I wrote earlier about cannabis doing a lot of harm to lungs. However according to a report at BBC new study reports that they could stop breast cancer in human body.
Cannabidiol or CBD, a compound extracted from cannabis block the activity of genes responsible for aggressive spread of cancer cells away from the original tumor site. The report also suggests that it could act as an alternative to non-toxic chemotherapy.
However the authors of the report were quick to stress that they didn't suggest "people smoke cannabis" : )
Monday, November 19, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Lust , Caution
"Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books that nobody reads."
- George Bernard Shaw
A Chinese movie goer is suing the Regional Censor Board in frustration with the censored version of the steamy WWII drama "Lust , Caution" by Academy award winning director Ang Lee. Set in World War-II era Shanghai, "Lust, Caution," starring mainland actress Tang Wei and Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, is about a sexually-charged relationship between an undercover female student activist and a Japanese-allied intelligence chief.
Dong Yanbin, a Ph.D student at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, had filed a suit against the nation's film censor, the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT), for infringing upon his "consumer rights," the Beijing Times said. Watch a trailer of the movie below.
The movie opened in China on Nov. 1 minus on-screen sex scenes and has since grossed 90 million yuan (11.25 million dollars) on Chinese mainland. Some filmgoers in the southern province of Guangdong have opted to cross the border into Hong Kong to watch the full, uncut version, local media have reported.
Dong was seeking apologies and 500 yuan ($67) in "psychological damages" from both SARFT and UME, the cinema chain showing the movie, the paper said. The court has not yet accepted the case.
- George Bernard Shaw
A Chinese movie goer is suing the Regional Censor Board in frustration with the censored version of the steamy WWII drama "Lust , Caution" by Academy award winning director Ang Lee. Set in World War-II era Shanghai, "Lust, Caution," starring mainland actress Tang Wei and Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, is about a sexually-charged relationship between an undercover female student activist and a Japanese-allied intelligence chief.
Dong Yanbin, a Ph.D student at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, had filed a suit against the nation's film censor, the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT), for infringing upon his "consumer rights," the Beijing Times said. Watch a trailer of the movie below.
The movie opened in China on Nov. 1 minus on-screen sex scenes and has since grossed 90 million yuan (11.25 million dollars) on Chinese mainland. Some filmgoers in the southern province of Guangdong have opted to cross the border into Hong Kong to watch the full, uncut version, local media have reported.
Dong was seeking apologies and 500 yuan ($67) in "psychological damages" from both SARFT and UME, the cinema chain showing the movie, the paper said. The court has not yet accepted the case.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Marriage of convenience!
"Every dog has its day"
English Proverb.
A man known as Selvakumar has married a bitch in a ceremony which took place in Sivaganga district, 50 km east of Madurai in South India. The bride has been renamed Selvi (Mrs. Selvakumar) after the marriage. "Chosen" by the family, she was bathed and dressed in a sari before the "couple" exchanged marriage vows.
The man believes he had been cursed by the killing of 2 stray dogs 15 years ago - suffering paralysis and loss of hearing. An astrologer since advised him to marry off a female dog to ward off the curse. The groom and his family had a marital feast where the dog was given a bun!
In the recent past a donkey wedding was also arranged to bring monsoon rains in the IT capital of India - Bangalore.
English Proverb.
A man known as Selvakumar has married a bitch in a ceremony which took place in Sivaganga district, 50 km east of Madurai in South India. The bride has been renamed Selvi (Mrs. Selvakumar) after the marriage. "Chosen" by the family, she was bathed and dressed in a sari before the "couple" exchanged marriage vows.
The man believes he had been cursed by the killing of 2 stray dogs 15 years ago - suffering paralysis and loss of hearing. An astrologer since advised him to marry off a female dog to ward off the curse. The groom and his family had a marital feast where the dog was given a bun!
In the recent past a donkey wedding was also arranged to bring monsoon rains in the IT capital of India - Bangalore.
Kilo gets lighter...
“The nicest thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.”
Andrew S. Tannenbaum
Watch out for the weight next time you step out to buy grocery because the kilogram just got a little lighter. "Le Grand K" - the cylinder of platinum & iridium is the only object known to scientists that has a mass of exactly 1 kg. It is the reference object from which the unit of mass is derived. All objects measured in kilograms - grocery to a warship are defined by Le Grand K's mass.
Several copies have been distributed across the world to act as arbiters of mass. They are measured against Le Grand K to ensure the integrity.
Losing some weight
But there is a fluctuation of mass between the sisters with either the Le Grand K losing some mass or others gaining some. However as they all are measured against each other, finding out the "one" is difficult.
Common man can however lay to rest his concerns as the fluctuations are about 50 parts in a billion. Although tiny, the difference is crucial to scientific community as these cylinders act as reference for kilogram.
New standards
As a outcome of the drift scientists are devising new ways of defining the kilogram. The basic idea is to measure kilogram in terms of constants of nature just the way a meter is defined as the distance traveled by light in vacuum in a precise fraction of a second. Another idea may be to redefine the kilogram on the basis of the mass of an atom.
What ever it may be one thing is sure - the small lump of metal in Paris is going to be used for some time to come.
Image Credits: Wikipedia
Andrew S. Tannenbaum
Watch out for the weight next time you step out to buy grocery because the kilogram just got a little lighter. "Le Grand K" - the cylinder of platinum & iridium is the only object known to scientists that has a mass of exactly 1 kg. It is the reference object from which the unit of mass is derived. All objects measured in kilograms - grocery to a warship are defined by Le Grand K's mass.
Several copies have been distributed across the world to act as arbiters of mass. They are measured against Le Grand K to ensure the integrity.
Losing some weight
But there is a fluctuation of mass between the sisters with either the Le Grand K losing some mass or others gaining some. However as they all are measured against each other, finding out the "one" is difficult.
Common man can however lay to rest his concerns as the fluctuations are about 50 parts in a billion. Although tiny, the difference is crucial to scientific community as these cylinders act as reference for kilogram.
New standards
As a outcome of the drift scientists are devising new ways of defining the kilogram. The basic idea is to measure kilogram in terms of constants of nature just the way a meter is defined as the distance traveled by light in vacuum in a precise fraction of a second. Another idea may be to redefine the kilogram on the basis of the mass of an atom.
What ever it may be one thing is sure - the small lump of metal in Paris is going to be used for some time to come.Image Credits: Wikipedia
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Think different - Inspirational Video...
Found this inspirational video on Youtube. It features Einstein, Martin Luther King, Richard Branson, Muhammad Ali, Gandhi , Churchill, Lenon, Bob Dylan, Edison , Alfred Hitchcock and Picasso.
The video is promoted by Apple.
The video is promoted by Apple.
Oprah on YouTube now...
Oprah Winfrey - the popular talk show host has launched her own channel on the online video sharing website You Tube. The channel will feature backstage video grab, upcoming programs, and interviews with the "already stars" on Youtube.
Oprah is the world's most powerful celebrity according to Forbes - she beat Tiger Woods & Madonna, Elton John and David Beckham to the top. She had an estimated earning of $260 million last year.
Featuring on the channel will be the founders of You tube, the "dirty dancing" couple, the "evolution of dance" guy, the P. Diddy assistant and even Tyson the skateboarding bulldog!
Watch them here.
Kylie Connect
Meanwhile singer Kylie Minogue also launched her own social networking website. Users can download (for a fee) Kylie's popular numbers and wallpapers from the page all the while participating in a lucky draw - the prize booty being a rendezvous with Kylie herself!
Kylie recently received the Music Industry Trust Prize for her contribution to the pop world. Her much awaited tenth album X featuring 13 new tracks releases on November 26. Her single 22 hearts has already been branded a "surefire no. 1" by Sun.
Oprah is the world's most powerful celebrity according to Forbes - she beat Tiger Woods & Madonna, Elton John and David Beckham to the top. She had an estimated earning of $260 million last year.
Featuring on the channel will be the founders of You tube, the "dirty dancing" couple, the "evolution of dance" guy, the P. Diddy assistant and even Tyson the skateboarding bulldog!
Watch them here.
Kylie Connect
Meanwhile singer Kylie Minogue also launched her own social networking website. Users can download (for a fee) Kylie's popular numbers and wallpapers from the page all the while participating in a lucky draw - the prize booty being a rendezvous with Kylie herself!
Kylie recently received the Music Industry Trust Prize for her contribution to the pop world. Her much awaited tenth album X featuring 13 new tracks releases on November 26. Her single 22 hearts has already been branded a "surefire no. 1" by Sun.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Britney Spears - an accountant's nightmare!
Britney Spears earns roughly $737,000 monthly but saves or invests nothing!
According to the court papers released in the custody dispute with KF, she spends lavishly on clothes & entertainment. Here is an account of her monthly expenses:
The court had prohibited the divorced couple from driving their children unless they're properly insured and have a valid driver's license. However Britney was photographed driving her kids a few days after the order was passed out leading the court to relinquish the children.
Next thing Britney went into a Motor vehicles Dept. office and applied for a licence!
According to the court papers released in the custody dispute with KF, she spends lavishly on clothes & entertainment. Here is an account of her monthly expenses:
- $49,267 - in mortgage for two houses
- $16,000 - for clothes
- $102,000 - for entertainment, gifts & vacation
- $4758 - dining out
- $500 - Charity
The court had prohibited the divorced couple from driving their children unless they're properly insured and have a valid driver's license. However Britney was photographed driving her kids a few days after the order was passed out leading the court to relinquish the children.
Next thing Britney went into a Motor vehicles Dept. office and applied for a licence!
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