Heart of the Matter or Matter of the Heart

The HEART OF THE MATTER  is that there are many unscrupulous doctors and surgeons in this world using patients as their guinea pigs and making loads of moneys from their ailments.

I read a good piece of news from the Straits Times (6 feb 2010) about  a “Prominent surgeon faces SMC hearing“.  It is indeed HEART-ening to hear the Singapore Medical Council is doing their job.

The Matter of the Heart is is whether there are enough being done at the PREVENTIVE MEDICINE level to prevent to heart ailments from affecting the population at too young a level.

With the myriad of “toxic” food product being introduced into our environment at a an alarming level given our entreport state it is rather difficult to check on all food products and items.   Hence we need to populace to help too, to inform and alert if necessary.

The Heart of the Matter is how?

The Matter of the Heart is we can start by strengthening the core heart muscles by taking whey protein and exercising the heart rather that wait for the heart muscles to fail and that is when we are at the mercy of the merry heart doctors and surgeons etc and of course their ever-ready sponsoring pharmaceutical companies.

Why whey protein -  well to heart of the matter is whey is already in its amino acid form and easily assimilated particularly by those whose body organs is already in in-incapacitated mode through “lack of blood circulation” – whether by cardio-vascular blockages and hence making the digestion of protein (not amino acids) rather improbable and thus we often find doctors advising against taking too much protein.  But that is what that will surely KILLS the heart.  Our heart is primarily muscle and needs protein to continue is beating continuously.

So for our older generation that have often be mislead by the so-called heart consultants we should go back to the basic to build a strong heart foundation through proper diet and nutrition.

Another matter of the heart supplement would probably be nattokinase that apparently helps to clear the plaque in the cardiovascular system.  It is fermented soya beans and does not have the associated problems of non-ferment soya bean.  Nattokinase should also not be confused with the chinese tojian (ferment beans) since the uses different culture bacteria.  Ferment food is ok like wine or red yeast rice though the former is often acceptable being of western origin while the latter like red yeast rice had been associated with “toxin” from tainted production methods.  We are wise enough the know the marketing war between western pharmaceutical companies and TCM products.  Some TCM products with tainted products are actually manufactured in the western countries.  That’s is the heart of the matter.

Another side issue is that the constant radiation smog generated by cellphones and wireless lan around us is affecting our nervous system that in turn affect our involuntary muscles like digestion and heart beat etc.  We should be mindful of these things too.  So do not stay too long in any place or environment and get up walk every hour or so.  This allow our voluntary muscles (or maybe our only functioning muscles) to move our bowels and lungs and heart for a functioning body system.

We should take heart in these matters.

Cheers!

Mikey

Mikey

Beware of rapidly contrasting TV images that cause epileptic seizures and other ailments!

There is this computer-generated TV animated feature of a popular movie to be shown on Ch5 tonight.  However, no matter how much I enjoyed the MOVIE version with its sequels and prequels, I can hardly bear to watch this animated series tonight ON TELEVISION.  Now I think I know why I was not drawn to the earlier computer-generated episodes shown on TV.

It is the rapidly contrasting TV images in this animated series that I saw during the commercial breaks that made it rather unbearable to watch.  It is not that I am suffering from any form of photosensitive epileptic seizure but I do not discount  the possibility of my aging macular vision, the eye muscles (possibly the ciliary muscle) will tend to have lesser elasticity to adjust to the rapidly black and white images that seemed to be the norm in many new animated or computer-generated shows to be shown on TV bombarding the unsuspecting viewers glued to the TV boxes.

A check on wikipedia showed that some UK television broadcasters and studios now screen content through the “Harding FPA Test“, an objective standard of assessment of potential to trigger seizures in the susceptible population. (wikipedia).

However, I have full confidence with our authorities to have this sort of testing.  This is even despite the fact that many new TV sets are LCD or of higher frequency.  But we should also know the behind the LCD screen are very bright florescent screen and the rapidly contrasting images (often found in computer-generated cartoons or even computer games) like blinding explosions, scintillating light sabers, laser blasts etc all alternates with dark images that strain your eyes to the maximum without you even knowing it. Changing your TV LCD screen to the economical mode with lesser stark contrasting images is better health choice.

I find this blog article by Craig Elliott on Thoughts and Information rather interesting and maybe we should give this a thought too.  This particular article on the use of flicker rate for thought manipulation is sometime to consider too besides the physical discomfort.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

The Hypnotic Effects of Television – Brainwashing Through The Use of Flicker Rate Manipulation

…..   Compare some of the older television commercials from 50 years ago, which were pasty whitish-gray and had very little or no flicker at all to today’s, which sometimes alternate from light to dark multiple times per second. In addition to flicker rates, television producers use music and subliminal visual cues to invoke a response or implant a perception into their viewers’ minds. Years ago, a television newscast was essentially “radio with pictures.” That is, a newscaster would be sitting in front of a blank, white wall looking at the camera reading the news. Other than the audio, there was no real reason for the newscaster’s picture to even be there. Today, a newscaster is surrounded by multiple, random moving imagery. Turn the sound off and just watch the background of many television newscasts, or news shows. The wavy, wispy images moving back and forth in the background are designed to hypnotize you and keep you transfixed, “glued” to the TV. Other gimmicks are the scrolling “ticker tape” on the bottom of the screen and lots of snapping and flashing lights. The more there is going on in the picture, the more likely you will be hypnotized by the images. (link)

I am not sure if the new LED (not LCD) TV could address the problems of rapidly changing contrasting images but I do worry for the younger kids who tend to watch cartoons especially computer generated videos that may have rapidly contrasting images.  I tend to watch more benign TV shows with slower changing images (not TV refresh rate) and that is easier on my eyes.  A beautiful newscaster does help with my eyes really moving (roving?) and not the images moving.  As such, I see.  Hopefully this helps me to have a better attention span in real life that the need to have constant image bombardments to soothe a void skull.   Nowadays, we have much information but little time for thought processes.

I am weaning myself away from the TV unless I intend to “relax” or do I mean, transfix my mind.  I am learning to play the piano and just acquire a digital piano to explore the various sound effect like saxophone, harp etc.  I am trying to use my other senses like hearing and touch (keyboard) to be a more complete person.

Nevertheless, TV still remains a part of my life.  It is hard to unplug from the reel (not real) world. I need to know what is happening to keep my children and the people here from harm’s way.

Take Care!

May the force be with you!

Mikey

Dangerous for see many kids to riding on the roads

Recently I saw in a tv news (can’t remenber date) that seemed to imply that it is illegal to ride on walkways and a fine would be imposed. Currently many cyclists are  sort of flouting this rule, including myself since there are many bicycle stands and parks near our MRT and library etc.

I think it is probably is this news: “Town council officers empowered to take errant cyclists to task” (CNA 16 Dec).  It seemed that the news implied that ONLY Tampines resident can ride their bike on walkway … from March 2010  (under amended by-laws, cyclists in Tampines will be able to ride on footpaths, including covered walkways).  So it INDIRECTLY that cyclists in other areas cannot ride on the walkway, however, even slowly.   So could it mean that we have ride our bicycle including puny tricycles for kids and toddlers on the road?

Subsequently, I saw quite a number of kids riding their bicycle on the road.  Not sure if it was due to the end December holiday season that they simply live life a little bit fuller but hopefully they are not doing it after being cautioned by their parents or for the fear of a fine after the TV news.  Just a few days ago, I remember hearing a car screeching to a halt after a kid riding his bicycle on the road sort of maneuver in a dangerous fashion.  I am really not sure what to say either cause our roads are not designed for safe bicycle riding .  I am tired now .. … need to sleep.

Good nite!

Take care!

Mikey

So glad that the public swimming pools are not reeking with chlorine

Hi, firstly glad the New Year 2010 have arrived and my health had improved tremendously.  Thanks to the nattokinase (fermented Japanese soybean) that I have been taking, to clean plaques from my presumably choked cardiovascular system and also whey protein to repair my heart muscles and other organs.

Today, I accompanied my son for his swimming class at Woodland and was glad that the pool was not reeking with chlorine.  This is important as I have reported about the ill effect of chlorine on our cardiovascular system in my last post in Nov 2009 ( Is Chlorine really that hazardous to our cardiovascular system?)

I chatted up with my son’s swimming instructor when I overheard him telling my kid that students in some prestigious school doing well academically can afford to swim three times a week and for two-hour per session.

Back in my mind was that, it would be ok for kids or growing teenagers to spend long hours in the pool since their body is constantly growing and able to repair the damages inflicted by chlorine and chemicals in the pool.

However, for those in the middle age and upwards. unless, our body has been conditioned (morph) in our early days of swimming in chlorinated waters, our cardiovascular system may have difficulty dealing with the chlorine.  Plus the fact that many at this age begins to take calcium and this is dangerous as Doctor Price had written about:

Why is Chlorinated water a primary factor of Heart Disease

Calcium is the most important mineral in our body.  In the blood chlorine chemically reacts with calcium and causes it to become toxic and non-soluble. When calcium is non-soluble it becomes plaque the same as scale on your teeth and scale in the pipes of your home.  When calcium plaque builds up in the body it leads to Heart attacks, Cardiovascular disease, Strokes, Gallstones, Arthritis, Kidney stones and a host of other major health problems.    (link)

This problem is further compounded now with some wise doctors trying to get people to go for CT scan to check for calcium deposit in the cardiovascular system.  I was one of them who was told that it would be good.  But the recent news on the possible cancer effect of CT scan left me wondering again why nobody look in to chlorination as a possible root problem for the burgeoning cardiovascular system affect and even paralyzing this affluent society.  Many people wants a part of the pie here and holding the local population hostage (to their medical products) is not a very ethical approach.  I don’t mean to be MEAN to doctors but how they are invariably linked to the giant pharmaceutical companies who often sees patients as money dispensing machine rather than cure.  This Youtube “comedy” by Chris Rock when he said “the money is to be make from the medicine and not from the cure” is something that we should ponder upon.   We should use our money for more meaningful things that being held hostage by medicine and products that does not cure at all.

So, for the new year, my kids will be going for swimming lessons.  They are young and their bodies can repair and build resistance to the ill effects of chlorine. But I will go easy and avoid pools the reeks with chlorine.  (not all swimming pools are equal).   Some says that using ozone for swimming pools is a better idea but I am not so sure.   I came across this article that touted the safety of having a SEAWATER swimming pool:

Saltwater swimming pools: A pool system worth its salt (link)

Another advertisement claimed that using ultraviolet light can reduce the amount of salt or chlorine needed:

UV is the “gold standard” – installed at over 60 leading aquatic centers & used at the Olympic Games.  UV is the proven and fastest growing alternative to chlorine and chemicals.  It’s in use by over 60 major universities and municipalities.  UV sterilizers have been used to purify drinking water for over 25 years and used on commercial pools for over 10 years now.  The Olympics in Sydney and Athens embraced ultraviolet to keep their pool safe and clear.  The State of New York requires ultraviolet on all water parks.  The Centers for Disease Control have recommended UV on all public swimming pools.  Now you can eliminate chemicals using a powerful light. (link) (link)

I hope that the relevant health and sports authorities can make some deliberations on whether any would be a good approach for a better swimming pool system.

My generation have suffered quite alot for lack of knowledge and know hows.  Hopefully the new generation can provide better solutions that can stuck in the quagmire of chasing wealth at the expense of well being.

Cheers!

And stay healthy for the New Year!

Mikey

Is Chlorine really that hazardous to our cardiovascular system?

My health which had been pretty bad since Aug 2008 and actually improved vastly over the past two months when I started taking Nattokinase which apparently seemed to be unclogging whatever is clogging my arteries.

I have been monitoring my BP quite religiously and it somehow pointed to a possible culprit … which is swimming in a chlorinated pool.

Why is it so.  Well to cut a long story short, when my health deteriorated, I started to spend more time swimming, thinking that maybe, it was the running that affected my spinal column.

But over time, it seemed that when I stayed away from the pool, my BP return to normalcy and the past week, despite taking natto, my BP was not too optimal (not that I am a hypochondriac, but like they say, a fool wonders,  a wise one asks).

So, in particularly when I am doing the freestyle (frontcrawl) and inadvertently drink some pool water, I will find my BP higher than normal and at first I thought it could be the neck contortion and twisting (to breathe) may be a factor.  Yes, it was, but probably lesser over time as my swimming gets better and I drink less pool waters.

But what I want to say, is that there are really articles out in the internet pointing to the fact, that over exposure to chlorinated waters can lead to health impairment.   In fact, those articles seemed to be quite plausible or even more informative than what we get from so-called health professionals who often seemed to be so-lacking in overall assimilation of fact or fallacies from all sources ..  often with a very myopic mind (as they do interfere with their business and of course, their earnings)

From what I read, it seemed that most of the so-called cholesterol problem is due to the fact that chlorine (whether from the tap or swimming pool) is major contributor to damage of the inner lining of blood vessels and heart.

According to a Dr. Price and other health researchers, chlorine creates lesions inside the blood vessels, which then is plugged with the repair material that the body normally uses; cholesterol.

Dr. Joseph Price, a medical doctor, wrote a fascinating book in the late 1960’s entitled, Coronaries/Cholesterol/Chlorine. He states, “The basic cause of athereosclerosis, heart attacks  and most forms of strokes is chlorine. The chlorine contained in processed water.”  (link)

Another plausible site is that one.  (link)

Earlier, I was quite dismissive about this finding (not theory!).  However, over a period of a year of swimming, almost fanatically, I now begin to think there are some truths to it.

So, I guess I have to go easy on chlorine and its related family of halides like iodine, bromine and fluorine etc.  They are pretty reactive.

I am not sure if over the years, the use of chlorine in swimming pool had increased (for health sake?) but my body really reeked with chlorine even for a 15-minute session.  Maybe the health authorities could look into it and establish (better still, do a proper statistic count) for those who “suddenly” derived heart or cardiovascular problems and whether there is any direct link to consumption of chlorinated waters (water cooler, swimming pool, or even too much floridated mouthwash etc).  I mean the halides connections.

As I write this, it occur to me that there were many so-called healthy sports personnel who died while spending time and tirelessly train, whether for glory or for country etc.

I remember, there was this CEO who training tirelessly in a swimming pool for his participation in a triathlon swimming event just a few months ago and passed away while swimming.  Not sure, if it was the real event that killed him, or was it the plaque buildup while swimming in an perhaps “overly” chlorinated pool that cause numerous lesion to be formed in his body (aided by the calcium intake)  (another link)

Maybe there should be a real study on the effect of chlorination and whether are there any better alternative.  For a start, most Singaporean will not go to the swimming pools rather than the sea, given the pollution publicity and spate of drowning cases.

I also wonder if those staying in condominium are more prone to cardiovascular diseases.  It the swimming pool a major contributor and if so, are there any relation to the severity of the pool chlorination.  Is there really a standard to abide to and how seriously are they abided to anyway since the machinery and pump are often subjected to malfunctions.

I still think swimming is a good sport.. but maybe swimming in a lake or perhaps an ozonised pool is a better option.  Otherwise, if there is no choice but to swim in a chlorinated pool, you should consider taking antioxidant to counter the ill effects.

We should also strive to protect those who train hard for the country.  I am not one of them but I do have some intuitions.  Because I can sense.

Separately, for those trying hard to have children, this site “Quips and Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility do list avoiding chlorine and ammonia as a factor.    No harm trying or at least try not to drink straight out from a water cooler or tap.  Try boiled water.

Be back in a few months time for some reality check.  In the mean time,  I should do more jogging and gym workout.

Cheers

Mikey

 

 

Brain damage at High Altitude. Becareful!

For those who goes for high altitude training and comes home feeling strange … well it is because your brain could have been severely damaged.

Well, according to this article,  “Into Thin Air: Mountain Climbing Kills Brain Cells“  The neural cost of high-altitude mountaineering: by R. Douglas Fields, the findings are not too “elevating” either:

“Neurologist Nicolás Fayed and his colleagues in Zaragoza, Spain, performed MRI brain scans on 35 climbers (12 professionals and 23 amateurs) who had returned from high-altitude expeditions, including 13 who had attempted Everest. They found brain damage in virtually every Everest climber but also in many climbers of lesser peaks who returned unaware that they had injured their brain. It seems that climbers of high mountains, whether weekend warrior or seasoned professional, face returning from the high peaks with a brain that is not in the same condition it was in beforehand.”  (link)

So sometimes when we say this guy who had gone for high-altitude training is out of his mind, is, actually quite true.  So that is why those in fighting in the high-altitude mountainous regions are doing it almost autonomously may be out of sheer madness or simply a numbed skull.

So, my advice to those who either volunteer or got volunteered to do high altitude training to get enough equilibrium in term of atmospheric pressure to prevent fluids from leaking out of their brain (not sure if this is reversible by drinking lots of water, as certain health official seemed to state this whenever fluid or electrolytes are lost).  So sad.

For those into high altitude parachuting, maybe the aircraft cabin should open at the very last minute as opposed to prolonged period of hatch opening “to acclimatise” , so as to avoid too much fluid leaking from your brain.  It is rather similar to a diver surfacing rapidly and exeperiencing the “divers bend” of gaseous bubbling out of your bloodstream.  Something like opening a can of gassy (carbonated) drink with bubbles bubbling out and especially even so if you shake the can.  Thus vigorous movement like inside a plane at high-altitude (non-pressurized) will perhaps cause more bubbling and brain fluid leaking than you can take, and maybe this could be disastrous if the brain “blank out” during a parachute jump for example.   I remember when I was a Juzhaigou nature reserve in Szechuan, in 2006, at about 3.5km altitude, we were told to move slowly to prevent altitude sickness.  The younger ones, usually the gung-ho type would do otherwise.   Perhaps there is a common wisdom to that.  Even the sherpas guides move at a leisurely pace.  Less physical activities at high-altitude and pressure equilibrium whenever possible to protect your brain…  unless you do not intend to use after them after the adventure or mis-adventure.  Likewise, cold weather will constrict your blood vessels and your heart pumps harder.  Recently a guy went running at 10 degree celcius after arriving from a tropical country and suffered a heart attack.  Again, proper attire and equipment are needed to remain healthy in different climate and atmospheric pressure.   So the word “acclimatisation” should be factored in properly.   Staying too long in such unnecessary “acclimatisation” for stupid reasons,  without proper attire and equipment, deteriorates both your performance and health.

I think this is a rather commonsense approach.  Do reproach me if you think this is wrong. Do a brain-scan first.

Anyway, from a statistical point of view, countries with huge populations can afford to have full-time mountaineers who sort of have a “death wish” to die in the mountains where they spent so much of their time.  However, here in Singapore, many of us have a fulltime job and to goat people to do extreme adventures or sports need to consider whether these people will be able to get back to their normal job in good shape and not in pieces.  Here the people needs to do many things and not like the full time mountaineers who can afford not to.

Take Care!

Mikey

Looking for Water on the Moon? What’s the real deal?

NASA is not getting more and more ridiculous.  In fact what they are doing make sense.   At least to some weirdo powerful figure or organisation out there.   Some say is a splinter group in a powerful country with great military might (almost like a GI Joe command) is gathering momentum to “save” the earth by destroying those that they see as “evil” or not their kind.  This is dangerous and evil in itself.    After all the world is being destroyed from all the power struggles where oil had commanded a lucrative lifestyle that who would want to dispose of to other better energy alternatives than do not provide the same lifestyles currently enjoyed by the “minorities”.

The bombardment of the moon for water actually cater to various interest groups to promote their self interest.  For one, the militaries around the world would be interested to see how accuracy a bomb could be delivered by satellite that almost looks like a metorite falling from space.  Wow! that would be great.  Anyway, so many internet website and news thought this could be a weapon test anyway  (link).  Falling from space, of course, these bombs could be rendered radioactive from “space”. …. so we have to watch out for future space falling objects besides those obsolete satellites that are suppose to disintegrate upon entering the atmosphere.

So if there are water on the moon, certain loony organization (probably the startrek die-hard fan0 would probably want to live there by firstly destroying the earth and which they had been doing diligently so over the years whether directly or indirectly.

The recent series of typhoons and earthquakes are evident of “indiscriminate” undersea oil drillings that warm the seawater, intensifying the speed of wind over warm surface water to reach their full gale force. Likewise, the undersea oil drilling, which had been increased with the call for more and larger oil-drilling ships had led to greater rupture of the earth surface.  Of course, being underwater, who can detect these undoings.  It is so easy to deploy and  hide a submersible like those we see in the National Geographic shows.  While we marvel and get transfixed at the undersea creatures and even urchins doing it, the drillings goes on quietly in the background.

The latest “Taboo II” show on OKTO channel last week feature of transgender bender issues that continually helped the populace to be remain transfixed on these issues while the actual world power struggle easily slip into the background.  We should sympathise and not exploit these people.  In a normal circumstance, it doesn’t mean anything.  In Thailand, they are everywhere but unfortunately that particular show which featured transgender people from Samao happens to so coincidentally “coincide” with the gigantic earthquake and tsunami which hit Samao island  a week ago   I am not sure if it was “timed” with a “natural” disaster but it sure  gives credence or rather more resolute for people doing other things like, maybe quake generation, in the form of more powerful undersea explosion in the guise of oil exploration but back in their the “affirmation” to rid the world of such people but which would actually benefit the others, like oil companies to move oil deposits from region to region via the bernoilli effect and etc .   Here we are in the country, trying to give everyone a decent chance to living and yet due to the perceived wealth, it also attracted alot of different groups especially extremists who would use the media to propagate their “demented” view for wanting of ensure that their “specialization” remain viable and employable for ulterior motives.  Thus there would be more and more spins to ensure their relevancy.

OKTO show may have certain ideas to do certain shows, maybe to do good but  unfortunately there are probably other evil-intentions and hidden agendas which is not so apparent to the masses. Not many people read widely nowadays  or what they read are written by “uneducated” people anyway.  Alternative views and readings are not really encourage either.  This is our undoings.

Anyway, who care? … afterall, everyone is mostly only concern about the livelihood and the current, sorry, i mean continually world recession continue to blackmail people to do things against their conscience to exploit people different from them whether real or perceived; in fact; those who are really far more superior than them and could help them get out of the present predicament.  It is akin to a pack of wolves attacking a rabiit.  I try not to use the world “sheep” for it conjure other meaning to different groups too that affirm to the use of “natural” disaster to destroy or enslave people.  If the Philippines were serious in getting their country of their poverty cycle they should hire MM Lee, at least, as a consultant  to run the country.  But this is perhaps only a dream since their dead-lock bureaucracy would ensure that there would be not way out.  No offense to the Pinoy please!  We care about your country people.

So like the 70’s  science-fiction TV series Space: 1999 where in the pilot episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the moon explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocked the moon out of its orbit and sending it and the 311 inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha hurtling uncontrollably into outer space.

So maybe we could store nuclear waste on the moon in the future but not really feasible given the fact the sometimes the rockets could disintegrate upon launching and thus littering the earth with radioactive waste.  But to knock or move  the moon slightly out of its orbit may actually seemed feasible with powerful nuclear explosion and thus generating greater and higher tidal seasons and flooding etc to influence the global population demographics .    Anyway, the rate of polar cap melting is already accelerating at enormous speed partly from oil exploration and partly from opening of polar route for naval navigation for both military strategists (submarine navigation beneath the ice) and also as an alternative oil transportation route.  Of course, these could be hasten for those cult organisation hoping to see the world ends even quicker for their own salvation.

So like what Naom Chomsky said we are indeed culpable of our actions .  However, most of the time we are just helpless and simply dull our senses or to attack the “helpless” to feel good ourselves or simply to feed ourselves.  It is as simple as that.

Not really.  The typhoons and earthquakes backlashes will set us back manifolds.  The Chile earthquake of 9.5 Richter in 1960…

Take Care!

Mikey

Check your coffee maker please!

This morning, I told my wife that I would be making gourmet coffee which I had bought from a friend for charity sale.   I had eagerly anticipating to savcur the fine gourmet coffee and started to find where  I had stashed my old coffee maker.  In fact, I have two coffee maker: one using the paper filter  and another using the metal filter.  Carine had place the paper filter one onto the kitchen table top but I preferred to use the metal filter since they would be less inconvenient and found in most cafes in our country. 

However, before using the old coffee make (which I had last used  a year ago) when my health sort of deteriorated for unknown reasons, and was stashed away, I decided to clean the utensil before making a good cuppa.  Having cleaned the rusty metal holder (to hold the stainless steel filter), I proceed to make a cup of “freshly brewed” plain water (without the coffee powder) to see if there are any dirt or rust coming out from the internal water heater which we could not reach or see in using such utensils.

Whenthe first cup of super-heated boiled water emerged from the filter, I was aghast to see so much particles residing at the bottom of my cup.

Having pour away much of the water, if you look closely, you can find all sort of particles, ranging from rust to metal flaks from coatings that had came off during the thermal processes.   I tried a second cup and again, I detected not only the rust and scales but also the metal flaks most like  from the deteriorating thermal housing or the metal filter holder.

Imaging having all these in our stomach.  No wonder there are some much stomach cancer around.  It is often not only the food but also the utensils that we use and the cooking processes that goes with it.  If  I had not inspected the coffee make and checking the residue using plain water, I would not be able to detect the deteriorated conditions of aging utensils that deplete their coated metals onto our food intake.  This also goes to unsafe coating used in our wok and other cooking utensils that raves about their non-stick capabilities.  But how long would their non-stick material remain in those pans and pots and end up in our stomach.  Is there any local authoritative voice out there to educate the masses for this.  Looks like we are more focus on the business end like providing cancer care when preventive medicine would be a better solution in the first place.

So for this morning, I have to shelf my plans to enjoy a simple home-brew and  we end up buying a cup of coffee from the coffee shop below our flat, using the traditional cotton filter.

We should always ensure that the coffee maker that we use are of better quality with metal coatings that do not comes off easily.  Maybe the cheaper ones are really made of inferior material or that there wasn’t really a expiry date for this sort of utensils or any utensils at all.  Not even a simple health warning.

So the question, now is how do we know whether that coffee maker you have in your office for private or mass usages are safe indeed.  Likewise, the preference for using metal filters in the popular cafe instead of the traditional socks (cotton filter) is also something to think about.

I am glad that those traditional coffee makers are still around providing us with more choices to brew a fine and healthy cup of coffee.

I may also consider using the simple stainless steel percolators  like the Vietnamese.

So all you coffee connoisseur out there, do give a thought about the utensils you are using for your next brew.

Cheers!

Mikey

Please extend Yellow line safety distance at open MRT station platform now

Again and again we read of people, especially the elderly who accidently fall from the open MRT platform onto the tracks. Some survive while others could have sustained internal injuries given the height.  Today (21 Sep 2009), there is another incident. A 61-YEAR-OLD man fell onto the MRT tracks at the Dover station on Sunday morning after suffering a dizzy spell but he was pulled to safety by SMRT staff after commuters raised the alarm. (link)

So rather than to wait in anticipation and trepidation for the phased installations of barriers at the various open platforms, let’s have some interim measures.  Why not simply just move the safety Yellow Line further back from its present “unsafe” safety distance.  It must have been designed by some dim-witted engineer or perhaps even relegated to some outsourced contractor to decide where to paint the Yellow safety line.

Maybe one of those high and mighty MRT official should do a simple experiment, that is to drink a few glasses of alcoholic  drinks or even some medications prescribed by the GP for flu or cough and try to stay balanced near the Yellow line.

Of course, those high and mighty MRT personnel, especially the design engineers or architects who probably take the MRT once in a while for showmanship can always say: “Why these stupid elderly stand so near the Yellow line when they are unwell or have taken some medication.  So stupid!”

Of course, these high and mighty officials do not realise that many of the MRT seats inside the train had been removed to ensure both viability (not to be construed as profitability) to herd people from point A to point B.

Of course, these elderly people have to stay put near to the Yellow Line to ensure that they can be the first in to find the already dwindling seats available for them.  So even if they are not well they have to persist in doing so and the Yellow line being just half-a-step from the track becomes a death trap for these “slowly-dementia-lised people”.

I always tell my kids to use their common sense and stay away from the Yellow line especially during rush hours when any pushing and shoving can make anyone lose their balance and fall onto the track.  The is simply no space to accommodate anyone falling, whether be from dizziness or shoving.   The mindless babbling from the MRT control stations actually contribute to the dizziness.

I have earlier wrote about the Yellow safety line in Tokyo, Japan is further away.

However, I guess some wise ass would probably search for some obscure or remote places where the Yellow linescloser to the track so as to vindicate themselves from any their  “mindless” design.  So childish indeed.

For commuters, I can only say:

Take Care

Mikey

Previous posts:

A.  Metal Railing at MRT Platform to prevent accidental falling (25 Mar 2009)

B.  So the Japan MRT yellow safety line is further back than ours!!!! (26 Apr 2009)

Many Plastic Shoes Toxic – Swedish Study

Hi.  If you have trouble conceiving, I may be of help.  Well, you see, a Swedish study have found that many plastic shoes, or should I say, sandals, contains toxic material that affect your health:

In its study titled “Chemicals Up Close“, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SNCC) found “disturbing concentrations” of harmful chemicals in a variety of plastic-based flip-flops, sandals, clogs, and other shoes.

The SNCC tested 27 shoes sent by partner groups from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Tanzania, Sweden, and Uganda; and found high levels of phthalates in 17 shoes.

Phthalates (pronounced “thalates”) are chemicals used to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic.

The chemicals are widely believed to cause health complications like infertility and testicular problems among men, endocrine disorders, birth problems, and even cancer. (link) (link) (pdf)

I actually found this article from a Philippines news website, that also pointed to some unsafe plastic shoes in the Philippines. besides the other mostly improvished countries mentioned.  This is responsible and objective journalism.

Anyway, we have our powerful Environment and Health ministries to keep an vigilant eye on these IMPORTANT issues, like environment and health.  I can bet my last dollar that they will do something about it like giving the public more information, for a start, and then maybe a list, telling which product is contains possible harmful substance, in accordance to the free trade agreements.

I never knew that plastic shoes could be family planning tool!  I always thought it could be the water supply, food products and maybe improper GMA food.  Anyway, most of the plastic sandals are giving the next generation, a flat feet with their flat design.  There goes our running ability as well.

Good Grief!

Now, where are my old rubber sandals ?

Mikey