WARNING! Swine Flu in US and Mexico Match

US health officials said that swine flu has affected eight people in the United States that the samples matched with the one in Mexico that killed at least 68 people. More than 1000 people in Mexico fell sick. New York health officials have tested 75 students in Queens school after their one-week flu symptoms. Fortunately, there have been no swine flu detected there. Of the 14 Mexicans that were tested by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 7 matched with the test in Mexico. An eighth case was reported but fortunately, all 8 recovered. Schools and universities in Mexico city have been closed due to swine flu and for safety, they would be closed for a little while. Mexican president, Felipe Calderon, cancelled his trip to Northern Mexico so that he could observe what is going on. Six of the US cases were found in California and two were found in Texas.

The medical alert said "We found two cases. One centered around Mexico City involving about 120 deaths and 13 cases. One in San Luis Potosi involving 14 cases and 4 deaths. The majority is adults between 25 to 44 years old. Swine influenza are usually found in ASIA and Europe. There is still NO CURE but they are still working on it.

Early Soy Diet May Protect Against Breast Cancer

Asian-Americab women who ate a lot of soy had 58% reduced risk to have breast cancer. US reserachers said that soy may have a protective effect. Historically breast cancer rates among white women in the United States are four to seven times higher than in women in China or Japan. But when Asian women moved to the US, the risk for breast cancer was larger. Women who comsumed a lot of soy in their childhood had 58% less risk for breast cancer. Soy contains isoflavones which may alter breast tissue.

I think this is interesting because I never knew that soy can reduce the risk of having breast cancer. I think that we should all start drinking soy so that we won't get breast cancer, especially for girls.

Question:
Have you actually wondered that soy can reduce the risk of breast cancer?

Jakarta Post p. 27, April 1, 2009

On the Wings of a Dream

Tience Sumartini fell in love with flying when she was 26 years old. On day in the 1970's she and her husband saw a glider in the sky and that caught her attention. She followed the glider and where it landed and asked the pilot more about it. She and her friends set up a club and decided that they would take private lessons with a professional pilot and learn how to fly in her free time. Tience did her first solo flight in a glider at Pondol Cabe in a swizer aircraft. Two years later she became a pilot and she made three planes and set up a serious of aviation-related businesses, such as PT ATS Buana Airtech. She owns five private aircraft parked in Australia. Although she has stopped flying now because her lisence expired, 55 years-old, her passion for planes are still there.

I think that this is great because she started from nothing and now, very successful. It's great that she never gave up and kept continuing her dream to be a pilot.

Questions:
If you had the change to become a pilot, would you take it?

Jakarta Post p. 32, April 1, 2009

Babysitter fless after abuse

A babysitter working for a couple in Mataram fled her employers after 8 months of allegedly undergoing physical abuse and never being paid salary. After her escape, Cendana Windia Teleduka reported to the police station. She said that she was able to runaway from the house after being beaten up by her female employer. She said that she just fed a 13-month child milk and was asked to iron clothes.

"She suddenly hit me and pushed me and pulled my hair. She always does this ever since I worked for her. I couldn't resist it anymore so I escaped" Cendana said.

She had bruises all over her face and her right was red because the employer poked her. She signed a contract that says that she'll work for 6 months and will get paid for 1 million rupias per month, but she was never paid. The hitting was from bare hands to broom or umbrella.


I think that this is really mean. I don't think that hurting your babysitter you hired is the right thing to do. I also feel bad for the babysitter. No payment and the beating is all just cruel.

Question:
If you were one of the policemen, what would you do about this?

Jakarta Post
Sunday March 14, page 8

Rihanna pulls yet another no-show for RI fans

Rihanna cancelled her concert in Jakarta for the second time and Rihanna fans were certainly not happy about that, especially when she had accused her boyfriend, Chris Brown, of assault. The main cause of cancellation was related to sunday night's incident. Brown and Rihanna both left the Grammy Awards early and then Brown ended up in the police station and was asked a few questions. Rihanna said that Brown had hurt her the night before the Grammy Awards. Her fans were disappointed to know that it was cancelled, for the second time, and hope that she will still make a concert and not cancel it again.

I think that all Rihanna fans must be disappointed because of the over excitement and suddenly is cancelled. i don't personally like Rihanna that much but if I was one of her fans, I woujld be really disappointed to hear the news.

Questions:
1. Would you be disappointed if you were Rihanna's fan? or are Rihanna's fan?

Jakarta Post, February 11, 2009, page 2

Ananda's New Year Concert

For some of you who doesnt know who Ananda Sukarlan is, he is Jakarta's composer and master pianist! Ananda performed at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki art center in Central Jakarta. It was held on January 4, 2009 and was accompanied by other branches of art. His songs that he played were inspired by his homeland's tones and cultural elements. This concert is special because it is not only piano, but it has the combination of piano and poetry, dance, painting and politics. It was held to celebrate the 200 years of Joseph Hayden, a composer. In addition, there will be two dance performances that was choreographed by a famous dancer named Chendra Panatan. Not only that, he also performed his own composition called Hayden Seek. There were also special appearances by Elizabeth Ashford, a fluist, Alfred Young Sugiri, a pianist, Joseph Kristanto Akis, a baritone, and last but not least Bernadeta Astari, a soprano.

I think that it is great that he held a concert with many different combinations of performances. I think that Ananda Sukarlan is a great pianist, from all of his master classes he'd given me, he is amazing! It's great that he can share his love of music with other people who also loves music..

Questions:
Would u go to his concert?

Source: Jakarta Post, Friday, January 2, 2009, vol. 26, pg. 21

Cinta Laura Wajib Bayar Rp. 1,7m

Cinta Laura, artis kelahiran Quakenbruck, Jerman, 17 Agustus 1993, harus bayar MD entertainment kalau Cinta tidak mau meneruskan kontrak syuting. Hakim di Pengadilan Negeri Jakarta Pusat memutuskan Cinta harus meneruskan sisa kontrak, yakni syuting 52 episode. Bila tidak, dia harus bayar Rp. 1.216.000.000 ditambah dengan denda Rp. 500 juta. Jadi total biayanya adalah 1.716.000.000.

Pendapat saya adalah:
Kalau Cinta Laura sudah menandatangani kontrak, dia tidak boleh bilang tidak mau lagi. Karena kalau sudah di tandatangan, itu berarti tidak bisa bilang tidak.

Pertanyaan:
- Kalau kamu Cinta Laura, akan kamu meneruskan kontrak itu atau bayar?