Science can be fun!

I love science but never had teachers who inspired me. Now, according to this ST headline below (ST, Nov 20) Singapore is trying to...

Get public to start 'liking' science

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/get-public-to-start-liking-science-ntu

I also think science quizzes are an excellent way to maintain one's interest in science. The Huffington Post has this fairly easy one even though the headline says...

Can You Pass The Science Quiz That Too Many Americans Failed?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/16/science-quiz-americans-smart-science-quiz_n_4784233.html

How can anyone fail a quiz when the questions include one that asks you whether the sun revolves around the earth or the earth revolves around the sun??
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I have been waiting for the opportune moment to use these science-themed images below. Here they are:

Haha, that one above was good! In closing...

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I will be travelling on holiday, so will take a break from blogging.

The awakened dragon grows in geopolitical confidence...

I posted this comment on Facebook today (Nov 16):

China watchers should sit up when Fu Ying pens a commentary. She is laying out what a China-centric East Asia should become (and how the US and Japan should act). Pity ST Opinion did not project her piece as its primary commentary in place of Jonathan Eyal's "abuthen" piece on the Paris attacks.

http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/can-east-asia-carry-on-momentum-of-regional-cooperation?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=addtoany
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Meanwhile, ex-diplomat and current think-tank head Kishore Mahbubani had written this commentary two days ago:

http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/red-alert-a-new-geopolitical-haze?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=addtoany

This was my comment on his piece:

So, which ULTIMATELY prevails...power, institutions, or ideas?
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Finally, the meeting in Singapore between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou generated a lot of commentaries. This one is pretty good...

The Xi-Ma Meeting: Why Singapore?

http://thediplomat.com/2015/11/the-xi-ma-meeting-why-singapore/

Health nuts!

Someone I know recently celebrated his 80th birthday. We took him to a restaurant where good food was served. Good but not necessarily healthy, so the health nuts would admonish. Who cares!

A health nut posted this one...

Just when you thought it was safe to drink water (and only water)!

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There was a recent WHO report about why processed meats such as sausages, ham and bacon are bad for your health...

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34615621

Well, as even the health nuts would say, everything in moderation. So, should we take health advisories with a pinch of salt, or a huge helping of humour? As I said in a post on Facebook:

Stop wiener-ing. It had been the best of times, it had been the wurst of times, but in these times, you are no longer to bring home the bacon...

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Whatever. I must have my dessert...

After all...

The Law of Unintended Consequences.

This headline caught my attention (Sunday Times, Nov 1, page C20):

I then wrote a Facebook post:

I was bemused by the headline "The economy of snakes and rabbits" in Larry Haverkamp's SunTimes column today (pg C20). Ah, he was regaling the reader with 2 examples of The Law Of Unintended Consequences. Case No 1: Australia imported rabbits so they could shoot Roger and his mates for sport. Well, turned out the animals got lucky in the Lucky Country and scored (with each other) than they were being shot at! So now there are 20 million rabbits Down Under. Case No 2 is about how India tried to control the number of wild cobras there by offering a bounty. Well, people starting breeding cobras and, yes, there are now more cobras than before. 

My own observation? Singapore's failed twist-and-turn population policy. And now China is about to reverse it's One-Child policy. It won't succeed if TLOUC kicks in.

Michael came in with this example:

There is also the tragicomedy of the cane toad in Australia.

To which I responded:

Ah yes. I am sure examples elsewhere abound. To be fair, there are positive examples of TLOUC.

Michael again:

Like Aspirin is now a blood thinner???

Irene offered this solution to the rabbit problem:

What Australia needs is a bunch of talented Cantonese chefs to set up lotsa restaurants dishing up delicious rabbit cuisine.

And I said:

Haha...Rabbit Jumps Over The Wall!

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I was curious about this so-called law. I like WiseGeeks' write-up on it:

What is the Law of Unintended Consequences?

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-law-of-unintended-consequences.htm

Finally, from Quora, is this fascinating item!...

What are the best examples of the law of unintended consequences in action?

https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-examples-of-the-law-of-unintended-consequences-in-action

Women who have given birth... say thank you to one Dr Ignaz Semmelweis!