We all know someone who has had to have his or her appendix out. Maybe you have suffered from appendicitis. The appendix is a small tube, about nine centimetres long, attached to the caecum, which lies between the small and large intestines. Sometimes the appendix becomes infected. If it is not removed, it may burst and then the contents of the appendix willl spill into the abdomen. This leads to a serious infection called peritonitis.
There is only one way to prevent peritonitis from occurring - the appendix must be removed before it bursts. It is therefore important to recognise the symptoms of appendicitis quickly.
The danger is that the symptoms of appendicitis are very similar to those of an ordinary stomach upset. Sometimes this means that appendicitis is not recognised until it is too late. However, there are some differences - in the case of appendicitis the patient feels very severe pains in the right lower abdomen whch get worse if he or she moves about. The patient's temperature may rise to over 38 degrees Celsius.
If you think someone has appendicitis, call the doctor arrives. Do not give him, or her any medicine, food or drinks as these things might make the condition worse, and cause problems if the patient has to be given an anaethetic when in hospital.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
iPhone, Apple PCs vulnerable to hackers
NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) - The iPhone and Apple Inc.'s desktop computers may be vulnerable to hackers due to a flaw in their Web browser, according to a security firm, which said it found a way to hack into the iPhone.
Baltimore-based Independent Security Evaluators, which tests its clients' computer security by hacking it, said on Monday that three employees found a way to take control of iPhones through a Wi-Fi link or by tricking users into going to a Web site.
Charles Miller, principal security analyst at the firm, said a security weakness allows someone to take control of Apple's Safari Web browser and see other applications on the device at the same time, which could potentially make users of Macintosh desktop computers vulnerable to attacks.
"The same problem actually exists on Apple's desktops," said Miller. But he added that while his firm had identified the risk for both desktops and phones, it had written only the code necessary to hack into the iPhone.
The security consultants, who took about a week and a half to work out the move, said they were able to take control of an iPhone and make calls or send text messages, as well as access e-mails, voice-mail, address books and call and Web browsing history.
Miller said his company gave details about the hack and a potential security patch to Apple, but did not publicly release the details.
"We're looking into the report submitted by (Integrated Security Evaluators) and we always welcome feedback on how to improve our security," Apple spokeswoman Lynn Fox said.
Miller said Apple could have avoided the risk by eliminating links between the browser and other applications.
"It turns out that on the iPhone there are probably some basic things they could have done that would have made it better," said Miller.
The claim comes almost two months after Apple and AT&T Inc
started selling Apple's first cell phone, which includes a music and video player as well as a Web browser.
As many as 700,000 iPhones were sold on the first weekend after the June 29 launch, according to analyst estimates.
Days after launch, a well-known hacker Jon Johansen, claimed to have overcome restrictions on the iPhone, allowing highly technical users to bypass AT&T's network to use the phone's Internet and music features.
While cell phones have not historically been as vulnerable to attack as desktop computers, some experts worry that phones take on greater risks as they add more computer-like features.
Miller said he had not looked into security on other mobile phones to see how they compare to the iPhone, but said the more complex a system is, the greater the likelihood is that it will have problems.
(Reporting by Franklin Paul and Sinead Carew)
REUTERS
Baltimore-based Independent Security Evaluators, which tests its clients' computer security by hacking it, said on Monday that three employees found a way to take control of iPhones through a Wi-Fi link or by tricking users into going to a Web site.
Charles Miller, principal security analyst at the firm, said a security weakness allows someone to take control of Apple's Safari Web browser and see other applications on the device at the same time, which could potentially make users of Macintosh desktop computers vulnerable to attacks.
"The same problem actually exists on Apple's desktops," said Miller. But he added that while his firm had identified the risk for both desktops and phones, it had written only the code necessary to hack into the iPhone.
The security consultants, who took about a week and a half to work out the move, said they were able to take control of an iPhone and make calls or send text messages, as well as access e-mails, voice-mail, address books and call and Web browsing history.
Miller said his company gave details about the hack and a potential security patch to Apple, but did not publicly release the details.
"We're looking into the report submitted by (Integrated Security Evaluators) and we always welcome feedback on how to improve our security," Apple spokeswoman Lynn Fox said.
Miller said Apple could have avoided the risk by eliminating links between the browser and other applications.
"It turns out that on the iPhone there are probably some basic things they could have done that would have made it better," said Miller.
The claim comes almost two months after Apple and AT&T Inc
started selling Apple's first cell phone, which includes a music and video player as well as a Web browser.
As many as 700,000 iPhones were sold on the first weekend after the June 29 launch, according to analyst estimates.
Days after launch, a well-known hacker Jon Johansen, claimed to have overcome restrictions on the iPhone, allowing highly technical users to bypass AT&T's network to use the phone's Internet and music features.
While cell phones have not historically been as vulnerable to attack as desktop computers, some experts worry that phones take on greater risks as they add more computer-like features.
Miller said he had not looked into security on other mobile phones to see how they compare to the iPhone, but said the more complex a system is, the greater the likelihood is that it will have problems.
(Reporting by Franklin Paul and Sinead Carew)
REUTERS
Lead-zinc spill in China
Beijing - A lead-zinc spill into a river in central China cut water supplies to more than 200,000 people for one day.
Xinhua news agency said 30,000 cu m of lead-zinc residue were washed into the river after a culvert under a tailings dam at the private Zhongtai Mining Corp, collapsed in Lengshuijiang city.
It was the second such accident in the city. In 2005, water supplies were cut for part of a day when a fertiliser maker accidentally spilled 100 cu m of ammonia nitrate into the river. - AP
Xinhua news agency said 30,000 cu m of lead-zinc residue were washed into the river after a culvert under a tailings dam at the private Zhongtai Mining Corp, collapsed in Lengshuijiang city.
It was the second such accident in the city. In 2005, water supplies were cut for part of a day when a fertiliser maker accidentally spilled 100 cu m of ammonia nitrate into the river. - AP
Step up on food safety
Beijing - China's Premier Wen Jianao ordered increased vigilance over food and drug safety last Friday as the Cabinet announced a new regulation that mandates stronger supervision and outlines hefty punishments for makers of dangerous goods.
"Food safety and product quality should be our top priority," Mr Wen said. "It is not only an urgent task, but an arduous and long-term task."
He is the highest-ranking leader to address the issue since global alarm was triggered by a slew of tainted Chinese exports ranging from pet food to toothpaste, tyres and seafood. - AP
"Food safety and product quality should be our top priority," Mr Wen said. "It is not only an urgent task, but an arduous and long-term task."
He is the highest-ranking leader to address the issue since global alarm was triggered by a slew of tainted Chinese exports ranging from pet food to toothpaste, tyres and seafood. - AP
Colour-Blindness
We can see colours because we have light-sensitive nerve receptors in our retina called cones.
There are three kinds of cones, each able to detect red, blue or green light. (All the other colours are made up of a mixture of these three.) Some peope have faulty cone cells which means they can't easily tell the difference between one colour and another. When this happens, it's called colour-blindness.
Most people with colour-blindness have special problems with the colous red and green. This is called 'red-green colour-blindness' or 'daltonism' and for a reason that no one understands it affects men much more than women.
Another form of colour-blindness is total colour-blindness or 'achromatic' vision, but this is rare. People who are totally colour-blind can't see colours at all but see everything in shades of grey. For these people, the world is like a black and white movie. Both types of colour-blindness are hereditary.
There are three kinds of cones, each able to detect red, blue or green light. (All the other colours are made up of a mixture of these three.) Some peope have faulty cone cells which means they can't easily tell the difference between one colour and another. When this happens, it's called colour-blindness.
Most people with colour-blindness have special problems with the colous red and green. This is called 'red-green colour-blindness' or 'daltonism' and for a reason that no one understands it affects men much more than women.
Another form of colour-blindness is total colour-blindness or 'achromatic' vision, but this is rare. People who are totally colour-blind can't see colours at all but see everything in shades of grey. For these people, the world is like a black and white movie. Both types of colour-blindness are hereditary.
Taking Care of Your Eyes
Your eyes are precious and cannot be replaced, so take care of them and remember the following :
Make sure the light is right for your eyes. If you work in light that's too dim or hold a book too close to your eyes when reading, you will strain your eyes unnecessarily.
A light that is too strong will tire your retina. Wear sunglassess to protect your eyes from bright sunshine or the reflection caused by snow. And don't look directly at the sun - it can hurt your eyes and may even blind you.
Don't let your eyes get too tired. The right distance between a book and your eyes for reading is about 30-30 centimetres. Holding the book nearer or further away can tire your eyes.
Protect your eyes from infections. Never rub them with dirty fingers.
Have regular eye checks at the optician's so that any problems with your eyes can be found and treated early.
Make sure the light is right for your eyes. If you work in light that's too dim or hold a book too close to your eyes when reading, you will strain your eyes unnecessarily.
A light that is too strong will tire your retina. Wear sunglassess to protect your eyes from bright sunshine or the reflection caused by snow. And don't look directly at the sun - it can hurt your eyes and may even blind you.
Don't let your eyes get too tired. The right distance between a book and your eyes for reading is about 30-30 centimetres. Holding the book nearer or further away can tire your eyes.
Protect your eyes from infections. Never rub them with dirty fingers.
Have regular eye checks at the optician's so that any problems with your eyes can be found and treated early.
He owns the whole condo in Orchard Rd
Mr Lim is resisting the temptation to sell up and cash in on the property boom as his mum does not want to move. -- ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG
EVEN for the ultra rich, condo living still means having to share facilities like pools and tennis courts with neighbours. Unless you're billionaire Peter Lim, that is. Mr Lim, wife Cherie and his 85-year-old mother have an entire 11-storey condo and pool at Ardmore Park to themselves.
No noisy neighbours, no barking dogs, no learner trumpeters practising in the apartment next door.
The family occupy a flat close to 4,000 sq ft at the Abelia condo while the other three maisonettes and a 5,000 sq ft penthouse sit empty, although there is a security guard.
Not that Mr Lim needs the rent.
He made his first fortune as a remisier and another bigger one with shrewd investments in palm oil.
And Abelia - Mr Lim owns 80 per cent and a pal the rest
- is probably worth about $100 million given its primest of prime locations near Orchard Road.
But Mr Lim is resisting the temptation to sell up and cash in on the property boom as his mum Does not want to move.
They like the location and the acres of space, including an underground carpark, which is handy given Mr Lim's pricey collection of 10 cars, Ferraris included.
And while he could sell the Abelia and buy a handful of houses, the posh bungalow life in District 10 doesn't suit him.
The Straits Times
28 July 2007
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