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Photo-sensitivity
The skin reaction
may consist of itching, inflammation (redness), or a rash. Dark
spots of hyperpigmentation sometimes occur. Photo-sensitising
agents are found in numerous products. Commonly used products that
may contain photo-sensitisers include perfumes and colognes, anti-bacterial
soaps, synthetic detergents, medicated cosmetics, shampoos, antiseptic
creams, and aftershave products. In many cases,
it is difficult, if not impossible, to track down the source of
photo-sensitisation. Compounding the problem is the fact that once
a person is sensitised, he or she may also become sensitised to
closely related chemicals. Individuals who have developed photo-sensitive reactions must minimise their exposure to sunlight. When sun exposure is unavoidable, they should shield themselves with protective clothing and use a maximum-SPF sunscreen (15 or above). Physical sunblocks containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide provide the most protection but leave an obvious film that may be undesirable.
It is an evening
of fun filled entertainment. An evening
to experience the healing power of music. It is an evening
dedicated to all the kids who are suffering from cancer. And an attempt
to light a candle of hope in their lives. Last week you
read about the musical extravaganza which is taking place on August
31. Guess what! It's going to be a 'wild' evening of rocking with
'fiery' music and blazing entertainment. If you are
thinking "oh not again... I've seen this before" then
think twice because you have no idea about what's in store. Wildfire
has put together a very special and unique blend of music especially
for HOPE RoCkS! A whole new
show, a brand new experience and a total redefinition of the word
entertainment is what the Student Activity Club of Asia Pacific
Institute of Information Technology has in store for you. What awaits
you at the Western Garden of the BMICH from 8.00 p.m. onwards will
change you for sure. "This
is no ordinary rock concert where you would dance the night away,
go home and forget about it. We want to make it an experience where
you will carry something in your hearts and minds as well"
say the organisers. The students of APIIT will join hands with advertisers Phoenix Ogilvy, The Sunday Times and ETV to promote the cause initiated by the HOPE Cancer Society. Trials
of being a nice guy Think back
to the last time you were depressed. Think back on whom all you
talked to. Think of the guy whom you bitched to about your problems
and your life. Think of who gave you a shoulder to cry on and words
of reassurance. If he listened well, heard you out, and gave sound
advice - especially if he focused on your specific situation, not
something from his life or vague, general comments - then he was
probably a Nice Guy. Being a Nice
Guy is more an ideology than any action alone can encompass. It's
hard to explain. Nice Guys deal with their emotions. Nice Guys have
compassion. Nice Guys value honesty, even when it hurts them. Nice
Guys are there when you need them, but aren't in the way when you
don't. Nice Guys work and play well with others. Nice Guys listen
when you need to talk to someone. Nice Guys are, to the best of
their abilities, fair, giving, open, and helpful. In a nutshell:
Nice Guys are - well, nice. I don't know how else to put it. Don't try and
deny it: you love a Nice Guy. The guy who'll go out of his way to
help you, to beat your blame and pain. He even feels guilty about
sharing his problems with you because he doesn't want to bring you
down. You know a guy like this, right? He's almost
always there for you. He's articulate, writes poetry or plays songs,
and reads classic novels and contemporary books. He's a hopeless
romantic and he only wants the best for you. Go ahead, try
him! Tell him how your boyfriend is a jerk - he'll comfort you and
tell you how wonderful you are. He resents
you because you can do things he can't. You can take people down
guilt trips, you can flip out, you can manipulate other people's
feelings, and you can do something selfish every once in a while
because you deserve something 'just for you'. All these things
make a Nice Guy guilty, because they aren't - well, nice. He's not
helping others; he's helping himself, and he feels guilty about
that. He may want
to tell somebody to stop messing him around, or that he needs to
feel loved by his true love. But that would be implying that they're
doing something wrong, and he doesn't want to make people feel bad
about themselves. Really. A Nice Guy has plenty of experience feeling
bad about himself, and he doesn't want anyone else to feel that
way themselves. He doesn't
want people to take him for granted as their ever-willing constant,
sure. But it's more than that. He doesn't want to be liked because
he's a Nice Guy. He wants to be liked because he's a writer, because
he's passionate, because he can't play sports, because he can kiss
well, because he has a horrible memory and he desperately tries
to make up for it. "It doesn't
matter. He can't deny his nature. A Nice Guy always wants to please
other people, and always wants to be liked by everyone. Even you,
a complete stranger, have to like him or he's failed. He's been
told all his life that he's a Nice Guy. "He just
so... nice. I can't believe it. He's just asking for people to abuse
him. He doesn't stick up for himself at all. He deserves whatever
he gets." Girls, you
can't imagine being involved with a Nice Guy, because you value
them too much as a friend. Besides, if you did get into a relationship
with them, you'd just exploit their inherent good nature, whether
you wanted to or not. But it's not always like that. Even nice guys
want to be loved and be in a relationship with that special someone
who means so much to them. Guys, you can't
imagine your best friend not being there for you - after all, he's
such a Nice Guy. You take for granted that he's there to help you
out, but you don't think about helping him with his problems. I
mean, come on, he's a Nice Guy. Nobody has a problem with him, right?
Why would anyone have a problem with a Nice Guy? Because you
take advantage of him, does that mean you're a despicable person?
Or just opportunistic? And whose fault is it, anyway? Maybe it can
be solved by a simple matter of psychology: He's set up a pattern
of abuse. People expect him to be nice, they know how he'll react,
and they act accordingly. He won't change because it's who he is.
A Nice Guy
will inevitably hurt someone, though he didn't mean to, and will
feel exponentially worse. And then he'll also keep that to himself
because he doesn't want to bother you with his problems. He lets
it all wrap tightly around his insides, all the grief and the guilt
and the pain, and he hates the only person he can: himself. A Nice Guy
constantly thinks: I wonder why I couldn't have done better for
my friend or for that girl I met at a party, why did I mumble something
about her dress, then panic, then kick myself for failing a chance
to meet a new person - but then feel worse for making her feel rejected,
and then for making her think I'm a loser. But wait, I'm a Nice
Guy! I'm too nice for my own good! Let me buy you a drink! Come
back! Footnote: Is
it just me or does the music of Michelle Branch and the theme song
to ETV's new sitcom "Maybe it's Me" fill one's mind with
thoughts of happiness? Why not spend
a lazy Sunday afternoon thinking about it? Good luck... |
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