S'pore Scientists helps find tiniest fish

The newpaper, Thurs Jan 26, 2006

A Singapore fish expert has discovered the world's tinniest fish, which is also the tinniest creature on earth to possess a backbone. The matured female of this species can be as small as 7.9mm, which makes some fully grown adults of this carp species about as big as a large mosquito. This species of fish, called Paedocypris progenetica, can live for one to two years and are found in some areas of Sumatra and Sarawak, in the cool, deep waters of flowing forest streams. Being so tiny, females produce only one ripe egg at a time, which is equivalent of a human with an egg the size of a rock melon.

This article is really interesting. I find the discovery of such a fine, tiny creature so amazing. Also, the fact that a fellow singaporean, a singapore scientist, helped to find the fish shows that singaporeans are capable of accomplishing great things and that makes me feel happy and proud for my country.
On reading this article, i learnt many new and interesting things that i never would have known about had i not read this article, and so i am glad i did. The unique traits and characteristics of the Paedocypris prognetica really intrigues me. I was really surprised to read that this fish which has a transparent body, also has missing portions of skull which leave the brain exposed, that is something really shocking and new to me, it makes me find the fish really unique and drawn to it as i want to find out more about what other highly interesting and unusual traits the fish has.
In this age and time, where technolgy is so advanced and over millions of species have already been found, knowing that there are new species still being discovered makes me marvel at how wonderful nature can be. Who knows how many undiscovered magnificent creatures lie out there in our midst, waiting to be discovered, and the impact it would have on our ecosystem.

Friends are People who walk into your life while others walk out

Me and my new friends!!!

My best friend---Rauf:)

Hirohito's brother opposes idea of female monarchy

The Straits Times, Friday January 20, 2006
A Brother of Japan's wartime emperor Hirohito is opposed to the public calls to let a woman ascend the throne. Prince Takahito, 90,the only surviving brother of the late emperor, supports the views of his son Tomohito, the only prominent royal to go on record opposing female succession. In November last year, a government panel proposed to let females ascend the throne to solve the succession crisis in Japan, where no boy has been born to the royal family since 1965. Polls showed overwhelming support for female succession but Prince Tomohito sticks strongly by his decision ,which is against letting females succeed the throne. He even suggested that the Crown Prince be allowed to take concubines to produce a male heir.

Reading this article makes me feel angry that in this modern day and time, there are still people like Prince Takahito and his son, Prince Tomohito, who are prejudiced against women. Opposing the decision to allow for female succession clearly shows that Prince Takahito and Tomohito doubt a woman's capabilties and find them inferior to man. I can see no other reason why Prince Takahito and Prince Tomohito would oppose to having a female succesor for the throne other than that they thought better of boys and preferred them over girls. I know for a fact that it has always been a male who inherited the throne in Japan for many years, and maybe it is because of not wanting to break the tradition of having male heirs that caused Prince Hirohito's decision to oppose female successors. However, according to polls drawn, the public has shown their approval of having a female heir so why does Prince Hirohito still oppose the idea of female monarchy since the people are agreeable? It is known that Japanese are very loyal to tradition and culture which they follow strictly , that may be another reason for Prince Hirohito insisting on having a male heir. However sometimes rules are meant to be broken when neccessary, and since the royal family has no male heir, they should look to other sources and find alternative solutions, and not just cling onto the old way of doing things though it is no longer applicable.
In the past, man was seen as the dominant of the two sexes and usually made all the important decisions, while the woman's role was just to be a good wife and prepare good meals and to look after the husband and family. However times have changed, women now have more or less equalled men in the battle of the sexes. In today's modern era, women have even become presidents and top ranking ministers and officials, something no one would have ever believed possible in the past. We, women have come a long way to establish ourselves on the same level among the men, and it was not easy, we worked really hard to prove ourselves.
I believe that the issue of female monarchy must have taken a toll on the Crown Princess, Masako. With the royal family counting oh her to produce a male heir, Princess Masako must be under immense pressure most of the time. Furthermore, the suggestion of the Crown Prince taking in concubines must be really upsetting for Princess Masako. Itis not her fault that she could not produce a son for the royal family, and to have to share her husband with another woman because of that is really a cruel and unfair punishment she could be given.
All in all, i think that Prince Hirohito and Prince Tomohito's way of thinking is restricted and selfish. They only think about their own views on matters and want things done the way they think it should be. And since it has always been a male monarchy, they do not see how running the monarchy in a different way could be possible. Instead of opposing the idea of a female monarchy, Prince Hirohito and Prince Tomohito should spare a thought for the Crown Princess's feelings about the issue and the Crown Princess's daughter feelings of the issue when she grows up. In addition, they should also be more open-minded and try to accept the idea of a female monarchy since the people and other royals have already approved of the idea.

Juz an ordinary day...

HIHI!
Now's 2.38pm, i'm in school creating a blog for GP class, yay:) Before that i had pe, we did high jump, it was tiring but fun. I think all the jumping stretched me and made me grow 1cm taller, haha:)