Brain damage caused by concussions during his years in the ring could have contributed to the reason pro wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife, son and himself, doctors who studied his brain suggested Wednesday.
The analysis by doctors with the Sports Legacy Institute suggests repeated concussions could have contributed to the killings at Benoit's suburban Atlanta home, though there was no way to know for sure.
"Whether it is the sole factor, I believe, is speculation, and I will not go there," said Dr. Robert Cantu, a member of the Waltham, Mass.-based institute, which researches the long-term effects of concussions.
The level of brain damage Benoit had could have caused depression and irrational behavior, said Cantu, who also is chief of neurosurgery service at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass.
Michael Benoit, the wrestler's father, said Wednesday he agreed to the testing of his son's brain because murder-suicide was so out of character. He said his son complained about suffering concussions, but that he knows of no medical records or records kept by the wrestling league to support the diagnosis.
Steroid use also has been suggested as a theory behind the killings, since anabolic steroids were found in Chris Benoit's home and tests conducted by authorities concluded Benoit had roughly 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system when he died.
The father said he has not discussed with his attorney whether to take any legal action against World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. or anyone else in the case.
Prosecutors have said Benoit, 40, strangled his wife with a cord, used a choke hold to strangle his 7-year-old son, placed Bibles next to the bodies and hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment the weekend of June 22. - Source: Xinhua/agencies
Friday, September 7, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Odex offers olive branch to anime downloaders
No action will be taken for downloads made before Monday, says anime distributor
A COMPANY that has attracted online venom for its campaign against pirated Japanese animated movies, or anime, has extended an olive branch to alleged offenders.
Anime distributor Odex's director Stephen Sing has written on the firm's web forums it will not take action against those who stop Internet anime downloading 'now'.
Mr Sing was referring to Monday this week, when he wrote the message.
He added that if an Internet user complies then 'he will have no possibility of ever receiving any letters from the copyright holders as we will not take anything that he has downloaded before this date against him'.
Contacted by The Straits Times, Mr Sing confirmed that he wrote the message, but declined to elaborate pending an official statement.
Since May, Odex, the region's biggest distributor of the animated Japanese cartoons, has sent out letters to several hundred alleged downloaders demanding settlement sums of $3,000 to $5,000, on threat of legal action.
The Straits Times understands that Odex has already sent letters to alleged anime downloaders using the Internet service provider SingNet. It earlier obtained contact details of these users.
It has obtained a court order to get the names of alleged downloaders from StarHub, but has yet to receive any names.
On Monday, Odex filed an application to appeal a court decision blocking its attempt to obtain the details of Pacific Internet downloaders.
This means that StarHub and PacNet downloaders, even if Odex's appeal succeeded, would be safe from any penalty.
Mr Sing did not say what prompted Odex's change of heart.
Still, the firm has been criticised online over issues such as alleged profiteering. Others fear a successful crackdown on pirated anime would lead to similar crackdowns on other media.
According to an Intellectual Property Office of Singapore study on Singaporeans' attitudes towards intellectual property here, only one in five Singaporeans is 'bothered' by piracy.
Mr Sing wrote that the firm will now 'focus enforcement efforts on those who have continued to download illegally even after the publicity in the press on this issue'.
He did not say what would happen to those who already settled with Odex, but noted that these were 'heavy or persistent downloaders'.
'We will continue to negotiate with those who have not settled the matter yet, or take action if we are instructed to do so by the copyright owners.'
Undergraduate Eugene Tang, a StarHub subscriber who used to download anime before news of the crackdown broke, finds Odex's olive branch acceptable.
Given the widespread coverage of this issue, he said, 'you would have to be living under a rock to still be able to say that you don't know unauthorised downloads are illegal, so I guess it is fair for Odex to prosecute those who continue to download'.
A COMPANY that has attracted online venom for its campaign against pirated Japanese animated movies, or anime, has extended an olive branch to alleged offenders.
Anime distributor Odex's director Stephen Sing has written on the firm's web forums it will not take action against those who stop Internet anime downloading 'now'.
Mr Sing was referring to Monday this week, when he wrote the message.
He added that if an Internet user complies then 'he will have no possibility of ever receiving any letters from the copyright holders as we will not take anything that he has downloaded before this date against him'.
Contacted by The Straits Times, Mr Sing confirmed that he wrote the message, but declined to elaborate pending an official statement.
Since May, Odex, the region's biggest distributor of the animated Japanese cartoons, has sent out letters to several hundred alleged downloaders demanding settlement sums of $3,000 to $5,000, on threat of legal action.
The Straits Times understands that Odex has already sent letters to alleged anime downloaders using the Internet service provider SingNet. It earlier obtained contact details of these users.
It has obtained a court order to get the names of alleged downloaders from StarHub, but has yet to receive any names.
On Monday, Odex filed an application to appeal a court decision blocking its attempt to obtain the details of Pacific Internet downloaders.
This means that StarHub and PacNet downloaders, even if Odex's appeal succeeded, would be safe from any penalty.
Mr Sing did not say what prompted Odex's change of heart.
Still, the firm has been criticised online over issues such as alleged profiteering. Others fear a successful crackdown on pirated anime would lead to similar crackdowns on other media.
According to an Intellectual Property Office of Singapore study on Singaporeans' attitudes towards intellectual property here, only one in five Singaporeans is 'bothered' by piracy.
Mr Sing wrote that the firm will now 'focus enforcement efforts on those who have continued to download illegally even after the publicity in the press on this issue'.
He did not say what would happen to those who already settled with Odex, but noted that these were 'heavy or persistent downloaders'.
'We will continue to negotiate with those who have not settled the matter yet, or take action if we are instructed to do so by the copyright owners.'
Undergraduate Eugene Tang, a StarHub subscriber who used to download anime before news of the crackdown broke, finds Odex's olive branch acceptable.
Given the widespread coverage of this issue, he said, 'you would have to be living under a rock to still be able to say that you don't know unauthorised downloads are illegal, so I guess it is fair for Odex to prosecute those who continue to download'.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Low-glycemic load diet may help fight acne
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Avoiding high glycemic load foods could help acne sufferers clear up their skin, the results of a new small study suggest.
High glycemic load foods refer to foods that cause a sharp increase in blood glucose, or sugar, such as low-fiber carbohydrates. Low glycemic load foods cause an more gradual and sustained increase in glucose, and include foods such as high-fiber, complex carbohydrates.
After 12 weeks on a low glycemic load diet, men with acne had a significant reduction in pimples, whiteheads and other lesions compared with their peers who stuck to a conventional diet, Dr. Robyn N. Smith of RMIT University in Melbourne, Victoria and colleagues found.
"The results of this study open up the prospect that nutrition-related lifestyle factors may affect the (development) of acne," Smith and her team write in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, while cautioning that additional research is needed.
Low glycemic load diets have been promoted for weight loss and diabetes control. Given that high levels of insulin may contribute to acne, Smith and her team note, it's possible that reducing dietary glycemic load could reduce acne severity.
To investigate, Smith and her team randomly assigned 43 men with acne to a low glycemic load diet or a standard diet. Men in the low glycemic load group were instructed to replace high glycemic load foods with more protein and lower glycemic load choices, while those on the standard diet were simply encouraged to include carbohydrates in their diet.
By 12 weeks, the number of acne lesions had dropped by about 22 in the low glycemic load group, compared with about 14 in the control group. The men eating the low glycemic load diet also lost weight, and showed greater reductions in levels of the male sex hormone androgen and increased insulin sensitivity.
It's not possible to determine if the improvement in acne was due to weight loss or better insulin sensitivity or both, the researchers write. "Therefore, these results should be considered preliminary and larger scale studies are needed to confirm the effect of dietary intervention on acne," they conclude.
High glycemic load foods refer to foods that cause a sharp increase in blood glucose, or sugar, such as low-fiber carbohydrates. Low glycemic load foods cause an more gradual and sustained increase in glucose, and include foods such as high-fiber, complex carbohydrates.
After 12 weeks on a low glycemic load diet, men with acne had a significant reduction in pimples, whiteheads and other lesions compared with their peers who stuck to a conventional diet, Dr. Robyn N. Smith of RMIT University in Melbourne, Victoria and colleagues found.
"The results of this study open up the prospect that nutrition-related lifestyle factors may affect the (development) of acne," Smith and her team write in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, while cautioning that additional research is needed.
Low glycemic load diets have been promoted for weight loss and diabetes control. Given that high levels of insulin may contribute to acne, Smith and her team note, it's possible that reducing dietary glycemic load could reduce acne severity.
To investigate, Smith and her team randomly assigned 43 men with acne to a low glycemic load diet or a standard diet. Men in the low glycemic load group were instructed to replace high glycemic load foods with more protein and lower glycemic load choices, while those on the standard diet were simply encouraged to include carbohydrates in their diet.
By 12 weeks, the number of acne lesions had dropped by about 22 in the low glycemic load group, compared with about 14 in the control group. The men eating the low glycemic load diet also lost weight, and showed greater reductions in levels of the male sex hormone androgen and increased insulin sensitivity.
It's not possible to determine if the improvement in acne was due to weight loss or better insulin sensitivity or both, the researchers write. "Therefore, these results should be considered preliminary and larger scale studies are needed to confirm the effect of dietary intervention on acne," they conclude.
Psychic Perceptions or Effects of other Mortals
The most common effects that other mortals have on us are received through our own psychic abilities to pick up on them. For us to realize when we are being effected by others is not always that easy to recognize, as the psychic gifts normally give subtle feelings and intuitions unless they are well developed. Most of us have experience psychic perceptions only we may not have recognized them as that, for instance when we walk in a room where there has just been an argument, we can often psychically pick up on feelings that are heavy and depressing or are causing a dark and ominous atmosphere that can put us on edge, this sensation can feel like the air is full of bad vibrations, like those you could cut with a knife, as the individuals that have been arguing have been and maybe still are sending out negative emanations toward each other by thoughts that also emanates negativity from the spirit and the innocent bystander can get caught in the cross fire so to speak, also being able to pick up on these negative emanations. In these kind of conditions we often find ourselves wanting to disappear into the woodwork or find ourselves shriveling up as these heavy vibrations permeate our spiritual senses, thus we try to protect ourselves by shutting our psychic senses down to avoid taking on these feelings often without being that aware of doing so…
The main psychic chakra perception center that we receive through is placed in the solar plexus and when we are faced with confrontation many people cross their arms in what is quite often an unconscious form of self protection, to guard the solar plexus chakra from receiving or being read by another, by doing this it helps to block whatever we are sensing. This is something we might do in several situations such as in the presence of an argument or if we felt uneasy, challenged or embarrassed in someone's presence or at times with those who are suffering such disharmonies as depression, again this is to protect ourselves as we can also be effected and even become depressed by tacking on negative feelings from others often without even realizing just how much the moods and emanations of others can effect us…
This very same ability can work in reverse with those who are very positive and give out warmth and uplifting feelings that make us happy to be in their company, because we are not only getting the physical signs from them but are also constantly psychically sensing them even if we do not realize it and the psychic vibrations that we pick up on can uplift us and make us feel positive, thus we often seek to be close with those that make us feel this way. For instance spiritual healers might make us feel uplifted in both mind and body with the positive emanations and the healing rays they are imparting from spirit to us or someone who smiles or even the words we speak can cause psychic reactions within another, as there is an accompanying psychic sense with everything we say and do and the more psychically developed we become the more we can pick up on these intuitions and feelings that are emanating all around us. To protect ourselves from negative vibrations is as always, we need to encompass ourselves with light and positively by putting a protective bubble of light around ourselves to keep negativity away from our spirit and psychic senses.
The main psychic chakra perception center that we receive through is placed in the solar plexus and when we are faced with confrontation many people cross their arms in what is quite often an unconscious form of self protection, to guard the solar plexus chakra from receiving or being read by another, by doing this it helps to block whatever we are sensing. This is something we might do in several situations such as in the presence of an argument or if we felt uneasy, challenged or embarrassed in someone's presence or at times with those who are suffering such disharmonies as depression, again this is to protect ourselves as we can also be effected and even become depressed by tacking on negative feelings from others often without even realizing just how much the moods and emanations of others can effect us…
This very same ability can work in reverse with those who are very positive and give out warmth and uplifting feelings that make us happy to be in their company, because we are not only getting the physical signs from them but are also constantly psychically sensing them even if we do not realize it and the psychic vibrations that we pick up on can uplift us and make us feel positive, thus we often seek to be close with those that make us feel this way. For instance spiritual healers might make us feel uplifted in both mind and body with the positive emanations and the healing rays they are imparting from spirit to us or someone who smiles or even the words we speak can cause psychic reactions within another, as there is an accompanying psychic sense with everything we say and do and the more psychically developed we become the more we can pick up on these intuitions and feelings that are emanating all around us. To protect ourselves from negative vibrations is as always, we need to encompass ourselves with light and positively by putting a protective bubble of light around ourselves to keep negativity away from our spirit and psychic senses.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
How does a person get possessed ?
The more spiritual sensitivity you have the more open you are to possession. Risk activities involve , Burn Charming, Pendulum Diagnosis, Yin-Yang, Ghosts, Trance Diagnosis, Birth Stones, Metaphysical Healing, drugs.
Five ways to green
Five things you can buy
1. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs
These energy-efficient bulbs cost less than $4 and are produced by major corporations like GE. If every household in America switched five regular light bulbs for five fluorescent bulbs, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the highways for a full year.
2. Outdoor solar lighting
These yard or patio lights cost less than $20, and they don't burn any electricity or produce any CO2.
3. Programmable thermostats
Though these thermostats cost from $50 to $100, they can actually cut your heating and cooling costs. Set the setting so it's a little bit cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer when you're not in the house. A difference of 2 degrees can reduce a home's CO2 emissions by up to 9 percent over the course of a year.
4. Air filters
Changing the air filters in your heating and cooling systems regularly can knock 2 percent off of your CO2 output each year.
5. Electric water heater blanket
Water heaters use a lot of energy and generate a lot of CO2. A blanket costs less than $18 and can cut your home's CO2 emissions by almost 4½ percent.
Keep green in mind!
1. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs
These energy-efficient bulbs cost less than $4 and are produced by major corporations like GE. If every household in America switched five regular light bulbs for five fluorescent bulbs, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the highways for a full year.
2. Outdoor solar lighting
These yard or patio lights cost less than $20, and they don't burn any electricity or produce any CO2.
3. Programmable thermostats
Though these thermostats cost from $50 to $100, they can actually cut your heating and cooling costs. Set the setting so it's a little bit cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer when you're not in the house. A difference of 2 degrees can reduce a home's CO2 emissions by up to 9 percent over the course of a year.
4. Air filters
Changing the air filters in your heating and cooling systems regularly can knock 2 percent off of your CO2 output each year.
5. Electric water heater blanket
Water heaters use a lot of energy and generate a lot of CO2. A blanket costs less than $18 and can cut your home's CO2 emissions by almost 4½ percent.
Keep green in mind!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Easy and Practical Ways to Help Make Your Marriage Last
Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Ways to Show Your Love
For your marriage to last many years, it is important that you show your love for one another on a regular basis.
That means daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, taking a few minutes, even seconds, to put your spouse first on your priority list.
Daily:
- Spend at least 10 minutes a day focused on one another without the distraction of your kids, the TV, the phone, etc.
- Kiss your spouse in the morning, before leaving the house, when you go to bed, and several other times during the day and evening.
- Say I Love You.
- Hug your spouse several times each day.
- Affirm something your spouse said or did and say something nice.
- Be kind to your spouse.
- Do something caring and romantic for your spouse.
- Don't criticize your spouse.
- Laugh together.
Weekly:
- Hide some love notes for your spouse.
- Do a few things together, like working in the yard, taking a walk, watching a favorite movie, or planning and cooking dinner.
- Encourage both yourself and your spouse to have some alone time.
Monthly:
- Plan and have a date with one another.
Yearly:
- Celebrate your anniversary Write a letter to each other recommitting yourselves to your marriage.
- Decide together how you will celebrate holidays.
- Make a big deal about your birthdays.
Generally:
- Fight fair.
- Don't try to change your spouse.
- Be willing to forgive.
- Don't expect your spouse to be a mind reader and don't try to be a mind reader.
- Consider attending a marriage enrichment weekend or workshop.
- Accept that there will be some small issues that you two will never resolve and that it is normal in successful marriages.
For your marriage to last many years, it is important that you show your love for one another on a regular basis.
That means daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, taking a few minutes, even seconds, to put your spouse first on your priority list.
Daily:
- Spend at least 10 minutes a day focused on one another without the distraction of your kids, the TV, the phone, etc.
- Kiss your spouse in the morning, before leaving the house, when you go to bed, and several other times during the day and evening.
- Say I Love You.
- Hug your spouse several times each day.
- Affirm something your spouse said or did and say something nice.
- Be kind to your spouse.
- Do something caring and romantic for your spouse.
- Don't criticize your spouse.
- Laugh together.
Weekly:
- Hide some love notes for your spouse.
- Do a few things together, like working in the yard, taking a walk, watching a favorite movie, or planning and cooking dinner.
- Encourage both yourself and your spouse to have some alone time.
Monthly:
- Plan and have a date with one another.
Yearly:
- Celebrate your anniversary Write a letter to each other recommitting yourselves to your marriage.
- Decide together how you will celebrate holidays.
- Make a big deal about your birthdays.
Generally:
- Fight fair.
- Don't try to change your spouse.
- Be willing to forgive.
- Don't expect your spouse to be a mind reader and don't try to be a mind reader.
- Consider attending a marriage enrichment weekend or workshop.
- Accept that there will be some small issues that you two will never resolve and that it is normal in successful marriages.
Visit S'pore's art Galleries by Night
PROMPTED by the success of Hong Kong's ArtWalk, now in its seventh year, the Art Galleries Association Singapore has decided to stage a similar event here.
'Art Walk - Galleries by Night' will take people around 16 galleries on two consecutive nights, next Thursday and Friday.
Starting at 6pm from Mica Building where five of the galleries are situated, three free Explorer buses will transport art enthusiasts to each destination. The loop covers 11 other galleries from Holland Avenue to Maxwell Road. 'It's an opportunity for art collectors and tourists to visit all of us with the greatest of ease and convenience,' says Vera Ong, president of the Art Galleries Association.
There will be cheese and a free flow of wine at each gallery, where visitors can move around to view the art at their leisure. Gallery owners will be on hand to answer queries in a pleasant, approachable and unassuming environment - an unparalleled opportunity for novices to gain exposure and information about regional art.
Founded in 1998, the Art Galleries Association is Singapore's only organisation of professional art galleries. The aim, Ms Ong explains, is to 'promote public awareness of the variety and range of art galleries in Singapore and the local art available in Asia'. The association's previous events include Arts Singapore and New Finds, samples of art from different galleries that promote new artists.
Art Walk, says Christina Sui of Yisulang Art Gallery and vice-president of the Art Galleries Association, aims to not only cater to regular clients but also reach out to the wider public to add vibrancy and diversity to the arts scene.
As in Hong Kong with its ArtWalk, the galleries here are situated amid eateries, cafes, bars and delis - a lively environment in which to appreciate the works on display.
Chris Churcher's Red Sea Gallery, which moved to an elegant colonial-style building in Dempsey Road this year, will showcase works by Vietnamese artist Dao Hai Thong and Singapore's Manjeet Shergill and their innovations with traditional oil on canvas. Other highlights are the opening of Malaysian artist Yap Chin Hoe's second solo exhibition at Art Folio, a gallery at Raffles Hotel, and Probir Gupta's Diptych paintings at Bohdi Art, which specialises in Indian contemporary art.
Art Season has curated the Three Female Warriors, an exhibition featuring female Chinese artists Jin Zi, Sun Xiaole and Tan Jie, to parallel the Chinese Pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale, which also featured three female artists. Besides regional artists, there is a strong local contingent, such as Han Sai Poh and Soh Chee Wee exhibiting at Art-2 Gallery, and Chua Ek Kay, Eric Chan, Aaron Teo and Teng Nee Cheong at Gajah Gallery.
Krisstel Martin of Gajah Gallery says of Art Walk: 'We hope it is a foundation for other similar projects. It certainly helps bring art to the public in a fun and exciting way. We believe art walks help to bring collectors together, encourage discourse and heighten appreciation of the arts.'
Food and medicines from China put on highest alert
BATU PAHAT: Food and pharmaceutical products from China have been put on the highest alert after some of them were detected with harmful elements and violated specifications.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said these products had been placed on 'level five' of the imported foods monitoring scale - the highest.
Under this, all categories of food including herbal products and health supplements must be tested before they are allowed to enter the country.
Pharmaceutical products from China must also be registered with the Health Ministry and brought in under license.
Dr Chua said the foods products would be tested for pesticides, antibiotics, heavy metals and other substances that could negatively affect health.
He said imports from China would only be allowed into the country if they were safe to be consumed, otherwise, they would be destroyed or returned.
“With all the tests and requirements, we can assure that all products in the market are safe,” he said after attending the launching and ground breaking ceremony for an upgrading project of Batu Pahat hospital Monday.
Dr Chua said in the first seven months of the year, a total of 217 pharmaceutical products were found to not have followed specifications set by the ministry in the first seven months of the year.
He said warnings and other actions including revocation of licenses and cancellations of registrations had been taken against the offenders, adding that 18 types of food were brought in violation of the Food Act 1983.
The products included honey (blended and sunflower), red dates, seaweed, preserved fruits and salted vegetables and preserved salted radish, which contained chloramphenicol, heavy metals and benzoic acid.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said these products had been placed on 'level five' of the imported foods monitoring scale - the highest.
Under this, all categories of food including herbal products and health supplements must be tested before they are allowed to enter the country.
Pharmaceutical products from China must also be registered with the Health Ministry and brought in under license.
Dr Chua said the foods products would be tested for pesticides, antibiotics, heavy metals and other substances that could negatively affect health.
He said imports from China would only be allowed into the country if they were safe to be consumed, otherwise, they would be destroyed or returned.
“With all the tests and requirements, we can assure that all products in the market are safe,” he said after attending the launching and ground breaking ceremony for an upgrading project of Batu Pahat hospital Monday.
Dr Chua said in the first seven months of the year, a total of 217 pharmaceutical products were found to not have followed specifications set by the ministry in the first seven months of the year.
He said warnings and other actions including revocation of licenses and cancellations of registrations had been taken against the offenders, adding that 18 types of food were brought in violation of the Food Act 1983.
The products included honey (blended and sunflower), red dates, seaweed, preserved fruits and salted vegetables and preserved salted radish, which contained chloramphenicol, heavy metals and benzoic acid.
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