Should you invest in high-end condos? - Malaysia Property News

Posted on | December 22, 2012

By THE STAR

INVESTING your money in property is said to be one of the safest forms of investments.

However, like any form of investment, one can always choose to either ?play it safe? and get low, stable returns; or ?up the ante, take on high risks and get equally satisfactory gains.?

Investing in high-end condominiums is considered one sure-fire way to make great returns. However, given its risk appetite, it might not be suitable for everyone.

?It?s a very niche form of investment and ideally for the super rich or those with good spending power,? notes Standard Financial Planner Sdn Bhd?s Jeremy Tan.

A good investment?

According to Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) president Nixon Paul, a high-end apartment is more than just about premium pricing.

?It?s more than just about the interior. The criteria for a high-end condominium is defined based on its location, the finishes, managements fees and amenities that comes with it. And of course, there is a premium placed on all of these,? he says.

MIEA deputy president Siva Shanker believes that investing in high-end condominiums is a great form of investment ? if you have the money.

?High-end condominiums are good investments but they?re not for everyone as they?re very expensive!?

Still, investing in high-end condominiums is still a very popular investment option for many. According to Siva, take up for Bandar Raya Developments Bhd?s (BRDB) upcoming luxury condominium project, Serai, has been quite overwhelming in just a few short months.

?There has been very low-key marketing done and by the time the advertisements came out, there were a lot of bookings,? he says, adding that over 50% of the units have already been snapped up.

Located at Bukit Bandaraya, Kuala Lumpur, Serai comprises 121 condo units located in two 21-storey towers. Sold at between RM1,300 and RM1,500 per sq ft, the units range from 4,025 to 6,913 sq ft.

There will be two penthouses of 14,000 sq ft, priced between RM19mil and RM22mil.

Serai sits on six acres, the last piece of prime real estate in the Bukit Bandaraya area. Serai will have a gross development value of about RM900mil. According to reports, a majority of the buyers were Malaysians.

?The reason take-up for Serai has been so popular is because the location where the property is being built is one of the last large parcels of land available in the area, and people don?t want to lose out.?

Siva also points out that a selling point was the fact that the project?s developer, BRDB, had a good track record.

He also cites BRDB?s One Menerung high-end condominium development, which was priced at around RM600 per sq ft half a decade ago, but is now hovering at the RM1,200 per sq ft level.

?In five short years or less, you would have doubled your money! That?s a 20% increase on returns per year, which is fantastic!?

Should you invest?

MyFP Services Sdn Bhd managing director Robert Foo says a person who wants to invest in high-end condominiums should first evaluate his wealth position before ?taking the plunge?.

?A potential investor should first consider if the investment will take up a big part of his investment. If it?s too much, then it might not be a wise thing to do.?

Age is also something to consider, says Foo, who feels that investing in high-end condominiums should be for older investors with a stable income base.

?If you?re only 25 years old, then you shouldn?t be investing in this, unless you have rich parents,? he enthuses.

Foo adds that one should definitely conduct thorough research if they want to invest in high-end condominiums.

?If the market turns on you and you can?t sell later, then you?re in trouble!?

Nixon says those looking to gain returns on high-end apartments should take a long-term view on it and not hope to make quick gains overnight.

?It?s a good investment but you should only do it for the long-haul ? perhaps have a five-year view on it.?

Demographic shift

Siva, however, points out that the increasing level of affluence has seen more Malaysians buying into high-end condominiums ? not to invest, but to occupy.

?It?s a trend that is shifting. In the past, you had Malaysians buying low-rise properties but today many are buying condominiums, especially high-end ones, in light of the fact that we are becoming more westernised and affluent.?

He also notes that many expatriates in the past that used to live in high-end condominiums in the city are now living in the suburbs.

?This is to accommodate the international schools that are now being set up in the outskirts of the city,? he says.

- Malaysia Property News


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Source: http://www.malaysiapropertynews.net/2012/12/invest-high-end-condos.html

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MoD lost over 200 computers in the last year - An improvement ...

MoD lost over 200 computers in the last year -

The Ministry of Defence had 206 computers stolen in the past year, along with a number of BlackBerry phones and other mobile devices, department figures have revealed.

As well as the loss of computers, 34 BlackBerry devices went missing during the financial year 2011-12, as well as 24 other mobile devices.

The number of PCs and laptops being lost or stolen from the department is lower than the previous year, when 371 hardware items went missing. ?There was an increase in the number of mobiles that were unaccounted for, including BlackBerry devices used by civil servants and Ministers for departmental business. ?

MoD minister Mark Francois said in a statement that the department is looking at new ways to prevent the theft or loss of devices.

"The Ministry of Defence takes any theft of, loss of, attacks on, or misuse of, its information, networks and associated media storage devices very seriously and has robust procedures in place to mitigate against and investigate such occurrences," the Conservative MP said.?
"Furthermore, new processes, instructions and technological aids are continually being implemented to mitigate human errors and raise the awareness of every individual in the Department."

TechEye has approached the MoD to find out whether this includes the use of device tracking software, but is yet to receive a reply. ??

Francois added that there has been no reason to believe that any sensitive information has been accessed as a result of the theft or loss of IT equipment.

"Following thorough investigations, the Joint Security Co-ordination Centre has not received any evidence that demonstrates that the information has been compromised," ?he said.

"A significant number of the incidents involve information that had been encrypted to government standards and, while the data was lost, the chance of compromise of encrypted information is deemed to be minimal," Francois said.

Source: http://news.techeye.net/business/mod-lost-over-200-computers-in-the-last-year

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Still time to dodge the cliff, Obama, Boehner say

President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff negotiations at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Hopes for avoiding the "fiscal cliff" that threatens the U.S. economy fell Friday after fighting among congressional Republicans cast doubt on whether any deal reached with President Barack Obama could win approval ahead of automatic tax increases and deep spending cuts kick in Jan. 1. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Barack Obama speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, joined by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., left, speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff negotiations at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Hopes for avoiding the "fiscal cliff" that threatens the U.S. economy fell Friday after fighting among congressional Republicans cast doubt on whether any deal reached with President Barack Obama could win approval ahead of automatic tax increases and deep spending cuts kick in Jan. 1. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., meets with reporters about the fiscal cliff negotiations at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. She is joined by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., left, and Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn, D-S.C., right. Hopes for avoiding the "fiscal cliff" that threatens the U.S. economy fell Friday after fighting among congressional Republicans cast doubt on whether any deal reached with President Barack Obama could win approval ahead of automatic tax increases and deep spending cuts kick in Jan. 1. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(AP) ? With Congress in gridlock and stocks taking a fall, President Barack Obama issued a stern summons to lawmakers Friday to pass legislation to prevent year-end fiscal cliff tax increases on millions and avoid an imminent expiration of benefits for the long-term unemployed.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner said Obama himself must give more ground to reach an agreement. He added, "How we get there, God only knows."

Congress was shutting down, and Obama was headed to Hawaii to join his family for the holidays. But both men indicated they'd be back working to beat the fast-approaching Jan. 1 deadline with an agreement between Christmas and New Year's.

One day after House anti-tax rebels torpedoed Boehner's 'Plan B' legislation because it would raise rates on million-dollar-earners, Obama said he still wants a bill that requires the well-to-do to pay more. "Everybody's got to give a little bit in a sensible way" to prevent the economy from pitching over a recession-threatening fiscal cliff, he said.

He spoke after talking by phone with Boehner ? architect of the failed House bill ? and meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Boehner's office quickly issued a statement saying the Ohio Republican intends to return to the Capitol after Christmas "ready to find a solution that can pass both houses of Congress." At the same time, spokesman Brendan Buck said, "we remain hopeful he (Obama) is finally ready to get serious about averting the fiscal cliff."

At the White House, Obama projected optimism as he struggled to deal with the wreckage of weeks of failed negotiations and political maneuvering. "So call me a hopeless optimist, but I actually still think we can get it done," he said of an elusive deal.

The president spoke at the end of a day in which stocks tumbled and congressional leaders squabbled as the fiscal cliff drew implacably closer.

Boehner spoke in the morning, describing the increasingly tangled attempts to beat the Jan. 1 deadline and head off the perilous combination of across-the-board tax hikes and deep spending cuts.

Obama spoke shortly before a scheduled departure to join his family in Hawaii for Christmas, but in an indication of the importance of the issue, he told reporters he would be returning to the White House next week.

He said that in his negotiations with Boehner, he had offered to meet Republicans halfway when it came to taxes, and "more than halfway" toward their target for spending cuts.

He said he remains committed to working toward a goal of longer-term deficit reduction, but in the meantime he said quick action is needed to keep taxes from rising for tens of millions.

"Averting this middle class tax hike is not a Democratic responsibility or a Republican responsibility. With their votes, the American people have decided that government is a shared responsibility," he said, referring to a Congress where power is divided between the two parties.

"We move forward together or we don't move forward at all," he added.

Progress was invisible one day after House Republican rebels thwarted Boehner's plan to prevent tax increases for all but the nation's million-dollar earners. And while neither House is expected to meet again until after Christmas, officials in both parties said there was still time to prevent the changes from kicking in with the new year.

Yet they pointedly disagreed which side needed to make the first move.

"It's time for the speaker and all Republicans to return to the negotiating table," said Senate Democratic leader Reid.

He said that, for now, Boehner should allow a vote on legislation that would block all tax increases except for individuals making more than $200,000 and couples making $250,000 ? the position that Obama carried through his successful campaign for re-election.

Reid said it would pass the House with votes from lawmakers from both parties, and, separately, some Democrats said it was possible similar legislation may yet be launched in the Senate.

Moments later, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Democrats had "spent all day yesterday defeating" the legislation in the House ? even though Boehner himself said it had been deep-sixed by GOP opposition.

Countering Reid's offer, McConnell said the Senate should pass legislation extending tax cuts at all income levels and requiring a comprehensive overhaul of the tax code. Beyond that, he said, "''Look: It's the president's job to find a solution that can pass Congress. He's the only one who can do it."

Rhetoric aside, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 121 points in what analysts said was a reaction to the events in the capital.

The developments marked yet another baffling turn in a week that began with news that Obama and Boehner had significantly narrowed their differences on a plan to erase the cliff. Both were offering a cut in taxes for most Americans, an increase for a relative few and cuts of roughly $1 trillion in spending over a year. Also included was a provision to scale back future cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients ? a concession on the president's part as much as agreeing to higher tax rates was for the House speaker.

GOP officials said some senior Republicans balked at the emerging terms.

Boehner stepped back and announced what he called Plan B, legislation to let tax rates rise on incomes of $1 million or more while preventing increases for all other taxpayers.

Despite statements of confidence, he and his lieutenants decided late Thursday they were not going to be able to secure the votes needed to pass the measure in the face of opposition from conservatives unwilling to violate decades-old party orthodoxy never to raise tax rates.

Officials said as many as two dozen rank-and-file Republicans had made it clear they would oppose the bill, more than enough to send it to defeat given unanimous Democratic opposition.

At his Friday morning news conference several hours later, Boehner dismissed suggestions that he was concerned the turn of events could cost him his speakership.

"No, I am not," he said.

"While we may have not been able to get the votes last night to avert 99.81 percent of the tax increases, I don't think ? they weren't taking that out on me," Boehner said of the Republican rank and file. "They were dealing with the perception that somebody might accuse them of raising taxes."

Boehner also said that last Monday he had told Obama he had submitted his bottom line proposal.

"The president told me that his numbers ? the $1.3 trillion in new revenues, $850 billion in spending cuts ? was his bottom line, that he couldn't go any further."

That contradicted remarks by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, who said on Thursday that Obama has "never said either in private or in public that this was his final offer. He understands that to reach a deal it would require some further negotiation. There is not much further he could go."

___

Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor, Alan Fram and Jim Kuhnhenn contributed to this story.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-21-Fiscal%20Cliff/id-ad5e186ec9bc48e9b113e6af3e8f2329

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Cheese: Not as newfangled as we thought

Researchers have linked ancient milk residue (thousands of years-old) to early forms of cheese-making. The scientists say this research provides new insights into the human diet and food production technologies.?

By Staff,?Reuters / December 14, 2012

This is a file photo of a street vendor selling regional smoked cheese 'oscypek ' in Zakopane, Poland. Little Miss Muffet could have been separating her curds and whey from the sixth millennium B.C., according to a new study that finds the earliest solid evidence of cheese-making.

AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File

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Scientists have found the earliest evidence of prehistoric?cheese-making from a study of 7,500-year-old pottery fragments that are perforated just like modern cheese?strainers.

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Milk production and dairy processing allowed early farmers to produce food without slaughtering precious livestock, and making cheese?turned milk into a less perishable food that was more digestible for a population who at the time would have been intolerant to the lactose contained in milk.

Researchers from the?University of Bristol in Britain, with colleagues in the?United States?and?Poland, analyzed fatty acids embedded in prehistoric pottery from the Polish region of Kuyavia, and found they had been used to separate milk into fat-rich curds for?cheese and lactose-containing whey.

"The presence of milk residues in sieves ... constitutes the earliest direct evidence for?cheese-making," said M?lanie Salque from?Bristol, one of the authors of the research, which was published in?the journal Nature.

Peter Bogucki, another researcher involved in the work, said: "Making cheese?allowed them to reduce the lactose content of milk, and we know that, at that time, most of the humans were not tolerant to lactose."

Milk residues have been found at ancient sites up to 8,000 years old in?Turkey?and?Libya, but there was no evidence that the milk had been processed into cheese.

Until now, the earliest evidence of?cheese-making came from depictions of milk processing in murals several thousand years younger than the pottery fragments.

The researchers believe other vessels found in the same region were used for other specific purposes. Jars lined with beeswax were probably for storing water, and pottery containing the remnants of carcass fats was probably used for cooking meat.

"It is truly remarkable, the depth of insights into ancient human diet and?food processing technologies?these ancient fats preserved in archaeological ceramics are now providing us with," said?Richard Evershed, who heads the?Bristol?team.

(Reporting by Chris Wickham; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/aq_9_MRUalU/Cheese-Not-as-newfangled-as-we-thought

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A Fascinating Gun Violence Study - Pilant's Business Ethics | Pilant's ...

001A gun violence study from a European perspective.

This is an excerpt from a study done about gun violence in the Balkans. I found it largely by accident and it was insightful, enjoyable reading. Most academic writing is barely penetrable. This is lively and interesting. An academic dealing with gun issues, in particular criminal justice, will find this interesting reading if only for the summary of Eastern European gun laws in the appendix. It is a very fine example of social science research.

James Pilant

From the Introduction:

This study is based on the premise that culture is not static but is constantly evolving and changing and it is not
just a product of past traditions but develops and is reinterpreted as society changes. This report will focus on
?culture? to mean a society?s particular set of values, norms ? both social and legal ? and meanings that render
an action or thought acceptable and legitimate. Guns are not separable from the cultural environment in which
they are acting and this means that the prevailing norms and values that render certain gun ownership and use
acceptable must be understood within a geographical, political, historical and socio-economic context. ?Gun
culture? lacks an established definition and is subject to continued debate, so this report will take ?gun culture?
to be the cultural acceptance of gun ownership in situations where the principal motivation or justification for
it is not for utilitarian or economic reasons but because their society has a set of values and norms that deem
it acceptable behaviour. A simple example would be when a man carries a gun, primarily not for hunting or for
protection, but because his ?culture? interprets his behaviour as a sign of masculinity and status.

From later in the same study:

Notions of anarchy strongly influenced 18th and 19th century folklore. Tales abound about the revolutionary
movements of the Balkan Christians such as, the formation of rebel groups, dangerous trips to remote towns to
buy guns and ammunition, heroes being chased by the enemy or engaged in long battles. The ending usually
either laments the tragic deaths of the heroes or celebrates victory over the Turkish forces. Typically these
heroic epics are exaggerated tales about the beauty, physical strength, honour and courage of the heroes. They
are about men trying to prove their worthiness to be the leader of a haidouk (rebel) group, showing off their
marksmanship, horse riding and sword fighting skills. People glorified haidouks as saviours who could protect
them from attacks by the Turks or bandits. Stories and songs about the haidouk recount how the groups acquired
weapons, the struggles for leadership and the battles they fought. They often describe haidouk everyday life,
making contrasts between their joyful, romantic daily routines and the cold winters when the haidouks hid their
guns and returned to their homes.

Here is the link to the full pdf file, so you can read the study in its entirety ? (To my shock, after careful reading I discovered I was writing about two different studies ? the one quoted is list first and the other on domestic violence is afterwards. They are both wonderful. JP)

http://www.seesac.org/uploads/studyrep/Gun_Culture_FINAL.pdf

?

http://www.seesac.org/uploads/studyrep/Domestic_Violence.pdf

Here is a link to the web site where I found the study, mappinggunculture.

?

Source: http://pilantsbusinessethics.com/2012/12/20/a-fascinating-gun-violence-study/

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Clinical Analysis of203Cases with Endometrial Carcinoma in ...

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Cancer Research

[Abstract]

Objective?To analyze retrospectively the clinical information of203patients with Endometrial Carcinoma in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei MedicalUniversity.The patients are divied into two groups for comparetion.Toinvestigate the clinical pathology,diagnosis and prognostic factors ofEndometrial Carcinoma in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.Methods?The clinicopathologic factors and outcomes of203patientswith Endometrial Carcinoma? who underwent surgical treatment andconfirmed by pathology?from Sep29?2006to March2?2009in the FourthHospital of Hebei Medical University?were reviewed and analyzed.All caseswere follew-up visited and the last time for visition was March3?2012.192patients completed the follow-up visition was94.6%.The203patients weredivided into two groups for analyzing the clinical pathology?diagnosis andprognostic factors of Endometrial Carcinoma.Statistioal analysis was performed using SPSS18.0softwarepackage.Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survivalrates.Evaluated the prognostic factors by univariate and multivariateanalysis.Univariate analysis and the comparison between the survival rateswas estimated by log-rank test.Multiple regression analysis were assessed byCox proportional hazards model.Enumeration data were compared with ?2test.A statistically significant difference was indicated by P?0.05.Results?1There was difference between the median age of the premenopausal was47.82?6.79years old and the post menopausal was59.03?6.47years old.2There were no sigenificant differences in pathological type?histologicalgrade?surgical-pathological staging,tumor stage and size?myometrialinvasion?ovarian metastasis?lymphovascular space involvement?lymph resection?lymph node metastasis?treatment between the premenopausaland menopausal groups.3The cervical metastasis rates between the premenopausal and menopausalwere38.9%?24.8%which was significant difference.4There was sigenificant differences in surgical approach between thepremenopausal and menopausal groups.5Divided into two groups according to the menopause?the3-year survivalrates after treatment were91%?80%which in no difference.6Univariate analysis revealed that age?pathological type?histological grade?surgical pathological ataging?myometrial invasion?cervical metastasis?ovarian metastasis?lymph ovascular space involvement?lympy nodemetastasis? treatment were significantly associated with the overall-survival.7Multivariate analysis revealed that surgical-pathological staging?lymphovascular space involvement were the independent prognosticfactors associated with the overall-survival.8The1-year?2-year?3-year overall survival rates after treatment were100%?99%?85%?respectively.Conclusion?1The age of endometrial cancer is getting much more younger.In thediagnosis and treatment process should pay much attention.For patientswith abnormal vaginal bleeding?either menopausal or not?should be earlytreatment.2There is a long time interval in the premenopausal patients from theclinical symptoms to treatment.3In this study,menopausal does not exist as a prognostic factor.4Age,pathological type?histological grade?surgical-pathological ataging?myometrial invasion?cervical metastasis?ovarian metastasis?lymphovascular space involvement?lympy node metastasis?treatment weresignificantly associated with the overall-survival.5Surgical-pathological staging?lymphovascular space involvement were the independent prognostic factors associated with the overall-survival.

Title: Clinical Analysis of203Cases with Endometrial Carcinoma in Premenopause and Postmenopause Patients

Category: Ovarian Cancer

Filename: Clinical Analysis of203Cases with Endometrial Carcinoma in Premenopause and Postmenopause Patients.pdf

Pages: 176

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Source: http://www.rescancer.com/ovarian-cancer/72676.html

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Bank Of Japan Adds To Easing, Cites Uncertainty

The Bank of Japan announced Thursday it would add about 10 trillion yen ($119 billion) to its asset-purchase program, while keeping its policy interest-rate target at 0 to 0.1%, citing "a high degree of uncertainty concerning Japan's economy." The announcement, coming at the end of the central bank's regular policy meeting, briefly sent Tokyo stocks tumbling and the yen rising, only to regain their previous levels minutes later, as investors digested the bank's statement.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/node/953244

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Chinese ad firm to leave US stock market in buyout

BEIJING (AP) -- A Chinese advertising company says it has agreed to be taken private and removed from U.S. stock markets in the biggest transaction of its kind for China.

Focus Media Holding Ltd. said Thursday it will be bought by a group that includes its chairman, private equity firm Carlyle Group and Chinese investors. The transaction values the company at $3.7 billion.

Focus Media announced plans for the change in August and complained U.S. markets were undervaluing its shares. The company was formed in 2003 and operates electronic advertising displays in elevators, grocery stores and other locations.

Several other Chinese companies have withdrawn from U.S. stock exchanges this year following accusations of improper accounting by some and a dispute between Beijing and Washington about who can oversee their China-based auditors.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-ad-firm-leave-us-034618919.html

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Regular family meals together boost kids' fruit and vegetable intake

Dec. 20, 2012 ? Regular family meals round a table boosts kids' fruit and vegetable intake, and make it easier for them to reach the recommended five portions a day, indicates research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of five 80g portions of fruit and vegetables to promote good health and stave off serious disease and obesity in later life.

And the Department of Health in England has spent around ?80 million on campaigns attempting to boost the nation's fruit and vegetable intake and improve dietary habits.

But consumption still falls below recommended levels -- and not just in the UK -- but also in much of Europe, the US and Australia, say the authors.

The home environment is likely to be a key factor, because this is where dietary habits are developed and cues taken from parents who exert the most influence on the quality of a child's diet, they add.

They therefore looked at the diets of more than 2000 primary school children, attending 52 different schools across London. English was a second language for almost half (46%) the kids, whose average age was eight.

Dietary intake at home was assessed using a validated Child and Diet Evaluation Tool (CADET) questionnaire, filled in by parents. CADET uses age and gender specific food portion sizes to calculate nutritional intake and lists 115 separate types of food and drink, divided into 15 categories.

Parents were also asked to complete a home food diary, detailing how often they ate meals together as a family and their own levels of fruit and vegetable consumption.

The CADET analysis showed that, on average, the children ate 293g a day of fruit and vegetables, equivalent to 3.7 portions a day. But those who ate family meals together consumed the most.

Among the 1516 children whose parents completed the home food diaries, those who sometimes ate family meals together ate 95g more fruit and vegetables every day than those who never ate together.

But children who always ate family meals together ate an average of 125g more every day.

Other factors also helped. Children whose parents ate fruit and vegetables every day also ate 88g more, on average, than those whose parents rarely or never did so.

Children whose parents always cut up their fruit and vegetables ate around 44g more than those whose parents did not. And intake increased by 5g for every additional type of produce available in the house.

But in the final analysis, those children who always ate family meals together had higher nutrient intake than those whose families sometimes ate together (4.6 portions) and those whose families never did so (3.3 portions).

And these children reached their recommended five a day quota.

"The results from this study illustrate a positive health message for parents, which could improve their own dietary habits and their children's," write the authors. "The key message..is for families to eat fruit and vegetables together at a mealtime."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. M. S. Christian, C. E. L. Evans, N. Hancock, C. Nykjaer, J. E. Cade. Family meals can help children reach their 5 A Day: a cross-sectional survey of children's dietary intake from London primary schools. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 2012; DOI: 10.1136/jech-2012-201604

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KAipfKFDH58/121220202921.htm

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Boost Mobile to start throttling data speeds in late January

DNP Boost Mobile to begin throttling data speeds in late January

Boost Mobile announced today that starting on or around January 20th it will begin throttling data speeds for its "Monthly Unlimited" customers who exceed 2.5GB of data use. Once this threshold is broken, the company will reduce users' download speeds to a snail-like 256kbps until they enter a new billing cycle. Earlier this year, Boost's sister carrier Virgin started throttling its customers under identical terms. Both companies operate on Sprint's network which currently offers "true" unlimited data to its postpaid subscribers. Boost claims that this change will affect a small percentage of its customers, but perhaps it should consider adopting a new campaign slogan when these changes go live. How about "Restricted: It's the new unlimited"?

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Via: The Verge

Source: Boost Mobile (Facebook)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/boost-mobile-throttling-data-january/

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