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Monday 29 July 2013
Sunday 28 July 2013
Samsung S4
http://youtu.be/NfF8mNu_fdA
Display
- 5inch Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) display, 441 ppi
- 1.9 GHz Quad-Core Processor / 1.6 GHz Octa-Core Processor
- The seletion of AP will be differed by markets
Network
- 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
- 3G (HSPA+ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
- 4G (LTE Cat 3 100/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets (Dependent on market)
OS
- Android 4.2.2 (Jelly bean)
Memory
- 16 / 32 / 64GB memory + microSD slot (up to 64GB), 2GB RAM (User memory approximately 9Gb)*
*User memory is less than the total memory due to storage of the operating system and software used to operate the phones features. Actual user memory will vary depending on the mobile phone operator and may change after software upgrades are performed.
*External Memory may be used to store media (photos, video, and music files) and aplications, which developers implement "storing on SD card" option in.
- 16 / 32 / 64GB memory + microSD slot (up to 64GB), 2GB RAM
Camera
- Main(Rear): 13 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
- Sub (Front): 2 Mega pixel camera, Full HD recording @30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
Camera Features
- Dual Shot , Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, 360 Photo, Animated Photo, Eraser, Night, Best Photo, Best Face, Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports
Video
- Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark, HEVC
- Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p)
Audio
- Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, OGG,
FLAC, AC-3, apt-X
Additional Features
- Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Document,
Play Games - Story Album, S Translator, Optical Reader
- Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture,
Air View - Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen,
3-way calling) Samsung WatchON - S Travel (Trip Advisor), S Voice™ Drive, S Health
- Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound, Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly)
- Safety Assistance, Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring
- Samsung KNOX (B2B only)
Google Mobile Services
- Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude Google Play Store, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads, Voice Search
Sensor
- Accelerometer, RGB light, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyro,
Barometer - Temperature & Humidity, Gesture
- Accelerometer, RGB light, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyro,
Dimension
- 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm, 130g
Connectivity
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80)
- GPS / GLONASS
- NFC, Bluetooth® 4.0 (LE)
- IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0
Battery
- 2,600mAh
Monday 22 July 2013
Kenapa Aurat Wanita Lebih Banyak Dari Aurat Lelaki
Sebahagian wanita
mengeluh kerana mereka perlu hidup sebagai seorang wanita, seperti yang kita
lihat dialog di bawah. Mereka seolah-olah mempersoalkan ketentuan Allah SWT
terhadap mereka.
“Aduh, situ tutup, sini tutup. Susah la gini. Apasal laki-laki mudah saja. Tak pakai baju pun takpe. Perempuan auratnya lagi banyak.”
“Kenapa la kita para isteri ni nak keluar kena minta izin dari suami kita, padahal suami kita nak keluar kemana-mana pun tak bagitau kita takpe pulak.”
“Jika kita ikut faraid dalam hal pusaka, rugilah kita. Sebab bahagian harta pusaka perempuan lagi sedikit berbanding harta yang anak lelaki dapat. Kami mahu keadilan!”
“Kenapa Allah jadikan wanita mengandung dan rasa sakitnya nak melahirkan anak. Suami kita rileks saja? Masa buat anak carilah kita, masa nak beranak kita tanggung sendiri!”
“Islam kata kita perempuan wajib taat pada suami, tapi ada islam cakap suami perlu taat pada isterinya? Mana keadilan pada kaum hawa?”
“Bila nak cerai je, suami yang boleh jatuhkan talak. Kenapa isteri tak bolek ceraikan suaminya? Kenapa?”
“Wanita takleh nak beribadat macam lelaki, sebab bila kita ada haid dan nifas, takleh nak solat dan puasa. Ingat perempuan ni suka ke tak solat dan puasa?”
Dan kemudian datanglah pertubuhan dan organisasi yang membela kaum wanita, dan menuntut hak sama rata antara jantina, mengekploitasi fahaman wanita yang terjejas akidahnya dek kerana disogok pertanyaan.
Kaum lelaki pula cakap, “Ah, mujur aku ni lelaki!”
Tunggu..!
Istigfarlah pada wanita yang ada perasaan seperti di atas. Cuba renungi jawapan-jawapan di bawah.
“Cik adik, Islam lah yang mengangkat aurat wanita. Benda yang mahal harganya akan dijaga dan dibelai serta disimpan di tempat yang teraman dan terbaik. Awak ada emas dan permata, adakah awak nak letak terdedah ditepi laluan lalu lalang atau disimpan di rumah agar tiada siapa melihat perhiasan itu?
Ok, jika awak letakkan perhiasan tadi di kalangan orang, agaknya apa akan terjadi dengan barang perhiasan tadi? Lelaki, yang utama hanyalah bawah pusat ke lutut tapi awak?
Saya tidak dapat melihat kulit anda pun kecuali muka dan tangan! Awak tak mungkin akan terangsang nafsu tengok saya hanya berseluar pendek ke lutut? Jangankan saya, tapi tok imam akan tercabut serbannya jika tengok awak hanya pakai seluar pendek!”
“Ok, isteri perlu taat pada suami. Jadi, lelaki apa? Suami perlu wajib taat juga kepada ibunya tiga kali lebih utama dari ayahnya, walaupun dia sudah berkeluarga. Isteri tidak perlu lagi, taatnya hanya pada suami. Kenapa awak perlu taat pada suami? Kerana suami kalian lah yang menanggung dosa yang kalian lakukan!”
“Betul ke wanita menerima warisan pusaka lagi sedikit daripada lelaki? Tapi kan, harta itu memang hak untuk wanita itu dan dia berhak lakukan apa saja yang dia mahu.
Shh.. jangan kongsi dengan sape-sape walaupun suami. Tak kesian pada lelaki ke, dia perlu membahagikan harta pusaka itu kepada isteri dan anak-anaknya. Kalau isteri dia ramai, anak dia ramai, harta pulak secebis, tak merasa lah jawabnya!”
“Tahniah la sebab awak dapat mengandung dan melahirkan. Setiap kali awak begitu, wanita itu didoakan oleh sekalian makhluk dan malaikat! Beruntungnya awak! Andaikan awak meninggal pula masa beranak tu, percayalah… itu mati syahid dan ganjarannya syurga. Ya, syurga menanti awak! Sebab tu tak ramai orang wanita meninggal masa melahirkan, malah beranak 15 kali pun sihat sampai ke tua!”
“Akhirat nanti, saya dan lelaki lain di dunia ini akan diminta bertanggungjawab keatas empat jenis wanita. Siapa? Mereka ialah isteri saya, ibu saya, anak perempuan saya dan adik perempuan saya. Tahu maksudnya? Awak nanti di akhirat, awak akan dibantu oleh empat lelaki! Siapa mereka? Mereka ialah suami, ayah, adik atau abang malah anak lelaki awak!”
“Nak beribadat macam lelaki? Ingat mudah ke nak dapat syurga? Sedarlah, awak sebagai wanita boleh masuk sebarang pintu syurga yang awak sukai. Ya, dah la syurga, ada pilihan pula hanya dengan empat cara. Apa itu? Solat lima waktu, berpuasa bulan Ramadhan, menjaga kehormatan dan tahu apa satu lagi? Taat pada suami awak. Itu saja asasnya!”
“Saya, seorang lelaki wajib berjihad fisabilillah. Awak, seorang wanita jika taat akan suaminya, dan menunaikan tanggungjawab kepada Allah, maka awak akan turut menerima pahala setara seperti pahala orang pergi berjihad fisabilillah tanpa perlu mengangkat senjata!”
Allah SWT; sebagai Zat yang Maha Pencipta, yang menciptakan kita, maka sudah pasti Dia yang Maha Tahu pada manusia, sehingga segala hukum-Nya malah peraturan-Nya, tentulah yang terbaik bagi manusia dibandingkan dengan segala peraturan yang dicipta manusia.
“Aduh, situ tutup, sini tutup. Susah la gini. Apasal laki-laki mudah saja. Tak pakai baju pun takpe. Perempuan auratnya lagi banyak.”
“Kenapa la kita para isteri ni nak keluar kena minta izin dari suami kita, padahal suami kita nak keluar kemana-mana pun tak bagitau kita takpe pulak.”
“Jika kita ikut faraid dalam hal pusaka, rugilah kita. Sebab bahagian harta pusaka perempuan lagi sedikit berbanding harta yang anak lelaki dapat. Kami mahu keadilan!”
“Kenapa Allah jadikan wanita mengandung dan rasa sakitnya nak melahirkan anak. Suami kita rileks saja? Masa buat anak carilah kita, masa nak beranak kita tanggung sendiri!”
“Islam kata kita perempuan wajib taat pada suami, tapi ada islam cakap suami perlu taat pada isterinya? Mana keadilan pada kaum hawa?”
“Bila nak cerai je, suami yang boleh jatuhkan talak. Kenapa isteri tak bolek ceraikan suaminya? Kenapa?”
“Wanita takleh nak beribadat macam lelaki, sebab bila kita ada haid dan nifas, takleh nak solat dan puasa. Ingat perempuan ni suka ke tak solat dan puasa?”
Dan kemudian datanglah pertubuhan dan organisasi yang membela kaum wanita, dan menuntut hak sama rata antara jantina, mengekploitasi fahaman wanita yang terjejas akidahnya dek kerana disogok pertanyaan.
Kaum lelaki pula cakap, “Ah, mujur aku ni lelaki!”
Tunggu..!
Istigfarlah pada wanita yang ada perasaan seperti di atas. Cuba renungi jawapan-jawapan di bawah.
“Cik adik, Islam lah yang mengangkat aurat wanita. Benda yang mahal harganya akan dijaga dan dibelai serta disimpan di tempat yang teraman dan terbaik. Awak ada emas dan permata, adakah awak nak letak terdedah ditepi laluan lalu lalang atau disimpan di rumah agar tiada siapa melihat perhiasan itu?
Ok, jika awak letakkan perhiasan tadi di kalangan orang, agaknya apa akan terjadi dengan barang perhiasan tadi? Lelaki, yang utama hanyalah bawah pusat ke lutut tapi awak?
Saya tidak dapat melihat kulit anda pun kecuali muka dan tangan! Awak tak mungkin akan terangsang nafsu tengok saya hanya berseluar pendek ke lutut? Jangankan saya, tapi tok imam akan tercabut serbannya jika tengok awak hanya pakai seluar pendek!”
“Ok, isteri perlu taat pada suami. Jadi, lelaki apa? Suami perlu wajib taat juga kepada ibunya tiga kali lebih utama dari ayahnya, walaupun dia sudah berkeluarga. Isteri tidak perlu lagi, taatnya hanya pada suami. Kenapa awak perlu taat pada suami? Kerana suami kalian lah yang menanggung dosa yang kalian lakukan!”
“Betul ke wanita menerima warisan pusaka lagi sedikit daripada lelaki? Tapi kan, harta itu memang hak untuk wanita itu dan dia berhak lakukan apa saja yang dia mahu.
Shh.. jangan kongsi dengan sape-sape walaupun suami. Tak kesian pada lelaki ke, dia perlu membahagikan harta pusaka itu kepada isteri dan anak-anaknya. Kalau isteri dia ramai, anak dia ramai, harta pulak secebis, tak merasa lah jawabnya!”
“Tahniah la sebab awak dapat mengandung dan melahirkan. Setiap kali awak begitu, wanita itu didoakan oleh sekalian makhluk dan malaikat! Beruntungnya awak! Andaikan awak meninggal pula masa beranak tu, percayalah… itu mati syahid dan ganjarannya syurga. Ya, syurga menanti awak! Sebab tu tak ramai orang wanita meninggal masa melahirkan, malah beranak 15 kali pun sihat sampai ke tua!”
“Akhirat nanti, saya dan lelaki lain di dunia ini akan diminta bertanggungjawab keatas empat jenis wanita. Siapa? Mereka ialah isteri saya, ibu saya, anak perempuan saya dan adik perempuan saya. Tahu maksudnya? Awak nanti di akhirat, awak akan dibantu oleh empat lelaki! Siapa mereka? Mereka ialah suami, ayah, adik atau abang malah anak lelaki awak!”
“Nak beribadat macam lelaki? Ingat mudah ke nak dapat syurga? Sedarlah, awak sebagai wanita boleh masuk sebarang pintu syurga yang awak sukai. Ya, dah la syurga, ada pilihan pula hanya dengan empat cara. Apa itu? Solat lima waktu, berpuasa bulan Ramadhan, menjaga kehormatan dan tahu apa satu lagi? Taat pada suami awak. Itu saja asasnya!”
“Saya, seorang lelaki wajib berjihad fisabilillah. Awak, seorang wanita jika taat akan suaminya, dan menunaikan tanggungjawab kepada Allah, maka awak akan turut menerima pahala setara seperti pahala orang pergi berjihad fisabilillah tanpa perlu mengangkat senjata!”
Allah SWT; sebagai Zat yang Maha Pencipta, yang menciptakan kita, maka sudah pasti Dia yang Maha Tahu pada manusia, sehingga segala hukum-Nya malah peraturan-Nya, tentulah yang terbaik bagi manusia dibandingkan dengan segala peraturan yang dicipta manusia.
Thursday 18 July 2013
8 Penyakit Keturunan Yang Sukar Dicegah
Ada beberapa penyakit turunan yang secara otomatis diturunkan ke anak atau generasi berikutnya, yaitu:
1. Hemofilia
Hemofilia adalah salah satu penyakit turunan akibat kekurangan faktor pembeku darah 8 atau 9. Perintah pembekuan darah ini terdapat di kromosom X, sehingga penderita hemofilia kebanyakan adalah kaum laki-laki. Karena itu sebagian besar perempuan sebagai carrier saja. Penyakit ini sulit dicegah karena setiap anak mengandung satu kromosom seks dari ibu dan satu kromosom seks dari ayah, karenanya penyakit ini selalu dimulai sejak anak-anak.
2. Buta warna
Buta warna adalah salah satu masalah penglihatan karena ketidakmampuan melihat perbedaan antara beberapa warna, penyakit ini diwariskan dari mutasi genetik kromosom X. Sebagian besar penyakit ini akibat faktor genetik, tapi ada juga yang disebabkan kerusakan mata, saraf atau otak akibat bahan kimia tertentu. Mutasi yang menyebabkan buta warna jika sedikitnya ada 19 kromosom berbeda dan 56 gen berbeda. Kondisi ini bisa muncul saat masih kanak-kanak atau sudah dewasa.
3. Diabetes melitus
Penyakit diabetes melitus memiliki hubungan yang kuat dengan keturunan. Penyakit ini ditandai dengan tingginya kadar gula dalam darah akibat insulin dalam tubuh yang tidak bisa bekerja secara optimal. Seseorang yang memiliki antigen leukosit (human leukocyte antigen/HLA) dalam darah yang diperoleh dari orangtuanya akan memiliki kecenderungan kuat untuk mengembangkan diabetes tipe 1.
Sedangkan diabetes tipe 2 juga merupakan penyakit turunan yang akan muncul di generasi berikutnya jika ada masalah lain yang menyertai seperti obesitas, hipertensi atau gaya hidup tak sehat yang mengganggu fungsi sel-sel beta di dalam tubuhnya.
4. Thalasemia
Thalasemia adalah kelainan darah karena hemoglobin darah mudah sekali pecah. Penyakit ini merupakan genetik yang diturunkan jika kedua orangtuanya adalah pembawa sifat (carrier). Akibat kelainan darah ini membuat anak terlihat pucat dan harus mendapatkan transfusi darah secara teratur agar hemoglobinnya tetap normal. Berdasarkan hukum Mendel jika ibunya sebagai carrier, maka setiap anaknya berpeluang 25 persen sehat, 50 persen sebagai carrier dan 25 persen terkena thalasemia.
5. Kebotakan
Seperti diketahui bahwa kebotakan disebabkan oleh banyak hal, tapi salah satunya juga bisa akibat faktor keturunan dari orangtuanya. Jika ayahnya mengalami kebotakan, maka setidaknya salah satu anaknya ada yang mengalami kebotakan akibat adanya gen yang diturunkan.
Dr Angela Christiano, profesor dermatologi dan genetika di Columbia University Medical Center berhasil menemukan gen yang menyebabkan rambut menipis dan bahkan bisa terasa efeknya saat masih anak-anak. Diketahui gen APCDD1 yang menyebabkan folikel rambut menyusut sehingga rambut semakin lama semakin menipis dan botak.
6. Alergi
Sebagian besar alergi disebabkan oleh faktor keturunan. Jika orangtua memiliki bakat alergi, maka ada kemungkinan sekitar 70 persen anak akan memiliki alergi juga. Namun jika hanya salah satu orang saja yang alergi, maka faktor risiko ini bisa berkurang sekitar 30 persennya.
7. Albino
Albino adalah salah satu penyakit turunan yang disebabkan anak tersebut mengandung gen albino dari ayah dan ibunya. Kebanyakan orang dengan albino lahir dari orangtua yang memiliki gangguan dalam hal produksi melaninnya, tapi pada orang yang carrier tidak akan menunjukkan tanda-tanda memiliki gen albino. Jika orangtua hanya sebagai carrier atau memiliki satu gen albino, sebaiknya tidak menikah dengan orang yang memiliki albino.
8. Asma
Asma merupakan salah satu penyakit turunan dan diketahui bahwa faktor ibu lebih kuat untuk menurunkan asma pada anak dibandingkan dengan faktor bapak. Asma bisa timbul bila dipicu oleh adanya suatu alergen disekitarnya. Selain itu sekitar 30 persen penyakit asma disebabkan oleh turunan dari orangtuanya. Namun pada beberapa orang yang asmanya terkontrol dengan baik, bisa hilang saat menjelang dewasa.
Salah satu cara untuk mencegah penyakit-penyakit tersebut menurun ke generasi berikutnya adalah dengan melakukan pemeriksaan lengkap sebelum menikah. Karena dari pemeriksaan ini akan diketahui apakah keduanya memiliki gen penyakit yang diturunkan ke anaknya kelak atau tidak sehingga bisa lebih siap menghadapinya.
1. Hemofilia
Hemofilia adalah salah satu penyakit turunan akibat kekurangan faktor pembeku darah 8 atau 9. Perintah pembekuan darah ini terdapat di kromosom X, sehingga penderita hemofilia kebanyakan adalah kaum laki-laki. Karena itu sebagian besar perempuan sebagai carrier saja. Penyakit ini sulit dicegah karena setiap anak mengandung satu kromosom seks dari ibu dan satu kromosom seks dari ayah, karenanya penyakit ini selalu dimulai sejak anak-anak.
2. Buta warna
Buta warna adalah salah satu masalah penglihatan karena ketidakmampuan melihat perbedaan antara beberapa warna, penyakit ini diwariskan dari mutasi genetik kromosom X. Sebagian besar penyakit ini akibat faktor genetik, tapi ada juga yang disebabkan kerusakan mata, saraf atau otak akibat bahan kimia tertentu. Mutasi yang menyebabkan buta warna jika sedikitnya ada 19 kromosom berbeda dan 56 gen berbeda. Kondisi ini bisa muncul saat masih kanak-kanak atau sudah dewasa.
3. Diabetes melitus
Penyakit diabetes melitus memiliki hubungan yang kuat dengan keturunan. Penyakit ini ditandai dengan tingginya kadar gula dalam darah akibat insulin dalam tubuh yang tidak bisa bekerja secara optimal. Seseorang yang memiliki antigen leukosit (human leukocyte antigen/HLA) dalam darah yang diperoleh dari orangtuanya akan memiliki kecenderungan kuat untuk mengembangkan diabetes tipe 1.
Sedangkan diabetes tipe 2 juga merupakan penyakit turunan yang akan muncul di generasi berikutnya jika ada masalah lain yang menyertai seperti obesitas, hipertensi atau gaya hidup tak sehat yang mengganggu fungsi sel-sel beta di dalam tubuhnya.
4. Thalasemia
Thalasemia adalah kelainan darah karena hemoglobin darah mudah sekali pecah. Penyakit ini merupakan genetik yang diturunkan jika kedua orangtuanya adalah pembawa sifat (carrier). Akibat kelainan darah ini membuat anak terlihat pucat dan harus mendapatkan transfusi darah secara teratur agar hemoglobinnya tetap normal. Berdasarkan hukum Mendel jika ibunya sebagai carrier, maka setiap anaknya berpeluang 25 persen sehat, 50 persen sebagai carrier dan 25 persen terkena thalasemia.
5. Kebotakan
Seperti diketahui bahwa kebotakan disebabkan oleh banyak hal, tapi salah satunya juga bisa akibat faktor keturunan dari orangtuanya. Jika ayahnya mengalami kebotakan, maka setidaknya salah satu anaknya ada yang mengalami kebotakan akibat adanya gen yang diturunkan.
Dr Angela Christiano, profesor dermatologi dan genetika di Columbia University Medical Center berhasil menemukan gen yang menyebabkan rambut menipis dan bahkan bisa terasa efeknya saat masih anak-anak. Diketahui gen APCDD1 yang menyebabkan folikel rambut menyusut sehingga rambut semakin lama semakin menipis dan botak.
6. Alergi
Sebagian besar alergi disebabkan oleh faktor keturunan. Jika orangtua memiliki bakat alergi, maka ada kemungkinan sekitar 70 persen anak akan memiliki alergi juga. Namun jika hanya salah satu orang saja yang alergi, maka faktor risiko ini bisa berkurang sekitar 30 persennya.
7. Albino
Albino adalah salah satu penyakit turunan yang disebabkan anak tersebut mengandung gen albino dari ayah dan ibunya. Kebanyakan orang dengan albino lahir dari orangtua yang memiliki gangguan dalam hal produksi melaninnya, tapi pada orang yang carrier tidak akan menunjukkan tanda-tanda memiliki gen albino. Jika orangtua hanya sebagai carrier atau memiliki satu gen albino, sebaiknya tidak menikah dengan orang yang memiliki albino.
8. Asma
Asma merupakan salah satu penyakit turunan dan diketahui bahwa faktor ibu lebih kuat untuk menurunkan asma pada anak dibandingkan dengan faktor bapak. Asma bisa timbul bila dipicu oleh adanya suatu alergen disekitarnya. Selain itu sekitar 30 persen penyakit asma disebabkan oleh turunan dari orangtuanya. Namun pada beberapa orang yang asmanya terkontrol dengan baik, bisa hilang saat menjelang dewasa.
Salah satu cara untuk mencegah penyakit-penyakit tersebut menurun ke generasi berikutnya adalah dengan melakukan pemeriksaan lengkap sebelum menikah. Karena dari pemeriksaan ini akan diketahui apakah keduanya memiliki gen penyakit yang diturunkan ke anaknya kelak atau tidak sehingga bisa lebih siap menghadapinya.
Wednesday 17 July 2013
Learning to Run with Stroller
Learning to Run with a Stroller
Especially if you are coming back from a recent pregnancy and childbirth experience, a jogging stroller can wreck havoc on your running form and cause unnecessary injuries at a time when that is the last thing you need to deal with.
1) Find the correct handle height and keep it close to you. Especially when you're coming off a pregnancy and your core may not be as strong as usual, you may find you have the tendency, when running with a stroller, to hold the stroller at arms length and put some of your weight onto the handlebar. This causes you to bend forward at the hips, which is a big no-no for your form. Keep your elbows bent, and the stroller closer to your body. Run a mental check every mile or so, while you're getting used to it, to make sure you're still running in an upright position.
3) Ease into it. Yes, running with a stroller is more difficult that running without one. Take it easy, leave the stroller at home every other day, or alternate running and walking days. Your body will appreciate it and reward you with a smoother path back to form.
You're not the only one who will have to get used to this setup. Your child will also have some things to get used to. The following are some tips from Jennifer and Michael Wardian that they use when taking their boys, Pierce and Grant, on long runs.
1) Bring along snacks. Things like crackers, gummies or bananas, things that are easy to give them and you aren't worried about them choking on.
2) Bring water. Three sippy cups work well (for a double stroller, just two for a single), one for each kid and an extra, in case someone runs out.
3) Bring toys. A couple toys for each kid works well, plus a couple extras so that, in case they want what the other has, you can regulate.
4) Have a specific goal and relay that to the kids so that they know. You can tell them that you're doing an out-and-back or a loop, or describe the turn-around point to look for. Have some idea of where you are in the run so you can tell them how much longer (because they will ask).
5)
If they want to stop along the way, tell them we can do that on the way back and
then work it into the run. It is nice to stop and let them play, too. While they
play, you can do jumping jacks or push-ups or just play with them; it's a great
way to work on general strength and balancing muscles.
Especially if you are coming back from a recent pregnancy and childbirth experience, a jogging stroller can wreck havoc on your running form and cause unnecessary injuries at a time when that is the last thing you need to deal with.
1) Find the correct handle height and keep it close to you. Especially when you're coming off a pregnancy and your core may not be as strong as usual, you may find you have the tendency, when running with a stroller, to hold the stroller at arms length and put some of your weight onto the handlebar. This causes you to bend forward at the hips, which is a big no-no for your form. Keep your elbows bent, and the stroller closer to your body. Run a mental check every mile or so, while you're getting used to it, to make sure you're still running in an upright position.
2) Toes forward. When running up hills with the stroller, look down and
make sure that you are running with your toes forward like you normally would.
When you feel like you are pushing the weight of the stroller and child up a
hill, you may find yourself pointing your toes out to allow push-off from the
inside of your foot, as if you were rollerskating up a hill. You're already
putting a lot of stress on your body with the extra weight you're pushing; be
nicer to yourself by keeping your feet pushing off properly and don't be afraid
to take the hill as easy as you need to. Accept that you'll get better at this
and that you will always be slower with the stroller than
without.
3) Ease into it. Yes, running with a stroller is more difficult that running without one. Take it easy, leave the stroller at home every other day, or alternate running and walking days. Your body will appreciate it and reward you with a smoother path back to form.
You're not the only one who will have to get used to this setup. Your child will also have some things to get used to. The following are some tips from Jennifer and Michael Wardian that they use when taking their boys, Pierce and Grant, on long runs.
1) Bring along snacks. Things like crackers, gummies or bananas, things that are easy to give them and you aren't worried about them choking on.
2) Bring water. Three sippy cups work well (for a double stroller, just two for a single), one for each kid and an extra, in case someone runs out.
3) Bring toys. A couple toys for each kid works well, plus a couple extras so that, in case they want what the other has, you can regulate.
4) Have a specific goal and relay that to the kids so that they know. You can tell them that you're doing an out-and-back or a loop, or describe the turn-around point to look for. Have some idea of where you are in the run so you can tell them how much longer (because they will ask).
5)
If they want to stop along the way, tell them we can do that on the way back and
then work it into the run. It is nice to stop and let them play, too. While they
play, you can do jumping jacks or push-ups or just play with them; it's a great
way to work on general strength and balancing muscles.
Stroller Baby Jogger
The Strollers
The biggest change since the last time we reviewed jogging strollers (in 2002) is the swivel-option front wheel. In the past, jogging strollers were for just that: jogging (or running, as we Americans tend to call it). So a family generally had to own a "regular" stroller and one used for running. Most major brands of jogging strollers now provide parents an option to get 2-in-1 with a front wheel that can be locked into place for running or turned loose and allowed to swivel, making the stroller much nicer to use for walking. The result is that while your stroller garage now requires only one parking place, the stroller has gotten more complicated as companies try to satisfy the needs of users in more situations. It is conceivable that parents who don't run at all would purchase one of these strollers since the big wheels and comfortable handles tend to make them much easier to push than the ones with the small plastic wheels.
The other big change since our last review is that the wheels, as a general rule, have gotten much smaller. The largest wheels in 2002 were 24 inches and many measured in around 20". In 2009, however, the largest wheel size, 16" was shared by several of the strollers and many were smaller.
Baby Jogger Summit 360$400
Stability and safety are the name of the game for the Summit 360. And it is probably a very nice stroller to push along for the runner as well, so long as you are tall enough for the handlebar. I found that my 5'6" height was a bit short for the stroller, and the handlebar does not adjust down. The manufacturer did not think that an adjustable handlebar could withstand the constant pressure that running would inflict on the handlebar. That said, this stroller would be a top pick from the rider's point of view. The harness is easy to use and didn't impede Oscar's ability to move or turn his head. The seat, which is set deeply between the frame, the wide wheel base and the aggressive shocks on the rear wheels provide a stable, secure and protected ride.
The front wheel does have a swivel option to make it easier to maneuver in small spaces; however, the swivel wheel can't do anything about the large size of the stroller. We were surprised how easily the stroller rolled, and it would be great for walking, but the high handle and stable wheel base made it difficult to maneuver while on the run.
RECOMMENDED FOR: The tall, safety-first kind of parent.
BOB
Ironman
$349
When I first started testing the jogging strollers, the cute little hand brakes made me giggle. It seemed like a vestigial appendage. Before long, though, I found myself reaching for one of the strollers with this attribute when I was heading out on a run more often than not. In the West Virginia mountains, where the roads are steep and decidedly not straight, any significant downhill must be run in a braking motion to keep the stroller from getting out of control. Unless, that is, the stroller was equipped with a front hand brake, in which case I could simply squeeze the brake and continue running down the hill as I normally would. Among other things, the Ironman has this going for it.
The Ironman is a solid, lightweight, well-made piece of equipment that almost seems to roll forward on its own. It collapses easily in two simple steps and can be opened and ready to roll with one jerk of one hand.
The Ironman is designed purely as a runner's stroller. Therefore the front wheel is fixed, with no swivel option, there is a hand brake and all the wheels are the larger, 16-inch size. The stroller is weighted slightly towards the rear, which makes maneuvering it, even with the fixed wheel, a breeze when running and walking. This shift of weight meant that I didn't have to slow my pace to make it around tight corners. The handle is not adjustable but was a fine height for my 5-foot 6-inch frame. We found the sun shade wasn't as adjustable as we'd have liked so invariably when running in the evening, Oscar got a face full of sunshine at some point in the run, which would make him squirm.
RECOMMENDED FOR: The hip, fit parent who wants to take her kid on lots of long training runs.
Mountain
Buggy Terrain
$499
With the Terrain model, Mountain Buggy has created a winner of a baby jogger. This buggy covers all the bases -- it is stable enough for walking, has an easily adjustable handlebar, slim profile, handbrake and is easy to collapse. It appears to be extremely comfortable for the rider (Oscar loves it above all the others) and runner (it's lightweight, rolls easily and covers rough terrain with ease). Plenty of storage space is available in the zippered bottom basket for "running" errands and the sunshade does a great job of living up to it's name.
The 5-point harness unclips in two locations so you can completely release your child without having to thread arms through loops, or you can leave the shoulder straps clipped in so the child who is excited to ride in the Terrain can be strapped up in one smooth step.
The biggest technological leap in this model is that when the wheel is in the fixed position for running, it still has a very slight amount of give to it. This small change means that while it is "fixed" and safe for running, you have some amount of steering ability, without having to lift the front wheel off the ground. This fine-tune control allows you to easily avoid potholes, rocks, bumps and go around slight turns with one hand on the handlebar and without even really thinking about it. Brilliant.
We'd say that Adam and Kara Goucher chose well when they picked this Mountain Buggy as their jogging stroller after the birth of their son.
RECOMMENDED FOR: We can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like this buggy.
S
chwinn
Free Rider
$219
The Schwinn was the other stroller in our review that came equipped with a hand brake. It is also the other stroller that doesn't have the front wheel swivel option. In fact, the Schwinn is your basic, everyday running stroller, and it fills that niche very nicely.
As the least expensive stroller in this review, it is purely functional and sufficient in every way. The simple harness can secure babies of all sizes, and the sun visor can be adjusted to shade the baby from sun coming from any angle.
The stroller has great appeal to the more practical among us. It has everything you need, and none of the frills. It collapses simply and effectively. We were able to fit it in the car along with all our other gear for a weekend camping trip. It can be pulled apart and set back up properly with one arm. The handlebar adjusts up or down to fit runners of all sizes.
The only thing we didn't like about this stroller was that the foot brake had no locked up position, so it would tend to fall down, especially on rougher terrain, and make an annoying clatter where it rubbed on the axle.
RECOMMENDED FOR: The practical, budget-conscious runner.
Phil
and Ted's Sport
$449
Note: Manufacturer states that the phil&teds Sport buggy is not designed specifically for jogging. Its 3 wheel design provides extra maneuverability with it's inline configuration, both as a single and a double stroller.
The options this stroller provides are endless. The seat can lay flat so you can take your newborn infant for a walk or you can sit him up and give him a handlebar to hold on to when he gets older. You can snap on an extra seat and make it an insta-double stroller that can carry up to 88 pounds of child between the two seats. The stroller has a narrow wheel base, which makes it invaluable for trucking around town and through crowded areas, and as a double stroller it is equally as narrow and not much longer. The handlebar is adjustable for different heights, and the safety harness is nice to use because it snaps together in the middle so you don't have to wrestle your child's hands through a strap, which they often don't enjoy.
This stroller isn't as smooth as the others over rough terrain and the weight is well centered, making it more difficult to maneuver when it is in the fixed wheel position, but it really was fun to use on roads and rail trails. Oscar fell asleep in short order, and I found it easy to push and fun to use. It felt like a small, loaded sports car next to the larger strollers we reviewed.
Phil and Ted's have made some breakthrough changes with this stroller that we expect we'll start seeing creep into other manufacturers' products, but some of the features that make this stroller so practical make it a bit difficult to use in other ways. This was the most complicated stroller to assemble out of the box. There were lots of parts to put together and the provided directions consisted of small square diagrams depicting each step of the process. It was also tricky to collapse for storage or stowing in the car, and equally confusing to set back up again.
This stroller's place as the most expensive single stroller in the review is misleading. The Phil & Ted's Sport can be easily used while you workout, shop, walk and travel and since it can adapt to holding two kids, you won't find yourself in the market for yet another stroller when your family increases the second time around. It is more of an investment up front, but for the right person, the investment will pay off in the end.
RECOMMENDED FOR: The sometimes-runner who never wants to buy another stroller.
BOB
Revolution
$389
BOB strollers tend towards the more expensive side. But they look and feel the part; in this case, you are really getting the quality that you pay for. The BOB Revolution is the stroller that Michael Wardian used when (along with his son Pierce) he set the still-standing world record of 2:42:21 for a marathon run with a jogging stroller. Wardian's take on the Revolution? "It is a money stroller."
Obviously, it is amenable to smooth riding, even at fast paces, and the swivel-wheel option makes it versatile for non-running uses as well.
The Revolution uses the same simple collapse and set-up mechanism as the Ironman and because it has smaller wheels, is a bit smaller still when it is in the collapsed position. The handlebar is not adjustable, but its horizontal orientation makes it work for many heights. If you're particularly short or tall, you might have trouble with the handlebar height, but it seems to work just fine for most runners. The BOB strollers have the nicest parking brake mechanism of any of the strollers we looked at. The spring-loaded foot brake is easy to engage and disengage, and stays solidly where it should when in use and not in use.
Recommended for: The hip, fit parent who isn't comfortable using a fixed-wheel stroller for other tasks around town.
Kelty
Speedster Swivel Deluxe
The two features I noticed first about the Kelty were the narrow profile and the bell. Both of these features lend the stroller towards use in crowded areas but even in the rural area where we live, they were appreciated. The narrow stroller made it easier to crowd to the side of the road when a car was passing, and what kid doesn't like playing games with the bell?
The sun canopy was fully adjustable -- we could shield Oscar's toes from the sun if we wanted to, and the adjustable handlebar and runner's water bottle holder make this a great stroller to use for runners of all sizes on long runs. The padded harness is comfortable when adjusted properly, but difficult to use for smaller or younger children.
The stroller breaks down easily and intuitively, and it's possible to set it back up with one hand, but much quicker and easier with two. The Kelty has a unique parking brake mechanism with a separate brake for each wheel, so for a quick stop, you can easily punch the brake onto one back wheel and for longer or hillier stops, two jabs of the foot are needed.
The Kelty's 85-pound weight capacity is the largest of any of the single strollers we reviewed. It does have the swivel wheel option for non-running activities.
RECOMMENDED FOR: City runners who want to take their kid on long runs for many years.
The biggest change since the last time we reviewed jogging strollers (in 2002) is the swivel-option front wheel. In the past, jogging strollers were for just that: jogging (or running, as we Americans tend to call it). So a family generally had to own a "regular" stroller and one used for running. Most major brands of jogging strollers now provide parents an option to get 2-in-1 with a front wheel that can be locked into place for running or turned loose and allowed to swivel, making the stroller much nicer to use for walking. The result is that while your stroller garage now requires only one parking place, the stroller has gotten more complicated as companies try to satisfy the needs of users in more situations. It is conceivable that parents who don't run at all would purchase one of these strollers since the big wheels and comfortable handles tend to make them much easier to push than the ones with the small plastic wheels.
The other big change since our last review is that the wheels, as a general rule, have gotten much smaller. The largest wheels in 2002 were 24 inches and many measured in around 20". In 2009, however, the largest wheel size, 16" was shared by several of the strollers and many were smaller.
Baby Jogger Summit 360$400
Stability and safety are the name of the game for the Summit 360. And it is probably a very nice stroller to push along for the runner as well, so long as you are tall enough for the handlebar. I found that my 5'6" height was a bit short for the stroller, and the handlebar does not adjust down. The manufacturer did not think that an adjustable handlebar could withstand the constant pressure that running would inflict on the handlebar. That said, this stroller would be a top pick from the rider's point of view. The harness is easy to use and didn't impede Oscar's ability to move or turn his head. The seat, which is set deeply between the frame, the wide wheel base and the aggressive shocks on the rear wheels provide a stable, secure and protected ride.
The front wheel does have a swivel option to make it easier to maneuver in small spaces; however, the swivel wheel can't do anything about the large size of the stroller. We were surprised how easily the stroller rolled, and it would be great for walking, but the high handle and stable wheel base made it difficult to maneuver while on the run.
RECOMMENDED FOR: The tall, safety-first kind of parent.
BOB
Ironman$349
When I first started testing the jogging strollers, the cute little hand brakes made me giggle. It seemed like a vestigial appendage. Before long, though, I found myself reaching for one of the strollers with this attribute when I was heading out on a run more often than not. In the West Virginia mountains, where the roads are steep and decidedly not straight, any significant downhill must be run in a braking motion to keep the stroller from getting out of control. Unless, that is, the stroller was equipped with a front hand brake, in which case I could simply squeeze the brake and continue running down the hill as I normally would. Among other things, the Ironman has this going for it.
The Ironman is a solid, lightweight, well-made piece of equipment that almost seems to roll forward on its own. It collapses easily in two simple steps and can be opened and ready to roll with one jerk of one hand.
The Ironman is designed purely as a runner's stroller. Therefore the front wheel is fixed, with no swivel option, there is a hand brake and all the wheels are the larger, 16-inch size. The stroller is weighted slightly towards the rear, which makes maneuvering it, even with the fixed wheel, a breeze when running and walking. This shift of weight meant that I didn't have to slow my pace to make it around tight corners. The handle is not adjustable but was a fine height for my 5-foot 6-inch frame. We found the sun shade wasn't as adjustable as we'd have liked so invariably when running in the evening, Oscar got a face full of sunshine at some point in the run, which would make him squirm.
RECOMMENDED FOR: The hip, fit parent who wants to take her kid on lots of long training runs.
Mountain
Buggy Terrain$499
With the Terrain model, Mountain Buggy has created a winner of a baby jogger. This buggy covers all the bases -- it is stable enough for walking, has an easily adjustable handlebar, slim profile, handbrake and is easy to collapse. It appears to be extremely comfortable for the rider (Oscar loves it above all the others) and runner (it's lightweight, rolls easily and covers rough terrain with ease). Plenty of storage space is available in the zippered bottom basket for "running" errands and the sunshade does a great job of living up to it's name.
The 5-point harness unclips in two locations so you can completely release your child without having to thread arms through loops, or you can leave the shoulder straps clipped in so the child who is excited to ride in the Terrain can be strapped up in one smooth step.
The biggest technological leap in this model is that when the wheel is in the fixed position for running, it still has a very slight amount of give to it. This small change means that while it is "fixed" and safe for running, you have some amount of steering ability, without having to lift the front wheel off the ground. This fine-tune control allows you to easily avoid potholes, rocks, bumps and go around slight turns with one hand on the handlebar and without even really thinking about it. Brilliant.
We'd say that Adam and Kara Goucher chose well when they picked this Mountain Buggy as their jogging stroller after the birth of their son.
RECOMMENDED FOR: We can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like this buggy.
S
chwinn
Free Rider$219
The Schwinn was the other stroller in our review that came equipped with a hand brake. It is also the other stroller that doesn't have the front wheel swivel option. In fact, the Schwinn is your basic, everyday running stroller, and it fills that niche very nicely.
As the least expensive stroller in this review, it is purely functional and sufficient in every way. The simple harness can secure babies of all sizes, and the sun visor can be adjusted to shade the baby from sun coming from any angle.
The stroller has great appeal to the more practical among us. It has everything you need, and none of the frills. It collapses simply and effectively. We were able to fit it in the car along with all our other gear for a weekend camping trip. It can be pulled apart and set back up properly with one arm. The handlebar adjusts up or down to fit runners of all sizes.
The only thing we didn't like about this stroller was that the foot brake had no locked up position, so it would tend to fall down, especially on rougher terrain, and make an annoying clatter where it rubbed on the axle.
RECOMMENDED FOR: The practical, budget-conscious runner.
Phil
and Ted's Sport$449
Note: Manufacturer states that the phil&teds Sport buggy is not designed specifically for jogging. Its 3 wheel design provides extra maneuverability with it's inline configuration, both as a single and a double stroller.
The options this stroller provides are endless. The seat can lay flat so you can take your newborn infant for a walk or you can sit him up and give him a handlebar to hold on to when he gets older. You can snap on an extra seat and make it an insta-double stroller that can carry up to 88 pounds of child between the two seats. The stroller has a narrow wheel base, which makes it invaluable for trucking around town and through crowded areas, and as a double stroller it is equally as narrow and not much longer. The handlebar is adjustable for different heights, and the safety harness is nice to use because it snaps together in the middle so you don't have to wrestle your child's hands through a strap, which they often don't enjoy.
This stroller isn't as smooth as the others over rough terrain and the weight is well centered, making it more difficult to maneuver when it is in the fixed wheel position, but it really was fun to use on roads and rail trails. Oscar fell asleep in short order, and I found it easy to push and fun to use. It felt like a small, loaded sports car next to the larger strollers we reviewed.
Phil and Ted's have made some breakthrough changes with this stroller that we expect we'll start seeing creep into other manufacturers' products, but some of the features that make this stroller so practical make it a bit difficult to use in other ways. This was the most complicated stroller to assemble out of the box. There were lots of parts to put together and the provided directions consisted of small square diagrams depicting each step of the process. It was also tricky to collapse for storage or stowing in the car, and equally confusing to set back up again.
This stroller's place as the most expensive single stroller in the review is misleading. The Phil & Ted's Sport can be easily used while you workout, shop, walk and travel and since it can adapt to holding two kids, you won't find yourself in the market for yet another stroller when your family increases the second time around. It is more of an investment up front, but for the right person, the investment will pay off in the end.
RECOMMENDED FOR: The sometimes-runner who never wants to buy another stroller.
BOB
Revolution$389
BOB strollers tend towards the more expensive side. But they look and feel the part; in this case, you are really getting the quality that you pay for. The BOB Revolution is the stroller that Michael Wardian used when (along with his son Pierce) he set the still-standing world record of 2:42:21 for a marathon run with a jogging stroller. Wardian's take on the Revolution? "It is a money stroller."
Obviously, it is amenable to smooth riding, even at fast paces, and the swivel-wheel option makes it versatile for non-running uses as well.
The Revolution uses the same simple collapse and set-up mechanism as the Ironman and because it has smaller wheels, is a bit smaller still when it is in the collapsed position. The handlebar is not adjustable, but its horizontal orientation makes it work for many heights. If you're particularly short or tall, you might have trouble with the handlebar height, but it seems to work just fine for most runners. The BOB strollers have the nicest parking brake mechanism of any of the strollers we looked at. The spring-loaded foot brake is easy to engage and disengage, and stays solidly where it should when in use and not in use.
Recommended for: The hip, fit parent who isn't comfortable using a fixed-wheel stroller for other tasks around town.
Kelty
Speedster Swivel DeluxeThe two features I noticed first about the Kelty were the narrow profile and the bell. Both of these features lend the stroller towards use in crowded areas but even in the rural area where we live, they were appreciated. The narrow stroller made it easier to crowd to the side of the road when a car was passing, and what kid doesn't like playing games with the bell?
The sun canopy was fully adjustable -- we could shield Oscar's toes from the sun if we wanted to, and the adjustable handlebar and runner's water bottle holder make this a great stroller to use for runners of all sizes on long runs. The padded harness is comfortable when adjusted properly, but difficult to use for smaller or younger children.
The stroller breaks down easily and intuitively, and it's possible to set it back up with one hand, but much quicker and easier with two. The Kelty has a unique parking brake mechanism with a separate brake for each wheel, so for a quick stop, you can easily punch the brake onto one back wheel and for longer or hillier stops, two jabs of the foot are needed.
The Kelty's 85-pound weight capacity is the largest of any of the single strollers we reviewed. It does have the swivel wheel option for non-running activities.
RECOMMENDED FOR: City runners who want to take their kid on long runs for many years.
Tuesday 16 July 2013
A Runner's Guide to Jogging Strollers
What makes a jogging stroller a jogging stroller? The standard, 4-wheeled baby stroller has certainly been used for jogging in past years. Those runs had to be carefully planned to cover only flat, smooth surfaces, and great care had to be taken in securing and padding the child while you ran, because the stroller had a tendency to skitter every which way on the path due to its shopping cart wheels.
Over the past decade, a new breed of strollers has evolved with three large fixed wheels, shocks, 5-point safety harnesses and drink holders for the child. Since our last stroller review in 2002, the jogging stroller has continued to develop, and the models available today offer unprecedented ease of use and safety, both for the runner and the rider.
Of course, one person's improvement is another person's scourge. And anyone who has ever tried to find the "regular" kind of toothpaste on the grocery shelves knows that having lots of options just makes decisions that much more complicated. In this guide, we break down choosing a stroller into the major variables that can make a stroller just what you're looking for or the next-best-thing-that-falls-just-short. Then we'll take a look at a selection of strollers that is available today and give you some tips for getting started running with your new stroller.
THE BREAKDOWN
Stability: Stability, of course, is a good attribute for a jogging stroller that will carry your precious bundle for many miles. But a well balanced stroller is not a runner's friend. Turning a stroller when running depends on uneven distribution of weight among the three wheels so that the runner can easily and smoothly lift the front wheel incrementally to turn the stroller around a corner or bend in the road. We observed that many of the strollers that are made for walking as well as running were much more stable, making them more difficult to maneuver when running. Take into consideration how much of your stroller time will be spent running versus walking.
Front Wheel: Many jogging strollers available today offer a front wheel that can be either locked into the straight-ahead position that is best for running, or set free to swivel, which makes steering when walking much nicer. This decision is related to the stability issue above. If you will be using your stroller only for running, then you don't need to spend the extra dollars to get one with a swivel option on the front wheel. Running with the wheel in swivel mode is dangerous because running over even a small pebble with a swivel wheel at running speeds could send the stroller quickly veering in an unplanned direction.
But who uses the stroller only for running? If you live in a city or other area where space is limited, you'll find the swivel wheel of great assistance in maneuvering the stroller around stores, sidewalks and anywhere else you might take your child. However, if you live in an area where there is plenty of room in stores and parking lots and the sidewalks are wide and sparsely populated, you might get along just fine with a wheel that is always facing forward. We found that in rural West Virginia, the swivel wheel was a luxury but certainly not a necessity.
Handle Height: If you are an average-sized man, this is probably not going to be an issue for you. But if, say, you and your (shorter) wife will both be using this stroller for running, you'll want to look for one with an adjustable handle. Few situations are more frustrating than trying to do a decent run with a stroller handle that doesn't fit. Your arm swing is already restricted by pushing the stroller; if you have to hold your hands unusually high as well, you'll be much more tempted to hire a babysitter next time. Many companies offer a stroller with an adjustable height handle and while some accomplish this better than others, all were acceptable to our testers.
Wheel Width: The main reasons to consider wheel width are spacial and aesthetic. Some might feel self conscious pushing around a stroller that takes up more than half the sidewalk. Some of us just don't have space to store such a device when it is not in use. But the wider wheeled strollers tend to offer more space for carrying along supplies or errand material, provide a better fit for larger children and feel more stable than the strollers with more narrowly spaced wheels. The more narrow vehicles feel sleek and slim, and fit through doors more easily.
Hand Brake: When we saw our first strollers, we thought the hand brake was a cute accessory, one of those things they add on so they can have more bullet points in the features box. As soon as we started running with them, though, we realized they are truly a wonderful addition to a jogging stroller, particularly for those of us who live in hilly areas. The hand brake allows the runner to maintain form and pace when running downhill with the stroller, rather than having to sit back and act as the brake to keep from losing control of the stroller. This may not be a big deal on small or shallow hills, but with long steep hills, lacking a hand brake could create a significant break from your normal (and healthy) running form.
Sun Canopy: Since we don't do all of our runs at midday, the sun canopy is a definite issue. An hour in the sun on a summer afternoon could leave your little one's legs burned to a crisp and the glare of the setting sun in your child's eyes as you round the bend to head for home could ruin your run. We found some of the strollers offered a fully adjustable sun canopy that was easy to move around to block the sun wherever it was located relative to your child's eyes. Some canopies do a thorough job of blocking the sun from the seating area. Beware, though, of canopies that snap into place for good and provide little room for adjustment. No canopy can be everywhere at once (for that would be called a box) but some do a much better job allowing the user to control the child's exposure.
Folding: There are two main bullet points to consider for folding: How Small and How Easy. How Small applies to you if you have a small car or storage space. In that case, you'll probably want a stroller that folds twice as these tend to have the smallest profile when folded. How Easy, though, applies to any parent. If the stroller takes 4 hands to break down or set up, then you can bet it will be staying put together 100% of the time. Most strollers take at least two hands to break down, but some can be easily snapped fully into place with one hand. This is invaluable when your other hand is occupied with carrying or comforting a testy child, or holding on to any number of other things.
Over the past decade, a new breed of strollers has evolved with three large fixed wheels, shocks, 5-point safety harnesses and drink holders for the child. Since our last stroller review in 2002, the jogging stroller has continued to develop, and the models available today offer unprecedented ease of use and safety, both for the runner and the rider.
Of course, one person's improvement is another person's scourge. And anyone who has ever tried to find the "regular" kind of toothpaste on the grocery shelves knows that having lots of options just makes decisions that much more complicated. In this guide, we break down choosing a stroller into the major variables that can make a stroller just what you're looking for or the next-best-thing-that-falls-just-short. Then we'll take a look at a selection of strollers that is available today and give you some tips for getting started running with your new stroller.
THE BREAKDOWN
Stability: Stability, of course, is a good attribute for a jogging stroller that will carry your precious bundle for many miles. But a well balanced stroller is not a runner's friend. Turning a stroller when running depends on uneven distribution of weight among the three wheels so that the runner can easily and smoothly lift the front wheel incrementally to turn the stroller around a corner or bend in the road. We observed that many of the strollers that are made for walking as well as running were much more stable, making them more difficult to maneuver when running. Take into consideration how much of your stroller time will be spent running versus walking.
Front Wheel: Many jogging strollers available today offer a front wheel that can be either locked into the straight-ahead position that is best for running, or set free to swivel, which makes steering when walking much nicer. This decision is related to the stability issue above. If you will be using your stroller only for running, then you don't need to spend the extra dollars to get one with a swivel option on the front wheel. Running with the wheel in swivel mode is dangerous because running over even a small pebble with a swivel wheel at running speeds could send the stroller quickly veering in an unplanned direction.But who uses the stroller only for running? If you live in a city or other area where space is limited, you'll find the swivel wheel of great assistance in maneuvering the stroller around stores, sidewalks and anywhere else you might take your child. However, if you live in an area where there is plenty of room in stores and parking lots and the sidewalks are wide and sparsely populated, you might get along just fine with a wheel that is always facing forward. We found that in rural West Virginia, the swivel wheel was a luxury but certainly not a necessity.
Handle Height: If you are an average-sized man, this is probably not going to be an issue for you. But if, say, you and your (shorter) wife will both be using this stroller for running, you'll want to look for one with an adjustable handle. Few situations are more frustrating than trying to do a decent run with a stroller handle that doesn't fit. Your arm swing is already restricted by pushing the stroller; if you have to hold your hands unusually high as well, you'll be much more tempted to hire a babysitter next time. Many companies offer a stroller with an adjustable height handle and while some accomplish this better than others, all were acceptable to our testers.Wheel Width: The main reasons to consider wheel width are spacial and aesthetic. Some might feel self conscious pushing around a stroller that takes up more than half the sidewalk. Some of us just don't have space to store such a device when it is not in use. But the wider wheeled strollers tend to offer more space for carrying along supplies or errand material, provide a better fit for larger children and feel more stable than the strollers with more narrowly spaced wheels. The more narrow vehicles feel sleek and slim, and fit through doors more easily.
Hand Brake: When we saw our first strollers, we thought the hand brake was a cute accessory, one of those things they add on so they can have more bullet points in the features box. As soon as we started running with them, though, we realized they are truly a wonderful addition to a jogging stroller, particularly for those of us who live in hilly areas. The hand brake allows the runner to maintain form and pace when running downhill with the stroller, rather than having to sit back and act as the brake to keep from losing control of the stroller. This may not be a big deal on small or shallow hills, but with long steep hills, lacking a hand brake could create a significant break from your normal (and healthy) running form.
Sun Canopy: Since we don't do all of our runs at midday, the sun canopy is a definite issue. An hour in the sun on a summer afternoon could leave your little one's legs burned to a crisp and the glare of the setting sun in your child's eyes as you round the bend to head for home could ruin your run. We found some of the strollers offered a fully adjustable sun canopy that was easy to move around to block the sun wherever it was located relative to your child's eyes. Some canopies do a thorough job of blocking the sun from the seating area. Beware, though, of canopies that snap into place for good and provide little room for adjustment. No canopy can be everywhere at once (for that would be called a box) but some do a much better job allowing the user to control the child's exposure.Folding: There are two main bullet points to consider for folding: How Small and How Easy. How Small applies to you if you have a small car or storage space. In that case, you'll probably want a stroller that folds twice as these tend to have the smallest profile when folded. How Easy, though, applies to any parent. If the stroller takes 4 hands to break down or set up, then you can bet it will be staying put together 100% of the time. Most strollers take at least two hands to break down, but some can be easily snapped fully into place with one hand. This is invaluable when your other hand is occupied with carrying or comforting a testy child, or holding on to any number of other things.
Sunday 14 July 2013
Berpuasa Ketika Hamil
Adakah selamat untuk saya berpuasa semasa hamil?
Beberapa kajian telah dibuat mengenai kesan berpuasa, namun tiada jawapan yang pasti mengenai perkara ini.Walau bagaimanapun, berikut adalah perkara yang kami pasti:
- Beberapa kajian telah dibuat tentang berat bayi semasa kelahiran, dan didapati bahawa tiada perbezaan antara bayi yang ibunya berpuasa dengan bayi yang ibunya tidak berpuasa.
- Kajian-kajian mengenai IQ bayi pula mendapati tiada perbezaan di antara kedua-duanya.
- Dalam beberapa kajian, sampel darah ibu hamil yang berpuasa menunjukkan terdapat sedikit perubahan, namun perubahan tersebut didapati tidak membahayakan ibu dan bayi. Kajian tersebut juga membandingkan berat bayi semasa lahir, tetapi tiada perbezaan.
- Peringkat kehamilan. Biasanya wanita hamil yang dalam trimester kedua paling kuat bertahan.
- Kesihatan anda sebelum kehamilan dan samada terdapat sebarang komplikasi semasa hamil.
Bagaimana dengan wanita-wanita lain?
Majoriti wanita Islam yang hamil memilih untuk berpuasa di bulan Ramadan. Kajian menunjukkan sehingga 70 peratus daripada mereka memilih untuk berpuasa.Anda juga tentu boleh berpuasa terutamanya dalam trimester kedua iaitu apabila kebanyakan wanita hamil merasa lebih bertenaga berbanding trimester pertama dan ketiga, dan jika anda tidak mempunyai masalah kesihatan atau komplikasi tertentu.
Namun, Islam juga membenarkan wanita hamil untuk tidak berpuasa sekiranya bimbang berpuasa akan memudaratkan ibu dan bayi, dan tentu sekali si ibu wajib menggantikan puasa (qada’) tersebut setelah bayi dilahirkan. Mereka yang mengalami diabetes semasa hamil mungkin perlu berbincang dahulu dengan doktor mereka. Mintalah pendapat ahli keluarga, doktor dan guru agama atau mereka yang arif dengan hukum Islam untuk membantu anda membuat keputusan yang betul.
Apakah yang perlu saya lakukan sebelum berpuasa?
Perancangan yang baik akan memudahkan anda berpuasa.- Berbincanglah dengan majikan anda mengenai tugasan anda semasa Ramadan. Sesetengah syarikat mengurangkan waktu operasi dan waktu bekerja pada bulan ini.
- Persediaan awal seperti membereskan urusan beli-belah dan tugasan tertentu boleh dilakukan sebelum berpuasa.
Apakah cara terbaik untuk berbuka puasa?
Pastikan anda makan pelbagai makanan yang sihat dan minum banyak air apabila anda berbuka puasa dan semasa sahur.- Pilih makanan yang membebaskan tenaga dengan perlahan seperti buah kurma, kekacang dan lentil untuk berbuka puasa.
- Elakkan makanan manis yang akan meningkatkan tahap gula dalam darah anda dengan cepat. Ia juga akan turun dengan cepat dan ini membuatkan anda berasa seperti hendak pitam dan pening.
- Pastikan anda mendapat protein secukupnya daripada kekacang, daging dan telur yang dimasak sepenuhnya. Protein diperlukan untuk membantu bayi anda membesar dengan sihat.
- Minum air yang banyak pada waktu malam. Anda boleh ternyahhidrat dengan cepat terutamanya jika cuaca sangat panas pada bulan Ramadan.
Apakah tanda-tanda bahaya yang perlu saya ketahui?
Hubungi doktor anda jika:- Anda pening kepala, pengsan, lemah atau letih. Berehat selama setengah jam untuk kembali sihat dan jika tiada perubahan, hubungi doktor anda.
- Anda loya atau mula muntah.
- Terdapat perubahan ketara pada pergerakan bayi anda. Jika bayi anda tidak bergerak atau kurang menendang, amat penting untuk anda menghubungi doktor anda.
- Anda berasa sangat dahaga atau air kencing anda berwarna gelap dan berbau kuat. Ini adalah tanda-tanda penyahhidratan.
- Anda mengalami kesakitan seakan-akan sakin bersalin. Ini mungkin tanda kelahiran pramatang dan anda perlu hubungi doktor anda dengan segera.
- Berat badan anda tidak bertambah atau berat badan anda berkurangan.
- Anda sakit kepala atau mengalami kesakitan lain atau demam.
Bagaimana cara untuk memudahkan saya berpuasa semasa hamil?
Terdapat pelbagai langkah yang boleh anda ambil:- Rancang hari anda supaya anda boleh berehat secukupnya.
- Elakkan berjalan jauh dan membawa barang-barang berat.
- Elakkan aktiviti yang membuatkan anda berasa panas kerana ini boleh menyebabkan anda teryahhidrat dengan cepat dan membahayakan bayi.
- Mintalah nasihat daripada wanita lain dalam keluarga anda tentang bagaimana menjalani puasa semasa hamil.
- Amalkan pemakanan yang baik apabila anda berbuka. Dapatkan tip-tip lanjut tentang makanan untuk berbuka dan sahur.
Saya masih kurang pasti sama ada saya perlu berpuasa atau tidak. Apa yang perlu saya lakukan?
Berbincanglah dengan ahli keluarga, doktor atau ahli agama sebelum membuat keputusan.Wednesday 10 July 2013
Cara solat terawih bersendirian
Soalan; saya ada dua soalan;
1 ) Bagaimana nak buat solat taraweh bersendirian?
2 ) Adakah selawat selepas setiap 2 rakaat solat taraweh itu perlu dan macamana kalau tidak buat dan cara melakukanya (tidak berselawat)
Jawapan;
1. Solat terawih sama seperti solat-solat sunat yang lain yang biasa kita lakukan, iaitu ditunaikan dua-dua rakaat dengan bermula dari takbir dan diakhiri dengan memberi salam. Ketika hendak solat, niatkan di dalam hati untuk mengerjakan solat terawih atau qiyam Ramadhan, kemudian lakukan solat sebagaimana biasa. Bacaan-bacaan di dalam solat juga sebagaimana yang biasa dibaca dalam solat-solat yang lain. Kesimpulannya, yang berbeza dalam solat terawih ini ialah niatnya sahaja. Adapun rukun-rukun dan sunat-sunat di dalam solat, ia sama seperti dalam solat-solat yang lain. Oleh kerana solat terawih dilakukan dua-dua rakaat, maka setiap dua rakaat hendaklah memberi salam dan kemudian bangun mengerjakan lagi dua rakaat hinggalah sempurna bilangan rakaat yang dikehendaki (lapan, dua puluh atau sebagainya).
2. Adapun berselawat selepas setiap dua rakaat, ia tidaklah wajib dan tidak mencacatkan solat terawih jika tidak melakukannya. Amalan berselawat itu hanya dilakukan sebagai selingan antara dua-dua rakaat solat untuk memberi kerehatan sesuai dengan nama solat itu “Solat Terawih”. Ia bukanlah sabit dari amalan Nabi s.a.w. secara khusus. Jika kita tidak berselawat, kita boleh menggantinya dengan ibadah-ibadah yang lain seperti berzikir, berdoa, membaca al-Quran, bertazkirah dan sebagainya. Dan harus juga kita meneruskan solat tanpa menyelanginya dengan sebarang ibadah yang lain.
1 ) Bagaimana nak buat solat taraweh bersendirian?
2 ) Adakah selawat selepas setiap 2 rakaat solat taraweh itu perlu dan macamana kalau tidak buat dan cara melakukanya (tidak berselawat)
Jawapan;
1. Solat terawih sama seperti solat-solat sunat yang lain yang biasa kita lakukan, iaitu ditunaikan dua-dua rakaat dengan bermula dari takbir dan diakhiri dengan memberi salam. Ketika hendak solat, niatkan di dalam hati untuk mengerjakan solat terawih atau qiyam Ramadhan, kemudian lakukan solat sebagaimana biasa. Bacaan-bacaan di dalam solat juga sebagaimana yang biasa dibaca dalam solat-solat yang lain. Kesimpulannya, yang berbeza dalam solat terawih ini ialah niatnya sahaja. Adapun rukun-rukun dan sunat-sunat di dalam solat, ia sama seperti dalam solat-solat yang lain. Oleh kerana solat terawih dilakukan dua-dua rakaat, maka setiap dua rakaat hendaklah memberi salam dan kemudian bangun mengerjakan lagi dua rakaat hinggalah sempurna bilangan rakaat yang dikehendaki (lapan, dua puluh atau sebagainya).
2. Adapun berselawat selepas setiap dua rakaat, ia tidaklah wajib dan tidak mencacatkan solat terawih jika tidak melakukannya. Amalan berselawat itu hanya dilakukan sebagai selingan antara dua-dua rakaat solat untuk memberi kerehatan sesuai dengan nama solat itu “Solat Terawih”. Ia bukanlah sabit dari amalan Nabi s.a.w. secara khusus. Jika kita tidak berselawat, kita boleh menggantinya dengan ibadah-ibadah yang lain seperti berzikir, berdoa, membaca al-Quran, bertazkirah dan sebagainya. Dan harus juga kita meneruskan solat tanpa menyelanginya dengan sebarang ibadah yang lain.
Kelebihan Berpuasa
Menurut kajiannya, di antara manfaat kesihatan daripada berpuasa ialah:
- Merehatkan tubuh dan memperbaiki saraf.
- Menyerap zat-zat yang mengendap di usus. Pengendapan dalam jangka waktu yang lama mengakibatkan perubahan endapan itu menjadi kotoran yang beracun.
- Memperbaiki fungsi pencernaan dan penyerapan.
- Mengembalikan virtaliti organ pembuangan, dan memperbaiki fungsinya untuk membersihkan tubuh, yang mengakibatkan terkawalnya kestabilan dalam darah dan berbagai cairan dalam tubuh.
- Mengurai zat-zat yang berlebihan dan endapan di dalam jaringan yang sakit.
- Mengembalikan keremajaan dan vitaliti sel-sel serta berbagai jaringan dalam tubuh.
- Menguatkan indera dan meningkatkan IQ.
- Memperelok dan membersihkan kulit.
Tuesday 9 July 2013
Pantang larang semasa berpuasa
Terdapat dua kategori disiplin (pantang larang) dalam ibadat puasa:-
1) Disiplin Fizikal – menahan diri dari makan, minum dan melakukan seks disiang hari.
2) Disiplin Spiritual (Rohani) – menahan diri dari perbuatan keji seperti bergaduh, melihat perempuan ajnabi dan:-
a) Menjaga mulut dari bercakap benda yang dilarang, mengumpat,Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a. katanya, Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda, “Apabila seseorang kamu berpuasa, janganlah ia bercakap perkara-perkara yang kotor dan sia-sia, dilarang juga bertengkar dan memaki hamun. Apabila ia dimaki hamun oleh seseorang atau pun diajak bermusuhan maka hendaklah ia berkata, “Sesungguhnya aku berpuasa hari ini”Begitu juga dalam menjaga mulut dari menyanyi selain dari memuji Allah, Nabi, syurga dan perkara yang baik sahaja. Hukum nyanyian sama dengan percakapan, apa yang dibenarkan dalam percakapan itulah yang dibenarkan dalam nyanyian. Nyanyian yang dibenarkan ulama-ulama terdahulu adalah nyanyian tanpa muzik.
b) Menjaga mata dari melihat benda yang dilarang
c) Menjaga telinga dari mendengar benda yang dilarang seperti umpatan, muzik.
d) Menjaga anggota lain dari sebarang perkara mungkar, pergi ke tempat maksiat. Ulama feqah mengatakan sah puasa jika jaga disiplin “fizikal” sahaja, tapi tiada pahala. Lagipun Nabi menyuruh kita agar menjaga kedua-dua disiplin fizikal dan spiritual puasa.Puasa yang rugiRamai orang puasa tapi tidak dapat apa-apa melainkan lapar dan dahaga.
Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda yang maksudnya: “Berapa banyak orang yang berpuasa tetapi dia tidak mendapat apa-apa dari puasanya kecuali hanya lapar dan dahaga.”Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a. katanya bahawa Nabi s.a.w. bersabda: “Sesiapa yang tidak meninggalkan percakapan bohong dan berkelakuan buruk sedangkan ia berpuasa, baginya tidak ada kelebihan (pahala) di sisi Allah selain dari lapar dan dahaga sahaja yang didapatinya.” (Riwayat Bukhari)
Matlamat puasa bukanlah sekadar meninggalkan makan dan minum, tetapi untuk melemahkan nafsu yang buruk. Oleh itu hendaklah mengawal diri dari melakukan perkara yang keji semasa berpuasa.PerjuanganOleh itu berjuanglah untuk menjagalah semua disiplin-disiplin dibulan Ramadahan, selain dari makan, minum, seks, jagalah lidah, mata, telinga, anggota lain dari perkara yang sia-sia agar kita mendapat rahmat (10 Ramadhan pertama), keampunan (10 Ramadhan kedua) dan kemerdekaan dari azab neraka(10 Ramadhan terakhir)
1) Disiplin Fizikal – menahan diri dari makan, minum dan melakukan seks disiang hari.
2) Disiplin Spiritual (Rohani) – menahan diri dari perbuatan keji seperti bergaduh, melihat perempuan ajnabi dan:-
a) Menjaga mulut dari bercakap benda yang dilarang, mengumpat,Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a. katanya, Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda, “Apabila seseorang kamu berpuasa, janganlah ia bercakap perkara-perkara yang kotor dan sia-sia, dilarang juga bertengkar dan memaki hamun. Apabila ia dimaki hamun oleh seseorang atau pun diajak bermusuhan maka hendaklah ia berkata, “Sesungguhnya aku berpuasa hari ini”Begitu juga dalam menjaga mulut dari menyanyi selain dari memuji Allah, Nabi, syurga dan perkara yang baik sahaja. Hukum nyanyian sama dengan percakapan, apa yang dibenarkan dalam percakapan itulah yang dibenarkan dalam nyanyian. Nyanyian yang dibenarkan ulama-ulama terdahulu adalah nyanyian tanpa muzik.
b) Menjaga mata dari melihat benda yang dilarang
c) Menjaga telinga dari mendengar benda yang dilarang seperti umpatan, muzik.
d) Menjaga anggota lain dari sebarang perkara mungkar, pergi ke tempat maksiat. Ulama feqah mengatakan sah puasa jika jaga disiplin “fizikal” sahaja, tapi tiada pahala. Lagipun Nabi menyuruh kita agar menjaga kedua-dua disiplin fizikal dan spiritual puasa.Puasa yang rugiRamai orang puasa tapi tidak dapat apa-apa melainkan lapar dan dahaga.
Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda yang maksudnya: “Berapa banyak orang yang berpuasa tetapi dia tidak mendapat apa-apa dari puasanya kecuali hanya lapar dan dahaga.”Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a. katanya bahawa Nabi s.a.w. bersabda: “Sesiapa yang tidak meninggalkan percakapan bohong dan berkelakuan buruk sedangkan ia berpuasa, baginya tidak ada kelebihan (pahala) di sisi Allah selain dari lapar dan dahaga sahaja yang didapatinya.” (Riwayat Bukhari)
Matlamat puasa bukanlah sekadar meninggalkan makan dan minum, tetapi untuk melemahkan nafsu yang buruk. Oleh itu hendaklah mengawal diri dari melakukan perkara yang keji semasa berpuasa.PerjuanganOleh itu berjuanglah untuk menjagalah semua disiplin-disiplin dibulan Ramadahan, selain dari makan, minum, seks, jagalah lidah, mata, telinga, anggota lain dari perkara yang sia-sia agar kita mendapat rahmat (10 Ramadhan pertama), keampunan (10 Ramadhan kedua) dan kemerdekaan dari azab neraka(10 Ramadhan terakhir)
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