Saturday, June 25, 2011

An apple a day

Today, Tuesday June 21, 2011, Page T11, Health
From
http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20110621/2106HLP050.pdf
Source Website:
http://www.todayonline.com/Health/EDC110621-0000005/An-apple-a-day
By
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, 04:46 AM Jun 21, 2011



PHOTO: An apple a day ... really does keep the doctor away, say scientists
GETTY IMAGES, Copyright © MediaCorp Press Ltd

http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/cmsfileserver/showimageCC.aspx?450&341&f=2247&img=2247_397065.jpg&h=450&w=341
Today, Tuesday June 21, 2011, Page T11, Health



RESEARCHERS have discovered that ursolic acid - a substance found in the fruit's peel - has natural body building qualities and could help people keep a toned, slender body.

It could even help with diabetes.

In experiments, they discovered that it boosts muscle growth by up to 15 per cent and reduces body fat by more than half.

It also has health giving properties - reducing blood sugar levels, cholesterol and harmful fatty acids, according to the new study.

Dr Christopher Adams, the study leader at the University of Iowa, said the substance could be especially useful in the elderly who naturally lose body muscle, known as atrophy.

"The old saying goes that 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'," he said.

"Muscle atrophy causes big problems. It's also very common - it affects most people at some point in their lives, during illness or ageing. But, there's no medicine for it.

"We studied muscle gene activity in people with atrophy and used that information to find chemicals that might block atrophy.

"One of those chemicals was especially interesting. It's called ursolic acid and it's particularly concentrated in apple peels."

The study, published in the latest issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, showed that ursolic acid reduced muscle wasting in mice.

They believe the substance works by reprogramming genes that cause muscle wasting and fat build up.

"Interestingly, although ursolic acid increased muscle weight in mice, it did not increase total body weight, and further investigation showed that mice fed ursolic acid had less body fat than mice that were not fed the compound," he said.

Now they plan to try it on humans to see if it has the same effect.
By THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, 04:46 AM Jun 21, 2011


Reference

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Remembering those who matter most

MY PAPER WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2011, PAGE A14, VIEWPOINTS
From
http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-06-22
Source Website:
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Mailbox/Story/A1Story20110622-285369.html
By Geoff Tan, my paper, Wed, Jun 22, 2011




PHOTO: Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz, the American cartoonist
http://news.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/news/06Jun11/images/20110622.110455_20110622_schulz.jpg
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Mailbox/Story/A1Story20110622-285369/2.html



PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.

MY PAPER WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2011, PAGE A14, VIEWPOINTS


Can you name the five wealthiest people in the world? What about the latest six Academy Award winners for best actor and actress? Or 10 people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize?

These are some questions cited in an e-mail message I received about the philosophy of Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz, the American cartoonist who wrote the highly popular comic strip Peanuts.

The comic proved to be one of the most influential in the history of the medium and is still reprinted widely on a daily basis.

But back to the questions. Schulz was said to have come up with them to illustrate his take on life.

I would presume that you're probably stumped for the answers.

The point that Schulz wanted to make is that "none of us remember the headliners of yesterday".

He continued: "These people are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners."

Have you ever wondered, as you go through life and get to know more and more people, how many of them really matter to you, eventually?

As the role of social media becomes more dominant in our lives, one question I would really like to ask Lady Gaga - who has reportedly clocked up over 10 million friends on Facebook - is: "How many of your 10 million Facebook fans are really your friends, and how many of these friends really mean something to you?"

You may not have 10 million friends, but it may be worthwhile to consider the same question. Schulz also posed another set of questions:

  • List a few teachers who aided you on your journey through school
  • Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time
  • Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile
  • Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special
  • Think of five people with whom you enjoy spending time

I'm sure you must find these a lot easier to answer as compared with the earlier questions.

What this shows is that the people who make a difference in your life are not necessarily the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.

They are the ones who care.

By Geoff Tan, my paper, Wed, Jun 22, 2011
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings' marketing division.


HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn


Comic Strip: 连环漫画 - lián huán màn huà
Stumped: 难住了 - nán zhù le
Accolades: 嘉奖 - jiā jiǎng
Credentials: 证书 - zhèng shū



Reference

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

LV’s swamp ambition

Today Thursday, June 16, 2011, Page 6, Entertainment
From
http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20110616/1606FTP078.pdf
Source Website:
http://www.todayonline.com/Entertainment/Celebrity/EDC110616-0000014/LVs-swamp-ambition
By
Stephen Armstrong, THE GUARDIAN, features@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:47 AM Jun 16, 2011




PHOTO: Angelina Jolie stars in Louis Vuitton's new campaign.
Today Thursday, June 16, 2011, Page 6, Entertainment

What is the luxury label saying by featuring Angelina Jolie in a Cambodian swamp?
THE new Louis Vuitton campaign is odd. The bag company has always sent expensive photographers to beautiful places to shoot gorgeous vistas. This time round it's Angelina Jolie sans makeup in a wooden boat in a swamp.

"People are not used to seeing Angelina in this situation," vice-president Pietro Beccari told Women's Wear Daily. Which is sort of true.

The ad was shot by photographer Annie Leibovitz in Cambodia and we're all pretty used to seeing Angelina in that neck of the woods. There was Tomb Raider 1 and 2, obviously, then founding an animal sanctuary and picking up Rath Vibol from an orphanage in Battambang to become the boy we all know as Maddox Chivan. I think Beccari meant that we haven't seen her without make-up.

The response has not been one of unguarded rejoicing. Some have argued that if you travel upriver in a very poor country with mosquitos and ferocious river beasts threatening your life and sanity, you might not want to take a £7,000 (S$14,000) bag with you. Perhaps using poor countries as the backdrop to show off your luxury goods isn't in the best possible taste?

All the same, it's hard to be mean to Jolie. She did give a tidy chunk of the pay cheque - reported to be US$10 million (S$12.3 million) - to charity. And all the caring celebrities are doing Vuitton's Core Values campaign these days.

Why? As the Wall Street Journal explained when reporting how poor old Louis Vuitton had two ads banned by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority for implying they were handmade when they weren't, luxury brands' emphasis on worthiness, authenticity and history is an advertising trend that has emerged in the post-economic-crisis period.

Experts say there is evidence that consumers favour labels with a rich heritage because they are seen as more enduring. Hence Gucci's ongoing Forever Now campaign using black-and-white photographs taken in its Florence workshop in 1953 by Foto Locchi.

Heritage is moot. After all, Vuitton financed Petain's Vichy government in the World War II, with Henry Vuitton one of the first Frenchmen to be decorated by the Nazi-backed regime for his loyalty and efforts for them.

To be fair, Vuitton has no truck with fascist sympathisers these days. The company supports a huge list of charities - all fashion brands do, explains Colin McDowell, who is curating Masters Of Style, Peroni's exhibition of Italian fashion advertising at Somerset House in London.

"It's all part of the illusion that we're doing someone somewhere some good when we pay £7,000 for a bag."
By Stephen Armstrong, THE GUARDIAN, features@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:47 AM Jun 16, 2011


Reference

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Asakusa Samba Carnival (Japan) - (5)

20Source Website:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=10 (Photos)
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=19 (Photos)
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=20 (Photos)
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=26 (Photos)

http://www.redflava.com/2010/interesting/events/asakusa-samba-carnival/ (Texts)
Written By Nia, Redflava Writer

Every year in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, the wild and sexy Asakusa Samba Carnival 浅草サンバカーニバル is held on the last Saturday of August since 1981.



PHOTO: Wild Asakusa Samba Carnival – Tokyo Japan
Posted by Nia on October 23rd, 2010
Every year in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, the wild and sexy Asakusa Samba Carnival 浅草サンバカーニバル is held on the last Saturday of August since 1981.
http://www.redflava.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/AsakusaSambaCarnival_6.jpg
http://www.redflava.com/2010/interesting/events/asakusa-samba-carnival/


People in Asakusa always love festivals. In 1999, AESA (Associacao da Escolas de Samba de Asakusa) was established by teams of the first league of the Asakusa Samba Carnival.



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival The 28th Asakusa Samba - Tokyo, Japan
By jamesjustin. This photo was taken on August 30, 2008, using a Nikon D300.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2810781736_efa7b7ce93_o.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesjustin/2810781736/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesjustin/2810781736/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=19


The Asakusa Samba Carnival is said to be one of the largest samba celebrations outside Brazil. The festival has a strong international flavour under the passionate Brazilian rhythm, attracting more than 500,000 sightseers every year.



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-158
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4935243009_12cd760eda_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935243009/in/photostream/
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http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=20


The event was launched to revitalize the town which was built around one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan. The Japanese samba team adopts their own themes and makes their own costumes.



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-153
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

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http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=20



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-154
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4935824202_9c1683af28_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935824202/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935824202/sizes/o/in/photostream/


One of the main attractions of the festival is the Samba Parade Contest. Thousands of samba rhythm lovers from all over Japan come to Asakusa to compete for the most spectacular dancing and other performances.



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-82
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4935104301_a9a44dacac_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935104301/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935104301/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=20


The crowds in Japan are reportedly more disciplined, with many spectators taking photos and marvelling at the exotic and eye-catching costumes.



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-81
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4935102839_9709c7f46c_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935102839/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935102839/sizes/o/in/photostream/



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-79
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4935098361_be8666e127_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935098361/in/photostream/
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PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-80
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4935691634_4f02bf0ce9_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935691634/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935691634/sizes/o/in/photostream/




More Photos from the Asakusa Samba Carnival



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-82
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4935111397_5bea01b4ef_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935111397/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935111397/sizes/o/in/photostream/



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-34
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4935012233_f9fd62c1e8_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935012233/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935012233/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=20



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By Nguyen.Vinh. This photo was taken on August 29, 2009 using a Canon EOS 20D.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3869604359_3b24147a90_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nguyenvinh/3869604359/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nguyenvinh/3869604359/sizes/o/in/photostream/



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/3874425874_dfbbe869c4_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874425874/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874425874/sizes/z/in/photostream/



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2481/3873630065_70d7f745a1_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873630065/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873630065/sizes/z/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=26



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3507/3873630075_7fd657d9af_z.jpg?zz=1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873630075/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873630075/sizes/z/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=26



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3552/3873630071_9fa45f49d3_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873630071/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873630071/sizes/z/in/photostream/



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3873701221_10744ab9ff_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873701221/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873701221/sizes/z/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&f=hp#page=26



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-130
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4935203009_f0c7f15dfb_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935203009/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935203009/sizes/o/in/photostream/



PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-139
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4935200969_2c8a8206d4_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935200969/in/photostream/
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PHOTO: Asakusa_Samba_Carnival-137
By rockydaven. This photo was taken on August 28, 2010.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4935787530_f0da6db570_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11422380@N03/4935787530/in/photostream/
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PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/3874397984_c4fd1b69a2_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874397984/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874397984/sizes/z/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=10



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3874397988_999c687568_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874397988/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874397988/sizes/z/in/photostream/



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3874397976_ed5270c93a_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874397976/in/photostream/
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PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3873658245_1de45c57bb_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873658245/
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http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=10



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/3874480438_166520e7f4_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874480438/
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http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=10



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/3873728237_cab95e5d86_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3873728237/in/photostream/
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http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=10



PHOTO: Asakusa Samba Carnival 2009
By abemasato. This photo was taken on August 31, 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/3874507320_82915610f1_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874507320/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abemasato/3874507320/sizes/z/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=10



PHOTO: 29th Asakusa Samba Carnival
By Daniel Shi. This photo was taken on August 29, 2009 using a Nikon D300.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/3874772687_269c4bd04a_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielshi1130/3874772687/
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http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=20



PHOTO: 29th Asakusa Samba Carnival
By Daniel Shi. This photo was taken on August 29, 2009 using a Nikon D300.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3874753489_667c01493c_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielshi1130/3874753489/in/photostream/
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http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=20



PHOTO: 29th Asakusa Samba Carnival
By Daniel Shi. This photo was taken on August 29, 2009 using a Nikon D300.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3875385730_ec0b36870e_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielshi1130/3875385730/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielshi1130/3875385730/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Asakusa+Samba+Carnival&page=20


Reference