For Good Health, Breathing Theraphy

We have left, right nose, is that the same for inhale and exhale?

Actually they are different, can feel the difference; right side represent the sun, left side represent the moon.

When having headache, try to close right nose and use your left nose to do your breathing, about 5 min, headache will be gone.

If you feel tired, do it the opposite round, close your left nose and breathe through your right nose. After a while, you will feel your mind is fresh again.

Right side belongs to heat, so it gets hot easily, left side belongs to cold.

Most of the girls breathe with their left nose, so their heart gets cold easily.

Most of the guys breathe with their right nose, so they get angry easily.

Do you notice the moment we wake up, which side breathes faster? Left or right?

If left is faster, you will feel tired. So, close your left nose and use your right nose for breathing, you will get refresh quickly.

This can be taught to kids, but the effect will be better if apply by elders.

I used to have headache, it was so painful, go to doctor, doctor told me: it will be all right if you married! (All audiences laugh), doctor does not bullshit, what he said is supported with proofs.
That time, every night I am having headache problem, not able to study, I did take medicine, but that is not a good way.

One night, I sit down and close my right nose and breathe with left nose, less than one week, my headache problem is gone! I continue to do it one month, from that night until today, headache does not attack me anymore.

This is what I experienced myself, I told others, if headache, can try this way, because this is effective for me. Many people have tried and it works for them as well. This is a natural therapy, not like medicine, taking for long term will get side effect. So, why not try it out?

Always breathing your body can feel very relax.

Reasons why you should drink more Tom Yam Soup

(apoptosis) noun: a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself; a cell suicide mechanism that enables metazoans to control cell number and eliminate cells that threaten the animal's survival.

Fresh lemon grass fields in Israel become Mecca for cancer patients

By Allison Kaplan Sommer April 02, 2006
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A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube.

Israeli researchers find way to make cancer cells self-desctruct - Ben Gurion University.

At first, Benny ZAbidov, an Israeli agriculturalist who grows greenhouses full of lush spices on a pastoral farm in Kfar Yedidya in the Sharon region, couldn't understand why so many cancer patients from around the country were showing up on his doorstep asking for fresh lemon grass. It turned ou that their doctors had sent them. 'they had been told to drink eight glasses of hot water with fresh lemon grass steeped in it on the days that they went for their radiation and chemotherapy treatments,' Zabidov told ISRAEL21c. 'And this is the place you to in Israel for fresh lemon grass.'

It all began when researchers at Ben Gurion University of the Negev discovered last year that the lemon aroma in herbs like lemon grass kills cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The research team was led by Dr. Rivka Ofir and Prof. Yakov Weinstein, incumbent of the Albert Katz Chair in Cell-Differentiation and Malignant Diseases, from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at BGU.

Citral is the key component that gives the lemony aroma and taste in several herbal plants such as lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), melissa (Melissa officinalis) and verbena (Verbena officinalis.)

According to Ofir, the study found that citral causes cancer cells to 'commit suicide: using apoptosis, a mechanism called programmed cell death.' A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt the cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube.

The BGU investigators checked the influence of the citral on cancerous cells by adding them to both cancerous cells and normal cells that were grown in a petri dish. The quantity added in the concentrate was equivalent to the amount contained in a cup of regular tea using one gram of lemon herbs in hot water. While the citral killed the cancerous cells, the normal cells remained unharmed.

The findings were published in the scientific journal Planta Medica, which highlights research on alternative and herbal remedies.. Shortly afterwards, the discovery was featured in the popular Israeli press.

Why does it work? Nobody knows for certain, but the BGU scientists have a theory. 'In each cell in our body, there is a genetic program which causes programmed cell death. When something goes wrong, the cells divide with no control and become cancer cells. In normal cells, when the cell discovers that the control system is not operating correctly - for example, when it recognizes that a cell contains faulty genetic material following cell division - it triggers cell death,' explains Weinstein. 'This research may explain the medical benefit of these herbs.'

The success of their research led them to the conclusion that herbs containing citral may be consumed as a preventative measure against certain cancerous cells. As they learned of the BGU findings in the press, many physicians in Israel began to believe that while the research certainly needed to be explored further, in the meantime it would be advisable for their patients, who were looking for any possible tool to fight their condition, to try to harness the cancer-destroying properties of citral.

That's why Zabidov's farm - the only major grower of fresh lemon grass in Israel - has become a pilgrimage destination for these patients. Luckily, they found themselves in sympathetic hands. Zabidov greets visitors with a large kettle of aromatic lemon grass tea, a plate of cookies, and a supportive attitude. 'My father died of cancer, and my wife's sister died young because of cancer,' said Zabidov. 'So I understand what they are dealing with. And I may not know anything about medicine, but I'm a good listener. And so they tell me about their expensive painful treatments and what they've been through. I would never tell them to stop being treated, but it's great that they are exploring alternatives and drinking the lemon grass tea as well.'

Zabidov knew from a young age that agriculture was his calling. At age 14, he enrolled in the Kfar Hayarok Agricultural high school. After his army service, he joined an idealistic group which headed south, in the Arava desert region, to found a new moshav (agricultural settlement) called Tsofar. 'We were very successful; we raised fruits and vegetables, and,' he notes with a smile, 'We raised some very nice children.'

On a trip to Europe in the mid-80s, he began to become interested in herbs. Israel, at the time, was nothing like the trend-conscious cuisine-oriented country it is today, and the only spices being grown commercially were basics like parsley, dill, and coriander. Wandering in the Paris market, looking at the variety of herbs and spices, Zabidov realised that there was a great export potential in this niche. He brought samples back home with him, 'which was technically illegal,' he says with a guilty smile, to see how they would grow in his desert greenhouses. Soon, he was growing basil, oregano, tarragon, chives, sage, marijoram and melissa, and mint just to name a few.

His business began to outgrow his desert facilities, and so he decided to move north, settling in the moshav of Kfar Yedidya, an hour and a half north of Tel Aviv. He is now selling 'several hundred kilos' of lemon grass per week, and has signed with a distributor to package and put it in health food stores. Zabidov has taken it upon himself to learn more about the properties of citral, and help his customers learn more, and has invited medical experts to his farm to give lectures about how the citral works and why.

He also felt a responsibility to know what to tell his customers about its use. 'When I realized what was happening, I picked up the phone and called Dr. Weinstein at Ben-Gurion University, because these people were asking me exactly the best way to consume the citral. He said to put the loose grass in hot water, and drink about eight glasses each day.'

Zabidov is pleased by the findings, not simply because it means business for his farm, but because it might influence his own health. Even before the news of its benefits were demonstrated, he and his family had been drinking lemon grass in hot water for years, 'just because it tastes good.'

5 FOODS Women Need Most

1 Papaya – This fruit packs about twice the vitamin C of an orange. Add it to your arsenal against gallbladder disease, which afflicts twice as many women as men. After analysing the blood of over 13,000 people, scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, found that women who had lower levels of vitamin C were more likely to have gallbladder illnesses. One medium papaya (about 280 grams), with 188 milligrams of C and a mere 500 kilo-joules, is a refreshing source of the vitamin. Best of all it’s probably growing in your garden.

2 Flaxseed – Bakers use this nutty-flavoured seed mainly to add flavour and fibre. But scientists see the tiny reddish-brown seed, rich in oestrogen-like compounds called lignans, as a potential weapon against breast cancer. An exciting report at last year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showed that adding flaxseed to the diet of women with breast cancer effectively slowed tumour growth. You can flavour your muffins with flaxseed, but the easiest way to get the beneficial lignans is to sprinkle a few tablespoons of ground flaxseed on your morning cereal. Look for the seeds in health food shops. They’re easy to grind in a blender or coffee grinder. But get seeds – there are no lignans in the oil.

3 Tofu – Foods high in soya protein can lower cholesterol and may minimise menopausal hot flushes and strengthen bone. Isoflavones, plant chemicals in soyabeans that have a structure similar to oestrogen, may be the reason. Though animal studies form the bulk of evidence, a human study found that 90 milligrams of isoflavones was beneficial to bone (specifically the spine). And two other studies suggest that 50 to 76 milligrams of isoflavones a day may offer some relief from hot flushes. Half a cup of tofu contains about 25 to 35 milligrams of isoflavones.

4 Pork – Due largely to menstruation, women tend to be more anaemic than men. And low iron levels in blood can cause severe fatigue. To get a good dose of iron, try pork. It has what every diet-conscious women wants – lots of iron and fat that can be easily removed, compared to most cuts of meat. According to the Asian Food Information Centre in Singapore, a palm-sized pork steak has about 1.4 milligrams of iron. Best of all, says Dr Mark Wahlqvist, president of the International Union of Nutrition Sciences, eating a small amount of pork with a meal increases the absorption of iron from accompanying vegetables and cereals.

5 Cabbage – This humble vegetable may help fight osteoporosis, which affects many women late in life. In addition to getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, some studies suggest that vitamin K may have a bone-protective effect as well. Based on data from one of the largest studies of women, the Nurses’ Health Study, researchers discovered that women who ate enough vitamin K-rich foods (at least 109 micrograms of the vitamin daily) were 30 per cent less likely to suffer a hip fracture during ten years of follow-up than women who ate less. Researchers point out that dark-green leafy vegetables – brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli – are all good sources of the vitamin. But cabbage is among the best.

There you have it: five great foods for women that can keep both of you well fed and healthy at the same time.

5 FOODS Men Need Most

1 Tomato Sauce – Men who eat a lot of tomatoes, tomato sauce, or pizza smothered with the stuff may be giving themselves a hedge against prostate cancer. So say researchers at Harvard University, who studied the eating habits of more than 47,000 male health professionals. They found that men who ate tomato sauce two to four times per week had a 35 per cent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than men who ate none. A carotenoid called lycopene, which tomatoes contain in abundance, appeared to be responsible. But scientists were puzzled: tomato juice didn’t seem to have a protective effect. Other research show why. For best absorption, lycopene should be cooked with some kind of fat. So pizza may be just what the doctor ordered.

2 Oysters – Myth has it that oysters are the food of love. Science may agree. Just two to three oyster deliver a full day’s supply of zinc, a mineral critical for normal functioning of the male reproductive system. Scientists are divided over reports that sperm counts have declined over the last 50 years and that environmental factors are to blame. Nutritional deficiencies do seem to be the cause of certain cases of low testosterone. Getting adequate zinc is sometimes the answer (up to 15 milligrams per day is recommended for men; more than 40 milligrams can pose risk). In one trial, 22 men with low testosterone level and sperm counts were given zinc every day for 45 to 50 days. Testosterone levels and sperm counts rose.

3 Broccoli – A recent Harvard study finds that cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, may protect against bladder cancer which is common among Asian men. Scientists analysed the diets of nearly 50,000 men and discovered that those who ate five servings or more per week of cruciferous veggies were half as likely to develop bladder cancer over a ten-year period as men who rarely ate them. And broccoli and cabbage were singled out as the most protective foods.

4 Peanut butter – If you want a healthy heart, spread your morning toast with peanut butter. Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women, but men fall victim at an earlier age. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University compared the cholesterol-lowering effect of the step II Diet of the America Heart Association (AHA) with a higher-fat diet based on peanuts. The AHA plan included more carbohydrates. The peanut regimen was 36 per cent fat. After 24 days both diets lowered “bad” LDL cholesterol. But the peanut plan also caused a drop in blood fats called triglycerides and did not decrease HDL, the “good” cholesterol. The AHA diet raised levels of triglycerides and lowered levels of HDL. “Peanut butter is a little higher in fat,” says Penny Kris-Etherton, the lead author of the study. “But it’s the type that’s good for you – monounsaturated fat.” Researchers have predicted that the peanut diet could reduce heart-disease risk even more than the AHA diet could. Just don’t go nutty plastering on the tasty spread, since it is high in kilojoules.

5 Watermelon – Until the age of 55, more men suffer from high blood pressure than do women. Research suggests that foods rich in potassium can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. The evidence is so convincing that the US Food and Drug Administration recently allowed food labels to bear a health claim about the connection between potassium-rich foods and high blood pressure. “A good goal for potassium is about 2000 milligrams or more a day,” says Antigone Blazos, a lecturer at Asia Pacific Health and Nutrition Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Watermelon is a rich source of this mineral and has more potassium – 664 milligrams – in just one large slice than the amount found in banana or a glass of orange juice. So cut yourself another slice and enjoy its cool taste.

There you have it: five great foods for men that can keep both of you well fed and healthy at the same time.

Live Life Back to Basics

Can you live your life back to basics? Just to have the bare minimum in life.... I used to think that this will be very difficult, as we are so used to expensive food and buying new clothes every now and then. I had worked overseas before and earning substantial income, which allows me to eat and sleep in hotels every weekend in low living cost countries. Now I can just have a bowl of porridge with pickled vegetables or just a fried egg with soya sauce, this is good enough for me. I dun need to have fish and meat all the time. Nothing beats the joy of cooking at home and having your family enjoying the food.

Times has change, I have to learn to be more frugal with my spending and start saving to be able to raise kids comfortably. Somehow after my marriage, my mindset changes and I no longer have the drive to thrive in my workplace. I came to this revelation when I was under brutal verbal assault by a high-flying insurance director during the interview last Saturday.

Initially I felt hurt and angry at myself for not achieving the same as her (Ferrari for transportation, beautiful, sexy director with very heavy make-up and dressed in skin-hugging short skirt and high platform shoes) who earns over $150k in her first year in insurance agent career. It was really tempting and she made it sound so easy but deep down in my heart, I know this is not what I want.

I then realised that having a lot of money is no longer a must for me, it's good to have but as long as I have enough money to raise a family with happy kids, that's what I want in life. What is life if you need to be always be on call by your customers and putting up with their demands, that you are not able to spend times with your family and kids?

My life will be fulfilled when I know that my kids are going to be useful person in this society and able to contribute whatever they can. No matter how good the education systems is in Singapore, it still cannot replace the role of parents in the upbringing of the kids. Moral values are being taught at home and kids learn by examples since young. I want my kids to be able to respect elders and care for others.

Now all my attention is towards the family and working hard to have kids. We want as many kids as we can have.

Escaping the clutch of my most hated employer...

Hurray!!! Today is the last day of my employment with current company. I'm finally out the clutch of my most hated employer. I have never felt so bad about a company that I want to leave so soon, even before I get a job. This is a especially risky thing to do now, due to the unstable economy. Anywhere is better than here.

I promised myself that I would stay on to my next job much longer, as it is really tiring and troublesome to go through interviews. I hope that I have better luck next time to have better employer.

What's Wrong with Our Education System??

What has gone wrong with our education system? Why PM has to mention during the rally that Singaporeans dun clear their plates after they have finished eating? Is it the fault of the education system or maybe it's our culture and upbringing.

When I was in London a couples years back, you can see people clearing their trays after they have eaten at MacDonalds. But in Singapore, no, seldom or very rare you will see people clearing their trays. People are so used to having aunties and uncles there to clear the trays for them. They would even complain and unhappy if the tables are not being cleared soon enough.

I thought that at school, we usually have to clear our own plates or bowls after we have finished the food. Is this still being practised in school? Then why we can't bring this habits outside school?!

Just a few weeks ago, I was at this small prawn fishing outfit and I saw all these rubbish around the premises. No one bothers to do anything about it and just leave it as it is. Why can't they just throw them on the way out of the premises? Haiz..... :((

As an Employee.....

As an employee:

§ the biggest motive is salary
§ the unluckiest thing is promotion without salary adjustment
§ the most shiok thing is you anyhow work also get pay increment
§ the greatest talent is "carry"
§ the greatest mistake is to argue with your boss
§ the most demoralising thing is to receive salary late
§ the most pitiful thing is you did not get your salary and your boss ran away
§ the happiest thing is you became your boss's boss
§ the cleverest thing is you are late but your boss doesn't know
§ the stupidiest thing is you publicly say that you are lazy
§ the most common thing is boss says something but means another thing
§ the proudiest thing is you sack you boss
§ the most "loogi" thing is you work hard but your colleague takes the credit
§ the most dangerous thing is to become a "two-headed" snake?

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Does anyone share the same feelings as I do with the above?

Lobang - Home Linen Warehouse Sale

Home Linen Warehouse Sale
Date: 18th to 21th September
Location: Joo Seng Road, Goldpine Industry Bldg #01-01
Merchandise: bedlinen , bedding , mattress , pillows , bolsters , quilts , mattress pad , towels , floor rugs , curtains and many many more....

Lobang - Outdoor Fashion & Household Bazaar

Outdoor Fashion & Household Bazaar at Buangkok MRT
from 22 September onwards.
Space / tables for rental.
100% not Pasar Malam Style.

Write to me and I will pass contact for you to get details.

Counting down to jobless days

I dun know if I should feel happy or sad but I just know that I can't wait to leave this company. Another 3 more days to go and I will be jobless liao... maybe I can become full time blogger but then again, it's not that easy to do so, cos now I am running out of topics to write... So I think I should just stick to a day time job and write occasionally on my blog to share my views and thoughts.

Anyway been to a couple of interviews already but still no confirmed job yet. Hope to be able to finalise by month end. Talking about this, I have also not continued on my plans to debt-free days... I think better start working on it soon.

Tomorrow will be a brand new day and I am going to make the most of it. It will be a better day.

What is the fun of Chalet??

What do you do in chalet, especially the Singaporean style? For me, it's mahjong and BBQ. Every time I think of staying in chalet, all I can think of is mahjong and BBQ. Although I play mahjong every week but the thought of playing overnight at the chalet just brighten up my day. I guess I just love to have the whole family together and have fun.

I think the fact that organising a BBQ is quite a hell of work, I especially love to have BBQ during chalet time. If not, it would be so boring to just have buffet or take-away food. Just imagine everyone having fun while setting up the fire and preparing the food.

Just that we dun have the nature feel to it, cos you get to see buildings or if in East Coast, you see the ships from afar. What to do? Just make do with what we have lah....

I'm going to have great fun tonight. See ya... have a wonderful weekend.

The Face Shop @ Marina Square

Moving out Sale from 12 September 2008

• Discounts up to 50%; members extra 5$ off
• Free Cash Voucher for 1st 3 days!

T&C apply

@ Marina Square #02-322

Chinese action star Li wants to nurture spirit of philanthropy

SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Chinese action star Jet Li said Wednesday he wants to cultivate the spirit of philanthropy among Asians and has taken this year off from making movies to focus on his One Foundation charity.

"I don't need to wait till I am retired to help the world," the Beijing-born actor said at the Forbes Global CEO Conference, an international gathering of top corporate executives here.

"I need to give back."

Li founded One Foundation in 2007, which at the moment is focused mainly on aiding charitable causes in China. Li said he plans to eventually set up branches in the rest of Asia.

The foundation has raised about 100 million yuan (14.6 million dollars) to help with rebuilding efforts following the devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan province in May, Li said.

"In China right now, (the) younger generation -- their lives (are) very comfortable," said Li.

"They only open their hands, ask... everybody gives them but I want to share the belief, 'please you need to give a little bit back'," he said, adding "even one yuan you can share your love."

Li is one of Asia's most popular action stars, dazzling fans with his martial arts skills in several box office hits.

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No wonder I idolises him when I was young, cos he's so cute, strong and kind-hearted. ;p

No lah... I just love his actions. I used to learn marital art for a short period of time and that is when I'm really crazy over marital art. Talking about marital art, last night I read about a news that some people are accusing of Vincent Wong (翁青海）bluff about his credential in marital art. Well anyway, who cares about his past, as long as he can teach now and teach well. Haiz... is he trying to publicise for his marital art school??

Shame or Pride??

LOL!! I just can't stop laughing when I saw this article from RECRUIT in THE STRAITS TIMES (I dun know which date but I will paste a picture of it, hopefully you can read the article too). I got this from a colleague who like me is going to leave this company.

As I read the article, I can't help but laughed and nodded my head in agreement at the familiarity of the example of SHAME MANAGEMENT with my current company. Luckily I decided to leave for greener pasture... LOL!!!

The article listed 5 areas to cultivate pride-based management, which is the better management that will help to boost the company performance. But this company has done the opposite of it.

1) If you don't trust your people, they don't trust you.

My example is very much linked to the second point, so I will elaborate below.

2) Never give responsbilities without authority.

I can't agree more with what the article says and it is precisely the case with this company that they are not able to give the staff the authority to make decision. Even like the purchase of fruit trees and plants also has to be finalised by the bosses. My colleague has been questioned over the expenditure made and the S$2,000 in excess (which they decide is uncalled for) has to be compensated by my colleague. If this is the case, who would want to make any decision.

I believe they do this to make the staff to enquire them on all decisions and in turn make themselves feel important that the staff can not do without them... :(

3) You get the behaviour you reward.

Needless to say those who always seeked their opinion on all matters would be rewarded with friendlier treatment and obtain protection even when they have made a mistake. Nonetheless, that colleague of mine also left the company, cos he made such a big mistake that he's scared to stay on, before the matter got blowed up.

4) Delegate outcomes, not methods.

Haiz.... This company also commit this same mistake. They only want things to be done the way that they are familiar with and not the professional way. They are not willing to engage professionals to conduct market research or to do due diligence, everything is based on what the bosses gather from their friends (who may not be in the same business or know much of the business) and their intended partners.

5) The job of the manager is to create the right motivational climate.

Well they are extremely good with the use of threats or fear and they dun give out incentives.

So in conclusion, I seriously dun think this company will go far, at least I dun think it would grow any bigger and they will be lucky if they still stay afloat. Many of my colleagues echoed the same.

Journey to Debt Free - The Revelation

When is the last time you have your financial health check? Or how often do you do it? It was advised best to do it once every year, but really it depends on whether there is any significant financial changes in your life. Some do it every 3 months, some do it 2 years. It's really up to individual.

As for me, I have not done mine for 4 years I think, partly is there is not much change. Another major reason being that I am well awared of my financial woes, so much so that I try to comfort myself by not really doing my sum. But yesterday, my self-denial was being merciless taken down as my financial planner pointed out once again my financial weakness.

To be honest, I am beginning to get really troubled by the amount of debt that I have and they are really really bad debts - debts that I will gain nothing from except to pay even more money. Yes, I am guilty of using future's money and I have so many credit cards that my wallets can't hold all of them and they are all stretched to their limit.

However TODAY I make a huge promise to myself that I will be debt free in 2 years time and I will write in my blog the steps that I have taken to make that happen.

To be Continued.....

Remember Singapore Old Days....

I think I'm getting old liao... cos I still reminisces the old days. But today I think I'm getting worst, cos I'm going to show the really old days of Singapore... LOL!

But dun they look cute.... ;p

Marital crisis? Blame it on male genes

Saw this article on Yahoo News and this is simply so amusing. I wonder if the researchers are all male or what?! Finding an excuse for their needs to stray from relationship committment? And one thing I dun understand why waste time on this kind of researchs? Shouldn't there be more important issues to address? What do they want to achieve after confirmation, come up with medicines to prevent them from relationship problems?? LOL!!!!

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - - Swedish researchers said Tuesday what women have suspected all along: that marital woes can often be attributed to men's genetic make-up, according to a study linking a common male gene to relationship problems.

The gene variant, which is present in four of 10 Swedish men, can explain why some men are more prone to stormy relationships and bond less to their wives or girlfriends, a team of researchers at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute said.

"There are, of course, many reasons why a person might have relationship problems, but this is the first time that a specific gene variant has been associated with how men bond to their partners," Hasse Walum, one of the researchers, said in a statement.

The team found that men who carry one or two copies of a variant of the gene often behave differently in relationships than men who lack the gene variant, called allele 334.

"The incidence of allele 334 was statistically linked to how strong a bond a man felt he had with his partner," the statement said. Men who had two copies of allele 334 were twice as likely to have had a marital or relationship crisis in the past year than those who lacked the gene variant, it said.

Their wives or girlfriends also noticed the difference. "Women married to men who carry one or two copies of allele 334 were, on average, less satisfied with their relationship than women married to men who didn't carry this allele," Walum said.

He stressed however that the effect of the genetic variation was relatively modest and could not be used to predict with any real accuracy how someone would behave in a future relationship.
The study surveyed 550 twins and their partners or spouses in Sweden.

Martin Ingvar, a professor of neurophysiology at Karolinska Institute, said the results were "very exciting."

"These are original findings which shed light on the fact that all of our behaviours are influenced by both nature and nurture. Even complex, cultural social phenomens such as marriage are influenced by a person's genetic make-up," Ingvar said.

The gene in question controls the production of a molecule receptor for vasopressin, a hormone that is found in most mammals.

The same gene has previously been linked to monogamous behaviour in male voles, a mouselike rodent.

The researchers said they hoped greater knowledge of the effect of vasopressin on human relations could also help understand the causes of diseases characterised by problems with social interaction, such as autism.

The results of the study were published Tuesday in the US scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

We went to "empty orchestra" last night

LOL! You must be wondering where did we go to... it's karaoke lah. As I was thinking how to write this article, it dawned on me that I dun really understand how does the word karaoke comes about. I knew it has something to do with Japan, cos the word sound Japanese. So I checked up the wikipedia to find the meaning.

Karaoke (カラオケ, Karaoke from Japanese kara(空), "empty," and ōkesutora, "orchestra") (pronounced /kɑːrɑːˌoʊkɛ/; in Japanese IPA: [karaoke]; listen (help·info)) is a form of entertainment in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music (and/or a music video) using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song in which the voice of the original singer is removed or reduced in volume. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol or changing color and/or music video images, to guide the singer. In some countries, karaoke with video lyrics display capabilities is called KTV. It is very commonly pronounced /kæriːoʊkiː/, leading people to also incorrectly spell it "kareoke".

Anyway my colleagues and me had a great time at the karaoke, though none of us really sang very well. I'm especially croaky last night and sang out of tune most of the time. I would sound better if i have the professional singer voice in the background (honestly speaking, it is to cover my bad voice and out of tune singing... LOL!). My singing is only good in bathroom where there is no audience...

I think I getting hooked with karaoke now, in just a about 1 months time, I have been to karaoke for at least 3 times which is far better than the 4 times I been to karaoke for the past 7 years.

Daddy, I'm in love... and he looks just like you!

Dunno how true is it but I sure want to do my own checking, starting off with my dad and husband on the distance between mouth and brow, the height of the face, distance between the eyes and the size of a man's nose, see if there is any similiarity.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080904/tts-science-sex-love-genetics-behaviour-c1b2fc3.html

Facts about Cancer (2)

(Continued from last post)

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar, is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like Nutrasweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt. ( THE WEST MADE US 2 CHANGE FROM SEA 2 WHITE IODISED SALT )

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus . By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best t o eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful,especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat so m e raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water- best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins,minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

PLEASE READ ON
1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.

He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat.

He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as CorningWare, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food.

You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Facts about Cancer

Just a few months back, one of my long time friend from my past employment told me that her husband has just went through an operation to remove stomach cancer cells. Then a few days later, I received news from my auntie that she has a tumor in her breast and she needs to go through series of tests to determine whether it is cancerous or benign.

Luckily both cases turned out to be fine. However these news alerts me that cancer is not so elusive anymore and it's no longer something that happens to other only. To be honest, I am pretty scared, so I would pay more attention about articles that talk about cancer. The following is just one of the article which I would like to share with everyone.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

(To be continued)

Cheeseburger in a can??

Would you take this? I dun think I will like to eat this, as getting a cheeseburger is so easy here in Singapore. Anywhere round the corner, there are MacDonalds, KFC, hawker centres, foodcourts and many others...

What about you?

Olympics Table Tennis Champion, Ma Lin has a very beautiful wife

Do you know that Ma Lin's wife is really pretty and photogenic. I think she may be a star... need to go find out more.

Job Interviews

Arrgghhhh..... Have to go for interview again, very sianz... The most tiring thing in job hunting is the job interviews. How come all interviewers asked the same thing? Can they be more innovative in their interview techniques?

1) What is your job experience? What is it that you do for each job?
I dun understand why they keep asking this, I have all these written down in my resume. Can't they read?!

2) What do you see yourself in 5 years time?
If I know, I would have been here sitting with you, being interviewed by you. Why is it so important to ask this question, what has it to do with you employing me?

3) Why do you want to leave your current job?
Haiz... I think the answer is very direct, not happy with job lor. The thing is when one knows that the answer is not going to sound too good, people tend to give other more acceptable answer. Therefore how do you know your candidates did not lie to you?

4) What is your expected salary?
Well this question I dun mind them asking, just give me my expected salary. LOL!

I also come across strange interview requirement too, like having your ba zi being read using the Zi Wei Dou Shu (i.e. it's one of the technique of fortune-telling). Anyway I did not get that job, maybe my ba zi will not bring luck to that boss. But my brilliant husband who knows a bit of fortune-telling says that this boss is missing out a big chuck of information and relying on just one technique and just one's person ba zi is not accurate, cos surrounding people is going to have effect on the person who has his ba zi being read.

Tiger expecting second child in late winter

I guess Tiger Woods will be out of action for a while. Wonder if his children going to inherit his gene in Golf or her wife's beauty?

World number one Tiger Woods and his wife Elin are expecting their second child to be born in late winter, which could delay the US golf superstar's return to action from a knee injury. (For more see - http://sport.sg.msn.com/golf/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1657599)

Yummy... Kway Chay

Lately I have been going crazy over Kway Chay (for those foreigners who may not know - Kway Chay is a kind of noodle which is flat and squareish with side dishes of duck meat, braised pig intestines and braised beancurd in braised thick sauce). The one that really captures my stomach is the one at MacPherson Road but it also cost a dent in my wallet.

Yesterday I had my lunch here with 5 other colleagues and each of us paid like S$9.333333 per person. It's a long queue there and we waited like 30 mins for the food. I even saw a Bentley parked nearby the road side to eat the Kway Chay...

The food is really delicious, just a bit expensive.

Who Am I?!

Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night, wondering why you have been living the life you are living now? OR wonder why are you here in this life? Well I have and I could not sleep well.

Strange thing is it is only recently that I start to have this kind of strange thoughts. Maybe the pressure of a new life after marriage is creeping up to me and once again going through the ordeal of finding another job.

Anyway, I wonder how many people out there question themselves this or just merely passing each day as it is, busy working hard to earn money for food. Is there a greater meaning to life? There should be, if not life would have been so boring and meaningless. So what's there for me? What can I contribute to this society? I still dun have the answer but I believe I will know one day, cos I am searching for it. You can't find it if you dun know you dun have it. Cham... have you fallen asleep there?!!

Yummy... Chewy Cream Puffs

I was at BHG (used to be known as Bugis Junction) basement food court, where I came across this new stall, selling chewy cream puff. The puffs just looks so delicious that I had to buy some back for my siblings and parents to try.

I personally love the Cheese Lover and the chocolate junior is just simply heavenly delicious. My sister, my nieces and nephew love it so much that they practically finished the lot within seconds.

Do try it, although I find it abit expensive and the service crew is abit too slow for a impatient lady like me. If he has speed up abit, there would be better sales I think.

Volunteering & Life

I have always wanted to be active in community work but the reality of life and cost of living has pushed my volunteer interest to a back seat. I admit I'm not that noble that I can sacrifice my own needs & wants to help others. Nonetheless I still try my best to give some time for volunteer work.

Volunteering is really a reality check for me, to realise that I should be gladful of the things I have and not take them for granted.

I am gladful that I have my parents alive to take care of us till now. There are people who has lost one or both their parents and due to this, fall into great financial difficulties or having to live under the same roof with relatives and some has mentioned how they have been ill-treated by the relatives family.

I am gladful for my siblings who is willing help out whenever I need help and also gladful that I can be of help to them as well. Many times poor families usually have many siblings but they are unable to help much due to their family and their financial instability or some dun even have siblings to help in times of needs.

I am gladful that I am healthy and able to work. This may seem like a very simple thing to everyone but there are people out there who thinks this is a luxury to them. Even if they want to work, there is no job available for them as they are sick, requiring constant medical care and not many employers are willing to see their employees on MC most of the time. Of course, there are some who has made a huge mistake when young, like sniffing glue or taking drugs, which has cause permanent damage to their brain and causing them not able to handle even simple job like cleaning as they are very slow.

I am gladful for having a loving husband who is always there for me whenever I needed and who loves my family as much as I do. I heard of cases where couples separated and have to go through ugly divorce proceedings. There are also cases where daughter-in-law or son-in-law starts to spilt up the family by requesting to live away from the in-laws or requesting money back from their in-laws by selling off their flat, leaving the poor old in-laws to find their own lodging. Sometimes they would also instigate their spouse not to give any allowance to their parents.

I am gladful for a accomodating in-laws who does not impose huge expectations from me. As I am living with my in-laws, it is all the more important to maintain a cordial living environment. Just across my room on the next block, every morning we can hear the mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law scolding each other, wishing each other death, etc. They are so loud that I bet the whole block would have heard them and at times police has to come back to stop them from disturbing the others.

I am gladful for friendly neighbours that is close to the family. Cases like neighbour disputes are the hardest to resolve, where one party is usually very unreasonable, making uncompromising requests and accursation. Usually the only solution is to move away from such neighbours but due to financial means, it is not possible. I have heard of neighbours who would urinate at the door-steps or giving nasty notes.

Finally, I am gladful that I am Singaporean, as there is social assistance provided by the government and a far-sighted parliament who plans ahead to ensure that our economy is able to sustain our living costs, and so forth. Though it may not be the perfect government but in my heart, it is the best that I would want to have. Life is like this, you get some you miss some, it is not possible to please everyone. But at least, I'm CONTENTED.