UNITED BENETTON of COLORS

28 August, 2009 My aunt and family are here on holiday

My aunt, husband and cousins from Seattle are here in Singapore for a holiday. They came with an American fren, anyway they themselves are Americans. The flight came in at 0100hrs and I was supposed to be at the airport with the rest of the relatives to pick them up but I was at work as there were no one to replace me.

Called my mum and checked to see if they are heading back to my aunt's bungalow after the pickup and she told me yes. She also said that this coming Saturday, there will be a party there too for them. I told her ok and that I will be bringing a fren along as it would be Chan would be going with me, I want him to me my cousins.

Ok end here for now.

Posted by THE SAINT :: Friday, August 28, 2009 :: ---------------oOo---------------
Fresh lemon grass fields in Israel become Mecca for cancer patients

Fresh Lemon Grass Drink Causes Apoptosis to Cancer Cells

(apoptosis) noun: a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself; a cell suicide mechanism that enables metazoans to control cell number and eliminate cells that threaten the animal's survival.

A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube.

Israeli researchers find way to make cancer cells self-destruct
-Ben Gurion University

At first, Benny Zabidov, an Israeli agriculturalist who grows greenhouses full of lush spices on a pastoral farm in Kfar Yedidya in the Sharon region, couldn't understand why so many cancer patients from around the country were showing up on his doorstep asking for fresh lemon grass. It turned out that their doctors had sent them. 'They had been told to drink eight glasses of hot water with fresh lemon grass steeped in it on the days that they went for their radiation and chemotherapy treatments,' Zabidov told ISRAEL21c. 'And this is the place you go to in Israel for fresh lemon grass.'

It all began when researchers at Ben Gurion University of the Negev discovered last year that the lemon aroma in herbs like lemon grass kills cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The research team was led by Dr. Rivka Ofir and Prof. Yakov Weinstein, incumbent of the Albert Katz Chair in Cell-Differentiation and Malignant Diseases, from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at BGU.

Citral is the key component that gives the lemony aroma and taste in several herbal plants such as lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), melissa (Melissa officinalis) and verbena (Verbena officinalis.)

According to Ofir, the study found that citral causes cancer cells to 'commit suicide: using apoptosis, a mechanism called programmed cell death.' A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt the cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube.

The BGU investigators checked the influence of the citral on cancerous cells by adding them to both cancerous cells and normal cells that were grown in a petri dish. The quantity added in the concentrate was equivalent to the amount contained in a cup of regular tea using one gram of lemon herbs in hot water. While the citral killed the cancerous cells, the normal cells remained unharmed.

The findings were published in the scientific journal Planta Medica, which highlights research on alternative and herbal remedies. Shortly afterwards, the discovery was featured in the popular Israeli press.

Why does it work? Nobody knows for certain, but the BGU scientists have a theory. 'In each cell in our body, there is a genetic program which causes programmed cell death. When something goes wrong, the cells divide with no control and become cancer cells. In normal cells, when the cell discovers that the control system is not operating correctly - for example, when it recognizes that a cell contains faulty genetic material following cell division - it triggers cell death,' explains Weinstein. 'This research may explain the medical benefit of these herbs.'

The success of their research led them to the conclusion that herbs containing citral may be consumed as a preventative measure against certain cancerous cells. As they learned of the BGU findings in the press, many physicians in Israel began to believe that while the research certainly needed to be explored further, in the meantime it would be advisable for their patients, who were looking for any possible tool to fight their condition, to try to harness the cancer-destroying properties of citral.

That's why Zabidov's farm - the only major grower of fresh lemon grass in Israel - has become a pilgrimage destination for these patients. Luckily, they found themselves in sympathetic hands. Zabidov greets visitors with a large kettle of aromatic lemon grass tea, a plate of cookies, and a supportive attitude. 'My father died of cancer, and my wife's sister died young because of cancer,' said Zabidov. 'So I understand what they are dealing with. And I may not know anything about medicine, but I'm a good listener. And so they tell me about their expensive painful treatments and what they've been through. I would never tell them to stop being treated, but it's great that they are exploring alternatives and drinking the lemon grass tea as well.'

Zabidov knew from a young age that agriculture was his calling. At age 14, he enrolled in the Kfar Hayarok Agricultural high school. After his army service, he joined an idealistic group which headed south, in the Arava desert region, to found a new moshav (agricultural settlement) called Tsofar. 'We were very successful; we raised fruits and vegetables, and,' he notes with a smile, 'We raised some very nice children.'

On a trip to Europe in the mid-80s, he began to become interested in herbs. Israel, at the time, was nothing like the trend-conscious cuisine-oriented country it is today, and the only spices being grown commercially were basics like parsley, dill, and coriander. Wandering in the Paris market, looking at the variety of herbs and spices, Zabidov realized that there was a great export potential in this niche. He brought samples back home with him, 'which was technically illegal,' he says with a guilty smile, to see how they would grow in his desert greenhouses. Soon, he was growing basil, oregano, tarragon, chives, sage, marjoram and melissa, and mint just to name a few.

His business began to outgrow his desert facilities, and so he decided to move north, settling in the moshav of Kfar Yedidya, an hour and a half north of Tel Aviv. He is now selling 'several hundred kilos' of lemon grass per week, and has signed with a distributor to package and put it in health food stores. Zabidov has taken it upon himself to learn more about the properties of citral, and help his customers learn more, and has invited medical experts to his farm to give lectures about how the citral works and why.

He also felt a responsibility to know what to tell his customers about its use. 'When I realized what was happening, I picked up the phone and called Dr. Weinstein at Ben-Gurion University, because these people were asking me exactly the best way to consume the citral. He said to put the loose grass in hot water, and drink about eight glasses each day.'

Zabidov is pleased by the findings, not simply because it means business for his farm, but because it might influence his own health. Even before the news of its benefits were demonstrated, he and his family had been drinking lemon grass in hot water for years, 'just because it tastes good.

Posted by THE SAINT :: Friday, August 28, 2009 :: ---------------oOo---------------
25 August, 2009 What a week

These past few days there have been many things that have been happening:

Firstly Nitty is getting bored with the changes and is deciding to go a vessel when there is another vessel at bay.He tells me that people have been back stabbing and covering their own arses by involving other parties in the scenario.Well I wish him all the best.

Next my cousins and family will be coming from the US this week and I will be busy with them. I cant wait to see them as it has been more than 3 years since I last saw them. I will be asking them a lot of questions as I really plan to get there soon again.

Lately I have been surfing the net for cars and I saw this particular car in the SG car mart.Take a look at the pictures here:

Chevrolet Cruze

I might be considering to buy this car as the installment is pretty reasonable and it looks more space age.The design and the concept has catch my attention especially the interior of the car.

I will also be redoing up my room and have been house shopping as I am looking for another place to stay. Well there are a lot of changes that I am going through now. And one thing is that I hate others asking me why am I SINGLE and not married. Cmon if you can find a god forsaken woman who is great than its good but you cant especially in this society that we are living. All so pretentious in every expects. When the time is right maybe I might find the right one so at the mean time will all of you keep ya damn comments to yourself and shove it up ya arse.

Ok time for me to sign off for now.Will update more in time to come.

Posted by THE SAINT :: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 :: ---------------oOo---------------
24 August, 2009 Here is a song of thoughts for Singaporeans

Remember to sing the song, subtitles included. YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!

Posted by THE SAINT :: Monday, August 24, 2009 :: ---------------oOo---------------
22 August, 2009 BW Pioneer will set sail in November

My night job will end tis coming November as BW Pioneer will set sail for Brazil or Nigeria. Things are getting done up fast on board the ship and the crew will be coming in another 2-3 weeks from today.

Lately me and chan have been having great dinner on board the ship. Last night I had half a roasted chicken with penang yellow rice and salad. I am enjoying my time here lately and it seems to be paying off as I am learning new things as the day goes by and I would like to earn 9grand a month like chan, he has been teaching me alot lately. He is like a father to me as he is 67years old and many people says that we are always so close and talking. I will also teach him some computer stuffs and what he should do while he teaches me more about the ship and the varies expects on the vessel.

Ok I end here today about the vessel talk.........

Posted by THE SAINT :: Saturday, August 22, 2009 :: ---------------oOo---------------
Strange things in the office

Lately one of my guys have been terminated immediately by my MD for losing data that belongs to the Financial Director from the period of 2006 - 2009. Cisco was called in and the backup tapes where brought to the server room to upload all lost files. Poor chap has been sacked just before he could receive his pay on the 18th. Shucks......it seems one by one are dropping like flies.

I too had a tiring day in the office and hardly had time for me lunch these past few days as my off was canceled for the next few days. Will be taking my part time studies too. Plan on getting the future right now. Have been learning alot of new things lately. It has been an interesting week for me. Also had my laptop reinstall, I will not be lending anyone to use my laptop from now on as I will treat it confidential with the things in there. I hardly chat also using my laptop. It is more for work and other important stuffs rather than all the nonsensical stuffs like msn, blog and the list goes on...........

Posted by THE SAINT :: Saturday, August 22, 2009 :: ---------------oOo---------------
Politics in the office (The Life in Singapore)

Well I have been working for some time now over the years and have come to realize that wherever I have worked there is always office politics and Singaporeans have one bad habit of talking bad of others. There is a saying, the one that gossips the most is the one that is full of shit all the time.

The worst part is that when the party involve confronts the other in the office infront of all his/her colleagues, the other party who spread the gossips got more slashing than expected. The moral of the story here is "Dont dig ya own grave. Dont go looking for trouble but let trouble come looking for you."

Also I have kept up with the papers lately and have notice that Singapore has entered the Guinness Book of World Records of being a nation born of complainers. Even the slightest thing they complain. Whether its smoky or whether things are a few minutes late. Haha....I have seen many expressions of many faces. Imagine these people living away from singapore....can they bear it or will they just pretend and get accustom to it like if they have no other choices. I guess that's what you call unpredictable. Man...people need to wake up as we are coming into the 22nd century.....haha..........

Posted by THE SAINT :: Saturday, August 22, 2009 :: ---------------oOo---------------
15 August, 2009 Latest Update

After being sick for more than a week and on medical leave for more than 10days, I finally manage to get back to work on tuesday. Bored staying in bed with fever,flu,cough and back aches. Had a talk with a friend and he told me that it is time for me to move on to other places soon as he sees and knows that there is something inside of me that is upset. Yeah he is right, I need greener pastures and a new start in life.

I am planning to complete my studies so that I could get off tis rock and go. Now that tis home belongs to me, in the future I will sell it away and move away to somewhere. There are many places that I would love to go and there are alot of things that I would like to do. Having a kid will also be the best thing. How fast the year has passed and now it seems like at a point, there are only a few close frens that I have. I dont really keep in touch with the rest anymore as I feel it is no point contacting them.I have also deleted alot of contacts on my cellphone lately. Now I spend my time learning new things and also studying a few courses.

I would like to do something for my mum, maybe give her a holiday. Buy her a plane ticket so that she could go and visit her sister in the states.Anyway my aunt from the states will be coming back with the family and my cousins are bringing along a fren. Cant wait till next week when they are here. Ok will end here for now but will update more soon.

Posted by THE SAINT :: Saturday, August 15, 2009 :: ---------------oOo---------------