THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT !!!

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Canada bans ‘Money For Nothing’

Posted Fri 14 Jan 2011 14:04 GMT by Ben Gilbert in Behind The Music

Music is not only amongst the premier forces in 21st century entertainment but also a fascinating document on society. Looking back over the history of rock and pop, we can see a window into a world that no longer exists, both for good and bad. A fact that Dire Straits have just been made patently aware of.

Despite not having made a studio album in over 20 years, Mark Knopfler's iconic ‘80s act have been dragged into a censorship row surrounding their most famous song, ‘Money For Nothing'. A watchdog in Canada has banned the track from being broadcast on their airwaves, after deeming it too offensive.

The ruling centres on lyrics in the track and the word "f****t", which features three times in the second verse. It reads: "The little f****t with the earring and the makeup. Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair. That little f****t's got his own jet airplane. That little f****t he's a millionaire".

Officials at the Canadian Broadcasts Standards Council are understood to have received an official complaint when an unedited version of the song, which won a Grammy for the Best Rock Performance and featured a landmark video, was aired in their country, where it topped the charts in 1986.

The panel were warned that ‘Money For Nothing' was "extremely offensive" to gay, lesb.ian and bisexual people and have now reached a similar conclusion. They decided that "f****t", when used to describe a homosexual man, is a word "that, even if entirely or marginally acceptable in earlier days, is no longer so."

"The societal values at issue a quarter century later have shifted and the broadcast of the song in 2010 must reflect those values, rather than those of 1985," ruled the council. This means any station that wishes to play the track must edit it or disguise the offending word.

Originally written by Knopfler and Police frontman Sting, the roots of ‘Money For Nothing' are well documented. The Dire Straits leader apparently encountered the protagonist in a New York appliance store, observing him and making notes as he went about his job as an employee in the hardware department.

"I borrowed a bit of paper and started to write the song down in the store. I wanted to use a lot of the language that the real guy actually used when I heard him, because it was more real," he said. But this is not the first time the rocker has encountered controversy because of the lyrics, which describe a man he remembers as "a real ignoramus."

Speaking to Rolling Stone in 1985, he accepted that people could take offence and suggested an adverse reaction had prompted him to reconsider his approach to songwriting. "I got an objection from the editor of a gay newspaper in London - he actually said it was below the belt," said Knopfler.

"Apart from the fact that there are stupid gay people as well as stupid other people, it suggests that maybe you can't let it have so many meanings - you have to be direct. In fact, I'm still in two minds as to whether it's a good idea to write songs that aren't in the first person, to take on other characters," he commented.

Mark Knopfler Money for Nothing Lyrics:

Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do it

You play that guitar on the MTV

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Money for nothin' and your chicks for free

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb

Maybe get a blister on your little finger

Maybe get a blister on your thumb

We gotta install microwave ovens

Custom kitchen deliveries

We gotta move these refrigerators

We gotta move these colour TV's

The little faggot with the earring and the makeup

Yeah buddy that's his own hair

That little faggot got his own jet airplane

That little faggot he's a millionaire

We gotta install microwave ovens

Custom kitchen deliveries

We gotta move these refrigerators

We gotta move these colour TV's

I shoulda learned to play the guitar

I shoulda learned to play them drums

Look at that mama, she got it stickin' in the camera

Man we could have some fun

And he's up there, what's that? Hawaiian noises?

Bangin' on the bongoes like a chimpanzee

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Get your money for nothin' get your chicks for free

We gotta install microwave ovens

Custom kitchen deliveries

We gotta move these refrigerators

We gotta move these colour TV's, Lord

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it

You play the guitar on the MTV

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Money for nothin' and your chicks for free

Money for nothin' and your chicks for free

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Berlusconi denies SEX claims

ITN, Yesterday, 08:06 am

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he has been in a steady relationship since separating from his wife, as he stepped up efforts to beat back allegations that he paid for sex with a nightclub dancer.

The surprise announcement from the self-confessed lover of beautiful women comes as Berlusconi faces growing pressure over a prostitution probe in which he is suspected of paying to sleep with 17-year-old Karima El Mahroug at his private parties.

In a video message to supporters shown on Italian television, Berlusconi attacked magistrates as having acted "illegally" and "unacceptably" and denied ever paying for sex.

"It's absurd to even think that I would pay to have sex with a woman. It's something that has never happened even once in my life. I would consider it degrading," he said.

"I like to be with young people, I like listening to them, I like having young people around me," said Berlusconi. "I helped them on some occasions", he added, "But there has never been any correlation between money and any sexual intercourse."

Italian media have had a field day reporting on the supposed antics at Berlusconi's parties ever since El Mahroug - better known as Ruby Rubacuori (Ruby, Robber of Hearts) - described them as "bunga bunga" parties in a reference to lewd activity.

"Since I separated - though I'd never wanted to say it to avoid exposing her to the media - I have had a stable relationship of affection with a person, who was obviously often with me at those evenings and would certainly never have allowed, at or after dinner, those absurd things some newspapers have conjured up," he said.

Berlusconi has given no hint of any steady relationship since separating in 2009 from his wife Veronica Lario, who filed for divorce after the Prime Minister attended the birthday party of an aspiring 18-year-old Neapolitan model.

Paying for sex with a prostitute under the age of 18 is an offence in Italy. Berlusconi is also being probed on suspicion of improperly pressuring police to release Ruby when she was detained for theft last year.

Berlusconi's lawyers say they have not decided whether the Prime Minister will appear in court after being summoned to do so at the end of this week.

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Rape laws blurry for Israelis: researcher

AFP - Wednesday, January

JERUSALEM (AFP) - – More than 60 percent of Israeli men and 40 percent of women do not believe that forcing sex on an acquaintance constitutes rape, an Israeli researcher said on Tuesday.

The findings, set to be published in a book in the United States later in the year, indicate a stark difference between public perceptions of what constitutes rape and the way it is defined by law, author Avigail Moor told AFP.

"Among the public there is a very stereotypical view of rape of a stranger jumping out the bushes and assaulting a woman," said Moor, a psychologist who treats victims of sexual violence and a researcher at the Tel Hai college in northern Israel.

Moor asked participants in her study for a yes or no answer on whether forced sex was rape when carried out by a stranger, an acquaintance or a partner.

More than 90 percent of men and women said sexual assault by a stranger was rape. But only 59.8 percent of women and 39.6 percent of men thought forced sex by an acquaintance constituted rape.

As for sex without consent in a relationship, 18.5 percent of women and only 17.3 percent of men thought that was rape.

"This research highlights how much work needs to be done to make the public aware that the element that differentiates between acceptable sexual relations and rape is the element of consent," the study said.

"Israeli law does not make any difference between a stranger and an acquaintance," Moor said, adding that her poll revealed attitudes similar to those prevalent in other countries.

The study comes in the wake of the high-profile rape conviction of former Israeli president Moshe Katsav, who had been charged with assaulting members of his staff.

The poll was conducted among 160 women and 159 men and has a margin of error of 11.74 percentage points.

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Dodge TAX like a Footballer

Can you score a massive tax saving like a top footballer, or would you end up facing a penalty shootout?

LoveMoney.com, Sam Thewlis, 13:03, Tuesday 18 January 2011

There are many reasons in life to be envious of Premier League footballers, but top of most people's list would not be their tax bill - after all megabucks wages mean massive cheques to HM Revenue and Customs - right?

Apparently not. When you have large pots of cash, you can afford to pay the most scurrilous/gifted* tax advisers around to make sure you pay as little as possible, with footballers' effective tax rates quoted in the Sunday papers as low as 2%.

So what exactly are the professionals doing to score such a low rate and can you adopt the same formation without falling foul of the taxman?

Footballers aren't paid enough

The idea behind footballer tax planning, or indeed any celebrity well-known enough to be offered things like sponsorship deals and endorsement packages, is the fact that their actual salary could be considered a small proportion of their total earnings.

The tax rules relating to employment income are very tight, and as the duties of employment (i.e. playing football) are normally performed in the UK, in the main, earnings from employment will be taxable in full. There are even special provisions that make sure foreign sportsmen get taxed on a proportion of their earnings if they appear in the UK at any time - on the grounds that if they get sponsorship to wear Adibok clothing, then anytime they appear wearing said clothing, they are earning.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, like the Champions League 2011 final footballers, Olympic athletes and Tiger Woods and his Ryder Cup cronies, who have been given byes exempting them from these tax rules, on the basis that, if they were charged, they would not come.

Just so long as the tax system is fair and equitable…

Image rights companies and dual contracts

So how does the planning work? The first part of the planning involves the football club deciding how much the players are paid for playing and how much they are going to pay the player in anticipation of the sums they will earn from image rights.

Hence it is common practice among footballers to have two contracts when they sign for a club — one that they pay tax on under PAYE same as every other employee and another that they do the clever bits with.

Any payments made under the second contract are paid into a private (and possibly offshore) company — either a single entity wholly owned by the footballer in question or, in the case of team payments, a company where the players all own a stake.

In one swift pass, all that lovely employment income (subject to income tax at 50%) becomes income of a company and liable to corporation tax at 20% (or possibly 28% in Rooney's reported case).

Of course the income then belongs to the company and if the players want to get their hands on the cash, they will still have to pay income tax on any salary or dividends paid from that company, right? Er, no.

You see, the company never pays them anything, it simply loans them some money interest-free. This is classed as a benefit in kind — and is subject to a negligible levy of 2%, instead of the top income tax rate of 50%.

Not that it is much consolation, but do remember that if it is a UK company, it will be paying 20% corporation tax as well, bringing the total tax take on those earnings to 22%. Poor loves.

Can you dodge tax like a footballer?

There is certainly nothing to stop you from going to your employer and asking for them to draw up a separate contract for you, in order to pay your image rights income.

Unfortunately, unless you are rich, famous or extremely good looking (being the office dish is unlikely to be enough — unless people are always haranguing your employer for T-shirts emblazoned with your face), your image rights are likely to be worthless. Sorry.

HMRC has reportedly already obtained millions in underpaid tax from the bigger clubs in settlement of enquiries into 'overestimated' image rights payments.

OK so what can you do?

So assuming you are not rich enough to pay 2% tax, what can you do to dodge a tax hit?

Start with the basics — like equalising income between spouses to use as much 20% income tax band as possible and utilising annual exemptions and personal allowances.

Also look into investing in ISAs, where you get tax free growth, or consider pension planning in order to obtain a tax uplift on amounts invested, tax free growth and the possibility of a tax free lump sum at the end.

There are even things you can do that don't involve you spending your hard earned cash - if you have children, take up any childcare vouchers offered by your employer and save income tax and national insurance.

Rent a room to a lodger and earn up to £4,250 tax free. You could even consider the MPs' favourite, and save capital gains tax by 'flipping' your home. Read our guide How to cut your tax bill by thousands for more help.

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I was forced to strip naked for photos

By Alicia Wong January 19th, 2011

Well-known Singaporean plastic surgeon Martin Huang is in the spotlight again.

This time, a 17-year-old girl is suing the surgeon for pain, suffering, extreme mental distress and trauma arising from photographs taken of her without her underwear before an operation. Her mother filed the lawsuit on her behalf last month.

The clinic, The Specialist Surgery & Laser Centre, where Dr Huang is a director, has been named as the second defendant.

Both the clinic and Dr Huang have denied the allegations in their defence, filed on Monday, reported The New Paper. Its not the first time Dr Huang has hit the headlines. In 2009, Dr Huang was fined $5,000 by the Singapore Medical Council and censured for professional misconduct over a cell-therapy treatment he performed.

In this latest case, the girl, who is not named, visited Dr Huangs clinic with her mother and younger sister on Nov 29 last year. She wanted to get a scar revision and contouring of underlying fat on her left upper thigh.

Her mother signed a consent form, acknowledging photographs may be taken as part of confidential medical records.

An hour later, the girl was brought to an operating room where she removed her clothes and put on disposable underwear, a medical gown and an overcoat.

She was soon informed photographs would be taken, and after some discussion, she was allowed to wear her bra but a nurse removed her underwear. During the 20-minute process which involved Dr Huang, a nurse, another female staff member and a photographer, the girl said she felt that her privacy had been completely violated.

A total of seven photos were taken of her upper thigh and surrounding area. No pictures of the girls face or upper body were taken. But she claims that Dr Huang and the nurse did not bother to explain or reassure her why she had to remove her underwear for the photo-taking process.

She said she felt humiliated, afraid and confused after the surgery and recounted the incident to her mother over the phone.

She claimed to have suffered severe mood swings and was depressed for a few days after the incident. She said she had to seek post-operative care at another clinic.

She also claimed the consent form did not state that full nudity was involved and that Dr Huang had failed to treat her in a professional manner, abused his position of trust as her doctor and was negligent in performing his duty of care.

She further alleged Dr Huang and clinic staff had committed trespass to her by way of assault and battery.

The girl is also seeking a court order for the delivery of all the photos in documentary and electronic form and for the photos to be deleted from the computer database.

No amounts were specified in the lawsuit but damages sought include medical expense claims and transport expenses to another clinic, said TNP.

WHO TO BELIEVE?

In their defence, Dr Huang and the clinic said the girl and mother expressly consented to the photo-taking of the scare and surrounding area.

Dr Huang and the clinic denied the allegations of negligence, battery and assault. They claimed the girls pain, mental distress and trauma, if any, were caused by what happened between the girl and her parents after the operation.

They claimed the girl appeared comfortable while waiting in the operating room. Dr Huang said he explained that photos of her lower torso and thigh would have to be taken to document her pre-operative condition and to assist in the post-operative analysis.

It was his standard practice to request she remove her clothes so the photographer could take photos of the scar. They claimed to have told her the photos would be taken quickly.

Dr Huang and the clinic claimed the photo-taking was uneventful and the girl voluntarily positioned herself as instructed. The session took less than three minutes and the girls face was not photographed, they said.

The girl apparently was cheerful during and immediately after the procedure. She looked pleased and said goodbye to Dr Huang before she left the room.

However, according to Dr Huang, she became increasingly upset in a subsequent phone conversation with her mum. She then told a nurse her mother was upset her underwear had been removed, to which the latter replied that it was standard procedure and part of the medical management for her condition.

After the girl again spoke to her parents on the phone and appeared upset, the nurse took over and spoke to them. But they refused to accept the explanation for the removal of the underwear.

When she left, the teen was clearly upset by what her parents had said to her, and how she should answer to her parents accusations, they alleged.

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Swiss bank UBS to change much-mocked dress code

Will they be able to wear red underwear? Swiss bank UBS changes much-mocked dress code

Frank Jordans, Associated Press, On Tuesday 18 January 2011, 1:36 SGT

GENEVA (AP) -- Good news for Swiss bankers: They may soon be allowed to wear red underwear, black nail polish -- and even eat garlic.

Swiss banking giant UBS AG said Monday it is revising its 44-page dress code telling its Swiss staff how to present themselves, which generated worldwide ridicule for its micromanagement of their dressing and dining habits.

The code instructs employees on everything from their breath - no garlic or onions, please - to their underwear, which should be skin-colored.

"We're reviewing what is important to us," UBS spokesman Andreas Kern told The Associated Press.

He said the bank would issue a pared-down booklet with more general guidelines on how to impress customers with a polished presence and sense of Swiss precision and decorum.

The existing code tells female employees how to apply makeup, what kind of perfume to wear and what color stockings are acceptable. It advises them not to show roots if they color their hair and to avoid black nail polish.

"You can extend the life of your knee socks and stockings by keeping your toenails trimmed and filed," Zurich-based UBS told its female staff. "Always have a spare pair: stockings can be provisionally repaired with transparent nail polish and a bit of luck."

Men are told how to knot a tie, to make sure they get a haircut every month and to avoid unruly beards and earrings.

"Glasses should always be kept clean," the code instructs. "On the one hand this gives you optimal vision, and on the other hand dirty glasses create an appearance of negligence."

The guidelines also recommended that employees always wear wristwatches to signal "trustworthiness and a serious concern for punctuality."

The UBS style guide prompted derision and disbelief when it first surfaced last month, but Kern insisted it was still good for the bank's reputation in the long run.

"Everyone knows the staff in our banks strive for the perfect look," he said.

So will employees now be able to wear red underwear? Who checked to see if they did before? Kern declined to give specific examples of planned changes.

A spokesman for rival bank Credit Suisse said he understands what UBS was trying to achieve.

"Every Swiss bank with private or retail customers has some sort of guidelines," Marc Dosch said. "UBS has taken it to absurd lengths, but in general it's a good thing that people have some guidance."

He noted that banks aren't alone in telling their employees what to wear: "There are gas stations, burger bars and supermarkets where you have to wear ties, and even silly hats at Christmas," he said.

The 157-year-old UBS has a history of providing detailed advice for its employees, which numbered 65,000 worldwide at the end of 2009. A handbook for bank trainees gives a country-by-country behavior guide.

In Russia, it tells employees to be prepared to hold your drink at business engagements and to "never reject an invitation to the sauna."

In Latin America, "turning up before an appointment might even be considered rude."

And in the United States, it says, "never criticize the President."

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GAME OVER !!!...finally no more XXX-rated racy stuffs.

Singapore’s ‘Edison Chen’ sentenced to jail

By Faris – January 19th, 2011

Former property agent Chen Guilin, alias “Gary Ng” was sentenced to 50 months’ jail and fined $20,000 on Wednesday for offences including forgery and criminal breach of trust.

The 28-year-old had admitted to possessing 507 obscene films of which more than 480 were clips of him having sex with different women.

While some of the women were willing parties, others were filmed without their consent. Their intimate actions were captured on a video camera hidden in a plastic bag with a slit. He then posted some of the video clips on the Internet.

Chen, whose exploits earned him the moniker “Singapore’s Edison Chen” pleaded guilty to four charges of forgery and one count each of housebreaking and theft, criminal breach of trust and unlawfully having another person’s identity card.

The Straits Times reported that he committed a total of 21 offences from 2006 to June last year involving stealing property worth $171,770.

In view of the severe aggravating factors, the prosecution had earlier urged the court to impose a heavy fine and at least four years’ jail.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Paul Wong said Chen was a recalcitrant offender and that all the offences were dishonest involving pre-planning and scheming.

However, Chen’s lawyer Savliwala Din had told the court in mitigation that his client made no excuse for his wrongdoing. He turned to crime when he could not earn enough money from his commissions as a real estate agent, he added.

Chen was arrested in October last year after some women made police reports against him, saying he had cheated them of money.

He had previously said in an interview with The New Paper that he filmed the videos as a way of getting back at women as he became disillusioned after three straight failed relationships in which his girlfriends cheated on him with other men.

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Grandpa PLAYBOY wants ya $upport !!!

'Uncensored' Playboy coming to iPad: Hefner

AFP - Thursday, January 20

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is bringing his iconic men's magazine to the iPad.

The octogenarian publisher, in a message on his Twitter feed, @hughhefner, said current and back issues of Playboy would be available on the Apple device in March.

"Big news! Playboy -- both old & new -- will be available on iPad beginning in March," Hefner said.

He did not provide any more details but in response to a question from a Twitter follower Hefner said "Playboy on iPad will be uncensored."

A Playboy spokeswoman said Playboy for the iPad will be a Web-based subscription service with Bondi Digital Publishing that will be "iPad compatible and will utilize iPad functions."

She said the Chicago-based company also plans to release a "non-n.u.d.e" version of a Playboy-branded iPad application in the coming months that "adheres to all of Apple's policies and guidelines."

Apple has a strict policy of banning nudity in applications for the iPhone and the iPad sold through its App Store.

Playboy already offers an iPhone application for 99 cents that does not feature nudity.

Hefner's iPad announcement came just over a week after he struck a deal to return Playboy Enterprises to private ownership.

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Court rejects lawyer’s appeal on Thaipusam Guidelines

By Faris – January 19th, 2011

An appeal for a court order against the guidelines on Thaipusam was thrown out of the High Court on Tuesday. The application was filed last Thursday by human rights lawyer, M. Ravi ahead of tomorrow’s festival.

In his application naming the Attorney-General and the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) as defendants, he said the guidelines disallowing shouting, playing of music and the sounding of gongs and drums breached a person’s constitutional right to practise his religion.

He added that enforcing the curbs would “endanger the safety and personal liberty of devotees”.

Last Friday, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam reassured Hindus that public-order guidelines issued on the festival’s procession were not new, and applied equally to all religious processions.

The only new element this year was to allow the singing of hymns, he said, and that represented a relaxation of the rules.

The HEB had earlier said that enforcing the rules will address issues of noise and crowd control, which have been escalating at Thaipusam processions in recent years.

On Tuesday, High Court Justice Steven Chong dismissed Mr Ravi’s appeal after hearing from him and the Attorney-General’s lawyers in chambers.

Speaking to The Straits Times in his office, Mr Ravi said that he will not appeal against the decision, but will turn to the United Nations and other international bodies for redress.

Under the guidelines, devotees are prohibited from playing recorded music or sounding gongs or drums, from painting their faces, bodies or wearing any form of disguise, and from shouting or unruly behaviour. Singing religious hymns relevant to the festival is permitted.

Participants who fail to comply may be refused permission to participate in the current and future Thaipusam processions. They may also be liable to prosecution including a fine of up to S$5,000 under the Public Order Act.

Thaipusam is an annual celebration by Hindus to honour Lord Murugan, an important Hindu deity.

Every year, tens of thousands of devotees take part in the overnight procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple in Serangoon Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani temple in Tank Road.

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‘Bak kwa’ prices to hit record high?

By Angela Lim – January 20th, 2011

Bak kwa lovers, get ready to pay more than S$50 per kg if you want to indulge in your favourite festive treat this Chinese New Year.

According to The Straits Times, retailers claim rising ingredient and labour costs are pushing up prices of this festive staple of sliced barbecue pork.

The first day of Chinese New Year falls on February 3 this year, but some shops have already begun raising prices by between S$2 and S$4 to reach S$48.

The cost of traditional bak kwa at the 106-year-old Kim Hock Guan, which has three stores, has been increased from S$46 to S$48 per kg since last week. This is higher than its record price of S$47 per kg last year.

Last year, stores like 35-outlet chain Fragrance sold traditional bak kwa for as high as S$50 per kg.

Lim Chee Guan, with its three outlets, has also charged more this year, from S$42 to S$46 per kg since last week.

The chain’s owner, Mr Rod Lim, said prices of bak kwa this year may exceed last year’s highest price – S$48 per kg – by S$2 to S$3 this time round. He cited the “substantial increase in raw material cost” as one of the reasons for the price jump.

Floods in Australia have pushed global sugar prices to a new high. The cost of sugar has increased by nearly 30 per cent recently to more than S$70 per 50kg pack.

President of the Meat Traders Association, Mr Chung Suan Lim, said pork prices have risen by at least 10 per cent recently because of the higher cost of animal feed and demand during the festive season.

Retailers add that hiring more staff to boost production during this period also adds to the costs.

Kim Joo Guan in South Bridge Road doubled the number of workers to almost 60 to meet demands at its shop and two temporary stalls in Takashimaya and Chevron House.

Mr Kevin Kwee, its director, said it has been absorbing additional labour costs to give early bird customers a “good deal”. However, it will increase prices by S$3 to S$48 per kg starting next Tuesday.

But it seems the climbing prices have not stopped buyers.

Many are still willing to wait more than 90 minutes for their favourite snack, forming queues outside popular stores like Lim Chee Guan.

Retailers said business has improved compared with last year. At the 37-outlet Bee Cheng Hiang chain, sales have jumped by almost 15 per cent.

“Sales are picking up at our stores and our corporate orders have also grown because people feel good about the economy and their spending power has increased,” said the chain’s group general manager, Daniel Wong.

Financial news agency Bloomberg News has revived its seasonal bak kwa index to track the price of three varieties of barbecued pork by five major retailers here.

Engineering officer Chua Hui Rong, 24, are among those buying their must-have festive treat early to beat rising prices. She queued for more than an hour at Lim Chee Guan’s shop in People’s Park Complex during lunchtime early this week to buy 1kg of bak kwa for her family.

Others like sales manager Richard Li, 46, plan to buy closer to Chinese New Year.

“I prefer to buy later so that it tastes fresher. And even if the prices go beyond S$50 per kg then, I will still buy because it is a must have for Chinese New Year,” he said.

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It will be 'lost' HISTORY to future generations !

Singapore's Lee wants home demolished

AFP - Saturday, January 22

SINGAPORE (AFP) – Singapore's elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew wants his family home torn down for redevelopment after he dies instead of being turned into a historical shrine.

In excerpts from a new book launched Friday, Lee said he had already instructed the government to destroy the British colonial-era bungalow situated off the premier Orchard Road shopping belt after his death.

"I've told the Cabinet, when I'm dead, demolish it," the 87-year-old Lee, who now advises his son Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said in remarks published by the daily Straits Times.

"I've seen other houses, Nehru's, Shakespeare's. They become a shambles after a while," he said, the former referring to India's independence hero Jawaharlal Nehru.

The newspaper's parent company Singapore Press Holdings is publishing the book "Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going", based on exclusive interviews with Lee by Straits Times journalists.

The famously frank and unsentimental Lee described his home -- built more than a century ago by a Jewish merchant -- as "a big rambling house with five bedrooms and three others at the back" and cracks in the walls.

Lee, who gave the interviews before his wife Kwa Geok Choo died in October last year, said his family would not miss the house, which he has owned since the 1940s.

"I don't think my daughter or my wife or I, who lived in it, or my sons who grew up in it, will bemoan its loss. They have old photos to remind them of the past," he said.

Key meetings of what would become the ruling People's Action Party met in the house's basement to plot strategy during its formative years, the newspaper reported.

The PAP has ruled Singapore since 1959, when the island gained self-rule from Britain, and its overwhelming majorities have allowed it to plan orderly successions thanks to its nearly total control of parliament.

Under Lee, who served as prime minister from 1959 to 1990 and led Singapore to independence from Malaysia in 1965, the city-state underwent an economic miracle, at the same time maintaining a hardline policy on political dissent.

He was pragmatic about the house's economic value.

"Because of my house the neighbouring houses cannot build high. Now demolish my house and change the planning rules, go up, the land value will go up," he said in the interviews.

Speaking at the launch of the book Friday, Lee, who now holds the title of Minister Mentor, said that Singapore remained "a nation in the making", despite its rapid rise to prosperity.

"I do not deceive myself for one moment that our differences of race, culture, language, religion, have disappeared," Lee said, urging Singaporeans to preserve racial and religious harmony.

"The message I want to convey is a simple one: we are a nation in the making. Will we make it? Am I certain we'll get there? No, we cannot say that. Something may go wrong somewhere and we'll fall apart," he said.

Singapore, which prides itself on its political stability, has a predominantly Chinese population, with minority races including Malays and Indians plus a growing foreign community now comprising one-fifth of the population of five million.

"You have a nation like China or Japan, China can be ravaged, demolished but the people come together again and rebuild. I'm not sure if Singapore were damaged, ravaged and demolished, they could ever come together again," said Lee.

"So this precious, accidental, improbable, unlikely nation that we have created should be nurtured, carefully strengthened and built upon."

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WHEN ???

MM Lee on PAP losing power: That day will come

By Angela Lim – January 21st, 2011

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, the founding leader People’s Action Party’s (PAP) has predicted its rule of Singapore will come to an end one day.

In a new book to be launched on Friday, the 84-year-old founder of modern Singapore said he has no illusions about his legacy and the future of the ruling PAP, which he led for 38 years and which has been in power since 1963.

“There will come a time when eventually the public will say, look, let’s try the other side, either because the PAP has declined in quality or the opposition has put up a team which is equal to the PAP and they say, let’s try the other side,” wrote Mr Lee in his new book.

“That day will come,” he said.

“No system lasts forever, that’s for sure. In the next 10 years to 20 years, I don’t think it will happen. Beyond that, I cannot tell. Will we always be able to get the most dedicated and most capable, with integrity to devote their lives to this? I hope so, but forever, I don’t know,” he said.

He gave the example of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party, which held power from 1955 to 2009, with an 11-month interruption from 1993 to1994, as an example. He said its downfall was in part because it “carried on with old ideas”.

Mr Lee, who now remains on PAP’s central executive committee after serving as PAP party leader until 1992, revealed his concerns in a series of candid interviews with journalists from The Straits Times.

The interviews are published in a new book “Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going” which will be launched on Friday at St Regis Singapore.

Mr Lee said the change in government could take place suddenly if PAP leaders splits “either for reasons of principle or personality”.

Or it could happen over time, if the PAP declines in quality or if the opposition assembles a team equal to the PAP.

He said, “If the decline in standards happens gradually, an opposition of quality will be launched. The public can sense it. If it is sudden, well, you’re landed with an emergency, and unless a credible team emerges, the country will start to go down the drain.”

But despite his concerns, he was confident Singapore would survive a handover to another party because of the safeguards in its political system. These include the elected presidency, free and regular elections and a bureaucracy separated from the political leadership.

“If we are voted out, the system is still working,” he said. “The new government cannot frivolously change the top men with its own sycophants nor spend the country’s past reserves without the President’s consent. They need to govern within these rules.”

He pointed out that it was this projected shift in power some day that prompted the PAP to start the safeguards in the first place.

Growing wage gap a ‘government concern’

Mr Lee also singled out the growing wage gap as a potential source of trouble for the PAP, explaining that it could spark class interests.

“There could come a time when the interest of the upper middle class will be divergent, that they don’t think they should subsidise the lower classes. They may well support a party which says, ‘No I don’t think this taxation is right. Why should I support the people in the two-room and three-room and four-room flats?’ We will widen the divide in our society. I don’t know when, but it will come,” he said.

He explained this was why the Government payed special attention to cater to the needs of those in the lower-income groups. Otherwise, it may result in the entrenchment of a ”disaffected, discontented and rebellious” underclass like in America might result, he added.

However, Mr Lee insisted that attempting to solve these problems with welfare payments, like many European countries, would not work in Singapore. “We will not perform,” he said.

Instead, he said the PAP redistributes enough to secure the support of more than half the electorate, but not to the point where the country loses its competitive drive.

“So you say to me, the chaps at the bottom will become anti-government. Do we change because of that or do what we say, ‘Right, we are likely going to lose that number of votes each time and so we’ve got to win from the median upwards’? I mean, that’s politics,” he added.

On democracy

When probed for his views on liberal democracy, Mr Lee revealed he was not convinced that democracy is superior. If it was clearly better, it would “take over the world”, just as the market economy has, he said.

However, he did admit that democracy’s attraction lay in its allowing of non-violent changes of government.

So, would an independent commission prevent gerrymandering?

Mr Lee said Singapore had “one-tenth the gerrymandering others have done”, even in countries with independent elections commissions.

Despite acknowledging that the PAP would lose power one day, he dismissed the suggestion that the PAP should therefore assist the opposition.

He quoted from a note younger ministers which said, “If voters elect more opposition MPs, so be it. But we do not believe that helping to build an opposition, to buy insurance in case the PAP fails, will work. Instead, it will lead to party politicking and distraction from long-term issues.”

“I’m not out here to justify the PAP or the present government,” he added. “I’m beyond that phase.”

[kueytoc]

Singapore ‘not yet a nation’: MM Lee

By Kai Fong – January 22nd, 2011

For all its gleaming skyscrapers and successful transformation from a tiny fishing village to one of Asia’s — if not the world’s — most modern cities, Singapore is not yet the finished product.

That’s the frank, honest and brutal assessment of none other than Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the 87-year-old founding father of the city-state.

“We are a nation in the making. Will we make it? Am I certain we’ll get there? No, I cannot say that. Something can go wrong somewhere and we’ll fall apart,” said the Minister Mentor at the launch of his new book at St Regis Hotel on Friday.

Speaking in front of an audience of over 160 people, comprising of diplomats, Members of Parliaments and academics, MM Lee went on to assess Singapore’s chances of becoming a true nation.

“If you believe it’s a reality, then I think you’re making a mistake. It’s an aspiration, it’s something we must make into reality probably in another 20,30, 40, 50 years.”

At what stage would he consider Singapore a true “nation”?

When its people were willing to make sacrifices and “die for one another”, he said.

He gave the example of China and Japan as nations having been ravaged and demolished but whose ”people have come together to rebuild it”.

But if the same thing were to happen to Singapore, it may “simply fall apart”, said MM Lee.

“I do not deceive myself for one moment that our differences of race, culture and religion will disappear,” he said, before urging the current and future generations of Singaporean leaders to “nurture, strengthen and build upon” the current Singapore.

WIDE-RANGING BOOK

The 458-page book, entitled Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going, also reveals MM Lee’s views on topics ranging his personal interpretations of love, family, homosexuality and even fengshui.

When asked if he believes in fengshui for instance, he laughed and said it was “utter rubbish” that people think he does.

“I’m a pragmatic, practical fella. I do not believe in horoscopes, I do not believe in fengshui, and I’m not superstitious about numbers,” he said.

MM Lee also calls love at first sight “a grave mistake” that one will regret. He advised Singaporeans to choose “somebody who will raise your standard”, joking that it was exactly what he did.

The 87-year-old also keeps an open mind about homosexuality.

“It’s not a lifestyle,” MM Lee said. “There’s a genetic difference, they’re born that way and that’s that.”

“So if two men and two women’re that way, just leave them alone,” he reiterated.

In the new book, Mr Lee also revealed his wish to have the family home torn down for redevelopment after he dies, even though many would probably wish to have the memorable place conserved.

“I’ve seen other houses, Nehru‘s, Shakespeare‘s. They become a shambles after a while.”

“Because of my house, the neighbouring houses cannot build high. Now demolish my house and change the planning rules, go up, the land value will go up,” he added.

After more than half a century in the public eye, fans and critics alike, MM Lee says he remains driven by the two things he holds closest to his heart – his family and his country.

“I did some sharp things to get things right,” he admitted. “Maybe they disapprove of it, (found it) too harsh, but a lot was at stake.”

“At the end of the day, what have I got? Just a successful Singapore.”

MM Lee’s new book is now available at all major bookstores for $39.90.

[kueytoc]

Financial adviser sues for ‘Worthless Degree’

By Ewen Boey – January 21st, 2011

A financial adviser is suing the Insurance and Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS) to get back the money he paid for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme that has proven worthless.

Mr Davy Goh Peng Yang is suing the IFPAS to get back more than S$30,000 in fees and yet-to-be-determined sum in damages, reported The Straits Times.

IFPAS, which was previously known as the Life Underwriters Association of Singapore, is the premier professional association for financial practitioners with more than 5,000 members — over half of the membership of the insurance-based financial industry.

Mr Goh, 33, told the paper that he is taking the case to court as IFPAS has refused to give him a refund despite his repeated pleas.

Mr Goh, who graduated from Nanyang Technological University with an engineering degree, had been a financial adviser for more than five years when he signed up for the year-long MBA programme with Vancouver University (VU) on the strength that it is endorsed by the IFPAS.

However, after he completed his MBA in 2005 and was moving on to pursue VU’s doctorate programme a year later, he discovered that VU was not an accredited university.

He discovered that VU had been operating for more than a decade, and had been dealt with several warnings from the Canadian government. He also found out that the Supreme Court of British Columbia had issued a shut-down order for the school in 2007.

Media reports state that the Canadian government had never approved of VU to grant degrees.

In 2007, VU transferred its MBA programme to International University (IU) in Vienna, but the Austrian embassy in Singapore confirmed that IU was not listed as an approved private university. IU is actually registered as an American university in the state of Alabama, despite having a campus in Vienna. Alabama is known to be a harbour for degree mills because of its lax laws.

Mr Goh, who has removed the “MBA” title on his business card, said, “It’s a crime to use unaccredited degrees in some parts of the United States, but it’s also a matter of integrity”.

“If it’s unaccredited, it means it has not been through the proper checks for academic quality. How can I trust that anything I learned is of value?” he added.

Now studying in a part-time MBA programme in the National University of Singapore, he said, “I thought IFPAS would do the proper checks before asking its members to sing up for a degree.”

Mr Goh also noted that IFPAS lists on its website its its dedication to “enhancing ethical and professional standards through continuous education”.

When contacted, IFPAS executive director Paul Goh said the MBA programme was jointly launched by VU and CPPD Systems Associates, a firm run by retired NTU business professor B.C. Ghosh, who was uncontactable. Dr Goh added that IFPAS only marketed the programme, which was designed and run by VU and CPPD.

He also claimed that seven modules in the programme were conducted by lecturers with “outstanding credentials”, though no names nor details on their qualifications were provided.

According to Dr Goh, when IFPAS checked with the Public Service Commission on VU’s degrees, they were informed that there was no government body here that accessed or granted recognition to degrees from universities overseas.

When IFPAS heard of the Canadian court’s shut-down order for VU in mid-2007, it immediately stopped the programme and offered students a choice between withdrawing and transferring to IU.

It is understood from Dr Goh that between 2002 to 2006, 82 students graduated wtih MBAs, but no figures were revealed regarding the fees for the courses, or who the money went to.

Mr Goh lamented, “It’s ironic. I took up the course because people think poorly of insurance agents. I thought if I had the proper qualification, it’ll show I’m knowledgeable about the financial markets and products. Instead, I find out that my MBA is worthless.”

[kueytoc]

WAH !...cannot go 'DIVING' with 'nong-nong' liao.

Thailand closes dive spots due to reef damage

On Friday 21 January 2011, 13:39 SGT

Thailand has closed a host of popular dive sites to tourists indefinitely to allow coral reefs to recover from widespread bleaching caused by warmer sea temperatures, authorities said Friday.

In total 18 areas in seven marine parks are off-limits, according to an order by the Thai National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

"Diving in all the spots is to be halted indefinitely until the reef has fully recovered," said department official Songtham Suksawang.

The ban, effective in seven of 26 marine parks, mainly covers sites in the Andaman Sea on the west coast. It also applies to snorkelling.

Songtham said the authorities would limit the number of people visiting certain other reefs at the same time.

Coral on Thailand's east and west coasts is thought to have been damaged by last year's unusually high sea temperatures caused by El Nino, as well as excessive human activity near the reefs, a statement by the department said.

The ban was imposed in certain areas that "have widespread bleaching of more than 80 percent to allow the reef to rehabilitate", it added.

Sea temperatures were said to be around two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than normal in the affected regions.

A study by Australia's Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in October said reefs in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean were dying from the worst bleaching in over a decade after sea temperatures across the region rose in May 2010.

Bleaching is caused by the warm water sweeping over the reefs, shocking the corals and causing them to shed the algae that nourish them. If corals fail to regain their algae, they starve to death.

Scientists say corals are vital to marine life because they provide habitats for a vast variety of creatures and absorb large levels of poisonous carbon dioxide.

Reefs are also a big draw for tourists looking to explore the wealth of underwater life.

Thailand is a popular destination for divers, with many resort islands offering excursions to the reefs strung along the country's more than 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles) of coastline.

The ban affects certain areas in the popular national parks of Similan and Phi Phi, as well as sites in Tarutao, Chao Mai, Chumphon, Phetra and most of Surin.

Penalties for non-compliance will run to fines and jail sentences and authorities have also vowed to step up patrols to stop illegal fishing.

Anchoring sites at spots not affected by the closures would also be increased to reduce damage done by boats to reefs.

Authorities said the coral bleaching will be closely monitored while the ban is in place.

[kueytoc]

Pretty in Pink ???

Global tourist industry eyes the 'pink dollar'

AFP - Friday, January 21

MADRID (AFP) - Travel operators trying to shrug off hard times are waking up to the vast potential of gay and les.bian tourism, including the new and burgeoning market for same-sex weddings and honeymoons as more countries allow gay marriage.

But industry experts warn that any businesses eyeing the pink dollar, euro, pound or yen need to be welcoming to gays while also avoiding the cliches associated with the community if they want to be taken seriously.

"The tourism industry is really opening its eyes and realising that this is a new and emerging market that they need to tap into," said Clark Massad, the European representative of the International Gay and les.bian Travel Association (IGLTA).

"Several years ago, it was considered a niche market and now it is really being considered a segment in and of itself," he told AFP at the FITUR tourism trade fair in Madrid, one of the world's largest.

As proof, the IGLTA, which has some 2,200 business members in 87 countries, on Wednesday officially became an affiliate member of the UN World Tourism Organisation in a ceremony at FITUR's new Pink Corner for the LGBT (les.bian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.

"The economic impact of the LGBT traveler has become apparent in the last year and especially with the economic crisis," said Massad.

As most are not parents, they have more disposable income, and have the added bonus that they can travel outside peak holiday periods.

Ian Johnson, the founder and chief executive of Out Now, which develops marketing strategies for targeting the gay and les.bian community, said studies by his organisation have shown that LGBT travelers account for 6.0 percent of all tourism numbers worldwide.

But he warned this also represents a challenge as hotels and travel destinations must ensure that employees are properly trained to make gay guests feel comfortable.

"If the consumer senses that it's nothing more than a quick 'pink dollar grab' then the cynicism will kick in immediately and those hotels, airlines and destinations will find they will not get the returns on their investments."

His organisation three years ago developed the GayComfort seal of approval, which has now been awarded to around 1,000 locations worldwide.

Destination tourism marketing offices in places such as Berlin, Stockholm, Australia's Gold Coast, Helsinki, Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires are among the members of the GayComfort programme.

"It is not about making gay guests feel any different, it is all about making them feel welcome, the same as all other guests," Johnson said.

Massad agreed that travel operators and destinations must study the market carefully.

"That means not just hanging a rainbow flag outside of your business ... The last thing you want is to fall into a situation of just using cliches, because the LGBT market will see right through that immediately."

He emphasised that "the LGBT market is an extremely diverse market," with travelers seeking everything from nightlife to beaches to cultural activities.

"Everybody wants to pigeon-hole certain gay destinations but I think that's a very dangerous thing because any city that is a major tourism destination today has the possibility to attract the gay traveler."

Johnson said marketing efforts generally start with private businesses and small tour operators.

Then "government authorities take notice and usually the tourism office money tends to follow the success of one or two pioneering private tour operators in opening up these markets."

He mentioned India, Nepal, Vietnam and Thailand among possible new destinations.

Some operators are also widening the field to include weddings and honeymoons.

Johnson said Out Now has been working with the Vienna tourism board to help develop gay honeymoons."

The value is immense and we can only say to you it's growing," although there is still a "distinct lack of awareness" of the potential among operators, he said.

The rising numbers of gay parents, an issue highlighted recently by pop superstar Elton John and his partner, is attracting interest in gay family holidays.

US actress and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell and her partner several years ago launched R Family Vacations aimed at families with same-sex parents.

UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai agreed that LGBT travel is now taking off.

"We have seen some announcements lately from countries that in the past would probably have not been able or willing to have come out so clearly and say 'we are encouraging'" gay tourists, he told AFP.

"So I think it's a trend that is most likely to continue because it is connected to other global trends that are going in that direction."

[kueytoc]

✿✿♥◕｡◕♥✿✿ Gay Member of Parliament? OK, says MM Lee

By Alicia Wong – January 23rd, 2011

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has revealed he has no problems with having homosexuals in Parliament.

Mr Lee, however, was more ambiguous about whether same-sex marriages should be allowed, or if gays should be given rights to adopt children.

The comments were made in an interview published in his new book, MM Lee: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going, that was launched on Friday.

When asked about the possibility of gay Members of Parliament, Mr Lee said, “As far as I’m concerned, if she does her work as an MP, she looks after her constituents, she makes sensible speeches, she’s making a contribution, her private life is her life, that’s that.”

This, however, does not mean his personal views will become the policy of the People’s Action Party.

Mr Lee said, in the same interview, if he were the prime minster he would “hesitate to push it through” against prevailing values of society.

“You’re going against the current of the people, the underlying feeling. What’s the point of that, you know, breaking new ground and taking unnecessary risk?”

What if his grandchild is gay? Mr Lee, who believes homosexuals are born genetically different from heterosexuals, turned to the example of former United States vice-president Dick Cheney, who was against homosexuality but whose daughter is gay.

“He says, ‘I still love her, full-stop’,” noted Mr Lee. “Do you throw the daughter out? That’s life. I mean none of my children is gay, but if they were, well, that’s that.”

When it comes to same-sex marriages and gays being allowed to adopt, Mr Lee cited a “purely practical view”, noting “complications” would arise.

“Two men looking after a child? Two women looking after a child, maybe. But I’m not sure because it’s not their own child. Unless you have artificial insemination, and its their own child, then you have a certain maternal instinct immediately aroused by the process of pregnancy.”

He said, the time has not come for such a policy. “The people are not ready for it. In fact, some ministers are not ready for it.”

Political watchers and MPs told The Sunday Times Mr Lee’s views were more liberal than societal views. They do not expect the PAP government to change its basic stance.

Mr Eugene Tan, a political observer, said change would not happen anytime soon but Mr Lee was “painting the larger picture” to show what is considered acceptable evolves over time.

MP Charles Chong (Pasir Ris-Punggol) agreed that MPs should be judged by their performance. PAP candidates are not asked to declare their sexual orientation, he said.

Some members of the gay community told the same paper they welcomed Mr Lee’s remarks but wished he would have talked about decriminalising Section 377A of the Penal Code, which makes sex between two men an offence.

Ms Irene Oh, 27, also disagreed that adopting a child would lessen the maternal bond. “I think adoption’s a great act of love, and there is no reason to expect adoptive patents to be any less caring.”

[kueytoc]

Bent's debut goal helps Villa sink Man City

Reuters - Sunday, January 23

By Mike Collett

LONDON - Darren Bent scored on his debut four days after becoming Aston Villa's most expensive player to give his new side a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League at Villa Park on Saturday.

The England striker, who joined for a club record fee of 18 million pounds from Sunderland on Tuesday, swept the ball home from six metres in the 18th minute after goalkeeper Joe Hart could only push Ashley Young's shot into his path.

"They always say the first goal is important and we got it early, then defended really well and played really well," the 26-year-old Bent told ESPN.

"It's been a hard week but these are the occasions you enjoy because we have beaten one of the best teams in the country."

Villa manager Gerard Houllier said: "I am pleased for Darren because it's his first goal for us and his first game but I thought the whole team were fantastic and they worked very hard for each other and their spirit of sacrifice was outstanding.

"I must congratulate them for that because we have beaten a very good side."

It was the second time this season Bent has scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over City, having converted a last-minute penalty for Sunderland in August.

BAD DAY

The defeat completed a bad day for City whose title hopes took a knock as Manchester United and Arsenal won earlier.

City slipped from second to third, three points behind leaders United having played two more matches than their arch-rivals.

Roberto Mancini's City, who beat Villa 4-0 at Eastlands three weeks ago, hit the post late in the second half when a fierce drive by Nigel de Jong took a deflection off Ciaran Clark and smacked the woodwork.

Apart from his goal Bent did not have any other clearcut chances in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello but his debut will long be remembered by Villa fans who have not had too much to cheer about this season.

The victory moved them up from 17th to 16th, three points clear of the relegation zone.

It was the third time Bent has scored on his debut for a new club following first-game goals for Charlton Athletic and Sunderland.

[kueytoc]

Are your supplements worth your money?

By Coach Jon – January 21st, 2011

Unfortunately, the “fitness” industry in Singapore is quite unregulated and every indication so far by our lawmakers seems to show that it is going to remain this way for the foreseeable future. There are always stories of spas or gyms closing down and taking their customers’ money from pre-paid packages with them. Or personal trainers who are in this business purely for the money, and don’t give correct, science-based guidance to their clients.

However, one of the most unregulated areas of the health industry is the supplement industry. By “unregulated” I don’t mean that there are a lot of illegal substances being sold as legal ones.

In Singapore the Health Science Authority has quite a long list of ingredients that are not allowed into our borders. While the listing of a few of these items are (in my opinion) debatable, many of these items are truly harmful, and should be considered “controlled”.

But when I talk about the supplement industry being unregulated, I mean that the quality, effectiveness and safety of the ingredients used in supplements are not always the same. I may use Brand X vitamin C, and you may use Brand Y vitamin C, but one may be extremely effective as an immune system booster and antioxidant, while the other brand may do next to nothing because of a poor choice of absorption method, or a synthetic rather than natural form being used.

Here are some things to look for to see if your supplement brand cares about your health, or simply wants to lighten your wallet.

I will talk mainly about a multi-vitamin product, because almost all brands have a multi-vitamin so its easier to compare.

Look for how the multi-vitamin delivers it’s minerals. Look for minerals like magnesium and zinc. Clearly these are metals, and even a primary school kids knows that we can’t eat metals.

To absorb these minerals well, our body needs them to be connected to something else so they become absorbable in our digestive tract. What the mineral is connected to, makes a big difference in the effectiveness of the nutrient.

A cheap multi-vitamin often uses the oxide form. E.g. Zinc Oxide, or Magnesium Oxide. This is simpler and cheaper to make as well. Unfortunately for the unaware consumer, it is almost useless for him or her. Oxide forms of minerals are absorbed at a rate of about 5%. That means that 95% simply gets passed out. What a waste!

A good multivitamin uses an amino acid to connect to the mineral for better absorption. You can see this in the “-ate” form of the mineral. E.g. Zinc Citrate, Magnesium Orotate, etc. These forms are absorbed at about a 35-50% rate. That is 7 to 10 times better. Yet, the good brands don’t cost 7 to 10 times more!

If you are looking for a pure mineral supplement (i.e. a magnesium supplement), look for one that has different forms of the mineral in the supplement. The different forms tend to go to different tissues in your body for even better absorption. E.g. Magnesium Orotate, Magnesium Glycinate, Magnesium Taurate, all in the same capsule.

Also, a good brand of supplement will want you to be able to break down the tablet for absorbtion in your stomach. A cheap brand packs as much as they can into a capsule or tablet so they can say they have a lot of ingredients. But such a densely packed capsule will not break down in your stomach, and the nutrients will be wasted.

You can test for this by using vinegar in a cup. Put the capsule/tablet in, and it should dissolve completely within about 10-15 minutes. If it still looks like a tablet after this time, you can be quite sure that it will not break down, and it will be wasted money again.

Another way that cheap brands skimp on quality to increase profits, is the form of Vitamin E that is used. The most common form is called “d-alpha-tocopherol”. However there are 8 variants of vitamin E that occur in nature, and a combination of these works far, far better than any single type. This combination is what you get in nature. So in your multi-vitamin, always look for “mixed tocopherols, and tocopheryls”. Don’t worry about the techie words, just make sure to get “mixed” types.

One final thing that you can look at is the color of the plastic bottle – just kidding. What you should look out for is the reputation of the company and its business model. Quite simply put, you get what you pay for in the supplement world.

And it is impossible to make something cheap and good. Below are some of my experiences. I will only state company names which I believe produce honest and value for money products. If I don’t mention a company, it is not because I think it is bad, it may be that I do not know enough to give advice about it.

There are, in general, three general sources of supplements.

First, network marketing. Some of these products are good, however buyers need to beware of the business model. It favors many levels of distributor before the end user (you!) is considered.

Next are the “general population” grade supplements which you can get in most supplements stores at supermarkets in shopping malls, or on most online stores. These are low to medium grade depending on brand. For fish oils in this range, I like “Nordic Naturals” and for other supplements, I find XPN from Canada to be a good choice. But in this grade there is a lot of room for unethical marketing to sway customer decisions.

Finally, this is the only grade I recommend completely. It is the medical grade stuff. While they do cost a little more, the companies in this grade tend to have a very good reputation to uphold, and will do their best to deliver the best product to customers.

One of the brands I use a lot with clients at my gym who come for personal training or nutrition consultations is the Poliquin brand. They are designed by Charles Poliquin, a coach who has helped athletes win Olympic medals in 18 different sports. He is also one of my mentors in health and sports coaching.

Another brand that is of excellent quality is Metagenics. Their chief science officer is Jeffrey Bland PhD. While not a household name to those outside the medical community, he worked closely with the late Linus Pauling, one of the pioneers of nutrition research. Pauling was so good at it that he is the owner of not one but TWO Nobel Prizes!

Some other top grade brands that I have used with success are:

•Life Extension – They have an excellent, free, online newsletter at their website

•Douglas Labs

•Biotics Research

•Wise Woman Herbals

There we have it! A quick guide to successfully choosing supplements. Hope it helps!

[kueytoc]

Revamp your home the Chinese way

By PropertyGuru – January 24th, 2011

By Sunaina Anand (courtesy of PropertyGuru)

Just a month into the new-year, and we’ve worked too hard already. There’s nothing more we want than to get away from the mayhem of the corporate world, and to sit back and relax in the sun. At this very opportune time, Chinese New Year (CNY), the most important social and economic festival in China, comes along.

While most of us look forward to CNY for the ‘days off from work’, it’s time we learn more about the festival, and celebrate it in the same spirit as our Chinese brothers and sisters do.

And from what we can already see, with Singapore all dressed in red, decorations have a big role to play during CNY. So for the upcoming holidays, adorn your house the Chinese way. Find out how.

Ribbity Rubbit

And what better way to start than with the rabbit? After the year of the very ferocious tiger, 2011, the year of the rabbit, promises to bring prosperity and peace for all. For the kids’ rooms, a picture of bugs bunny would be ideal. Even better, buy a picture of bugs bunny dressed in a cheongsam (a body hugging Chinese dress). Chinatown is the best place to buy decorations for CNY.

Fire It Up

Legend has it that a beast called Nian would appear on the eve of every CNY eve to harm the villagers. They learned to scare it away by lighting firecrackers. Hence firecrackers are crucial during CNY. Since bursting crackers is banned in Singapore, they are mostly used for decoration purposes. You could even buy electronic firecrackers that sound and light up like the real ones for the front yard or balcony and light them up before dinner.

Light Up Your Life

One of the most popular CNY decorations, the lantern signifies vitality and good luck. The streets of Singapore are already adorned with red lanterns; hence you’ll have no trouble finding them. However, making paper lanterns together with the children will be a good way to spend some quality time together. This year, make paper lanterns in the shape of a rabbit and hang them in your entryway. Paint the lanterns red and gold in keeping with the colours of the festival.

A Splash Of Colour

Red and gold are considered auspicious during Chinese New Year. While red signifies longevity, gold is meant to bring happiness, good luck and wealth to a home. Decorate your house with red and gold balloons and streamers this CNY. You could even buy red and gold Chinese characters that spell happiness and good luck to hang on the walls.

Shop For The Pot

There’s no better time to go shopping than CNY. Sweep away the old and welcome the new is the motto during CNY so splurging is legal! This CNY, buy a brand new round table, with a Lazy Susan (a circular rotating tray placed on top of a table to aid in moving food) mounted on top. Invite family and friends over for dinner to celebrate the very essence of the festival. Have hotpot with the family on your brand new acquisition in true Chinese style.

Fortune Cookie

No Chinese meal is complete without the fortune cookie. This year, predict good fortune for your friends and families by slipping in personalised notes in the cookies. You could bake the cookies yourself, or buy ready-made cookies, microwave them till they are pliable (20-30 seconds), open the cookie and exchange the fortune with your message. Pinch it back together and let it harden. Tie red and gold ribbons around a glass bowl, put the cookies in it, let the bowl sit on your coffee table till everyone’s ready for them.

Blessings Galore

Buy red packets (Hong Bao) and shape them like different cartoon characters (including a rabbit). Put some money or tiny gifts for the children in them and place them on the dinner table where the children will sit. You could even stick some Chinese characters spelling good luck and health on them and bless your kids with all the luck and good fortune this year.

Life In The Wild

The lion dance is performed on most Chinese festivals and is said to bring good luck and happiness. Make or buy a Lion costume for the kids and decorate their room with it. You could even teach them the lion dance and have them perform before dinner.

Fruitilicious

No CNY celebration is complete without the tangerine tree. Buy two tangerine trees and place them on either side of your entry. Mandarin oranges and tangerines are considered traditional symbols of abundance and good fortune during CNY. Buy some for your guests as presents and bless them with all the good fortune for the coming year.

Beauty Personified

There’s no better way to decorate your house than with flowers, so beautify your house with flowers this CNY. A blooming flower on CNY signifies a year of prosperity. Flowers are also meant to bring good fortune into your home, so have lots of earthen pots and vases ready. Place them in your living and dining area and decorate them with some peach and plum blossoms, water lilies and peony. While peach blossoms symbolise growth, prosperity, long life and romance, plum blossoms represent perseverance and reliability. The peony signifies feminine beauty and love. So bring happiness, luck, love, colour and vibrance into your home this New Year.

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Ris Low: I want to take part in Miss World again

By Angela Lim – January 28th, 2011

Never one to shy away from the spotlight, 25-year-old fallen beauty queen Ris Low has vowed to make a comeback in the Miss World Singapore pageant this year.

“I’m serious! I’m going to join the Miss World Singapore pageant again!” she told The New Paper.

Despite being dethroned as Miss World Singapore in 2009, the excited Miss Low still has her eye on the coveted crown.

Her decision to join the pageant once more comes amid changes being made to the Miss World Singapore pageant, such as a bigger cash prize.

In a bid to improve the overall standard of the pageant in Singapore, Miss World Limited has dropped ERM World Marketing as their local pageant organiser.

Mr Raymund Ooi, 46, the owner of new licensee Limelite Productions, is willing to put up an attractive cash prize for the pageant’s winner so as to attract a higher calibre of contestants.

“In Malaysia, they have offered RM100,000 (S$40,000) cash prize for the winner, so I’m hoping to match that,” he said. “I think S$40,000 plus the trip to the Miss World finals, which can cost up to S$15,000, is quite attractive.”

Said Miss Low,”In comparison, the prize for the pageant that I joined was the S$2,000 trip to South Africa for the Miss World finals. There was no cash prize.”

She claims that ERM World Marketing did not provide enough support in terms of things like sponsored gowns worn by the contestants. The ex-licensee could have found better sponsors and cited how contestants from other countries were dressed in designer gowns for the pageant, she added.

“I’m joining the pageant again because I feel that if I had been given the chance to represent Singapore (instead of being dethroned), I could have shone,” she said.

She admitted that she would have done better if she had been put through classes to teach her to walk, dress and “basically how to work the whole package”.

“Now, if I can get lessons on how to be a top beauty queen, then I definitely want to show the public that I can do this based on my own merit,” she added.

But the “bigini”-loving Ris may not have an easy time at this year’s pageant if Mr Ooi has anything to say about it.

To avoid another Ris Low debacle, the organiser has vowed to conduct more stringent checks on the finalists of the Miss World Singapore pageant this year. On top of that, he will also engage a credible panel of judges to pick excellent pageant contestants.

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Liverpool agree Suarez deal with Ajax

AFP - Saturday, January 29

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - – Liverpool confirmed Friday they have agreed a deal with Dutch side Ajax to sign Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, just hours after they turned down an attempt by Chelsea to relieve them of Fernando Torres.

The English giants will pay a fee of up to 26.5 million euros (22.8 million pounds) subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

Suarez's much-anticipated move to Merseyside had been held up after the two clubs had failed to reach agreement on a transfer fee.

However 24-year-old Suarez had spoken enthusiastically about the prospect of a move to England, telling the Sunday Times in an interview last week that he believed he could emulate the success of Carlos Tevez in the Premier League.

"(England) is a league that attracts me, a country where the football is really good," said Suarez, who notoriously committed a goal-line handball which saved Uruguay from elimination in the World Cup against Ghana last year.

"Alongside the Spanish league it is the best in the world. In England you have a lot of clubs with aspirations to become champions and they are also very strong in the Champions League at the European level.

"I used to think that English football was not my style. But I saw Tevez play at Boca and Corinthians and I never imagined that he would play in the Premier League.

"When I see the way that Tevez plays there I think I can be a big name in England. It's because of the energy, and the spirit they put into the game in England. Now, I think it's a kind of football that suits me."

The deal comes on the same day that Liverpool turned down a bid of 35 million pounds from Chelsea for Spanish international striker Torres.

The 26-year-old Torres had already pleaded with Liverpool to prove his long-term future lies at Anfield by bringing in better players to bolster a team which has looked reborn under Kenny Dalglish.

Having scored just once in seven matches prior to the Scot's appointment as manager he has hit three in his last four games - and that would have been four in four had he not had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside in Wednesday's win over Fulham.

Suarez has been a prolific scorer in the Dutch championship, scoring 111 goals in 159 matches since joining Ajax from Groningen in 2007.

But controversy is never far away with the Uruguayan having just completed a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in a league match in November.

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Liverpool reject Torres Premiership transfer request

AFP - Saturday, January 29

LONDON (AFP) – Liverpool have turned down a transfer request from Fernando Torres, the English Premier League club said Saturday, following an audacious bid from Chelsea for the Spanish international.

"Fernando Torres tonight submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool," Liverpool said in a statement on its website.

"Fernando is under a long-term contract and the Club expects him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement."

Striker Torres, 26, is under contract at Liverpool until 2013. However he is widely reported to have a buy-out clause in his deal which will allow him to leave if another team matches his 50-million-pound valuation.

The clause was believed to have been inserted as a concession to Torres after Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League last season amid uncertainty over the club's ownership.

Chelsea, who are believed to have tabled a similar bid for the player last summer, had been told that the Spanish international was not for sale, Liverpool said in a statement on its website on Friday.

"Chelsea have made a bid for Fernando which has been turned down," a Liverpool spokesman said. "The player is not for sale."

Newspaper reports earlier put Chelsea's bid at 35 million pounds.

The fact that Torres would be eligible for Chelsea's Champions League campaign this season may persuade the English double-winners to increase their bid to the 50-million-pound mark.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is expected to overhaul Chelsea's ageing squad, where a number of stalwarts such as Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and John Terry are nearing the end of their careers at Stamford Bridge.

Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti declined to comment on Friday when asked about the club's bid for Torres.

"I don't want to speak about this, you will have to ask the club. He is not my player and I have to have respect for Liverpool. I don't like to speak about this," said Ancelotti before praising Chelsea's activity in the January window.

"I am happy because the club is doing a fantastic job in this transfer market. The club is trying to do everything to improve the squad."

After a difficult start to the season, Torres appears to have been revitalised under new Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, netting three goals in his last four appearances for the Reds.

Liverpool meanwhile confirmed Friday they have agreed a deal with Dutch side Ajax to sign Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.

The English giants will pay a fee of up to 26.5 million euros (22.8 million pounds) subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

Suarez's much-anticipated move to Merseyside had been held up after the two clubs had failed to reach agreement on a transfer fee.

However 24-year-old Suarez had spoken enthusiastically about the prospect of a move to England, telling The Sunday Times in an interview last week that he believed he could emulate the success of Carlos Tevez in the Premier League.

"(England) is a league that attracts me, a country where the football is really good," said Suarez, who notoriously committed a goal-line handball which saved Uruguay from elimination in the World Cup against Ghana last year.

"Alongside the Spanish league it is the best in the world. In England you have a lot of clubs with aspirations to become champions and they are also very strong in the Champions League at the European level."

Suarez has been a prolific scorer in the Dutch championship, scoring 111 goals in 159 matches since joining Ajax from Groningen in 2007.

But controversy is never far away with the Uruguayan having just completed a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in a league match in November.

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Liverpool deny Torres request, agree Suarez deal

Reuters - Saturday, January 29

LONDON - Liverpool have turned down a transfer request from Fernando Torres hours after Kenny Dalglish made his first major transfer impact in his second spell as manager by agreeing to sign Uruguay forward Luis Suarez.

The club, who said on Friday they had agreed to buy Suarez from Ajax Amsterdam for 26.5 million euros , have made it clear they intend to keep Spain striker Torres.

"Fernando is under long-term contract and the club expect him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement," the Merseysiders said on their website.

On Thursday, Liverpool turned down what media reported was a British record fee of around 40 million pounds for the forward from Chelsea.

Torres has struggled for form this season but has looked sharper since Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson on an interim basis this month, helping to lift Liverpool up to seventh in the Premier League with back-to-back wins.

If Liverpool can persuade Torres to stay they will end up with a potent strikeforce thanks to the addition of 24-year-old Suarez, who scored 111 goals in 159 Ajax appearances.

'BEAUTIFUL CLUB'

Liverpool said on their website they had been granted permission by Ajax to discuss personal terms with Suarez and his representatives, adding the deal was subject to a medical.

"I can understand Luis wanting to go to Liverpool, it's a beautiful club, but then it has to be satisfying for both parties," said Ajax coach Frank de Boer in a statement.

Nicknamed 'El Pistolero' or 'The Gunfighter', Suarez has just finished serving a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in a league match in November.

He was also at the centre of controversy at last year's World Cup when Uruguay went through to the semi-finals as he handled the ball on the goalline in the final minute of extra time against Ghana to prevent a winning goal by Dominic Adiyiah.

Suarez was sent off but his team subsequently won a penalty shootout.

The striker has scored seven league goals this season after notching 48 in all competitions last term to earn the Dutch Footballer of the Year award.

Suarez was sent off on his Uruguay debut in February 2007 and has netted 16 goals in 38 international appearances.

He is set to join Liverpool just as the 18-times English champions are showing signs of recovery after spending much of the season in the bottom half of the table.

Since taking over the club in October, Liverpool's American owners have given little away in terms of what the budget for transfers might be or whether there are any long-term plans to keep Dalglish on beyond the end of the season.

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Horror tales from a former flight attendant

By Kai Fong – January 27th, 2011

“Your senior would force you to smoke, drink and even sleep with them. If you didn’t comply, they would make your life hell.”

“A colleague of mine was terrified because the head steward wouldn’t stop knocking on her hotel door in the middle of the night. When she didn’t respond, he taunted her in front of everyone the next morning. It got so bad that she cried every single day.”

“She felt dirty every time she put on her uniform so she quit her job.”

These are just some examples of the many traumatic experiences female flight attendants have suffered in their line of work.

In a newly published book, a flight-attendant-turned-writer recounts her own air horror tales with a liberal dose of humour, even though things were far from funny back then. And the title doesn’t get any more appropriate — Madness Aboard! Welcome to Plane Insanity.

“It (sexual harassment) was so prevalent that you can ask any stewardess who worked at the time and they will tell you the same stories,” says 40-year-old Yvonne Lee, who left the aviation industry in 1995 after six years.

She tells Malaysian daily The Star of how a chief steward called “Joe Square Jaw” had attempted to make a move on her in the cargo hold.

“I felt a strange erected pressure against the small of my back. If I remember correctly, it was the same kind of pressure I had felt when I was among the sardine-packed commuters on a bullet train in Tokyo,” wrote Lee.

“Some Japanese pervert had jacked up against my butt. Then it quickly occurred to me that this was no bullet train but a deserted cargo hold where only one other person existed! Joe Square Jaw!”

Insanity indeed.

A UK report entitled ‘Sexual harassment culture shatters illusion of high life‘ shows that in a survey of 2,000 women who worked for a national airline, more than one in five said they had suffered sexual harassment from passengers.

Apparently, male members of the crew pose an even greater threat. Almost half of the women said they had had to put up with offensive remarks or lewd behaviour by colleagues or superiors.

And the easiest prey? “Rookie stewardesses,” as Lee calls it.

“It was as if it was a time before modern civilisation and the stewardesses were viewed like cattle stock. Whether pilots, stewards or passengers, they ogled at a newbie like she was a walking piece of prime steak, a Chateaubriand with a chignon and in heels…. It was demeaning.”

So why do flight attendants make such appealing targets for sexual harassment?

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) points the finger at advertising.

“There’s not an airline out there that hasn’t at some time sought to exploit the notion that air travel includes being served by a physically attractive hostess,” states the ITF report.

The Star gave the example of Singapore International Airlines (SIA)’s “Singapore Girls” — so famous that a reproduction of “the girl” became the first commercial icon to be placed in Madame Tussaud‘s waxworks museum in London in 1993.

“Gorgeous air stewardesses…I think a majority of passengers have come to expect that,” agrees flight attendant Max Foo, 26. “In fact, I have friends who said they preferred Asian airlines compared to Western ones because the latter were full of old, matronly women.”

Fussy much? Try the demanding male passengers, or those who had a little too much to drink, or both.

“A male passenger touched my behind. I told him, you do that again and I will slap you,” says a stewardess in a report complied by the ITF.

“I asked the other passengers to be my witness to his behaviour and, in the end, I had to slap him. Of course, sometimes you’re afraid you might lose your job.”

Says senior flight attendant Annie Teo, 46, “It’s as if normal rules don’t apply when you’re 40,000ft (12,192m) in the air. This problem is further exacerbated during the layover period, when you’re in a foreign land with co-workers who are virtual strangers. There was a lot of hard partying going on.”

These cases may not make newspaper headlines, but word gets around on who the top predators are, says Teo.

“We have an unofficial list of our own,” she adds. “There’s a Top Five Captains List and a Top Five Supervisors List. We’re very cautious with those who make the list.”

While Teo admits that things have somewhat improved since the implementation of more stringent laws governing sexual harassment at the workplace, the working conditions are still far from desired.

“It’s still normal for a male captain or steward to refer to a stewardess as a ‘crew meal’, meaning that she’s an easy lay,” says Teo. “That’s the first thing they look out for in a flight — a stewardess that they can makan (“eat”) and pass on to their colleagues. They think it’s funny.”

And the worst part? The same sexual predators who were around 10 years ago are still around today.

“The supervisor who raped my friend is still working, even though he has amassed a string of cases over the years,” reveals Teo. “He even got promoted recently. I think it’s because he has strong ties with the human resources department.”

There are reasons why such cases go unreported.

“Usually, we’re advised to lodge a complaint in the office instead of taking matters to the police,” she says. “If the victim does this, however, the office would require both her and her perpetrator to be present for an investigation. What if the perpetrator isn’t penalised for his actions and decides to make her pay for what she’s done?”

It seems that male flight attendants are not left out of the nasty game either. What makes it worse is that the airline companies do not take such matters seriously, says Max Foo.

“I’ve lost count of how many times another male colleague had tried to grope or rub against me,” he says. “I was bemused at first, but now I’m just angry.”

“In class, they teach the girls some basic precautionary measures they can use to avoid salacious advances but, when it comes to the men, we’re usually on our own. Management makes a big joke out of it (homosexuality).”

“At the end of the day, we’re just normal human beings,” adds Foo.

“Most of us just want to make a decent living and go back to our families.”