Theology is unnecessary. So says Stephen Hawking, the world-famous physicist who controversially argues in a new book that God did not create the universe.

“God may exist, but science can explain the universe without the need for a creator,” Hawking told CNN’s “Larry King Live” in an interview that aired Friday.

Hawking, 68, says in his book “The Grand Design” that, given the existence of gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. “Spontaneous creation,” he writes, is the reason why the universe and humanity exist.

“Gravity and quantum theory cause universes to be created spontaneously out of nothing,” Hawking told Larry King.

King asked Hawking why he thinks people have reacted so strongly to his book.

“Science is increasingly answering questions that used to be the province of religion,” Hawking replied. “The scientific account is complete. Theology is unnecessary.”

Hawking said his book is an attempt to give a “broad picture of how the universe operates and our place in it. It is a basic human desire and it also puts our worries in perspective.”

The idea behind it is “M-theory,” which, he says, allows there to be many universes that were created out of nothing, none of which required the intervention of God.

That’s because if there are many universes, one will have laws of physics like ours — and in such a universe, something not only can, but must, arise from nothing, Hawking says. Therefore, he concludes, there’s no need for God to have played a part.

That’s the point of his book, Hawking told King — “that science can explain the universe, and that we don’t need God to explain why there is something rather than nothing, or why the laws of nature are what they are.”

Hawking said that if he could travel through time — which he said is theoretically possible — he would go to the future to “find if M-theory is indeed a theory of everything.”

Hawking has ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which has confined him to a wheelchair and leaves him unable to speak without the help of a computerized voice synthesizer. The disease is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in the United States and motor neuron disease, or MND, in Britain.

He told King he’s doing “pretty well” with the disease, 45 years after he was first diagnosed. The disease has a life expectancy of two to five years, according to the ALS Association.

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COCO, a five-year-old cat, thinks she’s human. Unlike the rest of her feline friends, she is the only one who sleeps – on her back or with her head on pillows – with her owners.  I think she can’t fall asleep without us. I’ve tried keeping her out of the bedroom but she won’t cooperate,” said Mrs Mary Wee, 47, laughing. She owns five other cats.  Sleeping with pets isn’t unheard of. But is it a healthy habit?

In the United States, a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association found that 62 per cent of cats and nearly half of dogs share their owners’ beds. There are no official figures to show how common this is in Singapore.

Today polled 10 pet owners and four of them said they sleep with their pets on a regular basis.

Dog tired

A study released by the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Centre in 2002 found that more than half of pet owners surveyed said their nightly sleep was disturbed by their furry companions.

Dr Lim Li Ling, director of the Sleep Disorder Unit at Singapore General Hospital, said pets can be an environmental disturbance and disrupt sleep if they make excessive movement or noise, just like how a snoring bed partner or a busy construction site hinders sleep.

However, she added that it really depends on the individual.

“If there are no physical issues like allergies, and there is no disruption to sleep or other bedroom activities like sex, then having a pet sleep in the same bed is an individual preference with no sleep-related health issues,” she said.

On the other hand, Dr Lim added that some may find the presence of a beloved pet in bed reassuring – a reason why Mrs Wee does not kick Coco out of bed.

“I’m so used to having that feeling of security and companionship, that I think I won’t be able to sleep well without Coco,” she said.

Pets and allergy

Pets in the bedroom are a big no-no, when it comes to asthmatics and people who suffer from allergies, said experts Today spoke to.

Associate Professor John Abisheganaden, a senior consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s (TTSH) department of respiratory and critical care, said certain allergens such as dust mites, pollen and cockroaches can provoke asthma symptoms. Cat and dog dander (skin particles) is also one of them.

“While it is not completely possible to avoid all of these allergens, one is able to reduce the level of exposure to them.”

According to Assoc Prof John, surveys conducted in developed countries have shown that 5 to 15 per cent of the general population showed positive skin reactions to cat and/or dog dander. In people with asthma, the figure soared to 40 to 70 per cent.

Close pet-human contact accounts for the high prevalence of pet allergy, he said.

Ms Tang Chwee Ying, a nurse clinician in allergy/clinical immunology at TTSH, said protein secreted by your pet’s oil glands can trigger symptoms of allergy in individuals who are genetically predisposed to allergy.

She added that the allergens – typically found in the fur, saliva, urine and hair roots of the animal – can persist in areas such as carpeting, upholstery and mattresses.

For those who are highly allergic to their pets, the experts said it may not be enough to just keep them out of the bedrooms.

“For a person who is highly allergic to their pets and developing worsening symptoms, removal of the pet from the home followed by extensive cleaning is recommended. Any other measures are at best a compromise,” said Ms Tang.

She added: “Common sense and emotion often collide and differences of opinion among family members may complicate the problem. They will have to decide what is more important for them, the pet or consequences of their condition worsening.”

Don’t blame the animals

Most animal lovers said they are willing to put up with their allergy problems for the sake of their pets.

Helen Fong, who is in her 40s, and her teenage son Joshua suffers from eczema. Joshua also has mild asthma. However, they have no problems letting their pet cats into their bedroom.

“We’ve been having this allergy problem for so long, even before we had our cats. People like to put the blame on animals but to me, our allergy trigger could be anything – it could be the food we eat, the detergent we use or even from air pollution,” said Mdm Fong.

Allergy shots are available to help people build up tolerance towards pet allergens. According to Ms Tang, these are available in the form of regular injections weekly for the first three months, then every one to two monthly for the next three years.

However, she added that such desensitisation regime is expensive, and requires commitment of at least three years to see effects. Moreover, its effectiveness “has not been consistently demonstrated”.

Dr Jean-Paul Ly, senior veterinarian and director of Animal Recovery Centre Group, said ultimately it’s about exercising commonsense.

“If the dog or cat is shampooed and groomed regularly, having it sleep with you is not a problem and certainly not unhealthy. What I don’t encourage is kissing pets on the mouth – that’s unhygienic,” said Dr Ly.

Tips on decreasing airborne pet allergens

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Very often, people equate style with fashionable clothes but style is far from merely donning the latest trends. It’s about having a sense of self-expression that translates who you really are from inside out; it’s in the subtle body movements, the way you carry yourself, your natural swagger, and even the way you shrug your shoulder as you walk. Clothes are simply tools that help individuals express their emotions.

Different clothes determine the way you move as the style, cut and structure of the garment put you in different states of mind. There is a distinct psychological change between wearing a loose pair of pyjamas and a suit; or the difference between a pair of sneakers and heeled shoes that almost certainly affect your posture and poise; something happens and it affects your mannerisms, and perhaps even your thought processes.

You don’t need a lot of clothes to be stylish. Timeless items can be some of the best style companions: A classic navy pinstriped suit, a pair of well-worn jeans, a well-cut white shirt, a fitted T-shirt.

However, it is the way you mix things together that ultimately creates your style. Dressing head-to-toe in designer labels isn’t being stylish, it screams “fashion victim”. Mixing old and new items are great but you must have a sense of aesthetics and creative imagination to make it work.

There is no room for modesty when it comes to creating your own style; you have to be narcissistic, get the right hairdo and the right outfits – and look effortlessly put together. You need to know yourself and who you want the world to see.

While it’s hard to pinpoint what makes a certain style desirable, suffice it to say good taste is only one small part of what makes a person stylish – you can be a geek and be extremely stylish, or you can be super-wealthy with zero style.

Karl Lagerfeld probably sums it up best when he says: “Good taste only tastes ‘good’ to the people who think they have good taste; good taste can be very uncreative and boring. Good taste is something very bourgeois, very established, so it needs fresh air.”

It’s time to own your style.

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WHEN cosmetics began disappearing from her bathroom drawer a few years ago, Gretchen Bain knew the culprit. Her husband, Jarrod.

It turned out that Jarrod, 34, a burly customs and border-protection officer whose uniform includes a 9-millimetre handgun, had developed a fondness for his wife’s under-eye concealer, which hid his occasional dark circles. He was also swiping her face lotions and mud masks.

“At one point, I just started buying stuff for him because I don’t want him stealing mine,” Gretchen said.

Now, she orders products online for him at Menaji.com, which bills itself as a “masculine” and “undetectable” line of cosmetics and skin-care products. His favourites are an eye gel and stick concealer that target dark circles, and an anti-shine powder that comes (shhh!) in a compact.

Whether they admit it or not, more men are using cosmetics, judging from sales figures and the number of new products arriving on store shelves.

But please don’t call it “make-up” – cosmetics marketers pointedly steer clear of the term, which men tend to find emasculating.

Neither the “manscara” look of Adam Lambert, the American Idol star, nor the “guyliner” stylings of Russell Brand, the comedian, will likely be adopted anytime soon by the guy who fixes your car. But men’s use of stealth make-up like concealers is on the upswing.

American consumers spent US$4.8 billion ($6.4 billion) on men’s grooming products last year, according to market data firm Euromonitor International. In 1997, the figure was half that.

Among the fastest growing men’s segments is skin care, which refers to non-shaving products like facial cleansers, moisturisers and exfoliants. That category grew more than fivefold over the period, to US$217 million from US$40.9 million.

While the data suggests more mirror time for men, it doesn’t give the full picture. By and large, men’s cosmetics are sold online by companies that fly under the radar of researchers.

Among those brands, business appears to be booming. Menaji, for example, reports a 70-per-cent increase in online sales over the last three years, according to Michele Probst, the make-up artist who founded the company 10 years ago.

“People thought it was nuts when I came out with the idea,” said Probst. “But men have always been very vain and always have groomed, and these are just new grooming tools.”

A Canadian men’s line, KenMen, has quadrupled sales since 2005, according to founder Lee Gilbert. The film industry make-up artist developed the products for Hollywood actors, but now many use her line every day off-screen, she said, though she declined to name any. KenMen’s products include Guy-liner pens, a slightly tinted lip salve and pens to “sculpt and define” eyebrows and to fill gaps in beards.

One argument that men’s cosmetics are going mainstream: Some men are not even self-conscious about using them. Jeffrey Lederer, 63, a principal in several investment partnerships and a former Wall Street trader, openly applies Menaji products – including a Bronze Star facial bronzing gel, concealer and anti-shine powder – after his workouts at a private Manhattan club.

Lederer, who wears tailor-made suits from Milan, called himself an “aesthetic person” who attains an “airbrushed look” from the cosmetics. Mainstream beauty brands are listening to men like him. Among the big-name brands that make products for men are Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent and Clinique.

Julian Kynaston, the founder of Illamasqua, a unisex make-up line from England, said the obsession over whether make-up is manly ignores the past: “The irony for me is that it’s only in the last century that make-up and men parted company.”

As far back as 3500BC, Egyptian men and women wore an eye colour made of crushed ant eggs, perhaps more for the sake of sun protection than decoration, according to Stephan Kanlian, the chairman of the master’s programme at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Use of make-up by men was common among the ancient Greeks and Romans, and throughout the Renaissance, and America’s founding fathers powdered their cheeks as well as their wigs, Kanlian said.

Today, the heirs to this tradition include Peter Albert, 41, who directs a corporate training programme for an education company. He applies Illusionist Concealer by Vapour Organic Beauty to the circles under his eyes.

Fifteen per cent of Vapour Organic Beauty’s customers who order the make-up online have been men, “which is really kind of shocking”, said founder Eric Sakas.

But Sakas, who lives in Los Angeles and is hired to do women’s make-up in their homes for special occasions, said that something has been happening in the last couple of years that might have prepared him for this trend.

“I’ll be doing her make-up, and the husband will poke his head in and say, ‘Can you do anything for these dark circles under my eyes?’ or ‘Can you do anything for this redness?’”Sakas said. “That never used to happen before, and I would say it happens 60 per cent of the time now.”

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THANKS to its superb 9.7-inch screen, pictures somehow look better on the Apple iPad, which is a lightweight alternative to the laptop for photo enthusiasts. Here are some apps that may interest shutterbugs.

Mosaic Photo for iPad (US$0.99)

This app creates a mosaic photo – a montage of tiny rectangular cell images. Go to Create, choose your photo, and the app will do the rest. You can save the new mosaic image in the built-in gallery, but you cannot access the image from the iPad Photo Library. Nonetheless, you can share your mosaic pictures by email or via Twitter and Facebook.

Photo fx Ultra (US$4.99)

If you are fond of filters to do photo editing or add creative effects, then Photo fx Ultra from Tiffen is for you.

Choose from 77 filters containing 934 presets organised in eight groups – Film Lab, Diffusion, Grads/Tints, Image, Lens, Light, Photographic and Special Effects. You can add multiple filters to create different effects. And if you want a particular portion of the image to have an effect, apply filters selectively by painting a mask over the picture. Each filter can be modified to your liking with sliders, controls or presets.

The only drawback of this app is that it does not remember your last editing session.

Photogene (US$1.99)

Probably the most value-for-money photo-editing app for the iPad. Other than the usual crop tool, presets and filter tools, it also allows you to control the exposure, contrast and saturation of pictures. What’s most important is the curve tool, which allows you to make precise image adjustments. A handy red-eye reduction tool is also available, as are fun options like dialogue boxes, frames and text editing. Photogene can even edit RAW files as long as the Apple Camera Connection Kit can import them (the iPad only supports certain types of RAW formats, such as NEF or CR2). The app doesn’t overwrite the original file; it saves a fresh JPEG copy of an edited image. It also remembers your last editing session.

Wireless Camera 2.0 (US$0.99)

No camera on the iPad? Use Wireless Camera 2.0 to connect your iPhone to your iPad via Bluetooth or WiFi. Launch the app on your iPhone first and on your iPad later. The two devices will be paired automatically after a few seconds and you can start snapping away! Note that you need to hit the Save button on the iPad to save the image; there isn’t an auto-save function. You can import photos from the iPhone camera roll via the same connection as well. However, the app doesn’t let you shoot videos. Wireless Camera 2.0 works on iPhones that support iOS 3.1.2 and above. But it will only work via Wifi on the first-generation iPhone.

Photo Wall for iPad (US$1.99)

Having a blast on your vacation? Show off your fun in a photo collage. You can add a background plus up to 24 photos and textboxes in this user-friendly app. Select different colours, font styles and transparency levels on the text; crop the pictures or shake your iPad to shuffle the images on the canvas. When you’re done, upload it to Facebook or email your friends. TREVOR TAN

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Apple is loosening its grip on its app development for its mobile devices, announcing Thursday that it will drop restrictions on what programming tools developers can use to create iOS apps.

The company also dropped a ban on certain in-application ad serving tools that had effectively cut off Google’s AdMob service.

The unexpected move means Apple is standing down in what had become an increasingly heated battle between the company and the developers who have created the more than 250,000 apps that stock Apple’s App Store.

“We have listened to our developers and taken much of their feedback to heart,” Apple said. “This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need.”

Apple’s rule changes are quite technical, and developers raced to pore over the fine print and figure out exactly what they mean.

But the practical upshot is that programmers will be able to use tools from Apple’s rivals — most notably Adobe — to build software for Apple’s iPhones, iPads and iPods.

Adobe’s current Flash development suite includes a tool for converting apps to run on Apple’s platform, but the company said in April that it would stop further development on that tool because of Apple’s restrictions and focus more on Google’s Android operating system.

Adobe on Thursday praised Apple’s change of heart. “We are encouraged to see Apple lifting its restrictions on its licensing terms, giving developers the freedom to choose what tools they use to develop applications for Apple devices,” the company said in a written statement.

A company representative declined to comment on the fate of Adobe’s stalled Packager for iPhone tool.

But Flash programmers were quick to chime in: “We’re back in the game,” one posted in Adobe’s forum right after Apple’s announcement.

Developer Brad Manderscheid expects the new rules to be a big boost for his Milwaukee-based application development company, ActionMouse.

Most of his work is done with Adobe’s Flash, and Apple’s move to block Flash-to-iPhone conversion tools meant some of his planned projects for clients had to be scrapped.

“A lot of work that we had pending went away,” he said. “I was more mad than anybody I know — Adobe built all these tools for us to do all these cool things, we had all these beta programs ready to go, and Apple comes out and says ‘stop.’”

Now, he’ll be able to use Adobe tools to “write once, run anywhere,” and convert his applications to run on iOS as well as platforms like Android.

“I don’t have to be just in one team or another,” he said. “It opens everything up, the way it should be.”

Veteran Apple developer Greg Slepak was so incensed in April by Apple’s new restrictions that he e-mailed his objections to Steve Jobs — who responded. Slepak reprinted the exchange on his blog, where it drew hundreds of replies.

Slepak, who let his iOS Developer Program account expire in the wake of the clampdown, said he’s now considering renewing it. Apple’s policy changes seem to effectively address developers’ concerns, he said.

“This isn’t just about Adobe,” he said. “I don’t much care for Flash apps on the iPhone, but I do care about some of the third-party frameworks that would have been restricted by this. Some entire companies, their livelihood was put into question.”

Apple’s previous policy of banning unapproved development tools had drawn notice from federal regulators, who have reportedly considered launching an antitrust investigation of Apple’s software development rules.

Google  applauded the fact that developers will now be able to use AdMob to sell and serve ads in their iPhone applications.

“This is great news for everyone in the mobile community, as we believe that a competitive environment is the best way to drive innovation and growth in mobile advertising,” the company said in a blog post.

Apple also said it will for the first time publish review guidelines to help developers understand how it vets the applications submitted to its App Store. Developers have frequently griped about Apple’s opaque and occasionally drawn-out review process.

“We hope it will make us more transparent and help our developers create even more successful apps for the App Store,” Apple said of its decision to release the guidelines.

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The below table summarizes comparison between Google Android 2.2 (Froyo) and iPhone iOS 4

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APPROPRIATE SHOE STYLE FOR THE OFFICE There are many kinds of offices, some that are more accessible to the public than others and the considerations that you need to apply when buying shoes for the office are these.

STYLE

The style of shoe for wearing in an office should complement the clothing which you choose to wear. Although women are tempted with high heeled shoes, a moderate heel and conservative style will enhance the professional business woman’s look. Those that work in an environment where they are expected to climb ladders etc., for filing, would be well advised to choose a style that is practical as well as looking nice. Laces for example are not the best choice for women for work, because of the neatness factor, though also from the point of view of safety.

COLORS

Conservative is always safer. Colors that blend with the clothing look rather professional, and matching a handbag to complement the clothing chosen tops off that look. Garish colors in shoes look cheap and tacky and don’t add to the corporate image.

COMFORT

Since much of your day will be spent in an office, it is important to establish how warm that office environment is, and how comfortable your feet would be in closed shoes all day. Many women have problems with swollen ankles, and if the office is too hot, a choice of open shoes may not only enhance the look, but make the choice a comfortable one. Heels kept to a minimum add to the commonsense question of comfort, as eight hours on excessively high heels really can make your feet hurt.

BUDGET

In budgeting for office shoes, put enough aside to buy quality, because at the end of the day, quality not only looks nicer, and gives a better image to the company. It lasts longer and makes economical sense.

Shoes are a very personal item, and one of the main issues is that workers wear footwear that doesn’t look ridiculous, or call into question the seriousness of the office environment. Keep your casuals for after hours, and look after your feet by buying great shoes with appeal and style that last. Classic styles of womens shoes always give the right impression, take care of your feet, and never look out of place.

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Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has joined Twitter… although we’re sure a few of you will be interested.

The Brazilian is reportedly hoping to secure a move away from Anfield during the next transfer window so if you follow him he will no doubt keep you informed with what he wants you to hear about that.

You can follow Lucas @ http://twitter.com/LucasLeiva87

Lucas joins Ryan Babel on the popular networking website, the Dutch winger can be followed @ http://twitter.com/ryanbabel

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Apple will release iOS 4.2 firmware free of charge to iPad owners in November, adding many new features and improved functionality to the touch screen tablet. The iPad is slated to receive multitasking, folders for grouping apps, and many other features found in iOS 4. The multitasking dock includes brightness controls, music controls, recently used apps and a rotation lock button.

Steve Jobs demoed some of the new features at the Apple media event this week. One of the highlights included wireless printing, which allows apps on the iPad to print from anywhere on a Wi-Fi networked printer. TV show rentals and Game Center will also come to the iPad.

Game Center features multi-player gaming along with social networking features for iOS devices. Other players can be challenged, players will be automatically matched up, scores and games can be shared.

AirPlay is another new iOS 4.2 app coming to the iPad. With AirPlay, video, audio and photos can be streamed over your Wi-Fi network to the iPad from a computer. The AirTunes functionality that may be familiar to iTunes users has been renamed to AirPlay.

Jobs also announced there are now 25,000 iPad apps in the Apple App Store, ready to be downloaded by iPad users worldwide.

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