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Let's eat!
This month we cook a lot of dishes from Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are a melting pot bubbling over with tourists, inhabitants and expatriates from all parts of the world, and these people naturally have diverse eating habits. Through the ages, the Chinese, Malay, Indians and the foreigners (westerners) have cast their influence on Singapore's food recipes and there is no doubt that Singapore is a food lovers' paradise. We are bringing the fantastic Singapore/Malay dishes to you and our friends who will be couchsurfing with us...Cheers! Tiger & Marlon
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Is HIV Beating The Scientists?
"I believe that HIV has found ways to totally fool the immune system." Prof David Baltimore.
According to a report by BBC News today, scientists are no further forward in developing a vaccine against HIV after more than 20 years of research, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist has said. Professor David Baltimore, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), said there was little hope among scientists.
But he said that they were continuing efforts to develop a vaccine.
"Our lack of success may be understandable but it is not acceptable," he said.
"Some years ago I came to the conclusion that our community had to seriously undertake new approaches or we might find ourselves with a worldwide epidemic and no effective response," Prof Baltimore told the annual meeting of the AAAS in Boston.
"That is just where we are today."
The professor said "I believe that HIV has found ways to totally fool the immune system - so we have to do one better than nature."
Professor David Baltimore
Is HIV beating the scientists?
HIV had evolved a way to protect itself from the human immune system, he said.
"This is a huge challenge because to control HIV immunologically the scientific community has to beat out nature, do something that nature, with its advantage of four billion years of evolution, has not been able to do," Prof Baltimore said.
"I believe that HIV has found ways to totally fool the immune system. So we have to do one better than nature."
'One shot'
Attempts to control the virus through antibodies or by boosting the body's immune system have ended in failure.
This has left the vaccine community depressed because they can see no hopeful way of success, Prof Baltimore said.
Cell virus
Guide: The biology of Aids
Among the novel techniques that scientists are turning to are gene and stem cell therapy, although these are still in their infancy.
"In the human you really only have one shot which is to try to change genes in stem cells," said Prof Baltimore, one of the leading experts on the HIV virus.
"So we're trying to do that, to design vectors that can carry genes that will be of therapeutic advantage."
Prof Baltimore won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1975 for the co-discovery of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that was later found to be used by HIV to replicate in human cells.
He now leads the Baltimore laboratory at Caltech, with support from the Gates Foundation, to look for ways to genetically boost the immune system against infectious agents, particularly HIV.
According to a report by BBC News today, scientists are no further forward in developing a vaccine against HIV after more than 20 years of research, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist has said. Professor David Baltimore, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), said there was little hope among scientists.
But he said that they were continuing efforts to develop a vaccine.
"Our lack of success may be understandable but it is not acceptable," he said.
"Some years ago I came to the conclusion that our community had to seriously undertake new approaches or we might find ourselves with a worldwide epidemic and no effective response," Prof Baltimore told the annual meeting of the AAAS in Boston.
"That is just where we are today."
The professor said "I believe that HIV has found ways to totally fool the immune system - so we have to do one better than nature."
Professor David Baltimore
Is HIV beating the scientists?
HIV had evolved a way to protect itself from the human immune system, he said.
"This is a huge challenge because to control HIV immunologically the scientific community has to beat out nature, do something that nature, with its advantage of four billion years of evolution, has not been able to do," Prof Baltimore said.
"I believe that HIV has found ways to totally fool the immune system. So we have to do one better than nature."
'One shot'
Attempts to control the virus through antibodies or by boosting the body's immune system have ended in failure.
This has left the vaccine community depressed because they can see no hopeful way of success, Prof Baltimore said.
Cell virus
Guide: The biology of Aids
Among the novel techniques that scientists are turning to are gene and stem cell therapy, although these are still in their infancy.
"In the human you really only have one shot which is to try to change genes in stem cells," said Prof Baltimore, one of the leading experts on the HIV virus.
"So we're trying to do that, to design vectors that can carry genes that will be of therapeutic advantage."
Prof Baltimore won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1975 for the co-discovery of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that was later found to be used by HIV to replicate in human cells.
He now leads the Baltimore laboratory at Caltech, with support from the Gates Foundation, to look for ways to genetically boost the immune system against infectious agents, particularly HIV.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
If Hillary wins...
"What will Hillary do? We know what she'll do; Hillary has already been president for eight years. Back then, Bill was obviously multitasking." - Margaret Cho
Love Costs US $17 Billion
As reported in Forbes.com today, Cupid must be a capitalist.
And I know why -- I just spent $125 on a vase of white and cream hydrangea for my special one.
Despite the sluggish U.S. economy, this year lovebirds still plan to shell out an average of $123 each on Valentine's Day, up from $120 last year and eclipsing the $101 of 2006. Total outlay for the U.S.: $17 billion, estimates the National Retail Federation's 2008 Valentine's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by market research company BIGresearch.
The survey polled 8,447 consumers and found that 61 percent plan to celebrate the holiday. The most romantic age group is the 18- to 24-year-old set, 72 percent of which plan to shower their sweethearts with everything from candy to jewelry this February. But it's the 25- to 34-year-olds who torch the most cash - $160 on average. Men will spend $163 on their valentines; women, just $84. Some of the most popular gifts men plan to buy are flowers (58.2 percent), candy (45.0 percent) and jewelry (26.5 percent).
Are we in a recession?
And I know why -- I just spent $125 on a vase of white and cream hydrangea for my special one.
Despite the sluggish U.S. economy, this year lovebirds still plan to shell out an average of $123 each on Valentine's Day, up from $120 last year and eclipsing the $101 of 2006. Total outlay for the U.S.: $17 billion, estimates the National Retail Federation's 2008 Valentine's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by market research company BIGresearch.
The survey polled 8,447 consumers and found that 61 percent plan to celebrate the holiday. The most romantic age group is the 18- to 24-year-old set, 72 percent of which plan to shower their sweethearts with everything from candy to jewelry this February. But it's the 25- to 34-year-olds who torch the most cash - $160 on average. Men will spend $163 on their valentines; women, just $84. Some of the most popular gifts men plan to buy are flowers (58.2 percent), candy (45.0 percent) and jewelry (26.5 percent).
Are we in a recession?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
So you want to marry a lesbian?
You may have heard about the eharmony lesbian lawsuit by now. If you haven't you can read all about it on EDGE Boston (Your search - "Lesbian’s eHarmony Lawsuit Stirs Passions on Both Sides by AMBROSE ABAN, EDGE Contributor Thursday Jun 21, 2007")
From what I understand, a lesbian sued eHarmony because they provide services for straight women only (and straight men, of course), and claims this is a violation of Californian law. Of course, the more-centrist-than-thou John Corvino of IGF wasted no time deciding that this was a "frivolous" lawsuit:
It’s not that I approve of their policy (I don’t). It’s not even that I think that their policy, while wrongheaded, is in fact legal (I’ll leave that question to those who know California anti-discrimination law).
It’s that the last thing the gay-rights movement needs is a frivolous lawsuit.
Oh really? And here I thought that the last thing the gay-rights movement needed was, oh, hmm... apologists for anti-gay discrimination?
Anyway, I'd looked up the story because my friend J. and I had discussed it while/instead of studying for the bar. For the record, J. thought that regardless of the legal merits of the case, eHarmony should not have to accomodate lesbian users, because same-sex dating is qualitatively different from hetero dating, and would necessitate a whole different Special Process. On the other hand, he acknowledged that inter-racial dating was also qualitatively different from same-race dating, but that he would probably find it problematic if a site were for "whites only" dating and prohibited non-whites from using its services. Still, he thought that in the realm of dating, not catering to those seeking same-sex relationships was ethically justifiable.
According to tech.blorge, one of eharmony's explanations for the lesbian/gay/bi exclusion is that it seeks to connect users for the purposes of marriage, and since marriages between two people of the same gender still are not recognized by the states in the U.S. (has anyone thought of bringing suit in Massachusetts, btw?)
I'm guessing that the suit is brought under California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, which includes the following language (it's California Civil Code section 51. This is section (b)):
All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.
(emphasis mine, obviously)
My favorite quote from one eHarmony user (taken from the EDGE Boston article):
As a single woman seeking a single man, I do not want to stumble upon a lesbian on my dating site, purposely or by accident," wrote an eHarmony user. "As it is, it is a long shot at finding compatibility on line, so I really appreciate eHarmony for connecting me with the right matches. I am not anti-lesbian, but for the love of God, I do not want to tell lesbians to fuck off for cordially or accidentally contacting me.
If the thinly veiled homophobia of that last quote isn't clear enough, the EDGE article points out the real chewy, caramelly, how-many-licks-does-it-take-to-get-to-the center of this dispute:
Given that eHarmony’s founder is a Christian evangelical with longstanding ties to James Dobson and the anti-gay group Focus on the Family, the real objection is probably that eHarmony does not want to facilitate what it regards as immoral and unbiblical relationships.
Yes. Once again a religion whose central figure was an anti-government, anti-wealthy, anti-hierarchical, homosocial, ass-kicking bachelor rebel has been turned into an "Ick, not the gays!" club.
The thing that intrigued me most about the EDGE article, however, was the author bio at the bottom:
Caught between the moon and New York City which he calls home since 2000, Ambrose Aban wrote for Malaysia, Singapore and Bangkok Tatler, reviewed restaurants and wrote special ad supplement, "Christopher Street", for HX Magazine New York, contributed to leading English dailies in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Ambrose loves giving up the secrets of everything from where to find the most delicious Orange Glazed Peking Duck to how to prepare extravagant chic soirees in the city.
Another SEASian queer expat online, perhaps?
Posted by mingerspice at 5:58 PM
2 Comments:I have an intense reaction every time I see an eHarmony commercial. Always wondered when/whether somebody would kick up a public fuss, and how. Thanks for posting.
By outlawed, at 4:45 AM
Thanks for posting this, i hadn't heard of it. their excuse that they don't serve queer folks because their site's purpose is for marriage is silly. silly silly people. i love the one single woman's quote--0 talk about homophobia at it's best.
From what I understand, a lesbian sued eHarmony because they provide services for straight women only (and straight men, of course), and claims this is a violation of Californian law. Of course, the more-centrist-than-thou John Corvino of IGF wasted no time deciding that this was a "frivolous" lawsuit:
It’s not that I approve of their policy (I don’t). It’s not even that I think that their policy, while wrongheaded, is in fact legal (I’ll leave that question to those who know California anti-discrimination law).
It’s that the last thing the gay-rights movement needs is a frivolous lawsuit.
Oh really? And here I thought that the last thing the gay-rights movement needed was, oh, hmm... apologists for anti-gay discrimination?
Anyway, I'd looked up the story because my friend J. and I had discussed it while/instead of studying for the bar. For the record, J. thought that regardless of the legal merits of the case, eHarmony should not have to accomodate lesbian users, because same-sex dating is qualitatively different from hetero dating, and would necessitate a whole different Special Process. On the other hand, he acknowledged that inter-racial dating was also qualitatively different from same-race dating, but that he would probably find it problematic if a site were for "whites only" dating and prohibited non-whites from using its services. Still, he thought that in the realm of dating, not catering to those seeking same-sex relationships was ethically justifiable.
According to tech.blorge, one of eharmony's explanations for the lesbian/gay/bi exclusion is that it seeks to connect users for the purposes of marriage, and since marriages between two people of the same gender still are not recognized by the states in the U.S. (has anyone thought of bringing suit in Massachusetts, btw?)
I'm guessing that the suit is brought under California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, which includes the following language (it's California Civil Code section 51. This is section (b)):
All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.
(emphasis mine, obviously)
My favorite quote from one eHarmony user (taken from the EDGE Boston article):
As a single woman seeking a single man, I do not want to stumble upon a lesbian on my dating site, purposely or by accident," wrote an eHarmony user. "As it is, it is a long shot at finding compatibility on line, so I really appreciate eHarmony for connecting me with the right matches. I am not anti-lesbian, but for the love of God, I do not want to tell lesbians to fuck off for cordially or accidentally contacting me.
If the thinly veiled homophobia of that last quote isn't clear enough, the EDGE article points out the real chewy, caramelly, how-many-licks-does-it-take-to-get-to-the center of this dispute:
Given that eHarmony’s founder is a Christian evangelical with longstanding ties to James Dobson and the anti-gay group Focus on the Family, the real objection is probably that eHarmony does not want to facilitate what it regards as immoral and unbiblical relationships.
Yes. Once again a religion whose central figure was an anti-government, anti-wealthy, anti-hierarchical, homosocial, ass-kicking bachelor rebel has been turned into an "Ick, not the gays!" club.
The thing that intrigued me most about the EDGE article, however, was the author bio at the bottom:
Caught between the moon and New York City which he calls home since 2000, Ambrose Aban wrote for Malaysia, Singapore and Bangkok Tatler, reviewed restaurants and wrote special ad supplement, "Christopher Street", for HX Magazine New York, contributed to leading English dailies in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Ambrose loves giving up the secrets of everything from where to find the most delicious Orange Glazed Peking Duck to how to prepare extravagant chic soirees in the city.
Another SEASian queer expat online, perhaps?
Posted by mingerspice at 5:58 PM
2 Comments:I have an intense reaction every time I see an eHarmony commercial. Always wondered when/whether somebody would kick up a public fuss, and how. Thanks for posting.
By outlawed, at 4:45 AM
Thanks for posting this, i hadn't heard of it. their excuse that they don't serve queer folks because their site's purpose is for marriage is silly. silly silly people. i love the one single woman's quote--0 talk about homophobia at it's best.
News from Towleroad
Browns QB Brady Quinn Denies Making Anti-Gay Remarks
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn denies any involvement in the New Years Eve altercation in Columbus, Ohio in which a man claimed Quinn had used an anti-gay slur toward him:
"In a statement released Wednesday through the Browns, Quinn said he had dinner on New Year's Eve with his girlfriend and other couples but that nothing else happened. 'At no time that night was I involved in a verbal or physical altercation, nor did I have any interaction with the police,' Quinn said in the statement. 'I want to be clear that I did not engage in any of the alleged conduct, nor did I make inappropriate comments to anyone. Any allegations to the contrary are either untrue or the result of misidentification.' However, Columbus police said when they arrived Quinn was arguing with 32-year-old Jason Thompson. Quinn's friends encouraged him to step back from the situation and he did, police spokeswoman Amanda Ford said. She added that police did not hear any comments made at the scene and couldn't confirm Harris' statements on the 911 call. 'We don't know what that argument was about,' Ford said."
Police reported two separate fights at the scene that evening, one of which resulted in injuries to a man and was labeled an "anti-male homosexual" hate crime, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Browns organization stood behind the rookie player. They said: "We are aware of the alleged comments made by Brady Quinn, which the Browns take seriously. After speaking with Brady and his representatives we find these reported accusations without merit."
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn denies any involvement in the New Years Eve altercation in Columbus, Ohio in which a man claimed Quinn had used an anti-gay slur toward him:
"In a statement released Wednesday through the Browns, Quinn said he had dinner on New Year's Eve with his girlfriend and other couples but that nothing else happened. 'At no time that night was I involved in a verbal or physical altercation, nor did I have any interaction with the police,' Quinn said in the statement. 'I want to be clear that I did not engage in any of the alleged conduct, nor did I make inappropriate comments to anyone. Any allegations to the contrary are either untrue or the result of misidentification.' However, Columbus police said when they arrived Quinn was arguing with 32-year-old Jason Thompson. Quinn's friends encouraged him to step back from the situation and he did, police spokeswoman Amanda Ford said. She added that police did not hear any comments made at the scene and couldn't confirm Harris' statements on the 911 call. 'We don't know what that argument was about,' Ford said."
Police reported two separate fights at the scene that evening, one of which resulted in injuries to a man and was labeled an "anti-male homosexual" hate crime, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Browns organization stood behind the rookie player. They said: "We are aware of the alleged comments made by Brady Quinn, which the Browns take seriously. After speaking with Brady and his representatives we find these reported accusations without merit."
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
You've finally found me...
Sometimes you find yourself in a different place...my best pal Arthur Wong in Singapore is a proud daddy to one year old Ethan who is looking so tender and delicate in his arms. This picture reminds us of just precious love is. And how wonderful friends make us feel everyday -- knowing, knowing they know we are thinking about them everyday. Thanks Arthur - my best straight buddy in the whole world. Love you dada!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
SUPER DUPER TUESDAY...who is gayer and queerer?
SUPER DUPER TUESDAY FOR QUEERS? Nah...that ain't gonna happen.
Tonight, we sit in our living room, watching the political drama unfold in what one US journalist called Supercomplicated Tuesday. It's a key date in the American Presidential contest. Republicans and Democrats in 24 states - almost half thecountry, are choosing their candidates in the race for the White House.
As we are sitting in our living room tonight, we will be thinking: why aren't they saying it? When will they give us our rights to get married and be happier?
All they care about: the first woman President, its first black President, or its oldest incoming President.
What about us? We will be wondering when are we getting a president, first or second, black or white, male or female, young or old, who cares more than just accepting us and supporting us, but one who knows the importance of the LGB and even T community.
Actually the answers to the above: None.
Tonight, we sit in our living room, watching the political drama unfold in what one US journalist called Supercomplicated Tuesday. It's a key date in the American Presidential contest. Republicans and Democrats in 24 states - almost half thecountry, are choosing their candidates in the race for the White House.
As we are sitting in our living room tonight, we will be thinking: why aren't they saying it? When will they give us our rights to get married and be happier?
All they care about: the first woman President, its first black President, or its oldest incoming President.
What about us? We will be wondering when are we getting a president, first or second, black or white, male or female, young or old, who cares more than just accepting us and supporting us, but one who knows the importance of the LGB and even T community.
Actually the answers to the above: None.
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