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Ahad, 29 Disember 2013

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

55-and-above age group gets smart with gadgets

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

SHE is 63 years old, uses a smartphone, tablet and laptop, and is active on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Retiree Cheow Chin Wang (pic) has come a long way since 2007 when even logging on to the Internet using her home desktop required help from her husband or her son.

Cheow said: "I kept asking them for help until they told me to explore it on my own."

Spurred to be independent, she then decided to take up computer classes with non-profit organisation RSVP Singapore – The Organisation of Senior Volunteers.

Now, the feisty grandmother of four competently uses an Acer laptop, iPhone 4 and iPad 2 to check her e-mail and surf the Web. Even keeping in touch with her 34-year-old daughter, who works as an occupational therapist in London, has become a breeze.

She is among a growing group of older users of mobile devices who are becoming increasingly technology literate.

Data from a global mobile consumer survey report this month by professional services firm Deloitte revealed that smartphone penetration among those aged 55 and above in Singapore reached 65% of the 388 respondents in that age group.

The survey was conducted online between May and July and asked questions ranging from which mobile devices respondents have access to or own, to which devices they use to connect to the Internet.

Of the 11 developed countries in the survey – including the United States, France, and Japan – this figure is only second to South Korea.

To further reach out to more seniors, the Council for Third Age piloted an online portal and mobile app in October last year which features senior-related information such as health news and an events calendar.

Up till Nov 30 this year, it has been downloaded more than 3,600 times from the Apple App and Google Play stores. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Youth brush up on Chinese culture

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

WITH his back straight and arm poised over a sheet of rice paper, seven-year-old Joshua Poh diligently traced out Chinese characters like "sheng", which means life, with a writing brush known as the mao bi.

He did this repeatedly during a 90-minute session under the guidance of his Chinese calligraphy teacher, Chang Ong Ying, 65, who taught him the strokes and how to hold the brush.

"The classes are fun as I get to write words that I'm learning in school with a brush," the Zhangde Primary School pupil said.

Together with his five-year-old brother Ian, Joshua was attending a youth calligraphy class at the Waterloo Street premises of the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore (CCSS). The new term had just commenced last weekend.

An art form with its roots in the Shang Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago, Chinese calligraphy is gaining popularity among the young in Singapore.

CCSS president Tan Siah Kwee told The Sunday Times that attendance at youth Chinese calligraphy classes offered by the society is rapidly growing.

When the programme first started in 1985, there was only one class of six students.

But this year, the CCSS offered about 20 youth Chinese calligraphy classes, which were attended by some 180 students every weekend. And Tan is anticipating at least "30 to 50 more students" next year.

CCSS will have nine teachers – all Singaporeans – to conduct the youth classes next year. All of them have previously exhibited their works here and overseas in countries like China, Japan and South Korea.

"Once society reaches a certain level of development, we need culture to show we are not just animals of the economy," said Tan, 65, who has been president of the non-profit society for 43 years.

Students pay a S$140 (RM362) fee each semester, which amounts to S$560 (RM1,450) for the four semesters each year.

Aside from a brush which students can buy on their own for about S$20 (RM52) each, other materials such as ink and rice paper are provided in class.

Although the youth Chinese calligraphy classes are open to those under the age of 18, about four in five students are below 15.

Older students, Tan said, are usually busy preparing for major examinations like the O levels or have co-curricular activities on weekends.

Parents such as Poh Yu Ching, 42, said the classes give her sons – Arun, nine, and seven- year-old Ajay Bhattarai – greater exposure to Chinese culture. Her husband is Nepalese. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Houses - a reflection of the people's heavy financial burden

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

While Oxford Dictionaries' Word of the Year 2013, selfie, captures a light-hearted global phenomenon, the Chinese Character of the Year takes on a more serious tone.

Fang, or house, reflected the heavy financial burden faced by the people as rising property prices make buying a house a far-fetched dream.

The character was unveiled as the top pick in an event co-hosted by the National Language Resources Monitoring and Research Centre, Commercial Press, China Network Television and Shandong Satellite Television and more.

Beijing Language and Culture University party chief Prof Li Yuming said in Beijing Evening News that owning a house is a practical wish, but also a pain in the hearts of the Chinese.

"Fang brings out people's expectation for a better housing policy," he said.

The other contenders for the Chinese Word of the Year included meng (dream), lian (uncorrupted), mai (smog), jian (frugal), xin (new), min (people), zao (heat), zheng (upstanding) and fu (assist).

The organisers also announced zheng neng liang (positive energy) as the Chinese Term of the Year, zheng (fight) as the International Character of the Year and Mandela as International Term of the Year.

The three-stage selection process began with the Netizens nominating their preferred words and phrases online.

A panel of 20 experts then narrowed down the entries to 10 per category before the Netizens picked their choices in a poll.

Another poll by China's wiki site Hudong, Chinese Culture Promotion Society, China Newsweek and others saw fa (law) being crowned Chinese Character of the Year.

As widely reported, one of the key highlights in the Third Plenum this year was to reform the country's legal system.

Hudong concluded that the abolishment of the "re-education through labour" system, pledges to improve judiciary independence, trial of disgraced politician Bo Xilai and other examples reflected the society's respect for law.

The poll also listed Chinese Dream, smog, Edward Snowden of the National Security Agency scandal, Bitcoin and Big Yellow Duck as the top ten popular terms of the year.

Meanwhile, financial magazine Money Weekly declared tu as the Finance Word of the Year in China.

While the character carries the meaning of abrupt or sudden, it is paired with other characters to form 10 verbs that best sum up the financial headlines in 2013.

For instance, tu po (breakthrough) described the establishment of Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, tu die (sudden drop) referred to the gold price fall while tu zhang (sudden hike) summarised the Bitcoin's prices surge.

> The views expressed are entirely the writer's own. 
Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

Severe Antarctic weather slows Australian icebreaker bid to reach stranded ship

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:35 PM PST

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Severe Antarctic weather was slowing an Australian icebreaker's bid to reach a Russian ship trapped in ice since Christmas eve with 74 people onboard, the Australian maritime rescue agency said on Monday.

The Aurora Australis was currently about 11 nautical miles (20 kms) from the stranded Russian ship Akademik Shokalskiy, said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which is co-ordinating the rescue.

"The area is currently experiencing snow showers, resulting in poor visibility. The Aurora Australis is travelling slowly due to the conditions to ensure the safety of all on board," AMSA said in a statement.

AMSA had earlier expected the Aurora Australis to arrive at the scene Sunday evening.

"It is unknown at this time if or when the Aurora Australis will arrive near the Akademik Shokalskiy due to weather and ice conditions," the agency said.

The Russian ship left New Zealand on November 28 on a private expedition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of an Antarctic journey led by famed Australian explorer Douglas Mawson.

It is now trapped some 100 nautical miles (185 km) east of French Antarctic station Dumont D'Urville and about 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km) nautical miles south of Australia's southern island state of Tasmania.

The Akademik Shokalskiy's 74 passengers include scientists and tourists, many of them Australian, and what the Russian Foreign Ministry said were 22 Russian crew members.

Chris Turney, an Australian professor who helped organise the voyage on the Russian ship, posted photos of passengers on board, including one of a passenger and a penguin.

"Set up tent on top deck. All well. Aurora making good progress. Waiting game!" Turney said on his twitter on Monday morning.

Ice that has trapped the ship appeared to be cracking up, raising hopes for a rescue, Turney said earlier.

The Australian icebreaker was one of the three vessels sent to try and free the Russian ship.

A Chinese icebreaker, the Snow Dragon, has been halted by thick ice within sight of the ice-bound ship, while another French-flagged ship was no longer involved in the rescue.

The Chinese Snow Dragon would remain on standby until the Aurora Australis reaches the Russian ship, AMSA said earlier.

The Snow Dragon has a helicopter on board that can be used to rescue passengers if the Aurora Australis can not break through the ice, the agency said.

Second blast in Russian city kills 10 on trolleybus - reports

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:20 PM PST

VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) - At least 10 people were killed when an explosion ripped through a trolleybus in the second deadly blast in the Russian city of Volgograd in two days, the Interfax news agency reported, citing law enforcement officials.

The explosion came a day after a suicide bomber killed at least 17 people in the main railway station of the southern Russian city 40 days before Russia is to hold the Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly; Writing by Steve Gutterman)

Shots fired at residence of German ambassador in Athens

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:15 PM PST

ATHENS (Reuters) - Gunshots were fired at the German ambassador's residence in Athens early on Monday, but caused no injuries or damage, police said.

At least four shots hit the outside metal gate of the residence, which lies behind a security wall on a busy street in a northern suburb of the Greek capital, police said. Investigators have collected 15 spent bullet cases so far.

The police sources said two attackers on foot were involved in the attack, which occurred at about 3.40 a.m. (0140 GMT),

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras spoke to the German ambassador to Athens, Wolfgang Dold, after the incident, a police statement said.

Anti-German rhetoric has become common among Greek opposition politicians and anti-bailout groups since the country's international financial bailout in 2010, due to the harsh austerity policies that accompanied it.

Germany is the biggest single contributing nation to 240-billion euro financial rescue and has been pushing Athens for painful budget cuts and reforms to fix its finances.

The residence was the target of an attack in 1999, when members of the now dismantled extremist group November 17 fired a rocket that hit its roof.

(Reporting by Harry Papachristou; Editing by David Brunnstrom)
Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

'Hobbit' tops North American box office

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 07:10 PM PST

Film earns almost RM100mil over the weekend.

FANTASY blockbuster The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ruled the North American box office this weekend, holding off a strong festive season challenge from Disney's animated musical Frozen, estimates showed on Dec 29.

The second part of Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson's trilogy of films, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved classic, earned almost US$29.9mil (RM98mil) over the weekend, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf, the film has raked in US$190.3mil (RM625.9mil) in the United States and Canada since its release three weeks ago.

Moving up one spot to second place with US$28.8mil (RM94.7mil) was Frozen, a loosely based retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale The Snow Queen.

The film, the 53rd movie in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series which began with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, has taken US$248.4mil (RM817mil) to date.

In third place was Anchorman 2, the Will Ferrell comedy which sees him reprise his role as screwball newsman Ron Burgundy. The sequel took US$20.2mil (RM66.4mil) in its second week of release.

Critically acclaimed comedy American Hustle – starring Christian Bale and Amy Adams as grifters who team up with an FBI agent played by Bradley Cooper to bring down other con artists – remained in fourth place.

The movie, which has been nominated for seven Golden Globes and is expected to be in contention at the Oscars, took US$19.6mil.

In fifth spot was Martin Scorsese's latest collaboration with actor Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street, earning US$18.5mil (RM64.5mil) on its debut weekend.

The movie is based on the debauched rise and fall of disgraced Wall Street financier Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio), who conned his way to hundreds of millions in the 1990s while maintaining a notoriously drug-fuelled lifestyle.

Sixth place was taken by Saving Mr. Banks, a drama about Walt Disney's quest to make a film adaptation of Mary Poppins, with US$14mil (RM46mil).

Its stars – Tom Hanks as Disney and Emma Thompson as Poppins' anti-Hollywood author – have both been nominated for Golden Globes.

In seventh place was Ben Stiller's romantic comedy The Secret Life of Walter Mitty an updated adaptation of James Thurber's famous 1939 short story, about a strait-laced officer worker who loses himself in heroic daydreams. The film, which stars Stiller in the lead role, took US$13mil (RM42.7mil).

In eighth place was the latest instalment of the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise with US$10.2mil (RM33.6mil), taking its overall earnings since its record opening six weeks ago to US$391mil (RM1.3bil) in North America alone.

The worst fears surrounding Keanu Reeves' latest movie 47 Ronin were confirmed however as the big-budget samurai epic opened in ninth with a meager US$9.9mil (RM32.6mil).

Reports have said the troubled movie – originally due for release in November 2012 – may lead to a US$175mil (RM576mil) loss for Universal Pictures.

In 10th, with US$7.4mil (RM24.3mil), was A Madea Christmas, directed by and starring Tyler Perry in his recurring role as Madea, chronicling yet another adventure in the life of the tough, old woman. – AFP

James Franco harnesses power of selfie

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 07:20 PM PST

The actor, filmmaker, producer, writer and everything else analyses a topic that many deem 'silly'.

James Franco has learned to harness the power of the selfie, and so can you! The multihyphenate guy published an editorial in Thursday's New York Times Arts section, where he almost academically breaks down the value – and proper usage – of the self-pointed snap-and-upload phenomenon.

His analysis on the seemingly silly topic is far more enlightening than one might assume. It is also revealing, which Franco argues is the entire point of the selfie.

"In a visual culture, the selfie quickly and easily shows, not tells, how you're feeling, where you are, what you're doing," Franco concluded in the piece.

"The likes spin out of control for selfies of me and my two handsome brothers, especially Dave, the other actor," Franco began his explanation, while admitting his growing addiction to Instagram. But his reasoning is not self-absorbed, just self-aware.

The scholar in Franco has studied the trends from his own page. He continued in the piece, "I can see which posts don't get attention or make me lose followers: those with photos of art projects; videos telling the haters to go away (in not so many words); and photos with poems.

"But a well-stocked collection of selfies seems to get attention."

Franco added: "And attention seems to be the name of the game when it comes to social networking."

So the once-called "king of selfies" has a plan: "For every photo of a book, painting or poem, I try to post a selfie with a puppy, a topless selfie or a selfie with Seth Rogen, because these are all things that are generally liked."

JamesFrancoTV, the actor-writer-director's official Instagram page has more than one million followers. Franco had 1,659 posts at the time of this writing – many of them are selfies. — Reuters

Behind enemy lines

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

Johnny Depp poses a threat to humanity in Transcendence.

JOHNNY Depp is in a movie but there is no makeup, crazy hair or costumes involved? He must have really been drawn to the character Dr Will Caster in Transcendence to accept playing a normal person on screen.

This a huge departure from his eyeliner-crazy Captain Jack Sparrow and Tonto days.

In the trailer for Transcendence – a directorial debut for Wally Pfister, who is also Christopher Nolan's go-to cinematographer – we see Depp in a very different light, one that is so different that it actually takes a few seconds for viewers to realise it's the real deal.

The trailer introduces Caster as an artificial intelligence researcher, who with his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany) work towards creating a machine that possesses more analytical power than the collective intelligence of every person in the history of the world.

Caster's plans to acquire more knowledge and power comes to a halt when he is gunned down by a member of a radical anti-tech group.

In a vegetative state, Caster physically loses the battle, although his active mind connects with Evelyn through artificial intelligence, forcing Max to wonder if it really is his best friend reaching out to his loved ones or a machine trying to take over the world.

Opens in cinema in April 2014.
Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

'Hobbit' tops North American box office

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 07:10 PM PST

Film earns almost RM100mil over the weekend.

FANTASY blockbuster The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ruled the North American box office this weekend, holding off a strong festive season challenge from Disney's animated musical Frozen, estimates showed on Dec 29.

The second part of Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson's trilogy of films, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved classic, earned almost US$29.9mil (RM98mil) over the weekend, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf, the film has raked in US$190.3mil (RM625.9mil) in the United States and Canada since its release three weeks ago.

Moving up one spot to second place with US$28.8mil (RM94.7mil) was Frozen, a loosely based retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale The Snow Queen.

The film, the 53rd movie in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series which began with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, has taken US$248.4mil (RM817mil) to date.

In third place was Anchorman 2, the Will Ferrell comedy which sees him reprise his role as screwball newsman Ron Burgundy. The sequel took US$20.2mil (RM66.4mil) in its second week of release.

Critically acclaimed comedy American Hustle – starring Christian Bale and Amy Adams as grifters who team up with an FBI agent played by Bradley Cooper to bring down other con artists – remained in fourth place.

The movie, which has been nominated for seven Golden Globes and is expected to be in contention at the Oscars, took US$19.6mil.

In fifth spot was Martin Scorsese's latest collaboration with actor Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street, earning US$18.5mil (RM64.5mil) on its debut weekend.

The movie is based on the debauched rise and fall of disgraced Wall Street financier Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio), who conned his way to hundreds of millions in the 1990s while maintaining a notoriously drug-fuelled lifestyle.

Sixth place was taken by Saving Mr. Banks, a drama about Walt Disney's quest to make a film adaptation of Mary Poppins, with US$14mil (RM46mil).

Its stars – Tom Hanks as Disney and Emma Thompson as Poppins' anti-Hollywood author – have both been nominated for Golden Globes.

In seventh place was Ben Stiller's romantic comedy The Secret Life of Walter Mitty an updated adaptation of James Thurber's famous 1939 short story, about a strait-laced officer worker who loses himself in heroic daydreams. The film, which stars Stiller in the lead role, took US$13mil (RM42.7mil).

In eighth place was the latest instalment of the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise with US$10.2mil (RM33.6mil), taking its overall earnings since its record opening six weeks ago to US$391mil (RM1.3bil) in North America alone.

The worst fears surrounding Keanu Reeves' latest movie 47 Ronin were confirmed however as the big-budget samurai epic opened in ninth with a meager US$9.9mil (RM32.6mil).

Reports have said the troubled movie – originally due for release in November 2012 – may lead to a US$175mil (RM576mil) loss for Universal Pictures.

In 10th, with US$7.4mil (RM24.3mil), was A Madea Christmas, directed by and starring Tyler Perry in his recurring role as Madea, chronicling yet another adventure in the life of the tough, old woman. – AFP

James Franco harnesses power of selfie

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 07:20 PM PST

The actor, filmmaker, producer, writer and everything else analyses a topic that many deem 'silly'.

James Franco has learned to harness the power of the selfie, and so can you! The multihyphenate guy published an editorial in Thursday's New York Times Arts section, where he almost academically breaks down the value – and proper usage – of the self-pointed snap-and-upload phenomenon.

His analysis on the seemingly silly topic is far more enlightening than one might assume. It is also revealing, which Franco argues is the entire point of the selfie.

"In a visual culture, the selfie quickly and easily shows, not tells, how you're feeling, where you are, what you're doing," Franco concluded in the piece.

"The likes spin out of control for selfies of me and my two handsome brothers, especially Dave, the other actor," Franco began his explanation, while admitting his growing addiction to Instagram. But his reasoning is not self-absorbed, just self-aware.

The scholar in Franco has studied the trends from his own page. He continued in the piece, "I can see which posts don't get attention or make me lose followers: those with photos of art projects; videos telling the haters to go away (in not so many words); and photos with poems.

"But a well-stocked collection of selfies seems to get attention."

Franco added: "And attention seems to be the name of the game when it comes to social networking."

So the once-called "king of selfies" has a plan: "For every photo of a book, painting or poem, I try to post a selfie with a puppy, a topless selfie or a selfie with Seth Rogen, because these are all things that are generally liked."

JamesFrancoTV, the actor-writer-director's official Instagram page has more than one million followers. Franco had 1,659 posts at the time of this writing – many of them are selfies. — Reuters

Behind enemy lines

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

Johnny Depp poses a threat to humanity in Transcendence.

JOHNNY Depp is in a movie but there is no makeup, crazy hair or costumes involved? He must have really been drawn to the character Dr Will Caster in Transcendence to accept playing a normal person on screen.

This a huge departure from his eyeliner-crazy Captain Jack Sparrow and Tonto days.

In the trailer for Transcendence – a directorial debut for Wally Pfister, who is also Christopher Nolan's go-to cinematographer – we see Depp in a very different light, one that is so different that it actually takes a few seconds for viewers to realise it's the real deal.

The trailer introduces Caster as an artificial intelligence researcher, who with his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany) work towards creating a machine that possesses more analytical power than the collective intelligence of every person in the history of the world.

Caster's plans to acquire more knowledge and power comes to a halt when he is gunned down by a member of a radical anti-tech group.

In a vegetative state, Caster physically loses the battle, although his active mind connects with Evelyn through artificial intelligence, forcing Max to wonder if it really is his best friend reaching out to his loved ones or a machine trying to take over the world.

Opens in cinema in April 2014.
Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business

French millionaire tax gets constitutional go-ahead

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 06:42 PM PST

PARIS: France's Constitutional Council gave the green light on Sunday to a "millionaire's tax", to be levied on companies that pay salaries of more than €1mil (US$1.38mil) a year.

The measure, introduced in line with a pledge by President Francois Hollande to make the rich do more to pull France out of crisis, has infuriated business leaders and soccer clubs, which at one point threatened to go on strike.

It was originally designed as a 75% tax to be paid by high earners on the part of their incomes exceeding €1mil, but the council rejected this, saying 66% was the legal maximum for individuals.

The Socialist government has since reworked the tax to levy it on companies instead, raising the ire of entrepreneurs.

Under its new design, which the Council found constitutional, the tax will be an exceptional 50% levy on the portion of wages exceeding €1mil paid in 2013 and 2014.

Including social contributions, its rate will effectively remain roughly 75%. The tax will, however, be capped at 5% of the company's turnover.

The Council, a court made up of judges and former French presidents, has the power to annul laws if they are deemed to violate the constitution – Reuters.

S. Korea industrial output unchanged in Nov

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 07:14 PM PST

SEOUL: South Korea's industrial output for November was unchanged from October as falling auto production offset the increase in memory chips and petrochemical products, state data showed Monday. 

Production in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries remained flat, after growing at their fastest pace for 11 months in October, Statistics Korea said.
Compared with a year earlier, output in November rose 1.3 percent.
October's figure was the fastest monthly growth since November 2012.
Production of memory chips and related components rose 4.4 percent on-month while petrochemical production also climbed 4.3 percent.
But production of cars - one of the country's key export items - fell 2.7 percent, Statistics Korea said in a statement.
Asia's fourth-largest economy expanded 1.1 percent on-month in the second and third quarters of this year - the fastest pace since the first quarter of 2011.
On-year, it expanded 3.3 percent in the third quarter, accelerating a 2.3 percent gain in the April-June period. 

The government has predicted that the country's economy will grow 2.7 percent this year and 3.9 percent in 2014. - AFP

KLCI hits all time high, Tenaga, Public Bank up

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 07:12 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blue chips hit an all-time high in late morning Monday trade, underpinned by fund buying of Tenaga and Public Bank on window dressing.

At 11.04am, the FBM KLCI was up 5.41 points to 1,866.47. Turnover was 503.45 million shares valued at RM301.90mil. There were 288 gainers, 226 losers and 283 counters unchanged.

Petronas Gas rose 38 sen to RM24.36, Tenaga 20 sen to RM11.80 and Public Bank 16 sen to RM19.16.

Plantations also rose with United Plantations up 40 sen to RM26.38 with 100 shares done while KL Kepong gained 24 sen to RM24.84.

Among the consumer stocks, BAT added 40 sen to RM63.60 and Dutch Lady 26 sen to RM47.40.
Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

Behind enemy lines

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

Johnny Depp poses a threat to humanity in Transcendence.

JOHNNY Depp is in a movie but there is no makeup, crazy hair or costumes involved? He must have really been drawn to the character Dr Will Caster in Transcendence to accept playing a normal person on screen.

This a huge departure from his eyeliner-crazy Captain Jack Sparrow and Tonto days.

In the trailer for Transcendence – a directorial debut for Wally Pfister, who is also Christopher Nolan's go-to cinematographer – we see Depp in a very different light, one that is so different that it actually takes a few seconds for viewers to realise it's the real deal.

The trailer introduces Caster as an artificial intelligence researcher, who with his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany) work towards creating a machine that possesses more analytical power than the collective intelligence of every person in the history of the world.

Caster's plans to acquire more knowledge and power comes to a halt when he is gunned down by a member of a radical anti-tech group.

In a vegetative state, Caster physically loses the battle, although his active mind connects with Evelyn through artificial intelligence, forcing Max to wonder if it really is his best friend reaching out to his loved ones or a machine trying to take over the world.

Opens in cinema in April 2014.

Waiting in the wings

Posted: 26 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

Michael Fassbender continues to look for his big breakthrough.

This movie season, Michael Fassbender seems to keep getting lectured on the ways of the world. By an unlikely teacher.

The German-born, Ireland-raised actor plays cruel plantation owner Epps in the period drama 12 Years A Slave, in which Brad Pitt, as a morally scrupulous carpenter, admonishes him that a more enlightened way of thinking is about to leave him in the dust. And as the in-over-his-head lead character in The Counselor, Ridley Scott's drug-trafficking thriller based on Cormac McCarthy's first original screenplay, Fassbender is a lawyer set straight by Pitt's world-weary smuggler.

"Brad seems to be telling me like it is a lot lately," Fassbender said with a laugh. "I don't seem to listen."

All that screen time with one of the world's most famous people highlights the trust filmmakers have these days in the by-his-instincts Fassbender. Yet, the pairing simultaneously throws into relief how the 36-year-old actor continues to live in a kind of A-list shadow.

Despite potential career-making turns as a coolly composed young Magneto in X-Men: First Class and a candid android in Scott's Prometheus the last few years, Fassbender hasn't exactly become a household name. Yet, he still manages to land some of the juiciest roles in moviedom.

Steve McQueen has cast him in all three of his films, including IRA prison tale Hunger and sex-addiction drama Shame, and Fassbender has regularly worked with directorial royalty like Quentin Tarantino and David Cronenberg. Fassbender often elicits critical praise – the Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan said he "mesmerise(d)" as Carl Jung in Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method in 2011 – yet has never been nominated for an Oscar.

Fassbender has a kind of turn-it-on intensity that's in stark contrast to the so-called method approach favoured by a number of other dramatic actors (think Daniel Day-Lewis' living as Abraham Lincoln to play the 16th president in Steven Spielberg's 2012 film). He has developed a reputation for doing things like joking around with the crew, then snapping into the scene.

"Michael is blessed with a great crystal intuition. He'll say, 'I don't want to practice; I just want to do it,'" Scott said. "And five minutes later he's giving you a fantastic scene. It's like watching Federer or Nadal. You don't know how they do it. You just like watching it."

On the set of the sex-addiction drama Shame, several co-stars, including Carey Mulligan, described a man who could have been mistaken for one of the crew before takes; in one scene he even took a quick tequila shot before transforming into a tortured man grimly exorcising sexual demons.

(Don't be fooled by the transformations, he said; those intense scenes can overwhelm him. In one particularly difficult 12 Years moment, he recalled, he became so invested he briefly passed out. And in Counselor, he found himself unexpectedly breaking down crying during a scene where a jefe is telling him what's about to befall him. "It just happened. I'm still not sure how," he said.)

Fassbender's style with interviewers has a similar switch-flipping quality. The actor spends much of the conversation in earnest analysis of his characters' motivations. But he bursts out in comedic song after saying he and McQueen may next collaborate on a musical (really) before quickly going back to discussing the sociology of the antebellum South and how a man's psyche might be affected by slave ownership. – Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

12 Years A Slave is showing at GSC International Screens.
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Travelling around safely

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

Safety and security of a location is an important consideration, travellers say.

AN avid diver, Adeline Teoh had originally planned to go diving at Mabul Island, Sabah, early next year with some friends. However, her plans may have to change.

"After the recent Semporna incident, my parents are a bit worried, and they're discouraging me from going. I still want to go though and was joking that now might be the best time to go diving there with the heightened security," says Teoh, 30, a sales manager in a pharmaceutical company.

Last month, Malaysia made world headlines for the wrong reason when Taiwanese tourist Hsu Li Min, 57, was killed and his wife Chang An Wei, 58, was abducted by armed men at the Pom Pom Island Resort, a 45-minute boat ride from Semporna, Sabah.

Teoh, who feels Mabul is less secluded than Pom Pom Island, says: "We always see the police patrolling the waters and there are more dive shops there compared to Pom Pom."

Don't be mistaken though – safety and security are very important factors for Teoh as a traveller.

"Safety is an important issue for me, especially if I'm on my own. I do read up about the places I'm visiting, and research on where I'll be staying. You can get a pretty good idea (of what a place is like) by reading reviews or comments written by other travellers," says Teoh, who has travelled to the United States, various parts of Europe, Canada, Taiwan, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Teoh says she's felt safest while travelling in Germany, Austria, Nepal and Taiwan.

"I think it's the people, and the fact that crime rates in these countries are low. In Nepal, for example, I felt the people were genuinely honest. They were not rude or disrespectful towards women. As for Taiwan, I feel perfectly comfortable going about on my own ... people there are very civilised.

"In Germany, people will tell you it's okay to go about on your own and take a taxi, even after midnight," she says.

At the other end of the spectrum, Teoh says South Africa, Prague and Rome don't give her very good vibes. "It's a feeling, and it's also based on what you hear from the tour operators and fellow travellers. I've been quite fortunate (to have never been mugged or attacked), but when I was in Rome, a fellow traveller was molested," she says.

Another seasoned traveller, singer-songwriter Wong Ping Loong, 35, plans to go on an "open-ended land trip" around Malaysia in the first half of next year.

"I first learned the joys of 'open-ended' land travel four years ago when I was living in Hong Kong. I crossed the border into Shenzhen, and travelled around China by train for a month, ending up in Dalian. There's something very inspiring about being on the road and seeing the changes in scenery as they pass. It also means more thinking time and more opportunities to meet local people on the journey.

"For Malaysia, if the opportunity arises, I might find a way to East Malaysia. At the moment, I'm planning to travel solo, or with a couple of fellow musicians if I can find them," he says.

For him, safety is important too.

"I guess safety is in the preparation. I try to read more about a country before hand, and I try to talk to locals in terms of the street smarts.

"But sometimes, feeling safe might not correlate with how safe a place actually is. For example, I spent three weeks in South Africa, and overall, I had quite a pleasant experience. But I did meet fellow tourists who were mugged at gunpoint. I just returned from Myanmar and I felt safe throughout the one-month trip although there are many who perceive it as unsafe," says Wong. Wong is thankful that he has not faced too many safety issues while travelling, but has a few stories to share.

"In Egypt a 'security guard' at a tourist spot took a photo for a friend and I but refused to return our camera until we had given him some money. He had a sub-machine gun so we didn't want to argue. I've also had my camera cut off from my neck while in a flower market in China.

"I've been pick-pocketed twice in Germany and Greece and chased by a gang in a Manila slum. Thankfully, though, no one has ever gone after my guitar – that would have broken my heart more than (if they had taken) my wallet," he laughs.

As for Malaysia, Wong says his friends have warned him that "crime has been getting worse".

"I suppose it means I should be more vigilant but a strong and visible police presence at tourist spots is always comforting," he says.

It certainly wouldn't hurt for tourists to be more vigilant and for heightened police presence, especially with 28 million tourist arrivals targeted for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY2014).

Despite the recent incident in Semporna, various stakeholders from within the tourism industry remain optimistic that VMY2014 will not be affected.

Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) president Datuk Mohd Ilyas Zainol Abidin believes the Semporna incident is an isolated one, and should not have much impact on VMY2014.

"Security has always been very important for all our members and most hotels are improving on their security cameras. We have periodic meetings with the police to update them if there's anything unusual happening in our areas. We welcome better police surveillance, but increased police presence can work both ways – if there are too many uniformed police in an area, it can create a negative perception among tourists as well. What is needed is a good balance," he says.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Hamzah Rahmat agrees.

"The Semporna incident won't affect VMY2014, because it's an isolated case at an isolated location. Tourist arrivals to that part of Malaysia are too negligible to have any impact overall.

"The visibility of our tourist police is greatly needed in major towns, especially in KL. Otherwise, our security is generally at an acceptable level," he says.

Honorary send-off for ex-chief of Perak St John’s Ambulance

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

IPOH: Hundreds of people came for the funeral wake and procession of former Perak commander of St John's Ambulance Ng Khoon Hong (pic) here.

Many of the those who came were dressed in the black and white association uniforms.

Khoon Hong, who was state commander from 1972 to 1996, died of a stroke on Thursday with family members at his bedside. He was 88.

His youngest son Kelvin Ng Hock Heng penned a moving one-page tribute to his father that was published in The Star on Friday.

Kelvin said the family, including his two older brothers and Khoon Hong's grandchildren had gathered in Ipoh a few weeks ago when they learnt of his father's ill health.

"I wrote the tribute on my smartphone when I had some time alone on the night of Christmas Day.

"After my father took his last breath, I sent the tribute to my law office in Kuala Lumpur for the obituary, but did not think that the message could be published in whole," he said.

In the tribute, Kelvin, 46, reminisced about his first day as a St John's Ambulance member, his father's contributions in aid efforts during World War II and the Gunung Cheroh disaster, where about 40 people died in 1973 when chunks from a limestone hill in Gunung Cheroh, Ipoh, collapsed onto a squatter colony below.

"I remember him as a loving father who took us on fishing trips to his hometown in Kuala Kurau, and his tireless efforts in supporting the family.

"My brothers and I learnt many valuable lessons from him, such as to respect everyone regardless of race or social ranking and the St John's Ambulance motto of 'Service to Mankind'," he said.

St John's Ambulance state secretary Manin Singh said Khoon Hong's passing was a great loss to the brigade and those who knew him.

"He was a very nice and generous man who was always there to lend a helping hand even after he retired from service and up until his final years," he said.

After family members, friends and brigade members paid their last respects, the St John's Ambulance State of Perak band gave Khoon Hong an honorary send-off and his cortege left the funeral parlour for the Kek Look Seah crematorium in Bercham.

Strong winds, rough seas to hit coasts

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Strong winds and rough seas classified as third category (most dangerous) in the coastal areas of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor Timur are expected until next Tuesday.

A statement from the Meteorological Department said strong north-easterly winds at speeds of 60kmph may cause waves measuring over 5.5m.

Coastal areas in the affected states are also prone to increased water levels expected to last until next Tuesday.

These conditions are dangerous to all beach and shipping activities which include fishing, work on oil platforms and ferry services.

The statement said that thunderstorms in the coasts of Sarawak (Mukah, Bintulu and Miri) had also been expected to continue until late last night. — Bernama
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Candle-light vigils as India remembers gang-rape victim

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 07:33 PM PST

NEW DELHI: India on Sunday marks 12 months since the death of a student savagely gang-raped on a Delhi bus - an episode that sparked nationwide protests - with candle-light vigils and prayers.

The 23-year-old physiotherapy student died on December 29 last year, nearly two weeks after being brutally attacked by a gang of six men on a moving bus as she returned home from the cinema with a male companion.

The attack and her subsequent death shook the country, shone a global spotlight on India's treatment of women and unleashed seething public anger about sexual violence and harassment of women.

The victim's family will hold a religious ceremony in their ancestral village in northern Uttar Pradesh state, away from the constant media attention they have faced since the attack, her brother said.

"We want to remember her in a quiet way, away from all the glare. We want it to be a private, family moment," the brother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told AFP.

The family will follow traditional Hindu rituals on Sunday, with a prayer ceremony and symbolic offerings made to their ancestors, which are believed to bring peace to those who have died.

The student, who was repeatedly assaulted with an iron rod during her ordeal, has been praised for her determination to report her attackers to the police before she died of her injuries. 

Four of her attackers were convicted and given the death penalty in September after the case was fast-tracked, while a juvenile was sentenced to a detention centre.

The sixth convict died in prison in March in an apparent suicide.

The angry and sometimes violent protests against the attack jolted India's parliament, which this year passed tougher laws against rapists and other sex-crime offenders.

Women's groups say some improvements have also been made in the last 12 months to India's notoriously slow, inefficient and sometimes corrupt police and judicial systems, which has encouraged some victims to report sexual crimes against them.

In the capital on Sunday, scores of students, professionals and others were slated to gather at Jantar Mantar, a protest site in the city's centre, where a makeshift memorial has been set up for the victim.

Small lamps, candles and flowers will be placed around the memorial before a peaceful vigil in the evening, one of several expected to take place across the city.

One of the organisers said women who turn up at Jantar Mantar will be encouraged to share their own experiences of violence and discuss societal changes that have taken place since the student's death.

"We need to remind the society that sex crimes won't be tolerated anymore," student Ishaan Ahmed told AFP. -AFP

Forget Mr Right, some prefer Mr Can Do

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

The sharp rise in the number of Singaporeans marrying foreign women in the past decade has resulted in various challenges.

VIETNAMESE bride Nhi, 22, chose to marry a Singaporean hawker twice her age despite strong objections from her father about the whirlwind union, which was arranged by a marriage broker.

"I actually had a boyfriend in Vietnam, but I knew that if I married a Vietnamese, the most he could do would be to take care of me only. He wouldn't have been able to take care of my family," she told researchers.

"Not all the girls who married Singaporeans can support their families in Vietnam, but at least, they are well taken care of and they have an easy life for themselves."

Then there is Puk, a 35-year-old Thai who used all her savings to fly to Singapore to hunt for a husband and a better life.

A friend introduced her to a Singaporean man at a pub, and after a few months of courtship, she urged him to marry her. During that time, he regularly gave her money to spend.

"At that time, I did not love him but gradually, I came to love him because he always took care of me," said Puk. They are now married, and he gives her S$350 (RM900) to send home every month.

In the past decade, there has been a sharp jump in the number of Singaporeans marrying foreign women, so considerable research is emerging on the lives and problems faced by foreign brides here.

Last year, 5,599 Singaporeans wed foreign women who were not citizens or permanent residents – a 40% jump from 2002.

Some research papers have shed light on why foreign women plunged into matrimony with Singaporeans they hardly knew.

No prizes for guessing that most just wanted a better life.

But more than that, many also hoped that their husbands would help support their families back home and lift their loved ones out of poverty as well.

Thai researcher Rattana Jongwilaiwan, together with Associate Professor Eric Thompson of the sociology department at the National University of Singapore (NUS), wrote a journal paper, published in 2011, about the lives of Thai women married to Singa­poreans.

Jongwilaiwan spent more than a year interacting extensively with the Thai wives and did 22 in-depth interviews with them.

"The Thai women interviewed consistently and frankly stated that their primary reason in choosing to marry Singaporean men was material gain and not romantic love," the paper said.

"For many women, it is seemingly the best among available strategies for achieving upward mobility and socioeconomic status, and to fulfil traditional cultural expectations as dutiful daughters."

Most of the women had moved from their homes in rural areas to cities such as Bangkok to find work – some in the sex trade – before meeting their Singaporean grooms in Thailand or Singapore.

Apart from being better off financially, Singaporean men are also regarded as being more loving and responsible husbands, compared with their counterparts elsewhere in the region.

The Thai women interviewed described Thai men as being abusive, womanisers, financially irresponsible, gamblers and alcohol addicts.

More recent papers have examined another aspect of such unions. In the past two months, three journal papers have been published based on a three-year study of Vietnamese women who married Singaporean and Malaysian men after they were introduced by commercial matchmakers.

The papers were written by Professor Brenda Yeoh of the geography department at NUS and a team of researchers that included Dr Chee Heng Leng and Dr Vu Thi Kieu Dung.

Different aspects of the women's lives were studied, from their expectations of love to the importance of sending money home to the problems they face here.

In the interviews, the Singaporean men hardly spoke of love either in their choice of a wife.

They wanted a companion and someone to care for them, look after their parents and do the housework.

What was important to the women was being able to send money home – an act that boosted their self-esteem and their standing in the family.

Take Thach, 19, who feels trapped in a marriage to a man she does not love. Yet, she is grateful to her husband, a security guard in his 50s, because he helped her pay off her family's debts and enabled her mother to start a small business.

Or 25-year-old Bich, who speaks proudly of her husband, a driver twice her age who paid off her family's S$20,000 (RM50,000) loan and gives her mother S$500 (RM1,300) every month.

The paper notes that these marriages are "not necessarily less sustainable or more fragile".

The authors say: "There is no simple trading of money for care, or care for money."

Couples are "keenly aware of the fluid nature of the negotiated relationship at stake", and they put in time and effort to make the marriage work.

They know the roles expected of them – breadwinner husband, dutiful stay-at-home wife, mother and daughter-in-law – and they try to play their parts conscientiously.

Not surprisingly, the husbands are usually not keen to have their wives join the workforce.

Such relationships might puzzle the Singaporean woman looking for love, passion and Mr Right.

But for many women from countries in the region, romantic love is not the core issue. As a Vietnamese woman once told me, romantic love is a Western concept – a luxury she and others like her cannot afford.

Instead of hunting in vain for that elusive Mr Right, they settle for Mr Can Do. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network
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Keeping a pledge

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

A new year signals a new beginning, but are fitness resolutions necessary when most people can't sustain them?

RESOLUTIONS are never easy to keep, especially fitness ones.

Every year-end, I hear these mantras from at least a dozen people: lose weight, get toned, enrol in yoga, run faster, muscle up, eat less...

It's like a pledging ritual, but without proper planning and implementation. Only one, at most two, will doggedly stick to the resolve. Hats off to them.

Most people gear up to hit the gym come Jan 1, follow through for the first couple of months, hit a roadblock (most likely from laziness, muscle soreness or injuries), and eventually, slide off the commitment ladder. This is also the period when gyms, as well as wellness and slimming centres, offer huge promotions to entice new clients.

Don't be fooled or gullible enough to fall into this trap unless you know you have the perseverance to succeed.

Resolutions seem possible at the start of the year, but become impossible as the days and months whiz past. Or, you've set unrealistic expectations. Habits and behaviours require time to change, so don't be too tough on yourself.

One of my Pilates students has told me countless times that his intention is to lose his belly fat. He'll point to a macho guy at the gym and say, "I want to look like that."

Not wanting to engage in a lengthy discussion about body types, every year, I'll advise him on a workout regime he can adhere to. He'll pump iron, run on the treadmill, and attend classes diligently the first few weeks.

Then poof!, he disappears, citing work, travel, weather and family issues. By year-end, he'll reappear, pinch his spare tyre and exclaim, "Look at this!"

I'll look and smile knowingly. This scenario has continued for the past five years. Buddy, I can't help you if you don't help yourself.

So this year, why not do something different before embarking on your fitness goals?

First, sit on the couch and get your cravings out of the way. Yeah, that's right. Allow yourself to binge to your heart's desire to usher in the New Year. Put your feet up, snack on your favourite food – junk included, and sip your preferred drink, while watching the telly.

It'll feel good for a while, but pretty soon, you'll be sick of the over-indulgence and yearn for a more meaningful activity.

When you have mental clarity, focus on a fitness programme that is attainable. Ditch the impossible resolutions (e.g. losing 20 kilos in six months), but take your health and self-improvement goals one baby step at a time.

Unlike food, the endorphins released during exercise leave you feeling high for a longer time. Not only does it boost your mood, it also helps you get in shape.

Have you heard of anyone feeling depressed after a round of exercise? Fatigued, yes, but they're rarely down in the dumps.

Physical activity doesn't have to be complicated, so here are some tips for a healthy start:

Always warm up before starting a physical activity

Warming up is essential to prepare the body for energetic activity and reduce the risk of injury. The purpose is to ease both the mind and body from a state of rest into a state of strenuous activity.

A warm-up routine should consist of a 10-minute cardio workout, such as skipping or brisk walking, and five to 10 minutes of gentle loosening exercises, which produces a light sweat (for example, rotation of the ankle, wrists, shoulders and hips).

Increasing the core and muscle temperatures helps to make muscles loose and supple. Besides increasing the heart rate and boosting blood flow, warm-ups supply oxygen to the muscles and prepare the body for action.

Walk, walk and walk

If you have limited finances or lack time to join the gym, go brisk walking, weather permitting. Avoid taking lifts, but walk up the stairs, walk to the shops, walk around the park or walk to your colleague's cubicle instead of phoning or sending her/him an Intranet message.

Walking has multiple benefits, including helping against heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Work out with a friend

Two heads are always better than one, so grab a friend to exercise with. The support and motivation will go a long way towards achieving results. And with the crime rate these days, it's better to have a companion, especially if you're doing an outdoor workout.

Commit to early morning exercise

Everyone needs an extra minute of sleep, but if you can rise early and squeeze in at least 30 minutes for exercise, you'll be more likely to keep to your regime.

Plus, once you get the exercise bit out of the way, you'll also have plenty of energy left for the rest of the day.

Combine cardio and strength training

Instead of allocating separate days for cardio and strength training, combine both. Do a two-minute cardio routine and add two strength moves (e.g. crunches and push-ups). Repeat the cardio and add two more strength moves (e.g. squats and tricep dips).

Not only does it help with muscle retention, but it also promotes a faster metabolic rate and enhances lipolysis, speeding up the rate of fat loss.

Cool down and stretch

Cooling down is equally as important as warming up, though many people fail to realise this and jump into the next activity immediately.

Cooling down restores the body to a pre-exercise state in a controlled manner, helps the body repair itself, and can lessen muscle soreness the following day. Gentle walking for five to 10 minutes is good to recover the heart's resting rate. After that, perform some static stretches by holding the stretch for at least 20 seconds.

Eat healthy

Try to eat healthy (cut out the fried stuff) and load up on fruits and veggies, but don't skip your favourite desserts, no matter how sinful they are. Instead, have a mini serving to satiate your taste buds.

Research reveals that skipping dessert can backfire and leave you wanting more. In a 2010 study published in the journal Obesity, dieters who were restricted from eating a small dessert were more likely to be left "wanting" than those who had a bite of sweets. Eliminating your favourite foods can be a recipe for disaster and may create an obsession.

Personally, I can't keep to resolutions. As I get older (translation: injuries that take longer to heal), I occasionally cut myself some slack and allow my body a break to recharge for a week. But, that doesn't mean I do nothing. I still stretch in bed, do breathing exercises, or take long strolls and get to know the neighbourhood dogs.

After all, you're not participating in a sprint to get fit. Rather, we're all runners in this slow, steady marathon for better health. There are no winners or losers, just healthier, trimmer individuals and less medical expenses.

On that note, here's wishing readers a happy new and fit year ahead!

The writer is a certified fitness trainer who tries to battle gravity and continues to dance, but longs for some bulk and flesh in the right places. She hopes to do one final dance in 2014 before gracefully bowing out from stage to make way for the next generation.

Speaking of lumps ...

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

When your blood pressure spikes, it may not be what you think it is.

WHEN I first started out on my "lumpy" journey, it was a lonely one as it was almost impossible to find a fellow patient. You see, I have a rare condition called paraganglioma.

Rare tumours that usually form in the peripheral nervous system, paragangliomas are often benign, though there are the even rarer exceptions.

The odd case or two may turn out to be bilateral carotid tumours, but I had – at the last count, and hopefully, it is truly the last – six tumours, in various parts of my body, growing along the parasympathetic chain.

In the last eight years, I underwent a series of surgeries (both invasive and non-invasive); the first epic one started the ball rolling, lasting 22 hours as there were complications.

In the process of excising my "lumpy additions", I became the stuff of legends for medical journals, in Malaysia anyway.

I had published my experience in the hopes that it would create awareness of paragangliomas (My lumpy journey, Fit4life, Aug 12, 2012). And in the process, I stumbled upon others like me.

Thanks to the Internet, my story caught the attention of the "Pheopara Troopers", a support group for those who suffer from this condition.

 

According to Dr Hew, pheos can come in various shapes and sizes, meaning there are different presentations and symptoms.

This US-based non-profit organisation was started by Amy Pitzer, Matthew Capogreco, Laura Becktel and Allen Wilson, whose personal experiences with the disease and collective interest led to the setting up of this patient-run outfit.

While it was heartening to share stories, it was also disconcerting to learn that there is another manifestation of paraganglioma, known as pheochromocytoma (or pheo for short), which comes from the same type of tissue.

With the former, the tumours tend to grow outside the adrenal gland, and apart from growing (very slowly) and obstructing passages, they are often hardly detectable.

Pheos, which grow in the adrenal gland, on the other hand, may secrete higher than usual amounts of hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine), thereby causing havoc in the body.

Naturally, I consulted my vascular surgeon, who assured me that it was highly unlikely (although he did not dismiss the possibility altogether) for me to have pheos as I didn't display any symptoms.

Apparently, if I did, the hormonal imbalance would have given off warning signals immediately.

But there could be a genetic link and my doctor suggested that perhaps at some point, it would be good that my children be tested, just in case it was in the genes.

But then, it struck me that Malaysia may not have facilities to test for this anyway. (Today, genetic testing for von Hippel-Lindau [VHL] disease and other hereditary links can be carried out at the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation in Subang Jaya, Selangor.)

The Great Mimic

That lead me to a story that needs telling – what exactly is pheochromocytoma anyway?

Someone asked me why I wanted to pursue this "dry" subject, especially since the disease was so rare. But just as I found relief and comfort in better understanding my own condition, surely, pheo sufferers would be glad to finally have an answer for their unexplained symptoms.

The first time I had heard of it was on the TV series Grey's Anatomy.

Scott Foley played a patient with VHL disease, and was diagnosed with a "dangerous tumour of the adrenal gland" called a pheochromocytoma.

Foley was great eye candy, but it was also an eye-opener as to how dangerous pheos can be, as they emit bursts of adrenaline at random intervals.

This can cause sudden spikes in heart rate or blood pressure, and can sometimes even lead to a heart attack or stroke.

The problem is, the symptoms often tend to masquerade as other diseases, and less experienced doctors may give the wrong diagnosis. Hence, pheo is sometimes referred to as "The Great Mimic".

And no wonder, as ordinary symptoms such as headaches, sweating, and heart palpitations associated with hypertension, are usually primary indicators that something's not right.

Consultant endocrinologist Dr Hew Fen Lee says that pheos "can come in various shapes and sizes", meaning there are different presentations and symptoms.

"Many are classical symptoms, but even if they are, any doctor who doesn't think of it will easily miss it. Thus, many patients often end up seeing a host of doctors before somebody stumbles on the right path and looks for it.

"The test for pheo may even turn out negative sometimes as the hormone may be secreted intermittently.

"Some patients only find out during an operation (for something else). There are also many who show no or mild symptoms.

"One patient was incidentally found to have a swelling in the adrenal gland and this subsequently turned out to be pheo," he explains.

Drugs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) may be prescribed to inhibit the formation of hormones by the tumour.

Alpha blockers to control blood pressure may be used as well.

In Malaysia, pheo cases are relatively rare, although not as rare as paragangliomas, which statistics indicate as one in 300,000 cases per year in the population. In the US, about 800 new pheo cases are diagnosed each year.

Pheos can also occur in combination with other tumours, conditions and in some familial (inherited) syndromes, and a series of tests can ascertain if specific hormone levels are not normal.

It is also associated with VHL syndrome, a rare, autosomal dominant genetic condition in which haemangioblastomas (blood vessel growths) are found in the cerebellum, spinal cord, and retina.

Usually benign

According to MedicineNet.com, pheos may occur at any age, but usually appear in those between their 30s and 50s, and approximately 10% occur in children.

Although the majority of cases are benign, about 10% of extra-adrenal pheos end up being malignant, especially when they occur in parts of the body that don't contain chromaffin cells and are not part of the sympathetic nerve chain.

Those in the liver, lungs, or bones may be considered malignant with possible metastases to other organs.

"A malignant pheo is rare and very often, surgery is the only cure as other treatments don't work so well.

The problem is whether they (pheos) are recognised and referred appropriately," Dr Hew elaborates.

Scans such as MRI or CT scans will reveal any mass in the adrenal glands, and usually, surgery is recommended to remove the tumour(s).

In the case of malignant pheos, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be required after surgery.

"Pheo is rare and the symptoms fairly non-specific. If you're concerned, consult a doctor and request initial tests or referral to an endocrinologist," he advises.

Unfortunately, as with any other paraganglioma, there's no guarantee the tumour won't recur after surgery, and the only way to manage pheo effectively is long-term consistent follow-up care.

Related story:

Dealing with the unseen

Dealing with the unseen

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

WHEN that many doctors tell you there's nothing wrong even though you feel quite unwell, you begin to seriously doubt yourself. One doctor even suggested that perhaps Annie Ling should see a psychologist.

"At one stage, I told my husband I didn't want to see any more doctors as they would just dismiss me.

"I've always felt not right. I would feel hyper, with lots of energy, yet I constantly felt tired and drained. I needed short naps, after which I could actively multi-task," says the 46-year-old project trainer.

Since her 20s, Ling says she has had symptoms, but general physicians often put it all down to stress and prescribed rest.

"I was particularly sensitive to all things new. By that I mean the smell of new paint, the inside of a new car, fresh leather seats, newly renovated rooms.

"I would get nauseous and suffer severe migraine," she explains.

No wonder doctors didn't understand her disposition. It didn't seem logical.

In 2003, she had bought a new car, and unknowingly, this brought on a slew of new physical problems. Ling was admitted for high blood pressure, which again was attributed to stress.

At the hospital, while she lay horizontal, her pressure returned to normal. But when she attempted to get up, it spiked and she almost passed out.

Before this, she was already on hypertension drugs, but they didn't seem to work very well as she frequently experienced fluctuations in her blood pressure.

What was frustrating was that the check-ups showed normal blood pressure levels a few hours later.

As Malaysia didn't have adequate facilities then, her tests were sent to Australia. However, after her condition stabilised and she was discharged, Ling didn't bother to call back to find out the results.

"Interestingly, a clinic doctor did suggest once that it might be pheochromocytoma (pheo) three years ago. But it was very rare and I promptly forgot about it."

The following year, when her symptoms persisted, Ling did some research on the Internet and realised her symptoms typically matched that of pheo patients.

Finally, she saw an endocrinologist and an MRI revealed a tumour on her right adrenalin gland.

She sought a second opinion and this was confirmed by Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who was Putrajaya Hospital surgical department head and consultant breast and endocrine surgeon.

This was the turning point in her health as Dr Noor Hisham (who is currently the Health director-general) was one of the few surgeons in the country then who had experience dealing with pheo.

After a four-hour surgery in October 2004, the tumour was successfully removed.

Today, she is considered cleared of pheo. Initially, she was required to go for follow-up every three months. But now, it's only once a year.

For years, Ling had felt all alone in her physical distress, and it was frustrating trying to explain what she had to other people who probably thought it was all in her head.

"Thankfully, all my earlier symptoms were finally explained and resolved. But I still don't feel great as now I have low energy levels and hormonal imbalance. The doctor says it's the body trying to adjust, which has made me hypo instead," she adds.

"I've since learnt that one of the most telling signs are inconsistent blood pressure spikes. When that happens, the doctor should check for pheo," Ling concludes. – Patsy Kam

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