:: S-I-C it ::

Thursday, February 26, 2004

HPV and Oral Sex cause Oral Cancer

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is associated with cervical cancer. Now researchers, working for the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, compared 1670 patients who had oral cancer with 1732 healthy volunteers. The participants lived in Europe, Canada, Australia, Cuba and Sudan. HPV16, the strain seen most commonly also in cervical cancer, was found in most of the oral cancers too. This latest research is reported in the New Scientist Magazine. The research findings showed that those with oral cancers containing the HPV16 strain were three times as likely to report having had oral sex as those whose tumour did not contain HPV16. There was no difference between men and women in terms of how likely the virus was to be present in the cancers.
The risks are not big, 1 in 10,000 or so. Smoking and alcohol are also known to be asociated with oral cancer. High consumptions of alcohol and cigarettes are estimated to cause 75-90 percent of all cases of oral cancer. So together they can have a cumulative effect.
So those who smoke, drink and engage in oral sexually activities (cunnilingus or fellatio) remember your oral and genital hygiene too.
Help is also on the way, scientists are working on a vaccine to counter HPV infections and this should work for both cervical and oral varieties.
HPV infection is a big problem as it can be asymptomatic and in the US, a third of 25 year-old ladies are HPV infected at any one time. World wide, cervical cancer causes 250,000 deaths a year.

| ¶ 2/26/2004 04:49:00 PM

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

National Service Bounty

The National Service Training Programme is only just over one week old and going by reports in the media, it is already producing results. Initially there were some mishaps like trainees missing their transport, landing in the wrong camps and even an accident while on transit.
Media reports that most if not all trainees are enjoying themselves and more importantly learning about each other and learning how to live with each other. Living in a mixed group of 7 Malays, 2 Chinese and 1 Other to a tent certainly makes the group appreciate that there is more than just oneself in this country of ours.
Communal baths may have come as a surprise to some but they soon got into the spirits of things. Then there were other activities like canoeing, physical training, outwardbound school stuff and other things to do together. And as some of the trainees commented, "All these for free and more."
Even the Singapore Straits Times has this to say :: NS breaking down racial barriers after only a week. Are our kiasu neighbours downsouth saying all this with tongue-in-the-cheek. The report started of by saying :: "If there is one benefit from Malaysia's fledgling national service training, it is the fact that unlike many adults, young Malaysians of different races are actually mixing with each other." It further added that a Chinese trainee had this in his diary :: 'The Malay guys have picked up a couple more Chinese words. One asked me to sek fan (have lunch). I know some Tamil but would like to learn more.' Looks like it takes the programme for one to learn some other dialect. After the full three months, we might end up having Hokkein speaking Malay and Indians, Kadazan speaking Chinese and Tamil speaking Orang Aslis, all for the good of integration. Another achievement for the programme.
PAS and some other opposition parties have fears that the programme would 'brainwash' the trainees and have them end up BN supporters. This blogger thinks that our Gen X and Gen Y are unworthy of such thoughts, contacts with them have shown them to be very capable of thinking for themselves. This 'brainwashing' fears were even picked up by a Taiwan paper, click here to read :: Malaysian group fights brainwashing.
There are some 15 more weeks to go, here's wishing all those trainees involved all the best and take care.

| ¶ 2/24/2004 09:46:00 PM

Monday, February 23, 2004

Shutting Down Sick Porno Websites

Many of you may remember reading in the media and on the web regarding the murder case of teacher, Jane Longhurst. The murderer, Graham Coutts, was found guity of her murder. Read this BBC account to refresh your memory.

In an immediate reaction after the verdict the family of Ms Longhurst, her partner and others blame the internet for her murder. A call was also made in the House of Commons for the British Government to conduct a review of the Obscene Publications Acts of 1959 and 1964 and all other key legislation and to get international co-operation to close down obscence websites. Some 100 British MPs have signed a Commons motion calling for the prohibition of "sick websites promoting sexual violence against women".

The Mail on Sunday has launched a campaign to restrict what it describes as the "obscene material" available on the internet. Its reporters uncovered websites dedicated to strangling and torturing women which amounted to a virtual incitement to murder. The Government said that it was not able to act against these websites but the Mail claimed to have shut down at least two of these sites using not illegal means. The Mail crippled the websites by severing the financial links to these two sites. Click here to read all about how the Mail did it. It looks like Governments are not infalliable and often there is a need to think outside the box and pressure groups need to push the boundaries.

Further reading on the campaign and other topics, check out the links below ::

| ¶ 2/23/2004 03:26:00 PM

Sunday, February 22, 2004

Of the Swallowing of Coins, Needles & Nails

Was talking to the younger ones about what some people will do to get out of situations and get some attention just a couple of days ago and see what is on the web today.

See the picture on the right, an xray made of the abdomen of a 62-year-old man who came to the emergency room of Cholet General Hospital in western France in 2002. He had a history of major psychiatric illness, was suffering from stomach pain, and could not eat or move his bowels. Doctors discovered an enormous opaque mass in his stomach that turned out to weigh 12 pounds, as much as some bowling balls. The patient had swallowed around 350 coins, along with assorted necklaces and needles. (AP Photo/photo released by The New Engand Journal of Medicine).

You can see a bigger pic here and the AP article here.

But back to what was said earlier about what some people do to get out of situations and get some attention. Some means employed by prisoners to get out from prison and see the world is to complain of some illness and just getting a trip to the hospital clinic is a good enough change of scenery. Was told by a reliable source that there was this particular prisoner who wwas in prison for life. He would swallow nails (those for hammering into planks/wood) in order to get out of prison and get a chance to get visits from family members and friends while he was warded and treated at the taxpayers' expense. This guy didn't do it just once but on many occasions.

| ¶ 2/22/2004 07:09:00 PM

Friday, February 20, 2004

That Ring of Fire

Looks like nothing and no one is sacred. Advertising writers in Florida were planning to pitch haemorrhoid-relief products with a commercial featuring Johnny Cash's classic song "Ring of Fire," but his family says a biG NO NO.
TV producer Sula Miller of Big Grin Productions said she came up with the idea when she was struggling with haemorrhoids and heard the song on the radio. Just imagine that, radio in the loo.
Johnny Cash's children are upset with the idea to use the Man In Black's hit song, "Ring Of Fire," in such a manner, connecting it with piles.

Johnny's daughter, Rosanne Cash told the Tennessean, "We would never allow the song to be demeaned like that. The song is about the transformative power of love and that's what it has always meant to me and that's what it will always mean to the Cash children." The hit song was written by the late June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. Both Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash died last year.

Kilgore said he thought the idea was funny, and that he often joked about hemorrhoids onstage whenever he'd introduce "Ring of Fire," which includes the words "burns, burns, burns". Kilgore said it wasn't his intention to upset the Cash family.

Weblinks ::

| ¶ 2/20/2004 09:50:00 PM

Election Fever is in the Air

Election fever is certainly very catching. In the past few days, election watch sites are sprouting all over the net, some are dormant as yet but on others pre-election news is the order of the day. Below are some sites and blogs were you can keep undated with the latest on pre-election news ::

Take your pick.

| ¶ 2/20/2004 08:47:00 PM

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

BSA Tahir-Kamaluddin ties : AP News

BSA Tahir or Buhary Syed Abu Tahir is accused of being the chief financial officer for an international nuclear black market sat on the board of a company owned by Kamaluddin according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Kamaluddin is the son of the new PM. The documents, obtained by AP via searches of publicly accessible files, reveal a paper trail through privately held companies that outlines ties between Kamaluddin and BSA Tahir, as well as his Malaysian wife, Nazimah Syed Majid. Najimah is said to be the daughter of a Malaysian VVIP.
Both Tahir and Kamaluddin were top executives at Kaspadu Sdn. Bhd, Kaspadu has shares in Scomi and Scomi owns Scope. Scope is the alleged to have built components that Western intelligence agencies allege were for use in Libya's nuclear program.

For more of this AP report, click here

| ¶ 2/18/2004 04:11:00 PM

Blood Donors via SMS

Taiping housewife, Chuwa Siok Hong, was at a loss over how to get donors with Group AB Rhesus Positive blood type for her 9 year old son. The son, Ang Boon Kit, has leukaemia and was supposed to undergo a marrow transplant.
Friends of the family soon got to work and via e-mails and text messages via short messaging service (SMS) related the plight of Chuwa's son and appeal for donors. Donors soon responded to these messages and brought relief to the family. Like before in an earlier case involving a Mrs Tan, who had severe postpartum haemorrhage, those magnificent selfless donors responded in great number. Syabas.
At the University Malaya Medical Centre, Boon Kit's father, Mr Ang Chek Chau said that Boon Kit now has seven donors on standby for the marrow transplant operation. A grateful mother, Mdm Chuwa said, “We would like to thank those who spread the news and those who responded.”

Some paper has reported that many who received the SMS thought it was a hoax. And it took a report in the vernacular press to bring forth results.

A M'kini reader also wrote in to say how he and his friends were given the run around by UMMC when they try to respond to the SMS. Read his letter here :: Hospital Clueless that Patient seeks Donors ::
"I would like to relate my own story of what happened when I received that SMS last Thursday. I immediately called a Mrs Chai at the number to verify if it was a genuine call for help. After trying many times, I got through. She spoke Mandarin and said, "Yes, it's for real."

| ¶ 2/18/2004 12:14:00 AM

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Of Shower Curtains and Diseases

Professor Norman Pace, of the University of Colorado, said that shower curtains can be breeding grounds for deadly killer micro-organisms.

He said: 'These are breeding grounds for microbiological problems. The soap scum on your shower curtain is a lush bed of microbes. It contains quite robust micro-organisms that can survive for a long time.'

These potential killers are thrown up in clouds each time the shower is turned on and can easily enter the lungs and open wounds on the body. They are especially dangerous to the weak and immune challenged.
Steps you can take to reduce the risks from these soap scum killers are ::

Wash the shower curtains as frequent as daily
Use glass shower partitions
Don't use shower baths

Professor Pace also said that such micro-organisms also thrive on kitchen sponge and cloth and these should be washed frequently and left to dry and they should alsso be replaced frequently.
Hot tubs and swimming pools also have such killers on ttheir surfaces and can cause what are called "hot tub lungs' and "lifeguard lung".

For more, click on these links ::

Killer outside your shower
Germs Throw Cold Water on Hot Tub Hygiene

| ¶ 2/17/2004 09:33:00 AM

Saturday, February 14, 2004

Free Anwar Movement's Valentine

Today is Valentine's Day, a day of LOVE, not just for that one particular person but for everyone one wants to shower love upon. So the Free Anwar Movement has decided to celebrate this day but showering love on its 'eminence grise', who unfortunatelyy is in Sungei Buloh, denied bail and treatment of choice for his back problems.
According to this M'kini report, the Movement is using this day to remind the new PM that jailed Anwar remains a symbol of the unwillingness of the ruling government to institute genuine reforms. But will the new PM show genuine love?
The Movement is organising a peaceful gathering at Anwar’s hometown in Cherok To’Kun, Permatang Pauh in Penang. About 50,000 people are expected to attend. After thhe warning from the Perak Mufti, click here, will there be a smaller crowd?
As at the time of writing, the Valentine convoy should be making its way from the Rawang rest area to Cherok To'kun. Will it and the Valentine gathering be reciprocated with love by the new PM for the one in Sungei Buloh, this day of LOVE?

| ¶ 2/14/2004 08:59:00 AM

Monday, February 09, 2004

Of Bukit Kepong, 513 and Eating Together

It is often said that when Bukit Kepong is screened repeatedly on the idiot box and mentions are made of 513 (the May 13th incident), general election is near. Somehow these events are so linked. Well, not too llong ago at a book launch, the heroics of Bukit Kepong received mention. Recently, coming from the unexpected quarters was mention again of 513, the Star has this to say ::

He (the new PM said the May 13 riot had taught the country’s leaders that race relations was “not simple” and that one race could not be left to dominate any particular sector.
“We cannot leave the administration and politics of the country to the Malays, trade and business to the Chinese or union and professional workforce to the Indians,” he said.

Isn't it time we laid the ghost of 513 to RIP. After all the group at which this mention was directed is supposedly the youths of oour nation, this is a group who knows so little of that particular events. It can be said that the nation has chosen to leave it that way. What little the youths may know are coloured by the interpretations of the community the belong to. Unless a time comes when we are all ready to face the truth, at least the ghost of 513 should be allowed to temporarily rest in peace.
The other thing which our new PM likes to talk about is that racial integration has improved over the years and this is in relations to our ability to sit down together and eat. For a man who wants to know the truth, he must be missing something.
Bernama has this to report ::

Referring to being able to sit down comfortably at the same table to enjoy food during Chinese New Year gatherings now, as compared to the previous era which served separate food for Muslims and non-Muslims, Abdullah said the friendship among people of different religion and races was not a pretension.
"Today we are more comfortable eating at the same table as the food served is halal and can be eaten by all those present. As for Indians who cannot consume beef, other food is served.
"Racial integration now (when compared to the past era) is much better," said the Prime Minister.

Many would like to differ with the new PM with regards to the ease of sitting down together to eat these days. Many of my friends would say it is difficult these days to have muslim friends come eat in their homes on festivals unlike back then in the 60's and 70's. What's your experience? Do you think the ability to be eating together is a good measure of racial integration? Were we having bad old days then, or were they better old days? These days, i am told, it is best to eat out together at those halal establishments or fast food joints or open houses, when having mixed company. But then again, can everyone afford these?

| ¶ 2/09/2004 02:07:00 PM

Sunday, February 08, 2004

PCM will be ROYAL PCM

The MB of Perak said Sultan Azlan Shah, Sultan of Perak, who is also the Chancellor of Universiti Malaya (UM) had played a significant role in establishing a strategic alliance between the UM and PCM (Perak College of Medicine). A Bernama report said that "The Perak College of Medicine (PCM) would be given the "Royal" title in recognition of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah's contribution towards the college's development."
There are big plans for PCM, which was only established some 4 years ago in 1999. The PCM was in its final stages of signing an agreement with Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UKL), a Mara-owned institution, to introduce twining programmes with its medical faculty. And the Star reported sunday that ::

"Once completed, he said, the college's graduates would receive their degrees in Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery issued by Universiti Kuala Lumpur."

In the meanwhile, the Bernama report said that ::

"Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali said Sultan Azlan who is the Chancellor of Universiti Malaya (UM) had played a significant role in establishing a strategic alliance between the university and PCM.
Students of PCM would now receive their degrees under the arrangement with UM."

Now which one of the instituitions of higher learning is going to award the MBBS degree to graduating medical students of PCM in the future? Or it is going to be Malaysia Boleh and we are going to have a medical doctor graduating from Royal PCM in the near future with 3 degrees, one each from Royal PCM, UM and UKL?
See also these two blogs regarding backdoor entry of medical undergrad to UM in Medical Students of PCM and PCM-UM Collaboration
Whatever it is soon to be Royal PCM will be going places for the Perak MB also says PCM was negotiating with Harvard University’s Medical Faculty to send its professors as technical advisers at the college, will there also be a MD for the graduands? Royal PCM would definitely be the place to consider sending one's offsprings if they have inclinations for a future in the field of medicine.

| ¶ 2/08/2004 08:03:00 PM

Wednesday, February 04, 2004

Lorong Haji Taib = Bugis Street?

Bernama reports that Malaysia is considering legalising transvestites' activities (whatever it means). The idea to legalise their activities as proposed by MINIster in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is being studied by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and they have agreed in principle, he said.
Lorong Haji Taib in Kuala Lumpur is well known for transvestites for the past 40 years. This area falls under the care of the Bukit Bintang MP. Bukit Bintang MCA Chief Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng said that transvestites' activities should be legalised and regulated to create a healthy entertainment industry. According to him, they are found in New York and in Bangkok too.
Datuk Dr Lee suggested monitoring and legalising these activities to create an entertainment industry. He envisaged the setting up of cafes, bistros, nightclubs in designated areas to highlight transvestites' shows. This will also generate revenue and reduce social ills like rapes, robberies and killings! What's the connection? Is this the soft alternative to what has been proposed recently on how rapists should be handled, see here and here.
Lorong Haji Taib, once notorious for drug addicts has now been cleared of the menace, but the unmonitored transvestites are creating social problems in the area and legalising them would be an apt solution, said the Bernama report.
Now what will our Green Party have to say to this. What is the view of muslim and nonmuslim Malaysians on this solution to a social problem facing the nation? Is the new PM aware of this solution?
Looks like Datuk Lee is starting his campaign for Bukit Bintang early. So MP Fong had better start her home work. The Star, MCA owned had only a tiny column regarding this. But the MMail seems to have taken this to town, interviewing the men and ladies in the street regarding this issue :: under the headline, ‘Let them entertain publicly’. MMail reported that Datuk Lee is thinking of turning Lorong Haji Taib into a local versi of Pattaya, with shows and other entertainment! Will this be allowed in an Islamic country?

| ¶ 2/04/2004 02:03:00 PM

Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Bodice-Ripper Timberlake

Whether it was unintentional or a setup or otherwise, the bodice-ripping act of Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson has turned plenty of heads and caused a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) probe and even President Bush was asked to comment on it. This act of the duo will definite be cause for requests, from you know who, if ever they were to try and perform here in Malaysia.
The FCC chairman, Powell (not Collin) promised a "thorough and swift" investigation of the stunt. Powell also had this to say :: "That celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt." "Our nation's children, parents and citizens deserve better."
President Bush when asked to comment said he fell asleep before the halftime show of the SuperBowl and had therefore no comments to make.
Janet Jackson apologized for the incident(oh yes, the incident in which one of her breasts was bared for a moment as she sang with Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl halftime show) In a statement released the next day, Jackson said it was a last-minute stunt that went awry.
What has the bodiceripper got to say? He said it was a 'wardrobe malfunction," but in comments to the syndicated show "Access Hollywood" right after the incident, he didn't seem too sorry, for he then laughingly said :: "Hey man, we love giving you all something to talk about.".
Chris Ender, entertainment spokesman for CBS had these to say :: "This was done completely without our knowledge." "It wasn't rehearsed. It wasn't discussed. It wasn't even hinted at. ... This is something we would have never approved. We are angry and embarrassed."
But there are others who believe in conspracy theories and think the whole act was premeditated. The breast baring display coincided exactly with Timberlake singing, "I'm gonna have you naked by the end of this song". A show choreographer promised "shocking moments" in an interview with the Web site MTV.com prior to the show? Janet Jackson has a new album, "Damita Jo", due out soon. So what do you think, premeditated or unintentional?
You can see the Star versi of the pic here and the Reuters versi here

For more complete coverage of the incident, take a look at the following ::

Janet's bare breast sparks probe

Janet Jackson comes undone at Super Bowl

Janet Jackson Apologizes for Bared Breast

| ¶ 2/03/2004 12:46:00 PM

Monday, February 02, 2004

Cameroon wants Taiping 4 Back

The Taiping 4 are back in the news again. These 4 baby gorillas are presently in Taiping Zoo. Malaysian authorities claimed that they acquired the gorillas in good faith, understanding them to have been bred in captivity. This was proven untrue later and the baby gorillas had to be returned. See this blog for context :: Law Monkeyed? Despite what Law had to say, no one has been brought to book for the Taiping 4 fiasco so far. The special enclosure built for the gorillas in Taiping Zoo remains empty. A M'kini reporter recently visited the Zoo and was told that the gorillas are in good health but cannot be displayed for obvious reasons.
Cameroon, Malaysia, South Africa and Nigeria are all parties to CITES, an international accord which among other things bans selling or trading apes caught in the wild. The battle for the return of the Taiping 4 is on. Malaysia is said to want to send them to South Africa with the hope that offsprings from them can be given to Malaysia later on. A Reuters report recently said that :: Cameroon says Malaysia zoo gorillas must come back. This is expected to become a hot issue at the next meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Meanwhile, the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa said the gorillas would find a good home there and it expected to receive them within a month, but gave no details of the agreement. Will Law make the right decision this time around?

| ¶ 2/02/2004 10:26:00 AM