Discovery Magazine

Tennis

2007-09-07T03:38:00.001-07:00

This is a lens on tennis, a popular game in the world which lots have played. it teaches some basic skills of tennis, as well as having some youtube video's, which are very cool. it also recommends a series of tennis video instructions. Please digg it!!

read more | digg story

2007-08-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is a form of medicine based around the use of plants and their extracts. The concoctions used in herbal medicine have been shared from generation to generation. As a result, the use of herbal medicine in order to cure ailments is a longstanding one that has been used around the world. Amazingly, herbal medicine concoctions have been found among cave paintings dating as far back as 13,000 to 25,000 BC.

Actually, the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind is herbal medicine. Before pharmacies ever existed, people used plants to cure and treat illnesses and injuries. Plants were one of the most important things to man millions of years ago. They helped feed him, shelter him, clothe him and provided healthcare. It is thought that people learned which plants were poisonous based on how the animals around them acted after eating the plant. Even today, according to the World Health Organization estimates, around eighty percent of the world's population, a whopping four billion people, uses herbal medicine for some form of their healthcare needs.

The reason plant chemicals have an effect on us is partly, because all living things are composed of families of related organic compounds. Proteins, enzymes, vitamins, sugars and poisons from plants are bound to have some effect. Plant chemical, when applied to humans, mimics its normal reaction inside the parent plant. Take antibiotics, in plants they are specifically evolved to ward off bacteria and fungi, and they do exactly the same in animals. Plant chemicals that inhibit parasites and tumours in plants have been found to have the same effect on humans.

Currently, there are three types of herbal medicine commonly practiced in the United States. These practices are Ayurvedic, which is based out of India, Chinese herbology and Western herbalism based on ancient Greek and Roman practices. All three of these types of herbal medicine are steeped in ancient tradition have are practiced by millions of people. Ayurvedic is still commonly used in India and the President of India has is own personal physicians that practice this form of medicine while Chinese medicine is also still practiced by many of the country’s doctors.

Many different alternative therapies such as acupuncture, oriental and homeopathy also have some sort of herbal component to them. Pharmaceutical companies use herbal components in some of their products as well. As an example, aspirin contains white willow bark. Therefore, plants actually pay a large part in medicine, and they are sometimes essential. When there is destruction to the rainforest areas, we may never know if we have lost a plant that was a cure for a disease.

People are becoming more interested in herbs as medicines, because they feel these are safer alternatives to a lot of the pharmaceutical drugs which have so many side effects. The truth is, though, plants are powerful medicines and need to be respected as such. Before taking any herbal medicine, it is important to check with your doctor or herbalist; because some herbs can interfere with medicines you may currently be taking. Also, not all plants medicines may be right for your particular condition.

In order to use an herbal remedy, the practitioner can follow a few different methods. One popular way to ingest herbal remedies is soaking the herb in hot water in order to drink it as a tea. Herbs can also be mixed into food or swallowed as a capsule. In some cases, the essential oils may be removed from the plant in order to use it for aromatherapy.

The use of herbal medicine has been in practice since ancient times. Since these remedies are still proving themselves to be effective, they will likely still be in use for thousands of years longer.

I have found a book about herbal medicines which is very good. I highly recommend it. If you are interested, Click Here!

2007-07-07T02:53:00.000-07:00

The White Rose is a resistant group in Nazi Germany run by Hans Scholl, his sister Sophie Scholl and close friends Christoph Probst, Willi Graf and Alexander Schmorell. The group published leaflets that denounces the Nazi Government and spoke all its evils. At that time, such propaganda would receive a death sentence, but the group carried on. They posted the leaflets in mailboxes all across Munich, gave them out in schools and distributed them in the streets. The group borrowed a studio from a painter, and cranked out leaflets endlessly. Then, they gave them to the public. This went on for quite a long while, until a small mistake led to them being caught.

On the 18^th February, 1943, Hans and Sophie went to Munich University with a suitcase stuffed with what would be their last leaflets. They quickly put stacks on leaflets behind classroom doors, throughout the corridors and on windowsills. When they were about to go, Sophie found out that there were some leaflets left. She hastily threw them down to the first floor, but the timing was wrong. Students had already come out of their lecture rooms. Jakob Schmied, a custodian who was loyal to the Nazi Party, saw them and locked the university doors. They submitted to him and were arrested by the Gestepo, who took them to court. They were questioned for seventeen hours as the Gestepo wanted to make an example out of them. Sophie Scholl said during the hearing “What does my death matter if by our action thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?”

On February 22, 1943, they were put on trial. After three and a half hours, the court pronounced them guilty. They were beheaded immediately. Before he was beheaded, Hans shouted “Long live freedom”. This brave action would be sure to stay in peoples hears to know. In front of the Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich, a monument commences them to this day. Anyway, although they are dead, their legacy lives on.

2007-06-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

Gynecomestia

Gynecomestia (male breasts or man boobs) is usually considered as a disease on account of which extra muscles forms into certain parts of the breast. Gynecomestia leads to the swollen of the parts of the breasts which gets affected by Gynecomestia. Gynecomestia generally is found to affect the male generation usually during the stage of adolescence, basically during 14 year of age. Besides the young adolescent being affected by the disease, Gynecomestia also affects the older generation of people. It is because of this disease of Gynecomestia, it is generally found that the males who suffers from it, doesn’t want to show their bare body. It is estimated out here that nearly 40% to 60% of the male generation suffers from this disease of Gynecomestia.

There are certain basic causes of Gynecomestia. Some of the most common causes of Gynecomestia are obesity, disorders in the generic system, tumors, ageing, puberty, medicinal side effects. In this context it can be found that Gynecomestia generally affects the male generation when they reach the stage of puberty that is found basically during the adolescence. Sometimes, certain medicine also causes Gynecomestia. Besides these causes, it has also been estimated that injury in the spinal cord is also a concerned cause of Gynecomestia.

Luckily, Gynecomestia can be overcome by many things, such as plastic surgery, special exercise and diet programs and man boobs reduction pills. However, these all have their ups and downs.

The main problem of plastic surgery is the cost. Gynecomastia surgery costs at least 4000 dollars and if you go to a professional company it will cost much more. It is also not covered by many medical insurance companies as it is considered a cosmetic condition and not a medical one. Also, there are a lot of risks involved in Gynecomastia surgery. If this doesn't go well, you may end up with scars, bumps or dents on your chest. There may even be a need for a second surgery to correct what the first missed. Finally, Gynecomstia is a painful procedure. You have to know this in advance.

For special exercise and diet plans, there have been cases in which a special and dedicated exercise and diet plan helped sufferers of man boobs to get rid of their man boobs. Some patients that have recovered published special programs in order to eliminate man boobs. If you're willing to spend some time and effort, you can get excellent results.

Finally, mans boobs reduction pills seem to fare quite well. They have been widely used during the past few years and have no reported cases of side effects. Gynecomestia thus is considered as a major concern of those who suffers from it. Gynecomestia is a disease which is only found to affect the male population either old or whether they be at the stage of puberty. But however, the matter can be relieved with the option of surgery on the basis of which the Gynecomestia can be removed and the male can thus show off their bare body rather than hiding it behind the shirt and the t-shirt.

By the way, I have a Squidoo lens called http://www.squidoo.com/malebreasts/. Visit it to find more information! Also, I strongly recommend a book by Cliff Manchester, which is very popular. He has suffered from Gynecomestia himself, and this book teaches you a lot about it. To buy it,
Click Here!

2007-06-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

Sun Protection

Overexposure to the sun and UV rays is rarely obvious at the time, -- and on many occasions, probably quite unintentional. However repeated exposure has rather more adverse long-term implications for our bodies and our health.

The sun’s rays are actually a major source of vitamin D and help the body’s systems acquire much needed calcium for building healthy bones. However, most people don’t need to spend large amounts of time exposed to the sun in order to get their required amount of vitamin D.

In fact, the body’s health can actually suffer negative effects when it’s exposed too long to the sun’s rays, especially if it’s unprotected. Results can vary from skin and eye damage to immune system suppression and ultimately cancer, even for the young.

There are three kinds of invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays in the sun that reaches earth: UVA, UVB, and UVC. When these rays come in contact with our skin, affects of UVA and UVB can be - tans, burns and other reactions (e.g. like acne and cancer).

It’s also notable that the effects of all UV rays are not the same. Depending upon the season, time of day and place on the planet in relation to the sun - (i.e. your altitude and latitude), the rays’ intensities vary. For example, during summertime, UV rays are at their strongest. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the rays are strongest. And close to the equator and at high altitudes (where air and cloud cover are less, resulting in increased harmful penetration of UV rays into the environment), the rays are also strongest.

The damage that occurs beneath the skin as a result of sunburn is considerably ‘less obvious’ at the time of exposure, and could take years to produce symptoms visible to the naked eye.

The fact that damage caused to skin cells during sunburn can not only accelerate the aging process, but also increase the risk of cataracts and skin cancer, should certainly demand our attention.

When faced with the potential risk of having to treat more than just the temporary symptoms and pain of sunburn, doesn’t it make more sense to avoid the risk in the first place? Therefore, seek prevention rather than cure!

When you are going out on a sunny day, remember these tips to have healthy skin even after tanning for quite a long period:

1. Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeve shirt and a hat. Consider the ‘additional’ protection of an umbrella or shade where appropriate.

2. Avoid sun exposure between 10 am and 3 pm if at all possible.

3. Remember that UV rays are present even on cloudy days.

4. Remember that sunlight is strongly reflected from sand, snow, ice, water and concrete, which can intensify your direct sunlight exposure.

5. Apply sunscreen containing a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, at least 15 minutes before going out into the sun.

6. Reapply sunscreen at regular intervals while out in the sun, especially if you are perspiring heavily or swimming.

7. Remember that UV overexposure is not limited to ‘sun exposure’. Sunburn can also occur as a result of UV exposure from other sources including tanning beds/lamps, welding arcs etc.

Prevention is a far better treatment than cure. In the event however, that you discover any unusual moles or growths on your skin – (particularly if they’re irregular in shape, bleed, itch, or appear to be changing) - consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

After following the tips above, it is sure that you will have healthy skin and a happy life.

Just a word, I highly recommend Sungazing 101 by Greg Aurand. It contains a lot of helpful information about sun protection. To get more info,

Click Here!

2007-06-12T03:44:00.000-07:00

Dog Training Tips

Dog training may be frustrating, as there are many problems to be faced. Your dog may not listen to you, and you may even not know what to do. Here are some useful tips:

1) Always use the same command. 'Come' is recommended by many because it is simple to use and is unlike any other command word. Remember your dog will not understand 'get over here' if you usually say 'come'.

2) Never scold or punish your dog. Dogs have few cognitive reasoning skills, if any. This means that hitting or yelling at your dog will most likely result in confusion for your pet and not correction. So even if you are frustrated, don't ever hit, smack, or abuse your pet either physically or verbally.

3) Train your dog on a consistent schedule, as they would respond more positively. When they know you better, they would recognize training time and begin to like it. Therefore, it is best to keep a schedule instead of doing it in irregularly.

4) Your body language is important too. A dog stands stiff legged and looks into the eyes of another dog to be aggressive and threatening. You will find it much more effective to crouch or bend, slap your legs and don't make eye contact. Keep your voice high pitched and cheerful. Your dog may come to you without you giving the command word when you adopt this position.

5) Finally, an adult dog that doesn't come on command has already learnt that the command word is meaningless. It is much easier to choose a different word than to try and correct a corrupted one. Choose 'here', 'to me' or any other simple word that you fancy!

It's no secret that it takes awhile for your dog to get completely crate trained. Dog house training tip successfully means making the commitment to keep control of your puppy even during the night time. This means lugging that hard plastic or wire cage crate into your bedroom at night.

Just a final word, I highly recommend “Dog Obedience Training Secrets to STOP Your Dog’s Behavior Problems!” by Daniel Stevens. It just costs a mere $26.14 and has a lot of information about dog training. It has a very high popularity rate and many people have succeeded after reading it. It is really worth the price. To buy it , click on the link:
Click Here!

2007-05-24T02:22:00.000-07:00

BODY PIERCING

Body piercing has become such a popular form of body modification it has become almost mainstream, with more and more people sporting navel rings and multiple ear rings. Facial piercing, surface piercing and lots of others to choose from can make things confusing. Between five and ten percent of the population of the United States has indulged in at least one form of it at some time in their lives. In most cases, once a person gets a body piercing, they follow the first one with more. There are lots of considerations; however, for making sure that your body piercing is done safely so that you don’t end up with either an infection or a poorly done piercing that could leave an unsightly scar.

Body piercing also costs a large sum of money. The cost of a body piercing varies depending on several factors, including where you’re located, how close to a major city you are, and what kind of piercing you’re having done. Generally, the more difficult the piercing, the higher the cost. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for as well, so don’t depend entirely upon cost to choose your place for body piercing. If a company is charging significantly under the market cost in your area, he may be cutting corners in areas he shouldn’t, such as sterilization and other safety procedures.

On average, the cost of piercing fall somewhere in these ranges:

Ears (lobes, cartilage, etc.).....anywhere from $25-$50
Navel...................................$45-$55
Tongue.................................$45-$55
Labret..................................$50-$60
Eyebrow................................$40-$50
Nipple...................................$45-$55
Nostril..................................$45-$55

Genital..................................$75-$100

The procedure for a good body piercing is not as easy as it seems. First, it must be done in a good piercing studio. A good body piercing studio must first and foremost be clean, clean, and clean! The most common cause of infectionof piercing is exposure to germs, so look for a piercing parlor that is very strict about its cleanliness and sterilization procedures. They should have a separate room where nothing else is done but piercing.

They should always have an operational autoclave, which is a wet steam sterilization unit that is to be used to clean and sterilize all tools and equipment used during piercing. They should also pierce only with single-use, disposable needles that are pre-wrapped. Ask them if this is what they use, and insist that the needles not be opened until they are actually ready to do your piercing so that you can confirm they are sterile-wrapped.

Look for experience and qualifications. Have all the piercers been through an apprenticeship program? If so, for how long did they train and where? Also make sure they are licensed to operate a piercing studio by their state’s department of health. In most states this is now mandatory. Also check the date to make sure it isn’t expired. Finally, look for a certificate of membership in a professional society such as the Association of Professional Piercers, an organization that supports safe and professional piercing practices and offers extensive ongoing training.

With properly gloved hands, your piercer will then check the area you want pierced to determine if you are really a candidate for the type of body piercing you’re seeking. In some cases, he may tell you that the conditions aren’t appropriate.

For instance, if there is damage to the cartilage or heavy scarring in the area you want pierced. He will also tell you if you have a current cut or skin condition that means you should postpone piercing. If this is the case, in order to protect your health and prevent possible problems down the line, he will not go any farther with the procedure. If everything looks fine, he’ll tell you so.

He’ll change to a fresh pair of gloves after having handled your skin to examine the area.
He will clean the area to be pierced with an antibacterial solution.
He will mark the area to be pierced with a sterile, disposable marker.
You’ll have the opportunity to check the marking (in a mirror if necessary) before he proceeds to the piercing stage.
He will ask you if you are ready for the piercing procedure and allow you a moment to get comfortable.
He will arrange his tools at hand and open the sterile package with the piercing needle.

And now, you’re ready for the real deal –- the piercing itself!

The basic procedure is the same for most piercings, but all piercers have their own way of handling the process. Some piercers will clamp the area with forceps to stabilize the area before putting the needle through, while others prefer to use a steady hand and their own eyes to guide the needle. If the person being pierced seems like they may flinch, it is more likely the forceps or surgical pliers of some type will be used to steady the area and hold the skin in place. This doesn’t hurt, and is simply to make sure you don’t get a crooked placement.

When the needle is lined up with the marking, the piercer will ask one last time if you are ready, and then quickly push the needle through. Some piercers use a cork as a backing, others don’t. This usually only takes a moment and feels like someone is pinching the skin hard. In most cases, the build-up to the moment is far worse than the actual piercing. Areas that are more sensitive include the genital area and the bridge of the nose.

After the needle is removed, the starter jewelry is immediately put into place. One of the most important things to know about starter jewelry is that it is being put into an open wound, which is what a fresh piercing really is. Obviously, you don’t want your starter jewelry to be something that can cause an allergic reaction or infection. Also, never use cheap or base metals to get a body piercing. The best metals to use are titanium or surgical steel, both or which are essentially inert and won’t react with your body. In some cases, you can use high quality gold, but even this sometimes creates a reaction

Other materials are more likely to cause either an allergic reaction, rejection of the piercing by your body, or migration of the piercing.

Starter jewelry is generally a captive bead ring or barbell. The piercer will choose an appropriate size for the area that is slightly larger than what you would normally wear to allow for some swelling, which is normal for the first several days after a new piercing. He will screw the ends onto the new jewelry and make sure it is securely in place.

At this point, the piercer will remove this set of gloves and put on another fresh set, clean the area around the new piercing and examine it one last time. He will let you take a look at your new body jewelry while he explains the aftercare and any potential problems you should watch for. He will also give you a sheet of detailed aftercare instructions to take home with you.

Before you leave, take a few moments to relax either in the piercing room or the waiting room, as sometimes the adrenalin rush and its aftermath can leave you feeling a bit light-headed. Once you feel steady and sure of yourself, it is a good idea to get something like fruit juice to drink or a light snack. Your piercing is done!

A body piercing is, in the simplest terms, a puncture wound, so you want to use a high quality metal that won’t react with your body chemistry to create an allergic reaction or contaminate the open wound.

Never use cheap or base metals to get a body piercing. The best metals to use are titanium or surgical steel, both or which are essentially inert and won’t react with your body. In some cases, you can use high quality gold, but even this sometimes creates a reaction because of the nickel content, so do be cautious.

Once a piercing is completely healed, you have more leeway on what you can use, but if you are at all nickel sensitive, you will probably always have to stick with surgical steel and titanium for your body piercings, unless you are using alternatives such as glass, which is completely non-reactive and safe for nearly everyone.

After having body piercing, remember to keep your piercing clean. Clean it twice a day. Use a mild antibacterial soap that doesn’t have fragrances in it, such as Provon® Antimicrobial Lotion Soap or Satin® Therapeutic Skin Cleanser, both of which are approved by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). The best place to clean your piercing is usually in the shower, where the warm water will help you loosen and remove those crusts around the base of your jewelry. Use a cotton swab or a Kleenex to remove these, and then throw the swab or Kleenex away. Never use a washcloth –- these things are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria! The same for bath towels after your shower!

Then, with clean hands, gently cleanse the area with the soap and turn the jewelry so that the soap gets in the piercing and let this sit for a minute or two. After rotating it again, rinse thoroughly with warm, clear water. Make sure you get all of the soap out to prevent irritation. The rinsing is very important, so try to be thorough without irritating the area. It often helps to cup your hands and drizzle water over the area, since the shower stream can be a little too hard to aim directly on the area.

After cleansing, a sea salt soak helps to draw out any piercing infection and impurities while soothing the area and calming any inflammation that may be present. Mix about ¼ teaspoon of sea salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Using a disposable cup, soak the piercing in this for ten minutes the first time, and five minutes each time after that. If your piercing is in a location that makes this difficult, apply the solution with cotton swabs, tissues or some other disposable product that’s soft and clean. Never use a hankerchief, washcloth or any other item that is going to be reused.

Always pat the piercing dry with cotton balls, cotton swabs or tissues –- don’t rub them, pat them. This reduces irritation and possible tearing of the skin and helps promote healing. Although it seems to be a minor step, keeping the piercing dry is actually an essential part of piercing aftercare because it reduces the opportunities for bacteria to breed (they love a warm, moist place to play).

If sea salt soaks are inconvenient, try H2Ocean® Piercing Aftercare Spray. It is a pre-mixed sea salt solution containing lysozyme, a natural antibacterial that is gentle to the skin. Simply spray it on the area and allow it to drip dry; it’s easy to use because of their patent-pending compressed air delivery system that produces a fine mist. This product is guaranteed to heal navel piercing in only a month and a half if used regularly and is highly recommended by numerous piercing communities like BME and Prick magazine.

H2Ocean® also comes in a portable size for your pocket or purse, which makes piercing aftercare away from home easier. X-pressions Piercing Aftercare Spray is also available for both oral and non-oral body piercings and is a mild antibacterial solution with purified water in a non-aerosol, pump spray with a pleasant, peppermint flavor.

Once a day (not more often, because you’ll be unnecessarily irritating the area), check that the ends of your piercing jewelry are firmly screwed on. But wash your hands with antibacterial soap first.

If you love body modification, you may be considering piercing yourself. It’s really not a good idea for a number of reasons. If you want to try piercing, do it the right way -- become a fully trained, licensed professional. Without the proper training and an understanding of proper sterilization techniques you risk scarring, infection, and permanent damage to the area.

First, it is really too hard to keep the area in your own home (or wherever you happen to be) clean and sterile enough. You also may have trouble lining up and placing a piercing squarely where you want it, and if you lose your nerve half-way through the piercing, you’re stuck with it half done.

If you do it at home, you’ll probably do it on an impulse, which will mean you won’t have the right tools. Piercing needles are incredibly sharp in order to reduce the pain and make a good, clean cut. No matter how sharp that sewing needle is at home, it’s not as sharp as a piercing needle, so it will hurt more, bleed more, and may not heal as cleanly. Also, they cannot be sterilized properly. Even heating over an open flame (such as a lighter) will not kill all bacteria. The only guaranteed way to kill all germs is with an autoclave or by using packaged, sterile surgical needles. Even then, the entire area and all tools must be sterilized properly.

If you are truly interested in piercing, consider it not as a hobby or a momentary activity but as a career. Becoming an apprentice at a piercing parlor means learning proper technique and learning a trade at the same time, combining your interests with a way to make a living.

An apprentice usually trains for at least a year under a licensed, professional piercer learning all aspects of sterilization, piercing and customer service. In many states they are also required to take courses in first aid, blood borne pathogens, anatomy and other Health and Safety standards and practices. You will observe piercings and work with the sterilization process for several months before actually doing any piercings, but when you do pierce you will be doing it properly and professionally. A good place to find out more information is through the Association of Professional Piercers’ website at www.safepiercing.org.

Body piercing and wearing body jewelry should be an informed choice, not a snap decision. If you have been thinking about getting a body piercing, talk to others who have done the same and get their feedback. Ask them if they are happy with the results and for their suggestions on good piercing studios. Ask yourself if you’re ready for the commitment to proper care and the expense of a body piercing.

Remember that a body piercing is a form of body modification that will affect how others perceive you. Obviously, this is part of the appeal for most people. However, the reactions will be mixed, and you should keep in mind that while some people will love it, others will not. So think through the consequences of body piercing thoroughly before you proceed. Then, if you decide its right for you—follow the tips above for a safe, attractive body piercing you’ll be proud to wear!

2007-05-17T06:20:00.001-07:00

2007-05-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

Dear everyone, I have a new blog. The address is www.awordaweek.blogspot.com . It teaches you some English words once a week. Please come and visit it!!!

2007-05-15T02:35:00.000-07:00

Cordyceps
Cordyceps or Cordyceps Sinensis is a rare parasitic organism grows primarily on the Tibetan plateau at high altitudes of 14,000 feet. In Chinese, its name means ‘winter worm, summer grass’ or “caterpillar fungus.” It is natures cross marriage of the insect and plant kingdom. When it was first discovered about 2000 years ago the Chinese thought the herb was a worm. The fungus mushroom is a product from a type of fungus which parasites upon the larvae of the Chongcao bat moth and forms a fungus/larva composite body, and it takes five to seven years to complete its life cycle.
As part of the Chinese culinary delicacy, the cordyceps mushroom was used in soups and brews with pork and poultry. Due to its scarcity and high price, its use was reserved exclusively for the Emperor’s Palace in China. Cordyceps has been recognized for centuries and has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For generations, it has been considered the premier agent in the Chinese culture for restoring energy, improving the immune system, treating lung problems, improving resistance to stress, lowering cholesterol, improving stamina and strengthening kidney functions
The fungi has a worldwide distribution and most species have been described from Asia (notably China, Japan, Korea and Thailand). The genus has many anamorphs (asexual states), of which Beauveria (possibly including Beauveria bassiana), Metarhizium, and Isaria) are the better known, since these have been used in biological control of insect pests. Cordyceps species are particularly abundant and diverse in humid temperate and tropical forests.
Everyone from young to old can benefit from the cordyceps mushroom which is sold in all Chinese medicine shops. I strongly recommend the Life stream group’s cordyceps as they are truly natural and contain no extra preservatives. You can find more information on www.lifestreamgroup.com.

2007-04-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

Queen’s Pier
Queen’s Pier is one of the oldest piers in Hong Kong, and could be seen as a heritage site. However, the government wants to take it down for reclamation work, as with the Star Ferry Pier.
Queen’s Pier is quite small compared to others, but it is steeped in history. Built in 1957 on reclaimed land, it was built to replace a pier adjacent to the Mandarin Hotel. The structure consists of tiled concrete base and pillars and model after previous piers in the area. Stairs are located on the north side to allow ferry passengers to board and disembark.
It was formerly a ceremonial landing area for the British Royal Family visiting Hong Kong and for the Governor of Hong Kong landing or leaving Hong Kong. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II landed there in 1975, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales landed there in November 1989. It had a bond with the Hong Kong people too, as many of them had taken this pier many times. They say it is a pity to demolish it as it is very convenient and many famous people had taken foot on it.
Although modernizing Hong Kong is good, the government should also take heed and the heritage that it is demolishing. Soon, Hong Kong might be very advanced, but with its very important historical monuments gone. Therefore, I advice the government to consult the public before any demolishing project, and balancing the history of Hong Kong and the modernization of it.

2007-04-22T03:33:00.000-07:00

Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery is also often called cosmetic surgery and has become a widespread method to reshape the body and to help to improve the appearance. It includes a wide range of operations ranging from abdominoplasty to with eye surgery and face lifting. Besides plastic surgery deals even more vitally important spheres, like for example repair damages caused by some accidents or injuries. It is well promoted and rather expensive but still carriers certain risks, like any other type of operation. One of the risks of plastic surgery, which people really don't want to consider at all, is that the surgery itself may not bring the desired results that you're looking for. There is always the possibility that the surgery will not go well and you won't look any better than before you had it. Also, most people who have done it once will return for more. This is because they feel constantly unsatisfied with the results and want to be more beautiful, in which they pay more and more. The money could have used for some better needs, like really supporting their health. This however, does not relieve your liability of having to pay the plastic surgeon's bill. And since most plastic surgery is elective surgery, this will usually come out of your own pocket. There are no guarantees that plastic surgery will work. Another risk of plastic surgery is the anesthesia. Some people have adverse reactions to be put under, and there is a risk of not going to come out of it. Again, this is something that most people don't want to think about.
Even if the surgery goes well, there is always going to be pain and swelling immediately after the surgery. In some cases, the pain is great enough that the patient has to be put in pain killers. With any type of medication, especially pain killers, there is always the risk of adverse reactions to the pain killers. Plus, there can always be complications post surgery. While people want to think of plastic surgery as minor surgery, surgery is just that, surgery, and any time you take a knife to part of a person's body, there is risk involved. For example, patients, who decide to make some dental operations, are put at great risks. People who go through a number of plastic operations are often still not satisfied with the result and start doing other procedures, which is of course not the best way to influence the state of the body: many people, who are overweight turn to special operations, but after the fat is gone they face the problem of lots of hanging skin.
Also, people are surrounded by advertisements of healthy and safe plastic surgery. These ads are not true at all, as plastic surgery carries a risk, no matter which method. This is because it actually changes the shape of your body, which might turn into disaster. If you really want to have plastic surgery, choose a trustworthy surgeon for it. There are many contributing factors to a good surgeon. The first step is to interview the surgeons about their medical training and experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about where they went to school or where they did their internships and residencies. If you want to look into a doctor's credentials a bit further, and find out about any past or pending malpractice judgments or disciplinary actions, just call, visit or log on to the website of your state or city’s medical association.
Each doctor’s individual practice should be looked at carefully. You should speak with former patients, ask about any recent negative outcomes, talk to the medical staff and check out the doctor’s business ethics record. Keep the doctor’s actual patient pool in mind too. If you discover that the doctor performs primarily cosmetic procedures or laser hair removal, you may wish to extend your search if you are contemplating eye surgery or a complex reconstruction of some kind.
If your doctor works in a clinic, you can check out its rating to government websites to find out what you need to know. His ability and privileges can also be checked if he works in a hospital.
Although plastic surgery can be very attractive, there are many factors to be decided before undergoing it. Therefore, you should do all the procedures mentioned above and take note of the risks before having the operation.

2007-04-20T00:52:00.001-07:00

Add to Onlywire

2007-04-13T02:53:00.000-07:00

2007-04-13T02:46:00.000-07:00

I have a technorati blog. Please come and visit it. The address is:Technorati Profile . Get the message rolling too. Thanks!

2007-04-13T02:30:00.000-07:00

Snoring

Sleeping soundly is a very precious value for many people. After a tiring day of work, study or doing household chores, it is a good reward to have a good rest at night. This is why when bedtime comes we do not want anything to bother us. However, when snoring becomes a problem, it is an entirely different matter. This is where you must find ways to put an end to your snoring problems.

Snoring may be harmless, but it can also be a symptom of a life- threatening sleep disorder called sleep apnea, especially if it is accompanied by severe daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea, or pauses in breathing while sleeping, preventing air flow, reduces oxygen levels and strains the heart and cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. People with sleep apnea awaken frequently during the night. Obesity can also contribute to sleep apnea.

To put an end to your snoring problems, elevate your head. People snore because they have difficulty in breathing when they sleep. The air passages that should be kept open for easy breathing may be less relaxed when you sleep. This is due to the weight of the chest pressing to the passages when you are lying down. Thus, elevating the head when you sleep can improve the breathing and result to less snoring. Sleep on two or more pillows that will be comfortable for you.

Another way to put and end to your snoring problems is to lose weight. The snoring problem is also very common among overweight people. They tend to snore more because their bodies become more suppressing to their respiratory system. Too much weight can result to a larger circumference in the neck area. Thus, there is more weight pressing on the air passage. Reducing your current weight will definitely improve the condition of sleep.

Smoking is another culprit. It causes the air passages to be irritated. The smoke and irritants can make the tissues in your throat swell and affect your easy breathing. Quit smoking to put an end to your snoring problems. You can gradually observe your snoring problem to disappear. You also need more oxygen to facilitate in the healthy respiratory system you need.

There are also many products that claim to help snoring. They include the nasal strip , which is said to help the snorer breathe more easily through the nose. Another popular product is an aromatherapy mixture of oil, which can be inhaled, or alternatively, applied directly to the snorer's skin. Other products include the anti-snorer pillow, which claims to stop snoring by fixing the bad posture of snorers while sleeping. Some also include magnetic features. A homeopathic product is also common. The ingredients it to stop snoring are based on substances that if they were administered to a non-snorer that they would actually produce symptoms very similar to those of snorers. One such product claiming to stop snoring is SnoreStop Extinguisher.

You should consider consulting a doctor to put an end to your snoring problems. It is also a good idea to consult a doctor to resolve your situation. A specialist can diagnose any deeper problem that may cause the snoring. This will end the speculations that will get you nowhere. Just make sure you ask for a second opinion if a physician suggests a surgery. The doctor can also recommend some effective stop snoring aids that you can use.

Sleeping peacefully is very important. This ensures that you get the proper rest to prepare you for the new day ahead. Be sure that you get enough sleep. Find the right options to put an end to your snoring problems.

2007-04-12T21:58:00.001-07:00

Hair Loss
Hair loss is very common nowadays, and many middle-aged people have the problem. As we get older, both men and women would like to look as good as they feel. Keeping a youthful appearance is a natural desire and when hair loss becomes a reality, finding a solution that will make a person feel more secure about the way they look is an understandable priority.

Significant hormonal changes are often one of the main causes of hair loss especially sudden hair loss. Postpartum hair loss is very common with many women experiencing hair loss up to several months after pregnancy. Similarly, menopause brings with it changes to a woman's hormonal system that can often lead to hair loss.

In order to treat hair loss effectively, a diagnosis made as soon as possible by an experienced trichologist. Close examination of the hair and a thorough check of your medical history will allow the trichologist to diagnose hair loss correctly and recommend the correct treatment. The four most common treatments are the application of topical mendicants with the purpose of stopping any further hair loss and encouraging the re-growth of new hair. Another popular one is internally-taken medication, both natural and pharmaceutical. Then, there is Hair loss treatment category three is surgical intervention, which would include hair transplants and grafts. Although extremely costly, surgical interventions are often the best hair loss treatment option as they are relatively safe and usually very effective as a permanent hair loss solution. Finally, there are cosmetic hair treatment solutions, like wigs and toupees. Sometimes, a doctor will also be in the best position to determine if some other medical condition is causing your hair to fall out. Symptoms such as your hair falling out unexpectedly may be indicating some other medical condition that needs to be treated rather than hair loss itself.

The mental and emotional impact of suddenly losing excessive amounts of hair must also be considered. If you elect to treat your hair loss yourself while the healing is taking place, you are often on your own wondering whether or not you have taken the right hair loss treatment option.

Complaints of the hair and scalp are very common and treating hair loss as soon as it appears as a minor problem is always recommended. Early diagnosis will give trichologists the best possible opportunity to help you by providing you with the most effective medication.

A person that is comfortable with the way they look in terms of hair loss never wastes any time being preoccupied with the issue. It is just one of those facts of life that they feel should be accepted. Like any situation in life that changes, you have the ability to adjust, accept, and move on, while being completely happy with how God made you, regardless of how much hair you lose.

2007-04-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

Weight Loss with Ease

Nowadays, many people want to lose weight rapidly, and everyone knows that you can do it by eating lots of vegetables, fruit and doing exercise. But many people, especially children, find it very hard to stick to a diet, and they give up. However, it is easy to lose weight.

First, a healthy diet is essential for losing weight. If a person has an array of healthy foods in his diet, his cells would regenerate faster, and therefore, he would be healthier.

We should have five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. Although many people prefer fatty cuts of meat over fruit and vegetables, it is very easy to let their taste buds grow used to this. For example, if they like spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese, you can opt for whole-wheat spaghetti with home-made tomato and lentil sauce with pureed vegetables underneath. Slowly, increase the amount of vegetables until the taste buds have grown used to them. Potatoes are also a potential super food because they contain a wide array of vitamins and minerals, including the B vitamins, Vitamin C and many antioxidants. Boiled potatoes with lean pork and spinach is a very healthy dish.

Also, try not to fry food, as frying induces a lot of oil and fat. Try steaming vegetables and smoking meat. Or try sautéing the food with herbs before frying them. If frying is a must, use olive oil or coconut oil, which are both low in fat content.

As well as a healthy diet, exercise is essential. However, exercising vigorously would actually strain muscles instead of burning fat. Therefore, exercise regularly in small sessions of about thirty minutes each time. Swimming is a good type exercise as it strengthens our backbone and muscles while burning a lot of calories. Also, try to get some fresh air while exercising to give your cells more oxygen.

After following the guidelines above, everyone should have a free, healthy lifestyle.

2007-03-22T03:15:00.001-07:00

Yeast Infection
A yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast organisms in the genital area. Women usually get yeast infections in the vaginal area. Men can get a yeast infection on the penis.
Yeast infections are usually not sexually transmitted. Although many women get a yeast infection without any noticeable cause, it can be triggered by anything that changes the natural balance of micro-organisms in the vagina, such as taking prescription antibiotics. The human body is filled with what are described in simple terms as "good bacteria" and "bad bacteria". When you get any infection, yeast included, your body has an overabundance of bad bacteria and that has overwhelmed the healing and balancing capabilities normally handled by the good bacteria and your body's immune system.
The second biggest cause of yeast infections for women is the clothing they wear. Wearing tight pants for instance or underclothing that does not let air circulate can create a super friendly breeding environment for the bacteria to populate and grow.
Another common cause of vaginal yeast infections in women is colored dies and perfumes. If you use perfumed toilet paper for instance, or feminine hygiene products, you may be more susceptible to a yeast infection then ordinary people.
Dirt will help create yeast infections too, particularly if there is an open cut or sore in the affected area. This is actually a very common cause of oral thrush in young children, because they tend to play in the dirt and sometimes even eat it. Women are more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections if they wear dirty clothes, or have intercourse with men who work with dirt, grease or oil during the day and haven't cleaned up first.
People with certain diseases, including diabetes and HIV infection, are also especially vulnerable to yeast infections.
Things like unbearable itching, a burning sensation of the irritated area, painful sexual intercourse, hurting during urination, yeasty smell or cottage cheese-like discharge, and a rash are all indications that you might be suffering from a yeast infection, or bacterial vaginosis.
For women, your doctor or other health-care provider will collect a sample of fluid with a small swab from the vagina and have it tested at a laboratory. For men, a yeast infection can usually be diagnosed by a simple visual exam.
Medicated creams, vaginal suppositories, or prescription antibiotic pills taken by mouth can be used to cure a yeast infection. These medicines are quite strong, and their job is to kill all bacteria in your body. Antibiotics don't differentiate between good or bad bacteria, so when you take these medicines - particularly for an extended period of time - all the good bacteria in your body is destroyed in the process. This leaves you more vulnerable to other types of infections, and vaginal yeast infections are common ones woman suffer with after taking prescription antibiotics. Many of these treatments are available without a prescription at drugstores. You should see a doctor if your yeast infection won’t go away after you’ve taken a full course of medication, or if it keeps returning, as there may be other causes of your symptoms such as colloidal silver.
If a yeast infection is left untreated, discomfort and inconvenience are the worst problems experienced.
In general, sex partners do not need to be treated unless they have symptoms. However, women can also get yeast infections from men. So it's important to treat both partners if a yeast infection is suspected. To minimize the risk of passing the infection to a partner, it is generally recommended that you abstain from sexual activity until all of your symptoms are gone
Humans don’t know of any serious effects on pregnant mothers of a yeast infection, but during pregnancy, you should tell your doctor that you’re pregnant when you seek treatment for a yeast infection as colloidal silver.
A yeast infection is not usually sexually transmitted. However, all pregnant women should be tested for diseases that ARE sexually transmitted (STDs), including HIV, as early as possible in pregnancy. You should be tested again during your pregnancy if you or your partner engages in activities that increase your risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). For example, you are at higher risk for STDs if you have a new sex partner during pregnancy, or if you have more than one partner. If left untreated, STDs can be devastating for your baby. To protect yourself and your baby against HIV and other STDs, use a latex condom whenever you have sex. However, condoms can actually create yeast infection too. The use of condoms which have spermicide on them known as nonoxynol-9 has been proven in studies to be linked to increased yeast infections. Women allergic to latex may have increased chances if they use latex condoms.
Avoiding unnecessary antibiotic medication may help reduce the risk of a yeast infection. You can reduce your risk of getting most other infections that are sexually transmitted, including HIV, by having sex only in mutually monogamous relationship with a partner you are sure is not infected. If you are having sex outside of such a relationship, you can reduce your risk of STDs by:
1) Always using a latex condom (or other type of latex barrier) whenever you have sex vaginal, anal, or oral. Condoms made of “natural” materials, such as lambskin, protect against pregnancy, but not against STDs. If you are allergic to latex, you can use condoms made of polyurethane or other synthetic materials.
2) Limiting the number of people you have sex with. The more partners you have, the higher your risk.
3) Avoiding alcohol and drugs when you have sex. Drinking or getting high makes it much harder to remember to use condoms to protect yourself and other.

2007-03-21T02:08:00.001-07:00

2007-03-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

Acene - A disturbing bump on your skin

Acne is a skin disorder resulting from the action of hormones and other substances on the skin's oil glands and hair follicles. These factors lead to plugged skin pores and outbreaks of pimples. Acne usually appears on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Although acne usually is not a serious health threat, it can be a source of emotional distress. Severe acne can also lead to permanent scars that may need treatment to remove.

Doctors describe acne as a disease of the pilosebaceous units (PSUs) in the skin. Found over most of the body, PSUs consist of a sebaceous gland connected to a canal, called a pore or follicle that contains a fine hair . These units are mostly found on the face, upper back, and chest. The sebaceous glands make an oily substance called sebum that normally empties onto the skin surface through the opening of the follicle. Cells called keratinocytes line the follicle.

The hair, sebum, and keratinocytes that fill the narrow follicle may produce a plug on the pore, which is an early sign of acne. The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the skin through a follicle, which allows bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles due to the oiliness. These bacteria produces chemicals and enzymes that attract white blood cells, therefore causing inflammation. (Inflammation is a characteristic reaction of tissues to disease or injury and can be recognized by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and pain.) When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills everything into the nearby skin – sebum, shed skin cells, bacteria and all, which inflames the skin and leads to lesions or pimples.

People with acne frequently have a variety of pimplles, some of which are shown in the diagrams below. The basic acne lesion, called the comedo (KOM-e-do), is simply an enlarged and plugged hair follicle filled with skin oil. If the plugged follicle, or comedo, stays beneath the skin, it is called a closed comedo and produces a white bump normally called a whitehead. A comedo that reaches the surface of the skin and opens up is called an open comedo or blackhead because it looks black on the skin's surface, which is actually due to changes in sebum as it is exposed to air. It is not due to dirt.

Other troublesome acne lesions can develop, including the following: Papules – they are inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin and may be tender to the touch, Pustules (pimples) – they are papules topped by white or yellow pus-filled pimples that may be red at the base, Nodules – they are large, painful, solid lesions that are not filled with pus and are lodged deep within the skin and Cysts – leasions which are deep, painful and pus-filled which can cause scarrs.

What Causes Acne?
The exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it results from several related factors, including the hormone increase in teenage years (this can cause the oil glands to plug up more often), hormone changes during pregnancy, starting or stopping birth control pills. Other factors include heredity (if your parents had acne, you might get it, too), some types of medicine (especially sleeping pills) and greasy makeup.

Factors That Can Make Acne Worse
Factors that can cause an acne flare include: Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts, Oil from skin products (moisturizers or cosmetics) or grease encountered in the work environment (for example, a kitchen with fry vats). Pressure from sports helmets or equipment, backpacks, tight collars, or tight sports uniforms, environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity, Squeezing or picking at blemishes, hard scrubbing of the skin and stress can also make Acne worse.
Who Gets Acne?
People of all races and ages get acne. But it is most common in teenagers and young adults. Nearly 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 get acne. For most people, acne tends to go away by the time they reach their thirties. But some people in their forties and fifties continue to have this skin problem.
How Is Acne Treated?
Acne is usually treated by dermatologists (doctors who specialize in skin problems). These doctors treat all kinds of acne, particularly in severe cases. Doctors who are general or family practitioners, pediatricians, or internists may also treat patients with milder cases of acne.
The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, prevent scarring, and minimize the psychological stress and embarrassment caused by this disease. Drug treatment 1 is aimed at reducing several problems that play a part in causing acne: Healing pimples, stopping new pimples from forming, preventing scarring, stopping inflammation, killing the bacteria,lowering the production of oil and helping reduce the embarrassment of having acne.

Depending on the extent of the problem, the doctor may recommend one of several over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and/or prescription medicines. Some of these medicines may be applied to the skin, and others may be oral. The doctor may suggest using more than one topical medicine or combining oral and topical medicines.
All medicines can have side effects. Some medicines and side effects are mentioned in this booklet. Some side effects may be more severe than others. You should review the package insert that comes with your medicine and ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about the possible side effects.
Treatment for Blackheads, Whiteheads, and Mild Inflammatory Acne
Doctors usually recommend an OTC or a milder prescription topical medicine for people with mild signs of acne. Topical medicine is usually applied directly to the acne lesions or to the entire area of affected skin.
There are several OTC topical medicines used for mild acne. Each works a little differently. The following are the most common ones: Benzoyl peroxide - it destroys P. acnes, and may also reduce oil production, Resorcinol – it can help break down blackheads and whiteheads. Salicylic acid – it helps break down blackheads and whiteheads. It also cuts down the shedding of cells lining the hair follicles. Sulfur – it also helps break down blackheads and whiteheads.
Topical OTC medicines are available in many forms, like gels, lotions, creams, soaps, or pads. In some people, OTC acne medicines may cause side effects such as skin irritation, burning or redness, which often gets better when you stop using the OTC. If you experience severe or prolonged side effects, you should report them to your doctor.
OTC topical medicines are somewhat effective in treating acne when used regularly. However, it may take up to 8 weeks before you see noticeable improvement.
Treatment for Moderate to Severe Inflammatory Acne
People with moderate to severe inflammatory acne may be treated with prescription topical or oral medicines, alone or in combination.
Prescription Topical Medicines
Several types of prescription topical medicines are used to treat acne. They include: Antibiotics – They help stopping or slow the growth of bacteria and reduces inflammation. Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids) – They unplug existing comedones (plural of comedo), allowing other topical medicines, such as antibiotics, to enter the follicles. Some may also help decrease the formation of comedones. These drugs contain an altered form of vitamin A. Some examples of Vitamin A derivatives include tretinoin (Retin-A 2), adapalene (Differin), and tazarotene (Tazorac)
Like OTC topical medicines, prescription topical medicines come as creams, lotions, solutions, gels, or pads. Your doctor will consider your skin type when prescribing a product. Creams and lotions provide moisture and tend to be good choices for people with sensitive skin. If you have very oily skin or live in a hot, humid climate, you may prefer an alcohol-based gel or solution, which usually dries the skin. Your doctor will tell you how to apply the medicine and how often to use it.
Prescription topical medicines may cause some minor side effects, including stinging, burning, redness, peeling, scaling, or discoloration of the skin. With some medicines, such as tretinoin, these side effects usually decrease or go away after the medicine is used for a period of time. If the side effects are severe or don't go away, you should notify your doctor.
As with OTC medicines, the benefits of prescription topical medicines are not immediate. Your skin may seem worse before it gets better. It may take from 4 to 8 weeks to notice improvement, so be patient
Prescription Oral Medicines
They are for patients with moderate to severe acne, doctors often prescribe oral antibiotics. Oral antibiotics are thought to help control acne by curbing the growth of bacteria and reducing inflammation. Prescription oral and topical medicines may be combined. Common antibiotics used to treat acne are tetracycline (Achromycin V), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin), and doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, and Monodox).
Other oral medicines less commonly used are clindamycin (Cleocin), erythromycin, or sulfonamides (Bactrim). Some people taking these antibiotics have side effects, such as an upset stomach, dizziness or lightheadedness, changes in skin color, and increased tendency to sunburn. Because tetracyclines may affect tooth and bone formation in fetuses and young children, these drugs are not given to pregnant women or children under age 14. There is some concern, although it has not been proven, that tetracycline and minocycline may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Therefore, a backup or another form of birth control may be needed. Prolonged treatment with oral antibiotics may be necessary to achieve the desired results.
Treatment for Severe Nodular or Cystic Acne
People with nodules or cysts should be treated by a dermatologist. For patients with severe inflammatory acne that does not improve with medicines such as those described above, a doctor may prescribe isotretinoin (Accutane), a vitamin A derivative. Isotretinoin is an oral drug that is usually taken once or twice a day with food for 15 to 20 weeks. It markedly reduces the size of the oil glands so that much less oil is produced. As a result, the growth of bacteria is decreased.
Advantages of Isotretinoin (Accutane)
Isotretinoin is a very effective medicine that can help to prevent permanent scarring. After 15 to 20 weeks of treatment with isotretinoin, the acne completely or almost completely disappears in most patients. In those patients where acne recurs after a course of isotretinoin, the doctor may institute another course of the same treatment or prescribe other medicines.
Disadvantages of Isotretinoin (Accutane)
Accutane can cause birth defects in the developing fetus of a pregnant woman. It is very important that women of childbearing age are not pregnant while taking this medicine and do not get pregnant during the period. Women must use two separate effective forms of birth control at the same time for 1 month before treatment begins, during the entire course of treatment, and for 1 full month after stopping the drug. You should also ask your GP when it is safe to get pregnant after you have stopped taking the medicene.
People with acne might become depressed and embarrassed by the changes in the appearance of their skin. Changes in mood may be intensified during treatment or soon after completing a course of medicines like isotretinoin. There have been a number of reported suicides and suicide attempts in people taking isotretinoin. However, the connection between isotretinoin and suicide or depression is not known. Nevertheless, if you or someone you know feels strangely sad, has other symptoms of depression, such as loss of appetite, loss of interest in once-loved activities, or trouble concentrating, or wants to commit suicide, it's important to consult your doctor.
Other possible side effects of isotretinoin include: dry eyes, mouth, lips, nose, or skin (very common), itching, frequent nosebleeds, muscle aches, sensitivity to the sun, poor night vision (due to the loss of vitamin A), changes in the blood, such as an increase in fats in the blood (triglycerides and cholesterol) and a change in liver function. To be able to determine if isotretinoin should be stopped if side effects occur, your doctor may test your blood before you start treatment and periodically during treatment. Side effects often go away after the medicine is stopped.
Treatments for Hormonally Influenced Acne in Women
In some women, acne is caused by an excess of androgen (male) hormones. Clues that this may be the case include hirsutism (excessive growth of hair on the face or body), premenstrual acne flares, irregular menstrual cycles, and elevated blood levels of certain androgens, which only happen in men.
The doctor may prescribe one of several drugs to treat women with this type of acne: Birth control pills – they suppress the androgen produced by the ovaries, Low-dose corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone (Deltasone) or dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) – they suppress the androgen produced by the adrenal gland. Other common drugs include Antiandrogen drugs such as spironolactone (Aldactone) – which reduce the excessive oil production.
Side effects of antiandrogen drugs may include irregular menstruation, tender breasts, headaches, and fatigue.
Other Treatments for Acne
Doctors may use other types of procedures in addition to prescribing drugs to treat patients with acne. For example, the doctor may remove the patient's comedones during visits. The doctor may inject corticosteroids directly into lesions to help reduce the size and pain of inflamed cysts and nodules.
Early treatment is the best way to prevent scars caused by acne. Once scarring has occurred, it is permanent, so the doctor may suggest a medical or surgical procedure to help reduce the scars. A superficial laser may also be used to treat irregular scars. Dermabrasion (or microdermabrasion), which is a form of "sanding down" scars, is also used. Another treatment option for deep scars caused by cystic acne is the transfer of fat from another part of the body to the scar. A doctor may also inject a synthetic filling material under the scar to improve its appearance.
How Should People With Acne Care for Their Skin?
Clean Skin Gently
If you have acne, use a mild cleanser in the morning, evening, and after heavy workouts. Scrubbing the skin does not stop acne. It can even make the problem worse. Using strong soaps or rough scrub pads is not helpful and can make the problem worse too. Astringents are also not recommended unless the skin is very oily, and they should be used only on oily spots then. It is also important to shampoo your hair regularly. If you have really oily hair, you may want to wash it every day. .
Avoid Frequent Handling of the Skin
Try not to touch your skin. People who squeeze, pinch, or pick their pimples can get scars or dark spots on their skin.
Shave Carefully
Shave carefully. If you shave, you can try both electric and safety razors to see which works best. With safety razors, use a sharp blade. Also, it helps to soften your beard with soap and water before putting on shaving cream. Shave lightly and only when you have to. Also, shave gently and only when necessary to reduce the risk of nicking blemishes.
Avoid a Sunburn or Suntan
Many acne medicines can make people more likely to sunburn.. A sunburn that reddens the skin or suntan that darkens the skin may make blemishes less visible and make the skin feel drier. However, these benefits are only temporary, and there are known risks of excessive sun exposure, such as more rapid skin aging, wrinkled skin and a higher risk of developing skin cancer.
Choose Cosmetics Carefully
While undergoing acne treatment, you may need to change some of the cosmetics you use. All cosmetics, such as foundation, blush, eye shadow, moisturizers, and hair-care products should be oil free. Look for the word "noncomedogenic" on the label. This means that the makeup will not clog up your pores. In some people, however, even these products may make acne worse.
For the first few weeks of treatment, applying foundation evenly may be difficult because the skin may be red or scaly, particularly with the use of topical tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide.
What Research Is Being Done on Acne?
Medical researchers are working on new drugs to treat acne, particularly topical antibiotics to replace some of those in current use. As with many other types of bacterial infections, doctors are finding that, over time, the bacteria that are associated with acne are becoming resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics, though it is not clear how significant a problem this resistance represents. They are looking at ways to prevent plugs and looking at ways to stop the hormone testosterone from causing acne too.
Scientists are also trying to better understand the mechanisms involved in acne so that they can develop new treatments that work on those mechanisms. For example, one group of researchers are studying the mechanisms that regulate sebum production in order to identify ways to effectively reduce its production without the side effects of drugs. Another group is trying to understand how P. acnes activates the immune system so that they can identify possible immunologic interventions. Other areas of research involve examining the effects of isotretinoin on an area of the brain that might lead to depression and developing a laser system to treat acne and acne-related scars without damaging the outer layers of the skin, which happens with the current superficial lasers .
Researchers in Germany, funded by German institutions, have taken P. acnes and identified its genome. This information may help researchers develop genetic treatments to kill the bacteria.

2007-03-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

Marie Curie - a biography

Marie Curie was a famous physicist who coined the word “radioactivity”. Born in Poland, she showed a love for mathematics and physics when she was young. After studying in secondary school, she acted as a teacher for a couple of years before entering Paris University. After she finished schooling, she found out that she had a keen interest of things that glow and began doing experiments of crystals and minerals. After experimenting for some time, she met a professor: Pierre Curie, and soon married afterwards. Then, they began to experiment together, and rented a large lab for it.
Curie was first interested in radioactivity when she found out that a substance in iron ore glows mysteriously in the dark. She worked endlessly with Pierre to try to find out the substance. After a few months of hard work, they finally found the two candidates: thorium and uranium, which is four times brighter. When they reported their discovery to the scientific world, many scientists were suspicious of the findings, so they requested Curie to bring them a sample of radium.
When Curie received a report from the scientists, she decided to do her best to get some uranium. With Pierre’s help, they refined eight tons of iron ore, hoping that they could find a trace amount of radium. They worked very hard in a small laboratory, and Curie fell sick six times! However, they did not give up and were finally rewarded, as they found one gram of uranium in the ore. When the scientific work saw this new material, they were amazed, and that led Currie and Pierre to win the 1903 Nobel Prize in physics along with Henri Becquerel for investigation of radioactivity. Curie also pocketed the 1911 Nobel Prize in chemistry for her discovery of two new elements. This was very painstaking, as her husband was killed in a traffic accident, and she had to accept the fact the she must work alone. But still, she did not give up, and her will to discover new things led her to success. Along with Bardeen, Pauling and Sanger, Curie was on of the four people who had won two Nobel Prizes in their career. Many people were inspired by her love of science, and her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie and son-in-law Frederic Joliot-Curie both won Nobel Prizes and her close friend and neighbor Perrin did so too. As a gift for her amazing scientific discoveries, Curie was presented with a pendant containing uranium. As you might expect, Currie died of leukemia which is cause by overexposure to radioactivity.

2007-01-20T01:49:00.001-08:00

Ice Hotel

[What is an ice hotel?]

An ice hotel is a unique hotel that is usually built annually in cold countries like Alaska and Finland. The most special part of this structure is that it is totally made from snow and ice! The walls, the cups, the tables, the windows, and even the toilets are made of snow and ice. Discovery Magazine would like to take you to a trip back a year, in which the biggest ice hotel so far would be built.

[Preparing for this “Giga structure”]

In spring, a number of architects begin to gather up to build one of the biggest ice hotels ever attempted: the ice hotel near the village of Jukkasjärvi. The first step to build this “Giga structure” is to draw out almost three thousand tones of ice form the Torne River, which is directly in front of them. The Torne River is one of the most pure rivers, as it is situated in a remote area where there is almost no pollution. Therefore, the ice cut from it is almost as pure as glass or crystal! The reason spring was the best season is because the ice is at the right hardness. In winter, it will too hard, but everything would melt in summer. That is why they chose spring and the timing seems to be right. However, the architects soon find themselves in a problem: although they have tried everything, the ice either cracks every time they cut, or the cutting tool gets clogged in ice and snow. They soon found out a way of solving, in which they invented a special chainsaw with sharper “teeth”, which remove all the clogged ice. Soon, they collected the entire amount they needed, and stored them in some warm warehouses kept at a constant temperature of minus five degrees centigrade. This would be stored until needed in winter.

[Starting the job]

After a few months, the building begins. However, there is an immediate setback: global warming. The temperature must be at least minus five degrees centigrade for the building to start, and the first few days of the building schedule had temperatures of about five degrees Celsius. That meant the building work of the hotel must be delayed. Only after five days could the work begin. This was the latest delay in the history of this hotel. Because of this, the work must speed up, and the hotel must be finished in SIX WEEKS TIME. This was a real challenge for the men.

[The materials, men and the architecture]

The main shape for this hotel is an arch, which is supported by six meter tall pillars. The arches would be joined by water, and two tones would be needed for the whole ice hotel. Many arches bonded closely together would form the corridors, while the walls are made packed “snice” – a mixture of snow and ice. The “snice” is then fired onto casts such as wooden boards by cannons, which is powered by running water. All in all, about a hundred tones of “snice” would be needed for the hotel. Only one cannon can fill a full size swimming pool in under an hour! This gives the team a huge advantage over time. However, they must make arches and walls in a six thousand square meter boundary. However, the hardest bit is the most eye-catching one: the round dome church. This is what makes this hotel so unique, as it was never attempted before. This is because the dome is nine meters in diameter, and that the balloon used to mould it could easily blow away in the wind.

However, even with all the instruments, a crew is a must for building this “Giga Structure”. The workers come from all over the world. There are sculptors, designers, builders, architects, etc. With this amazing workforce who is bristling with talents, the ice hotel seems really easy. Still, there is an enemy which no one could stop: Mother Nature. And she is about to strike in Sweden……

[Strike by nature]

So far, the ice hotel seems to be going really smoothly. The main hall soon forms on the 23^rd of November. Then, it is time for the outer corridors. Many of them are built smoothly. First, the arches of “snice” are built and joined together. Then, metal supporters are used as a mould to support the wall as the “snice” hardens. Then, the casts are removed. This is the most dangerous part of the process, as one false move could send the whole section collapsing. The weather could greatly change the odds too, and the weather was not on the builder’s side.

Then, on a dark night, a section collapses. This is the worst nightmare of the crew, as this meant adding work hours to get in line with the time schedule. Soon, the engineers found out that the temperature at that time was about seven degrees Celsius! No wonder the “snice” had not held. Soon, the crew put the section back in place, and because of advantages in numbers, the work continues.

[The final steps]

Soon, most of the building was done, and on the 11^th of December, the last corridor was finished. Then, the attention turned to the masterpiece of this year’s ice hotel: the round chapel. The chapel was supported by “Y” shaped wooden beams and pillars made of the pure ice dug out in spring. After a couple of weeks, everything was done, and the designers and sculptors moved in.

[Sharpening the saw]

After the hard work of building the structure, it is time to decorate it. Sculptors begin to carve beautiful statues which are embedded with LEDs and fiber optics. This gives the statues some light and color and heat. These are the main decorations of this hotel. Designers decide where to put the statues and the towers to support the halls. They are made from the spare blocks of clear ice from the Torne River. Meanwhile, workers use flat pieces of wood with nails to smooth the walls until they are flat. This kind of job is actually a hi-rank one! On Christmas day, everything in ready and the hotel opens.

Even when this “Giga structure” is completed, there is still some work to be done. Cleaning workers smooth the walls form time to time and clear up the rubbish. Another job they do is to clean the “snice” as it will turn gray if it is put too long. They use shovels to remove the gray bits and add some new white “snice” as a substitute. This way, the hotel would be kept clean and sparkling in its three months of opening time.

The ice hotel is really one of the most unique structure every built by man. Every one has its own specialty. However, global warming is threatening this special structure of man. Therefore, we should help the environment and preserve this amazing structure for the next generation.

2006-12-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

2006-12-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

Again, I have got a couple of blogs to recommend to you. There is one about chess: www.heavenchess.blogspot.com and www.whyfightwars.blogspot.com . Please visit and leave some comments!

2006-12-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

My friend, Clement has opened a new blog. The address is www.clementmok.blogspot.com . Please visit it and leave a comment. Thanks!!!

2006-11-21T01:22:00.000-08:00

[What are Media?]

Media are the different methods of communication. Communication is the sharing of information, ideas and thoughts among people. It is a vital part of life for every person. Therefore, media are very important to us. Advertisements, telecommunication, newspapers, postcards and letters are all examples of media.

Telephone, television, advertisements and the radio are all forms of communication. Alexander Graham Bell developed the telephone in 1876. Although it was not the first telecommunications, the telephone still had a large impact on people’s lives. For the first time, we can press a few buttons and talk to anyone in the world. We need not wait for people to return letters for us. Now, we can even send pages of papers to people and look at their faces while talking to them. The telephone really added convenience to people’s lives.

The television also made a great impact on human’s lives. Scottish inventor John Logie Baird invented it in 1926. American inventor Vladimir Zworykin built the first electronic television that was able to broadcast sound and pictures together made improvements. Soon, the first color television broadcasts were made. In recent years, satellite and cable television have provided a wider choice of programs for viewers.

Advertising uses communications media promote sales of goods, services, etc. They can be made on television, on a radio station, or by people. Advertising dated back to the time of the ancient Romans, where ads were used to entice people into local taverns or shops. Modern advertising began in America in the nineteenth century. At that time, catalogues were handed out to people on the streets. Soon, people called “sandwich board men” were employed onto streets as walking ads. Not long after, advertisements were made in movies and on television. Now, advertisements are even seen atop buildings! Advertising is really the type of media that has changed the most throughout time.

A radio is a machine used for listening to people talking on radio stations. Italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi invented it. A radio transmits sound by radio waves. As well as giving news to people, the radio is also an exciting form of entertainment. Shows and serials broadcast on a radio can provide entertainment. Radio really provided many new things to the people and let them live in a more interesting and fun world than before.

[Media in Modern Days]

Media has changed throughout the years, making many improvements. Now, new types of media begin to appear. For example, GPS and microchips. Old kinds of media like the radio still exist, but they are rarely used. The telephone has evolved a lot, and hand-held telephones (mobile phones) were invented. Some mobiles can even allow you look at the person you talk! The new kinds of media made our lives easier. GPS (global positioning system) can help us find our way around the world and allows us to pinpoint anything in the world at a split second. Microchips are tiny computers that let us open doors, computers and windows automatically. They can also store data once they are implanted. They are useful for studying animals and finding them.

Media has really evolved and changed rapidly. New high-tech types of media have appeared, while the older ones have not vanished yet. Up to now, the story of media has still been flowing on and on, and it may continue forever.

[The interesting sides of Media]

Although we know almost all the ways of media, some kinds are kept secret. These types of media are interesting to discover, and they include secret communication and decoding. Many countries use the first type of media to communicate without being discovered, while they use the second kind to discover the secret codes of enemies. These two practices have been used at war for a long time.

The first two types of the interesting sides of Media are perception and interpretation. Perception is the process where data received by our senses are converted brain in to meaningful information. To do this, we must know the meaning of the message. However, some messages are written in code so we cannot know the direct meaning of a message. When we receive messages of this kind, we must use our brain to interpret the message. Throughout history, many people have invented codes and many others have decoded the codes. On other occasions, a message may deliberately contain one more meaning to confuse people or they may be made by accident. These may also provide insights about our minds, or challenge particular attitudes of people.

Early communication and secret communication are also interesting sides of media. Before post offices, the telephone and computers were invented, early people used strange ways to communicate. For example, the Inca messengers in South America used shells to communicate. Sound is amplified by the hollow chamber inside the shell, which makes the sound louder. Drums were also used in Africa to communicate. Beating a “talking drum” was considered talking for the tonal sounds that are produced actually resemble language. Smoke signals are also used to communicate. Burning damp leaves with firewood encourages thick smoke, which can be seen from far away. In North America, a column of smoke means the location of a new campsite, while there columns means good news. Although these types of media are only used to convey simple messages, they are still fascinating to study.

Secret communication is a kind of media that uses codes to send messages that are hard to interpret. Many secret services have used secret communication to send messages to their spies. The messages usually contain important information to the spy. It may be about the strategy of the leader, the strategy of an enemy, important discoveries and the enemy’s next move. Messages are often written into mass of words that are carefully arranged. The receiver knows the code so he can read the message. Enemies also try their best to decode the secret message if they have discovered it. Sometimes, messages are hidden so they cannot be found. The sole of a shoe, the inside of a hollowed cigar and the inside of a film camera are all good hiding places. Still, it is a cat and mouse game for the two sides as they try to be the first to decode the message.

Anything has its own secrets and interesting parts, including media. Many interesting types of media have vanished, but some still remain. Yet, there may be some kinds of media that are concealed, waiting to be discovered.

[Computers and the Internet]

Computers, the internet and virtual reality (VR) are new, high-tech ways of communicating. They use the latest technology to help us find information, explore hidden places we will otherwise never see in our lifetime and let us write essays more conveniently. We have never experienced such convenience before.

In less than five decades, the computer has revolutionized the way we communicate with others. With a computer, we can write to people and send the e-mail to them through the internet. Computer technology has also given disabled people a chance to communicate clearly for the first time and is a valuable teaching aid in schools. In addition, computers can control robots that can perform dangerous tasks without risking human lives and lowering the failure rate. Moreover, the “backbone” of many new forms of media and communicating like VR and the internet are computers. Computers really sparked many new interests in the world of humans and let us do many things never done before.

Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulation of a real or invented environment with computer technology. VR worlds can be viewed on video screens or special headsets that contain a small digital screen. Data gloves or special suits are sometimes included with the headset the give the users a simulated sense of touch. VR has been used to make 3-D computer games and train people like pilots and astronauts. Virtual reality machines have also been used in crash testing, so the manufactures can see the damage immediately. In addition, VR is being used to recreate past buildings or even cities for users to explore. VR enables us to explore places and train people just by wearing a headset. It has helped us do normally hard things easily.

The Internet is the fastest-growing medium in the world. It started out as a secret military project in the United States, and is now a worldwide network of millions of computers. The Internet is now widely used for education, entertainment and business. It enables users to get information they want at the click of a mouse. Many comics, games and chat rooms are also found in the Internet. These are good sources of entertainment. The internet also gave people a chance to communicate without the need to write. They can type messages or use simple symbols to communicate with people. Now, we can even shop, listen to songs and make bookings on the web instead to running everywhere to shops and headquarters. The Internet really saved us a lot of time so that we can relax and relive the pressure from work.

[Media and us]

How do media influence our lives? This is a frequently asked question when people read essays about media. These three paragraphs are specially written to answer this question. They talk about three examples of the influence of media on our lives and then compare them. The answer to this frequently asked question lies in these specially written paragraphs.

The first way media influences our lives are our lifestyle. The Internet is a good example of this. Before the Internet or computers were invented, people used to ask people questions more frequently. They also go to the library or read books related to the question. Also, people played games and listened to the radio as forms of entertainment. Now, however, people can find more than a hundred related websites about their question. They also need not find people for entertainment, for there are a more than a thousand chat rooms and game sites in the Internet. Because our lives became much more convenient after the invention of the Internet, it is one of the most successful kinds of media in history.

Learning is also a good example of how media influences our lives. Before the invention of widely used learning tools like the computer, people were taught by mouth and examples. The more experience a person has, the more his pupils can learn. Although most people are still taught by mouth and examples nowadays, the computer has made it easier for the students to understand what the teacher teaches, and therefore makes the job of the teacher easier. Power Points and slide shows with some fun learning games will make a lesson fun. Hence, the students will be motivated to learn more. This enables the student to have a wider range of knowledge, which is good for the student and appealing to the teacher. The learning tools widely used today have really helped us a lot in getting more knowledge.

The last example of the influences of media is human relationships. Before new, hi-tech types of media like the Internet and VR were invented, people often used letters to communicate with friends and family. Direct contact with people could be only done by a visit. Nowadays, however, we can get closer to people with the new kinds of media. Web-cams and videophones enable us to see people while communicating with them. In addition, people need days to receive letters and reply, but e-mails can be immediately sent by the click of a mouse. The receiver can also reply immediately if he wants to. This is much more convenient than sending letters. Moreover, friends do not contact frequently in the olden days, but we can talk with friends as long as we want in chat rooms now. However, some people indulge in Virtual Reality machines so they rarely visit “real” people. This instead makes their relationships with friends and family few and far between, as they rarely communicate with each other. In my opinion, I still think modern media has made our relationships with others better. Although VR has sometimes stopped users from contacting with other people, they have the choice to stop playing and communicate more. This also makes our relationships warmer. In short, some types of media have made our relationships better, while others have done the opposite. Nevertheless, we can choose to communicate with people more, rather than spend all our time indulging in such types of media. Still, making our relationships with others better or worst is our choice.

2006-11-17T17:29:00.000-08:00

I have recently opened a Xanga site in which are some essays about some inventions of mine. If you are interested, please go to http://www.xanga.com/private/yourhome.aspx?user=yeungkinglunjoshua and leave me a comment. Thanks all readers!!

2006-06-28T23:22:00.000-07:00

Mood Foods

FOOD can cause people to be in different moods. For example, some kinds of food can cause people to be happy, while others can cause them to be energetic. Here are four examples of how food can change people’s moods:
Example 1:
In Britain, many people go to bars or nightclubs in the evening. After a good drinking a lot of beer, some drunken people may start fighting each other without knowing. Therefore, street violence had been a great problem in Britain. Instead of deploying thousands of police, some English people decided to use a mood food: chocolate. Chocolate would make people feel happy and wanting to dance. This is because it contains a chemical called trictifan, which is found in most carbohydrate foods. After testing, this theory proved to be correct, and chocolate bars were often handed to people on the street at night.
Example 2:
In our daily life, we may encounter “waves” of stress. Sometimes, we may feel depressed or unhappy. Some dieticians think that cutting and adding certain foods can minus the stress and depression levels. Here is some advice:
1. Cut eating on bread or toast. They can make you feel depressed and unhappy.
2. Eat more vegetables that are organic, fish and fruit. They can minus your stress levels.
3. Eat some more protein rich foods too. They can sharpen your senses and make you concentrate.
These foods can make you feel less depressed and help you develop a more relaxed life.
Example 3:
In competition, people need to sharpen up their senses to get good levels or marks. As mentioned, protein rich foods can make people alert. Two British chess champions made a test. On the first day, one of them ate a protein rich beef dish, while the other ate pasta that is full of trictifan. After lunch, they played a chess match. The one who ate the pasta was not able to concentrate as well as his opponent, and soon found that he was losing. Just in time, he created a draw. However, the test is not over yet. The next day, the two exchanged dishes. Now, the one that had eaten the pasta yesterday was now playing better. He almost reached checkmate when the time ran out. It was another draw, but this test proved that protein rich foods are also mood foods.
Example 4:
When two lovers come together, they usually go for a romantic dinner. Here is a recommendation:
Appetizer: Oysters Rockefeller (with zinc, associated with love).
Main Course: Grilled Tuna (protein-rich food, sharpen up senses for long night).
Dessert: strawberries with honey and chocolate (chocolate makes people happy, while honey is an energy booster, just right for a long night).

All of these four examples show that how certain kinds of food can influence people. And all of these foods are .

2006-05-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

Avian Flu - the worst case scenario
[The characteristics of the killer flu]
Nowadays, avian flu is becoming an increasing threat to the world. People fear the most deadly strain of this kind of flu: H5N1. The “H” in H5N1 stands for haemagglutin, which is a protein inside the spikes of a virus. The spikes help the virus to get inside a cell, and turn it into a virus-making machine. Then, a protein called neuraminidase releases new viruses to invade other cells. The protein also stands for the “N” in H5NI.
[How did the virus start?]
However, how did this virus evolve into such a killing machine? Actually, H5NI first started in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong or the HKSAR). At that time, no one knew about avian flu, nor did anyone know that avian flu could jump from birds to humans. In May 1997, a three-year old boy fell sick with symptoms of flu. However, no one in the hospital knew about his illness until it was too late. After the boy died, doctors tried to investigate his death but they could not find any trace to the “mystery illness”. After a few more people died, the World Heath Organization (WHO) was called in to investigate. A team of virologists found out that the illness was transmitted from infected poultry. After the discovery, a new era of virology emerged. Now, avian flu viruses could jump from a chicken right into a human. After this astonishing news, experts began to take any case bird flu seriously. Whenever the virus was found, teams had to be called in to spray disinfectant to kill the virus. Thousands of chickens in infected areas were culled. Border checkpoints were set up to monitor vehicles crossing borders. At airports, people crossing had to be screened for symptoms of the virus. However, symptoms of avian flu develop after two to three days. Nevertheless, after a few months, the virus disappeared. The virologists breathed a sigh of relieve.
[The second wave]
However, could the deadly disease be hiding? In 2003, the virus came back. This time, its target was Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries. Compared to the virus in 1997, the virus was much, much more powerful and it quickly claimed many victims. The virus is also mutating quickly, and it may mutate into a nastier or not-so-nasty form. A gene of RNA (unstable) makes all of these mutations. In addition, H5N1 is one of the viruses in the H5 that mutate very quickly. H5N1 is also one of the most “enduring viruses”. It can live for up to six days before it dies.
[How the virus attack the human body]
The H5N1 virus uses a simple tactic in attacking the human body – a tactic that all kinds of flu use. First, the virus uses protein spikes filled with haemagglutin drill into the cell. Then, its RNA is divided into equal portions. Each portion is then mixed with some of the DNA in the infected cell. Then, the other protein, neuraminidase, releases all the new viruses to invade other cells. This way, in a number of days, the whole body is taken over by the virus and the person dies. In this way, many, many persons are killed at an astonishing rate.
[The latest news]
By now, avian flu has spread far across the world. Places like Russia, Germany, France and even Britain had been infected by bird flu. The Earth should be soon facing a killer pandemic, which would be more powerful than the one of the 1900’s. All countries should be gearing up for an epidemic that could kill millions. Countries must start building “defense lines” to stop the disease in its tracks. Than, we could push it back. However, as well as personal hygiene, other important “defense lines” like vaccines and drugs should be prepared. Moreover, poultry from infected countries should be banned and those from uninfected countries should be monitored closely to see if it had the disease. People should also be monitored at borders and airports. This way, the disease should be stopped. However, to make the disease vanish, all the citizens of the Earth must take part in this campaign to stop the killer flu.
[How could we prevent this disease from spreading?]
To prevent bird flu from spreading, we have many “defense lines”. First, we must make ourselves hygienic. We should wash our hands for ten seconds after touching any raw food or dirty materials. Try to cook all food through and do not touch poultry. In addition, we must take care of our wounds. Wounds must be cleaned and disinfectants like Salvlon should be applied on them. In addition, if you are sick, you should wear a mask and see a doctor. Then, our property should be clean. People should wash their floors with disinfectant every day and clean drains once a week. After that, our environment should be spotless. Remember that viruses can grow easily in damp places so clean up any waste in your neighborhood and make sure that the drains are not blocked. Insects should not infest the environment because they can transfer other diseases.
A clean environment will stop the disease from spreading so that people can have healthier and happier lives!

2006-05-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

Parkinson’s disease Handbook
Introduction:
-Parkinson’s disease can affect every person, no matter age, sex, etc.
-The disease is most common in elderly people.
-Symptoms can be controlled by appropriate treatment, except in some special cases.

Causes and characteristics
-Parkinson’s disease is a physical disease of the brain and is not infectious.
- It causes the decrease of a chemical in the brain.
- The cause of the disease is unknown.
-It may affect some parts of the brain, the spinal cord, nerves and muscles.
-Heredity and age play only tiny bits of the cause of Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms and signs of Parkinsonism
-Parkinson’s disease has many symptoms.
-The most common ones are tremor and rigidity.
-Sufferers also have slow movement, problems with his /her legs, feet, and loss of balance.
-Older people may have disorders of posture, greasy skin and stiff limbs.
-A strange symptom of Parkinsonism is that there are reduced automatic movements in some people.
-There may be changed bladder and bowel habits in later stages of the disease

Types of Parkinsonism”
-There are four main types of Parkinson’s disease.
-Drug and Poison induced Parkinson’s disease are because of foreign agents like poison.
-Post encephalitic Parkinsonism is caused by a virus that affects the brain and is extremely rare.
-The final type of Parkinson’s disease is multiple system atrophies.

Suggestions for sufferers:
-Activate your brain.
-Play games like chess and mahjong.
-Exercise often.
-Go to checkups with your GP as recommended.
-Have a balanced diet.

2006-02-08T02:02:00.000-08:00

The joke corner "ha ha ha"

1. Which one can you catch with a net; HOT or COLD?

Ans: cold, because you can catch a cold!

2. which insect can burn in the air?

Ans: fireflies!

3. (Daughter looking at mum's old photo album)
Daughter: Why didn't you bring me to your wedding?
Mum: Because you weren't born, silly.
Daughter: But when I was still in your womb, you should have let me jump out of your womb, through your throat and into your nose WHERE I COULD SEE EVERYTHING FROM YOUR NOSTRILS!!!!
4. (tongue twister!)
Say this fast for five times: Dad had a dog, the dog dug. The dog dug where dad was digging.

2006-02-07T01:12:00.000-08:00

15 Amazing Facts about REPTILES

1. How many species of crocodiles are there in the world?

Ans: there are 23 species of crocodiles in the world. For example, the black caiman and the American alligator

2. How many types of crocodiles are there?

Ans: there are four types of crocodiles, namely crocodiles, alligators, gharials and caimans. Crocodiles have a large tooth sticking out, but alligators do not. Caimans have teeth that curve backward while the teeth of alligators, crocodiles and gharials only curve slightly or do not.

3. What decides the sex of a baby crocodile when it is still in its egg?

Ans: The temperature of the egg! When it is colder, the baby is a female. If it is warmer, the baby is a male.

4. How long have crocodiles lived on Earth?

At least 200 million years ago! They lived long before dinosaurs.

5. Why don't crocodiles eat birds?

Ans: Because birds act as toothbrushes and toothpastes! They clean the crocodiles' mouths by eating all the food scraps or parasites there.

6. Which is the longest croc in the world?

Ans: The saltwater crocodile. It is longer and heavier than two cars parked end to end!

7. Why are crocodiles considered to be good mothers?

Ans: Because they take care of their children very carefully and guard their nests. The babies have a distress call that they produce when they are in danger. When the mother hears the call, she hurries back to her nest and carries her babies away (if they are there).

8. Which is the silliest way to catch a croc?

Ans: To use a remote-controlled car! A snare-pole is fixed on the car, and then the car is driven towards a crocodile or the water. The crocodile is lured by the car, and moves towards the car to eat it. However, the car maneuvers it so the snare-pole gets in the way of the croc and the reptile gets caught. But usually, the car becomes the crocodile's tasty dinner.

9. Why is the rattlesnake "crazy" about family gatherings?

Ans: Because they have gatherings with up to 1,000 rattlesnakes attending!

10. How many backbones do snakes have?

They can have up to 400 backbones! Most of them situated in the spine.

11. How many babies do snakes have?

The average number is 25. However, some may have up to forty eggs!

12. How do Marine iguanas keep warm?

Ans: By piling on top of one another! It is just like sleeping under tons of blankets.

How can terrapins breathe underwater?

Ans: Most swim close to the surface, with their nostrils above the water. But some terrapins have an air tube on the end of their noses, which they can use as a snorkel!

13. Do some lizards run on two legs?

Yes. In fact, a lizard called the basilisk lizard even runs on two legs across the water!

14. How do Komodo dragons kill their prey?

They spit their saliva on them! It is as poisonous as a snake's venom.

15. Which reptile can "fly"?

Ans: Both the flying lizard and the paradise tree snake can "fly". The flying lizard has wings on its body to help it "fly" while the tree snake spreads out its back, sucks in its tummy and glides through the air!

16. Why is the cobra's Chinese name "the spectacle snake"?

Ans: Because the pattern on its back and neck look like a pair of glasses!

17. How do giant tortoises relax when it is hot?

Ans: They swim into hot pools heated by underground rocks since they live in volcanic islands! It is just like soaking in a warm bath.

18. Why is the Matamata turtle called "the fishing turtle"?

Ans: Because tiny flaps of skin on its neck attract fish and crustaceans, like bait from a fishing rod. When the turtle's prey is attracted by the skin and swims near the turtle, the reptile shoots its head and mouth forwards. This causes suction, and anything unlucky enough to be in the water will be sucked into the turtle's mouth and will become the turtle's tasty dinner.

19. Which reptile is not classified into a group?

Ans: The tuatara. It is a rare, lizard-like creature that is only found in New Zealand.

20. Why do snakes have a sixth sense?

Ans: Because they have tiny holes on the sides of their faces, which pick up the warmth of animals nearby.

2006-02-07T00:34:00.000-08:00

The robot of silence

In the inventing room of Professor V. Lysees Um
There lay the robot of silence.
This neither foul nor rotten machine
Always has a quiet performance

One day the quiet machine came to say
"My precious old machinery card
Has suddenly gone away.
How can it disappear like a lump of lard?"

So there lived the robot of silence
Really with nothing much to say.
Cause the old memory card
Keeps the things he has to jibber every day.

Oh poor the robot of silence
Quiet and silence are his rules.
Shh, shh, he goes every day
Not moving like a bag of cotton wool.

2006-02-06T00:11:00.000-08:00

The American Civil War

The American Civil War is the war with more casualties than all the other wars America had fought all together! More than a million people died in the war and a lot of cities were destroyed. It all started when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Lincoln, who was opposed to slavery, passed a law that banned slavery in the United States. The people who lived in the southern United States were outraged by this law, because they needed slaves to help them grow crops and pick cotton. Soon, the southern people decided to form an independent country of their own, which was called the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was elected president and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia vice-president. Then, to make the North even more angry after it heard that the South had declared itself independent, the Confederates(the Southern people) began to attack Union forts(the forts of the people of the North). The American Civil War had begun.

[the attack on Fort Sumter]
The first fort the Confederacy attacked was Fort Sumter. General P.G.T. Beauregard and his troops began to bombard the fort at 4:30 A.M. on April 11, 1869. Major Robert Anderson, his eighty-five soldiers and forty-three laborers fought back with forty-eight cannons. The Union surrendered after two days of fighting and the federal flag was lowered. The soldiers who defended the fort were shipped to New York were all of them were welcomed as heroes.

[recruting armies and preparing for the worst]
After the fall of Fort Sumter, the two sides began raising armies and preparing for more invasions. On April 14, 1861, President Lincoln issued a call for loyal state governors to send 75,000 militia troops to protect Washington D.C. Then, in 1862 and 1863, the Confederate and the U.S. Congress approved conscription and the drafting of men in the army. The U.S. Congress also approved of paying bounties - cash awards paid to the people who volunteered to fight in regiments. At that time, radio and television were not invented yet. So, recruiting posters were hung in places where people often gathered, like town squares and markets. Some of the people who were recruited were actually criminals or people that had been put in jail after they did something wrong. They are called bounty jumpers. They will join, receive bounty money, and then desert the army. Later they will use an alias to join the army and receive more money. Some of the most well known militias are the Lowry Rifles and the 7th New York. New York provided the most Northern soldiers while North Carolina provided the most Southern troops.

[chaos in Bull Run]
Near Washington D.C., is Manassas, Virginia. A stream nearby is called Bull Run. The fields around the stream were the battlefield of one of the largest Civil War fights. On July 21, 1896, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard (who also attacked and captured Fort Sumter) and a 20,000-man army surrounded Manassas and threatened the Union Capital. President Lincoln sent General Irvin McDowell and 30,000 troops to defend Manassas. Many residents living near Bull Run wanted to see how the troops performed in combat, so they packed picnic lunches and went to the fields were the battle was expected. The fight started at dawn on July 21 and ended in the mid-afternoon. The soldiers on both sides were poorly trained and the battle seemed to edge towards a tie. However, Beauregard's men received reinforcements, who helped drive the Union soldiers away. As McDowell and his troops retreated, they were shelled. This frightened the people who were watching the battle, and they clogged the roads as they fled. This created a traffic jam that panicked the Northern Troops. Most of them dropped their weapons and ran for the safety of Washington's defenses and their lives.

[the siege at Vicksburg]
Vicksburg was a town on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The Confederate military greatly fortified Vicksburg and set up a lot of defenses there. For example, heavy cannons set up there could shoot any vessel passing the town. Trenches were also dug in front of the town to serve as a barrier between the town and the headquarters of the attacking army. The Union army had tried many times to invade Vicksburg. However, each attack failed. Sometimes, Union soldiers would rush at the Confederate trenches, trying to cross them and enter the town. Many of these soldiers were shot down by Confederate cannons or riflemen. They also hurled Ketchum hand grenades at the Confederates. The grenades would explode if the landed on detonation plates fixed to their "noses”. The Southerners fought back by catching the grenades in blankets and throwing them back at the attacking Union troops. After a few more failed assaults, Union commander Ulysses S. Grant maneuvered a small army behind Vicksburg. After a few small battles, Grant and his army drove Vicksburg's defenders into the town's trenches. Meanwhile, the Union navy started to shell the garrison from the Mississippi River. The town was besieged by Grants forces and no food entered in for forty days! Citizens and defending soldiers were reduced to eat rats and donkeys. Civilians lived in bomb shelters in hills. After a month of hunger, attacks and shelling from the Union army, Vicksburg finally gave in. Confederate General John C. Pemberton surrendered. The battle at Vicksburg was the first Union victory in the Civil War.

[the "crazy" fight at Gettysburg]
Gettysburg is a small town in Pennsylvania, a few miles north of Maryland. In 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led 75,000 men north to invade Union territory. They wandered into Gettysburg, looking for supplies. There, a small force of Union cavalry met and fought them until reinforcements arrived. The commander of the reinforcements, General George Meade, led more than 88,000 men to combat the Confederates. The next day, Meade's and Lee's troops fought a large scale battle, the largest ever fought in North America. A hill called Little Round Top, a grove of trees called Peach Orchard, a farm called Wheat Farm, and a rise near a grave called Cemetery Hill were all battlefields and important spots that bordered the town. These combats were actually so immense that each was like a separate fight. On July second, two brigades from Confederate General Jubal Early's troops rushed to a number of Union soldiers gathered around Gettysburg’s cemetery. They almost succeeded in pushing Meade's men off Little Round Top. Union
reinforcements soon came and drove the Confederates away with many casualties. Next, at dusk, another Confederate General, Harry Hays, led another band of troops to try to capture Little Round Top. They were defeated. On the next day, 3rd July, Lee ordered a division commanded by General George Pickett to attack the center of Meade's battle lines. That attack was remembered as Pickett's Charge. Hundreds of thousands of Confederate soldiers ran directly at Union riflemen and cannons. A lot of Confederate soldiers were killed immediately. This disaster forced Lee to surrender. He ordered his army to retreat south on 4th July. His battle with Meade was the second Union victory in the Civil War and it marked a start for a "Union Comeback" in the war.

[how did they treat the wounded?]
If a Civil War soldier became ill or was wounded in battle, he was in serious trouble. In the mid-19th century, there were no medicines to fight infections and no one knew what a germ is. The bullets of the rifles used at that time were very heavy and powerful. They usually smashed the arm or leg bones of a victim. Doctors could not repair bone injuries, so damaged limbs were usually cut off. Whisky, ether and chloroform were the only painkillers available. A strange method to heal infected wounds was to put fly eggs on the wound. When baby flies, or maggots hatched, medical workers hoped they would eat the infected flesh. Amazingly, this cure sometimes worked. However, most wounded soldiers actually died of poor camp conditions rather than wounds or disease. Polluted drinking water gave wounded soldiers diphtheria and cholera. Moldy or infested food gave them food poisoning and intestinal diseases. At that time, the only treatment for these illnesses was narcotic opium. This drug eased a victim's intestinal discomfort and stopped him from dying of dehydration. Even with this drug, a lot of troops died of these diseases as well as measles, mumps, malaria and yellow fever. The cures of these diseases were discovered a lot of years later.

[camp life]
Civil War soldiers spent most of their time traveling. When on campaigns,
they rested in log cabins, huts or tents at night. Sometimes, they may simply lie down on the ground and sleep. They ate meals prepared by army cooks who cooked on portable ovens and kept themselves warm by burning firewood to make a fire. Burning fires also served as distress signals when someone needed help. In camp, soldiers spent their leisure time writing letters to their families, sketching, reading, taking photographs with their fellow soldiers and even gambling by playing cards. Still, they had to do chores, practice fighting and repair worn equipment and uniforms. Sometimes they cheered up themselves by listening to band music and chatting to fellow soldiers.

[war not on land but on the water]
The navies of the Union and Confederate armies played big parts in the success of the two sides in the war. On one hand, Southern ships attacked Union merchant ships all around the world and stole their cargo. On the other hand, Northern ironclads - ships covered in iron armour - blocked Southern ports and fought the Confederates on rivers and lakes. The CSS Alabama was the only sailing ship to enter the war. The first ironclad, CSS Virginia, was built from the burned remains of USS Merrimac. Then, the USS Monitor was built. Soon, many more ironclads were built, marking a new era in sea-warfare. However, iron armour is not fully protective for a warship. Shells or cannonballs fired at close range splintered the metal plates. Flying pieces on iron and wood often injured or killed the soldiers inside. Then, Confederate engineers invented mines, which threatened ships entering Southern waters. Northern engineers, however, invented mine-sweeping boats such as USS Saugus, to cope with mines. Also, submarines were invented to attack enemy
ships in harbors. American Civil War had actually started a new wave of technology to change the designs of ships, the way they battle and the defenses to cope with an attacking warship.

[the march to the sea]
Union General William T. Sherman had started a major campaign to conquer almost all of Confederate states in hope to make the Confederates surrender. The first part of his campaign was to conquer Atlanta, and soon, all of Georgia. His troops marched south from Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the summer of 1864, fighting a lot of battles with Southern forces. Sherman's troops pinned the Confederates in Atlanta, then forced them to leave. His troops rested there for roughly three months, then burned the city. Sherman and his men marched to the city of Savannah, burning homes of Southern civilians and taking their food. The Southern people he left behind were hungry and homeless. After some fighting in Savannah, Sherman and his soldiers captured the city and soon, other towns, giving the North a big boost of winning the war and giving them more hope that the Confederates would surrender.

[the surrender and the end of the war.]
Northern troops besieged Confederate forces in Petersburg, Virginia. Meanwhile, Union General William T. Sherman took over North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. The Union troops overcame the Confederates in two major battles, leading to the fall of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's defenses. Lee's forces then retreated to Appomattox Court House, Virginia,
where Grant's troops surrounded the Confederates. On April 9, Lee surrendered in a small house beside the Court House. Many Confederate generals dropped their weapons soon afterwards. After four intense years of bloodshed and fighting, the American Civil War had finally ended.

2006-02-06T00:05:00.000-08:00

SNEEZING YOUR HEAD OFF?

[All you should know to live with your nose]
Do you sometimes keep on sneezing until you feel that your head is about to fall off? Well, most people have experienced a runny nose and a constant "Atishoo". But have you ever wondered what makes you go crazy with your nose? Actually, the nose is divided into two parts, and the runny stuff that comes out when you sneeze accumulates in the inner part or internal nose first, before running out to the outer part or external nose and out of your nose. In the internal nose, there are two membranes, which are separated by a ridge of bone, called the nasal septum. Most people have a slightly curving nasal septum, and that doesn't pose a problem. However, some of the nasal septa in some people are bent, and that blocks air from coming out and getting in your nose. And that can stop a person from breathing!
The interior of the external nose is mostly bone and cartilage. But there are some spaces for air to pass through. The bone in the external nose is located at the very top, or root, of the nose. That's why the top of your nose is very hard. In the middle and lower parts of the nose, there are two pieces of soft cartilage, which are supported by two smaller pieces, called accessory nasal cartilage.
[Sneeze, sneeze, but why?]
When most people sneeze, it's mostly due to allergy. There are many kinds of allergy, but the most common is allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis is the medical term used to describe symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, etc. People suffering from allergic rhinitis also have these symptoms. Allergic rhinitis also refers to three types of allergic disorders: Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, and Occupational Allergic Rhinitis. Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis is caused by pollens inhaled into the nose. Tree pollens, grass pollens and plant pollens are the most commonly inhaled pollens. Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis is most common in spring, when most plants "send" out their pollen grains. That is why most people usually catch the illness when it's warmer, when plants begin to pollinate.
Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, on the other hand, is not spread by pollen. Instead, dust, mites, mold spores and fur cause Perennial Allergic Rhinitis. It is easier to catch Perennial Allergic Rhinitis indoors then outdoors, because dust accumulates indoors more easily. There are also other concerns, like feathers and the hair in the mane of a horse. But people catch Perennial Allergic Rhinitis more often from dust and fur then these rarer causes.
Occupational allergic rhinitis refers to nasal symptoms caused by exposure to a particular agent in a particular place. There are two forms of occupational rhinitis; office rhinitis and nonoffice rhinitis. In office rhinitis, symptoms occur in a certain office or working place while in nonoffice rhinitis, symptoms only occur in a particular place. Occupational rhinitis can affect a broad range of workers, for example, the president, the secretarial staff, the janitor(s) and the gardener(s) of the company.
Office rhinitis is actually occupational rhinitis caused by something in the office environment. Dust mites, fabrics, gas ranges, furnaces and insecticides all can cause office rhinitis. A lot of experts agree that a wider office or working space can reduce the chance of office rhinitis because when the working space is larger, there is more ventilation and agents can "float away" more easily to other spaces. In nonoffice rhinitis, the symptoms only appear in a special place and occurs only if the person goes to the place again. That is why nonoffice rhinitis is rarer than office rhinitis. Glue, body fluids, dust and stainless steel frames can all cause nonoffice rhinitis.
Apart from allergy, a cold or influenza is the most common cause of a sneeze. The symptoms of a cold and flu are similar to those of allergic rhinitis because they are all part of the "rhinitis group", which will be mentioned later. A cold and flu are caused by the invasion of hundreds of thousands of microscopic viruses. Viruses, like bacteria, are microscopic organisms. However, viruses are smaller than bacteria, and, unlike most bacteria, they are only capable of reproducing inside a living cell. Hence, they live in our cells like tiny, dirty parasites. A cold and influenza usually begins with a sore throat, then, more symptoms like a runny nose and nasal congestion begin to develop. Then, fever may come, and the sufferer may lose appetite. After taking some medicine, the fever may go down, but the patient has not fully recovered yet. It takes at least a week to "fight off" the illness. Other causes of a sneeze include irritant rhinitis, reflex rhinitis, rhinitis medicamentosa and vasomotor rhinitis. These causes are all in the "rhinitis group", that means that the symptoms and cures of these illnesses are similar to those of allergic rhinitis
[Prevent, prevent]
1. Pollen
Pollen is the cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis. The best prevention is to go to places where there are fewer flowers in spring, the most active time of seasonal allergic rhinitis. If you really want to see the plants, try not to go too close. But this is not a full prevention of seasonal allergic rhinitis, and the best way is to, as mentioned before, simply do not stay close to flowering plants.
2. Dust and dust mites
Dust and dust mites are one of the main causes of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis. Most dust and dust mites are found in the bedroom of a house, where dust can easily accumulate under a blanket or on a bed. The closet is also a key place for dust and dust mites to "live in". A bedroom should be cleaned at least once a week, from top to bottom. Also, store not frequently used clothing in an air-tight zipper bag. That way, when those clothing are used, they would not be dusty.
3. Smoking
Smoking is one of the main causes of occupational allergic rhinitis. If you have a chronic rhinitis problem, DO NOT SMOKE. If your family members suffer from it, DO NOT SMOKE. Smoking when you or your family members have rhinitis problems may lead to asthma, bronchitis and other illnesses associated with the lungs. If you are smoking, TRY TO QUIT. Smoking is bad for your nose and lungs, and it can lead to illnesses such as brain tumor. It also has some effects on your body, like hair-loss. If you are not smoking and you see someone smoking close to you, stay away. You may still suffer from the effects of smoking if you inhale the smoke. Smoking can be bad for the noses and lungs of everybody else too. That is why if you smoke, try to quit.

Having a constant sneeze and running nose is frustrating. Knowing more about sneezing and other illnesses can help when you really have the illness. Also, do frequent exercise and have a balanced diet so your body can become strong and healthy.

2006-02-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

THE RETURN OF THE LYNX

[Do you know]
THE LYNX IS A kind of wild cat, which lives in the snowy forests of the Yukon-British Columbia border. It is about as big as a sand cat and it's prey includes rodents, rabbits and other small animals.

[a cat in a muddle]
Scientists have launched a project to capture a whole bunch of lynxes and bring them to Colorado, which is in America. There, it will be warmer and more food. A three-year-old female lynx named Chilkat was one of those cats who will be transported to Colorado. She had been caught in a trap, and then driven to her new home. After a checkup, the vet noticed that she had a puncture wound and amputated her left leg but apart from that, she was healthy. Next she was radio-collared and released into the wild.
[mating time, cat]
After a few years, the scientists discovered that Chilkat had mated. Her mate was another lynx from Canada, named Larry. Soon after mating, Chilkat gave birth to four kittens, but two soon died, probably killed by coyotes or plague. But the other two survived.
Then, next summer, Chilkat gave birth to four more kids. However, many obstacles remain for the Colorado lynx. For example, development, poaching, traffic, etc. The people of Colorado and also, the people of our planet, should work together to protect and preserve this amazing animal.

2006-02-02T01:25:00.001-08:00

Seals and other Marine Animals
[Pinnpeds with no ears]
SEALS ARE ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING sea-creatures in the world. They live in a group of animals called pinnpeds, which means "fin footed". Other members of the pinnped family include sea-lions and walruses. The pinnpeds are powerful swimmers, and they are superbly adapted to life in the sea.
[two types and their differences]
There are 34 species of seal, which are divided into two groups: the true seal or the earless seal, and the eared seals or sea lions. True seals also cannot turn its hind flippers, so it can't climb very well on land. However, it can move surprisingly fast in the ocean, and it uses it hind flippers for swimming, The eared seal meanwhile, uses its front flippers for swimming, and it also has longer limbs than true seals, and is more agile on land. The true seal is also more suited to life in cold places then the eared seal.

[a day in a life of a seal]
A seal's day is spent doing lots of caring, hunting, and of course, eating. In the early morning, seals usually go for a swim. Next, they go to catch their breakfast. After eating, seals go for a sun-bath. Then, at about noon, the seals go back into the water for lunch. After that, adult seals go to play with their children, or older kids go out to play by themselves. They race in the water, jump and play about on the beach, and, if the seal is not careful, get eaten by a great-white shark or a killer whale! But 60% have a chance of escape. At the evening, they eat again another meal and then relax. Finally, they go to sleep, at about eleven o’ clock.

[the hunters and dangers]
The seal has a lot of hunters, including killer whales, great white sharks, and "other species of itself", like the leopard seal. But humans are actually killing more seals then any other animal. Their hunting almost led to the extinction of the northern elephant seal. The earliest people to hunt seals were the Inuit people, which usually harpooned the animal from a boat. Seals were hunted for their skin and meat. When the Europeans arrived to North America, they found out that walruses and seals had oil-which was useful at that time-in their bodies. So, they started hunting them. A huge number of pinppeds were shot from boats at that time. Nowadays, seals are hunted on the spot, usually being clubbed or shot. If the seal was not dead after being clubbed, the seal-hunter would use a pick to kill the seal with a quick blow on the head.
Humans have caused a great decline in seal population. They even continue to hunt seals today, even when there are anti-poaching laws. Tougher laws should be put in place, and reserves should be created to breed seals. Seals are very amazing animals, and humans shouldn't drive this animal into extinction.

2006-02-01T23:59:00.000-08:00

WHERE WAS ATLANTIS?

[what was Atlantis?]
Atlantis is a very well known mystery. It was first mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato, and soon the myth was known all around the world. It was said that Atlantis was a very big continent, which was even bigger than Asia and Africa put together! It had a powerful empire, and a lot of beautiful cities. But one day, an enormous wave swept the whole continent away. Nowadays, scientists are searching for clues and proposing many theories, to answer these two questions: what had caused Atlantis to disappear, and where exactly was it now?
[a load of theories]
Scientists have proposed a lot of theories, for example, some think that a huge continent called Mu was actually Atlantis. Their theory comes from stone tablets which were found in Mexico, which had a lot of details about Mu. However, I'll show that this theory is wrong. Another theory is that a long stretch of land connected Africa to Madagascar and Asia. Maybe Atlantis was the name of this land. This theory comes from an animal, called lemur. These animals were found in Madagascar, but where also found in South Africa and parts of Asia. The stretch of land
[the theory of Discovery Magazine]is now called Lemuria. But I don't support this theory as well.
I also have a theory of my own. I think the people of Atlantis were actually the Minoans or the Mycenaeans. Their empires were huge, and were as big as Greece or even bigger. However, it couldn't ever be bigger than Asia and Africa put together, nothing could. I believe that Plato emphasized Atlantis' size too much, for even the Pacific Ocean wasn't so big. So, Atlantis couldn’t have disappeared in the sea if it was as big as Plato described it was. The Minoan empire also had evidence left by its people that an enormous tidal wave had destroyed part of it or made part of it disappear.
[dumb theories? Why?]
I think that the theory that Atlantis was Mu is wrong because records from early humans didn't mention Mu, and also, the stone tablets were found in a Mayan temple, but the Maya had no record of traveling beyond Mexico. I also don't support the theory about Lemuria, because why didn't the other strange animals of Madagascar go to South Africa, and also why didn't the exotic cultures of the people of Madagascar spread to Africa or Asia.
Although there are a lot of theories and evidence, the disappearance of Atlantis still remains a mystery……