December 28, 2011
Twenty Classic Films
Take a peek into the celluloid past: CLICK THIS LINK to get to know which are the 20 classic films every child should watch to understand the history of cinema!
December 19, 2011
Help People...
Thanks to reader SKTio who sent me the following link.
Tsunami Relief: Help People Not Whalers
Please visit that page and give your support and pass on the message.
Thank you!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tsunami Relief: Help People Not Whalers
Please visit that page and give your support and pass on the message.
Thank you!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
December 16, 2011
A Must-Read Report
Steven Waldman and the Working Group on Information Needs of Communities recently wrote this excellent report on THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES - The changing media landscape in a broadband age.
Please CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT.
Please CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT.
December 11, 2011
The Adult Who Took the Test
Recently, fellow blogger Joshua sent me the following article from The Washington Post.
When an adult took standardized tests forced on kids
A longtime friend on the school board of one of the largest school systems in America did something that few public servants are willing to do. He took versions of his state’s high-stakes standardized math and reading tests for 10th graders, and said he’d make his scores public.
By any reasonable measure, my friend is a success. His now-grown kids are well-educated. He has a big house in a good part of town. Paid-for condo in the Caribbean. Influential friends. Lots of frequent flyer miles. Enough time of his own to give serious attention to his school board responsibilities. The margins of his electoral wins and his good relationships with administrators and teachers testify to his openness to dialogue and willingness to listen.
He called me the morning he took the test to say he was sure he hadn’t done well, but had to wait for the results. A couple of days ago, realizing that local school board members don’t seem to be playing much of a role in the current “reform” brouhaha, I asked him what he now thought about the tests he’d taken.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
*Thanks to Joshua who sent me the link.
When an adult took standardized tests forced on kids
A longtime friend on the school board of one of the largest school systems in America did something that few public servants are willing to do. He took versions of his state’s high-stakes standardized math and reading tests for 10th graders, and said he’d make his scores public.
By any reasonable measure, my friend is a success. His now-grown kids are well-educated. He has a big house in a good part of town. Paid-for condo in the Caribbean. Influential friends. Lots of frequent flyer miles. Enough time of his own to give serious attention to his school board responsibilities. The margins of his electoral wins and his good relationships with administrators and teachers testify to his openness to dialogue and willingness to listen.
He called me the morning he took the test to say he was sure he hadn’t done well, but had to wait for the results. A couple of days ago, realizing that local school board members don’t seem to be playing much of a role in the current “reform” brouhaha, I asked him what he now thought about the tests he’d taken.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
*Thanks to Joshua who sent me the link.
December 05, 2011
Smartphone addicts starting to feel pain
Users of smartphones and tablet computers are starting to get high-tech blues, as increasing numbers of the tech savvy are coming down with ailments from “text neck” to “text thumb injury”.
Health experts in Britain have warned that the strain injuries stemming from long periods spent staring at small screens and tapping at tiny keys can be debilitating. And the injuries are becoming more common as high-tech gadgets grow ever more popular.
More and more Britons use their smartphones — in effect tiny PCs that fit in a jacket pocket — for accessing the Internet rather than making phone calls.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this article.
Health experts in Britain have warned that the strain injuries stemming from long periods spent staring at small screens and tapping at tiny keys can be debilitating. And the injuries are becoming more common as high-tech gadgets grow ever more popular.
More and more Britons use their smartphones — in effect tiny PCs that fit in a jacket pocket — for accessing the Internet rather than making phone calls.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this article.
December 03, 2011
The Dangers of Aromatherapy
Sophie Barland of The Daily Mail wrote a very interesting article on Can aromatherapy oils poison you? How tiny particles 'may damage liver and kidneys'. She said:
They are meant to soothe aches and pains, relieve stress and induce a sense of relaxation.
But aromatherapy oils may in fact do more harm than good, according to scientists.
They have claimed that the extracts – used in baths, massages or burned in rooms – react with the air to produce tiny irritant particles.
Researchers found that when the so-called essential oils were used in relaxation spas for massages, the concentration of these potentially harmful particles increased tenfold.
The scientists said that certain chemicals in the oils, called volatile organic compounds, mix with the air to form secondary organic aerosols.
These particles irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and are also known to cause headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver and kidneys.
This study only examined the size and number of these particles released when people had massages in spas.
However other research has shown they are also produced by burning essential oils in the home or office – although not to the same extent.
Essential oils such as lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus and peppermint are extracted from plants and trees.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
They are meant to soothe aches and pains, relieve stress and induce a sense of relaxation.
But aromatherapy oils may in fact do more harm than good, according to scientists.
They have claimed that the extracts – used in baths, massages or burned in rooms – react with the air to produce tiny irritant particles.
Researchers found that when the so-called essential oils were used in relaxation spas for massages, the concentration of these potentially harmful particles increased tenfold.
The scientists said that certain chemicals in the oils, called volatile organic compounds, mix with the air to form secondary organic aerosols.
These particles irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and are also known to cause headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver and kidneys.
This study only examined the size and number of these particles released when people had massages in spas.
However other research has shown they are also produced by burning essential oils in the home or office – although not to the same extent.
Essential oils such as lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus and peppermint are extracted from plants and trees.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
November 13, 2011
Rebellious media: history gives us hope
I was recently invited to be a speaker at the upcoming Rebellious Media Conference in London – a celebration of the role of alternative media in bringing about social change. With all of the tickets sold and Noam Chomsky delivering the keynote, it looks likely to be significant. Chomsky is known for showing how the current structure of the media business can serve to squeeze out radical viewpoints. But this is not a new phenomenon. Indeed, throughout history élites have consistently sought to stifle those media sources that challenge them. But history also provides myriad stories of resistance and resilience to inspire campaigners and radical journalists today.
One of my favourites is a story set in the early 19th century, when taxes on newspapers were levied in such a way as to put radical media outside the purchasing power of ordinary working people. The mark of having paid the 4d tax was a ‘stamp’ of approval from the government. Although this led to the closure of some newspapers, a new publication was set up in defiance of this unjust law, illegally priced at 1d: The Poor Man’s Guardian.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
One of my favourites is a story set in the early 19th century, when taxes on newspapers were levied in such a way as to put radical media outside the purchasing power of ordinary working people. The mark of having paid the 4d tax was a ‘stamp’ of approval from the government. Although this led to the closure of some newspapers, a new publication was set up in defiance of this unjust law, illegally priced at 1d: The Poor Man’s Guardian.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
October 31, 2011
The Final Crunch
Google can only hope that Steve Jobs' final vendetta doesn't haunt the Internet search leader from his grave.
The depths of Jobs' antipathy toward Google leaps out of Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Apple's co-founder. The book goes on sale Monday, less than three weeks after Jobs' long battle with pancreatic cancer culminated in his Oct. 5 death. The Associated Press obtained a copy Thursday.
The biography drips with Jobs' vitriol as he discusses his belief that Google stole from Apple's iPhone to build many of the features in Google's Android software for rival phones.
It's clear that the perceived theft represented an unforgiveable act of betrayal to Jobs, who had been a mentor to Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and had welcomed Google's CEO at the time, Eric Schmidt, to be on Apple's board.
Jobs retaliated with a profane manifesto during a 2010 conversation with his chosen biographer. Isaacson wrote that he never saw Jobs angrier in any of their conversations, which covered a wide variety of emotional topics during a two-year period.
After equating Android to "grand theft" of the iPhone, Jobs lobbed a series of grenades that may blow a hole in Google's image as an innovative company on a crusade to make the world a better place.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
The depths of Jobs' antipathy toward Google leaps out of Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Apple's co-founder. The book goes on sale Monday, less than three weeks after Jobs' long battle with pancreatic cancer culminated in his Oct. 5 death. The Associated Press obtained a copy Thursday.
The biography drips with Jobs' vitriol as he discusses his belief that Google stole from Apple's iPhone to build many of the features in Google's Android software for rival phones.
It's clear that the perceived theft represented an unforgiveable act of betrayal to Jobs, who had been a mentor to Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and had welcomed Google's CEO at the time, Eric Schmidt, to be on Apple's board.
Jobs retaliated with a profane manifesto during a 2010 conversation with his chosen biographer. Isaacson wrote that he never saw Jobs angrier in any of their conversations, which covered a wide variety of emotional topics during a two-year period.
After equating Android to "grand theft" of the iPhone, Jobs lobbed a series of grenades that may blow a hole in Google's image as an innovative company on a crusade to make the world a better place.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
October 18, 2011
How to Handle Your Guilt
These six strategies by Nancy F Smith will help relieve the pressure you may feel.
Strategy 1: Talk It Out
That unfortunate joke you told at the party sounds horrible when you play it over and over in your head. But if you tell a friend, it may not seem so bad. “Secrecy is the intensifier of guilt,” says Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Dare to Forgive: The Power of Letting Go & Moving On (HCI, $13, amazon.com), because keeping it to yourself doesn’t allow for fresh perspective. “Once you’ve bared something that you find troubling and discover that your friend isn’t nearly as shocked as you thought she would be, the guilt begins to drain away and you feel better.” And even if your friend is somewhat shocked, just airing the topic can keep you committed to being more sensitive in the future. By discussing the issue openly, “you accept the fact that you’re not perfect, that you’ve done things that aren’t pretty,” says Hallowell. But that doesn’t mean you should punish yourself forevermore.
Strategy 2: Try to Make Amends
If you’ve done something that you truly regret, say you’re sorry and try to remedy the situation. Most people appreciate the conciliatory gesture because it’s a signal that you care about their feelings and value the relationship. And you may find that they weren’t all that upset. “Very often the things you are feeling guilty about didn’t have any impact on the other person and you’re suffering for no reason,” says Hallowell,
READ MORE HERE.
Strategy 1: Talk It Out
That unfortunate joke you told at the party sounds horrible when you play it over and over in your head. But if you tell a friend, it may not seem so bad. “Secrecy is the intensifier of guilt,” says Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Dare to Forgive: The Power of Letting Go & Moving On (HCI, $13, amazon.com), because keeping it to yourself doesn’t allow for fresh perspective. “Once you’ve bared something that you find troubling and discover that your friend isn’t nearly as shocked as you thought she would be, the guilt begins to drain away and you feel better.” And even if your friend is somewhat shocked, just airing the topic can keep you committed to being more sensitive in the future. By discussing the issue openly, “you accept the fact that you’re not perfect, that you’ve done things that aren’t pretty,” says Hallowell. But that doesn’t mean you should punish yourself forevermore.
Strategy 2: Try to Make Amends
If you’ve done something that you truly regret, say you’re sorry and try to remedy the situation. Most people appreciate the conciliatory gesture because it’s a signal that you care about their feelings and value the relationship. And you may find that they weren’t all that upset. “Very often the things you are feeling guilty about didn’t have any impact on the other person and you’re suffering for no reason,” says Hallowell,
READ MORE HERE.
October 12, 2011
Horrifying Reading Skills!
The reading standards of English teenagers have been condemned following a respected survey that found they lag a year-and-a-half behind their Chinese peers.
Ministers will warn today of a ‘stark gulf’ between the ability of 15-year-olds here and those from other leading countries.
Their concern follows the analysis of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development study showing English teens are 18 months behind Chinese of the same age and one year behind those from South Korea and Finland.
They also languish at least six months behind their counterparts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.
The analysis underlines the scale of improvements needed to put English teens on a parity in reading with teens from, for example, Shanghai.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
Ministers will warn today of a ‘stark gulf’ between the ability of 15-year-olds here and those from other leading countries.
Their concern follows the analysis of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development study showing English teens are 18 months behind Chinese of the same age and one year behind those from South Korea and Finland.
They also languish at least six months behind their counterparts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.
The analysis underlines the scale of improvements needed to put English teens on a parity in reading with teens from, for example, Shanghai.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
Thailand floods: 'Roads are now rivers'
Workers in Thailand are racing to complete floodwalls of sandbags on the outskirts of Bangkok to stop the country's worst floods in years from inundating parts of the capital.
In the province of Ayutthaya - one of the worst-affected areas - people have been moving to evacuation shelters.
At least 270 people have died in the Thailand floods since July. Here BBC website readers in Thailand share their stories.
READ MORE HERE.
In the province of Ayutthaya - one of the worst-affected areas - people have been moving to evacuation shelters.
At least 270 people have died in the Thailand floods since July. Here BBC website readers in Thailand share their stories.
READ MORE HERE.
October 10, 2011
We May Need to Print More Money?
One of the Bank of England’s leading economists has warned it may need to print even more money to bolster the sickly economy.
In a sign of growing fears over a double-dip recession, Dr Martin Weale signalled that it will step up its money-printing scheme if growth does not pick up soon.
The warning came before the Bank has even begun distributing the extra £75billion it set aside for its quantitative easing (QE) programme just days ago.
Today two new reports on Britain’s economic prospects make grim reading for ministers - predicting that growth could go into reverse next year as confidence levels in plunged to two-year lows.
In addition, Dr Weale’s comments came as the country braces itself for the worst labour market figures since the depths of the recession of the early 1990s.
Economists predict official data released on Wednesday will show unemployment rose by 90,000 to 2.54 million in the three months to August, pushing the jobless rate up to eight per cent. That is the worst figure for 17 years.
But Dr Weale, a member of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee, yesterday admitted there was ‘quite a lot of scope’ for QE to be expanded.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article written by Simon Duke.
In a sign of growing fears over a double-dip recession, Dr Martin Weale signalled that it will step up its money-printing scheme if growth does not pick up soon.
The warning came before the Bank has even begun distributing the extra £75billion it set aside for its quantitative easing (QE) programme just days ago.
Today two new reports on Britain’s economic prospects make grim reading for ministers - predicting that growth could go into reverse next year as confidence levels in plunged to two-year lows.
In addition, Dr Weale’s comments came as the country braces itself for the worst labour market figures since the depths of the recession of the early 1990s.
Economists predict official data released on Wednesday will show unemployment rose by 90,000 to 2.54 million in the three months to August, pushing the jobless rate up to eight per cent. That is the worst figure for 17 years.
But Dr Weale, a member of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee, yesterday admitted there was ‘quite a lot of scope’ for QE to be expanded.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article written by Simon Duke.
October 06, 2011
The Death of Steve Jobs, 56
The mastermind behind an empire that has revolutionised computing, telephony and music, has died in California.
Steve Jobs, billionaire co-founder of Apple and the mastermind behind an empire of products that revolutionised computing, telephony and the music industry, has died in California at the age of 56.
Jobs stepped down in August as chief executive of the company he helped set up in 1976, citing illness. He had been battling an unusual form of pancreatic cancer, and had received a liver transplant in 2009.
Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation: "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."
Apple released a statement paying tribute to Jobs: "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives … The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."
Bill Gates, the former chief executive of Microsoft, said in a statement that he was "truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs's death".
He added: "The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
"For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely."
He is survived by his wife, Laurene, and four children. In a statement his family said Jobs "died peacefully today surrounded by his family … We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief".
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
My deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and friends of Steve Jobs. He will always be remembered.
Steve Jobs, billionaire co-founder of Apple and the mastermind behind an empire of products that revolutionised computing, telephony and the music industry, has died in California at the age of 56.
Jobs stepped down in August as chief executive of the company he helped set up in 1976, citing illness. He had been battling an unusual form of pancreatic cancer, and had received a liver transplant in 2009.
Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation: "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."
Apple released a statement paying tribute to Jobs: "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives … The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."
Bill Gates, the former chief executive of Microsoft, said in a statement that he was "truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs's death".
He added: "The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
"For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely."
He is survived by his wife, Laurene, and four children. In a statement his family said Jobs "died peacefully today surrounded by his family … We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief".
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
My deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and friends of Steve Jobs. He will always be remembered.
October 03, 2011
Old and Forgetful? Here's the answer...
As we age, it’s an increasingly common problem — you see a familiar face, but can’t quite put a name to it, or you get a mental blank when you try to recall where you put your house keys.
Now I’m in my mid-40s, I’ve found to my dismay that my once pin-sharp recall plays tricks.
And with my memory blips comes the inevitable worrying question: is it simple forgetfulness or the start of something far more worrying — the first cruel signs of creeping dementia?
Neurologists are beginning to put a great deal of work into answering this question. They are concentrating on the medical condition that characterises the grey area between forgetfulness and disease — mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Experts define this as having problems with memory that are severe enough to be noticeable to the affected person or to others, but not serious enough to interfere with daily life.
In studies, this condition has been found to affect up to one in five of people in their mid-60s. It can begin in people in their 40s and 50s, though the numbers affected are smaller.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE.
Now I’m in my mid-40s, I’ve found to my dismay that my once pin-sharp recall plays tricks.
And with my memory blips comes the inevitable worrying question: is it simple forgetfulness or the start of something far more worrying — the first cruel signs of creeping dementia?
Neurologists are beginning to put a great deal of work into answering this question. They are concentrating on the medical condition that characterises the grey area between forgetfulness and disease — mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Experts define this as having problems with memory that are severe enough to be noticeable to the affected person or to others, but not serious enough to interfere with daily life.
In studies, this condition has been found to affect up to one in five of people in their mid-60s. It can begin in people in their 40s and 50s, though the numbers affected are smaller.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE.
September 25, 2011
Yawning = Brain-Over-heating?
We most associate yawning with boredom or being sleepy, but new research suggests it can be good for your health - by cooling down your brain.
Scientists at Princeton University found a big yawn can regulate the temperature of the brain and prevent over-heating.
During winter in Tuscon, Arizona, Professor Andrew Gallup and his team asked 80 random pedestrians to look at images of people yawning and then recorded whether they yawned in response.
They then performed the same trial in the summer.
The researchers found that half of the participants yawned in winter while only a quarter yawned in summer.
From this they reasoned that yawning cools the brain, which at first seems counter-intuitive. Surely you would want to cool the brain by yawning more in summer?
But according to the theory, yawning cools the brain via a heat exchange with cooler air drawn in during the process.
This system therefore wouldn't work on a scorching summer's day.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.
Scientists at Princeton University found a big yawn can regulate the temperature of the brain and prevent over-heating.
During winter in Tuscon, Arizona, Professor Andrew Gallup and his team asked 80 random pedestrians to look at images of people yawning and then recorded whether they yawned in response.
They then performed the same trial in the summer.
The researchers found that half of the participants yawned in winter while only a quarter yawned in summer.
From this they reasoned that yawning cools the brain, which at first seems counter-intuitive. Surely you would want to cool the brain by yawning more in summer?
But according to the theory, yawning cools the brain via a heat exchange with cooler air drawn in during the process.
This system therefore wouldn't work on a scorching summer's day.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.
September 24, 2011
Watch Out For Satellite Junk! No Joke!
If you're reading this story somewhere in North America and wondering where NASA's aging UARS satellite will crash to Earth, the space agency says you can rest easy.
"Re-entry is expected sometime during the afternoon of Sept. 23, Eastern Daylight Time," said NASA in an update this morning. "The satellite will not be passing over North America during that time period."
The Aerospace Corporation, a private firm that is tracking UARS, offered a more specific prediction, saying the satellite would likely come down off the coast of Chile at 6:06 p.m. EST. But William Ailor, who heads the company's center for orbital and re-entry debris studies, said the time and location would almost undoubtedly change as Friday afternoon approaches.
NASA repeated that the risk to people or property is "extremely small."
As of this morning, UARS had an altitude of about 115 miles, skimming the uppermost reaches of the atmosphere at more than 17,000 mph. At some point, a little like a stone skipping over a pond, it will encounter enough resistance that it will no longer be able to keep moving at orbital speeds.
READ MORE HERE.
"Re-entry is expected sometime during the afternoon of Sept. 23, Eastern Daylight Time," said NASA in an update this morning. "The satellite will not be passing over North America during that time period."
The Aerospace Corporation, a private firm that is tracking UARS, offered a more specific prediction, saying the satellite would likely come down off the coast of Chile at 6:06 p.m. EST. But William Ailor, who heads the company's center for orbital and re-entry debris studies, said the time and location would almost undoubtedly change as Friday afternoon approaches.
NASA repeated that the risk to people or property is "extremely small."
As of this morning, UARS had an altitude of about 115 miles, skimming the uppermost reaches of the atmosphere at more than 17,000 mph. At some point, a little like a stone skipping over a pond, it will encounter enough resistance that it will no longer be able to keep moving at orbital speeds.
READ MORE HERE.
September 21, 2011
Space junk to hit Earth this week – but where?
Skywatchers may be craning their necks this Thursday or Friday, trying to catch a glimpse of a dead NASA satellite which is expected to return to earth, creating perhaps a spectacular light show as some of it burns up upon entry in the atmosphere.
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), which measured ozone levels, is supposed to fall out of orbit and into the atmosphere on Friday – give or take a day, according to Beth Dickey, a spokesperson for NASA.
The actual date and time of re-entry is very difficult to predict because it all depends on “solar flux and the spacecraft’s orientation as the orbit decays,” Dickey said in an email to the Star.
Equally difficult to predict is where the debris from the satellite will land, she said. But NASA officials have some clues.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), which measured ozone levels, is supposed to fall out of orbit and into the atmosphere on Friday – give or take a day, according to Beth Dickey, a spokesperson for NASA.
The actual date and time of re-entry is very difficult to predict because it all depends on “solar flux and the spacecraft’s orientation as the orbit decays,” Dickey said in an email to the Star.
Equally difficult to predict is where the debris from the satellite will land, she said. But NASA officials have some clues.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
September 20, 2011
Whose Fault is it if One is FAT?
As obesity levels continue their inexorable rise, the Government’s official weight-loss message is still focused on four words: eat less, move more.
But if you are one of the estimated 20 per cent of people who are on a permanent diet, or one of the 40 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women who regularly exercise and still can’t seem to lose weight, it could be very tempting to start to wonder whether perhaps there’s something else going on.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
But if you are one of the estimated 20 per cent of people who are on a permanent diet, or one of the 40 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women who regularly exercise and still can’t seem to lose weight, it could be very tempting to start to wonder whether perhaps there’s something else going on.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
September 18, 2011
The Wayward Son Who Binged On....
This morning, I came across this article in The Sun (UK) on one of Gadaffi's sons. Believe me - I was shocked beyond words.
CLICK HERE to read that article!
CLICK HERE to read that article!
September 16, 2011
How to reduce your chances of getting diabetes
Drinking water instead of fizzy drinks could dramatically reduce your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes, scientists say.
Researchers from Harvard University are presenting new evidence which shows replacing sugar-sweetened drinks with water can lead to weight loss and help reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by seven per cent.
Professor Frank Hu, from the Harvard School of Public Health, said: 'There is convincing evidence that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk of obesity and diabetes, and emerging evidence that these beverages increase the risk for heart disease.
'To reduce risk of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, it is important to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and replace them with healthier choices such as water and unsweetened tea or coffee.'
More than 2.8 million people in the UK have the chronic condition of diabetes, while another one million have it without realising, according to NHS figures.
People who develop the Type 2 condition lose the ability to break down glucose into energy, which causes blood-sugar levels to rise.
The immediate symptoms of hyperglycaemia include feeling thirsty and drowsy. It can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which can eventually cause unconsciousness and even death.
Diabetes raises the risk of heart disease by up to five times. Over time it can cause sight problems and nerve damage leading to foot ulcers.
Read more at this link.
Researchers from Harvard University are presenting new evidence which shows replacing sugar-sweetened drinks with water can lead to weight loss and help reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by seven per cent.
Professor Frank Hu, from the Harvard School of Public Health, said: 'There is convincing evidence that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk of obesity and diabetes, and emerging evidence that these beverages increase the risk for heart disease.
'To reduce risk of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, it is important to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and replace them with healthier choices such as water and unsweetened tea or coffee.'
More than 2.8 million people in the UK have the chronic condition of diabetes, while another one million have it without realising, according to NHS figures.
People who develop the Type 2 condition lose the ability to break down glucose into energy, which causes blood-sugar levels to rise.
The immediate symptoms of hyperglycaemia include feeling thirsty and drowsy. It can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which can eventually cause unconsciousness and even death.
Diabetes raises the risk of heart disease by up to five times. Over time it can cause sight problems and nerve damage leading to foot ulcers.
Read more at this link.
September 11, 2011
What You Did Not Know About QE I
I was truly stunned when I came across this article that said:
The England that the first Queen Elizabeth reigned over so gloriously for 45 years was obsessed with sex and awash with promiscuity. This unrestrained bawdiness was surprising for a nation that worshipped its head of state as an unblemished virgin.
By the standards of later ages — and even today — society then was especially open in its use of sexual language. Shakespeare’s plays are full of nudge-nudge references to rutting, scrambling, sluicing, ravening and lock-picking.
The playwright’s work mirrored and fed the erotic obsessions of the age. This was a land where prostitutes were known as Winchester geese because the Bishop of Winchester owned much of the property that housed London’s dens of vice.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
The England that the first Queen Elizabeth reigned over so gloriously for 45 years was obsessed with sex and awash with promiscuity. This unrestrained bawdiness was surprising for a nation that worshipped its head of state as an unblemished virgin.
By the standards of later ages — and even today — society then was especially open in its use of sexual language. Shakespeare’s plays are full of nudge-nudge references to rutting, scrambling, sluicing, ravening and lock-picking.
The playwright’s work mirrored and fed the erotic obsessions of the age. This was a land where prostitutes were known as Winchester geese because the Bishop of Winchester owned much of the property that housed London’s dens of vice.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
September 09, 2011
And in 43rd place is....
Britain is languishing behind Albania in a league table for maths and science education, according to an authoritative international study.
A report by the World Economic Forum has ranked UK schools 43rd in the world – behind countries such as Iran, Trinidad and Tobago and Lithuania.
The findings are a damning indictment of Tony Blair’s pledge to prioritise ‘education, education, education’ and come after education spending doubled from £35.8billion to £71billion under Labour.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
A report by the World Economic Forum has ranked UK schools 43rd in the world – behind countries such as Iran, Trinidad and Tobago and Lithuania.
The findings are a damning indictment of Tony Blair’s pledge to prioritise ‘education, education, education’ and come after education spending doubled from £35.8billion to £71billion under Labour.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
September 07, 2011
Another Depression Ahead?
Europe is in disarray, stock markets are plunging, the banking crisis is back in full swing, gold is at record levels, and both the UK and US are self-evidently slipping back towards recession – not since the autumn of 2008 have things looked quite so ominous.
We appear to be at another pivotal moment, with Western economies once more staring into the abyss. At a conference in Frankfurt this week, Josef Ackermann, chief executive of Deutsche Bank, compared events to the Lehman Brothers catastrophe of 2008 and warned that many banks in Europe are essentially bust. His opposite number at KfW went further still and said that the present cocktail of negatives was “much more dramatic than 2008”.
Back then, governments and central banks still had the financial firepower and the will to attack the problem with massive injections of fiscal and monetary stimulus.
Today, the fiscal armoury is exhausted, while it is not clear that further monetary easing through the printing presses of “quantitative easing” would have any effect beyond adding to inflation.
Indeed, the parallels look alarmingly closer to the banking collapses of 1931, which plunged the world into prolonged depression, than the storms around the Lehman collapse.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
We appear to be at another pivotal moment, with Western economies once more staring into the abyss. At a conference in Frankfurt this week, Josef Ackermann, chief executive of Deutsche Bank, compared events to the Lehman Brothers catastrophe of 2008 and warned that many banks in Europe are essentially bust. His opposite number at KfW went further still and said that the present cocktail of negatives was “much more dramatic than 2008”.
Back then, governments and central banks still had the financial firepower and the will to attack the problem with massive injections of fiscal and monetary stimulus.
Today, the fiscal armoury is exhausted, while it is not clear that further monetary easing through the printing presses of “quantitative easing” would have any effect beyond adding to inflation.
Indeed, the parallels look alarmingly closer to the banking collapses of 1931, which plunged the world into prolonged depression, than the storms around the Lehman collapse.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
September 05, 2011
Illiterate Staff at a Shopping Mall!!!
Hundreds of staff at the huge new Olympic shopping mall had to be taught to read and write after bosses found they could not even fill in basic forms.
Employees at Westfield Stratford City have been given remedial tuition after Australian director John Burton made the "incredible" discovery that they were illiterate.
The boss of the £1.45 billion mall said he was amazed that so many have left British schools without basic skills. He told the Evening Standard: "The most difficult thing was the number who simply do not meet the basic reading and writing criteria.
"They could not even fill out the forms without getting assistance. They just weren't ready to interview."
His discovery is the starkest example yet of the literacy crisis in the capital's deprived areas which inspired the Standard to launch its Get London Reading campaign aimed at training adults to provide literacy support to primary schools in poorer areas.
The remedial education blitz comes as Newham council said it is set to exceed its target of securing 2,000 jobs for local long-term unemployed at what will be Europe's largest urban shopping centre when it opens on September 13 next to Stratford's Olympic Park.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
Employees at Westfield Stratford City have been given remedial tuition after Australian director John Burton made the "incredible" discovery that they were illiterate.
The boss of the £1.45 billion mall said he was amazed that so many have left British schools without basic skills. He told the Evening Standard: "The most difficult thing was the number who simply do not meet the basic reading and writing criteria.
"They could not even fill out the forms without getting assistance. They just weren't ready to interview."
His discovery is the starkest example yet of the literacy crisis in the capital's deprived areas which inspired the Standard to launch its Get London Reading campaign aimed at training adults to provide literacy support to primary schools in poorer areas.
The remedial education blitz comes as Newham council said it is set to exceed its target of securing 2,000 jobs for local long-term unemployed at what will be Europe's largest urban shopping centre when it opens on September 13 next to Stratford's Olympic Park.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
August 31, 2011
Fukushima radioactive caesium leaks 'equal 168 Hiroshimas'
(NaturalNews) Japan's government recently estimated that the amount of radioactive caesium-137 released by the Fukushima nuclear disaster thus far is equal to that of 168 Hiroshima bombs.
Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope of caesium which is formed as a fission product by nuclear fission. Like all radionuclides, exposure to radiation from caesium-137 results in increased risk of cancer. Everyone is exposed to very small amounts of caesium-137 in soil and water as a result of atmospheric fallout. Exposure to waste materials from contaminated sites or from nuclear accidents that disperse these radioactive materials into the air can result in cancer risks that are much higher than typical environmental exposures.
If exposures are very high, serious burns and even death can result. The magnitude of the health risk depends on exposure conditions or on factors such as the strength of the source, length of exposure, distance from the source and whether there was shielding between you and the source.
How Fukushima's radiation release compares to Hiroshima
Since the three reactors were crippled by the March 11 quake and tsunami this year, the amount of caesium-137 released has been estimated at 15,000 terabecquerels so far, as reported by the Tokyo Shimbun. This is supposedly quoting a government calculation.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope of caesium which is formed as a fission product by nuclear fission. Like all radionuclides, exposure to radiation from caesium-137 results in increased risk of cancer. Everyone is exposed to very small amounts of caesium-137 in soil and water as a result of atmospheric fallout. Exposure to waste materials from contaminated sites or from nuclear accidents that disperse these radioactive materials into the air can result in cancer risks that are much higher than typical environmental exposures.
If exposures are very high, serious burns and even death can result. The magnitude of the health risk depends on exposure conditions or on factors such as the strength of the source, length of exposure, distance from the source and whether there was shielding between you and the source.
How Fukushima's radiation release compares to Hiroshima
Since the three reactors were crippled by the March 11 quake and tsunami this year, the amount of caesium-137 released has been estimated at 15,000 terabecquerels so far, as reported by the Tokyo Shimbun. This is supposedly quoting a government calculation.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
August 26, 2011
What a Gem of A Discovery!
Astronomers believe they have found an entire planet made of diamonds.
Scientists at the University of Manchester think they have unearthed a once-massive star in the Milky Way that has been transformed into a small planet made of the precious rock.
The international research team first detected an unusual star, called a pulsar, and followed up their discovery with research using a telescope based in an observatory in Cheshire.
The findings led the scientists to discover the gravitational pull of a small companion planet orbiting the pulsar.
Pulsars are small spinning stars more than ten miles in diameter – the size of a small city – that emit a beam of radio waves.
Read more HERE.
Scientists at the University of Manchester think they have unearthed a once-massive star in the Milky Way that has been transformed into a small planet made of the precious rock.
The international research team first detected an unusual star, called a pulsar, and followed up their discovery with research using a telescope based in an observatory in Cheshire.
The findings led the scientists to discover the gravitational pull of a small companion planet orbiting the pulsar.
Pulsars are small spinning stars more than ten miles in diameter – the size of a small city – that emit a beam of radio waves.
Read more HERE.
August 25, 2011
Steve Jobs - Things You Did Not Know About Him
Steve Jobs had no formal schooling in engineering, yet he's listed as the inventor or co-inventor on more than 200 U.S. patents. You can see some of the significant products that were created under his direction over HERE.
Ten Unusual Things Which You Did Not Know About Steve Jobs can be viewed HERE.
Steve Jobs' resignation letter can be viewed HERE.
Best quotes from Steve Jobs can be viewed HERE.
Ten Unusual Things Which You Did Not Know About Steve Jobs can be viewed HERE.
Steve Jobs' resignation letter can be viewed HERE.
Best quotes from Steve Jobs can be viewed HERE.
August 16, 2011
The Magic Ingredient
No time to make a packed lunch before work? Soon you could make it a year in advance.
Scientists have discovered a natural preservative which could spell the end of rotting food.
They have pinpointed the substance which destroys the bacteria that make meat, fish, eggs and dairy products decompose.
Read more at THIS LINK.
Scientists have discovered a natural preservative which could spell the end of rotting food.
They have pinpointed the substance which destroys the bacteria that make meat, fish, eggs and dairy products decompose.
Read more at THIS LINK.
August 09, 2011
How Organic?
Your shampoo says organic on the label, which means what’s in the bottle is organic, right? Well, if you’re lucky. In the U.S., an environmental group has filed a lawsuit against 26 cosmetic companies over claims that products were falsely labelled as organic.
The brands include major names such as Jason and Boots, which are accused of violating a California law that requires at least 70 per cent of the ingredients in organic products to be grown without pesticides or chemicals.
In Britain, you might be surprised to learn the laws governing the labelling on organic foods do not extend to beauty products — so a company can describe a product as organic even if it contains only tiny amounts of organic ingredients.
Read more here.
The brands include major names such as Jason and Boots, which are accused of violating a California law that requires at least 70 per cent of the ingredients in organic products to be grown without pesticides or chemicals.
In Britain, you might be surprised to learn the laws governing the labelling on organic foods do not extend to beauty products — so a company can describe a product as organic even if it contains only tiny amounts of organic ingredients.
Read more here.
August 08, 2011
UN Day of indigenous people
August 9th is the UN Day of indigenous people. To celebrate, here are 9 little-known facts from Survival about tribal peoples:
1) There are over 100 uncontacted tribes in the world. Some live less than 100km from Machu Picchu, Peru’s biggest tourist attraction.
2) Tribal people in the Baliem valley of New Guinea probably developed agriculture long before the ancestors of Europeans.
3) The Moken ‘sea gypsies’ of the Andaman Sea have developed the unique ability to focus under water, in order to dive for food. The eyesight of Moken children is 50% more powerful than that of European children.
4) The Sentinelese tribe is thought to have lived on the Andaman Islands for about 55,000 years.
5) One in every 6 languages spoken on the planet comes from New Guinea.
6) Tribal peoples developed some of the world’s staple foods. Manioc (cassava), maize and potatoes are all the product of indigenous husbandry.
7) Hadza hunters in Tanzania use the song of an African bird to guide them to bees’ nests in baobab trees.
8) Awá women in Brazil care for orphaned baby monkeys by suckling them.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
1) There are over 100 uncontacted tribes in the world. Some live less than 100km from Machu Picchu, Peru’s biggest tourist attraction.
2) Tribal people in the Baliem valley of New Guinea probably developed agriculture long before the ancestors of Europeans.
3) The Moken ‘sea gypsies’ of the Andaman Sea have developed the unique ability to focus under water, in order to dive for food. The eyesight of Moken children is 50% more powerful than that of European children.
4) The Sentinelese tribe is thought to have lived on the Andaman Islands for about 55,000 years.
5) One in every 6 languages spoken on the planet comes from New Guinea.
6) Tribal peoples developed some of the world’s staple foods. Manioc (cassava), maize and potatoes are all the product of indigenous husbandry.
7) Hadza hunters in Tanzania use the song of an African bird to guide them to bees’ nests in baobab trees.
8) Awá women in Brazil care for orphaned baby monkeys by suckling them.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
August 07, 2011
Guess who turned 20 yesterday???
Well, she has been around for twenty years now. Who?
CLICK HERE TO DISCOVER WHO IT IS.
Another article worth reading is HERE.
CLICK HERE TO DISCOVER WHO IT IS.
Another article worth reading is HERE.
July 30, 2011
A vain generation of self-obsessed people with child-like need for feedback
Facebook and Twitter have created a generation obsessed with themselves, who have short attention spans and a childlike desire for constant feedback on their lives, a top scientist believes.
Repeated exposure to social networking sites leaves users with an 'identity crisis', wanting attention in the manner of a toddler saying: 'Look at me, Mummy, I've done this.'
Baroness Greenfield, professor of pharmacology at Oxford University, believes the growth of internet 'friendships' – as well as greater use of computer games – could effectively 'rewire' the brain.
Read more here.
Repeated exposure to social networking sites leaves users with an 'identity crisis', wanting attention in the manner of a toddler saying: 'Look at me, Mummy, I've done this.'
Baroness Greenfield, professor of pharmacology at Oxford University, believes the growth of internet 'friendships' – as well as greater use of computer games – could effectively 'rewire' the brain.
Read more here.
July 25, 2011
Is Sugar Souring Your Health?
The taste of sugar makes people happy. But its sad effects in the body make it a substance that is best avoided.
Your body needs carbohydrates for energy so you can live. Each cell must get enough sugar (glucose) in order to function. However, consuming glucose or sucrose (table sugar) is deleterious to your well-being.
CLICK HERE to read this very informative article written by Dr Michael Cutler.
Your body needs carbohydrates for energy so you can live. Each cell must get enough sugar (glucose) in order to function. However, consuming glucose or sucrose (table sugar) is deleterious to your well-being.
CLICK HERE to read this very informative article written by Dr Michael Cutler.
We've Got Another Date, Penangites!
Most may have heard of the ISA but what about the EO? The Emergency (Public Order and Crime Prevention) Ordinance, commonly abbreviated as the Emergency Ordinance (EO), like the ISA, allows for indefinite detention without trial.
Enacted by the National Operations Council that was led by Tun Abdul Razak following the May 13 race riots, the Emergency Ordinance has never been revoked to the present day even though we are no longer in any state of emergency.
As expected, the EO has been regularly used to detain those deemed to be subversive by the government. The harsh reality is that it is actually used far more frequently than the Internal Security Act. The latest was on six of the 31 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (“PSM”) activists who were arrested near Kepala Batas while they were travelling by bus from Kedah to attend a BERSIH 2.0 (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) programme in Penang on June 25th this year.
The six, now known as "EO6" were released on July 2nd but re-arrested immediately under the EO which allows the police to detain a person for up to 60 days. At the end of that period, the Minister for Home Affairs has the power to issue the detainee with either a detention or restriction order for a period of two years 'without trial' to 'protect public order'.
Recent crackdowns seem to indicate that we are moving in the direction of a police state. Now is the time for you to learn more about the EO and the arrest of the six activists.
Come, learn and more importantly, show your support as we gather in solidarity and take umbrage against this repressive legislation at this event.
Enacted by the National Operations Council that was led by Tun Abdul Razak following the May 13 race riots, the Emergency Ordinance has never been revoked to the present day even though we are no longer in any state of emergency.
As expected, the EO has been regularly used to detain those deemed to be subversive by the government. The harsh reality is that it is actually used far more frequently than the Internal Security Act. The latest was on six of the 31 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (“PSM”) activists who were arrested near Kepala Batas while they were travelling by bus from Kedah to attend a BERSIH 2.0 (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) programme in Penang on June 25th this year.
The six, now known as "EO6" were released on July 2nd but re-arrested immediately under the EO which allows the police to detain a person for up to 60 days. At the end of that period, the Minister for Home Affairs has the power to issue the detainee with either a detention or restriction order for a period of two years 'without trial' to 'protect public order'.
Recent crackdowns seem to indicate that we are moving in the direction of a police state. Now is the time for you to learn more about the EO and the arrest of the six activists.
Come, learn and more importantly, show your support as we gather in solidarity and take umbrage against this repressive legislation at this event.
Date: 27 July 2011 (Wednesday)
Time: 8:30 pm - 10pm
Venue: Caring Society Complex, Penang
July 24, 2011
Amy Winehouse, 27, found dead at her London flat
Amy Winehouse has been found dead at her home in London.
The Back To Black singer was found at the property by emergency services at 3.54pm this afternoon, according to sources, and her death is being treated as 'unexplained' by police.
Winehouse was apparently 'beyond help' when paramedics arrived, according to Sky sources.
Two ambulance crews arrived at the scene within five minutes and a paramedic on a bicycle also attended, according to a spokeswoman.
'Sadly the patient had died,' she added.
Read more here.
The Back To Black singer was found at the property by emergency services at 3.54pm this afternoon, according to sources, and her death is being treated as 'unexplained' by police.
Winehouse was apparently 'beyond help' when paramedics arrived, according to Sky sources.
Two ambulance crews arrived at the scene within five minutes and a paramedic on a bicycle also attended, according to a spokeswoman.
'Sadly the patient had died,' she added.
Read more here.
July 21, 2011
Hijacking virus found on 1 million computers!
In an article in The Telegraph, it was reported that Google plans to warn more than a million internet users that their computer is infected with a virus that intercepts their web searches.
The malicious software hijacks Google and other search requests and redirects them to websites that pay the cyber criminals behind the scam for traffic.
Google users will now be greeted with a yellow warning at the top of their search results if they are affected, according to the security blog KrebsonSecurity.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the entry.
The malicious software hijacks Google and other search requests and redirects them to websites that pay the cyber criminals behind the scam for traffic.
Google users will now be greeted with a yellow warning at the top of their search results if they are affected, according to the security blog KrebsonSecurity.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the entry.
July 17, 2011
My Memory and Google
According to this article, research finds people are adapting ability to remember because of power of search engines to remember for them.
First it was a search engine. Then it became almost synonymous with the internet. Now Google is a replacement for the ancient human faculty of memory.
Research by scientists at Columbia University has found that people are adapting their ability to remember because of the formidable power of search engines such as Google to remember things for them. In short, people no longer always need to know stuff; they just need to know where it can be found.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
First it was a search engine. Then it became almost synonymous with the internet. Now Google is a replacement for the ancient human faculty of memory.
Research by scientists at Columbia University has found that people are adapting their ability to remember because of the formidable power of search engines such as Google to remember things for them. In short, people no longer always need to know stuff; they just need to know where it can be found.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
July 15, 2011
No More Blackboards At Whose Expense?
I was quite shocked to read this article from The Daily Mail which said:
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
A school came under fire yesterday for forcing its parents to buy a £600 hi-tech fad for their children.
Teachers at Longfield Academy, in Dartford, Kent, have succumbed to the current technology trend – Apple’s iPad2 – bulk buying 1,400 of the tablets.
From September term they will require all pupils to have one – making iPads integral to classroom lessons and homework.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
June 26, 2011
No More Chrysenthemum Tea for me, thank you!
THIS LINK reported that an estimated 200 tons of herbal chrysanthemums contaminated by a banned toxic chemical has entered the market.
The herbal flower, which is often used by Chinese in tea and medicine, is believed to have been dried with sulfur dioxide, a prohibited preservative that can cause sickness.
Dubbed China's herbal town, Yangma County in Jiangsu province produces 2,000 tons of chrysanthemums each year. It is suspected 200 tons of the herb are contaminated.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
The herbal flower, which is often used by Chinese in tea and medicine, is believed to have been dried with sulfur dioxide, a prohibited preservative that can cause sickness.
Dubbed China's herbal town, Yangma County in Jiangsu province produces 2,000 tons of chrysanthemums each year. It is suspected 200 tons of the herb are contaminated.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
June 25, 2011
The Patent that Dealt The Blow
After a long battle, Apple has been awarded its long sought-after patent on the iPhone. Intellectual property experts say it's so broad and far-reaching that the iPhone maker may be able to bully other smart phone manufacturers out of the U.S. market entirely. CLICK HERE for the rest of the article.
June 23, 2011
June 19, 2011
Toxic Truth - Myth Vs Reality
I was very saddened to read this article about how post-tsunami harmony is a myth and the reality is startlingly different. To read more, please CLICK HERE.
June 13, 2011
No More Fish and Chips, thank you!
I love fish and chips, especially those served with vinegar. I guess I will have to give up my love for this dish after reading the following link from the DAILY MAIL.
CLICK HERE to read One portion of fish and chips a week could increase your risk of heart attack by 50%.
CLICK HERE to read One portion of fish and chips a week could increase your risk of heart attack by 50%.
June 11, 2011
Moving Photography - Amazing!
A friend sent me a fascinating article about moving photography. I googled to find the source of the article and you can enjoy it AT THIS LINK.
Take care and have a great weekend!
Take care and have a great weekend!
June 03, 2011
When All The Gold is Gone...
Sorcha Faal wrote an interesting article AT THIS LINK about former International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Please check it out if you have the time.
Thanks! Have a great day!
Thanks! Have a great day!
June 02, 2011
Steel and Concrete Sans Humans
This is a city built for a million people - but no one lives here: The Mongolian metropolis thrust into the 21st Century in a storm of steel and concrete
Read more AT THIS LINK.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
May 28, 2011
New - The Dating Dictionary
Here's an article from The Daily Mail that teaches lonely hearts how to read between the lines. Written by Claudia Connell, it tells us what some women and men really mean in advertisements.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
Shocking - Death from bed bug pesticide poisoning
A British couple were among seven tourists whose deaths in Thailand have been linked to a toxic bed bug pesticide.
Pensioners George Everitt, 78, and his wife Eileen, 73, from Boston, Lincolnshire, were found dead in their room at the Downtown Inn in Chiang Mai.
An undercover investigation revealed shocking evidence linking the deaths between January and March after all seven stayed at or used facilities at the hotel.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
Pensioners George Everitt, 78, and his wife Eileen, 73, from Boston, Lincolnshire, were found dead in their room at the Downtown Inn in Chiang Mai.
An undercover investigation revealed shocking evidence linking the deaths between January and March after all seven stayed at or used facilities at the hotel.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
May 24, 2011
Unbelievable But True
This morning, I nearly fell off my seat when I read this article that a friend sent to me via email.
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO READ Schoolgirl wins right to use her iPod in exams as she can't concentrate unless she's listening to music
What will happen next?
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO READ Schoolgirl wins right to use her iPod in exams as she can't concentrate unless she's listening to music
What will happen next?
May 18, 2011
Melons Exploding?
Check out this article:
Exploding Melons Sow New China Food Fears
This is the price than mankind has to pay when some have no qualms about making $$ at the expense of others!
Exploding Melons Sow New China Food Fears
This is the price than mankind has to pay when some have no qualms about making $$ at the expense of others!
May 08, 2011
Truth or Fraud? You decide!
Recently, I came across this new blog OVER HERE which features an excellent discussion on Wikileaks and Assange - both controversial topics all over the world.
It is rare and a pleasure to read his post because he asks pertinent questions and gives an excellent discourse on Golding's Lord of the Flies and Orwell's 1984.
This is one blog post that must be read by as many and as many times to digest and to remember the important points therein.
I am reposting his link to HIS ARTICLE HERE with his kind permission. Please click on THAT LINK and read his writings. Surely one NOT TO BE MISSED!
Thanks! Have a nice day and to all mothers out there - HAPY MOTHERS' DAY!
It is rare and a pleasure to read his post because he asks pertinent questions and gives an excellent discourse on Golding's Lord of the Flies and Orwell's 1984.
This is one blog post that must be read by as many and as many times to digest and to remember the important points therein.
I am reposting his link to HIS ARTICLE HERE with his kind permission. Please click on THAT LINK and read his writings. Surely one NOT TO BE MISSED!
Thanks! Have a nice day and to all mothers out there - HAPY MOTHERS' DAY!
April 26, 2011
CHECK THIS OUT
I came across this article in one of my favorite blogs:
Radioactive Iodine In Phoenix AZ Milk 1600% Above EPA Drinking Water Limits
Do check it out if you have time. Thanks!! Take care and keep safe.
Radioactive Iodine In Phoenix AZ Milk 1600% Above EPA Drinking Water Limits
Do check it out if you have time. Thanks!! Take care and keep safe.
April 02, 2011
Disaster and Social Media Innovation
Here's a very interesting article that might have slipped through the cracks:
CLICK HERE to read Japan disaster sparks social media innovation
CLICK HERE to read Japan disaster sparks social media innovation
March 29, 2011
How to Survive a Nuclear Fallout
We are certainly living in dangerous times. The winds of change are blowing and they may blow radioactive particles our way depending on wind conditions. To be prepared for a nuclear fallout, please visit THIS LINK which must be read by as many.
Pass it on to your friends and loved ones. Take care and God bless all of us!
Pass it on to your friends and loved ones. Take care and God bless all of us!
March 27, 2011
Shocking But True
CNN News has an article HERE which says that radiation in reactor's building tests 10 million times above normal.
CLICK HERE to read the whole story!
CLICK HERE to read the whole story!
March 19, 2011
Oh No! High Radiation in Spinach and Milk Near Nuclear Plant
New York Times carried a report HERE on Japan Confirms High Radiation in Spinach and Milk Near Nuclear Plant. Please read that article and be shocked!
In case you did not know, THIS LINK reported that a strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake has rattled Japan's Ibaraki prefecture south of the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the country's meteorological agency said, but no tsunami warning was issued.
In case you did not know, THIS LINK reported that a strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake has rattled Japan's Ibaraki prefecture south of the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the country's meteorological agency said, but no tsunami warning was issued.
The Memory Continues to Haunt Them....
Please read this touching article from CNN News on Hiroshima Survivors Fear New Nuclear Fallout.
If you have time, please read my other post on Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This link just reported that a strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake has rattled Japan's Ibaraki prefecture south of the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the country's meteorological agency said, but no tsunami warning was issued.
Let's hope the worst is over....
If you have time, please read my other post on Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This link just reported that a strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake has rattled Japan's Ibaraki prefecture south of the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the country's meteorological agency said, but no tsunami warning was issued.
Let's hope the worst is over....
March 18, 2011
God bless the 50 Fukushima Heroes
How many people would still lay down their lives for the nation in this cruel world? Not that many. In the past, warriors and soldiers died in the battle field but today, we have 50 heroes in Fukushima who risked their lives for that of their fellow citizens, for their nation. I take my hats off to these heroes and pray that God will protect them as they endeavor to save their nation.
Here's a tribute written by Chris Hogg of BBC News reporting from Tokyo.
CLICK HERE to read Japan hails the heroic 'Fukushima 50'.
Here's a tribute written by Chris Hogg of BBC News reporting from Tokyo.
CLICK HERE to read Japan hails the heroic 'Fukushima 50'.
March 16, 2011
Bad, Worse Now and the Worst Has Yet to Come
Please read the following article. You will then realize that the worst is yet to come.
BBC News said HERE:
Japan's Emperor Akihito has said he is "deeply worried" about the crisis his country is facing following last Friday's earthquake and tsunami.
In an extremely rare appearance, the emperor went on live TV to make his first public comments on the disaster, and urged an all-out rescue effort.
He spoke after technicians temporarily abandoned a quake-crippled nuclear plant as radiation briefly surged.
Thousands of people were killed in the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami.
The stricken Fukushima Daiichi power facility has sent low levels of radiation wafting into Tokyo, spreading alarm in the city and internationally.
TV stations interrupted programming on Wednesday to show the emperor describing the crisis facing the nation as "unprecedented in scale".
The 77-year-old - deeply respected by many Japanese - said: "I hope from the bottom of my heart that the people will, hand in hand, treat each other with compassion and overcome these difficult times."
Japan's titular head of state - who acceded to the throne in 1989 after the death of his father Hirohito - said he prayed that every victim would be saved.
He spoke as snow blanketed swathes of the disaster zone, where many survivors have little food, water or heat.
About 450,000 people have been staying in temporary shelters, many sleeping on the floor of school gymnasiums.
Nearly 3,700 people are listed as dead, but it is feared the total death toll will top 10,000 following the catastrophe, which pulverised the country's north-east coast.
Read the rest of this entry HERE.
BBC News said HERE:
Japan's Emperor Akihito has said he is "deeply worried" about the crisis his country is facing following last Friday's earthquake and tsunami.
In an extremely rare appearance, the emperor went on live TV to make his first public comments on the disaster, and urged an all-out rescue effort.
He spoke after technicians temporarily abandoned a quake-crippled nuclear plant as radiation briefly surged.
Thousands of people were killed in the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami.
The stricken Fukushima Daiichi power facility has sent low levels of radiation wafting into Tokyo, spreading alarm in the city and internationally.
TV stations interrupted programming on Wednesday to show the emperor describing the crisis facing the nation as "unprecedented in scale".
The 77-year-old - deeply respected by many Japanese - said: "I hope from the bottom of my heart that the people will, hand in hand, treat each other with compassion and overcome these difficult times."
Japan's titular head of state - who acceded to the throne in 1989 after the death of his father Hirohito - said he prayed that every victim would be saved.
He spoke as snow blanketed swathes of the disaster zone, where many survivors have little food, water or heat.
About 450,000 people have been staying in temporary shelters, many sleeping on the floor of school gymnasiums.
Nearly 3,700 people are listed as dead, but it is feared the total death toll will top 10,000 following the catastrophe, which pulverised the country's north-east coast.
Read the rest of this entry HERE.
March 15, 2011
Nuclear Crisis is WORSENING + Another Earthquake 6.1
According to CTV:
Responding to Japan's struggle to contain a possible nuclear catastrophe, the French nuclear safety authority has upgraded the severity of the ongoing accident to level six out of seven on the international scale.
Level seven on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale has been invoked only once, following the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
The head of France's Nuclear Safety Authority, Andre-Claude Lacoste told reporters on Tuesday that the situation in Japan is less severe than the core explosion at Chernobyl, but worse than the 1979 partial core meltdown at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania.
"We are now in a situation that is different from yesterday's. It is very clear that we are at a level six, which is an intermediate level between what happened at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl," the ASN president said at a news conference in Paris.
The incident at Three Mile Island was rated a level 5, which corresponds to "an accident with wider consequences," while level 6 is reserved for a "serious accident." Japanese officials had rated the situation at the plant in Fukushima prefecture as a 4 on the seven-point scale, meaning it's an accident with "local consequences."
But, pointing to the explosions that continued to wrack the Dai-ichi nuclear plant despite days of frantic efforts to cool them, Lacoste said the outlook is worsening.
"We are clearly in a catastrophe," he said.
Radiation levels spike, drop
Lacoste's announcement came as a Japanese nuclear safety official said water inside a waste storage pool at the crippled Dai-ichi plant may be boiling, just hours after radiation levels spiked then dropped after a fire erupted at its No. 4 reactor.
Japanese Economy Ministry spokesperson Hidehiko Nishiyama told reporters that "we cannot deny the possibility of water boiling" in the Dai-ichi nuclear power plant's spent fuel storage pool.
READ MORE HERE.
At the point of writing, another earthquake at the depth of 10km just struck the area of Tokyo (Tokai region) at 9.31pm. (Malaysian time).
Details OVER HERE.
Check HERE.
Responding to Japan's struggle to contain a possible nuclear catastrophe, the French nuclear safety authority has upgraded the severity of the ongoing accident to level six out of seven on the international scale.
Level seven on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale has been invoked only once, following the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
The head of France's Nuclear Safety Authority, Andre-Claude Lacoste told reporters on Tuesday that the situation in Japan is less severe than the core explosion at Chernobyl, but worse than the 1979 partial core meltdown at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania.
"We are now in a situation that is different from yesterday's. It is very clear that we are at a level six, which is an intermediate level between what happened at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl," the ASN president said at a news conference in Paris.
The incident at Three Mile Island was rated a level 5, which corresponds to "an accident with wider consequences," while level 6 is reserved for a "serious accident." Japanese officials had rated the situation at the plant in Fukushima prefecture as a 4 on the seven-point scale, meaning it's an accident with "local consequences."
But, pointing to the explosions that continued to wrack the Dai-ichi nuclear plant despite days of frantic efforts to cool them, Lacoste said the outlook is worsening.
"We are clearly in a catastrophe," he said.
Radiation levels spike, drop
Lacoste's announcement came as a Japanese nuclear safety official said water inside a waste storage pool at the crippled Dai-ichi plant may be boiling, just hours after radiation levels spiked then dropped after a fire erupted at its No. 4 reactor.
Japanese Economy Ministry spokesperson Hidehiko Nishiyama told reporters that "we cannot deny the possibility of water boiling" in the Dai-ichi nuclear power plant's spent fuel storage pool.
READ MORE HERE.
At the point of writing, another earthquake at the depth of 10km just struck the area of Tokyo (Tokai region) at 9.31pm. (Malaysian time).
Details OVER HERE.
Check HERE.
There IS Reason to be AFRAID!
According to BBC News HERE:
Radiation from Japan's quake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has reached harmful levels, the government says.
The warning comes after the plant was rocked by a third blast which appears to have damaged one of the reactors' containment vessels for the first time.
If it is breached, there are fears of more serious radioactive leaks.
Officials have extended the danger zone, warning residents within 30km (18 miles) to evacuate or stay indoors.
The crisis was sparked by a 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami on Friday.
'Don't go outside'
On Tuesday morning, reactor 2 became the third to explode in four days at the Fukushima Daiichi plant - 250km (155 miles) north-east of Tokyo.
A fire also briefly broke out at the plant's reactor 4 on Tuesday and is believed to have led to radioactive leaks.
Reactor 4 had been shut down before the quake for maintenance but its nuclear fuel rods are still stored on the site.
Radiation levels in the Japanese capital were reported to be higher than normal, but officials said there were no health dangers.
In a televised address, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said: "There is still a very high risk of more radiation coming out."
He added that the last remaining people within the existing 20km (12 mile) exclusion zone around the plant must leave.
Those living between 20km and 30km were also at risk and should not leave their homes.
"Now we are talking about levels that can impact human health," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano.
He told residents: "Please do not go outside. Please stay indoors. Please close windows and make your homes airtight.
"Don't turn on ventilators. Please hang your laundry indoors."
READ MORE HERE.
Radiation from Japan's quake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has reached harmful levels, the government says.
The warning comes after the plant was rocked by a third blast which appears to have damaged one of the reactors' containment vessels for the first time.
If it is breached, there are fears of more serious radioactive leaks.
Officials have extended the danger zone, warning residents within 30km (18 miles) to evacuate or stay indoors.
The crisis was sparked by a 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami on Friday.
'Don't go outside'
On Tuesday morning, reactor 2 became the third to explode in four days at the Fukushima Daiichi plant - 250km (155 miles) north-east of Tokyo.
A fire also briefly broke out at the plant's reactor 4 on Tuesday and is believed to have led to radioactive leaks.
Reactor 4 had been shut down before the quake for maintenance but its nuclear fuel rods are still stored on the site.
Radiation levels in the Japanese capital were reported to be higher than normal, but officials said there were no health dangers.
In a televised address, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said: "There is still a very high risk of more radiation coming out."
He added that the last remaining people within the existing 20km (12 mile) exclusion zone around the plant must leave.
Those living between 20km and 30km were also at risk and should not leave their homes.
"Now we are talking about levels that can impact human health," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano.
He told residents: "Please do not go outside. Please stay indoors. Please close windows and make your homes airtight.
"Don't turn on ventilators. Please hang your laundry indoors."
READ MORE HERE.
March 12, 2011
What Makes A Monkey Sexy?
I came across this interesting article from THIS LINK which I thought I'd share with you today. It said:
Capuchin monkeys have what at first glance appears to be an odd habit: they urinate onto their hands then rub their urine over their bodies into their fur.
Now scientists think they know why the monkeys "urine wash" in this way.
A new study shows that the brains of female tufted capuchins become more active when they smell the urine of sexually mature adult males.
That suggests males wash with their urine to signal their availability and attractiveness to females.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
Capuchin monkeys have what at first glance appears to be an odd habit: they urinate onto their hands then rub their urine over their bodies into their fur.
Now scientists think they know why the monkeys "urine wash" in this way.
A new study shows that the brains of female tufted capuchins become more active when they smell the urine of sexually mature adult males.
That suggests males wash with their urine to signal their availability and attractiveness to females.
READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY HERE.
Nuclear Emergency Declared!!!
According to BBC News:
apanese authorities have declared a state of emergency at two nuclear power plants, after Friday's devastating earthquake caused malfunctions.
Cooling systems inside several reactors at the Fukushima 1 and 2 power plants have stopped working properly, leading to a build-up of pressure.
Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate the area near the plants.
Technicians are starting to release vapour to lower the pressure in some of the reactors.
Some of the released gases could be radioactive, but officials insisted the procedure would pose no risk to the public.
Radioactivity levels in the control room of the Fukushima 1 plant were reportedly running at 1,000 times normal.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
apanese authorities have declared a state of emergency at two nuclear power plants, after Friday's devastating earthquake caused malfunctions.
Cooling systems inside several reactors at the Fukushima 1 and 2 power plants have stopped working properly, leading to a build-up of pressure.
Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate the area near the plants.
Technicians are starting to release vapour to lower the pressure in some of the reactors.
Some of the released gases could be radioactive, but officials insisted the procedure would pose no risk to the public.
Radioactivity levels in the control room of the Fukushima 1 plant were reportedly running at 1,000 times normal.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
Nuclear Reactor Overheating!!
I have always been against nuclear energy despite whatever experts may say to defend their rationale for pursuing that avenue of alternative energy. The big question I always ask is - What if there is a nuclear leakage? Would the parties involved in the reactor be able to cope and to control the leakages that it will NOT jeopardize the surrounding areas, lives and ultimately the world?
Take a look at Japan. It is a first world nation and what is happening to their nuclear reactor?
According to ABC News at THIS LINK:
Take a look at Japan. It is a first world nation and what is happening to their nuclear reactor?
According to ABC News at THIS LINK:
Radiation levels inside a Japanese nuclear power plant have surged to 1,000 times their normal levels after today's 8.9-magnitude earthquake knocked out power to a cooling system, and tsunami floods have hampered efforts to get it restored.
Meanwhile, heat-induced pressure built up inside the crippled reactor, prompting widespread evacuations within a 10 km radius and stoking fears of a potentially catastrophic radioactive event.
Officials declared a "nuclear emergency" at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, about 200 miles northeast of Tokyo, when its cooling system failed to function properly after the nuclear reactor lost power and automatically shut down.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
March 11, 2011
Tsunami Fear Hits Japan
According to AP AT THIS LINK:
Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter. There were reports of injuries in Tokyo.
Enlarge This Image
A tsunami carried boats across waters in Kamaishi city port in this still image taken from video footage.
In various locations along Japan's coast, TV footage showed massive damage from the tsunami, with dozens of cars, boats and even buildings being carried along by waters. A large ship swept away by the tsunami rammed directly into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, according to footage on public broadcaster NHK.
Officials were trying to assess damage, injuries and deaths from the quake but had no immediate details.
The quake that struck at 2:46 p.m. was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including a 7.4-magnitude one about 30 minutes later. The U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the strength of the first quake to a magnitude 8.9, while Japan's meteorological agency measured it at 7.9.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter. There were reports of injuries in Tokyo.
Enlarge This Image
A tsunami carried boats across waters in Kamaishi city port in this still image taken from video footage.
In various locations along Japan's coast, TV footage showed massive damage from the tsunami, with dozens of cars, boats and even buildings being carried along by waters. A large ship swept away by the tsunami rammed directly into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, according to footage on public broadcaster NHK.
Officials were trying to assess damage, injuries and deaths from the quake but had no immediate details.
The quake that struck at 2:46 p.m. was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including a 7.4-magnitude one about 30 minutes later. The U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the strength of the first quake to a magnitude 8.9, while Japan's meteorological agency measured it at 7.9.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
March 10, 2011
What you might not know about America
I came across this link which MIGHT tell you something that you may not be aware of.
CHECK IT OUT HERE.
CHECK IT OUT HERE.
March 09, 2011
Earthquake Hits Japan
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan this afternoon has triggered a small tsunami, but with no reports of damage.
The quake hit at 1.54pm about 169 kilometres off the city of Sendai in northern Japan at a depth of 14 kilometres.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning of up to 50 centimetres for the east coast of the main Honshu island.
A 60-centimetre wave was first reported at Ofunato port half an hour after the quake without causing any damage.
"We have confirmed that small tsunami have come up on the shores, but we have no reports of damage at this point," said Shinobu Nagano, an emergency and disaster response official in Iwate prefecture.
"We are still trying to determine the impact of the quake."
Yoshiyuki Sato, an official at Kurihara City in Miyagi prefecture, about 300 kilometres north-east of Tokyo, told Reuters: "First I felt a jolt that pushed from underneath, then a big sideways tremor that lasted for about 20 seconds.
"The tremor was relatively big but things did not fall off the shelves in the city government building."
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
The quake hit at 1.54pm about 169 kilometres off the city of Sendai in northern Japan at a depth of 14 kilometres.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning of up to 50 centimetres for the east coast of the main Honshu island.
A 60-centimetre wave was first reported at Ofunato port half an hour after the quake without causing any damage.
"We have confirmed that small tsunami have come up on the shores, but we have no reports of damage at this point," said Shinobu Nagano, an emergency and disaster response official in Iwate prefecture.
"We are still trying to determine the impact of the quake."
Yoshiyuki Sato, an official at Kurihara City in Miyagi prefecture, about 300 kilometres north-east of Tokyo, told Reuters: "First I felt a jolt that pushed from underneath, then a big sideways tremor that lasted for about 20 seconds.
"The tremor was relatively big but things did not fall off the shelves in the city government building."
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
March 06, 2011
Antibodies to Combat AIDS?
Discover carried this article on New HIV Hope? Researchers Find Natural Antibodies That Thwart the Virus at THIS LINK.
Excerpt:
You can’t defeat what you can’t identify. That’s part of the human body’s problem with HIV–a virus that mutates constantly. Most antibodies can identify, latch onto, and neutralize only certain variants of the virus, or none at all. But two new studies published in Science yesterday point to two antibodies that almost always hits their targets--neutralizing some 90 percent of the most common HIV strains.
Scientists hope to eventually use their knowledge of these antibodies to develop a vaccine, but this is not an easy task.
“The path forward isn’t as clear as we’d like it to be, but we are turning a corner, I think,” says David Montefiori, a viral immunologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., who was not involved in the research. [Science News]
But first, how did they find these antibodies?
Step 1: Learning from a Survivor
Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases looked at the blood of a 60-year-old African American man who had survived with HIV for 20 years.
The HIV antibodies were discovered in the cells of a 60-year-old African-American gay man, known in the scientific literature as Donor 45, whose body made the antibodies naturally…. Donor 45′s antibodies didn’t protect him from contracting HIV. That is likely because the virus had already taken hold before his body produced the antibodies. He is still alive, and when his blood was drawn, he had been living with HIV for 20 years. [Wall Street Journal]
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
Excerpt:
You can’t defeat what you can’t identify. That’s part of the human body’s problem with HIV–a virus that mutates constantly. Most antibodies can identify, latch onto, and neutralize only certain variants of the virus, or none at all. But two new studies published in Science yesterday point to two antibodies that almost always hits their targets--neutralizing some 90 percent of the most common HIV strains.
Scientists hope to eventually use their knowledge of these antibodies to develop a vaccine, but this is not an easy task.
“The path forward isn’t as clear as we’d like it to be, but we are turning a corner, I think,” says David Montefiori, a viral immunologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., who was not involved in the research. [Science News]
But first, how did they find these antibodies?
Step 1: Learning from a Survivor
Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases looked at the blood of a 60-year-old African American man who had survived with HIV for 20 years.
The HIV antibodies were discovered in the cells of a 60-year-old African-American gay man, known in the scientific literature as Donor 45, whose body made the antibodies naturally…. Donor 45′s antibodies didn’t protect him from contracting HIV. That is likely because the virus had already taken hold before his body produced the antibodies. He is still alive, and when his blood was drawn, he had been living with HIV for 20 years. [Wall Street Journal]
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY.
The Human Brain
This morning, I have been doing a lot of research on the human brain in an attempt to understand how people think. I came across this excellent video that enthralled me to bits!!
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW CARL SAGAN'S LECTURE ON THE HUMAN BRAIN.
Enjoy!
Have a nice day! Do leave a message to share your thoughts. Thanks!
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW CARL SAGAN'S LECTURE ON THE HUMAN BRAIN.
Enjoy!
Have a nice day! Do leave a message to share your thoughts. Thanks!
February 26, 2011
The Cave Man in Us
Many people alive today possess some Neanderthal ancestry, according to a landmark scientific study.
The finding has surprised many experts, as previous genetic evidence suggested the Neanderthals made little or no contribution to our inheritance.
The result comes from analysis of the Neanderthal genome - the "instruction manual" describing how these ancient humans were put together.
Between 1% and 4% of the Eurasian human genome seems to come from Neanderthals.
But the study confirms living humans overwhelmingly trace their ancestry to a small population of Africans who later spread out across the world.
The most widely-accepted theory of modern human origins - known as Out of Africa - holds that the ancestors of living humans (Homo sapiens) originated in Africa some 200,000 years ago.
A relatively small group of people then left the continent to populate the rest of the world between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the entry written by Paul Rincon BBC News.
The finding has surprised many experts, as previous genetic evidence suggested the Neanderthals made little or no contribution to our inheritance.
The result comes from analysis of the Neanderthal genome - the "instruction manual" describing how these ancient humans were put together.
Between 1% and 4% of the Eurasian human genome seems to come from Neanderthals.
But the study confirms living humans overwhelmingly trace their ancestry to a small population of Africans who later spread out across the world.
The most widely-accepted theory of modern human origins - known as Out of Africa - holds that the ancestors of living humans (Homo sapiens) originated in Africa some 200,000 years ago.
A relatively small group of people then left the continent to populate the rest of the world between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the entry written by Paul Rincon BBC News.
February 20, 2011
Crackdowns Now In China!
China has detained top activists and deployed heavy security in large cities after the launch of a web campaign calling for protests echoing popular uprisings in the Arab world, campaigners said on Sunday.
Up to 100 leading Chinese rights lawyers and activists have disappeared since Saturday with police also descending onto protest sites around the nation, ready to put down any unrest, campaigners said.
The government appeared to be censoring Internet and text messages calling for the demonstrations, revealing deep-seated concerns among Chinese leaders over the possibility of Arab-style protests spreading to China.
Story continues AT THIS LINK.
Up to 100 leading Chinese rights lawyers and activists have disappeared since Saturday with police also descending onto protest sites around the nation, ready to put down any unrest, campaigners said.
The government appeared to be censoring Internet and text messages calling for the demonstrations, revealing deep-seated concerns among Chinese leaders over the possibility of Arab-style protests spreading to China.
Story continues AT THIS LINK.
February 17, 2011
And now, it is Bahrain!
Check out this report HERE about how army patrols and tanks locked down the capital of this tiny Gulf kingdom after riot police swinging clubs and firing tear gas smashed into demonstrators, many of them sleeping, in a pre-dawn assault Thursday that uprooted their protest camp demanding political change. Medical officials said four people were killed.
Hours after the attack on Manama's main Pearl Square, the military announced on state TV that it had "key parts" of the capital under its control and that gatherings were banned.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
Hours after the attack on Manama's main Pearl Square, the military announced on state TV that it had "key parts" of the capital under its control and that gatherings were banned.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.
February 16, 2011
Egypt, Tunisia and now Libya!
First it was Egypt followed by Tunisia. Breaking news - Reuters has reported that hundreds of people clashed with police and government supporters overnight in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, a witness and local media said, in a rare show of unrest in the oil exporting country.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
Read more AT THIS LINK.
February 02, 2011
Just to say
Most of you would be on your way to your reunion dinner. I have yet to shower and change but will do so right after I put up this post. Do take care. Have a glorious time with your family and loved ones. Drive safely and have a wonderful celebration with your loved ones.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
January 26, 2011
The Human Clock
Thanks to Angela who sent me this is amazing information which is great fun!!! It is extremely clever and it does actually work, in BOTH formats!!!!
And it actually tells the correct time.
Don’t miss the human clock. Fantastic. CLICK HERE to see the HUMAN CLOCK.
Click anywhere in the clock and it becomes digital, another click and it returns to normal.
And it actually tells the correct time.
Don’t miss the human clock. Fantastic. CLICK HERE to see the HUMAN CLOCK.
Click anywhere in the clock and it becomes digital, another click and it returns to normal.
