A DEDICATION TO MY MOTHER

                                   1930 -2012

My dear sweet mother, 
   It's hard to find another,
     So loving and so caring.
       You made my heart sing.

          You taught me right from wrong,
             How to be brave and strong,
                Both in my heart and in my mind.
                  Foremost, how to love and be kind.

                      So, let me thank you now,
                        And lay down this solemn vow,
                          To remember your words well,
                             Never mind heaven and hell!  

THE UNEASY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL AND HIS SOCIETY

Individualism has now reached its peak!  Today, even in the few truly repressive societies still in existence, it is becoming increasingly possible for one to live an individual existence free from the conventions and restrictions of the laws and practices of the geographical country one may happen to find oneself in.  This is facilitated by the established notion of globalization and fed by the ubiquity of Internet access.  In the individual's mind, the concept of nation and state is fading fast, to be replaced by the notion of global citizenship or, in fact, non-citizenship.    

So, superficially, modern conditions seem to have paved the final victory of the liberals over the socialists. With Adam Smith's endorsement, the individual can afford to consciously ignore the common good in the pursuit of his own self-interest.  If the theory of the 'invisible hands' cannot be taken too seriously, then the next best thing to do is to take full advantage of it!  Turning the tables, the individual is now bigger than his society, with the latter becoming merely a vehicle for fulfilling his quest for self-gratification.  So, instead of society existing for an individual to maintain his dignity and self-worth, society has become a battleground for expanding narcissistic monstrosities.  Everywhere, societies are under attack in the guise of individual rights and freedom.

Sentimentalists like me can only recall with fondness the intellectual constructs of not too long ago, the social contract theories that purportedly examined, for all of posterity, the origin of society and the state's legitimate authority over the individual.

To remind ourselves why ,even today, I think an individual should still rationally give up his natural freedom in exchange for the benefits of political order, let's examine two classical works:

Englishman Thomas Hobbes'(1588-1679) idea of Leviathan published in 1600 is a philosophical attempt  to discover the natural laws of political obligations  independent of religion. Based on his mechanistic view of the universe, he posited that in a state of nature, ungoverned human beings are in a state of equal insecurity in the struggle for survival with a desire for glory. No justice nor morality  is present to provide the satisfactions of civilization, but in seeking peace instead of war, individual rights are mutually surrendered in a binding contract for everyone. This contract is enforced by the transfer of all power to a single entity - the sovereign. The assumed absolute power of the sovereign forbids any exemption from its justice.

In contrast, the Swiss, Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) wrote in The Social Contract in 1762 that humans in the state of nature are amoral and only motivated by appetite, instinct and the need for self-preservation.  Yet, people can potentially  be good and civilization can be a corrupting influence. To address his own lamentation that 'man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains', he hoped to establish a new conception of political obligation and state legitimacy where humans can be both ruled and yet free - free to exercise moral choice. This is achieved by making the people as a community jointly sovereign, but at the same time all are subject to the law. The law will not serve only individual rights, but the common good as dictated by the general will. The general will is not the will of the majority nor the sum of the wills of self-interested subjects, but the result of group decision-making by moral and civic-minded citizens.

In re-examining either case, it makes us realize again that we need society to provide stable, secure, varied and favorable conditions for the development of our full potential for happiness and self-fulfillment.  So, in the final analysis, an individual is an essential part of his society and society provides the necessary platform for his very survival.

THE GREAT SOOTHING MUSIC OF 
DAN SIEGEL

Life's problems are great and many: divorce, separation, disagreements, death of a loved one, illness, money trouble, work stress, anxiety about your children, etc ...

Sometimes despite the utmost application of our minds and our wills, these problems can prove frustrating and seemingly insurmountable.  These are the times when I find that listening to Dan Siegel's music can soothe our frayed nerves and put us in a more positive frame of mind.

This is a selection of his great music.  Thank you, Mr Siegel!

 

METFORMIN AS AN EFFECTIVE ANTI-CANCER DRUG

Imagine that there is an effective new anti-cancer drug tomorrow that is cheap, proven to be safe and widely available in any GP clinic because it's been in use for more than 50 years in the treatment of another medical condition (type II diabetes).  Imagine that its side-effects are usually mild and self-limited (epigastric discomfort, nausea and diarrhoea).  Imagine that its purported worst-case side-effect, lactic acidosis, though serious, is rare and its causation by the drug has been put in serious doubt by the available evidence.  This sounds like a long-awaited dream for cancer sufferers everywhere.

Yet, increasingly, that dream appears destined to become reality!  Metformin, a natural product of the French lilac, is set to become The Next Big Thing in our battle against cancer.

THEORETICAL POSSIBILITIES

Metformin can act in three ways:

(1)  Indirect insulin-mediated mechanism

Through the mediation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), metformin suppresses gluconeogenesis in the liver, thereby lowering the level of circulating insulin levels.  This leads to decreased binding of insulin to insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors (IR/IGF-1R) that are present on cancer cells.  This reduces stimulation of the Ras and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathways.  This results in the inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and reduced cancer-cell proliferation but increased tendency of cancer-cell apoptosis (cell death).

(2) Direct mechanism

Metformin may also inhibit the complex-I of the respiratory chain in the mitochondria.  This results in increased levels of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and increased activation of AMPK through the mediation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1).  This leads to downstream inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and decreased protein production, reduced cancer-cell proliferation and increased apoptosis.

It is already known that the time-proven measures of caloric restriction, exercise, weight loss and bariatric surgery are effective ways in preventing cancer by activating AMPK, the crucial cellular energy sensor and master switch.  Metformin merely mimics their effect.

(3) Several additional anti-proliferative mechanisms independent of the AMPK energy-sensing pathway.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

Over the last 5 years, supporting scientific evidence for metformin's great promise has been gathering.

(1) Retrospective epidemiological analysis, have shown that metformin use in diabetics had significantly reduced their rates of cancer incidence and mortality including for cancers of the breast, colorectum, pancreas, lung and liver.  It also may have reversed the increased cancer risk associated with the the use of insulin injections.  Better clinical outcomes were also found in those already diagnosed with cancer.

(2)  Clinical studies also showed metformin use induced a significantly increased pathologic complete response (pCR) rate from neoadjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy, a lower rate of metastasis and cancer-related death and a reduction in proliferation and aberrant crypt foci in the rectal epithelium of patients without diabetes who have had previous colorectal polyps.

(3)  In-vitro preclinical research with metformin demonstrated increased apoptosis of melanoma skin cancer cells in culture media in 96 hours.  In-vivo research showed that metformin prevented colorectal tumors in laboratory animals, suppressed intestinal polyp growth in mice predisposed to that disease, protected mice from developing lung cancers after exposure to a potent tobacco carcinogen, and reduced the proliferation of cancer-prone breast cells in mice.

All it needs now is an authoritative endorsement from the medical community.

HOW TO PREVENT CANCER

According to statistics from Singapore's Ministry of Health, cancer is the Number 1 principal cause of death, accounting for 29.3%, 29.3% and 28.5% of all deaths in Singapore in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.  Yet, it has been estimated that as much as 70% of all known causes of cancers are lifestyle-related and therefore potentially avoidable.

Here is a list of recommendations that may help you avoid developing this dreadful disease:

1.  Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

2.  Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.

3.  Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables (2 portions each daily), choose whole grains, snack on moderate amounts of nuts, drink green tea regularly, avoid red meats, reduce your intake of sugar and salt and minimize consuming baked, fried and roasted foods (to avoid the carcinogen acrylamide).

4.  Drink plenty of plain water (about 2 litres daily).

5.  Exercise regularly (for example, brisk walking for 30 minutes five times a week).

6.  Abstain from high-risk sexual behavior.

7.  Control your exposure to direct sunlight.

8.  Avoid unnecessary x-rays and long-term post-menopausal hormone-replacement therapy.

9.  Ensure that you have adequate sleep (about 6 to 8 hours daily).

10.  Avoid stress and adopt a positive outlook on life.

11.  Immunize yourself against Hepatitis B and the Human Papilloma Virus.

12. Screen for early cancers as follows:

a.  Individuals aged 50 years and above - screen for colorectal cancer by the Faecal Occult Blood Test yearly and by colonoscopy once every 10 years.

b. Women aged 25 - 69 years who have ever had sexual intercourse - screen for cervical cancer by the Pap Smear every 3 years.

c.  Women aged 50 - 69 years - screen for breast cancer by mammogram x-rays once every 2 years.

THE GREAT INSTRUMENTAL HITS OF THE 70S

Am I the only guy who appreciates instrumental hits of the Seventies, the Golden Pop Era?  Here are some samples to help you make up your mind:

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR INTELLIGENCE 

24 HOURS A DAY


1.  Wake up early and eat a good breakfast.


2.  Read really challenging books especially those on philosophy, science or politics.


3.  Set aside a quiet time for thinking and reflection.


4.  Start off your work day with an optimistic and idealistic attitude.


5.  Eat highly nutritious foods like whole grains, fish, fruits, nuts and vegetables but less calories for lunch and dinner.


6.  Whether in school or at work, reduce stress in your life.


7.  Get outside your comfort zone, have an open and inquiring mind and interact with intelligent people from different cultures and backgrounds.


8.  Minimize time spent on TV, handphone, iPad or the Internet.


9.  Exercise regularly.


10. Take short 10-minute naps when drowsy in the day and sleep early at night.

CLASSIC MORAL DILEMMAS

1. The Fat Man Version of The Footbridge Case

Imagine that there is a runaway driverless trolley hurtling down a track towards five trapped people who are unable to move away.  Upon impact they will all surely die.  It so happens that you are on a bridge under which the trolley will pass before hitting the five; and seeing what is happening you know you can stop it by throwing a heavy weight in front of it. You suddenly realize that there is a fat man standing beside you and if you push him over the bridge and onto the track, you may kill him but you will save five people. Should you do it?

2. The Sidetrack Case

This is a variation of the above Footbridge Case.  In this version, you see the same runaway trolley hurtling down a main track towards the five trapped people, but you find that there is a lever in front of you with which you can divert the trolley onto a dead-end side-track.  Unfortunately, there is a trapped individual at the end of the side-track who will surely die if the trolley is to hit him instead.  Should you pull the lever?  

Possible moral responses      

1.  Everyday intuitive moral sense

Empirical research showed that most people will object to pushing the fat man over the bridge onto the track thereby killing him even though it saves five people.  Yet, fewer people will consider it morally wrong to pull the lever to divert the trolley away from the five trapped people, but put it onto the sidetrack thereby killing that one trapped person at the end of it.  Though, the end result is the same - one person killed, but five people saved - the moral responses are diametrically different.  It is difficult to explain the contrasting moral judgements.  Is it because pushing the fat man is deemed to be a direct threatening action to the fat man and therefore objectionable; whereas pulling the lever is merely to deflect danger from trapped people.  Or is pushing the fat man objectionable because killing someone is worse that merely letting him die? 

2. Consequentialism

This principle states that we ought to take the action that leads to the best possible overall result. According to this theory, saving five people by sacrificing one ( a net saving of 4 people) is morally recommended and therefore it makes no difference whether you push the fat man or pull the lever to achieve this objective. This seems to be in conflict with our everyday intuitive moral sense.  So, is our everyday intuitive moral sense unreliable, or is consequentialism of little merit?

3.  The deontological Doctrine of Doing and Allowing (DDA)

This principle states that it takes more to justify doing harm than to justify allowing harm. It recommends that it is wrong to commit an act of killing, but not wrong to refrain from an act of saving. Clearly, pushing the fat man violates the DDA.  Yet, even pulling the lever to divert the trolley onto the side-track is also a positive action that will kill that one man who is on that track.  So, the DDA is also in conflict with our everyday intuitive moral sense.

4.  The deontological Doctrine of Double Effect (DDE)

The DDE posits that it takes more to justify intended harms, whether as ends or means, than to justify unintended ones.  So, it is morally wrong to push the fat man because we kill him as a means of saving five others, whereas it is not wrong to pull the lever because our intention is only to divert the trolley away from the five trapped people.  The fact that, in doing so, we have caused the death of the one individual at the end of the side-track is an unintended side effect which is not morally reprehensible.  Our everyday intuitive moral sense seems to be consistent with the DDE at least when applied to the above moral dilemmas.

Conclusions

Despite our diverse cultural differences across the globe, as a species, we seem to have quite a consistent everyday intuitive moral sense.  So, we can't ignore or dismiss it even if we are hard-pressed to rationalize it.  It may be wise to give sufficient weight to these snap moral judgements.

On the other hand, we should take into consideration the principles embodied in consequentialism, the DDA and the DDE in the more reflective moments of our moral lives.

HEATWAVE

Heatwave was a funk disco band who debuted in 1976 with the platinum album "Too Hot To Handle".  Subsequent albums, "Central Heating" (1977), "Hot Property" (1979), and "Candles" (1980) followed quickly.  American Johnnie Wilder Jr. with his trademark falsetto vocals was the soul of the band which included his brother Keith Wilder, Rod Temperton, Mario Mantese, Ernest "Bilbo Berger, Eric Johns and Roy Carter.  

In 1979, Johnnie Wilder Jr. became paralyzed from the neck down after a road traffic accident.  Though he remained as a co-producer of the band till his death in 2006, the popularity of the group waned along with his fortunes from 1980 onwards.

Yet, as suggested by their album titles, their music is hot till this day.  Here is a selection of some of their greatest songs:

MESSAGE FROM OLD GRANDPA

My sweet, little, innocent grandchild,

The world of knowledge is wide and wild.

Like a monster of excess proportion,

It often blocks your path and hinders your vision,

If so, feel no anguish and feel no fear.

Nor ever fight it with sword and spear.

But, steady your steps with your mind,

Just circle its neck with a rope you can find.  

Now, you can take your new pet out for a walk.

No longer the need for endless chatter and talk.

Thus tamed, it'll provide constant joy and pleasure,

By puzzlement and amusement in equal measure.

Let me introduce a friend for you to consider.

Is Einstein good enough, or do you want another?

Maybe, Newton, Da Vinci or even Hawking,

Each can be treated like a pal or a plaything!

So, when we lose our final mortal bets,

To the perfumed garden we will bring our pets,

I say let's release our ropes and let them banter,

While we sit together sharing our eternal laughter!