Wednesday, April 30, 2008
In good company
Copyright ©2008 hiddenstream.blogspot.com
Initially I was thinking of doing some sort of sky parade with hot air balloons and all that stuff but decided against it later as it would obliterate the city skyline. Maybe I'll try again in my future posting.
All stock images from sxc.hu including gargoyle statue.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Autumn in my heart
Copyright ©2008 hiddenstream.blogspot.com
Inspired by the song with the same title.
Stock images from sxc.hu
Autumn Tree
Lake
Horses
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Earth Day
Copyright ©2008 hiddenstream.blogspot.com
Blessed are the weak for they shall inherit this lovely Earth.
Yesterday was World Earth's Day. Of course there are a host of environmental issues that comes with this celebration like the thinning of the ozone layer and raising sea levels. However, we should not forget that this Earth is the only planet that we have - at this moment, that is. So let us cherish it while it lasts and while we are still alive!
All stock images from sxc.hu.
Song that inspired me:
Friday, April 18, 2008
Close Encounter
copyright ©2008 hiddenstream.blogspot.com
A visit to a prehistoric park resulted in a very close encounter.
I now refer to a very pertinent question - Are we, as a human species, here by chance (or luck if you prefer) or by Intelligent Design? It is pertinent because it is related to the evolution of species since the beginning of life on earth. The Darwinian answer to this question is NEITHER. With such a lush diversity of species since prehistoric age, nothing is created by chance and there is no Intelligent Designer. Every species evolved purely by natural selection, and this is an ongoing process of adaptation. We evolve to survive and adapt to our environment and this process can take a very, very long time. So long that we forgot where we came from!
Stock images from Wikimedia Commons and sxc.hu.
Penang Ferry from Dreamstime.
Landscape and sky created with Terragen as posted here.
Monday, April 14, 2008
The Abdominal Obesity Timebomb (Part 6)
Malaysia, as well as other Asia Pacific countries along with other emerging economic nations cannot be said to have achieved their target in controlling the worsening 'epidemic' of their population getting impaired glucose tolerance (a prediabetic condition) and finally full blown diabetes with all its complications of proteinuria leading to kidney failure, retinopathy progressing to blindness, diabetic skin disease, stroke and heart attack.
What needs to be urgently tackled is aggressive campaigning against unhealthy lifestyle and strict monitoring of parameters that are known to contribute to increased cardiometabolic risks coupled with aggressive therapy to lower the levels of cholesterol and keep blood pressure and blood glucose within the internationally accepted safe standards.
The new treatment paradigm is now in favour of treating the new emerging cardiac risks factors, in particular abdominal obesity, besides lowering blood pressure, LDL, Triglyserides,and certain (blood vessel) inflammatory markers.
As a fitting end to this series, our Honourable Health Minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, himself a vegetarian and nutritionist by profession, is quoted in the Star yesterday, saying that the number of obese adults have risen to 50% among 13 million individuals. Though 10 to 15%, he said, is due to genetic predisposition, we all know that there is still a long battle to go for many people to keep themselves from bulging to dangerous proportions.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Dolphins Galore: Born Free
Copyright ©2008 hiddenstream.blogspot.com
Stock images from sxc.hu including
rocky beach
pigeons
Dolphins are my own (digitally painted).
After watching live dolphin shows in Gold Coast, Thailand and Hong Kong, I thought it would be very nice to be able to watch them up close. Welcome to my mini seaworld! I believe this is way better than watching them in captivity in theme parks, what with all the gruesome tales of animal suffering.
Doplhin Captivity
Free Dolphins
Friday, April 11, 2008
The Abdominal Obesity Timebomb (Part 5)
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Peace and Harmony
Copyright ©2008 hiddenstream.blogspot.com
Stock images from sxc.hu all the way.
Peace and Harmony - Oriental Style
Monday, April 07, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Gentle Night
Copyright ©2008 hiddenstream.blogspot.com
Stock images from sxc.hu
This is one of those quick manip I did yesterday just before dinnertime.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
The Abdominal Obesity Timebomb (Part 3)
The above study is a joint effort by Medical Research Council(MRC) and British Heart Foundation(BHF) done in 2002 which is a really, really big trial involving more than 20,000 individuals from various age group and medical conditions (diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease) to prove that simvastatin, a cholesterol lowering statin drug does lower LDL cholesterol level and prevent cardiovascular event over the 5 year study period and may obviously confer more benefits if carried over long term. There is no significant adverse effects such as cancer or osteoporosis.
However, do note that despite being on simvastatin and a lowered LDL cholesterol level, there is still an almost 20% chance of getting a cardiovascular event (stroke, heart attack etc) though this is much lower compared to those who are not on statin medication.
So far, we have considered high cholesterol levels (LDL), diabetes and hypertension as major contributors of coronary artery disease but there are other factors as well such as HDL and Triglycerides which I will not elaborate further. Did we miss out anything else?
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