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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Parenting

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The October Sky Posted: Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern Running Time: 107 mins This movie came out more than a decade ago but this is the first time I've watched it and although there is nothing remarkably new or fresh about its plot, acting or direction, it still is a great example of how to make a family movie that is inspiring and unsentimental (well almost...)  Based on a true story from the memoirs of one Homer Hickam, from Coalwood, West Virginia in the Appalachians, October Sky is ripe with the traditional elements of filmmaking, and a triumphant one at that. The backdrop for the film is the space race between America and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and the story begins with Americans glued to their radios as they listen to reports of the Soviets successfully launching a rocket into space, thereby gaining a distinct lead in the race with the U.S.  This inspires Homer (Gyllenhaal)'s interest in rockets and he decides to build his own version. Unfortunately, although Homer is a fairly good student, his weaker subjects are maths and science, but encouraged by his teacher Miss Riley (Dern), Homer and a few of his pals start experimenting with building rockets. He is initially discouraged by his strict father (Cooper) who runs the coal mine that the whole town is built around. His father believes that coal mining is the backbone of the US economy and a job that any American should be proud to undertake.  Homer though believes that his rocket building experiments could be a ticket out of Coalwood and its hazardous coal mines as he intends to participate in the county science fair. Winning it would mean participating in the National Finals where college scholarships await.  While being scoffed at initially, his single-mindedness earnestness eventually wins the small town over as they all get involved in one way or another to help Homer achieve his dream. You know where the story is heading within the first thirty minutes of the film but you still can't help being sucked into its heartwarming message and rooting for its protagonist.  Gyllenhaal plays Homer with wide-eyed innocence and wonder and the rest of the supporting cast provide solid support, especially Cooper as Homer's dad. You would have seen many similar films but not many have been able to pull off an engaging and inspiring story with the same rewards as The October Sky. There is some slightly harsh language occasionally so the film would be more suited to older children and tweens. - Review by S.N.

Breaking a record over a special bond Posted: Proud mothers and their babies went down in history as they made it into the Malaysia Book of Records for the Largest Number of Mothers Breastfeeding Simulta-neously, at the Gift of Love Charity Bazaar in Grand Seasons Hotel, Kuala Lumpur recently. Organised by The Breastfeeding Advocates Network (TBAN), an online breastfeeding support group, the event was held in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week, which was from Aug 1 to 7 this year. Mothers breastfed their babies for five minutes during the official record-breaking attempt, while supportive fathers and family members gathered at the sidelines. The official count was 450 participants, breaking the previous record of 308 set in 2006. Each mother received a certificate for their participation. Booths featuring various items for both mother and child were also set up at the event, as well as photoshoots and talks by local stars Juliana Ibrahim, Pei Xuan and Lavin Seow, who are all breastfeeding mothers. This is the second time the charity bazaar has been held since TBAN was founded in 2009. "The event is to raise funds for an awareness campaign, including a television commercial, posters and car stickers for clinics, offices nursing rooms, shopping malls, baby shops and private businesses," said TBAN founder Gina Yong. "It is also a good platform for breastfeeding mums to share their experiences and bond with their families," said Yong. Sylvia Gomez, 31, was one of the mothers who attended the event. "A support group is important, especially for first-time mothers like me. We can share information and ideas on how to feed our child," she said. Gomez said there was still resistance towards the idea of breastfeeding among many people today. "In the old days, most mothers could not afford milk formula for their babies, so they regarded it as a luxury. Breastfeeding is actually the best thing you can give your child," she said. She added that there were various benefits for both mother and child when one chose to breastfeed. "I lost 10 kgs from breastfeeding, and I find that I have better eating habits, simply because what I eat is passed on to my child via brestmilk," she said. Meanwhile, Radiance Chan said the event was a good start to educate people on the benefits of breastfeeding. "When I was pregnant, I was scared about how to nurse my baby. After joining the group, I felt more confident as I learned from stories and experiences shared by others," said the first-time mum of six-month old Wynd. Nadiah Noor was another participant who was at the event with her three-month-old infant. "Breastfeeding has been scientifically proven to be good for the baby. It helps increase their immune system and prevent infection, or reduce obesity in later life," she said. "All my children have been breastfed," said the 31-year-old proud mother of three.

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