UNDER THE SUN
Does the Singapore Government have a Psychic investigation unit?
Is it true that our Singapore Govt has a dept / unit that does
research/investigation on Psychic Abilities & has a team of Psychics
who help in military or crime investigation matters ? Which Dept / Unit
and where is it located ? What does the Dept / Unit do actually and what
are some reallife applications that have been carried out ? Where are
the Psychics sourced from (locally / overseas)?
We are unable to find any reports or news confirming that the
Singapore Government has a department or unit of psychics who will
help in military or crime investigation matters.
However, we have found a Straits Times article which might shed some light on how our police feels about using psychics to solve crimes. The following are excerpts from the article:
“While psychics have claimed to help police investigations everywhere from the United States to Malaysia, Singapore police are loath to turn to paranormal clues.”
“Retired senior detective Lim Beng Gee said psychics had never successfully helped the police solve a case in Singapore.”
“A senior police officer, who has been in the force for about 15 years, told The Straits Times: 'As far as I know, we do not get the help of mediums to look for missing persons or solve our cases - not now, not in the past, not ever.'”
The above is taken from the article “The police and the paranormal” by Chong Chee Kin & Esther Tan, Straits Times, 13 October 2008 (last retrieved from Factiva.com on 29Oct09).
The below are some suggested titles for your further reading too:
1) Paranormal claims : a critical analysis / edited by Bryan Farha
Contents:
The fine art of baloney detection / Carl Sagan -- Why smart people believe weird things / Michael Shermer -- Cold reading : how to convince strangers that you know all about them / Ray Hyman -- Sylvia Browne : psychic guru or quack? / Bryan Farha -- Deconstructing the dead / Michael Shermer -- Near-death experiences : in or out of body? / Susan Blackmore -- Number manipulation : the not "so spooky" Tim McVeigh / Bryan Farha -- Why bogus therapies often seem to work / Barry L. Beyerstein -- A close look at therapeutic touch / Linda Rosa ... [et al.] -- Chiropractic's dirty secret : neck manipulation and strokes / Stephen Barrett -- Magnet therapy : a skeptical view / Stephen Barrett -- The great dilution delusion / James Randi -- The case for and against astrology / Geoffrey Dean -- Looking up to logic / Bryan Farha -- Prayer and healing : the verdict is in and the results are null / Michael Shermer -- Benny Hinn : healer or hypnotist? / Joe Nickell -- John of God : ABC's Primetime Live special about a Brazilian "healer" falls far short of investigative journalism / James Randi -- Bigfoot at 50 : evaluating a half-century of Bigfoot evidence / Benjamin Radford.
Call No.: English 130 PAR
2) The ESP enigma : the scientific case for psychic phenomena / Diane Hennacy Powell.
Summary: Integrating concepts from physics, neuroscience, and other disciplines, Dr. Powell offers an insightful and intriguing explanation of ESP, provocatively claiming that the existence of psychic abilities expands the understanding and appreciation of consciousness.
Call No.: English 133.8 POW
3) Extraordinary knowing : science, skepticism, and the inexplicable powers of the human mind / Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer
Summary: In 1991, when her daughter's rare, hand-carved harp was stolen, Lisby Mayer's familiar world of science and rational thinking turned upside down. After the police failed to turn up any leads, a friend suggested she call a dowser-a man who specialized in finding lost objects. With nothing to lose-and almost as a joke-Dr. Mayer agreed. Within two days, and without leaving his Arkansas home, the dowser located the exact California street coordinates where the harp was found. Deeply shaken, yet driven to understand what had happened, Mayer began the fourteen-year journey of discovery that she recounts in this mind-opening, brilliantly readable book. Her first surprise: the dozens of colleagues whoʾd been keeping similar experiences secret for years, fearful of being labeled credulous or crazy. Extraordinary Knowing is an attempt to break through the silence imposed by fear and to explore what science has to say about these and countless other inexplicable phenomena. From Sigmund Freudʾs writings on telepathy to secret CIA experiments on remote viewing, from leading-edge neuroscience to the strange world of quantum physics, Dr. Mayer reveals a wealth of credible and fascinating research into the realm where the mind seems to trump the laws of nature. She does not ask us to believe. Rather she brings us a book of profound intrigue and optimism, with far-reaching implications not just for scientific inquiry but also for the ways we go about living in the world. Includes information on anomalous cognition (extraordinary knowing), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), clairvoyance, dreams, extrasensory perception (ESP), evidence, fortune telling, Sigmund Freud, ganzfeld studies, Gestalt psychology, God, healing, treatment and diagnoses, professional intuitives, National Research Council, (NRC), quantum consciousness, quantum mind, quantum phenomena, remote viewing, remote perception, science, Society for Psychical Research (SPR), telepathy, etc. Forewords by Freeman Dyson and Carol Gilligan.
Call No.: English 133.8 MAY
4) Psychic warrior : the true story of the CIA's paranormal espionage / by David Morehouse.
Summary : Psychic Warrior is the true story of a 20 year long CIA and Pentagon backed psychic espionage programme whereby the CIA used a group of psychics to determine the result of the Cold War, to help their raid in Libya and in the defeat of Saddam Hussain
Call No.: English 327.1273 MOR (please note that this title is in our Repository Used Book collections and it will be subjected to a S$1.55 reservation fee)
If you intend to check the availability of any title before visiting our public libraries, you may do so via the online catalogue at: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg
We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.
However, we have found a Straits Times article which might shed some light on how our police feels about using psychics to solve crimes. The following are excerpts from the article:
“While psychics have claimed to help police investigations everywhere from the United States to Malaysia, Singapore police are loath to turn to paranormal clues.”
“Retired senior detective Lim Beng Gee said psychics had never successfully helped the police solve a case in Singapore.”
“A senior police officer, who has been in the force for about 15 years, told The Straits Times: 'As far as I know, we do not get the help of mediums to look for missing persons or solve our cases - not now, not in the past, not ever.'”
The above is taken from the article “The police and the paranormal” by Chong Chee Kin & Esther Tan, Straits Times, 13 October 2008 (last retrieved from Factiva.com on 29Oct09).
The below are some suggested titles for your further reading too:
1) Paranormal claims : a critical analysis / edited by Bryan Farha
Contents:
The fine art of baloney detection / Carl Sagan -- Why smart people believe weird things / Michael Shermer -- Cold reading : how to convince strangers that you know all about them / Ray Hyman -- Sylvia Browne : psychic guru or quack? / Bryan Farha -- Deconstructing the dead / Michael Shermer -- Near-death experiences : in or out of body? / Susan Blackmore -- Number manipulation : the not "so spooky" Tim McVeigh / Bryan Farha -- Why bogus therapies often seem to work / Barry L. Beyerstein -- A close look at therapeutic touch / Linda Rosa ... [et al.] -- Chiropractic's dirty secret : neck manipulation and strokes / Stephen Barrett -- Magnet therapy : a skeptical view / Stephen Barrett -- The great dilution delusion / James Randi -- The case for and against astrology / Geoffrey Dean -- Looking up to logic / Bryan Farha -- Prayer and healing : the verdict is in and the results are null / Michael Shermer -- Benny Hinn : healer or hypnotist? / Joe Nickell -- John of God : ABC's Primetime Live special about a Brazilian "healer" falls far short of investigative journalism / James Randi -- Bigfoot at 50 : evaluating a half-century of Bigfoot evidence / Benjamin Radford.
Call No.: English 130 PAR
2) The ESP enigma : the scientific case for psychic phenomena / Diane Hennacy Powell.
Summary: Integrating concepts from physics, neuroscience, and other disciplines, Dr. Powell offers an insightful and intriguing explanation of ESP, provocatively claiming that the existence of psychic abilities expands the understanding and appreciation of consciousness.
Call No.: English 133.8 POW
3) Extraordinary knowing : science, skepticism, and the inexplicable powers of the human mind / Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer
Summary: In 1991, when her daughter's rare, hand-carved harp was stolen, Lisby Mayer's familiar world of science and rational thinking turned upside down. After the police failed to turn up any leads, a friend suggested she call a dowser-a man who specialized in finding lost objects. With nothing to lose-and almost as a joke-Dr. Mayer agreed. Within two days, and without leaving his Arkansas home, the dowser located the exact California street coordinates where the harp was found. Deeply shaken, yet driven to understand what had happened, Mayer began the fourteen-year journey of discovery that she recounts in this mind-opening, brilliantly readable book. Her first surprise: the dozens of colleagues whoʾd been keeping similar experiences secret for years, fearful of being labeled credulous or crazy. Extraordinary Knowing is an attempt to break through the silence imposed by fear and to explore what science has to say about these and countless other inexplicable phenomena. From Sigmund Freudʾs writings on telepathy to secret CIA experiments on remote viewing, from leading-edge neuroscience to the strange world of quantum physics, Dr. Mayer reveals a wealth of credible and fascinating research into the realm where the mind seems to trump the laws of nature. She does not ask us to believe. Rather she brings us a book of profound intrigue and optimism, with far-reaching implications not just for scientific inquiry but also for the ways we go about living in the world. Includes information on anomalous cognition (extraordinary knowing), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), clairvoyance, dreams, extrasensory perception (ESP), evidence, fortune telling, Sigmund Freud, ganzfeld studies, Gestalt psychology, God, healing, treatment and diagnoses, professional intuitives, National Research Council, (NRC), quantum consciousness, quantum mind, quantum phenomena, remote viewing, remote perception, science, Society for Psychical Research (SPR), telepathy, etc. Forewords by Freeman Dyson and Carol Gilligan.
Call No.: English 133.8 MAY
4) Psychic warrior : the true story of the CIA's paranormal espionage / by David Morehouse.
Summary : Psychic Warrior is the true story of a 20 year long CIA and Pentagon backed psychic espionage programme whereby the CIA used a group of psychics to determine the result of the Cold War, to help their raid in Libya and in the defeat of Saddam Hussain
Call No.: English 327.1273 MOR (please note that this title is in our Repository Used Book collections and it will be subjected to a S$1.55 reservation fee)
If you intend to check the availability of any title before visiting our public libraries, you may do so via the online catalogue at: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg
We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.
Stubborn stains
How to remove very stubborn stains from white PVC dinning chairs? It seems nothing works, not even Selley's 3-in-1 fabric cleaner.
A quick search yielded some suggestions on removing stains from vinyl or PVC fabrics. Different sources suggest different methods of removing stubborn stains from PVC or vinyl fabric. However, most caution, in an effort to refrain from harming the fabric as much as possible, starting out with the mildest cleaner before moving on to harsher cleaning solutions if it does not work. Please note that we have not tried out these methods and cannot comment on their effectiveness.
[1] The following news articles carry some tips on removing stains from PVC fabric. The full articles may be accessed from the Factiva e-database, via our e-resources website (http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg) at the multimedia stations in the libraries.
(i) Features: Super solutions for ridding vinyl of stubborn stains
The Advertiser, 11 April 2008
Extract: "Furniture covered with vinyl sometimes absorbs colour from clothing, which is almost impossible to remove.
The vinyl stretches when it is sat upon and body heat opens vinyl pores like the way skin does on a hot day.
By the time a stain is noticed, the vinyl has become taut and it has been ``trapped'' in it. It is therefore necessary to apply hot towels to open the vinyl and expose the stain for treatment. Try hot, soapy water before using chemical cleaners. Use pure soap, not detergent. Next try hot water and shampoo.
If none of these works, chemical cleaners can be tried. It is essential to test on a small, inconspicuous area to see how it will affect the fabric of the colour.
Some products worth trying are white denture powder dissolved in a little water, Rit Whitener and Brightener, or bleach as a last resort."
(ii) Outlook: At Home; Fashion cleaning tips, by Sirinoot Kettrachon
Bangkok Post, 17 February 2008
Extract: "...Products made of synthetic leather or PVC should be cleaned both before and after use. In case of stains or dirt, apply multi-purpose cleaner or Steklean to the surface of your leather items, leave them for a moment to dry and then wipe down stains by using a soft brush. After that clean your leather products again by using a piece of slightly damp cloth...."
[2] There are also some online resources that feature cleaning tips for vinyl upholstery:
(i) Cleaning Vinyl FAQs - DoItYourself.com
Website: DIY Home Improvement Information - DoItYourself.com
URL: http://www.doityourself.com/
Direct URL: >>www.doityourself.com/stry/vinyl
Extract; "Vinyl cleaners sold in furniture stores or auto stores help clean stubborn soil on vinyl upholstery.... A vinyl protective finish, sold at same stores, helps protect upholstery and resists or retards absorption of stains.... When solvents other than water are used to remove a stain, wash the area with detergent and water, rinse and dry....
Ballpoint pen marks may respond to alcohol. If not, cover area with a white cloth soaked in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and leave from 30 minutes to overnight....
Remove substances such as oil paint, shoe heel marks, ink, tar, crayon, grease, shoe polish, ointment and cosmetics with synthetic turpentine or mineral spirits. Use hydrogen peroxide bleach treatment if necessary....
When using solvents suggested in above (turpentine or mineral spirits) use only in a well- ventilated room and avoid breathing fumes or getting on your skin. Be sure there is no flame, spark, pilot light, or cigarette in area, as they are flammable. Air out cloths used, to evaporate solvent before disposing."
(ii) According to the book, All-new hints from Heloise: a household guide for the '90s, by Heloise (page 97-98):
"...Vinyl furniture can be cleaned with a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Rub to loosen soil, rinse, dry with towel. Commercial vinyl cleaners are available and best used for greasy or stubborn stains....
The most-often-asked-about stain to remove from vinyl or leather furniture is ballpoint pen ink. Simply use a cotton swab or dip it in a little rubbing alcohol, then gently dab at the stain. After removing the ballpoint ink, wipe with a damp sponge and recondition the leather or vinyl...."
A preview of the book can be found on Google books (http://books.google.com.sg/books).
Direct link to a preview of the book: >>http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=dyfp4W-tlX4C&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=&f=false
All websites were last accessed on October 22, 2009.
[3] You may also refer to the following books available in the public libraries for more information on removing stains:
(i) Title: Natural stain removal secrets : powerful, safe techniques for removing stubborn stains from anything
Author: Martin, Deborah L.
Call No.: English 648.1 MAR -[HOM]
(ii) Title: Stain removal / Stephanie Zia.
Author: Zia, Stephanie.
Call No.: English 648.1 ZIA -[HOM]
(iii) Title: Cleaning and stain removal for dummies
Author: Chilton, Gill.
Call No.: English 648.5 CHI -[HOM]
(iv) Title: 2,001 amazing cleaning secrets
Author: Bredenberg, Jeff.
Call No.: English q648.5 BRE -[HOM]
(v) Title: The complete idiot's guide to household solutions
Author: Moore, Melodie.
Call No.: English 643.7 MOO -[HOM]
If you intend to check the availability of any title before visiting our public libraries, you may do so via the online catalogue at: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg
[4] You may also wish to consider sending the vinyl cushion cover to a professional dry cleaner, such as Presto Drycleaners (http://www.prestodrycleaners.com.sg/), among others. You may like to contact them to enquire about the feasibility of removing the stain from your vinyl cushion cover.
A list of some other dry cleaners can be found here:
www.rednano.sg/sfe/allsearch.action?allsearch=true&view=dir&querystring=dry+cleaners
We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.
[1] The following news articles carry some tips on removing stains from PVC fabric. The full articles may be accessed from the Factiva e-database, via our e-resources website (http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg) at the multimedia stations in the libraries.
(i) Features: Super solutions for ridding vinyl of stubborn stains
The Advertiser, 11 April 2008
Extract: "Furniture covered with vinyl sometimes absorbs colour from clothing, which is almost impossible to remove.
The vinyl stretches when it is sat upon and body heat opens vinyl pores like the way skin does on a hot day.
By the time a stain is noticed, the vinyl has become taut and it has been ``trapped'' in it. It is therefore necessary to apply hot towels to open the vinyl and expose the stain for treatment. Try hot, soapy water before using chemical cleaners. Use pure soap, not detergent. Next try hot water and shampoo.
If none of these works, chemical cleaners can be tried. It is essential to test on a small, inconspicuous area to see how it will affect the fabric of the colour.
Some products worth trying are white denture powder dissolved in a little water, Rit Whitener and Brightener, or bleach as a last resort."
(ii) Outlook: At Home; Fashion cleaning tips, by Sirinoot Kettrachon
Bangkok Post, 17 February 2008
Extract: "...Products made of synthetic leather or PVC should be cleaned both before and after use. In case of stains or dirt, apply multi-purpose cleaner or Steklean to the surface of your leather items, leave them for a moment to dry and then wipe down stains by using a soft brush. After that clean your leather products again by using a piece of slightly damp cloth...."
[2] There are also some online resources that feature cleaning tips for vinyl upholstery:
(i) Cleaning Vinyl FAQs - DoItYourself.com
Website: DIY Home Improvement Information - DoItYourself.com
URL: http://www.doityourself.com/
Direct URL: >>www.doityourself.com/stry/vinyl
Extract; "Vinyl cleaners sold in furniture stores or auto stores help clean stubborn soil on vinyl upholstery.... A vinyl protective finish, sold at same stores, helps protect upholstery and resists or retards absorption of stains.... When solvents other than water are used to remove a stain, wash the area with detergent and water, rinse and dry....
Ballpoint pen marks may respond to alcohol. If not, cover area with a white cloth soaked in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and leave from 30 minutes to overnight....
Remove substances such as oil paint, shoe heel marks, ink, tar, crayon, grease, shoe polish, ointment and cosmetics with synthetic turpentine or mineral spirits. Use hydrogen peroxide bleach treatment if necessary....
When using solvents suggested in above (turpentine or mineral spirits) use only in a well- ventilated room and avoid breathing fumes or getting on your skin. Be sure there is no flame, spark, pilot light, or cigarette in area, as they are flammable. Air out cloths used, to evaporate solvent before disposing."
(ii) According to the book, All-new hints from Heloise: a household guide for the '90s, by Heloise (page 97-98):
"...Vinyl furniture can be cleaned with a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Rub to loosen soil, rinse, dry with towel. Commercial vinyl cleaners are available and best used for greasy or stubborn stains....
The most-often-asked-about stain to remove from vinyl or leather furniture is ballpoint pen ink. Simply use a cotton swab or dip it in a little rubbing alcohol, then gently dab at the stain. After removing the ballpoint ink, wipe with a damp sponge and recondition the leather or vinyl...."
A preview of the book can be found on Google books (http://books.google.com.sg/books).
Direct link to a preview of the book: >>http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=dyfp4W-tlX4C&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=&f=false
All websites were last accessed on October 22, 2009.
[3] You may also refer to the following books available in the public libraries for more information on removing stains:
(i) Title: Natural stain removal secrets : powerful, safe techniques for removing stubborn stains from anything
Author: Martin, Deborah L.
Call No.: English 648.1 MAR -[HOM]
(ii) Title: Stain removal / Stephanie Zia.
Author: Zia, Stephanie.
Call No.: English 648.1 ZIA -[HOM]
(iii) Title: Cleaning and stain removal for dummies
Author: Chilton, Gill.
Call No.: English 648.5 CHI -[HOM]
(iv) Title: 2,001 amazing cleaning secrets
Author: Bredenberg, Jeff.
Call No.: English q648.5 BRE -[HOM]
(v) Title: The complete idiot's guide to household solutions
Author: Moore, Melodie.
Call No.: English 643.7 MOO -[HOM]
If you intend to check the availability of any title before visiting our public libraries, you may do so via the online catalogue at: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg
[4] You may also wish to consider sending the vinyl cushion cover to a professional dry cleaner, such as Presto Drycleaners (http://www.prestodrycleaners.com.sg/), among others. You may like to contact them to enquire about the feasibility of removing the stain from your vinyl cushion cover.
A list of some other dry cleaners can be found here:
www.rednano.sg/sfe/allsearch.action?allsearch=true&view=dir&querystring=dry+cleaners
We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.
Total number of primary schools
How many Primary Schools are there in Singapore in total?
According to 2009 Education Statistics Digest, there are 174 primary schools in Singapore.
Our primary schools are either government or government-aided schools, and you may be interested to check out the classification of schools by level and type in the report.
Source: Ministry of Education
2009 Education Statistics Digest www.moe.gov.sg/education/ education-statistics-digest/files/ esd-2009.pdf page 3
Besides that, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will be building 11 new primary schools from November 2009. 5 new primary schools will commence operations in January 2012 and the remaining 6 new primary schools will commence operations in January 2013.
www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2009/ 09/moe-to-build-new-primary-schoo.php
All websites are last accessed on 15 Oct 09.
Our primary schools are either government or government-aided schools, and you may be interested to check out the classification of schools by level and type in the report.
Source: Ministry of Education
2009 Education Statistics Digest www.moe.gov.sg/education/ education-statistics-digest/files/ esd-2009.pdf page 3
Besides that, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will be building 11 new primary schools from November 2009. 5 new primary schools will commence operations in January 2012 and the remaining 6 new primary schools will commence operations in January 2013.
www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2009/ 09/moe-to-build-new-primary-schoo.php
All websites are last accessed on 15 Oct 09.