Breaking out of the mental prison

15 Sep 2007, ST

SCHIZOPHRENIA

One in 100 people suffers from this mental condition. Over 16,000 people with this condition cope with it daily, holding down a job or going to school.

Health Correspondent SALMA KHALIK looks at those with schizophrenia, who face a lifelong struggle to get out of their mental prison to lead near-normal lives

DESIREE is a student leader with everything going for her. Her bubbly personality makes her a favourite with teachers and fellow students.

Then schizophrenia hit.

It sapped her confidence. She got depressed, saw herself as a failure and tried to kill herself.

JOHN is a successful, inventive businessman with an engineering firm. He is married, lives in a condominium and owns a couple of nice cars. He has lived with voices in his head for over 15 years. Many times, those voices told him to kill himself. He has survived those attempts.

ENTER the world of schizophrenia. A world of mental anguish and darkness, where one hears voices others cannot hear, sees things invisible to others, thinks thoughts others do not understand, and starts to be suspicious of everyone, even one's closest family.

Locked in the mental prison caused by the disease, people with schizophrenia feel estranged from society.

In Singapore, there is not much awareness of this condition.

In fact, it is a common mental illness, affecting one in 100 people. Half the 32,000 outpatients treated at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) suffer from this, which means there are over 16,000 Singaporeans living a relatively normal life, coping with schizophrenia.

Eighty per cent of the 6,600 - or 5,280 - of the patients warded at IMH each year suffer from schizophrenia.

Every day, a child is born in Singapore who will suffer from schizophrenia.

Far from the stereotype of violent lunatics foaming at the mouth, many people with schizophrenia in fact are able to lead a relatively stable, normal life. Like John, the businessman. Or William, the draughtsman.

Fearsome disease

SCHIZOPHRENIA remains one of the most feared and least understood of mental illnesses. Dr Swapna Verma, a psychiatrist with IMH, explains: 'Schizophrenia is a syndrome, and no two patients behave the same way.'

A medical condition is referred to as a 'syndrome' when no one knows its exact cause and so defines it by a collection of symptoms.

Even symptoms vary: many schizophrenia patients will hear voices or see things that don't exist. Some believe they have super powers. Others become suspicious of people around them, to the point of paranoia.

In its mild form, this mental illness that causes people to lose touch with reality is called psychosis.

One in 40 people here will suffer from a psychotic episode some time in their lives. If a psychosis persists for six months or longer, or is a recurring problem, it is called schizophrenia.

About a third of schizophrenia patients recover after treatment.

Another third would appear to recover and may be fine for some years, before relapsing.

The rest are chronic sufferers, who need to manage the disease throughout their lives.

The latter two categories need medication all their lives.

Catch it early

RECENT research has been promising in pinpointing several facts about schizophrenia.

First, it is now accepted that schizophrenia often shows up first in the young adult years - late teens to 20s - at a time when the brain is still growing.

The brain does not mature fully till about 25. Schizophrenia occurs when something goes wrong during this developmental stage.

Doctors consider the teen years 'the most mentally unhealthy' time in a person's life.

That's when a lot of mental disorders appear - depression, anorexia, substance abuse, personality disorders, and schizophrenia.

These are the years when the brain's frontal lobe is developing. This part of the brain deals with how a person plans, organises and strategises - in other words, all the high-level processing.

The temporal lobe, which deals with emotions, is also changing during these years, causing the emotional see-saws of adolescent years.

Some doctors speculate that it takes both a predisposition and a trigger to set off the chain of chemical reactions in the brain that leads to schizophrenia. Others think that either factor - a genetic link, or a traumatic event - is enough.

Dr Alison Yung, who runs a state clinic for young people with mental problems in Melbourne, said a child has a 12 per cent risk of getting schizophrenia if one parent has the disease, and 40 per cent if both parents suffer from it. For those with no family history, the risk is 1 per cent.

Dr Tan Hao Yang, of the National University of Singapore (NUS), who is doing research into what happens to the brain of someone with a mental disorder, described schizophrenia as 'a terrible chronic disease starting early in life that lasts a lifetime'.

The second promising development is that early treatment appears to make a real difference to patients' lives. So the trick is in identifying patients early, as soon as symptoms appear.

A pilot project in Melbourne University is doing precisely that. Scientists there have come up with a list of things to look out for to identify those who are at risk of developing schizophrenia, before full-blown symptoms appear.

For example, teachers and counsellors are trained to identify young people who start becoming suspicious of others or talk of hearing 'whispers'. This is the stage before they become fully paranoid or start hearing voices.

At this Melbourne centre, schizophrenia patients are picked up two months after symptoms appear, compared to a year in other programmes. Many are young people seeking treatment on their own.

Professor Patrick McGorry, a world expert in schizophrenia based in Melbourne, said that if a patient goes without treatment for a couple of years, the disease becomes relatively permanent and 'treatment at that point is largely ineffective'.

Singapore has started an early psychosis intervention programme at IMH, modelled on the Melbourne experience. So far, the results have been positive. Of the 1,100 people identified and helped in the last six years, none has required long-term treatment. The Ministry of Health is pumping more resources into this programme.

Enigma in the brain

SCHIZOPHRENIA spares no one and has a wide spectrum of victims - from brilliant students and sports enthusiasts to the less successful. It affects the rich and poor like.

Specialists are still fumbling around for an explanation of what causes schizophrenia.

NUS' Dr Tan said: 'There's a great deal of research on schizophrenia in the world. But we still know relatively little because the brain is such a complex organ, locked in the skull, making it very difficult to study.'

One theory is that the hallucinations and other symptoms of schizophrenia are caused by high levels of dopamine. This is a neurotransmitter - or chemical messenger - which controls the flow of information in the brain.

Many anti-psychotic drugs reduce the supply of dopamine, thus reducing or shutting off these problems. Unfortunately, a shortage of dopamine affects a person's development of cognitive behaviour.

This means that the medicine needed to suppress the symptoms may also cause his intelligence level to go down.

But Professor Kua Ee Heok, a senior psychiatrist at NUS, said there are indications that this drop in ability is caused by the illness itself, and not just the medicine.

One of the first signs that something is wrong with the youth is often his falling grades, Prof Kua said. Almost invariably, it is mathematics that suffers first. And this comes before he is even diagnosed and given medicine.

Anti-psychotic medicine works by altering the brain chemistry. Medication can remove the irrational fears, voices and delusions that plague patients, so they can behave more 'normally'.

But there are side effects, ranging from weight gain or diabetes to muscular spasms and blank-looking faces.

So, when a patient appears to be doing well, doctors will want to take them off the medicine.

If they stop medication too suddenly, symptoms may flare up again. Hence, doctors often phase in the withdrawal from medication and seek the support of family members to make sure the patient remains stable while medication is being reduced.

The mental anguish

PEOPLE with schizophrenia may lose touch with reality but retain enough self-awareness to know their mental faculties are impaired.

Dr Tan said: 'Many will unfortunately suffer long-lasting cognitive deficits that make it difficult for them to work as well as before. Many will have difficulty with social relationships, in thinking or reacting as fast as before.'

Some attempt suicide when they realise they can no longer reach the intellectual and performance levels they used to take for granted.

Some learn to accept their limits, like William, who has a master's degree and chose a simpler job as a draughtsman. Some are unable to cope with the loss.

In Singapore, as with the rest of the developed world, one in three schizophrenia patients attempts suicide. In spite of all that the doctors, case managers and their families can do, one in three attempts succeeds.

In other words, nearly one in 10 schizophrenia patients dies at his own hands - with more than half of them doing so within the first five years of being diagnosed.

For someone diagnosed with schizophrenia, the journey is lifelong.

They have to accept that they suffer from a mental illness and need medication when symptoms flare up.

As Dr Swapna said: 'It's hard to tell a 19- or 20-year-old, when they feel better, that they will need the medicine for a long time, maybe even all their lives.'

Next, if they are taken off medicine, they have to be self-vigilant, and be proactive in seeking help or taking medication at the first sign of symptoms. If put back on medication immediately, symptoms like hearing voices usually subside.

If symptoms persist and a patient loses touch with reality, he may end up in hospital. Others may become irrational, or lose control and do things like strip in public.

In the past, when less was known about the disease, it was often left untreated till symptoms got so bad that the patient was sent to Woodbridge Hospital.

As a result, more than 900 patients, or three in four of the long-term stayers at IMH, are there because of severe schizophrenia. But even at IMH, some patients are well enough to go back on home visits occasionally.

These days, the promise of early treatment holds hope that many schizophrenia patients can lead relatively stable lives with medication.

With over 16,000 people seeking outpatient treatment for schizophrenia, the chances are good that someone you know or come across, is a silent sufferer.

With greater awareness of this condition, each person can help create a climate that is accepting of people with this condition, so they are not more isolated than the illness already makes them.

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When and where to get help

What is schizophrenia?

It is an illness affecting the mind. Doctors think it is caused by changes in the structure and chemistry of the brain.

Who gets it?

It could happen to anyone, although people with a family history of schizophrenia are at higher risk. People tend to get it in their late teens or early 20s.

How common is it?

One in 40 young people could have some symptoms that flare up and then never recur. This is called a psychotic episode.

One in 100 will get the more severe form called schizophrenia and may need long-term medication.

How do I know if I have schizophrenia?

The illness can come on gradually or quickly. There are two types of symptoms.

Positive symptoms: Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there. Belief that one has the ability to read minds or to make things happen. Feeling of persecution and paranoia.

Negative symptoms: Lack of motivation, social isolation, apathy and difficulty with abstract problems.

Parents should take note if a teenager who used to be outgoing starts shutting himself up in his room and avoids the social interaction he used to enjoy.

What can I do if I have or someone I know has such symptoms?

Speak to your parents, school counsellor or family doctor. You can call the IMH helpline on 9017-8212 during office hours to talk to a counsellor about your symptoms. Mental health information is also found at www.imh.com.sg

Home-Grown Harvest

15 Sep 2007, ST

More high-rise home owners are growing their own herbs and vegetables on their roof gardens and balconies

By Tay Suan Chiang

FEEDING the family some greens is a snip for housewife Connie Chua. She simply goes up to the roof garden at her penthouse in Changi to cut some leafy vegetables such as cai xin and xiao bai cai.

Ms Chua, 35, says: 'The vegetables from my garden are fresher and are organically grown.

'I don't use pesticides so I know what I eat is safer.'

The mother of two is one of a growing number of home owners living in high-rise apartments who grow their own vegetables and herbs.

They are digging the fact that you don't need to have a backyard or vast space to get some chow that hardly costs a bean, and what's more, is free of potentially harmful pesticides.

While there are no official figures on the number of high-rise residents who grow their own vegetables, nurseries say they are seeing an increase.

Vegetable and herb growing can be done on rooftop gardens and balconies, they point out.

And there is a wide range of tasty treats that can be planted in these environments.

The initial costs involve those for pots, fertiliser and seeds or seedlings - but on the flip side, the result is something you can reap the benefits from, literally, for a long time.

Mr Lee Meng Kwan, a sales manager at leading nursery World Farm, advises: 'Most vegetables such as chives and sawtooth coriander come in small pots, so they are especially suitable for high-rise growing.'

Expect to pay about $5 to $18 for a pot. World Farm offers a selection of potted vegetables, such as lady's finger, angled loofah and chives.

Another popular nursery, Far East Flora, sells pots of herbs such as mint and basil.

Both nurseries also sell vegetable seeds in packets, which usually cost about $1.50 a pack. These seeds can also be grown in pots or in plastic troughs.

World Farm's Mr Lee notes: 'More Singaporeans are trying their hand at growing something that they can eat rather than just for ornamental reasons.'

Ms Lucy Teo, a horticulturist at Far East Flora, says: 'Singaporeans are seeing the benefits of herbs, so they want to grow them at home, where they can have easy access to them.'

She adds that growing them at home means consumers have control over the type of fertilisers used. She recommends using organic fertiliser, which not only makes the vegetables grow bigger, but is also safer for consumption.

Mr Wilson Wong, founder of Green Culture Singapore, a local website for plant lovers, says that some consumers are wary of the amount of pesticides used in vegetables sold outside.

'By growing their own produce, they are assured that it is safer to eat,' he says.

For plants suitable for high-rise growing, Mr Wong recommends chilli, lady's finger and cucumbers as they can be pruned to a manageable size.

Leafy edibles, such as kangkong and watercress, are also suitable and are 'perhaps the most rewarding', he says, as leaves can be picked while allowing new ones to regenerate for a later harvest.

But regardless of the type of vegetable, home owners should ensure that the vegetables and herbs get sunlight.

Far East Flora's Ms Teo recommends at least five hours of direct sunlight every day.

And Mr Wong says: 'It doesn't matter where you have your plants, but without direct sunlight, little success can be achieved.'

Good drainage and regular addition of organic fertiliser are also important to ensure healthy growth.

'Regular pruning of the leaves also encourages them to grow better,' adds Ms Teo.

As for Ms Chua and her penthouse garden, she harvests her greens every two months. She began growing them as a hobby since the family moved in eight months ago.

She grows her greens in plastic troughs about 35cm long and 20cm wide, and each harvest is enough to feed the family of four for about two meals. However, she still has to buy most of her vegetables from the supermarket.

Besides cai xin and xiao bai cai, she also grows long beans and silk gourds, from packets of seeds from nurseries. These are planted in a special planter box that comes with a trellis that her husband Alex Ong, 37, made.

About one-fifth of her 1,000 sq ft roof garden is set aside for growing greens. Besides vegetables, she also grows herbs such as basil, laksa and curry leaves.

Another whose gardening skills have reached new heights is cooking instructor Forest Leong.

Mrs Leong, who conducts cooking classes at her 12th-storey apartment at Jurong West, grows Thai basil, lime, mint and Thai ginger on her balcony.

The 37-year-old, who grew up in Thailand, says she has always loved growing vegetables since she was young.

When the need arises, she plucks basil and lime leaves from her balcony to add to tom yam soup, curry and salad.

'Sometimes, the ones sold in the market are not fresh, so I pluck my own,' she says.

Still, she admits: 'It is convenient, but if I need a bigger amount, I still have to buy from the market.'

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Good to grow

IF YOU are keen to get down and dirty and grow your own vegetables and herbs, here are several to try. ANGLED LOOFAH $12 a pot, from World Farm, 15 Bah Soon Pah Road Uses: It has a mild taste and can be used in stir-fries and soups. Requirements: Full sunlight; water well, feed with organic fertiliser CHILLI $5.90 a pot, from Far East Flora, 555 Thomson Road Uses: As a spicy flavouring Requirements: Full sunlight; water when soil feels dry, feed with Phostrogen Plant Food, which is a brand of fertiliser CHILLI JUBU $7 a pot, from World Farm Uses: As a spicy flavouring Requirements: Semi-shade; water well, feed with organic fertiliser CHILLI PADI $4.90 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: As a spicy flavouring Requirements: Full sunlight; water when soil feels dry, feed with organic fertiliser CHIVES $5 a pot, from World Farm Uses: Usually used in egg, chicken and vegetable dishes and in soups and sauces. Requirements: Partial sunlight; water well, feed with organic fertiliser CURRY LEAF $5 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: Can be used either fresh or dried - for curries, of course. Requirements: Full sunlight; water when soil feels dry, feed with Phostrogen fertiliser INDIAN BORAGE $7 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: Finely chopped, its leaves are used to flavour meat dishes, especially beef and lamb. Requirements: Full sunlight; water well, feed with Phostrogen fertiliser LADY'S FINGER $9 a pot, from World Farm Uses: Also known as okra, these can be eaten raw, stir-fried or cooked in curries. When boiled in salt water, they are supposedly eaten as a cure for heartburn. Requirements: Full sunlight; water well, feed with organic fertiliser LAKSA LEAF $7 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: Also goes by the name Vietnamese mint, and is added to laksa gravy. Requirements: Full sunlight; water when soil feels dry, feed with Phostrogen fertiliser LEMON BALM $3 a pot, from World Farm Uses: Leaves can be added to tea, salads, dressings and sauces. Requirements: Semi-shade; water well, feed with organic fertiliser LEMONGRASS $15 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: To flavour curries and soups, and a vital flavour in Thai curry pastes. Requirements: Partial sunlight; water well, feed with organic fertiliser LIME $15 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: Fresh leaves are used as a flavouring in cooking. Requirements: Full sunlight; water well, feed with Phostrogen fertiliser MINT $4.90 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: Its leaves liven up teas and other beverages, jellies, syrups, candies and ice creams. Requirements: Semi-shade; water well, feed with Phostrogen fertiliser RICE $8 a pot, from World Farm Uses: Eaten cooked on its own, or can be used to make porridge, cakes and noodles. Requirements: Full sunlight; water well, feed with organic fertiliser SAWTOOTH CORIANDER $5 a pot, from World Farm Uses: Can be served raw as a flavour accent, but is more often used to flavour cooked dishes. Its strong flavour is a good foil for offal. Requirements: Partial sunlight; water well, feed with organic fertiliser SWEET BASIL $4.90 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: Commonly teamed with tomatoes, and often used in pasta dishes. It is a major ingredient in pesto sauce. Requirements: Full sunlight; water when soil feels dry, feed with Phostrogen fertiliser THAI BASIL $4.90 a pot, from Far East Flora Uses: Commonly used in Thai cooking, it has a subtle licorice taste. Requirements: Full sunlight; water well, feed with organic fertiliser

They find new life on MySpaceTV

15 Sep 2007, New Paper

Thanks to online video, producers get to air entire 'Webisodes' online

ARTISTIC freedom.

That was something creative minds had difficulty getting on broadcast networks.

Now they think they can get that freedom but it is going to be online.

The show, called Quarterlife, will debut 11 Nov on MySpace.com and will also be paired with its own social networking site that will include story extras as well as career, romance and other information for the show's young audience.

Centred on a group of recent college graduates, the show started as a pilot for an ABC series called 1/4 Life.

It aired once in 2005 and was pulled because of creative differences between the network and creators Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick.

With the explosion of online video and the migration to the Web of such well-known artistes as Will Ferrell, Harry Shearer and Bill Murray, Herskovitz and Zwick decided to resurrect the show and give it a cyber twist.

AP reported that the TV veterans were also attracted by the chance to have full creative control of the project and retain ownership, which could produce greater profit for them if the show becomes popular.

'It's a gamble,' Herskovitz said. 'We want to prove there is another way to independently create and distribute content.'

EPISODES GALORE

The show's 36 episodes will air exclusively on MySpace, which has more than 110 million users worldwide. Additional content, including character profiles, will also appear on MySpace, which is owned by News Corp.

Each episode will be about 8 minutes long with two episodes debuting each week. The producers and MySpace will share revenue from ads that will run in the video. Additional revenue will come from product placement deals, Herskovitz said.

The show will also have its own social networking site called quarterlife.com.

Sending viewers in a loop back and forth from episode to the site could help build an audience, Forrester Research analyst Josh Bernoff said.

'If you create a place where your fans can gather and talk, then you reinforce their coming back and make it possible for them to recruit other people,' Mr Bernoff said.

He said there is room for professionally-created content online. But the Internet is still decades away from commanding the audiences, and thus the profits, that TV can.

'Making the big time still means being on television,' Mr Bernoff said.

Mr Jeff Berman, the general manager of MySpaceTV, said in an interview with the Globe and Mail that the show was a 'landmark moment' for MySpace, and that it would be 'the highest-quality serialised content ever to appear on the Internet. We're talking about the same production values as 24 or Prison Break.'

Under the terms of the deal, the social-networking site has a 24-hour window during which the webisode will only be available on MySpace TV.

After that, it will appear on Quarterlife.com. Both sites will have interactive features, Mr Berman said, but on MySpace viewers will be able to interact with the cast through their MySpace pages.

MySpace users and bloggers on other sites will also be able to 'embed' the webisodes in their pages by pasting in a small chunk of code, as they can with video clips on other sites such as YouTube, Blip.tv and Daily Motion.

When asked whether the new show would have a mobile component involving cellphones, MrBerman said 'stay tuned.'

Post a video, get a cheque, says video-sharing site Revver

15 Sep 2007, New Paper

IF you posted a video on Revver, chances are you would have received some money from the video-sharing site for your efforts.

It may be sending a signal to more well-known video havens YouTube and MySpace.

Yesterday, Revver announced yester that it would have paid US$1million ($1.6m) to more than 25,000, reported USA Today.

'Post a video... get a cheque,' said Revver CEO Kevin Wells.

Revver can share the wealth because its clips include advertising, whether they are shown on Revver or elsewhere.

Revver gets its wealth because its clips include advertising, whether they are shown on Revver or elsewhere.

Producer Tim Street's instructional videos, French Maid TV, hosted by an actress in a French maid get-up, can be found on Apple's iTunes Store as a free podcast.

The podcast links to Revver, where they are downloaded - with ads.

However, YouTube still dominates online video sharing, with 66 million users in August; Rever had 2.2 million users, according to measurement service ComScore Media Metrix.

'Revver figured that paying producers for their work would help them get the best clips, but that hasn't happened,' says MrJames McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research.

'If you're... trying to make a splash with your video, you go to where the splash will be the loudest, and that's YouTube.'

REVVER'S BIGGEST PAYOUTS

# The biggest payment - US$50,000 for 15 clips - went to two guys from Maine who inserted a Mentos mint into a bottle of Diet Coke and watched it explode

# Utah-based Blendtec has received about US$15,000 for clips that highlight weird things emulsified into oblivion in the company's blenders - Apple iPhones, lighters and even a whole chicken.

# Blogger Justine Ezarik, who made a splash a few weeks ago with her tale of a 300-page iPhone bill, will see US$5,000 from Revver for posting the clip.

Twists and twirls of an individual mind

15 Sep 2007, ST

By David Brooks

A NICE phenomenon of the past few years is the diminishing influence of IQ. For a time, IQ was the most reliable method we had to capture mental aptitude.

People had the impression that we are all born with these clever little information-processing engines in our heads, and that smart people have a lot more horsepower than dumb people.

And in fact, there is something to that. There is such a thing as general intelligence; people who are good at one mental skill tend to be good at others. This intelligence is partly hereditary.

An analysis by Mr Bernie Devlin of the University of Pittsburgh finds that genes account for about 48 per cent of the differences in IQ scores. And there is evidence that people with bigger brains tend to have higher intelligence.

But there has always been something opaque about IQ. There is no consensus about what intelligence is. Some people think it is the ability to adapt to an environment, others that capacity to think abstractly, and so on.

Then there are weird patterns. For example, over the past century, average IQ scores have risen at a rate of about three to six points per decade. This phenomenon, known as the Flynn Effect, has been measured in many countries and across all age groups. Nobody seems to understand why this happens, or why it seems to be petering out in some places, like Scandinavia.

IQ can be powerfully affected by the environment. As Mr Eric Turkheimer of the University of Virginia and others have shown, growing up in poverty can affect your intelligence for the worse.

Growing up in an emotionally strangled household also affects IQ. One of the classic findings of this was made by H.M. Skeels in the 1930s. He studied mentally-retarded orphans who were put in foster homes. After four years, their IQs diverged by an amazing 50 points from orphans who were not moved.

And the remarkable thing is, the mothers who adopted the orphans were also mentally retarded and living in different institutions. It was not tutoring that produced the IQ spike; it was love.

Then, finally, there are the various theories of multiple intelligence. We do not just have one thing called intelligence. We have a lot of distinct mental capacities. These theories thrive, despite resistance from the statisticians, because they explain everyday experience. I am decent at processing words, but when it comes to calculating the caroms on a pool table, I have the aptitude of a sea slug.

IQ, in other words, is a black box. It measures something, but it is not clear what it is, or whether it is good at predicting how people will do in life. Over the past few years, scientists have opened the black box to investigate the brain itself, not a statistical artefact.

There are now books on mental capacities where IQ and intelligence barely crop up. They are concerned instead with, say, the parallel processes that compete for attention in the brain, and how they integrate. The authors are finding that neural connections are shaped by emotion.

The University of Southern California had a patient rendered emotionless by damage to his frontal lobes. When asked what day he could come back for an appointment, he stood there for nearly half an hour describing the pros and cons of different dates, but was incapable of making a decision. This is not the Spock-like brain engine suggested by the IQ.

Today, the research that dominates public conversation is not about raw brain power but about the strengths and consequences of specific processes.

The cultural consequence is that judging intelligence is less like measuring horsepower in an engine and more like watching ballet. Speed and strength are part of intelligence, and these things can be measured numerically, but the essence of the activity is found in the rhythm and grace and personality - traits that are the products of an idiosyncratic blend of emotions, experiences, motivations and inheritances.

Recent brain research, rather than reducing everything to electrical impulses and quantifiable pulses, actually enhances our appreciation of human complexity and richness.

While psychometrics offered the false allure of objective fact, the new science brings us back into contact with literature, history, the humanities and, ultimately, to the uniqueness of the individual.

NEW YORK TIMES

Keeping the mean streets safe

13 Sep 2007, ST

A New York police officer pens a rare insight into the oft-misunderstood world of the men in blue

By June Cheong

POLICE work runs in American writer Edward Conlon's blood.

The 42-year-old Bronx native is a fourth-generation New York City Police Department (NYPD) cop and currently serves as a detective.

He joined the NYPD in 1995 and started by patrolling the public housing estates in five South Bronx precincts, documenting and picking up all manner of criminals and victims from two-bit drug dealers to 10-year-old rape victims.

A Harvard graduate, his career choice was met with vehement disapproval from his father, himself a World War II officer who left the NYPD to become an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In his memoir of police life Blue Blood, Conlon delves into the noble, oft-misunderstood occupation and the sacrifices of blood, sweat and tears needed to keep the gritty streets safe.

In the excerpt below, he speaks of his childhood friend Mike Kelly, also an NYPD police officer, and the latter's unwavering belief in the value of his work:

'Mike's belief in the white knighthood of the Job never abated.

That belief was what Mike was most afraid of losing, I think - I never heard him talk about his personal safety, as a real concern that lasted beyond a few moments of danger, fighting an EDP (police shorthand for an emotionally disturbed person), facing a volatile domestic dispute, and so on.

The threat was to his faith in the Job - what the Job meant, as a whole; what it would do to him, and with him, in the event of some crisis. And the crises we read about usually came in the form of racism or corruption.

In a sense, he expected to encounter them in the NYPD not because it was an especially crooked or racist institution, but because these evils were part of the human condition, and to be a cop meant you would experience humanity at a level of skinned-alive intensity.

The fact that a Brooklyn neighbour was one of the cops involved in the 'Buddy Boys' scandal, which involved a ring of drug-dealing thieves and became a book by journalist Mike McAlary, didn't make him rest any easier. But the fact remains that he never saw any corruption, never saw a cop take a nickel or even heard of any who did.

Racism was another matter, not nearly as simple, and if what he saw wasn't enough to shake his faith, there was much to challenge his reason.

Mike was from a part of Brooklyn that had reconvened from other parts that had 'turned' - turned bad, or turned black, which to the shame of the liberals and the bitter delight of bigots often meant the same thing.

But in the aftermath of racially charged killings in Bensonhurst and Howard Beach, the attitude of simply being fair in how you dealt with people, and figuring it out as you went along, didn't seem to be quite enough, either.

After Mike went to the Two-Three (a patrol area which covered 96th to 116th Street and Fifth Avenue east to the river), he was sometimes partnered with an old-timer who used racial slurs almost as if they were punctuation marks. Mike didn't like it, and tried to explain why as best he could - which, in a rookie-veteran partnership, is somewhat like an altar boy preaching to the Pope.

In most ways, the old-timer was a plainly decent guy, and his treatment of people was respectful, no matter if it masked an abstract contempt. On the street, or responding to a job, he handled matters with the amiable pragmatism of the veteran city cop, and face to face, he was an effective public servant.

But once they retreated to the car, it was all colour commentary, so to speak: 'Would you believe how these niggers...' and 'It reminds me of the time this spic...'

Suffice it to say that they agreed to disagree, Mike being a fair guy who figured it out as he went along. And then came a day that made it all the more confusing.

Mike was at court or on vacation - not on patrol, in any case - when his partner went into a burning building, alone, and saved an elderly black woman.

Mike was never able to reconcile his partner's constant and audible prejudice with his act of colour-blind heroism.

In the old-timer's case, the divorce between word and deed was wide enough that there's at least one black person who is grateful he worked as a cop.'

# Blue Blood by Edward Conlon is available for US$12 (S$15) from www.amazon.com or on loan from library@orchard. The book's call number is English 363.2092 CON.

Men scared of women with perfect figures

13 Sep 2007, New Paper

WOMEN, take heart and junk that diet.

According to a survey by UK women's magazine MORE, men are perfectly happy with a woman's 'wobbly bits' if she knows how to have a good time.

According to the survey, most men are not able to handle the 'pressure' of sleeping with a woman with the perfect figure.

The survey involved 1,000 men and women, reported the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA).

According to the editor of More magazine, Lisa Smosarski: 'Men like curvy women who look after themselves and have sex appeal, women who know how to have a good time without worrying about their calorie intake.

'Some men feel intimidated by women with super bodies and find it hard to talk to a body-perfect woman, let alone take their clothes off in front of her.

'The truth is, men are happy with us the way we are - it's women who point out our flaws.

' It's time we did ourselves a favour and relaxed a bit.'

The basis for Ms Smosarki's comments were the findings of the survey.

Around 88 per cent of men surveyed admitted that sleeping with the 'perfect' woman, figure-wise, would put 'too much' pressure on them.

Only 1 in 10 men preferred women with ' a great body who's dedicated to diet and exercise'.

And 88 per cent said that they would choose a woman with 'wobbly bits who's up for a good time'.

IDEAL FIGURE

So who were the most desirable women according to the men?

About 56 per cent stated that a man's ideal female body included a small waist and a big bottom.

American actress Scarlett Johansson was listed as the celebrity with the most ideal shape, according to 44 per cent of the respondents.

But in the face of such beauty, 9 out of 10 men said that they would not want to take off their own clothes in her presence.

The second most attractive shape, according to 34 per cent of men, were women with big breasts and bottoms.

In this category, singer Beyonce Knowles scored as the second most desirable body among the current crop of celebrities.

Only 6 per cent of men said that they desired skinny women.

Not surprisingly, only 3 per cent of men wanted to see 'Posh Spice' - Victoria Beckham - nude, despite her toned and taut body.

Other figure attributes that men like in women include a 'flexible' body, (40 per cent), soft (41 per cent) and curvy (90 per cent).

Think rounded tummies are undesirable? Around a third of the men (35 per cent) said that a rounded stomach was desirable.

However, one in ten men (11 per cent) said that love handles were off-putting as were flat chests, stretch marks, hairy armpits and hairy nipples.

Only a minority (14 per cent) said they found a tattoo a turn-on.

Pork can be quite healthy

12 Sep 2007, ST, Mind Your Body

Is pork rejected by meat eaters because of its tough and chewy bad press? Elaine Young finds out why this lean meat should be back on the menu

Last year, 89,017 tonnes of pork arrived in Singapore. And by the looks of this year's import figures from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, more and more pork is being eaten by Singaporeans.

From January to March, 23,737 tonnes of pork was imported mostly from Australia, Brazil and Indonesia.

But although nutritionists say pork has less fat than a skinless chicken breast, most people regard it as a fatty meat.

To put the pig in a more favourable and flavourful light, nutritionist Jamie Liow of the Heart Wellness Centre at Singapore Heart Foundation and dietitian Nehal Kamdar of Raffles Hospital provide the facts:

MYTH: PORK IS A FATTY MEAT

FACT: Pork, just like beef, can be divided into different cuts, each of which has a different fat content. For example, 85g of roasted pork loin has about 13g less fat than 85g of roasted pork shoulder.

Some cuts of pork can be leaner or lower in fat content than other meats. An 85g pork loin chop has less fat than a comparable amount of skinless chicken thigh. The pork contains 6.9g of fat, while the chicken has 9.3g.

The leanest cut is tenderloin, followed by sirloin chop, loin, and top loin. Meats sold in a supermarket usually have a label stating the type of cut.

MYTH: PORK IS DRY AND TASTELESS

FACT: Overcooking is usually the culprit. Be careful, especially when you are grilling or pan-frying pork chops. Thin cuts are especially prone to overcooking.

Cook pork over medium heat and turn it over only once. Remember that meat continues cooking even after it has been removed from the heat source. Cut the pork across the grain to keep it tender. Marinating can also help.

When cooked, pork meat should be juicy and tender with a slight rosy hue in the centre.

MYTH: PORK IS A WHITE MEAT.

FACT: Pork is a red meat, and an important source of iron. This is because of the presence of two iron-containing proteins, which are involved in oxygen transportation and storage. When both iron and oxygen are present, these proteins turn red.

MYTH: PORK IS NOT VERSATILE

FACT: It can be used to substitute meats in many dishes. If you are thinking of having Western tonight, try pork chop instead of chicken chop (and remember not to overcook it).

Or rather than having stir-fried chicken strips, replace the chicken with pork instead.

Pork can be stir-fried with vegetables, or it can be added to stews, porridge or soups to enhance the flavour.

Pork floss can also be incorporated into sandwiches for a protein boost!

MYTH: PORK HAS LITTLE NUTRITIONAL VALUE

FACT: Pork is one of the best sources of thiamine. Thiamine is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates. It is also essential for the growth and repair of nerves and muscle tissues, and helps to control appetite. Pork is also a good source of riboflavin, a vitamin which plays an important role in the release of energy from food and in cell division. Riboflavin also maintains healthy skin and eyes.

Go online to help search for missing adventurer

12 Sep 2007, ST

Netizens are asked to trawl through satellite images for signs of millionaire Fossett

WASHINGTON - INTERNET users have been asked to join what is being billed as the world's largest search for a missing person: a frame-by-frame trawl through tens of thousands of satellite images for signs of missing adventurer Steve Fossett.

Millionaire Fossett, 63, has not been heard from since Sept 3, when he failed to return after taking off in a single-engine aircraft from a ranch in Nevada. He had been trying to find a suitable site for an attempt at a world land-speed record.

An aviation website, www.avweb.com, is providing links for people to review fresh satellite images, plus instructions on how to look for Mr Fossett's plane or any image that might resemble a small aircraft. The images are provided by DigitalGlobe, the company that supplies images to Google Earth.

After being shown a satellite image, viewers will be asked to check one of two boxes.

HOW TO HELP: Users are asked to review the satellite images and alert the website hosting these images if they spot any object that may resemble a small aircraft. Mr Fossett was last seen flying a single-engine aircraft.

One says the image 'contains foreign objects that should be looked at more closely'. Viewers will then be asked to describe them. The other box says the image contains nothing of interest.

'This is kind of a new thing for us,' said Civil Air Patrol spokesman Cynthia Ryan.

She said every Google-generated tip is reviewed and the best ones passed on to pilots. So far, there have been several false sightings of Mr Fossett's airplane.

Mr Fossett is described as an expert survivalist, but hopes of finding him alive are fading fast as his plane had disappeared in a huge area.

False leads and frustration dogged the hunt at the weekend. It is hoped that allowing Internet users to trawl though satellite images of the area available online may provide new leads in the search.

A private search effort is also in progress, being driven in part by hotel magnate Barron Hilton, who has opened the airstrip at his Flying-M Ranch to private search planes and helicopters. Mr Fossett took off from the ranch's runway more than a week ago.

While the private search party has worked side by side with the government during the eight-day hunt, officials said they are becoming worried that the latest call for volunteers could bring in people who are unfamiliar with the vast and often dangerous landscape.

'It has not been condoned, nor is it necessarily helpful to the law enforcement community,' Lyon County Undersheriff Joe Sanford said on Sunday. 'We don't want searchers to have to go out to look for searchers.'

Major Ryan said the search, which now covers about 44,000 sq km - an area as big as the Malaysian states of Pahang and Selangor - will continue indefinitely.

The effort will stop when searchers have 'exhausted every square inch, and we aren't even close to that', she said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI: Rock of Opera

11 Sep 2007, ST

By David Hajdu

ON SEPT 13, 1994, Luciano Pavarotti and Bryan Adams stood side by side before a symphony orchestra assembled on a vast outdoor stage in Modena, Italy, the opera singer's home town, and they performed a duet of O Sole Mio.



Pavarotti, beaming, sang the hoary old heart-stopper beautifully, almost as if he had not done it several jillion times before. Adams croaked and giggled and clutched the microphone in palpable terror.

The performance, which was televised internationally and later released on video, survives on YouTube. Watching it now, in the wake of Pavarotti's death from pancreatic cancer last week, one can only marvel at the incongruity of the scene and wonder what in the world was that rock star doing in the company of that guy Adams?

Luciano Pavarotti was, among many things - perhaps above all - a rock star, regardless of the fact that the music he sang happened to be opera or, on occasion, folk or popular music in the operatic mode. To recognise this is not to deny his profound gifts as an artist or to diminish his importance as the most beloved tenor of the post-war era.

He was blessed with a stunningly gorgeous voice, pure yet unmistakable, which he employed with ardour in the service of beauty and joy. He brought countless listeners, including this one, to rapture.

In addition, as waves of encomiums in recent days have reminded us, his enormous appeal gave Pavarotti an evangelical dimension. More than anyone since Enrico Caruso, we are repeatedly told, Pavarotti brought opera to the masses. This is true, but not the whole truth: More than anything, what Pavarotti did was bring mass culture - particularly the sensibility of the rock 'n' roll age - to the world of opera.

He came to see his work as a mission of outreach. In this, he was carrying on a tradition as old as opera itself. Performers, promoters and civic leaders have worked for centuries to connect opera with the populace.

In the American Old West, every frontier town worth its tumbleweed erected an opera house between the Wells Fargo station and the saloon. In the early 20th century, every vaudeville bill had a 'class' act - a soprano or a vocal duo who would sing excerpts from an aria or two between the magicians and the jugglers.

Pavarotti, following the lead of his hard-driving, open-eyed manager Herbert Breslin, veered away from full-scale operas in traditional halls and branched into the recital business, where his buoyant personality could flourish and his indifference to acting and his reluctance to learn new roles would not be significant liabilities.

Breslin pushed him into the mould of rock stardom, and he fit nicely. Pavarotti was the first opera star to be booked in Madison Square Garden in New York City, and he became an arena attraction, the aria Elvis. He played Vegas; he did The Tonight Show, the American late-night talk show; he was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live; he starred in a Hollywood movie, Yes, Giorgio.

Although the singer and manager parted ways acrimoniously, Pavarotti stayed for the rest of his career in the mould set by Breslin. He expanded his audience through his arena tours with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, and through a series of concerts with rock and pop singers, including James Brown, Elton John, Celine Dion, Meat Loaf and the Spice Girls, not to mention Bryan Adams.

What was it about Pavarotti that made him so popular among people who otherwise showed no special affection for opera? He had a peasant quality that made up for his performing an art usually associated with a cultured elite. He had a robust earthiness that signified authenticity. Pavarotti, who never mastered reading music, was a largely intuitive musician, and that seemed to come across to his advantage.

He was, if not larger than life, larger in size than most humans. Indeed, he was practically the embodiment of an opera-hater's parody conception of a male opera singer - so huge he could hardly support his own weight, robustly Italian, blustering, flamboyant and oddly child-like.

With his heavy beard and long, wavy hair, his enormous eyebrows permanently cocked in seeming puzzlement, and his habitually broken English, Pavarotti seemed almost like a character from a Warner Brothers cartoon come to life, ready to sing a chorus of Kill The Wabbit! All these, I suspect, may well have helped him endear himself to a public inured to pop stars who look and act very much like cartoons and self-parodies.

Never much disposed to the acting side of opera, Pavarotti learnt in time to play Pavarotti, regardless of the character he was supposed to be. He drew from his own personality, like a popular singer, and his sensibility was exuberant, boyish, inclined to emotional extremes, and not very reflective.

The kind of opera he gave us was, on the whole, a music of voluptuous emotion, little darkness and not much thought. There was melodrama but little drama; there were outcries of pain, but scarcely any doubt, no melancholia.

The opera of Pavarotti was always thrilling and rarely challenging. It was something less than opera in the fullness of its dramatic potential. Still, it had a beauty that was practically unnatural in its perfection. It always made me happy, and it was grand, like the man who made it.

The writer, author of Lush Life and Positively Fourth Street, is the music critic for The New Republic magazine.

I'd rather play with the boys

10 Sep 2007, ST Life

When it comes to team sports, men are much easier to handle than women

By Sandra Leong, girltalk

THIS column is about why I like to play with men. In fact, it's about why I like to get downright dirty and sweaty with them.

Yes, I'm referring to the merits of mixed team sports. (What were you thinking?)

Call me a turncoat but I've concluded that when it comes to sport, men make much better playmates than women.

This epiphany came to me about five years ago when, as an undergraduate living on campus, I was team manager for my hall's softball team.

It was a role that I had been arm-twisted to assume (I had played the game competitively before) so that I could gain enough credits to secure a postage stamp-sized room with zero ventilation and wonky TV reception.

With most of us being fairly athletic, we embarked on a winning streak. Then one day, we dropped a game - to our arch-rivals, no less.

Still, it was no big deal.

Having won enough games to qualify for the next round, this was but a minor blip in our near-perfect record. And we had lost only because our key players had been absent, leaving some positions to be filled by new faces.

I made this point at our post-match briefing, simply to assure everyone that it was hardly the end of the road.

But hell hath no fury like an oversensitive woman.

After we dispersed, one of my teammates - who had made some costly errors during the match - assumed I was pinning the blame on her. She burst into tears and had to be comforted by her friends.

Later, another teammate rang me and asked that I apologise for what I had said. Convinced that the matter had been blown out of proportion, I refused.

For the rest of the games, the tension between Oversensitive Girl and me was so thick I feared one of us would assault the other with a bat.

My point is, the group dynamics of women is a complex beast.

In fact, if I had to personify this beast, she would probably be a shrieking banshee with claws for fingernails. Now, tell me that doesn't make you tremble.

A woman could be perfectly pleasant on her own, but surrounded by other females, hormones take over. Add in the element of sporting contest and a power struggle ensues.

My experience with the inter-hall games was just one of many instances in which I found this to be true. When I attended an all-girls secondary school, there were always stories - even from my own team - of how some girls quit their sport because of the infighting and back-stabbing that went on.

I hate to perpetuate stereotypes but the fairer sex is often associated with several negative behaviorial traits - controlling, hyper-sensitive and oh, we bear grudges better than the croaky boy in that Japanese scarefest Ju-On.

I know this because the last time I checked, I was guilty of all of the above.

Why didn't I apologise to my teammate? I guess it was the alpha female in me. Who doesn't enjoy being top dog?

Still, I'd like to think that that's all behind me.

Lately, I've been playing softball with a mixed team and so far, it has been wonderfully devoid of drama.

Men are so much more fuss-free. They show up, play hard and rarely tiptoe around one another. If a player makes a silly mistake, he doesn't wail when told to 'wake up lah, dey'.

Even if egos clash on the field, the dispute is usually resolved over a pint of beer.

The men's easy-going style seems to have rubbed off on the women - no tears and histrionics so far. More importantly, with several eligible bachelors around to impress, they can't quite afford to morph into scary, hormonal creatures, can they?

As for me, my evil alpha female instincts appear to have been dulled a little. There's little chance I can be stronger, faster and swifter than a testosterone-charged member of the opposite sex, so I would rather sit back and enjoy the ride.

Oh sssh, all you power women types crying that I've sold out.

The thing about sport that many of us forget: It really is just a game.

Protecting nature's beauty

10 Sep 2007, ST

By Liana Tang

GETTING wet and dirty, sometimes knee-deep in mud, may not sound like a great day out for most. But for undergraduate Loh Kok Sheng, it is just what he needs to unwind - conducting a guided walk on Sentosa's shore.

The third-year life sciences student at the National University of Singapore also regularly explores the muddy crevices of shores like Changi beach and Chek Jawa, sometimes in pre-dawn darkness, to photograph the wildlife he encounters. He then shares his photographs and experiences through his blog: http://wondercreation/blogspot.com.

The 23-year-old discovered this newfound passion on a visit to Sentosa last year. 'When I was first introduced to the Sentosa shoreline, I was amazed at how marine life was thriving on a tourist island.'

He cites colourful creatures such as giant anemones and stealthy crabs among many intriguing finds.

A project he is currently working on is charting the recovery of wildlife on Chek Jawa following damage to the marine environment caused by heavy rainfall earlier this year.

Mr Loh reports his findings on a blog: http://cjproject.blogspot.com where he notes that despite having to adhere to unearthly timings and strict schedules 'chasing' the low tides to survey the wildlife, his friends who volunteer to help in his field surveys thoroughly enjoy themselves, discovering something new each time.

Why his many blogs? He simply hopes to raise awareness among youth about Singapore's natural heritage.

He is among an increasing number of young people and groups who conduct workshops and guided walks in various nature spots in Singapore.

Mr Ron Yeo, 32, founded one such group. Suitably named Naked Hermit Crabs (NHC), the group's 30 volunteers provide guided shore walks for the public, doling out historical tidbits and facts while pointing out ecological highlights.

Of the 20 youth volunteers in NHC, Mr Yeo believes that engaging young people in such volunteer roles is key to the future of conservation.

'It is refreshing to work with young people as they always bring in new ideas that help improve the way we conduct our walks and other conservation efforts,' he said.

In agreement is Mr N. Sivasothi, an instructor at the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He believes that the efforts of such individuals and groups, along with education in schools, provides comprehensive opportunities for creating awareness among youth about environment and conservation.

'Young people who are inspired by the volunteers they meet tend to take up committed leadership roles in the conservation community,' said the former research officer at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

'This is one way that we maintain a dynamic, motivated community that works towards making positive impacts on conservation in Singapore.'

The writer, 23, graduated with honours in biology from NUS

-------------------------------

Play your part!

HERE are some useful resources close to home:

Keep up-to-date with news about nature spots at www.wildsingapore.com

Seek out information on Singapore's natural history at Habitatnews
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg

Find out how you can help the Blue Water Volunteers at http://bluewatervolunteers.org

Volunteer to be a part of shaping Singapore's garden city by visiting www.nparks.gov.sg/involve.asp

Find out more about visits and workshops on Semakau Landfill with the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg

Time the dog had its day? Try the cat's way

10 Sep 2007, ST

If yours is a dog's life, here's a solution that might make you feel better

By Jessica Lim

'WORK like a dog, lor,' my ex-friend snapped when I asked him over dinner two years ago how his day had been.

He then began a two-hour tirade: It was painfully complicated, his boss asked him to do something redundant (explained in detail), he was given menial tasks (this and that), he had no idea what he was doing in construction, he was quitting the next day.

It got stale hearing the same refrain, so we stopped hanging out soon after that.

Surreptitious checks with mutual acquaintances have revealed that he is still stuck in the pound, and, yes, whining all the way.

But his might well be a dog's life because, according to an article in Ohio's daily The Plain Dealer, dog-like behaviour can lead to one being treated like a dog.

Its author, Jim Pawlak, thinks most employees 'live for that gratuitous 'good dog' pat on the head'.

Anyone just starting out in his career knows how that goes. A day at work is not unlike performing - you heel, you get barked at to jump higher, quite likely for the equivalent of a measly biscuit - all to gain approval.

When that pat doesn't come, you slink home, tail between your legs. This, despite your going to all extremes to please your master.

So you just obey, don't think, and repeat it, until 5pm - also your cue to start howling about your very tragic life to anyone who will listen.

The whole aim of this, uh, doggie style, is simple: Get your boss to throw you a bone for your efforts; or at least, just tell you where to dig for a better assignment.

Pawlak offers this antidote: Get catty.

No, not hiss and scratch - not all the time anyway - but adopt cat-like characteristics.

I agree.

Cats manage their owners by showing they are capable and know what they are doing. In turn, their owners leave them to it.

Which boss wouldn't want more time to manage his own bosses? To dig up his own treasure?

After all, the boss-employee relationship is a symbiotic one. The more you understand your boss' constraints and pressures, the better you can help him succeed. And, yes, score one for the team.

I realised this when I became a small boss of sorts myself when I was asked to mentor a few interns.

One, in particular, irritated me because he asked if I was free to talk when I was clearly in the middle of a phone interview.

When I said no, he would hover within my peripheral vision, and only after wild gesticulations and a 'COME BACK LATER!' scribbled on a notepad would he leave.

This happened repeatedly.

It made me wonder: Was I doing similar things to my boss?

So I started being more self-aware, and realised it saved me a lot of second guessing - and time. I stopped barking up the wrong tree, learning instead to read between the e-mail lines, and deciphering non-verbal cues.

At least I can now sniff out the bigger assignments from the less important ones, which saves me running around in circles trying to catch my tail.

Now you try: Does your boss prefer communicating face-to-face or on the phone? Does he prefer short, precise meetings? What are his priorities?

Figuring that out may mean getting promoted, landing ground-breaking assignments or pay raises.

Most importantly, you will no longer feel as though you'd rather jump off a building than go back to your job.

My cat, Smoky, manages me well.

Attentive, he can detect a foul mood a mile away - so no meowing for chow.

Independent, he refuses to be micro-managed and fulfils his pet duties by catching a few cockroaches a month.

In return, I fill his bowl with salmon treats. Occasionally, I throw in a neck rub.

Though lately, I've been wondering if he's ready for a bone or two...

MORE 'FACEBOOKS WITH WRINKLES'

10 Sep 2007, New Paper

Friendship sites for older users gaining popularity

IT's the latest in online social networking - sites targeting the grey-haired.

Technology investors and entrepreneurs have started a host of new social networking sites with names like Eons, Rezoom, Multiply, Maya's Mom, Boomj and Boomertown, reported the International Herald Tribune.

Think friendship sites for seniors, devoted to topics that interest them.

The sites are designed to grab the attention of a generation of Internet users who have more money and leisure time than those several decades younger, and who may be more loyal than teens who flit from one trendy site to the next.

Some of the users of these sites say they offer a smaller community of like-minded (and like-aged) people than the bigger sites like MySpace, Facebook and Friendster do.

On these sites, you can find discussion and dating forums, photo-sharing, news and commentary, and information about diet, fitness and health care.

Ms Martha Starks, 52, spends an hour or two on Eons every evening. She said: 'I've discussed my divorce, my medical issues, and when do I dare go dating again. I sure wouldn't discuss that stuff with a 20-year-old.'

But it's not all gloom and doom. Ms Stark said she talked about fun things too, like movies and music, with an audience who gets what she's saying.

SENIORS MORE LOYAL

In the US, there are 78 million baby boomers - roughly three times more than the number of teenagers and 20-somethings - and most of them are Internet users who learnt computer skills in the workplace.

And seniors have patience.

The creators and financiers of these new sites say older users tend to stick with a social network once they get comfortable with it, unlike teenagers, who switch sites often.

VantagePoint Venture Partners has announced it is leading a US$16.5 million ($25m) financing round into Multiply, a social network based in Boca Raton, Florida, it considers itself a social network for people who want to stay connected with existing friends and family, not those trying to hook up with new friends at the hottest club.

VantagePoint was one of the earliest investors in MySpace.

Another site, TBD (which stands for To Be Determined) will be launched in the middle of this month.

TBD.com's founder is Ms Robin Wolaner, who in 1987 created Parenting magazine. She said: 'There's a recognition that this generation now uses the Internet just like younger people. The one thing this generation hasn't done yet is network online.'

Networks aimed at older users are a big draw for investors and companies providing consumer products and services, said Ms Susan Ayers Walker, a freelance technology journalist for the AARP and founder of SmartSilvers Alliance, which offers consultant services to businesses looking to connect with seniors.

Another reason for the popularity of such networks: Silicon Valley's entrepreneurs and investors are greying too.

Ms Ayers Walker said: 'They've all got high blood pressure. They're starting to understand their age group - they're living it.'

A woman needs a man

09 Sep 2007, ST

I've come to the realisation that a woman isn't complete unless she has a partner

By Sumiko Tan

I NEVER thought I'd say this, but here goes: A woman needs a man to be complete.

Recently, a reader mentioned how she was feeling the pressure to get married. And she's not even 30.

I wrote back to her: 'Don't let anyone pressure you into marriage, although speaking from someone who's 43, single, and looking back at my own life, if you do find a soul mate and marriage is a possibility, do grab it.

'Singlehood has its many advantages, but to be able to share a life with someone who loves you and whom you love, well, that's a happy position to be in.'

My, how the tide has turned.

For ever so long, I've been anti-marriage. Well, 'anti' is too strong a word, but I've always felt that the institution of marriage was overrated.

Perhaps it was from seeing so many people emerge broken and bruised from bad marriages. Or it could be because I grew up in a home where domestic peace was rare (although you'd think that I'd have long stopped using childhood trauma as a crutch for anything that's wrong in my adult life).

Or maybe it was a defence mechanism, given I've yet to find a man worth marrying, or whom I liked enough and who'd marry me - you know, two people so deeply connected they are willing to become stakeholders in each other's lives.

In any case, I've never bought into that whole white wedding thing. (Babies, yes, for a while, but not marriage.)

Except for a brief and regrettable period in my early 20s, I've never wasted brain cells on the treacly trimmings that others dream about when they plan their Big Day. (Raffles or the Ritz-Carlton? Pachelbel's Canon in D or Etta James' At Last? Ten-course Chinese dinner or five-course Western lunch?)

Singapore women, I've always felt, should avoid being overly dependent on men. Don't go spoiling them (or peeling prawns for them). It's more important to be happy with ourselves and to work on being self-sufficient, self-aware, self-confident and all those other fierce I-am-woman-hear-me-roar slogans.

What has caused my change of heart?

Is age - shudder - catching up with me?

THE thing I have come to dislike most about being single is attending 'couples' events.

They include concerts and plays where you're the only one invited without a 'partner' because the organisers know that, too bad, you don't have one.

And dinner parties which you bravely attend alone only to suffer tiresome couples who seem to enjoy flaunting their twosome status to singletons the whole evening.

At lunch one weekend, I saw a stomach-churning display.

A good-looking couple with baby in pram were out having a meal - well, good for them. But they kept making goo-goo eyes at each other and couldn't stop smiling. When the food came, they said grace, then actually kissed each other delightedly on the lips before turning to their meal. He then proceeded to feed her from his dish using his fork. Oh please.

My lunch companion consoled me: 'They've probably been married for just over a year, lah. It'll fade.'

And then there's going by your single self to watch movies and the cashier kindly offering you that 'single' seat at the back of the hall, segregated for wheelchair-bound people and lonely, solitary folk like you (for your information, that's seats K2 in GV Grand's hall 4 and J18 in hall 5).

Such a relentless onslaught of this singling out of singletons is enough to make even the most self-assured of independent women lose their self-esteem when, really, they should be cherishing their freedom.

BUT the inescapable truth - one that I've finally allowed myself to acknowledge - is this: Life is really much nicer when you have someone to share it with.

As an unmarried friend in his 50s puts it: 'A partner is paramount when you're older. Having regular lunches with old schoolmates is certainly not enough. The isolation can be painful.'

I'm not even talking marriage and husbands here but just the idea of having a 'mate' - yes, that frankly rather childish concept of a 'boyfriend' - in your life.

When there's someone to love, and who loves you back, isn't life so much sweeter?

A colleague who married at the relatively late age of 35 says that she's slowly realising why marriage is such a good idea.

'It really is like having a 24-hour best friend,' she says.

'Wake up together, go to work together, come home to someone to complain to, have hobbies together, go to sleep together. Ultimately, marriage is not about sex, financial security or even kids. It's about companionship and having a 24-hour friend who makes life easier most of the time.'

I suppose you could argue that companionship and fulfilment needn't necessarily be from, and with, a man.

Surely what we all hunger for is just someone or something to love, and from which we get some feelings of love and appreciation back, and must this be in the form of only a husband or boyfriend? Can't it also be from a parent, sibling or child? From a pet, even, or an exciting career?

But, oh, who are we kidding? Let's be honest. Nothing beats the frisson of commanding the time and attention of someone from the opposite sex whom you fancy and who fancies you. After all, humans are hardwired to mate.

No amount of cake and coffee with your girlfriends (sorry, girls, but you do know what I mean), or a pet dog's unconditional love, can give a woman the same happiness as when she is in the company of the man she adores and who loves her back.

The caveat, of course, is that he isn't a prince you kissed who turns out to be a frog, but someone who's kind, decent and sweet and who watches out for you.

It does involve risk and taking a leap of faith in your ability to read people.

After all, many a match starts off well but descends into hell. And hell needn't be about fights and acts of meanness. It can be plain boredom - that trapped feeling when you sit down for a meal with a supposed loved one and discover you have absolutely nothing left to say to each other anymore.

So, yes, the life of a woman will be complemented and enhanced by the right male companion.

But as my colleague also said, she'd rather be single and alone than to be married and miserable - and there are an awful lot of unhappy 'happy couples' out there.

For her, though, it really is a case of finding the right partner.

If only we were all so lucky.

Blow a kiss and look younger

09 Sep 2007, ST

NEW YORK - Botox and plastic surgery may promise to reduce wrinkles and worry lines, but some New Yorkers are turning to facial yoga to achieve a youthful appearance.

At a recent class in Manhattan's wealthy Upper East Side, yoga instructor Annelise Hagen teaches several facial exercises designed to stretch and tone facial muscles.

A group of women practise moves including The Lion, showing the tongue hanging out and eyes rolled up.

Ms Hagen encourages class members to hold the position for 60 seconds, joking: 'You can do this any time. It really helps you get a seat on the train.'

She recently released a book titled The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles With The Ultimate Natural Facelift.

She said she developed a workshop using facial yoga because women wanted to look their best, 'but they weren't really thinking about how to exercise their facial muscles'.

She said facial muscles become weak and flabby and need regular workouts and circulation to reduce wrinkles.

Besides The Lion, other exercises include Satchmo, in which the cheeks are blown out Louis Armstrong-style, and Marilyn, in which glamorous kisses are blown to strengthen mouth muscles for full and firm lips.

'It uses the same principles of exercise you would use for any other part of your body,' she said. 'Facial muscles also become more toned, so it is a natural way of getting a lift.'

She recommends facial yoga for those wanting to find outer and inner beauty, saying 'the emotional aspect is just as important as the physiological'. But she does not rule out plastic surgery or Botox.

'I don't rule it out for myself. One day I may feel like I need that. But regardless, maintaining elasticity and tone is really crucial, especially if you have had Botox and plastic surgery,' she said.

While making faces in front of strangers might intimidate some, those who attended the class thought it the perfect way to combat busy New York lifestyles.

'Working in New York is very stressful,' Ms Kathy Healey said. 'It's a perfect way to end the week.'

Reuters

My own radio station

09 Sep 2007, ST

Blogs set up by indie-music devotees are drawing listeners and promoting local bands

By Melody Zaccheus

FOR over a decade, Mr Roland Ngoi harboured thoughts of being a deejay.

But he shunned the idea of working in mainstream radio stations because he disliked their choice of songs.

Mr Ngoi prefers alternative music - a range of music genres not commonly available on commercial channels and worlds apart from mainstream music.

'The music I enjoy is not really suitable for the masses,' the 31-year-old said.

So he decided to play his own brand of music online.

He set up a music blog called sweetmusic.fm on blogging portal Blogspot last February and began posting podcasts, live broadcasts and playlists of uploaded songs onto a server.

Because the full-time chef at NYDC wanted his music blog to be like a real radio station, music which he uploaded to his site is streamed to his listeners 24 hours a day from his rented flat in Holland Avenue.

The flow is interrupted only when it is time for his live shows to be broadcast.

This takes places once or twice a week, depending on his schedule. A few days before each show, he will send an e-mail to those on his mailing list.

Each live show lasts for about two hours, with Mr Ngoi actively promoting local indie bands and obscure acts such as Serenaide, I Am David Sparkle, Force Vomit and The Oddfellows.

The site gives him the freedom to shoot his mouth off, play music he takes a fancy to and communicate to his listeners through online channels like e-mail and messaging network MSN.

It is common for Mr Ngoi to swear and sprout vulgarities during his shows as the general idea is for his shows to be 'free of restrictions'.

He said: 'It's free and easy, there are no rules... the idea is to be as casual as I can on the show as I am in real life.'

Evidence of the casual manner in which Mr Ngoi runs his site is seen in how he deals with room-mates who accidentally barge into his room while he is recording a live show. When it happens, he embraces the 'mishap' and they become part of the show.

Nor does Mr Ngoi have to worry about copyright issues, because local bands featured on his shows have granted him permission to play their music.

Plain Sunset's guitarist Nor Sham Husaini, 32, is more than happy to collaborate with sites like sweetmusic.fm.

He said: 'Radio stations like 98.7 FM might have a designated time to play locally produced music, but sites like sweetmusic.fm play local indie music all the time.

'They introduce new acts on the scene to their listeners, so it's good for indie bands that are just starting out because the exposure is useful and effective.'

To fund his shows, Mr Ngoi has to dig into his own pockets to foot the monthly fee of $50 for server space.

He is against over-commercialising his site so advertisements - a sure profit generator - are a no-go.

But he is not complaining. 'It's never about commercial pursuits and advertisements. I have a day job after all.

'If you listen to the show long enough, you'll know my intentions are pure and concentrated solely on music.'

Besides sweetmusic.fm, sites like unpopular radio (unpopular-music.blogspot.com), rampage on the airwaves (rampageontheairwaves.blogspot.com) and eatyourinterpop (eatyourinterpop.blogspot.com) provide similar entertainment for the indie crowd looking for an alternative to traditional radio.

National University of Singapore student Han Yi Qian, 20, logs on to both sweetmusic.fm and unpopular radio.

She does not mind the on-and-off vulgarities because its usage is 'minimal'.

'What I find more important is for the deejays to have clear goals - to know what they are there for and to provide the listener with good music,' she added.

And that's what unpopular radio's owner, Mr Charanpal S. Bal, 29, does best. He entertains his listeners with his strong music content during the show.

'From a listener base of only five when we first started out two years ago, to 60 listeners a show now, we have definitely come a long way,' he said.

Sounds nuts, but it makes perfect sense

09 Sep 2007, ST

By Janadas Devan, ON WORDS

WHY do bars give away peanuts for free, but charge for bottled water? After all, peanuts are more expensive than water.

Well, because 'nuts and alcoholic beverages are complements. Someone who eats more nuts will demand more beer or mixed drinks... In contrast, water and alcoholic beverages are substitutes. The more water bar patrons drink, the fewer alcoholic beverages they will order'.

Another question: 'Why do female models earn so much more than male models?'

It is not because female models are intrinsically lovelier than male models. It is 'because women's fashion is a vastly bigger business than men's fashion. Women in the United States, for example, spend more than twice as much on clothing each year as men do, and the difference is even more pronounced in other countries'. Thus, beautiful women, modelling beautiful clothes, who can catch the eyes of consumers are highly prized.

Yet another puzzle: Why do women wear high heels, despite the discomfort, even harm, they cause?

That seems like a no-brainer. Tall women seem more striking. Also, 'in addition, to making women taller, high heels force the back to arch, pushing the bosom forward and the buttocks rearward, thus accentuating the female form. 'Men like an exaggerated female figure,' writes fashion historian Caroline Cox'.

So far so good. But the problem is if all women wore high heels, such advantages would cancel out. Surely, it would make more sense for all women to collectively agree not to wear high heels. 'But because any individual can gain advantage by wearing them, such an agreement would be hard to maintain.'

All of the above questions-and-answers derive almost verbatim from a wonderful new book by Cornell University economics professor Robert H. Frank, titled The Economic Naturalist: In Search Of Explanations For Everyday Enigmas. Prof Frank is the co-author with the current Federal Reserve Chairman, Mr Ben Bernanke, of a well-regarded economics textbook. Quite apart from its diverting content, The Economic Naturalist is interesting for another reason: Most of its questions as well as answers were provided by Prof Frank's students at Cornell.

Standard economics courses, the professor believes, are too theoretical. 'When students are given tests designed to probe their knowledge of basic economics six months after taking the course,' he found, 'they do not perform significantly better than others who never took an introductory course.' He hit upon a more effective method of teaching economics through - wait for this - a writing course!

Cornell has a writing programme 'inspired by research showing that one of the best ways to learn about something is to write about it'. Informed by 'the narrative theory of learning' - which holds that human beings have a universal predisposition... to impose a narrative interpretation on information and experience', as two educationists Walter Doyle and Kathy Carter put it - Prof Frank had his students write narratives explaining everyday economic phenomena.

They were asked to pose themselves the most interesting questions they could think of - 'Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?', for instance, or 'Why do 'almost new' used cars sell for so much less than brand-new ones?' The very act of thinking up these questions was useful, for the students had to consider many preliminary questions before arriving at the final one.

More importantly, precisely because the questions were their own - and were prompted by everyday puzzles in the real world that had struck them personally - they were motivated to take ownership of their questions. That motivation extended to their answers as well, for students with especially interesting questions felt a need to communicate their answers to others.

'Hey, do you know why A occurs? Well, it is because of B, C and D, you see. Let me tell you how it is' - and they formulated their own narrativised answers to their own questions.

They wrote because they had something to write about; they communicated because they had something which they wished to communicate. Learning how to write effectively and well became a function of wanting to communicate something specific - a thought, an answer to a precisely formulated question - effectively and well. Writing is a tool; one cannot learn to wield it without finding nails to hit.

In the process, Prof Frank's students learnt, too, how economic principles worked in the real world. His course opened his eyes 'to the remarkable effectiveness of the less-is-more approach to learning', as he put it - or, as Singapore's educationists have taken to saying, the 'teach less, learn more' approach.

I don't suppose that means Prof Frank's students won't have to, at some point in their educational careers, mug up on the more formal aspects of economic theory. But as an introductory course, his approach seems to have worked wonders.

The Economic Naturalist is one of the most delightful books in the dismal science that one can find in the market today - and it is almost wholly the product, not of a distinguished professor's ideas, but of his students'.

This is a technique of teaching writing that can be applied widely. Lecturing students endlessly on the principles of good writing does almost no good. Nobody in the history of the universe has ever produced a fine piece of writing without wanting to communicate something specific.

It would be far more productive to train students to formulate interesting questions for themselves and to write so as to communicate their findings to others. Prof Frank's approach can work in literature classes as well as GP, in history as well as economics.

'Why are whales in danger of extinction, but not chickens?' That, believe it or not, is an economics question that elicited a neat piece of writing. So, too, did the following: 'If attractive people are more intelligent than others, and if blondes are considered more attractive, why are there so many jokes about dumb blondes?'

My favourite in Prof Frank's book was this: 'Why do humanities professors, who should be more adept than most in their use of language, often write so unclearly?'

Soupy slurpee congee

09 Sep 2007, ST

By Foong Woei Wan

WHEN you have lived long enough with the thick, sticky stuff that passes as Cantonese congee at many a so-called Hong Kong eatery here, you learn to attack whatever goo you get in your bowl.



It isn't laced with broth as it should be, but your inner food police retired long ago. Thank goodness, then, for Sun Lok Noodle House.

Two friends and I had gone all the way to Taman Jurong to try the eatery's stewed beef brisket. One friend also ordered congee with century egg and lean meat ($5++). I was pleasantly suprised. It was congee soupy enough to be sipped. And what a luscious broth it was, tasting of rice and pork that had been simmered for hours.

I ended up slurping down half of my friend's lunch. I also monopolised most of the beef brisket rice ($6.50++). It was that excellent. Ripe with robust flavours, the meat had fatty bits that melted in the mouth.

Sun Lok owner Lee Yiu Mo says that's because his chefs cook the beef brisket for at least 41/2 hours and the congee for at least three hours.

For dim sum, we tried the usual fare: siew mai ($3.50++ for four), har kau ($3.50++ for four), char siew pau ($2.80++ for three), Shanghainese pork dumplings ($2.80++ for three) and chive dumplings ($3++ for three).

I was impressed by the freshness. The dumpling skins were not gooey. None stuck to the lining paper and nothing had been resteamed.

The desserts were hit-and-miss, however. One friend didn't finish her too-diluted honey dew sago soup ($2.20++). Another friend liked his sesame cream ($2.20++), which was a bit bland for me.

But I loved my red bean cream with lotus seeds ($2.20++), which had a fragrant whiff of preserved fruit peel - a truly Cantonese touch. It was the real thing.

SUN LOK NOODLE HOUSE
1 Yuan Ching Road #01-05, Tel: 6564-5188

Opening hours: 11am to 10.30pm daily

Rating: *** 1/2

The joy of eating

09 Sep 2007, ST

By Tan Hsueh Yun

IN THE animated movie Ratatouille, about a rat who yearns to be a chef, there is a character nicknamed the Grim Eater who just cracks me up.

The vinegary old fart is a food critic who writes his pieces in a coffin-shaped room. Nothing he eats pleases him.

I don't understand people like that.

You know that old chestnut, never trust a skinny cook? Well, the same can be said of people who don't enjoy their food.

Maybe I'm just a greedy person who prefers the company of other greedy people, but I think those who appreciate the sensual joy of eating tend to be happier, more engaging, and more, well, fun to be around.

From personal experience, they also tend to have more of a zest for life, to be more open to new experiences.

But I'm not talking about couch potatoes who put away mountains of fast food and large tubs of cottony ice cream to fill whatever gaping holes they have in their psyches.

I'm referring to those who can appreciate the crisp sweetness of an apple, who will suck the last bit of marrow goodness from a sup tulang with gusto, who will tuck into a plate of char kway teow without carping about calories and cholesterol, who will inhale a chocolate truffle and close their eyes with pleasure.

Take my friend S. Back in the day, a group of us penniless rookies would sometimes go to Swensen's for their inexpensive set lunches. One of our favourite options was a plump roasted game hen. When in doubt, choose something bone-in, it usually just tastes better.

You always knew when she was done with the bird because there would be nothing on the plate but a small, tidy pile of bones, each one stripped absolutely clean. She was always smiling after a game hen lunch, too.

Over the years I've collected people, and stories about people, who relish their food like that. They have enriched my meals, made me appreciate my food even more, and made me see the food I eat in a different light.

A colleague told me years ago about how her niece's eyes lit up when she first tasted a very good double-boiled soup.

I remember the delighted expression on my mother's face when she first ate foie gras.

Recently, a friend sent me a text message from an Italian restaurant.

'I cried when I tasted the blue cheese pizza,' he said. 'It's the best I've had in Singapore.'

I wish I had been there to see that.

But I was witness to food ecstasy this past week, and what an experience that was, too.

The ecstatic person in question is a colleague who has only recently cottoned on to the joy of Japanese food.

One time after a meal, some of his friends had to give him a lecture, telling him firmly that the very appreciative noises he had made were not appropriate at lunch time - he was waxing lyrical about conveyor belt sushi.

Some of us wondered what would happen in a proper Japanese restaurant.

So we made dinner reservations at one of our favourite ones and spent several days telling him in very elaborate detail what we would order.

It didn't get off to a good start, that meal. For some inexplicable reason, the restaurant gave our table away before we arrived and I was sure I was going to burst a blood vessel.

But they got their act together, we were seated, the food started arriving and pretty soon, we were all feeling very mellow.

This prompted someone to declare: 'What's better than having good food is sharing it with good friends.'

Kanpai to that.

Shouting over the din in the restaurant, we told our friend: 'Make all the noise you want, nobody's going to be able to hear you.'

Even without the soundtrack, the joy on his face was evident. You should have seen him when the sashimi arrived. Think kid in a candy store and then some. Then when he bit into a fatty piece of toro or tuna belly.

There was fresh, sweet King prawn sushi; baby eel or anago, lightly sauced and rolled around a ball of rice flavoured with yuzu zest; succulent grilled beef. Some of us were so happy we pounded the table.

But that was nothing compared to his reaction to the chef's special sushi, a blockbuster, over the top, in your face concoction of seared tuna belly on top of a scoop of sublime uni or sea urchin, on top of chopped fatty tuna on top of a small pillow of rice drenched in unctuous tuna oil. We call it torounitoro.

We couldn't speak for a while.

'I'm melting,' he said.

Now, I can sense disquiet and outrage among sushi purists. Hey, Grim Eaters, lighten up and try a piece.

If you're lucky, you'll melt, too.