times!
Molest, rape, sexual harassment. A lot of the victims do not report police because they feel that the police :
- are not going to do anything about it
- dared not investigate the case - fear when there is influential people involved
- feel that it's a family problem and shame on them! They should not wash dirty linens in public
- would think that it was the their own fault for taunting, teasing the molestor/rapist
- is just plain lazy
There is lack of trust on police from the public. Police, even women, treat the people who came to report
such cases as criminals. The training and courses and how to handle such cases with
sensitivity, efficiency and confidentiality is a great way of governments step towards preventing
such crimes from happening again and to catch responsible parties.
Women's rights are also children rights. If a country is to be safe and just, the law
must be equal for all races, sexes, ages. If there is a certain portion of the population do not
feel safe and being protected by the country's law, then the law could afford improvements.
Being a feminists do not mean siding with women only, even when the women were wrong in some
situations. It's about being truthful and helping women to be independent, free, safe and treated with
respect. Some people actually think that feminists hate men but that is not the case. Nobody is an island.
We live together. We must find ways to live peacefully. That means, men are part of feminism too. A lot
of men think that feminism has nothing to do with them but they could't be more wrong. If both sexes tackle this issue
together, we can achieve more than before. After all, it takes 2 to tango.
Women's Aid Organisation ***
are Women Against Violence in Malaysia, providing counselling, shelter and advocate for law reform. Also has lots of info on omestic violence statistics, women's organizations, abused women, domestic violence, child abuse, rape, domestic violence effects on children, domestic violence stories, sexual harassment, battered women, anti-violence, domestic violence and children, women's resources, women's links, women's rights, women's issues, human rights, gender, feminism, feminist, foreign maid, shelter, counselling, empowerment, non-profit organisations, WAO, Ivy Josiah
Women's Aid Organisation Links ***
Lots of useful links to other NGOs, government sites, other online resources, women & law, international conventions, community, etc
Asian Women Online ***
Women in technology, social, economics and politics issues
NST Woman ***
Click on WoMan. It highlights women's activities around the world and in Malaysia.
Feminists.net ***
Women's rights, equality
Feminist.com ***
articles, speeches, women's body, NGOs, inspiring quotes, bookstore, women owned business directory, job postings, Ask Amy, activism, Anti-Violence
WAVe
women against violence (English | Bahasa Malaysia version)
Sex, Class & womens' oppression - Equality for some women!
Articles from Workers Solidarity
Bomis: The Society/Crime/Sex Offenses/Organizations ring
Links to sites that prevent rape, women resources centre
The Feminist Majority Foundation
works for social, political and economic equality for women by using research and education to improve women's lives. The Feminist Majority Foundation Online features daily feminist news, action items, domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines, a feminist career center, feminist research resources, information on women and girls in sports, and more
TheBreastCancerSite.com
Support by buying things online
Amnesty International's Work On Women
Feature article, take action, know ur rights, campaigns
Women's rights are human rights
Past cases of inequality
Men Can Stop Rape **
Male youth and institutions that work with women in preventing rape and other forms of violence. Awareness-to-action education and community organizing promotes gender equity and build men's capacity to be strong without being violent. Although the site's based in US, the programs, campaign and resources are useful and informative.
The Survivor's Page ***
dedicated to all survivors of sexual abuse and rape. There are millions of women, children, and men who fall victim to this crime. This page will hopefully be a comfort and an outlet for many survivors.
UNIFEM Global Campaign - to Eliminate Violence Against Women
Regional campaigns, trust fund, join the virtual working group to end violence, VC (Video Conference)
W.E.A.V.E. - Women Escaping a Violent Environment
Getting Help, How u can help, info, Break the Silence, Events, FAQ
Women and Computers
Women in computer industry, profiles, Secretaries and computers, Women on-line, Girls and computing, Girls and video games, Raising computer-savvy kids, links
Womens Word.net
Advancing women's voices in public media
General Practice/Domestic Violence ***
Impact of Domestic Violence upon Health, Identifying Domestic Violence in Health Care Settings, Should all patients be asked about domestic violence?, Advice on good practice for identifying and dealing with domestic violence, Children and Domestic Violence
Feminism in Malaysia
UN - Human Rights - Women and Violence ***
Incest, Rape and Domestic Violence, Kinds of Violence Against Women, Female genital mutilation, son preference, Dowry-related violence and early marriage, Sexual assault within marriage, Sexual harassment, Prostitution and trafficking, Violence against women migrant workers, pornography, Legal steps to criminalize violence against women, Ensuring That Laws Are Obeyed, Challenging Traditional Attitudes
WomensNet **
Latest news updates around the world
^ DAYS & NITES OF MJ > INFO NAVIGATION
Tips on Staying Safe
I got this piece of advice from a friend who got it from another friend. It was what a person learnt from
a workshop/seminar by Pat Malone (so the email claims). The original e-mail was meant for women but it should
is applicable to men and children too.
The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do! If you are ever
thrown into the trunk(boot for all the non-Americans) of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick
your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you but everybody else will.
This has saved lives.
3 reasons why you are a easy target for random acts of violence
- Lack of Awareness - You MUST know where you are and what's going on around you. With so many people having hp and chatting away, sometimes you can get so focused about talking on the phone that you shut out your surroundings. Don't! Be wary of people crushing or rubbing close to you - a woman's purse was stolen right in front of everyone at the middle of the road in Petaling Street. I had my bag's front compartments opened while getting into a train during the peak hours. Luckily nothing was stolen - I don't keep my important stuff like IC, hp and wallet inside the bag. Always carry these things with u - in your pockets.
- Body Language - Keep your head up, swing your arms, stand straight up. Be confident.
- Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Wrong Crowd - DON'T walk alone in an alley, or drive in a bad neighborhood - not only at night. Rape does happen during the day. Bad things do not happen only at night. The person close to you could be your enemy. Although a lot of people assume rapes involve strangers, that is NOT true. Among the rapists categories are boyfriends, spouse (it is harder since some law approves rape in marriage - claiming it is the husband's right to get sex from wife), relatives, even teachers (and religious people). So, you shouldn't be alone but you also have to be careful when you are not alone. In other words, take care of urself ALL THE TIME.
Don't be idle Some ppl have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc, and just sit
(doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc). DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and
this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell
you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK DOORS AND LEAVE.
- A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage: Be aware:
look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.
- If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial
killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to
get into their cars.
- Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.
If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into
the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER
TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (Better paranoid than dead.)
ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are
horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).
- Do not get on an elevator if there is a weirdo already on there.
(Of course bad men don't always look bad). Trust your instincts.
- Do not stand back in the corners of the elevator, be near the front,
by the doors, ready to get off or on.
- If you get on the elevator on the 25th floor, and someone suspicious
gets on the 22nd, get off when he gets on.
If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN!
- Police only make 4 of 10 shots when they are in range of 3-9 feet. This is due to stress.
- The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it most
likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!
Be selective in being kind
Women are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed.
- Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man,
who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane,
or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which
is when he abducted his next victim.
- Pat Malone told us the story of his daughter, who came out of the mall
and was walking to her car when she noticed 2 older ladies in front of her.
Then she saw a police car come towards her with cops who said hello.
She also noticed that all 8-handicap spots in the area were empty.
As she neared her car she saw a man a few rows over calling to her for
help. He wanted her to close his passenger side door. He was sitting in
the driver's side, and said he was handicapped. He continued calling, until
she turned and headed back to the mall, and then he began cursing at her. In
the meantime, she wondered why he didn't ask the 2 older ladies, or the policeman
for help, and why he was not parked in any of the empty handicap spots. As she got
back to the mall, two male friend of hers were exiting, and as she told them
the story, and turned to point at the car, another man was getting out of
the back seat into the front, and the car sped away.
What to do in dangerous situations?
Tips to saving your life, if you have gotten into a violent situation:
- REACT IMMEDIATELY If he abducts you in a parking lot, and
is taking you to an abandoned area, DON'T LET HIM GET YOU TO THAT AREA.
If you are driving, react immediately in the situation, and crash your
car while still going 5 mph. If he's driving, find the right time, and
stick your fingers in his eyes. He must watch the road, so choose an
unsuspecting time, and gouge him. It is your ONLY defense. While he is in shock,
GET OUT. (This sounds gross, but the alternative is your fault if you do not act.)
- RESIST Don't go along with him: run, if you are able: DON'T EVER GIVE UP! You DO NOT want to get to a crime scene.
- Always keep your distance when walking past strangers on the street or in dark areas.
- GET A CELL PHONE and set 1 of the fast dial to the police.
- There are packages for $19.95 a month that allows you to program only 911 into the dialing out program. (This is an alternative for parents who say it is too expensive for their kids to have a cellphone.)
Break Downs
Make every effort to avoid this by ALWAYS keeping your car in good working order.
- If your car breaks down: LOCK YOUR DOORS. You better have a cell phone to call for help.
- If you don't have a cell phone: (shame on you) keep a blanket, warm clothes, a pair of boots, and a flashlight in your car always, for
emergencies.
- If it's noon on a business day, you may want to put your hazards on and walk to safety.
- If it's 2 a.m, put on your warm clothes, and walk to a lighted area. You are a perfect target if you are sitting in your car broken down. Predators search the highways for easy targets like you.
- If you're on a desolate road: walk away from the car (in your warm
clothes) and go to some bushes, or some area AWAY from your vehicles. It will be cold, and uncomfortable, but you DO NOT want to stay in your car, and there are no psycho bogeymen waiting in the bushes who knew you were going to break down there and then.
Physical defenses
- The EYES are the most vulnerable part of the body. Poke him there. HARD. It may be your only window of opportunity.
- The neck is also a vulnerable spot, but you MUST know where to grip, AND HAVE THE STRENGTH to cut off his breath.
- The last place is the KNEES. Everyone's knees are very vulnerable, and a swift kick here will take anyone down. A cautionary note about these things. If you do not do these things right the first time, you are in trouble, because it will only anger the individual, and that anger will be TAKEN OUT ON YOU. I'm not saying don't attempt them (it
may be your only hope), but be forceful when you do.
Alone and somebody is chasing u!
If you are walking alone in the dark (which you shouldn't be) and you find him following/chasing you:
- Scream "FIRE!", and not "help". People don't want to get involved when people yell "help", but "fire" draws attention because people are nosy.
- RUN!
- Find an obstacle, such as a parked car, and run around it, like Ring Around the Rosie. This may sound silly, but over the years, 5 women have told Pat Malone that this SAVED THEIR LIVES.
- Your last hope is getting under the car. Once you are under there,
there are tons of things to hold on to, and he will not be able to get you out and will not come under for you (most likely). Usually they give up by this point. The catch here is that YOU MUST PRACTICE GETTING UNDER THE CAR.
You must have a plan (he will have one); know if you will be going on your back, front, from the side or back of the car. It must be practiced.
Other things u can do
There. Scary world out there. Better be prepared than not! Besides the things u can do according to the list, you can also:
- Get martial arts training. If u can't run, then at least learn to protect yourself. Not all martial arts are about violence, in fact, it's more to discipline, lifestyle and taking care of self. Check out the martial arts event and exhibitions
if you want to join one. It's cheaper if u join it in school than outside. If u are out of school, u can ask the instructor/school if they accept non-schoolers.
- Wear shoes that enable u to run easily. High heels make it harder to run but kicks to the groin and shin using spiky heels can shock the person in pain. For maximum force, relax ur leg and focus on the point you want to kick. Move your whole leg into 90 degrees, bended at the knee and swing the lower part of your leg
to the target. Imagine your force rushing to your feet and kick the target as hard and fast as u can.
- Carry pepper spray, perfume, alarm, Swish knife and umbrella. Use them when needed. A lot of people think that they would be sissy if they carry an umbrella. But if u hv an umbrella at hand (instead of deep inside your bag/briefcase), the predator would think twice of attacking you since there is a higher of chance of u hitting him/her/them back. WAO has an article on what to do if you are raped.
- Be careful, even with aquaintances. Most rape cases involve known people like relatives, friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, collegues, bosses, neighbours and teachers. The hardest part is accepting that even people close to us, that we trust can also harm us.
- Always shout "NO!" In some cases, the rapists became free because there was "not enough resistance".
- Record whatever that is happening. Some handphones have this function. This can be used as evidence when/if u need to report to police. Some hp/Palm also function as camera and video recorder. Use it to capture evidence.
- Distract the person and try to escape quietly and quickly.
- If u are driving, head to the nearest police station or hospital.
^ DAYS & NITES OF MJ > INFO NAVIGATION
M'sia Newspapers
NST YouthQuake
Every Friday for Youths!
NST
New Straits Times & links to other newspapers
NST Business Times
NST Computimes
Computer, hardware, software, games, industry, comments, profiles
NST Business Computimes
Business & Computing
Malay Mail
Community newspaper
MalaysiaKini.com.my
The only independent newspaper in Malaysia that touches on politics, economics & social but was recently in the news after Putera UMNO reported to police claiming MalaysiaKini published an uncensored letter (that touches on Malays' special rights) that could lead to social unrest.
Should there be freedom of speech? To what extent? Who would determine the limits and boundaries?
If content of the letter is true, then shouldn't we talk about it in the open? If it's not true, then is there any proof? After all, we all want the best for ourselves and Malaysia too.
Human rights are always gray in Malaysia - and anywhere in the world. There is a believe that if you put down others, you would appear to be better than the rest of them. Haha! It's false sense of security.
The Star
Berita Harian
Bahasa Malaysia newspaper
Harian Metro
Community newspaper in Bahasa Malaysia
^ DAYS & NITES OF MJ > INFO NAVIGATION
Museums
moma.org
Museum of Modern art
Louvre Virtual Tour
museumnetwork.com
world museums
museumspot.com
links 2 museums, zoos & special exhibits around world
unmuseum.org
Virtual Tours
Weaving Art Museum virtual
^ DAYS & NITES OF MJ > INFO NAVIGATION
Driving
I don't know any institution for learning to drive have any website locally, so I'll just list the
sites for driving tips and guides. Don't drink and drive!
In the news on 6th Jan '03: A mother got drunk and told her 5 year old boy to drive. They were involved in an accident and both were hurt.
The lesson: If you can't drive, get a good driver who can take you home safely.
2pass
Hints, tips and information for learner drivers in the UK but if you are living elsewhere, the theory & practical test FAQ, sample questions, traffic sign quiz, how to drive in various situations, weather, check health of ur car
Dr Driving @ aloha.net
Huge site! Tests, articles on road rage, bookstore, children & youth, letters, elderly drivers, law, pedestrains & bicycling, prof. drivers, facts & advice, stories in news
teendriving.com
Guide for teens - around school, town, country, weather, parking, crashing, buying 2nd hand car, etc
^ DAYS & NITES OF MJ > INFO NAVIGATION
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