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My friend posted this article on Facebook. I checked it out & really liked it, coz I'm a big big fan of curry. So I thought I'd post it on my blog. Here it is. If what it says is true, then perhaps it's another reason to consume curry. Not that I need another reason to indulge in it :)
Curry kills cancer cells
LONDON - A MOLECULE found in a curry ingredient can kill oesophageal cancer cells in the laboratory, suggesting it might be developed as an anti-cancer treatment, scientists said on Wednesday.
Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Centre in Ireland treated oesophageal cancer cells with curcumin - a chemical found in the spice turmeric, which gives curries a distinctive yellow colour - and found it started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours. The cells also began to digest themselves, they said in a study published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Previous scientific studies have suggested curcumin can suppress tumours and that people who eat lots of curry may be less prone to the disease, although curcumin loses its anti-cancer attributes quickly when ingested. But Sharon McKenna, lead author of the Irish study, said her study suggested a potential for scientists to develop curcumin as an anti-cancer drug to treat oesophageal cancer.
Cancers of the oesophagus kill more than 500,000 people across the world each year. The tumours are especially deadly, with five-year survival rates of just 12 to 31 per cent. Ms McKenna said the study showed curcumin caused the cancer cells to die 'using an unexpected system of cell messages'.
Normally, faulty cells die by committing programmed suicide, or apoptosis, which occurs when proteins called caspases are 'switched on' in cells, the researchers said.
But these cells showed no evidence of suicide, and the addition of a molecule that inhibits caspases and stops this 'switch being flicked' made no difference to the number of cells that died, suggesting curcumin attacked the cancer cells using an alternative cell signalling system. -- REUTERS
A molecule found in a curry ingredient can kill oesophageal cancer cells in the laboratory, suggesting it might be developed as an anti-cancer treatment, scientists said on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: AP
Link:http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Tech+and+Science/Story/STIStory_447509.html?vgnmr=1
Real Madrid lost 4-0 to Spanish third division club AD Alcorcon, in a Spanish Cup round of 32 first leg match. For AD Alcorcon, it would probably be their most famous win. For Real Madrid, this represents humiliation on a grand scale.Real Madrid, remember, shell out €300 million to buy new players (including superstars Cristiano Ronaldo & Kaka) in response to Barcelona's treble success in the 2008/2009 season. The new signings will need time to settle; yes, that is true. But who would have thought they would have lost 4-0 to a third division side? Real Madrid may not have put their full-strength team out, but they still fielded 9 international players. Even a half-strength Real Madrid should have been able to beat AD Alcorcon. In fact, any team in Spain's top division should be able to beat AD Alcorcon with half-strength line-ups. No disrespect intended to AD Alcorcon.Of course, both teams still have to play the second leg in Madrid. But AD Alcorcon take a handy 4-goal first leg lead to the Spanish capital, & Real Madrid must score 4 goals without reply, just to take the match to extra-time. The damage to Real Madrid's prestige caused by the 4-0 debacle in the first leg might stick for a while, even if Real Madrid wins the second leg by 5 goals or more.
Hahahaha. Look at this article from The Star (Malaysian newspaper) on 15/10/2009. It talks about a "1Toilet" plan. The things people come up with these days. Everyone shares 1 toilet!! Hahahahaha!!!!!!!! It's so very very silly, to put it kindly. Let's point & laugh!! Hahaha!!
The article says that students feel increased sense of importance if they share the same toilet as their teachers. This makes me LMAO. Aaahhhhhh, yes, I see. Teachers use toilet first, then students use after the teachers. Or hey, they can make it the other way round & let students use the toilet first before teachers. Either way, students & teachers get the chance to smell each other's shit. What a great honour, indeed. It must be such an honour for the teachers to have their faecal odour being discussed by their beloved students. "Hey, did u know what Miss Hasmah's shit smells like?" "You think that's bad? Mr Salleh's shit smells even worse! It must be all that roti canai"
Yeah, I can see "1 shit break per person per day" being introduced. If that really happens, u hear it first from here!!
‘1Toilet’ plan to let teachers and students mingle freely
KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government will introduce a “1Toilet” policy in a move to liberalise education, where teachers – and even principals – will soon have to share toilets with their students.
State Education, Higher Learning, Human Resource, Science and Technology Committee chairman Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said the policy was mooted in line with the 1Malaysia concept, and teachers and students could have a feeling of “oneness”.
“We want students to have a sense of belonging that we believe would inspire them to excel further in their education.
“When students share the toilets with the teacher, they (students) will believe that they are on par with academicians and this automatically invokes a sense of being important to an organisation, which, in this case, is the school,” he said here yesterday.
“We are not compelling the school authorities to apply the policy. It is their prerogative,” said Ahmad Razif.
“So far, we have one school in Hulu Terengganu that has implemented the policy a few days ago. It has received positive feedback from the school management although it is still premature for us to evaluate its efficiency,” he said.
Ahmad Razif said that under the policy, teachers and students would also be encouraged to sit within a common space at school canteens during recess.
“This means that teachers and students will mingle freely during recess,” he said.
Ahmad Razif said the policy had initially been proposed by Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said earlier this year but that it took some time for it to be properly drafted.
On another matter, Ahmad Razif said the state government would continue to send students to pursue medicine and dentistry in recognised universities in Indonesia.
“We are looking into the option of sending our students to universities in areas classified as non-earthquake prone areas in Indonesia,” he said.
Ahmad Razif said the state government was also in the midst of discussions with officials from University Padjadjaran of Bandung on the possibility of sending Terengganu students for medical courses there.
He said other countries that the state government was planning to send their medical undergraduates next year were Poland and Russia.
Finally, finally, Argentina have qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. They did so courtesy of a 1-0 win away to fierce South American rivals Uruguay, in the very last qualifying game. The goal was scored by midfielder Mario Bolatti, just little over 5 minutes from full-time. Argentina only needed a draw to stay in fourth place in the South American table & qualify directly for the World Cup, while Uruguay needed to win to get that fourth spot. Thanks to Bolatti's late strike, Argentina got a bit more than the draw they needed. And with it, South Africa beckons next year.
According to reports, the match in Montevideo really was a tight affair as the scoreline suggested, with few scoring opportunities as both sets of defence were on top of their game. Apparently, Argentina's narrow win was just about deserved. I am just relieved they will be going to the World Cup. Going into the Uruguay match, I was very worried for Argentina. In their previous game just days before, they narrowly won 2-1 at home to Peru, with Peru scoring a late equaliser before Argentina scoring the winner deep into time added on. Montevideo was certainly not the easiest of places to go to get a result from. The fact that Argentina did get a result there will, hopefully, spur them on to greater things.
But let's not sweep things under the carpet. Argentina really made a huge mess of the South American qualifiers. With the players they have, they should have been able to qualify for the World Cup much more comfortably & much earlier than they actually did. Instead, they bungled their way through many of their matches, & had to wait until 5 minutes from the end of their last game to secure qualification. They had a change of coach midway during the qualifying series, & that added to the struggles. Goodness gracious, thankfully they have made it.
Uruguay, meanwhile, will have to fight it out another day - the loss to Argentina & results elsewhere means they clinch fifth spot in South America, & they now go to the playoffs with a team from CONCACAF to see who goes through to the World Cup.
So, Argentina finishes in fourth spot in the South American qualifiers. The teams above them are Brazil, Chile & Paraguay. Interestingly, Chile & Paraguay are coached by Argentinians....& both sides finish above Argentina on the standings. That's interesting.....to me, this suggests that there are better candidates to coach Argentina than Maradona. Why was Maradona picked, despite his inexperience???? I keep asking this question, & to this day, I cannot find an answer.
Some sad news for wrestling fans. Former professional wrestling manager, Captain Lou Albano, has died aged 76. He died in his sleep.Those who follow American professional wrestling closely would know who Lou Albano is. I remember him from watching World Wrestling Federation (as it was known back then) in the 1980s as a kid. He stands out for being on the overweight side (& I say this in a good way), his scruffy looks, longish hair & distinctive beard. He was one of the "good guys". The wrestlers he managed include such big names as Andre the Giant, Nikolai Volkoff, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka & The Iron Sheik. There were a couple of occasions where he would get into fights with rival managers. On top of that, he managed numerous tag teams. A lot of the wrestlers he managed (whether as single competitors or tag team) have won many titles. I can tell you he was some character, & I enjoyed watching him & the wrestlers he managed. If I recall correctly, there was one WWF segment where Albano was attacked by Bobby Heenan & a couple of Heenan's wrestlers, only for Albano's wrestlers to come to the rescue & take Heenan's wrestlers out. They then isolated Bobby Heenan for Albano to throw a couple of punches & dish out handsome retribution on Heenan, much to the delight of the crowd (because Heenan was one of the villains, a manager that wrestling fans loved to hate). Aaaaahhhh, memories.Lou Albano's passing is a huge loss to the wrestling world. Outside of wrestling, I am sure his family & friends will dearly miss him.RIP Lou Albano.
Brisbane Roar just sacked coach Frank Farina for drink driving (bloody idiot). The announcement was meant to have been made yesterday afternoon, but it was delayed over dispute over his payout. Well, Farina is now gone! Gooooonnneee!!!
The amazing thing is - this is NOT the first time he's done it (drink drive). What a twit. Now that he's out of work, maybe he can take up new occupation as taxi driver (Silvercabs, anyone?) or a chauffeur. Hahaha....
Stephen Gately, former member of Irish pop group Boyzone, is dead. I just discovered the news while surfing the internet.
Gately was found dead in his apartment on the Spanish island of Majorca. Apparently, he died of excess fluid in his lungs. I was shocked by this - yet another celebrity to have died so young. I SMSed my good friend Ivan C the other day to tell him of the news. From his SMS reply, I think Ivan was shocked, too. No doubt members of Boyzone, & thousand of their fans & others within the music industry, would have been devastated by the news.
RIP Stephen Gately.
1. You were/are a good student with very high GPAs. 2. You majored in something practical like engineering, medicine or finance.
3. You have more than one-college degree, especially more than one Masters.
4. If you play a musical instrument, it must be piano.
5. You have a vinyl table cloth on your kitchen table.
6. Your stove is covered with aluminum foil.
7. Your kitchen has a sticky film of grease over it.
8. You beat eggs with chopsticks.
9. You always leave outdoor shoes at the door.
10. You use the dishwasher as a dish rack.
11. You keep a Thermos of hot water available at all times.
12. You boil water before drinking.
13. You eat all meals in the kitchen to keep your dining room clean.
14. You don't use measuring cups when preparing foods.
15. You save grocery bags and use them to hold garbage.
16. You have a rice cooker.
17. You're a wok user.
18. You fight over who pays the dinner bill.
19. You wash rice 2-3 times before cooking it.
20. You make sounds when you have a bowl of soup.
21. You don't dry-clean clothes, even if they need to be dry-cleaned.
22. You iron your own shirts.
23. You like congee with thousand year old eggs.
24. You always cook yourself, even if you hate it.
25. You use credit cards, and pay monthly bills in full.
26. You do either soccer, swimming, badminton, volleyball, basketball, or ping pong, and have an obsession with making the Beijing Olympics.
27. You buy Christmas cards after Christmas, when they are 50% off.
28. When you hand wash dishes, you only use cold water. 29 & 30. You hate to waste food:
a) Even if you're totally full, if someone says they're going to throw away the leftovers on the table, you'll finish them. b) You have Tupperware in your fridge with three bites of rice or one leftover chicken wing. 31. You don't own any real Tupperware-only a cupboard full of used but carefully rinsed margarine tubs, takeout containers, and jam jars.
32. When toilet paper is on sale, you buy 100 rolls and store them.
33. You have a collection of miniature shampoo/conditioner bottles and little soap bars that you take every time you stay in a hotel.
34. The condiments in your fridge are either Price Club sized or come in plastic packets, which you save every time you get take out or go to McDonald's.
35. You carry a stash of your own food whenever you travel (and travel means any car ride longer than 15 minutes).
36. You spit bones and other food scraps on the table.
37. Your dad thinks he can fix everything himself.
38. When you go to a dance party, there is always a group of guys surrounding the dance floor trying to look cool.
39. Your house/aparment is always cold in winter, and hot in summer.
40. Your Mom drives her Mercedes to Foodtown, or Shoppers Food Warehouse regardless how far it is, even if the dairy is next door.
41. You always look phone numbers up in the phone book, since calling Directory Assistance costs 50 cents.
42. You only make long distance calls after 11pm or during weekends.
43. You prefer your shrimp with the heads and legs still attached.
44. You never call your parents just to say hi.
45. You think ONLY Japanese can make good CARS!
46. You use a colored face cloth every morning.
47. You starve yourself before going to all-you-can-eat places.
48. Almost all your money is in a savings account
49. You never discuss your love life with your parents.
50. You take this message and forward it to all your Asian friends.
Apparently, this is a true story.
A town councillor in Wales, Mark Easton, had a beautiful view of the mountains, until a new neighbour purchased the land below his house and built a new home.
The new home was 18 inches higher than the planning dept had approved, so Mark Easton, mad about his lost view, went to the local authority to make sure they enforced the roof line height.
The new neighbour had to drop the roof height, at great expense.
Recently, Mark Easton called the planning dept, and informed them that his new neighbour had installed some vents on the side of his new property.
Mark didn't like the look of these vents and asked the planning dept to investigate.
When they went to Mark's home to see what the vents looked like, this is what they found...
The Local Authority said the vents can stay since there is no planning law referring to shutter design.
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.
ceehiro
