It is as easy as ABC !
Just wash the bottles with salt water .
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
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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