Seven Great Medical Myths

Rachel Vreeman of the Indiana University School of Medicine and Aaron Carroll of the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, wrote in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal, that the following medical myths have been heard in many generations but medical evidence didn't proof anything correct but neither has it been proven wrong:-

Drink at least eight glasses of water a day
This advice derives from a 1945 recommendation that adults should consume 2.5 litres of the stuff daily, or one millilitre for every calorie consumed. The crucial part of the recommendation – "most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods" – is often ignored. Drinking too much water can be dangerous.

My comments - That's what my mom has been telling since I was young.

Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight
It causes eye strain, difficulty in focusing and dries the eyes because of reduced blinking while squinting but there is no evidence it causes lasting damage.

My comments - Same thing I have hearing from my mom and many other concerned adults. Is this one of the main reasons that caused countless of people wearing glasses today?

We only use 10 per cent of our brains
Studies of patients with brain damage suggest damage to any area of the brain has lasting effects. Brain imaging studies have shown no area of the brain is completely inactive and despite "detailed probing" the non-functioning 90 per cent has not been located.

My comments - I agree on this for certain people that I meet in my path of life.

Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death
They don't. It is an illusion caused by the dehydration of the body which results in the skin retracting. This gives the appearance of increased length to the hair and nails – actual growth requires hormonal regulation which is not sustained after death.

My comments - That's what the Hong Kong movies potray especially on those ghost movies where the vampires (geong si) came to life with long fingernails jumping around the town looking for blood.

Shaving causes hair to grow back faster or coarser
Shaved hair lacks the finer taper seen at the end of unshaved hair. It has also not been lightened by the sun, so it appears darker.

My comments - Couldn't care, just shave only when I think it's required. I think the ladies will worry more on this.

Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals
Many hospitals still ban them, despite the lack of evidence that they interfere with electronic equipment, except in rare instances and at close quarters. Technological improvements have reduced the risk further.

My comments - Hospitals in Malaysia do put up this sign where mobile phones are prohibited to be switched on especially at Intensive Care Units ("ICU") area. I do switch it off just in case it caused malfunction on equipments. Imagine you were the one lying inside the ICU. If this was a myth, on what medical basis did our hospital relied on?

Eating turkey makes people drowsy
This myth is based on the assertion that turkey contains high amounts of tryptophan, an amino acid involved in sleep. But turkey contains no more than chicken or beef. Its sleep-inducing effects are due to the quantities eaten.

My comments - Seldom eat turkey so unable to comment on this.
Tags: Health, Medical Myths, Medical Evidence

Malaysian Drafs

A truly Malaysian joke!

Hindraf has awakened other races in Malaysia. Now 4 more new action fronts are being formed. Maldraf for malays, Chindraf for chinese and for other races, Dandraf (dandruff).
But a majority of Malaysian drinkers have appealed to be represented as Beerdraft. Cheers!

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S!
Tags: Christmas, Merry Christmas, Hindraf, Chindraf, Dandraf, Beerdraft, Funny, Humour

Bridge Finale

Tomorrow is the finale for the Christmas season's dramas. Got the best of the best of the actors/actresses for this drama. They are the drama veterans in my church and hopefully this comedy drama would make everyone laugh.

This drama is set in the contemporary time and the story is still there where Joseph & Mary reaches the town of Bethlehem. They tried to check into a hotel but it was fully occupied but was offered elsewhere - the luggage room ...... hehe.

Then the wisemen scene appeared (where the video was shot in Hotel Maya) followed by the shepherds who were businessmen dealing with sheep products. All in modern settings.

The Bridge Finale drama will be followed by a dance finale to cap a fine month of dramas. This dance will see the participation of the actors/actresses, props team and stage decoration team.

That's my abode up in the balcony where I usually gave commands on the lightings, sound and videos.

The singers and the songleader (sitting down with a guitar) practising their songs for the opening of the Christmas service.
Two of the ladies trying to translate the english song into mandarin language. The Christmas service tomorrow morning will be bilingual (English/Mandarin) as our chinese church will be combining with the english church.
This is the group that was practising for the dance finale. The leader, Esther Wong (in black, on stage) was our dance choreographer.
It was an easy song to follow and it required two practise sessions only (those who usually don't dance found it hard to follow the steps but they tried really hard to follow).
Resting time as this practise was done right after service, the children's dance and song practise and just before lunch .............. hehehe

Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, Bridge Finale, Dance Finale, Dance Choreographer, Christmas Service

Travelling to South Africa

I remembered when I travelled to Japan for holidays, I saw the word "Aliens" at the Japanese immigration counters upon disembarking from the plane.

I tiptoed to look out for the Aliens or Predators (those found in the Aliens vs. Predators movie) going to those immigration counters to have their passports (as if they needed one) but saw none but lots of human beings lining up there too. Found out that the Japanese people addressed all foreigners as aliens.

When you fly into South Africa's Johannesburg city, there will be welcoming messages on the electronics board. How nice of them. But on one not so nice day, the electronics board was showing 'Welcome to SA. F*** You'. Oops! What happened?

Read more
Tags: Japan, Japanese Immigration, Aliens, South Africa, Johannesburg

Feel Good, Feel Bad Is On

The main actress, Niki Ng, a teenage girl thinking that her parents were to strict on her and went on telling small white lies. It came to a day where she followed her best friends becoming a guest relation officer at a karaoke lounge.

One thing led to another which went beyond her comprehension of the situation.

She definitely felt good about what's going on with her friends but will she feel bad later on.











This drama will start with a contemporary dance with slick moves.
Tried capturing different dancing moves that came with different lighting colours.
The guy who is handling the lightings is Eugene Poh, who has just finished his PMR exams (a government examination for secondary school students) lately.
Personally, was satisfied with the lightings.

The dancing scene was followed by a classroom scene where the same notorious bunch was not paying attention in their class.

At the end of this drama, me and Lud (co-producer) have decided to change the script last minute and killed off someone's character and made it a crying scene owing to that. Acting the last scene which will be a sad moment with "First Love by Utada Hikaru" playing at the background will certainly make everyone cry. Yesssssssss!!! FYI, I was touched as well, no tears but felt the sad feelings being acted out. Bravo! Bravo!
Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, Feel Good, Feel Bad, First Love, Utada Hikaru

Christmas Trees in Shopping Centres

First World Hotel, the world's biggest hotel, had put up a Christmas tree for people to hang their wishes (for people who have bought some stuff above RM50, which I did).







This tall Christmas tree was found at Berjaya Times Square.















The Curve did a magnificent job too in conjunction with the festive season.










Pavilion, being the latest shopping centre, was not left behind with their white christmas decor.














One Utama did an astounding decor. Find it really different from the usual ones.










Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) put up a gigantic Christmas tree right in the centre of the shopping centre.














Mid Valley's decor could be judged the best with the fairy tales' theme.










The Gurney Plaza in Penang tried to liven up the atmosphere by decorating with leafless wooden trees. Ran out of budget?














My own words "Where on earth did Queensbay Mall in Penang hire the interior decorator(s) from?"

Where did he/she learn that a Christmas tree is hung that way?? What was he/she trying to prove there? This is not creativity.
Tags: Christmas Tree, Christmas, Shopping Centre, First World Hotel, Berjaya Times Square, The Curve, Pavilion, One Utama, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, KLCC, Mid Valley, Gurney Plaza, Queensbay Mall, Interior Designer, Interior Decorator

Dinner at Shangri-La Hotel

Was at Lemon Garden Cafe, Shangri-La Hotel on Wednesday night celebrating my mom's birthday and found that it was fully packed with customers.

Just when you thought that being the most expensive buffet dinner (at RM112.70 - did this enter Malaysia's Book of Records?) in Malaysia and a weekday itself, it would not be packed. Good thing I did make a reservation a day earlier.

The left picture was taken at 7.30pm but by 8.00pm, it was filled.

Shangri-La did put up a Christmas tree made up of bottles right at their lounge.

Three Filipino ladies were belting out English songs. Their stage was located up above the lounge's bar counter.

Saw this nice orchid flowers at the lift area.

A nicely decorated lobby area of the hotel which contributed to the Christmas atmosphere.

Not only the hotel but Jalan Bukit Bintang was decorated to liven up the end of the year festive season. I took this road just to see how nice the place was and at 11.00pm, the traffic jam was still there.

Tags: Buffet Dinner, Lemon Garden Cafe, Shangri-La Hotel, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Christmas, Christmas Tree