Studies of identical twins tell us that at least 70 per cent of the human personality is inherited. It is just amazing how similar most of these children are, even when they have had very little contact with each other.
One set of twins that was raised in different countries from birth is now in their late 40s and they even share the same weird sense of humour. For example, both enjoy faking sneeze in elevators to see how strangers will react.
A person's genetic structrure is thought to even influence the stability of his or her marriage. If you have an identical twin who gets a divorce, your risk of getting a divorce is 45 per cent. But if your fraternal twin - who shares only half as many genes - gets divorced, your risk is ony 30 per cent.
What does all this mean ? Are we mere puppets on a string, playing out a pre-determined course without free will or personal choices ? Not at all.
Unlike birds ad mammals that act according to instinct, humans are capable of rational thought and independent action. We do not act on every sexual urge, for instance, despite its genetic underpinnings.
What I am saying is that even though heredity provides a nudge in a particular direction, that impulse can be brought under the control of our intellectual processes.
Dr James Dobson
Monday, July 30, 2007
Fighting Infection
For every 600 red blood cells in your body there is one white blood cell.
These transparent cells are bigger than red blood cells and they are not all the same. Their job is to fight infection but the different white blood cells do it in slightly different ways.
When bacteria enter your body, extra white blood cells are made instantly. Some of them, called phagocytes or 'cell eaters', go to the source of infection and surround the bateria. This is called 'engulfing'. Once the bacteria are trapped, a chemical is released to digest them.
These transparent cells are bigger than red blood cells and they are not all the same. Their job is to fight infection but the different white blood cells do it in slightly different ways.
When bacteria enter your body, extra white blood cells are made instantly. Some of them, called phagocytes or 'cell eaters', go to the source of infection and surround the bateria. This is called 'engulfing'. Once the bacteria are trapped, a chemical is released to digest them.
Tickets for S'pore F1 race go on sale in Dec
Tickets for next year's Singapore Grand Prix will go on sale to the public inmid-December.
Companies that want to buy hospitality packages - where their guests can watchthe Formula One race in air-conditioned comfort and enjoy food and champagne -can start their bookings from Nov 28, said the event's organiser, Singapore GP,yesterday.
However, it declined to reveal ticket prices, saying they are still beingfirmed up.
Singapore GP, which holds five-year renewable rights to stage the race here,would only say that tickets will be priced to allow the maximum number ofspectators to enjoy the race.
But according to previous reports, the cheapest standing- room seats are likelyto go for $50 for the free practice and qualifying sessions, held on the Fridayand Saturday before a race. This is expected to double on the actual race day.
Grandstand seats at specially constructed stands or the Marina Bay pontoonshould cost upwards of $600, the minimum at the other 17 races this year.
However, the figure could rise because of the novelty factor - the Singaporeevent, scheduled for some time next September or October, will be the sport'sfirst night race.
Ticket prices for the Singapore race are likely to fall in between what ischarged at the Malaysian and Monte Carlo ones.
Prices for next year's Malaysian GP range from RM1,755 (S$772) for the bestgrandstand seats, to RM33 for a hilltop place, which means being exposed to theelements on a grassy knoll.
Tickets for Monte Carlo, the crown jewel of the F1 circuit, range from 475 euros(S$1,478) for the best grandstand seats to 100 euros for standing-only tickets.
Organisers are estimating that there will be 80,000 to 90,000 seats, but willconfirm the proportion of public and corporate seating only when the route inthe Marina Bay district is finalised.
But it is likely that 10,000 to 15,000 tickets will be reserved for VVIPs,VIPs, corporate sponsors, and guests of the organisers and racing teams.
That would leave about 70,000 tickets for the public.
To prevent touting, tickets will come with state-of-the-art security features.
Meanwhile, corporations are already showing interest in treating clients to theevent.
It is believed that the Fullerton Waterboat House, which is right at a hairpinturn where Esplanade Drive leads into Anderson Bridge, has been booked by aleading financial institution. The cost for the expected 100 guests is about$1,200 a person a day.
Hotels along the route are also getting regular enquiries about rooms.
"We're looking at almost 85 per cent of the room inventory being booked forthe race weekend if those on the wait-list honour their bookings," said PanPacific Hotel spokesman Cheryl Ng.
Pan Pacific and Swissotel The Stamford have also been getting calls from firmsinterested in booking meeting and ballrooms for fringe events during the raceweekend.
Leonard Lim
The Straits Times
Companies that want to buy hospitality packages - where their guests can watchthe Formula One race in air-conditioned comfort and enjoy food and champagne -can start their bookings from Nov 28, said the event's organiser, Singapore GP,yesterday.
However, it declined to reveal ticket prices, saying they are still beingfirmed up.
Singapore GP, which holds five-year renewable rights to stage the race here,would only say that tickets will be priced to allow the maximum number ofspectators to enjoy the race.
But according to previous reports, the cheapest standing- room seats are likelyto go for $50 for the free practice and qualifying sessions, held on the Fridayand Saturday before a race. This is expected to double on the actual race day.
Grandstand seats at specially constructed stands or the Marina Bay pontoonshould cost upwards of $600, the minimum at the other 17 races this year.
However, the figure could rise because of the novelty factor - the Singaporeevent, scheduled for some time next September or October, will be the sport'sfirst night race.
Ticket prices for the Singapore race are likely to fall in between what ischarged at the Malaysian and Monte Carlo ones.
Prices for next year's Malaysian GP range from RM1,755 (S$772) for the bestgrandstand seats, to RM33 for a hilltop place, which means being exposed to theelements on a grassy knoll.
Tickets for Monte Carlo, the crown jewel of the F1 circuit, range from 475 euros(S$1,478) for the best grandstand seats to 100 euros for standing-only tickets.
Organisers are estimating that there will be 80,000 to 90,000 seats, but willconfirm the proportion of public and corporate seating only when the route inthe Marina Bay district is finalised.
But it is likely that 10,000 to 15,000 tickets will be reserved for VVIPs,VIPs, corporate sponsors, and guests of the organisers and racing teams.
That would leave about 70,000 tickets for the public.
To prevent touting, tickets will come with state-of-the-art security features.
Meanwhile, corporations are already showing interest in treating clients to theevent.
It is believed that the Fullerton Waterboat House, which is right at a hairpinturn where Esplanade Drive leads into Anderson Bridge, has been booked by aleading financial institution. The cost for the expected 100 guests is about$1,200 a person a day.
Hotels along the route are also getting regular enquiries about rooms.
"We're looking at almost 85 per cent of the room inventory being booked forthe race weekend if those on the wait-list honour their bookings," said PanPacific Hotel spokesman Cheryl Ng.
Pan Pacific and Swissotel The Stamford have also been getting calls from firmsinterested in booking meeting and ballrooms for fringe events during the raceweekend.
Leonard Lim
The Straits Times
Equipped to thrill, dressed to kill ! Digital IXUS 950IS
A cup of caffeine too many or a drop too much can give you shaky hands, so the new Digital IXUS 950IS features a 4x optical zoom with Image Stabilizer to bring out the best from its 8 mega-pixels sensor. It would be a waste to dress it in anything less than absolutely gorgeous curvy metallic chrome finish. Top it off with the latest Canon DiGiC III image processor to ensure low-noise images and fantastic battery life, plus Face-Detection for sharp photos every time, and you would have the perfect digital camera for every conceivable occasion !
High Quality Battery for Canon Digital IXUS 850IS, 3,7 V, 1120 mAh, 100% fits, properly matching, Li-Ion, Lithium Ion Technology, grey, Batteries, Digital Camera
Sleek and powerful ! Digital IXUS 70 & 75
Whoever said you cannot have your cake and eat it has never seen the Digital IXUS 70 and 75 ! Packing 7 megapixels resolution into a slim body that measures just 19.4mm, the IXUS 70 even manages to incorporate 3x optical Linear-Lens zoom that delivers biting sharp images. The IXUS 75 shares the same features of the IXUS 70, but goes one up on the latter's 2.5" LCD screen with a huge 3" display.
$20 polymer notes being auctioned off on the internet
SINGAPORE'S new $20 polymer notes have hit auction sites on the internet.
One web auctioneer has reportedly made a profit of $550 by selling 100 notes on online marketplace eBay.
Evening Chinese daily LianHe WanBao had spotted another individual who was trying to sell six pieces of this note in running serial numbers for $180.
The notes were launched on June 27 to commemorate 40 years of Singapore' Currency Interchangeability Agreement with Brunei that took effect on June 12, 1967.
Under the deal, the currency of either country is also legal tender in the other, such that notes can be exchanged at par.
This means one Singapore dollar gets one Brunei dollar and vice versa.
It is understood that some banks have limited the exchange of the new note to two pieces per person and details like names and identity card numbers are noted down.
The Straits Times
July 29, 2007
One web auctioneer has reportedly made a profit of $550 by selling 100 notes on online marketplace eBay.
Evening Chinese daily LianHe WanBao had spotted another individual who was trying to sell six pieces of this note in running serial numbers for $180.
The notes were launched on June 27 to commemorate 40 years of Singapore' Currency Interchangeability Agreement with Brunei that took effect on June 12, 1967.
Under the deal, the currency of either country is also legal tender in the other, such that notes can be exchanged at par.
This means one Singapore dollar gets one Brunei dollar and vice versa.
It is understood that some banks have limited the exchange of the new note to two pieces per person and details like names and identity card numbers are noted down.
The Straits Times
July 29, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
A Good School Bag
Guideline for Parents
The back panel support should be firm but flexible enough to ensure good contact with the child's back.
The school bag should be positioned with its botoom just along the child's hip level and top of the bag slightly above the child's shoulders.
To prevent straining the child's neck and shoulders, the school bag should not be positioned too low on the child's back.
It is important to teach the child how to adjust the shoulder straps to position the bag correctly. Tip : Bend forward and pull the lower straps.
Use the cross-chest strap to prevent the shoulder straps from slipping off.
To protect the child's back and spine, the school bag must always be carried on both shoulders.
The weight distribution in the bag is very crucial. The heavy items should be placed closest to the back, secured with the elastic straps.
The total weight of the bag is the most important factor with regard to the overall strain on the child's back. Teach the child to repack the bag daily and only to bring the necessary things, to avoid the extra weight.
The back panel support should be firm but flexible enough to ensure good contact with the child's back.
The school bag should be positioned with its botoom just along the child's hip level and top of the bag slightly above the child's shoulders.
To prevent straining the child's neck and shoulders, the school bag should not be positioned too low on the child's back.
It is important to teach the child how to adjust the shoulder straps to position the bag correctly. Tip : Bend forward and pull the lower straps.
Use the cross-chest strap to prevent the shoulder straps from slipping off.
To protect the child's back and spine, the school bag must always be carried on both shoulders.
The weight distribution in the bag is very crucial. The heavy items should be placed closest to the back, secured with the elastic straps.
The total weight of the bag is the most important factor with regard to the overall strain on the child's back. Teach the child to repack the bag daily and only to bring the necessary things, to avoid the extra weight.
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