NASA astronauts were found drunk before they conduct space flights, according to reports released Friday by two independent investigating panels in Washington at NASA headquarters.
"Alcohol is freely used in crew quarters. Two specific instances were described where astronauts had been so intoxicated prior to flight that flight surgeons and/or fellow astronauts raised concerns to local on-scene leadership regarding flight safety," said the external panel, which was created by NASA in the wake of the arrest of former astronaut Lisa Nowak in February on charges she tried to kidnap her rival in a love triangle.
However, the individuals were still permitted to fly, according to the panel experts after interviews with both flight surgeons and astronauts. The report said NASA's medical certification of astronauts for flight duty is not structured to detect such episodes, nor is any medical surveillance program by itself likely to detect them or change the pattern of alcohol use.
The panel recommends that NASA should ensure that specific policies, procedures, educational efforts, and disciplinary actions are in place to foster a culture that holds individuals and supervisors accountable for safe and responsible use of alcohol.
Another internal panel formed by NASA's Johnson Space Center focuses on the behavioral health of astronauts. They reviewed the existing psychological screening for admittance into the astronauts corps and the ongoing psychological assessments during an astronaut's career at NASA.
This panel recommends that NASA should adopt a formal code of conduct for the astronaut corps, provide regular training to flight surgeons regarding behavioral health assessment, and institute behavioral health assessments in conjunction with annual astronaut flight physicals.
"NASA acknowledge the important work done (by the two panels)," Shana Dale, NASA Deputy Administrator said at the news conference. "We are going to implement the recommendations to improve the extensive health care programs for our astronauts."
"A more extensive behavioral health assessment will be added to annual flight physical examinations for all astronauts," said Dale. "And, we are committed to improving the quality and usefulness of our psychological testing and assessment during the astronaut selection."
"We take the recommendation of developing an astronaut code of conduct very seriously," added Dale. She said that NASA will act immediately on the more troubling aspects of the reports, especially with respect to alcohol use.
The report does not provide specific information about alcohol- related incidents and the panel has left it to NASA to determine the scope of these alleged incidents. Source: Xinhua
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Canon Digital IXUS 70
Stylish and Compact Design
Slimmest IXUS ever
Large 2.5-inch Pure Color LCD Monitor with wide viewing angle.
- Special coating that makes LCD surface highly resistant to scratches, finger prints and dust.
- easy to view images in bright outdoor conditions
Convenient Touch Wheel that puts a variety of operations at your fingertips for easy capturing od photos
Superb Image Quality
• Superior Linear Lens to increase sharpness in a slimmer body
• Powered by the NEW DIGIC III Imaging Processor for:
- Faster processing computing speed.
- Improved noise reduction signal processing at high speed settings
- Lower power consumption
- Higher definition for signal output to LCD monitor
• New High ISO 1600 & Auto ISO Shift reduce camera shake and blurring of fast-moving subjects even in low-light condition. Use Auto ISO shift to automatically increase ISO speed until shutter is fast enough to prevent blurring.
Multiple Face Detection Technology
Incorporates the Face Detection AF, Face Detection AE and Face Detection FE, which work hand-in-hand to capture stunning photos of subjects’ faces with sharpness and right exposure easily.
Face Detection AF: Detects as many as 9 subjects’ faces in a picture. If no faces are detected the AF system automatically switched to the conventional 9-point AiAF setting.
Face Detection AE: Focus and exposure are controlled and set correctly for capturing the human face so that the subject’s best expression is not missed.
Face Detection FE: Flash brightness and exposure automatically adjusted to ideal levels
Enables Red eye correction during playback
Wide angle Shooting with 3.0x Optical Zoom
Capture panoramic scenes easily. (eg. for group portraits or wide scenary)
Point & Shoot Simplicity
9-point AiAF (auto-focusing) or single point AF (fixed to center) ensures the subject is sharply focused even if it is not in the center.
18 shooting modes including 8 special scene modes.
- The Special Scene modes are pre programmed camera settings for specific shooting conditions: Aquarium, Fireworks, Snow, Beach, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Foliage, Underwater
Vertical/ Horizontal Gridline Display for easy photo composition and framing.
Time Lapse Movie shortens movie duration by selecting representative frames so parts of the movie can be viewed.
Stitch Assist to piece images together seamlessly to create panoramic landscapes
My Colors Function
Freely retouch color of still images on the camera during shooting.
Real-time color change on LCD monitor while shooting, hence saving the time and hassle of retouching via computer.
Available modes in My Colors function:
- Vivid
- Neutral
- Sepia
- Black & White
- Positive Film
- Lighter Skin Tone
- Darker Skin Tone
- Vivid Blue
- Vivid Green
- Vivid Red
- Custom Color (to set balance of red, green, blue and skin color. Fine adjustments such as ‘make blues a little more vivid’ or ‘make skin color a little brighter’ are possible.)
Sound Recording
Up to 2hrs of sound recording
(depends on the amount of free space in memory card and remaining battery life)
My Category Function
Sort images and movies into specific categories and choose to play and print accordingly to selected categories.
Make image searching, viewing and editing more fun and easy.
Image Playback Modes
Playback position and shooting time display for movies
- A progress bar to indicate the current position reached during a movie playback.
Resume Playback
Safely turn off the power or remove memory card and still resume playback from where the last viewed image was left off.
With Auto Rotate function, images and movies will be displayed and oriented correctly during playback, regardless whether taken with camera held vertically or horizontally.
Inbuilt Slide Show function with Transition effect and Advancing & Reversing effect.
- Save the hassle of going through the computer.
Easy location and management of images through enhanced Jump function with jump searches:
- Jump 10 images: Shows every tenth image
- Jump 100 images: Shows every hundredth image
- Jump shot date: Shows image taken at shooting date.
- Jump to movie: Displays movie only.
- Jump to folder. Goes to folder where image is stored.
- Jump to My Category: Displays specific images from specific category.
Printing Options
Support A3 Printing
Print a single frame from a movie (when printing from a CP printer)
Shoot and Print/Transfer Direct
Print photos directly from Canon direct photo printers and any PictBridge compliant printer without PC.
Easy print and transfer of images with just a touch of the Print/Share button.
Exif 2.2 compliant for greater colour fidelity when printing to EXIF compatible printers.
Connectivity
High speed USB 2.0 transfer rate.
Direct connectivity and transfer to both Windows (Windows 98 SE and above) & Mac computers (Mac OS X v10.1.5 and above).
Environment
Singapore is a small island state with limited resources. Protecting our environment is of great importance to our survival. Singapore tries to prevent or reduce pollution by encouraging households and industries to reduce, reuse and recycle. Public transport is continually being improved so that fewer people will drive cars. This will reduce the burning of fuels which can cause aire pollution.
Learning Korean Language - Numerals
One - II
Two - Yi
Three - Sam
Four - Sa
Five - O
Six - Yuk
Seven - Chil
Eight - Pal
Nine - Gu
Ten - Sip
Two - Yi
Three - Sam
Four - Sa
Five - O
Six - Yuk
Seven - Chil
Eight - Pal
Nine - Gu
Ten - Sip
Canon PowerShot A550
Canon PowerShot A550 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
High Image Quality
7.1 megapixel CCD for high-resolution images.
Retractable 4x optical zoom with 4x digital zoom.
high ISO 800 reduces camera shake and blurring of fast-moving subjects even in low-light condition.
Powered by Canon proprietary DIGIC II Imaging Processor for high-definition images with natural colour reproduction and razor sharp clarity at accelerated processing speed, even under high ISO shooting.
Uses Optical Zoom Viewfinder to save battery life and help to focus better in dark condition and bright sunlight.
Uses Optical Zoom Viewfinder to save battery life and help to focus better in dark condition and bright sunlight.
User Friendly Design
Attractive light gray silver color.
Large 2.0” LCD monitor with
- Night Display function which automatically brightens the subject on the LCD to improve visibility.
16:9 Widescreen Still Shooting
Shoot, view and print still images in 16:9 widescreen format.
Choose to view 16:9 widescreen format in LCD monitor and even on conventional 4:3 TV.
Print 16:9 widescreen format when connected to Canon Selphy Compact Photo Printers* using Canon’s wide size papers.
Point & Shoot Simplicity
9-point AiAF (auto-focusing) or single point AF (fixed to center) ensures the subject is sharply focused even if it is not in the center.
13 shooting modes including 5 special scene modes.
The Special Scene modes are pre programmed camera settings for specific shooting conditions: Fireworks, Snow, Beach, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Foliage.
Vertical/ Horizontal Gridline Display for easy photo composition and framing.
Smooth Continuous Shooting capability to shoot continuously at the same speed until the memory card is full.(Depends on the type of memory card/no of recording pixels/compression rate settings)
Self-timer function with Custom Timer, which can set a delay between 0-10secs, 15s, 20s and 30s and number of shots from 1-10.
Enhanced My Colors Function
Integrated with Photo Effect including:Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White
Movie Recording
5 Movie Modes: Compact/Standard/ Fast Frame Rate
Approx. 4x digital zooming while shooting of movies (only in Standard mode).
Record movies continuously up to a max. of 1 GB or 60mins. (Depends on the memory card capacity and data writing speed.)
Selectable Lens Retraction Timing
Choose to retract the camera lens at 1 min or even at 0 sec.
Protect the lens from being scratched when not in shooting mode.
Image Playback Modes
With Auto Rotate function, images will be displayed and oriented correctly during playback, regardless when taken with camera held vertically or horizontally.
Easy location and management of images through enhanced Jump function with jump searches:
- Jump 10 images: Shows every tenth image
- Jump 100 images: Shows every hundredth image
- Jump shot date: Shows image taken at shooting date.
- Jump to movie: Displays movie only.
- Jump to folder. Goes to folder where image is stored.
Connectivity
High speed USB 2.0 transfer rate
Direct connectivity and transfer to both Windows (Windows 98 SE and above) & Mac (Mac OS X v10.1.5 and above) computers.
Shoot and Print/Transfer Direct
Print photos directly from Canon direct photo printers and any PictBridge compliant printer without PC.
Easy print and transfer of images with just a touch of the Print/Share button.
Exif 2.2 compliant for greater colour fidelity when printing to EXIF compatible printers.
More Printing Options (to CP printers)
ID Photo Print - crop images to passport size for direct printing.
Movie Print - print a single or series of selected frames from movie footage.
- Movie Print – Single
Only a single selected frame is printed in a single sheet.
When connected to Canon Selphy Compact Photo Printer.
- Movie Print – Sequence
A sequence of selected images are printed in a single sheet.
- When connected to Canon Selphy Compact Photo Printer.
One man's $210,000 bottoms-up
London - A Middle Eastern businessman spent over $210,000 in a five-hour champagne-and vodka-fuelled spending spree in a London nightclub last weekend.
Mr Fraser Donaldson, a representative of Crystal, a club favoured by Prince Harry, said it was the biggest bill he had seen from one customer in his 20 years working in the industry.
"He basically just said, 'Keep the drinks flowing',"the club spokesman said.
Reuters
Mr Fraser Donaldson, a representative of Crystal, a club favoured by Prince Harry, said it was the biggest bill he had seen from one customer in his 20 years working in the industry.
"He basically just said, 'Keep the drinks flowing',"the club spokesman said.
Reuters
Gone ! Swimming pool plus water
New Jersey - Daisy Valdivia is annoyed that someone stole her backyard pool - and baffled at how they did it without leaving behind a splash, drip or trace of the 3,785 litres of water it contained.
Ms Valdivia awoke to find her family's hip-high, inflatable, 3m-diameter swimming pool gone from her backyard on Wednesday. She told a local newspaper that the theft must have occurred between 1am and 5am.
Ms Valdivia is amazed somone could steal the pool that quickly and said she just wanted to know "what the heck they did with the water".
Associated Press
Ms Valdivia awoke to find her family's hip-high, inflatable, 3m-diameter swimming pool gone from her backyard on Wednesday. She told a local newspaper that the theft must have occurred between 1am and 5am.
Ms Valdivia is amazed somone could steal the pool that quickly and said she just wanted to know "what the heck they did with the water".
Associated Press
Dog found 3,000 km from home
Sydney - A pet dog that vanished from an Australian town has been found two months later, wandering 3,000 km from home, the media reported on Wednesday.
The dog was flown home on Thursday after it was found wandering in Darwin, Australia's northernmost city, and sent to a pound where it was dentified by a microchip inserted under its skin.
"Its just goes to show the value of having your dog micro-chipped, "its owner Shirley Lowry said.
Assocciated Press
The dog was flown home on Thursday after it was found wandering in Darwin, Australia's northernmost city, and sent to a pound where it was dentified by a microchip inserted under its skin.
"Its just goes to show the value of having your dog micro-chipped, "its owner Shirley Lowry said.
Assocciated Press
Thief leaves address for police
Berlin - Police called to investigate a supermarket theft in Gerany were surprised to discover the culprit had left his contact details with a shop assistant.
The 30 year old thief, who was born in Liverpool, passed a note to the assistant which read in German, "Call the police, I've just stolen", a police spokesman in the town of Nienburg in Lower Saxony said on Thursday.
"You don't come across criminals like this every day,"he said. "The man wouldn't say why he tipped us off.
Reuters
The 30 year old thief, who was born in Liverpool, passed a note to the assistant which read in German, "Call the police, I've just stolen", a police spokesman in the town of Nienburg in Lower Saxony said on Thursday.
"You don't come across criminals like this every day,"he said. "The man wouldn't say why he tipped us off.
Reuters
The first Sunshine
Billions of years after the Big Bang - about 5 billion years before our time - our solar system was born.
Right at the beginning, there was a huge fog cloud - a mass of gas and dust. This cloud turned into a series of rings, all circling around the sun and each ring eventually became one of the planets or another of the many things in the sky.
In our own solar system there are about 100 billion comets, 30 000 asteroids, 34 moons, nine planets (of which our Earth is one) as well as a lot of dust and gas and so many fireballs that it is impossible to count them.
But the largest amount of matter - more than all other planets and asteroids combined - makes up our sun.
Right at the beginning, there was a huge fog cloud - a mass of gas and dust. This cloud turned into a series of rings, all circling around the sun and each ring eventually became one of the planets or another of the many things in the sky.
In our own solar system there are about 100 billion comets, 30 000 asteroids, 34 moons, nine planets (of which our Earth is one) as well as a lot of dust and gas and so many fireballs that it is impossible to count them.
But the largest amount of matter - more than all other planets and asteroids combined - makes up our sun.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Incomplete high-rise the tallest in world
DUBAI: Developers of a 512-meter skyscraper still under construction in oil-rich Dubai claimed over the weekend that it has become the world's tallest building, surpassing Taipei 101, which has dominated the global skyline at 508 meters since 2004.
The Burj Dubai is expected to be finished by the end of 2008 and its planned final height has been kept secret. The state-owned development company Emaar Properties, one of the main builders in rapidly developing Dubai, said only that the tower would stop somewhere above
693 m.
When completed, the skyscraper will feature more than 160 floors, 56 elevators, luxury apartments, boutiques, swimming pools, spas, exclusive corporate suites, Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani's first hotel, and a 124th floor observation platform.
After North American and Asian cities marked their 20th century economic booms with skyscrapers, the Gulf grew eager to show off its success with ever taller buildings. In Dubai, long an oil-rich Gulf symbol of rapid economic growth, the building reflects the city's hunger for global prestige.
"It's a symbol of Dubai as a city of the world," said Greg Sang, the project director for Emaar Properties.
Mohammed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Emaar, said it will be an architectural and engineering masterpiece of concrete, steel and glass. Dubai has "resisted the usual and has inspired to build a global icon", he said.
"It's a human achievement without equal."
The $1 billion skyscraper is in the heart of downtown Dubai, a 202-hectare development area worth $20 billion. Construction, which began just 1,276 days ago, has been frenzied - at times, one story rises every three days.
The tip of the Burj's spire will be seen for 96 km, developers say. But Sang knows it will not dominate the world's skyline forever.
"It's a fact of life that, at some point, someone else will build a taller building," he said. "There's a lot of talk of other tall buildings, but five years into Burj Dubai's construction, no one's started building them yet," he said.
The Burj will let the Middle East reclaim the world's tallest structure. Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2500 BC, held the title with its 147 m until the Eiffel Tower in Paris was built in 1889 at a height of 300 m, or 311 m including the flag pole.
The company says the Burj will fulfill the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's four criteria for the tallest building: the height of the structural top, the highest occupied floor, the roof's top, and the spire's tip, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flag pole.
The architects and engineers are American and the main building contractor is South Korean. Most of the 4,000 laborers are Indian.
July 24, 2007
Source: China Daily/agencies
The Burj Dubai is expected to be finished by the end of 2008 and its planned final height has been kept secret. The state-owned development company Emaar Properties, one of the main builders in rapidly developing Dubai, said only that the tower would stop somewhere above
693 m.
When completed, the skyscraper will feature more than 160 floors, 56 elevators, luxury apartments, boutiques, swimming pools, spas, exclusive corporate suites, Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani's first hotel, and a 124th floor observation platform.
After North American and Asian cities marked their 20th century economic booms with skyscrapers, the Gulf grew eager to show off its success with ever taller buildings. In Dubai, long an oil-rich Gulf symbol of rapid economic growth, the building reflects the city's hunger for global prestige.
"It's a symbol of Dubai as a city of the world," said Greg Sang, the project director for Emaar Properties.
Mohammed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Emaar, said it will be an architectural and engineering masterpiece of concrete, steel and glass. Dubai has "resisted the usual and has inspired to build a global icon", he said.
"It's a human achievement without equal."
The $1 billion skyscraper is in the heart of downtown Dubai, a 202-hectare development area worth $20 billion. Construction, which began just 1,276 days ago, has been frenzied - at times, one story rises every three days.
The tip of the Burj's spire will be seen for 96 km, developers say. But Sang knows it will not dominate the world's skyline forever.
"It's a fact of life that, at some point, someone else will build a taller building," he said. "There's a lot of talk of other tall buildings, but five years into Burj Dubai's construction, no one's started building them yet," he said.
The Burj will let the Middle East reclaim the world's tallest structure. Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2500 BC, held the title with its 147 m until the Eiffel Tower in Paris was built in 1889 at a height of 300 m, or 311 m including the flag pole.
The company says the Burj will fulfill the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's four criteria for the tallest building: the height of the structural top, the highest occupied floor, the roof's top, and the spire's tip, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flag pole.
The architects and engineers are American and the main building contractor is South Korean. Most of the 4,000 laborers are Indian.
July 24, 2007
Source: China Daily/agencies
Yoga, exercising Mind and Body
At the beginning of this century, various theories about relaxation, which had been known in the East as early as 5,000 BC, became popular in the West. These included competitive sports, such as karate or aikido, ad systems of exercise and thinking, such as shadow boxing and yoga. The most important aim of all these disciplines is control over mind and body.
According to the old text books, yoga is divided into eight groups, called levels. The first 2 levels contain instructions for living a good life, similar to the Ten Commandments in the Bible. The third level teaches the asanas, or physical exercises. These range from relatively easy movements to positions that require great suppleness and strength, such as the locust, closed ring, or bow and arrow positions.
The fourth yoga level teaches breathing control. The next 3 levels contain exercises for the mind, that bring about a kind of self-hypnosis, or deep concentration. The eighth and final level is deeply religious and teaches about becoming closer to the divine spirit which is believed to live within and around us.
Modern medicine increasingly uses the calming effect of yoga to treat both mental and pysical illness in a gentle manner and without side-effects.
According to the old text books, yoga is divided into eight groups, called levels. The first 2 levels contain instructions for living a good life, similar to the Ten Commandments in the Bible. The third level teaches the asanas, or physical exercises. These range from relatively easy movements to positions that require great suppleness and strength, such as the locust, closed ring, or bow and arrow positions.
The fourth yoga level teaches breathing control. The next 3 levels contain exercises for the mind, that bring about a kind of self-hypnosis, or deep concentration. The eighth and final level is deeply religious and teaches about becoming closer to the divine spirit which is believed to live within and around us.
Modern medicine increasingly uses the calming effect of yoga to treat both mental and pysical illness in a gentle manner and without side-effects.
I'm hungry !
How does your body know it's time for lunch ? If your stomach is quite empty, your gastric glands produce more juices and your stomach walls contract. These contractions alert your nervous system which sends messages to your brain and you begin to feel hungry.
When you have eaten, your stomach is stretched and full. Your brain receives different messages saying that all is well and the feeling of hunger goes away.
Although you cannot survive without eating, food is not as important as you might think.
Liquid is much more necessary to keep you alive. People may easily live up to 25 days without food, but cannot do without water for longer than four or five days.
About 2/3 of your body is water. During a day you will probably take in about 2 to 3 litres of water in drinks. You also take some water into your body in the food you eat.
Until recently, very little was known about how the digestive system works.
Modern science has found out much more about it by exploring inside the body. Scientists can use the endoscope, an instrument like a tube, with lights and a viewing lens to view the inside of the stomach and intestine.
When you have eaten, your stomach is stretched and full. Your brain receives different messages saying that all is well and the feeling of hunger goes away.
Although you cannot survive without eating, food is not as important as you might think.
Liquid is much more necessary to keep you alive. People may easily live up to 25 days without food, but cannot do without water for longer than four or five days.
About 2/3 of your body is water. During a day you will probably take in about 2 to 3 litres of water in drinks. You also take some water into your body in the food you eat.
Until recently, very little was known about how the digestive system works.
Modern science has found out much more about it by exploring inside the body. Scientists can use the endoscope, an instrument like a tube, with lights and a viewing lens to view the inside of the stomach and intestine.
Bomb threat by man who missed flight, plane forced to return
SEATTLE - A MAN who had missed his flight said there was a bomb aboard the plane, forcing it to return to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
This, even though authorities did not believe the threat was legitimate.
'The plane was brought back, erring on the side of caution, after he made that threatening statement,' Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Jennifer Peppin said.
Police confirmed there was no bomb on board hours later, after bomb-sniffing dogs searched the plane, airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt said.
The man told a gate agent there was a bomb on Northwest Airlines Flight 980 shortly after the plane left Seattle for Memphis at about 12.30 pm US time, she added.
He was taken to a holding facility at the airport police department's headquarters.
'After interviewing him, they said they do not believe it was a credible bomb threat,' Ms Betancourt said.
The man was never on the plane and had no luggage on the aircraft.
His motive was unclear, but 'it was clear he wanted the plane to come back.'
The plane, an Airbus A320 with 142 passengers and 5 crew members on board, returned to the airport around 1.15 pm US time, Ms Betancourt said.
Passengers remained on the plane for more than an hour while police tried to determine how extensive a security sweep was needed.
Everyone was taken off along with all luggage, and bomb-sniffing dogs searched for any traces of explosives, said Ms Betancourt.
Passengers were given the option of rebooking if they did not feel comfortable getting back on the plane, Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski said.
The plane finally departed for Memphis - for the second time - four hours later. It reached its destination late Wednesday.
Ms Betancourt noted it is a federal offense to make a threat against a commercial aircraft but said she could not release any information about the man in custody.
Police and the FBI were investigating. -- AP
July 26, 2007
This, even though authorities did not believe the threat was legitimate.
'The plane was brought back, erring on the side of caution, after he made that threatening statement,' Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Jennifer Peppin said.
Police confirmed there was no bomb on board hours later, after bomb-sniffing dogs searched the plane, airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt said.
The man told a gate agent there was a bomb on Northwest Airlines Flight 980 shortly after the plane left Seattle for Memphis at about 12.30 pm US time, she added.
He was taken to a holding facility at the airport police department's headquarters.
'After interviewing him, they said they do not believe it was a credible bomb threat,' Ms Betancourt said.
The man was never on the plane and had no luggage on the aircraft.
His motive was unclear, but 'it was clear he wanted the plane to come back.'
The plane, an Airbus A320 with 142 passengers and 5 crew members on board, returned to the airport around 1.15 pm US time, Ms Betancourt said.
Passengers remained on the plane for more than an hour while police tried to determine how extensive a security sweep was needed.
Everyone was taken off along with all luggage, and bomb-sniffing dogs searched for any traces of explosives, said Ms Betancourt.
Passengers were given the option of rebooking if they did not feel comfortable getting back on the plane, Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski said.
The plane finally departed for Memphis - for the second time - four hours later. It reached its destination late Wednesday.
Ms Betancourt noted it is a federal offense to make a threat against a commercial aircraft but said she could not release any information about the man in custody.
Police and the FBI were investigating. -- AP
July 26, 2007
Priest dies a week before ordainment anniversary celebration
JUST a week short of a celebration to mark his 70th anniversary of being ordained as a Roman Catholic priest, 92-year-old Father Louis Fossion died on Thursday morning.
At Father Fossion's wake at the Church of the Holy Spirit on Thursday, his former parishioners remembered him as 'a living saint', 'dedicated', 'very loving' and 'very special'. -- ST PHOTO: DOMINIC WONG
The celebration - a mass and dinner on Aug 2 at the Church of the Holy Spirit on Upper Thomson Road - will go on as a memorial event now.
Donations raised from the event will be given to the Roman Catholic Church in Inner Mongolia, as Father Fossion wished.
He had served there, as well as in China, Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, and his native Belgium, before coming to Singapore in 1968.
For the following 28 years up till 1996, he was the parish priest of the Church of the Holy Spirit, after which he became a resident at the Church of St Francis Xavier.
His last three years had been spent at St Theresa's Home, where many of his former parishioners still visited him regularly.
He died at Mount Alvernia Hospital of pneumonia after being warded for two weeks.
At his wake at the Church of the Holy Spirit on Thursday, his former parishioners remembered him as 'a living saint', 'dedicated', 'very loving' and 'very special'.
They recalled how he would drive around the neighbourhood every Saturday morning picking up children for his catechism class, sometimes squeezing as many as eight of them into his faithful white Volkswagen Beetle.
He even showed up close to midnight to bless the new home of his parishioner then.
The church will be holding a memorial mass at 8pm on Friday and a funeral mass at 10.30am on Saturday.
The cremation will take place after that at 1pm at the Mandai Crematorium.
The Straits Times
July 26, 2007
Dow Jones Plunges more than 300 points !
NEW YORK - US shares plunged on Thursday in one of the worst selloffs this year, as investors gripped by housing market and 'credit crunch' fears ran for cover.
A late comeback helped Wall Street avert its worst session of the year, but analysts said the punishing losses may have caused a shift in investor sentiment after strong gains in the first half of the year.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank as much as 448 points before bouncing back somewhat, ending with a loss of 311.50 points (2.26 per cent) at 13,473.57.
It was the worst day for the blue-chip index since the Feb 27 tumble in the wake of a stock market collapse in Shanghai, in which the Dow average lost 416 points.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite sank 48.83 points (1.84 per cent) to 2,599.34 and the broad-market Standard & Poor's 500 index slid 35.43 points (2.33 per cent) to 1,482.66.
The market was reacting to more gloomy news about the US housing market, which has been in a slump for more than a year and a half.
Data showed sales of new homes dropped 6.6 per cent in June to an annualised 834,000 units. Over the past year, sales of new homes plunged 22.3 per cent
More significantly, Wall Street is worried that failures in the housing market will hurt banks and finance companies enough to curb the availability of credit on which the economy feeds.
'The catalyst for the selloff is just a realisation that the subprime and housing issues have a lot more tentacles than originally thought and that the restriction in credit will hurt the (corporate) deal flow and by extension equity performance,' said Mr Paul Nolte, analyst at Hinsdale Investments.
Mr Nolte said he believes stock market valuations remain high even though they are below the levels of the dot-com boom.
'Ten years ago the market was expensive, then we got to crazy expensive, but we haven't gotten back to normal valuations,' he said.
Mr Kevin Giddis, an analyst at Morgan Keegan, said some of the speculative fervour is coming out of the stock market.
'Hedge funds and private equity transactions are carrying the equity market to new records,' he said.
'As money gets tighter and tighter, this activity will cease. When it does, the market must then turn its attention back to earnings, and across the board, they are not as good as they seem,' he added.
But Mr Andy Brooks, head of equity trading at T. Rowe Price, said herd psychology led to a selling stampede that may not be justified.
'It seems psychology is carrying more weight than the actual facts,' Mr Brooks said.
He said the selloff is part of 'a healthy correction' to 'wring out the excess' in the market and advised clients to hold firm.
'I think this is an opportunity to buy good companies at better prices,' he said. 'Stocks are on sale today. If you have a long-term view and you're looking for an opportunity to get in the market, now is a good time,' he added. -- AFP
A late comeback helped Wall Street avert its worst session of the year, but analysts said the punishing losses may have caused a shift in investor sentiment after strong gains in the first half of the year.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank as much as 448 points before bouncing back somewhat, ending with a loss of 311.50 points (2.26 per cent) at 13,473.57.
It was the worst day for the blue-chip index since the Feb 27 tumble in the wake of a stock market collapse in Shanghai, in which the Dow average lost 416 points.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite sank 48.83 points (1.84 per cent) to 2,599.34 and the broad-market Standard & Poor's 500 index slid 35.43 points (2.33 per cent) to 1,482.66.
The market was reacting to more gloomy news about the US housing market, which has been in a slump for more than a year and a half.
Data showed sales of new homes dropped 6.6 per cent in June to an annualised 834,000 units. Over the past year, sales of new homes plunged 22.3 per cent
More significantly, Wall Street is worried that failures in the housing market will hurt banks and finance companies enough to curb the availability of credit on which the economy feeds.
'The catalyst for the selloff is just a realisation that the subprime and housing issues have a lot more tentacles than originally thought and that the restriction in credit will hurt the (corporate) deal flow and by extension equity performance,' said Mr Paul Nolte, analyst at Hinsdale Investments.
Mr Nolte said he believes stock market valuations remain high even though they are below the levels of the dot-com boom.
'Ten years ago the market was expensive, then we got to crazy expensive, but we haven't gotten back to normal valuations,' he said.
Mr Kevin Giddis, an analyst at Morgan Keegan, said some of the speculative fervour is coming out of the stock market.
'Hedge funds and private equity transactions are carrying the equity market to new records,' he said.
'As money gets tighter and tighter, this activity will cease. When it does, the market must then turn its attention back to earnings, and across the board, they are not as good as they seem,' he added.
But Mr Andy Brooks, head of equity trading at T. Rowe Price, said herd psychology led to a selling stampede that may not be justified.
'It seems psychology is carrying more weight than the actual facts,' Mr Brooks said.
He said the selloff is part of 'a healthy correction' to 'wring out the excess' in the market and advised clients to hold firm.
'I think this is an opportunity to buy good companies at better prices,' he said. 'Stocks are on sale today. If you have a long-term view and you're looking for an opportunity to get in the market, now is a good time,' he added. -- AFP
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Biggest Liar - Jokes
One fine day, while Terence and Linda were chatting in a coffee house, Terence said to Linda, :
Did you know that Benny won the 1st prize in the Lying Competition yesterday ?"
"Did he ?" Linda asked.
"How did he win the 1st Prize ?"
"Oh, he told the biggest lie." Terence said.
"What lie did he tell ?" Linda asked.
"He said he has never told a lie in his entire life," replied Terence.
Did you know that Benny won the 1st prize in the Lying Competition yesterday ?"
"Did he ?" Linda asked.
"How did he win the 1st Prize ?"
"Oh, he told the biggest lie." Terence said.
"What lie did he tell ?" Linda asked.
"He said he has never told a lie in his entire life," replied Terence.
The fish is not fresh - Jokes
One day, Peter went to a restaurant to take his lunch.
To his disgust, the fish served was stale and tasteless.
He then questioned the waiter, "Why is it that the fish is not fresh ?"
The waiter asked in return, : "Why didn't you come 2 days ago ?"
To his disgust, the fish served was stale and tasteless.
He then questioned the waiter, "Why is it that the fish is not fresh ?"
The waiter asked in return, : "Why didn't you come 2 days ago ?"
The moon is nearer - Jokes
Paul asked his daughter, Elizabeth, : "Which is nearer, London or the moon?"
His daughter said : "I think the moon is nearer."
Surprised, Paul asked "Why ?"
Elizabeth replied : "Because I can see the moon but I cannot see London."
His daughter said : "I think the moon is nearer."
Surprised, Paul asked "Why ?"
Elizabeth replied : "Because I can see the moon but I cannot see London."
Time to take medicine - Jokes
One day during midnight, a patient was sleeping soundly.
Suddenly, a nurse came into the room and shouted roughly to the patient.
"Wake up!".
"What for ?" asked the half-asleep patient, still rubbing his eyes.
"It is time to take your medicine." replied the nurse.
"What medicine ?" asked the patient.
"Your sleeping pills."said the nurse.
Suddenly, a nurse came into the room and shouted roughly to the patient.
"Wake up!".
"What for ?" asked the half-asleep patient, still rubbing his eyes.
"It is time to take your medicine." replied the nurse.
"What medicine ?" asked the patient.
"Your sleeping pills."said the nurse.
Adjusting to life with a newborn
Whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned parent, caring for newborn can be overwhelming.
You need to be in good shape to take care of your baby so heed these practical tips :,a
Self-Care
Resist the urge to consume caffeine as your major beverage. Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and get some fresh air. Good habits will help you to maintain the energy you need to take care of your newborn.
Get plenty of rest
Get some sleep when your baby is asleep. Map out a night schedule with your husband that allows both of you to care for your baby and get adequate rest.
Expect a run-down of emotions
You may adore your newborn and marvel at the tiny fingers and toes one moment and feel a loss of indepedence or worry over your inability to care for the newborn the next. Tell your spouse what bothers you. Communications is key.
Nurture other relationships
Set aside time for your spouse and other children, if any.
Know when to seek help
Parenting is a challenge. If you are depressed or feeling blue while trying to adjust to your new lifestyle, consult our healthcare provider or health professional.
You need to be in good shape to take care of your baby so heed these practical tips :,a
Self-Care
Resist the urge to consume caffeine as your major beverage. Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and get some fresh air. Good habits will help you to maintain the energy you need to take care of your newborn.
Get plenty of rest
Get some sleep when your baby is asleep. Map out a night schedule with your husband that allows both of you to care for your baby and get adequate rest.
Expect a run-down of emotions
You may adore your newborn and marvel at the tiny fingers and toes one moment and feel a loss of indepedence or worry over your inability to care for the newborn the next. Tell your spouse what bothers you. Communications is key.
Nurture other relationships
Set aside time for your spouse and other children, if any.
Know when to seek help
Parenting is a challenge. If you are depressed or feeling blue while trying to adjust to your new lifestyle, consult our healthcare provider or health professional.
Mum still haunted by images of child
The Straits Times
PENANG - JESS Teh Hooi Wen has spoken to the media for the first time, claiming sleep does not come easy for her following the brutal murder of her three-year-old daughter.
She hit the headlines almost three weeks ago when she was arrested with her boyfriend - who last week was charged with killing three-year-old Shearwey Ooi Ying Ying - during initial police investigations.
Teh, 28, who is out on bail after being charged with drug offences and lying to police about her daughter's disappearance, said that even on the rare occasions that she does manage to sleep, she is troubled by images of Ying Ying.
'I keep thinking of Ying Ying, from the time when she was just a baby. She loved many of the same things I did - painting, dancing, singing and swimming. And we both liked pink.
'She loved to wear pretty dresses and have her hair tied up nicely,' the distraught mother told The Star newspaper. 'I have many of her things at home, and will keep some of them.'
Last Friday, Teh's live-in boyfriend, former karaoke lounge manager Ong Chee Leong, 28, was charged with Ying Ying's murder.
Teh was jointly charged with Ong with the possession of 1.5g of cannabis.
She is also charged with consuming methamphetamine and lodging a false missing persons report about Ying Ying.
At the time of Ying Ying's disappearance, she told police she left the toddler by her car near a market while she crossed the street to pay a parking ticket, and returned to find her gone.
During the Star interview, Teh was accompanied by her mother Ong Sea Wah, brother Teh Lien Wei and two lawyers. Teh's father and mother had disowned her at a news conference but they have since reconciled.
'I used to take Ying Ying swimming once a week, and twice a week we would go to McDonald's,' she recalled, between sobs.
'I would like to have more children someday,' she said.
Teh said both she and her daughter were born in the Year of the Goat. She said Ying Ying's birthday was on Oct 3 and she would think of something special to do.
Madam Ong said of her daughter's condition: 'Jess still wakes up crying in the middle of the night, and does not have much appetite.'
On the flurry of press reports, Teh said she had not read the newspapers over the past two weeks and had only heard from others about what had been written.
Abuse was hurled by some members of the public at Teh and her boyfriend when she attended the court sessions to have her remand extended three weeks ago.
Asked about her relationship with her husband Ooi Eng Chew, 29, Teh said they were in the midst of a divorce but he was still on talking terms with her family.
'He called up my brother for some of Ying Ying's clothes. We will give them to him.'
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
PENANG - JESS Teh Hooi Wen has spoken to the media for the first time, claiming sleep does not come easy for her following the brutal murder of her three-year-old daughter.
She hit the headlines almost three weeks ago when she was arrested with her boyfriend - who last week was charged with killing three-year-old Shearwey Ooi Ying Ying - during initial police investigations.
Teh, 28, who is out on bail after being charged with drug offences and lying to police about her daughter's disappearance, said that even on the rare occasions that she does manage to sleep, she is troubled by images of Ying Ying.
'I keep thinking of Ying Ying, from the time when she was just a baby. She loved many of the same things I did - painting, dancing, singing and swimming. And we both liked pink.
'She loved to wear pretty dresses and have her hair tied up nicely,' the distraught mother told The Star newspaper. 'I have many of her things at home, and will keep some of them.'
Last Friday, Teh's live-in boyfriend, former karaoke lounge manager Ong Chee Leong, 28, was charged with Ying Ying's murder.
Teh was jointly charged with Ong with the possession of 1.5g of cannabis.
She is also charged with consuming methamphetamine and lodging a false missing persons report about Ying Ying.
At the time of Ying Ying's disappearance, she told police she left the toddler by her car near a market while she crossed the street to pay a parking ticket, and returned to find her gone.
During the Star interview, Teh was accompanied by her mother Ong Sea Wah, brother Teh Lien Wei and two lawyers. Teh's father and mother had disowned her at a news conference but they have since reconciled.
'I used to take Ying Ying swimming once a week, and twice a week we would go to McDonald's,' she recalled, between sobs.
'I would like to have more children someday,' she said.
Teh said both she and her daughter were born in the Year of the Goat. She said Ying Ying's birthday was on Oct 3 and she would think of something special to do.
Madam Ong said of her daughter's condition: 'Jess still wakes up crying in the middle of the night, and does not have much appetite.'
On the flurry of press reports, Teh said she had not read the newspapers over the past two weeks and had only heard from others about what had been written.
Abuse was hurled by some members of the public at Teh and her boyfriend when she attended the court sessions to have her remand extended three weeks ago.
Asked about her relationship with her husband Ooi Eng Chew, 29, Teh said they were in the midst of a divorce but he was still on talking terms with her family.
'He called up my brother for some of Ying Ying's clothes. We will give them to him.'
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Coping with Stress
Stress is a part of life. The next thing is to deal with it.
Stress is a common occurrence in our lives and unfortunately, it cannot be avoided.
A little stress is good. It stimulates us to perform better and adds excitement to our lives.
However, too much over time can be harmful.
Too much is bad
How do you know if you are stressed ? You may suffer from the following physical signs and symptons :
* Fast heartbeats
* Tense muscles
* Difficulty sleeping
* Poor appetite or overeating
* Headaches, stomachaches or diarrhoea
* Being anxious and bad-tempered all the time
* Feeling tired and having trouble concentrating
Too much stress can lead to migraines, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, heart attacks, or depression or mental illness.
Other signs of stress include :
* Acting in a defensive, aggressive or impulsive way
* Nervous habits (e.g. stammering or biting one's nails)
* Loss of interest in activities
* Avoidance of tasks
* Being easily distracted
* Withdrawing from social activities
* Drinking or smoking excessively
Who gets Osteoporosis ?
You are more likely to get osteoporosis if you :
* Are female
* Are over 65 years of age
* Have a family history of osteoporosis
* Are thin and small built (or slender body built)
* Are not consuming enough calcium in your diet
* Have poor nutrition
* Don't exercise regularly
* Smoke
* Drink excessive alcohol
* Are a woman who is menopausal or if your ovaries have been removed
* Use medicines such such as corticosteroids, certain diuretics and blood-thinning medicines
Source from HPB
* Are female
* Are over 65 years of age
* Have a family history of osteoporosis
* Are thin and small built (or slender body built)
* Are not consuming enough calcium in your diet
* Have poor nutrition
* Don't exercise regularly
* Smoke
* Drink excessive alcohol
* Are a woman who is menopausal or if your ovaries have been removed
* Use medicines such such as corticosteroids, certain diuretics and blood-thinning medicines
Source from HPB
What causes joint pain ?
* Age
* Repeated use resulting in repetitive strain injury (RSI)
* Injury - strain, sprain and dislocation
* Infection - flu, and viral and bacterial infections through open wounds
* Arthritis
* Rheumatism
* Tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon)
* Psoriasis (a chronic skin disease characterised by scaling and inflammation)
* Gout (one of the most painful rheumatic diseases which results from deposits of needle-like crystals if uric acid in the connective tissue, joint spaces, or both)
* Repeated use resulting in repetitive strain injury (RSI)
* Injury - strain, sprain and dislocation
* Infection - flu, and viral and bacterial infections through open wounds
* Arthritis
* Rheumatism
* Tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon)
* Psoriasis (a chronic skin disease characterised by scaling and inflammation)
* Gout (one of the most painful rheumatic diseases which results from deposits of needle-like crystals if uric acid in the connective tissue, joint spaces, or both)
Things to avoid for Cheilitis
Cheilitis is a medical condition involving inflammation of the lip.
Cheilitis, or inflamed lips, can have many causes. The most common form, called angular cheilitis, presents as cracking at the corners of the mouth and can be brought on by an infection, excessive saliva or dental trauma. It is frequently seen in children who suck their thumbs and in elderly people who have ill-fitting dentures.
Here are some of the things to avoid for those who are suffering from the above medical problem.
* Use toothpaste without Mint.
* Do not lip lick.
* Brush teeth after a meal to reduce acidity or alkalinity from food.
* No spicy food, chillies.
* Avoid hot soupy food.
* Drink cool drinks with a straw.
* Do not chew chewing gum.
* Do not suck oranges directly on the lips.
* Reduce intake of raw vegetable.
Red day on Sunday
Tiger Woods is famous for his red attire on the last day of a tournament.
Many of the contending players on the British Open's final day also wore red.
Did the players figure that if they could not beat Tiger, they might as well follow him ?
Well, Padraig Harrington won wearing red.
Many of the contending players on the British Open's final day also wore red.
Did the players figure that if they could not beat Tiger, they might as well follow him ?
Well, Padraig Harrington won wearing red.
Weird News from around the World
Officials in a Chinese city are offering cash for dead flies to promote public hygiene.
In just one day, more than 2,000 dead flies had been collected. Some residents even travelled to rubbish dumps to find flies to exchange for money.
An official said : "We think giving people money will be more effective than fining them to keep the city clean."
In just one day, more than 2,000 dead flies had been collected. Some residents even travelled to rubbish dumps to find flies to exchange for money.
An official said : "We think giving people money will be more effective than fining them to keep the city clean."
Weird News from around the World
An Inter Milan football fan puts up a grave every time his team loses a major match.
The 52-year-old Italian says grave mistakes can only be marked by a grave, where he buries his hopes and dreams.
So far, more than 20 gravestones have been erected on a local montainside, near his hometown of Cortona.
The 52-year-old Italian says grave mistakes can only be marked by a grave, where he buries his hopes and dreams.
So far, more than 20 gravestones have been erected on a local montainside, near his hometown of Cortona.
Weird News from around the World
An old couple in England were ordered by government officials to remove a flower display from their house. The reason : It is too pretty.
The couple, who are award-winning gardeners, were told that it "detracts from the area's architectural simplicity".
Mrs Betty Atack, 72, said that the idea is "potty"and that she was not going to take down the display even if she has to go to jail for it.
The couple, who are award-winning gardeners, were told that it "detracts from the area's architectural simplicity".
Mrs Betty Atack, 72, said that the idea is "potty"and that she was not going to take down the display even if she has to go to jail for it.
How to prevent motion sickness ?
People usually feel motion sick when they are having a bumpy ride of some sort.
You can also get it while sitting in a vehicle facing backwards or while reading, or being in a boat cabin with no windows.
Experts usually advise you to sit facing the direction you are travelling in, and to look at the horizon or objects far away so your eyes get all the right information.
You should also try to sit in a part of the vehicle, boat or plane that does not move so much. There are also medicines that can stop you feeling sick.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Sony's light new PSP Slim (Gaming Consoles)
Sony Intec PSP Slim Charger Wall Mount 2-In-1
Sony has announced a new slimmed-down version of its popular gaming handheld, the PlayStation Portable. Dubbed the PSP Slim, it is now lighter, having shaved 91g off the weight and 4mm off the thickness of its predecessor.
One significant new feature is a video out port, so you can connect the PSP to your TV and enjoy the widescreen display.
Web Content Accesibility Guidelines (WCAG)
How to make your site accessible ?
Some WCAG recommendations
* Caption audio and video clips.
* Resizeable fonts.
* Strong contrast between fonts and backgrounds.
* Avoid flickering or strobing designs. They can affect some neurological conditions.
* Provide multiple ways to navigate your site (such as using the tab key, or mouse exclusively).
* Offer adequate language choices.
* Screen reader technology. Webpage text is converted into synthesised speech of refreshable Braille.
Some WCAG recommendations
* Caption audio and video clips.
* Resizeable fonts.
* Strong contrast between fonts and backgrounds.
* Avoid flickering or strobing designs. They can affect some neurological conditions.
* Provide multiple ways to navigate your site (such as using the tab key, or mouse exclusively).
* Offer adequate language choices.
* Screen reader technology. Webpage text is converted into synthesised speech of refreshable Braille.
iPhone in Singapore ?
The iPhone is finally in Singapore !
But don't be too happy yet ! Because you won't be able to buy it in any part of Singapore in near future.
Apple declined to comment when the actual date of iPhones are coming in. There are rumours said that it will come in somehere in January 2008. But at least 15 sets of iPhone are already here bought by companies who want to develop applications for the trendy new phone.
These companies are betting that the head-turning phone will be a success, and want a head-start at developing everything from software and pouches to screen protectors and skins.
The iconic iPod-plus-phone multimedia device has been a hit in the United States, with reports estimating more than half a million units were sold over the launch weekend.
Tips for picking your dream MP3 player
Parent ASIN for Apple 80 GB iPods (5.5 Generation)
Expanded storage
Multimedia such as song and movie clps hog lots of storage space.
Pick a model that contains a memory card slot (usually for Mini-SD or SD Memory Cards) so you can stretch the storage room.
Have a listen
Test the demo units at the stores. Fiddle around with the different equaliser settings to assess how the player handles differe easilent types of songs from classical music to heavy metal tracks.
Watch it
If your mean to watch videos and browse photos on th MP3 player as well evaluate the LCD screen for the colour, brightness and clarity of the images.
Touch and feel
You should be able to hop from one menu to the next smoothly and logically. For example, albums and playlists should be located quickly when needed.
Expanded storage
Multimedia such as song and movie clps hog lots of storage space.
Pick a model that contains a memory card slot (usually for Mini-SD or SD Memory Cards) so you can stretch the storage room.
Have a listen
Test the demo units at the stores. Fiddle around with the different equaliser settings to assess how the player handles differe easilent types of songs from classical music to heavy metal tracks.
Watch it
If your mean to watch videos and browse photos on th MP3 player as well evaluate the LCD screen for the colour, brightness and clarity of the images.
Touch and feel
You should be able to hop from one menu to the next smoothly and logically. For example, albums and playlists should be located quickly when needed.
Where shall we go for holiday ?
If you are in good health, there is an endless choice of places to go on holiday.
But don't forget that you are used to your own climate, and a sudden change for a short while may not be too good for you.
This is especially true if you have any health problems.
Take a few precautions to ensure you are fit enough to enjoy your holiday to the fullest.
* Pay special attention to personal hygiene.
* Always check that food is fresh and edible and that water is fit to drink.
* Even if you love getting a tan, never go out in the sun without protection or long sunbathe.
* Take the right clothes and footwear for the weather and the countryside of the country you are visiting.
* You may like sport, but do not underestimate the difference in climate or overestimate your own strength.
But don't forget that you are used to your own climate, and a sudden change for a short while may not be too good for you.
This is especially true if you have any health problems.
Take a few precautions to ensure you are fit enough to enjoy your holiday to the fullest.
* Pay special attention to personal hygiene.
* Always check that food is fresh and edible and that water is fit to drink.
* Even if you love getting a tan, never go out in the sun without protection or long sunbathe.
* Take the right clothes and footwear for the weather and the countryside of the country you are visiting.
* You may like sport, but do not underestimate the difference in climate or overestimate your own strength.
Holidays forever !
Regular holidays, that everyone is entitled to take, are now a matter of course in the developed countries of the world.
In these countries, all workers have the opportunity of doing whatever they like for a few weeks in the year. They may like just to stay at home and enjoy one of their hobbies. They may want to travel abroad, especially if they have friends and relatives in other countries.
When on holiday, we can give the body and mind a chance to recharge their energy levels, spend time with family and friends, practise some sport, read write, draw, paint and, of course, relax.
Holidays are meant to refresh both the body and mind. We leave our everyday world behind and can get to know new people and widen our horizons.
Common interests bring people together and everyone returns home with many happy memories.
In these countries, all workers have the opportunity of doing whatever they like for a few weeks in the year. They may like just to stay at home and enjoy one of their hobbies. They may want to travel abroad, especially if they have friends and relatives in other countries.
When on holiday, we can give the body and mind a chance to recharge their energy levels, spend time with family and friends, practise some sport, read write, draw, paint and, of course, relax.
Holidays are meant to refresh both the body and mind. We leave our everyday world behind and can get to know new people and widen our horizons.
Common interests bring people together and everyone returns home with many happy memories.
Hotel occupancy, room rates at all time high: STB
Revenue per available room hit $165.90 and gazetted hotels here generated total room revenue of $854.4 million, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in a statement.
SINGAPORE'S hotel sector posted outstanding performance this year, with hotel occupancy and room rates at an all time high, said the tourism board on Tuesday.
For the first six months of this year, the average room rate grew by 19.5 per cent to $192, while the average occupancy rate reached 86 per cent.
Revenue per available room hit $165.90 and gazetted hotels here generated total room revenue of $854.4 million, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in a statement.
For the month of June, the average room rate crossed the $200 mark for the first time to reach $210.
Gazetted hotels churned out $164.3 million in room revenue and $181.60 in revenue for each available room.
STB said these are not only historical highs for any single month but also significant double-digit growth in excess of 20 per cent, compared to June last year.
Singapore also received more visitors than ever before in the first half of the year, it noted.
'This is the highest visitor arrivals recorded over the January to June period for the Singapore tourism sector,' said STB.
'This is the highest visitor arrivals recorded over the January to June period for the Singapore tourism sector,' said STB.
It added it's confident of meeting its full-year target of 10.2 million visitors with an expected boost during the peak months of July, August and December.
Estimated tourism receipts for the six months reached $6.4 billion, a nine per cent increase, which has a full-year target of $13.6 billion.
'We have also seen record high visitor arrivals for each month this year compared to the same month in previous years,' said Lim Neo Chian, STB'S chief executive and deputy chairman.
Indonesians were the largest group of visitors, with 911,000 arriving between January and June.
China was second with 529,000, followed by India with 386,000, said STB.
Lacking natural attractions, Singapore has embarked on a major campaign to spruce up its tourist appeal.
It has plans for new attractions including two casino resorts, expected to open by 2010.
It is also trying to become an arts and entertainment centre, and will host its first Formula One Grand Prix event later next year. -- AFP
Memory Skills
Of course you won't rememer this now, but one of your memory's first achievements was the look of recognition which you gave your mother when you were just a few months old. There are a number of people, like the Spanish painter, Salvador Dali, who claim that they can remember life before they were born.
Sometimes when people are questioned under hypnosis they can also remember life in the womb. Hypnosis is a special way of relaxing the brain so people can remember from deeper parts of their mind.
The brain has very complicated memory skills. Remembering faces seems very easy, but think about how different the same face can look when seen from a particular angle, in different light or simply after a sleepless night.
For many years people have tried a program a computer to recognise faces, a simple skill a small child has already mastered, but the machine is far less successful.
Memory is not just used to store information. Intelligence and memory are closely linked, and therefore the invention of writing and later of printing, memory was extremely valuable. If someone forgot something important, it could not be looked up anywhere.
Sometimes when people are questioned under hypnosis they can also remember life in the womb. Hypnosis is a special way of relaxing the brain so people can remember from deeper parts of their mind.
The brain has very complicated memory skills. Remembering faces seems very easy, but think about how different the same face can look when seen from a particular angle, in different light or simply after a sleepless night.
For many years people have tried a program a computer to recognise faces, a simple skill a small child has already mastered, but the machine is far less successful.
Memory is not just used to store information. Intelligence and memory are closely linked, and therefore the invention of writing and later of printing, memory was extremely valuable. If someone forgot something important, it could not be looked up anywhere.
What is personality ?
In the past, people thought that personality was handed down to a child by its parents, that is was inherited. It was thought that personality characteristics, like having a very bad temper, were inherited just like physical characteristics, such as eye color.
Gradually, some scientists began to think differently and decided that personality was a result of the environment. By this they meant not just where people lived, but also the way they were treated by family and society. These scientists did not believe that any part of the personality was inherited.
Today, scientists agree that personality is the result of both inherited behaviour and environment - starting from the first day of lfe. The genes inherited from parents are the basis of particular skills and ways of behaving.
These are then shaped by the way we live. Some skills will not have any chance to develop if they are not used and practised. It is important to be aware of inherited skills so as to make the best use of them.
Gradually, some scientists began to think differently and decided that personality was a result of the environment. By this they meant not just where people lived, but also the way they were treated by family and society. These scientists did not believe that any part of the personality was inherited.
Today, scientists agree that personality is the result of both inherited behaviour and environment - starting from the first day of lfe. The genes inherited from parents are the basis of particular skills and ways of behaving.
These are then shaped by the way we live. Some skills will not have any chance to develop if they are not used and practised. It is important to be aware of inherited skills so as to make the best use of them.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Eating Less Fat
When cooking, there are several tips to cutting down the fat, especially the saturated fat.
Here are some ways :
* Use less oil.
* Choose oils higher in unsaturated fat.
* Replace coconut cream or milk with reduced-fat milk.
* Use reduced-fat milk in beverages and cereals instead of creamer and condensed milk.
* Limit deep-frying to twice a week.
* Use fat spreads (e.g. peanut butter, magarine, butter, cheese spreads & kaya) sparingly.
* Choose soft margarine over hard margarine as the soft variety has lesser trans fat.
* Replace meat dishes with toufu, peas and lentils on some days.
* Use lean cuts of meat and poultry. Remove visible fat and skin.
* Cool soups, curries and stews to allow fat to solidify. Skim off the solidified fat before reheating.
And when eating out, remember to ask for less oil and move vegetable.
Also choose dishes cooked without coconut cream or coconut milk, and opt for plain rice over flavoured rice such as chicken rice, nasi lemak and nasi briyani.
Here are some ways :
* Use less oil.
* Choose oils higher in unsaturated fat.
* Replace coconut cream or milk with reduced-fat milk.
* Use reduced-fat milk in beverages and cereals instead of creamer and condensed milk.
* Limit deep-frying to twice a week.
* Use fat spreads (e.g. peanut butter, magarine, butter, cheese spreads & kaya) sparingly.
* Choose soft margarine over hard margarine as the soft variety has lesser trans fat.
* Replace meat dishes with toufu, peas and lentils on some days.
* Use lean cuts of meat and poultry. Remove visible fat and skin.
* Cool soups, curries and stews to allow fat to solidify. Skim off the solidified fat before reheating.
And when eating out, remember to ask for less oil and move vegetable.
Also choose dishes cooked without coconut cream or coconut milk, and opt for plain rice over flavoured rice such as chicken rice, nasi lemak and nasi briyani.
Buddha's Relics
RELICS ENSURED THAT the presence of the Buddha is perpetuated after the passing of the Buddha. They are generally fragments of cremated bones. However, some relics can even appear pearl-like, translucent and multi-coloured.
Relics were always kept in monasteries, where they were enshrined in stupas. For instance, the great stupa at Sanchi, which contains relics of the Buddha, is set in the middle of a large monastic complex. A similar arrangement is found in Sri Lanka, where some of the relics finally came to rest, the most celebrated being the tooth relic at Kandy (see: Buddha's Tooth Relic). It is said that about forty pieces of Buddha tooth relics were distributed to different parts of the world. Myanmar is another country that's popularly known to enshrine Buddha tooth and body relics, alongside with relics of Buddha's disciples.
In China, finger bone of the Buddha was discovered in the 1980s in the forgotten crypt in the Fainen temple (Famensi) in Shaanxi province. Renowned as one of the four places in China with Buddha relics, the Famen temple enjoyed direct imperial patronage, especially in the ninth century.
Before the first century, relics were a key instrument in the spread of Buddhism in helping to establish new centres of religious significance. The practice of venerating relics and images has played a central role even in Buddhist traditions that strongly emphasize that Gautama Buddha was a human being who died and is no longer able to aid his followers. was a human being who died and is no longer able to aid his followers.
Buddha's Seven Coloured Relics
These pearls-like translucent multi-coloured relics are the corporeal remains of Buddha after his cremation. Each colour represents different parts of his body
Early accounts of the Buddha's death include the story of how his cremated remains were divided into portions and distributed among local rulers who enshrined them throughout northern India. What is more telling, however, is the description of how the Mallas, in whose territory the Buddha died, initially sought to keep all the relics for themselves.
When a terrible war was about to ensue, a Brahman or priest named Drona intervened, saying: "Our Buddha was a teacher of forbearance. Unfitting indeed is this clash of arms over the division of the (Buddha's) remains. May you all be united, sirs, reconciled; rejoicing together we shall make eight portions; relic monuments will be widespread in all directions."
This story provides a dramatic object lesson in both the great value accorded to the Buddha's remains and in dangers of selfish attachment. The resolution of the story suggests that the Buddha's relics are so precious that they should be widely distributed and thus made accessible to as many people as possible.
Whatever the historical legitimacy of any particular relic, the practice of relic veneration has been critical to the spread and maintenance of Buddhist tradition for more than two and the half millennia.
****************
Note :
According to Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha left 40 tooth relics to future generations to be worshipped. Among them, four tooth relics were conveyed to the Dragon King, the lord of the Nat Devas (Dhajia Min), Kandra (now Sri Lanka) and Kalika (now China). The rest of the 36 tooth relics were scattered to the present human world.
During the distribution of Buddha's relics, two monks, Gawunpadi and Kuthlayone delivered a few tooth relics to several other monks. One of the tooth relics, from the lower left side of Buddha's jaw, was received by the monk named Buhala and conveyed to the Rakhine State (Arakan) in what is known as Myanmar today.
At that time King Mahasandra (Weidali Dynasty) built a pagoda situated on the mountain called Bagan and that particular Buddha's tooth relic was enshrined in it. The pagoda was subsequently named Bagan Pagoda and was estimated to have been built some 2,300 years ago near Mrauk-U.
When the pagoda collapsed in 1980 due to natural wear and tear from the elements, an abbot of Mrauk-U discovered the Buddha tooth relic together with a 9-feet Buddha Image and other Buddha images made by lead mixed with earth and soil.
When the abbot compared it with a100-year old tooth relic that already existed in his monastery, to his surprise, he discovered that it was similar to the famous tooth relic from Sri Lanka. He immediately realized the significance of the new find.
Today, Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple (GPBT) is fortunate to be a custodian of this particular tooth relic as a gift from the abbot who discovered it in Myanmar. The abbot of GPBT, Venerable Shi Fazhao, attributes this rare chance to merits that GPBT gained in the process of rebuilding temples in Bagan, Myanmar
Sources from Singapore Darma Net
Relics were always kept in monasteries, where they were enshrined in stupas. For instance, the great stupa at Sanchi, which contains relics of the Buddha, is set in the middle of a large monastic complex. A similar arrangement is found in Sri Lanka, where some of the relics finally came to rest, the most celebrated being the tooth relic at Kandy (see: Buddha's Tooth Relic). It is said that about forty pieces of Buddha tooth relics were distributed to different parts of the world. Myanmar is another country that's popularly known to enshrine Buddha tooth and body relics, alongside with relics of Buddha's disciples.
In China, finger bone of the Buddha was discovered in the 1980s in the forgotten crypt in the Fainen temple (Famensi) in Shaanxi province. Renowned as one of the four places in China with Buddha relics, the Famen temple enjoyed direct imperial patronage, especially in the ninth century.
Before the first century, relics were a key instrument in the spread of Buddhism in helping to establish new centres of religious significance. The practice of venerating relics and images has played a central role even in Buddhist traditions that strongly emphasize that Gautama Buddha was a human being who died and is no longer able to aid his followers. was a human being who died and is no longer able to aid his followers.
Buddha's Seven Coloured Relics
These pearls-like translucent multi-coloured relics are the corporeal remains of Buddha after his cremation. Each colour represents different parts of his body
Early accounts of the Buddha's death include the story of how his cremated remains were divided into portions and distributed among local rulers who enshrined them throughout northern India. What is more telling, however, is the description of how the Mallas, in whose territory the Buddha died, initially sought to keep all the relics for themselves.
When a terrible war was about to ensue, a Brahman or priest named Drona intervened, saying: "Our Buddha was a teacher of forbearance. Unfitting indeed is this clash of arms over the division of the (Buddha's) remains. May you all be united, sirs, reconciled; rejoicing together we shall make eight portions; relic monuments will be widespread in all directions."
This story provides a dramatic object lesson in both the great value accorded to the Buddha's remains and in dangers of selfish attachment. The resolution of the story suggests that the Buddha's relics are so precious that they should be widely distributed and thus made accessible to as many people as possible.
Whatever the historical legitimacy of any particular relic, the practice of relic veneration has been critical to the spread and maintenance of Buddhist tradition for more than two and the half millennia.
****************
Note :
According to Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha left 40 tooth relics to future generations to be worshipped. Among them, four tooth relics were conveyed to the Dragon King, the lord of the Nat Devas (Dhajia Min), Kandra (now Sri Lanka) and Kalika (now China). The rest of the 36 tooth relics were scattered to the present human world.
During the distribution of Buddha's relics, two monks, Gawunpadi and Kuthlayone delivered a few tooth relics to several other monks. One of the tooth relics, from the lower left side of Buddha's jaw, was received by the monk named Buhala and conveyed to the Rakhine State (Arakan) in what is known as Myanmar today.
At that time King Mahasandra (Weidali Dynasty) built a pagoda situated on the mountain called Bagan and that particular Buddha's tooth relic was enshrined in it. The pagoda was subsequently named Bagan Pagoda and was estimated to have been built some 2,300 years ago near Mrauk-U.
When the pagoda collapsed in 1980 due to natural wear and tear from the elements, an abbot of Mrauk-U discovered the Buddha tooth relic together with a 9-feet Buddha Image and other Buddha images made by lead mixed with earth and soil.
When the abbot compared it with a100-year old tooth relic that already existed in his monastery, to his surprise, he discovered that it was similar to the famous tooth relic from Sri Lanka. He immediately realized the significance of the new find.
Today, Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple (GPBT) is fortunate to be a custodian of this particular tooth relic as a gift from the abbot who discovered it in Myanmar. The abbot of GPBT, Venerable Shi Fazhao, attributes this rare chance to merits that GPBT gained in the process of rebuilding temples in Bagan, Myanmar
Sources from Singapore Darma Net
Planning your Diet
Watch what you eat !
Here are some good eating tips :
* Eat lean meat which is full of protein and remove the fat.
* Include fish and poultry in your diet at least twice a week.
* Eat low-fat cheese and margarine and avoid cream, butter and fatty cheeses.
* Eat organic wholemeal bread. It is better for you than white bread.
* Only use vegetables oils such as sunflower oil or olive oil.
* Don't eat too many crisps ad peanuts.
* Don't eat too many sweet things as they will make you put on weight.
* Don't eat more than 3 eggs a week. They do contain protein but they have a high cholesterol level too.
* Eat fresh fruit and vegetables evey day. They contain lots of vitamins. Pulses, such beans and lentils, are very rich in protein and should be eaten regularly.
Here are some good eating tips :
* Eat lean meat which is full of protein and remove the fat.
* Include fish and poultry in your diet at least twice a week.
* Eat low-fat cheese and margarine and avoid cream, butter and fatty cheeses.
* Eat organic wholemeal bread. It is better for you than white bread.
* Only use vegetables oils such as sunflower oil or olive oil.
* Don't eat too many crisps ad peanuts.
* Don't eat too many sweet things as they will make you put on weight.
* Don't eat more than 3 eggs a week. They do contain protein but they have a high cholesterol level too.
* Eat fresh fruit and vegetables evey day. They contain lots of vitamins. Pulses, such beans and lentils, are very rich in protein and should be eaten regularly.
Good Digestion
Take your time
Digestion is one of the body's actions that is particularly affected by the stress of modern life. Most people lead very busy lives and they often do not take much time over their meals. They may eat unhealthy food, frequently in a great hurry.
This causes the digestive system real problems.
Meal times can be very special, social occasions. Families and friends can get together and catch up on each other's news. At the end of a busy day, there is nothing quite as relaxing as siting around the dinner table with people you like, having a happy hour eating and chatting. Eating this way is good for your digestive system too.
If you eat too quickly, without paying any attention to the quantity or quality of the food you eat, you may suffer from digestive problems and feel irritable and on edge. Eventually, you may even lose your appetitie. Many digestive problems are caused by a bad diet and by gobbling our food.
For the digestive system to work properly, we must give it what it needs - the right food and time to let it go down after eating.
Digestion is one of the body's actions that is particularly affected by the stress of modern life. Most people lead very busy lives and they often do not take much time over their meals. They may eat unhealthy food, frequently in a great hurry.
This causes the digestive system real problems.
Meal times can be very special, social occasions. Families and friends can get together and catch up on each other's news. At the end of a busy day, there is nothing quite as relaxing as siting around the dinner table with people you like, having a happy hour eating and chatting. Eating this way is good for your digestive system too.
If you eat too quickly, without paying any attention to the quantity or quality of the food you eat, you may suffer from digestive problems and feel irritable and on edge. Eventually, you may even lose your appetitie. Many digestive problems are caused by a bad diet and by gobbling our food.
For the digestive system to work properly, we must give it what it needs - the right food and time to let it go down after eating.
4 Easy Ways to Motivate your child to do Homework !
Instead of using "homework"replace with the word "study". Example, "study time" instead of "homework time". This word change alone can help to eliminate the problem of your child saying, "I don't have any homework." Study time is about studying, even if they don't have any homework.
Establish a study routine. Example, the same time every day. Let your children have some say on when study time occurs. Once the time is set, stick to schedule. It may need a few weeks for the routine to become a hbait but persist.
Keep the routine predictable & simple. Example, include a five minute warning that study time is approaching-like bringing their current activity to an end, clearing the study tabe before starting etc.
Replace rewards (Example, money & treats) with words of encourgement. End the practice of bribery - Example, paying for good grades / special treats, etc. as they are only short term gains & does litte to encourage children to develop a lifetime love of learing.
Instead , make positive verbal comments that focus on describig te behaviour you wish to encourage. Example, "You followed the directions exactly & finished your work in 15 minutes. Well done !"
Establish a study routine. Example, the same time every day. Let your children have some say on when study time occurs. Once the time is set, stick to schedule. It may need a few weeks for the routine to become a hbait but persist.
Keep the routine predictable & simple. Example, include a five minute warning that study time is approaching-like bringing their current activity to an end, clearing the study tabe before starting etc.
Replace rewards (Example, money & treats) with words of encourgement. End the practice of bribery - Example, paying for good grades / special treats, etc. as they are only short term gains & does litte to encourage children to develop a lifetime love of learing.
Instead , make positive verbal comments that focus on describig te behaviour you wish to encourage. Example, "You followed the directions exactly & finished your work in 15 minutes. Well done !"
Cheap and easy way to soothe tired eyes !
Get teabags which are already soaked in either cool or lukewarm water and place them over tired eye for a quarter of an hour.
How to relieve pain from Sunburn ?
Just place wet teabags on the affected area to soothe the unpleasant physical sensation.
How to remove smells from your shoes ?
Get any kind of tea bag and place it inside your ''stink" shoes, and the foul smell will be gone !
How to get rid of small worms & insects hidden in broccoli / caulifower ?
Well, it is to wash the vegetables in a pot of salt water.
How to reduce saltiness of cooked soup / stews ?
Intead of adding water which could dilute the taste. add 1-2 cleaned, peeled raw potatoes into the soup. The potatoes would absorb the excess salt.
Remove cooked potatoes.
Done !
Remove cooked potatoes.
Done !
How to prevent tears when cutting onions ?
Place onions in refrigerator before peeling.
Breathing through your mouth instead of nose will also help.
Breathing through your mouth instead of nose will also help.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Authenticity of Buddha tooth relic still subject of discussion
SINGAPORE
Some people are still continuing to question the authenticity of the Buddha tooth relic housed in the temple along South Bridge Road.
The tooth relic is stored on the fourth floor of the temple which usually does not allow any photography.
But given the current interest, it has made an exception.
No one is allowed to enter the chamber, but from the outside, you can see the stupa which contains the tooth relic.
The stupa was built using 420 kilograms of gold, donated by devotees who can only visit the tooth relic twice a year - the first day of the Lunar New Year and Vesak Day.
The only other way to see it is through brochures, which could be the reason why people are made more curious about its authenticity.
Some experts have also reportedly questioned whether the tooth is from the Buddha himself.
Liau Ming Ong, a donor, says: "The reverend Fa Zhou have to come out to speak the truth. You cannot simply brush it off and you think it's real, it's real. It's not correct. We have scholars from all over the world, come here to take a look and they look at the size of the tooth, then it's very ridiculous."
Ong Kim Dee, another donor, says: "Since we've donated the money, we need to know the truth, whether this is the truth from a Buddha or any animal, we have the right to know. Everyday we see a lot of local and foreign tourists visit the temple. If one day they find out it is not the truth, then I think it's a joke, it's not very good for Singapore."
Renowned artist Tan Swie Hian had done some research on Buddhism and believes it teaches the pursuit of truth.
He says: "I don't mind praying to a buffalo's tooth provided I'm told it is one. Let me get it right before my prayer. The Buddha's teaching is all about seeing things as they are and this is nothing to do with Buddhism or faith. It is a claim that can be easily, conclusively proven by science."
The founder of Nei Xue Tang, a Buddhist art museum, says he had received similar looking tooth relics when he visited Myanmar previously.
Woon Wee Teng says: "Many monks gave them to me and they told me, of course these teeth are quite similar to the one in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and they told me please, bring them home to Singapore and put in the Museum to display. And of course, I'm very careful. I must do due diligence. What I did was to take them back, to check with the vet, forensic and also I checked with dentists, they're all forensics as well and they confirm that it's a non-human, herbivore's tooth. So I make a decision to not display."
Mr Woon says if the temple has the Buddha tooth, then as a public institution it has the responsibility to show proof.
He adds that the responsibility is even greater if the temple is collecting public money.
Mr Woon says: "We mustn't be seen by the outside world, internationally that we can't tell the difference between a horse tooth and a human tooth. That would be a disaster, it's a lot of embarrassment. I think they should get it right and since it's so clear that it's a herbivore's tooth, then they must rectify it."
And verifying the authenticity of all displays is something the Asian Civilisations Museum takes seriously.
Tan Huism, Deputy Director of Asian Civilisation Museum's Curation and Collections, says: "A museum is a place where we'll display objects that are authentic to the cultures. We decide whether these objects are authentic to their cultures and their timing...through stylistic comparisons with similar objects found at that time and other museums.
"We would then look at the pieces and see how these pieces compare with similar pieces from other museums. Of course you could also do scientific testing."
Within the temple grounds, there are many notices explaining its position on the tooth relic.
It says the suggestion of DNA testing, whilst simplistic, is a practical challenge to conduct.
It adds DNA testing is also invasive and it is unlikely that any Buddhist temple and their devotees would agree to such a test for what they believe to be the Buddha tooth. - CNA/ch
Some people are still continuing to question the authenticity of the Buddha tooth relic housed in the temple along South Bridge Road.
The tooth relic is stored on the fourth floor of the temple which usually does not allow any photography.
But given the current interest, it has made an exception.
No one is allowed to enter the chamber, but from the outside, you can see the stupa which contains the tooth relic.
The stupa was built using 420 kilograms of gold, donated by devotees who can only visit the tooth relic twice a year - the first day of the Lunar New Year and Vesak Day.
The only other way to see it is through brochures, which could be the reason why people are made more curious about its authenticity.
Some experts have also reportedly questioned whether the tooth is from the Buddha himself.
Liau Ming Ong, a donor, says: "The reverend Fa Zhou have to come out to speak the truth. You cannot simply brush it off and you think it's real, it's real. It's not correct. We have scholars from all over the world, come here to take a look and they look at the size of the tooth, then it's very ridiculous."
Ong Kim Dee, another donor, says: "Since we've donated the money, we need to know the truth, whether this is the truth from a Buddha or any animal, we have the right to know. Everyday we see a lot of local and foreign tourists visit the temple. If one day they find out it is not the truth, then I think it's a joke, it's not very good for Singapore."
Renowned artist Tan Swie Hian had done some research on Buddhism and believes it teaches the pursuit of truth.
He says: "I don't mind praying to a buffalo's tooth provided I'm told it is one. Let me get it right before my prayer. The Buddha's teaching is all about seeing things as they are and this is nothing to do with Buddhism or faith. It is a claim that can be easily, conclusively proven by science."
The founder of Nei Xue Tang, a Buddhist art museum, says he had received similar looking tooth relics when he visited Myanmar previously.
Woon Wee Teng says: "Many monks gave them to me and they told me, of course these teeth are quite similar to the one in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and they told me please, bring them home to Singapore and put in the Museum to display. And of course, I'm very careful. I must do due diligence. What I did was to take them back, to check with the vet, forensic and also I checked with dentists, they're all forensics as well and they confirm that it's a non-human, herbivore's tooth. So I make a decision to not display."
Mr Woon says if the temple has the Buddha tooth, then as a public institution it has the responsibility to show proof.
He adds that the responsibility is even greater if the temple is collecting public money.
Mr Woon says: "We mustn't be seen by the outside world, internationally that we can't tell the difference between a horse tooth and a human tooth. That would be a disaster, it's a lot of embarrassment. I think they should get it right and since it's so clear that it's a herbivore's tooth, then they must rectify it."
And verifying the authenticity of all displays is something the Asian Civilisations Museum takes seriously.
Tan Huism, Deputy Director of Asian Civilisation Museum's Curation and Collections, says: "A museum is a place where we'll display objects that are authentic to the cultures. We decide whether these objects are authentic to their cultures and their timing...through stylistic comparisons with similar objects found at that time and other museums.
"We would then look at the pieces and see how these pieces compare with similar pieces from other museums. Of course you could also do scientific testing."
Within the temple grounds, there are many notices explaining its position on the tooth relic.
It says the suggestion of DNA testing, whilst simplistic, is a practical challenge to conduct.
It adds DNA testing is also invasive and it is unlikely that any Buddhist temple and their devotees would agree to such a test for what they believe to be the Buddha tooth. - CNA/ch
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Some call for proof, others say it is not necessary
Readers have written as many as 20 letters to The Sunday Times after its report last week that there were doubts over the relic's (above) authenticity.
THE Sunday Times received 20 letters from readers after it reported last week that doubts have been cast on the authenticity of the Buddha tooth relic in a temple here.
Dental specialists had also said that they believed the tooth, said to have been found in Myanmar and given to the temple, belonged to a herbivorous animal.
At least 16 letter-writers were upset.
One of them was private tutor Brandon Lee, 35. He had sponsored more than $4,000 worth of statues and tiles in the new temple at Chinatown.
Readers suggested that the temple should let dental experts examine the tooth. They said that with so much donated to the temple's construction, there should be some transparency.
More than 60,000 donors have given the temple $45 million and 270kg of gold.
The gold was later melted and rebuilt into a 3.6m-high stupa to house the tooth relic.
The Venerable Shi Fazhao is not in Singapore and hence unable to respond to queries, said temple aides.
But he had earlier ruled out conducting DNA tests on the tooth.
Dengue Fever Can Kill You
As we enter the warmer period of the year, mosquito breeding activity increases, resulting in a jump in Dengue Fever cases in Singapore.
Mosquitoes thrive during the warmer months from April to September. Residents here are advised to check the potential mosquitoes breeding sites in and outside your homes.
Everyone has to be extra vigilant during this period to identify and destroy such breeding sites to prevent the spread of dengu fever.
There are several ways to prevent mosquito breeding.
Turn pails and watering cans over and store them under shelter.
Remove water in plant pot plates. Clean and scrub the plate thoroughly to remove mosquitoes eggs. Avoid the use of plant pots plates if possible.
Loosen soil from potted plants to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water on the surface of the hardened soil.
Do not block the flow of water in scupper drains along common corridors. Avoid placing potted plants and other paraphernalia over the scupper drains.
Cover rarely used gully traps. Replace the gully trap with non-perforated ones and install anti-mosquito valves.
Cover bamboo pole after use. Rainwater can potentially accumulate in these bamboo pole holders if they are uncovered and create a habitat.
No tray or receptacles should be placed beneath and or/on top of an air conditioning unit so as not to create a condition favourable for mosquito breeding.
Change water in flower vases. Clean and scrub the inner sides of vases. Wash roots of flowers and plants thoroughly as mosquito eggs can stick to them easily.
Consult your doctor should you have these symptons
* Flu-like illness
* Abrupt onset of high fever
* Severe headache with pain behind the eyes
* Muscle and joint pains
* Loss of sense of taste and appetite
* Measles-like rash over chest and upper limbs
* Nausea
* Vomiting
Mosquitoes thrive during the warmer months from April to September. Residents here are advised to check the potential mosquitoes breeding sites in and outside your homes.
Everyone has to be extra vigilant during this period to identify and destroy such breeding sites to prevent the spread of dengu fever.
There are several ways to prevent mosquito breeding.
Turn pails and watering cans over and store them under shelter.
Remove water in plant pot plates. Clean and scrub the plate thoroughly to remove mosquitoes eggs. Avoid the use of plant pots plates if possible.
Loosen soil from potted plants to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water on the surface of the hardened soil.
Do not block the flow of water in scupper drains along common corridors. Avoid placing potted plants and other paraphernalia over the scupper drains.
Cover rarely used gully traps. Replace the gully trap with non-perforated ones and install anti-mosquito valves.
Cover bamboo pole after use. Rainwater can potentially accumulate in these bamboo pole holders if they are uncovered and create a habitat.
No tray or receptacles should be placed beneath and or/on top of an air conditioning unit so as not to create a condition favourable for mosquito breeding.
Change water in flower vases. Clean and scrub the inner sides of vases. Wash roots of flowers and plants thoroughly as mosquito eggs can stick to them easily.
Consult your doctor should you have these symptons
* Flu-like illness
* Abrupt onset of high fever
* Severe headache with pain behind the eyes
* Muscle and joint pains
* Loss of sense of taste and appetite
* Measles-like rash over chest and upper limbs
* Nausea
* Vomiting
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