Lifestyle - The Korea Times

If Lumbar Spine Is Subluxated

By Phillip Yoo Contributing Writer Let's look at your lumbar vertebrae and the segments below the lumbars ― your sacrum and coccyx ― and what subluxations of these areas may cause. Let me first give you the definition of what ``chiropractic" and ``subluxation" exactly are, and how they can affect your health and well being. The Science : Since its beginning, chiropractic has been based on the scientific fact that the nervous system controls the function of every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body. While the brain is protected by the skull, the spinal cord is more vulnerable, covered by 24 moving vertebrae. When these bones lose their normal motion or position, they can irritate the nervous system. This disrupts the function of the tissues or organs these nerves control, and is called the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Chiropractic is the science of locating these areas of spinal malfunction, the art of correcting them and the philosophy of things natural. You have five lumbar vertebrae. When you have a subluxation of your lumbar vertebrae, certain ner

Mar 2, 2008

Lesson 136: Popular Openings (7)

By Nam Chi-hyung In modern Baduk, you must remember that the center is no less important than the corner or the side. Black's opening, starting with two stones located on the star-points, is one case where you can see that importance. Josekis are also being changed according to this new trend of valuing the center. However, Baduk cannot be played when wholly dependent on a single concept. Diagram 1 The sequence from 1 to 11 is the same as the one we learned in the previous lesson. Since the main purpose of Black's choosing this sequence is to build up an influence toward the center, it may seem to be a good idea to push with 12 to 18 instead of jumping with a knight's move at A. However, an influence in the center cannot stand by itself. Even though Black's wall on the lower side is flawless, it cannot exercise its full power when White comes in the right side with 19. Moreover, B remains still, as Black's weakness. Diagram 2 Let's go back to Black's knight's jump at 1. As you already know, White has to divide the right side and then Black connects at 3 to protect the weakne

Feb 28, 2008

How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Having clean and healthy teeth is very important, however, keeping them in good condition is quite difficult. The average Korean in 2004 had 3.25 cavities, with the number being the highest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Dr. Jung Hak of Family Dental Clinic says dental problems can be prevented by brushing properly and regularly. ``It all comes down to brushing properly. Although brushing for three minutes, up to three times day is important, what is more important is following the right steps,'' he said. Here are several tips on brushing teeth. 1. Choose the right toothpaste: Some toothpastes have a higher percentage of abrasive and polishing agents than others. If you have relatively white teeth, try to use ones with lower abrasive effects, as it could damage tooth enamel. 2. Choose the right toothbrush: A soft-bristled brush is recommended as the best type of brush for removing plaque from teeth. Also, brushes with small heads are preferable as they can reach into the hard-to-reach a

Feb 25, 2008

Lesson 135: Popular Openings (6)

By Nam Chi-hyung One of the dominant openings of the 1980's was that of the Japanese 9-dan professional Takemiya, which was played by everybody who liked the influential style. His opening, called the "Cosmic Style," is now remembered as a direct expression insisting on the importance of the center. Takemiya's contemporaries were not wholly convinced by his play at the time, and that allowed the player who claimed the center to do whatever he wanted. Nowadays, however, everybody knows the danger of letting your opponent gain the initiative in the center area, and therefore plays more shrewdly. Because of this, a simple joseki went through a big change. Diagram 1 Less than 20 years ago, White 2 against Black's approach at 1 was considered a bad move because it allows Black to take the corner up to 11. Players of the past thought the uncertainty of White's influence was inferior to Black's secure territory. On the contrary, players of the present appreciate the value of White's influence more than Black's territory. They think they should not give up an influence so easily to

Feb 21, 2008

367th Turtle Marathon

367th Turtle Marathon: Participants of the 367th Turtle Marathon, including Kim Kab-ui, center, president of the promotion council for Chungmuro Street of Cinema, and Lee Jong-seung, fourth from right, president of the Hankook Ilbo, cheer as they begin the seven-mile walk in front of the National Theater of Korea, near Mt. Namsan in northern Seoul, Sunday. Local residents also enthusiastically participated in a search for a photograph of Sungyemun, Korea's National Treasure No. 1. A set of two photos of the edifice _ before its recent destruction by fire _ by famed photographer Kim Joong-man is currently on sale. You can order it online at www.hakooki.com. /Korea Times

Feb 17, 2008

`Sleep Is All About Science’

By Park Si-soo Staff Reporter Many Koreans pay little attention to disturbances they experience during sleep, compared to other advanced countries. But a doctor here said some diseases that most people believe, are merely minor disorders during sleep can be developed into a gruesome attack to their health. ``Few are aware that sleep talking, teeth-clenching and snoring are diseases,'' said Han Jin-kyu, a sleep specialist and director of the Seoul Sleep Center in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul, in a recent interview with The Korea Times. ``Those symptoms are directly linked to myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, heart attack and even stroke.'' Noting that sleeping offers the brain and heart time to rest, Han said, ``During sleep, the heartbeat slows down and the brain almost stops working." ``But once an individual starts snoring, talking or grinding teeth, the brain turns from dormant to active, sending messages to wake up other organs including the heart. If this vicious circle continues, the heart and brain suffer from rest deprivation, inviting heart

Feb 17, 2008

Lesson 134: Popular Openings (5)

By Nam Chi-hyung We've seen some of the older variations of PO-2. Of course they are still valid, but a player should never stop innovating. Diagram 1 In the last lesson, Black answered with the one-space jump at A, which required him one more move at B to secure the territory on the upper side. What if Black plays the knight's move at 1 here? If White plays 4, the same as before, then, with 3, Black can keep the corner in sente by forcing White to answer. As you may guess, this result is quite satisfactory for Black. Diagram 2 Since White doesn't like the result of Diag.1, it is natural for him to change. As you see, he tries to prevent Black from playing 3 in Diag.3 by playing 2 before securing the side with 4. If Black answers with 3, then White can come back to 4. This final situation is more favorable for White than the one in Diag.1, because he has both the bigger territory on the side and a good move to squeeze Black with A on the upper side. Diagram 3 So now it's Black's turn, and the sequence from Black 3 to 5 is almost like a joseki.

Feb 14, 2008

Obesity Runs Through Blood, Not Mouth

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Many of us must have had the experience of grimacing over chubby thighs or waists, vowing to go on a stricter diet. However, a professor claims that much of our ``obesity'' is due to our genes, not the pizzas or hamburgers we ate last night. Prof. Hur Yoon-mi of Chonnam University studied 888 pairs of twins in Korea and hypothesizes that obesity is 80 percent related to genes and 20 percent to other environmental factors. The team recorded the sex, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of all subjects. The BMI is calculated by dividing one's weight (kilograms) by the square of one's height (meters). Those over 25 are classified as being obese, 18-22.9 as normal and less than 18 as underweight. Hur found that identical twins shared similar BMIs. Female and male identical twins had 88 percent and 83 percent chance of sharing similar BMIs, respectively, while non-identical twins had a respective 42 percent and 33 percent chance of sharing the same BMIs in the case of females and males. ``Each pair of twins had the same food and en

Feb 3, 2008

Lesson 133: Popular Openings (4)

By Nam Chi-hyung We've been through the famous Kobayashi Opening, and its variations and innovations in the three previous lessons. The one we are going to study in this lesson is as popular as the Kobayashi Opening, especially among amateur players, and has many variations as well. Unfortunately, however, it has no special title, so that I will call it PO-2 (Popular Opening 2) here. Diagram 1 The basic layout of PO-2 is composed of Black 1 to 7. With this, Black can develop the lower right corner and can also have the initiative on the right side, which helps him to plan ahead for the other parts of the board. What will follow is wholly dependent on whether White expands/approaches with A or B. Diagram 2 Until the 1980s, when the pace of the opening was not as rapid as the present, and when players preferred less aggressive moves than now, White approached with 1, and Black answered with a large knight's move. You may also be able to feel the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere of that time. After White 3, Black plays either A or B according to his mood.

Jan 31, 2008

Lesson 132: Popular Openings (3)

By Nam Chi-hyung We've studied the Kobayashi Opening with Black's low pincer. The variations derived from the high pincer will not be difficult to understand, since you already know what to consider when you evaluate the final position of a sequence of moves. Diagram 1 Here, Black plays the high pincer with 1, rather than the low one at A. But that's the only substantial change in the sequence up to 11, and the resulting situation is still quite favorable to Black, as he gets both the right and the lower sides. Obviously, this is what Black wants. Diagram 2 However, the same as his reaction against Black's low pincer, White can play the brilliant tiger's mouth with 6 instead of jumping toward the center with A. Owing to this move, White is not only able to gain territory along the right side, but also to provoke Black's territorial framework on the lower side by threatening Black's weakness at B. Diagram 3 As you've seen so far, whether with the low pincer or with the high, it is impossible for Black to have a better outcome than White after Whi

Jan 30, 2008

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