Culture Unplugged Video

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Yesterday...15 April 2009

Well,I was bugged by my frens to share my thought.....,

I mean...what is so nice in hearing other peoples thought!!!,

Well...for the sake of satisfying my frens wishes...,

I decided to give it a go....,

Hmm....'Who knows it might be interesting'!!

In Biology class...our teacher thought about skeletal muscles in animals..,

such as bird,frog,locust and last but not least fish...,

when everybody heard the word fish....,

automaticly all heads were turned in my direction,

quite scary...but wow...'the attention'!

the teacher was quite confused on why this happened ,

but she didn't bother asking....

Anyway,I was named 'GOLDFISH'...in the class,

cause....hmmm...I looked like one...hahaha ,

I mean not exactly a fish...but just the face...,

yup...I do have a cubby like rounded-shape kind of face...,

ask anyone & they'll say I look exactly like a GOLDFISH,

not an ordinary fish but a typical looking GOLDFISH...,

huh...here's that word again....,

I guess I'm sort of used to hear that word....,

soooo...not a big probem at all!!!

....There was a fish in our school aquarium...,

and well I was named because of that fish...,

but I call it 'BLOTTEDFISH'...,

cause it's sooo round..,

unfortunately....it DIED....

DIED just like that...,

My heart drooped down...

I felt half of my life is gone...

at first I couldn't believe..

but,trust me...the cut is too deep to bear...

passing by the aquarium everyday...

and it's GONE...

GONE...for good!! (tears rolling down)

I don't have it real picture but I'll download one that is exact

as a rememberance for me...

Here it is....'BLOTTEDFISH'.....

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE!!(!_!)

That's all I could say...signing off!!

Abdominal Fat Distribution Predicts Heart Disease

Abdominal obesity is a strong independent risk factor for heart disease, and using the waist-hip ratio rather than waist measurement alone is a better predictor of heart disease risk among men and women

During the follow-up, 1,708 men and 892 women developed coronary heart disease. When they divided the men and women into five groups, according to waist-hip ratio, researchers found that those with the highest waist-to-hip ratio had the highest heart disease risk. Among the findings:
Men in the top one-fifth of the distribution (those with the biggest waists in relation to their hips) had a 55 percent higher risk of developing coronary heart disease compared to men in the bottom one-fifth of the distribution (those with the smallest waists in relation to their hips).

Women in the top one-fifth, or the highest waist-to-hip ratio group, were 91 percent more likely to develop heart disease than women with the smallest waists in relation to their hips.

Waist-only measurements underestimated heart disease risk by 10 percent to 18 percent when compared to risk estimates for waist measurements when hip is considered (waist-to-hip ratio).

When waist-only, body mass index and coronary heart disease risk factors are considered, for every 6.4 centimeter (cm) increase in hip circumference in men and for every 9.2 cm hip circumference increase in women, there is a 20 percent lower risk for developing heart disease

"People whose abdominal fat puts them at higher risk for heart disease do not always appear overweight or obese," Canoy said. "However, the overriding message from this and other studies about heart disease risk is that, despite the different measures and risk estimates, the bottom line is that many of us need to lose excess weight. Doctors should start looking beyond weight, height, simple waist circumference and BMI to assess heart disease. A simple waist-hip ratio measurement is a strong predictor of heart disease."

Waist Size Found To Be Predictor Of Heart Failure In Both Men And Women

Adding to the growing evidence that a person's waist size is an important indicator of heart health, a study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has found that larger waist circumference is associated with increased risk of heart failure in middle-aged and older populations of men and women.

The findings, published online in the April 7 Rapid Access Report of the journal Circulation: Heart Failure, showed that increased waist size was a predictor of heart failure even when measurements of body mass index (BMI) fell within the normal range.
"Currently, 66 percent of adults in the United States are overweight or obese," explains Emily Levitan, ScD, the study's first author and a Research Fellow in the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at BIDMC. "Knowing that the prevalence of heart failure increased between 1989 and 1999, we wanted to better understand if and how this increase in obesity was contributing to these rising figures."

A life-threatening condition that develops when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, heart failure (also known as congestive heart failure) is usually caused by existing cardiac conditions, including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization among patients 65 and older, and is characterized by such symptoms as fatigue and weakness, difficulty walking, rapid or irregular heartbeat, and persistent cough or wheezing.

The researchers examined two Swedish population-based studies, the Swedish Mammography Cohort (made up of 36,873 women aged 48 to 83) and the Cohort of Swedish Men (43,487 men aged 45 to 79) who responded to questionnaires asking for information about their height, weight and waist circumference. Over a seven-year period between January 1998 and December 2004 the researchers reported 382 first-time heart-failure events among the women (including 357 hospital admissions and 25 deaths) and 718 first-time heart-failure events among men (accounting for 679 hospital admissions and 39 deaths.)
Their analysis found that based on the answers provided by the study participants, 34 percent of the women were overweight and 11 percent were obese, while 46 percent of the men were overweight and 10 percent were obese.

"By any measure – BMI, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio or waist to height ratio –our findings showed that excess body weight was associated with higher rates of heart failure," explains Levitan.

Further breakdown of the numbers showed that among the women with a BMI of 25 (within the normal range), a 10-centimeter higher waist measurement was associated with a 15 percent higher heart failure rate; women with a BMI of 30 had an 18 percent increased heart failure rate. In men with a BMI of 25, a 10-centimeter higher waist circumference was associated with a 16 percent higher heart failure rate; the rate increased to 18 percent when men's BMI increased to 30.

Furthermore, adds Levitan, among the men, each one-unit increase in BMI was associated with a four percent higher heart failure rate, no matter what the man's waist size. In women, she adds, BMI was only associated with increased heart failure rates among the subjects with the largest waists. Finally, the authors found that the association between BMI and heart-failure events declined with age, suggesting that the younger the person, the greater the impact of weight to heart health.

"This study reinforces the importance of maintaining a healthy weight," says Levitan. "Previous research has looked at various types of heart disease and related health issues, and no matter the particulars of the study, they've all been pretty consistent in determining that excess body weight increases a person's risk of heart disease."

Red In The Face? People Use The Color Of Your Skin To Judge How Healthy You Are

People use the color of your skin to judge how healthy you are, according to researchers at the University of St Andrews.

Scientists in the School of Psychology have shown that there is truth to the received wisdom that a "rosy" complexion denotes healthiness, whilst a "green" or "pale" color indicates illness.
Lead researcher Ian Stephen worked with the University's Perception Lab to determine how face color is associated with healthy looks.
Several monkey species use redness in their faces or sexual skin to advertise their health status and to attract mates. The team was keen to discover whether similar mechanisms were at work in humans.

Ian Stephen said, "Parents and doctors know that when you get ill, you can end up looking pale. Our research goes further and shows that even young, healthy university students can benefit from a complexion reflecting more blood and more oxygen in the skin."
The team from the University of St Andrews first measured how skin color varies with the amount of blood and oxygen in the blood.
These measurements were used with computer graphics to allow research participants to change the color of the faces in the photographs to look as healthy as possible. The team found that, for all faces, participants added more oxygen rich blood color to improve the healthy appearance.

Stephen continued, "Our skin contains many tiny blood vessels that carry blood laden with oxygen to the skin cells, allowing them to "breathe", and allowing us to lose heat during exercise. People who are physically fit or have higher levels of sex hormones have more of these blood vessels and flush easier than people who are unhealthy, unfit, elderly or smokers. Physically fit people also have more oxygen in their blood than people who are unfit or have heart or lung illnesses."

Professor Dave Perrett, head of the Perception Lab commented, "Our evaluators all thought that bright red blood with lots of oxygen looked healthier than darker, slightly bluer blood with lower oxygen levels. It is remarkable is that people can see this subtle difference."
"This may explain why some people with very red faces do not look so healthy; the color of their blood may be wrong. So it's not just the amount of blood that's important; it's the type of blood that determines healthy looks".

The research shows that people use the color of the blood in your skin to judge how healthy you are.

Chicken Soup May Fight Blood Pressure: Passover's Matzoh Ball Soup May Be Good For Your Health

The popular home remedy for the common cold sometimes known as "Grandma's Penicillin" may have a new role alongside medication and other medical measures in fighting high blood pressure, scientists in Japan are reporting.

Ai Saiga, Ph.D., and colleagues cite previous studies indicating that chicken breast contains collagen proteins with effects similar to ACE inhibitors, mainstay medications for treating high blood pressure. But chicken breast contains such small amounts of the proteins that it could not be used to develop food and medical products for high blood pressure.

Chicken legs and feet, often discarded as waste products in the U.S. but key soup ingredients elsewhere, appear to be a better source.

In the study, Saiga and colleagues extracted collagen from chicken legs and tested its ability to act as an ACE inhibitor in the laboratory studies. They identified four different proteins in the collagen mixture with high ACE-inhibitory activity.

Given to rats used to model human high blood pressure, the proteins produced a significant and prolonged decrease in blood pressure, the researchers say.

As for the matzoh balls, those delicious dumplings made from ground, unleavened bread, there is no word that they cure anything except a healthy appetite.

Stimulating Sleepy StudentsAcupuncturists Show Students How to Stay Awake by Stimulating Pressure Points

Simple techniques inspired by traditional Chinese medicine may help students stay awake during class. Researchers report that college students were more alert if they massaged or tapped areas on the back of the neck, the hands and legs -- areas that acupuncturists believe can stimulate the release of endorphins.

Whether it's boredom or just not enough shut-eye, a lot of students have trouble staying awake during class.

For many students, a textbook, paper and pencil are a recipe for sleepiness. Zach Barnes, a ninth grader at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich., says, "I don't know how many times I go through a day in school and feel like I'm about to fall asleep."

Now, students are giving their schoolbooks a rest and learning a new way to give their tired brains a boost. Acupuncturist Richard Harris teaches students how putting pressure on specific areas of the body -- called acupressure points -- can help them stay awake.
Richard Harris, an acupuncturist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, says, "The stimulation techniques are ways to reduce fatigue or mental fatigue that you may have during the day."

By tapping the top of the head and massaging areas on the back of the neck, hand and leg, researchers believe stimulating these points releases endorphins, or chemicals in the brain that make us feel good and more alert.

"I would be interested to see if people take this as a possible alternative to coke or coffee or other caffeine drinks," Richard says. This self-applied pick-me-up technique might help kids stay focused longer.

Erin Walker, also from Pioneer High School, says, "I'll probably use the one where you're massaging your hand, because it's not obvious or anything."
The acupressure techniques need to be done for several minutes to be effective. In a study at the University of Michigan, researchers found students in a class were significantly more alert and less fatigued after self-administering acupressure treatments.
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BACKGROUND: Students in a class were taught to do acupressure on themselves at stimulation points on their legs, feet, hands and heads in a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan. They were found to be more alert and less fatigued than those students who didn't use acupressure.

WHAT IS ACUPRESSURE? According to traditional Chinese medicine, an energy known as chi travels through our bodies along 14 channels, called meridians. Chinese medicine says that the flow of chi is strengthened, calmed or unblocked by pressing specific points along those meridians. These are believed by advocates of the practice to be places on the skin that are especially sensitive to bioelectrical impulses in the body. Acupuncture uses needles for treatment of chronic pain, for instance. Acupressure is the older massage version of acupuncture, and is used mainly to reduce stress.

HOW IT WORKS: A steady downward pressure is applied with a finger, thumb or palm to a specific point for one to two minutes. Stimulating these points with pressure, needles or heat triggers the release of endorphins -- the neurochemicals that relieve pain. Pain signals are blocked and there is an increased flow of blood and oxygen to the affected area. The muscles relax, and healing can take place more rapidly. While there is some skepticism as to the scientific merit of such treatments, it has been demonstrated that many of the pressure points used in acupressure are located at key crossways of the autonomic nervous system, and that those areas have a higher electrical conductivity on the surface of the skin. Modern scientists have found no evidence that chi exists or flows through the body.

STUDY RESULTS: Thirty-nine students in the University of Michigan's School of Public Health participated in three days of all-day lecture classes. They were divided into two groups. One group gave themselves acupressure to stimulation points on the first day, and to relaxation points on the second and third days. The other administered acupressure to relaxation points for one day, then stimulation points for the second and third days. Students then rated their levels of sleepiness and fatigue at various points throughout each day. The stimulation group of students experienced less sleepiness and were more alert.

Java Gives Caffeine-naive A Boost, Too

New research from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, shows that—for women—the caffeine advantage is indeed everything it's cracked up to be. Females who don't drink coffee can get just as much of a caffeine boost as those who sip it regularly, according to a study in the latest edition of Nutrition Research.

"The take-home message for women is that whether you are hooked on caffeine or not, if you need a boost coffee improves your mental alertness and can have a calming affect on your heart rate," said Michael Kennedy, a professor in exercise physiology in the University of Alberta's Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, lead author on the study. "In addition, a large coffee has more than enough caffeine to see these changes."
Kennedy and a team of students looked at how 10 women who drank caffeine daily and 10 caffeine-naïve women who drank less than two servings per week were affected by measuring heart rate, blood pressure, alertness and the ability to perform a tough mental test after consuming a 350-millilitre-sized coffee. The study subjects were aged 18 to 37.
After eating a normal breakfast, participants were asked to drink a cup of regular coffee containing approximately 140 milligrams of caffeine. After allowing 50 minutes for the absorption of the caffeine, participants in both groups were required to complete two word tasks. Heart rate, blood pressure and alertness were monitored before and after the test.
Of some concern, noted Kennedy, is that baseline blood pressure taken before the groups digested the caffeine was significantly higher in the habituated coffee drinkers. "This indicates that there may be some long-term cardiovascular adjustment to digesting caffeine on a daily basis," said Kennedy, adding that though the sample was small, the results were statistically and clinically significant.
"For people at risk for high blood pressure, if you're a habituated coffee drinker, reducing your caffeine intake would be an effective way of potentially reducing your blood pressure."

Serrano Ham, Pears and Haricot Vert Salad with Valdeón Cheese

This wonderfully fresh and crispy salad comes from Insalata’s Restaurant in San Anselmo, California.
"This is an all-season recipe. In the spring, Insalata’s serves this composed salad with ripe Bosc pears, while in the fall it might use figs or persimmons. Organic arugula or escarole is a great substitute for the frisée, and gorgonzola may be substituted for the Valdeón."

Prep Time: 6 minutes
Ingredients:
8 paper-thin slices serrano ham or prosciutto
8 ounces haricots verts, trimmed and blanched for 3 minutes
2 firm, ripe Bosc pears, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
Leaves from 1 small head frisée lettuce
1/2 cup chopped marcona almonds
* * * * For the Valdeón Cream * * * *
1/2 cup Valdeón cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* * * * For the Sherry Vinaigrette * * * *
1 tablespoon minced shallot
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons hazelnut oil
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation:
For the Valdeón cream: Combined the cheese and cream into a blender or food processor. Blend until just smooth. Stir in the salt and pepper. Transfer the cream to a squeeze bottle. Refrigerate until ready to use.
For the sherry vinaigrette: Combine the shallot, vinegar and salt in small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk in the honey, mustard and oils. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Assemble the salad by placing 2 slices of ham on each of 4 plates. In a medium nonaluminum bowl, combine the blanched haricots verts, pear slices, frisée leaves, almonds and 1/4 cup of the vinaigrette. Toss gently and mound on top of the ham. Drizzle with the Valdeón cream and serve immediately.
Serves 4 as a first course.

Well....hmm is it a butterfly or an owl???Maybe even both!!!It's actually a butterfly that has an owl's eyes....isn't it cool!!!

This giraffe has a tongue.....is it a tongue or a knife in it's mouth???Well whatever it is...it's sure looks sharp!!!

Boxing tournament .....two boxers competing with each other...under water!....no oxygen???That's Desperate!!!