Author Archives: Errol Clarke

Zen Sai review

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Located at 16 Inverness Street, Camden and is a hop, skip and a jump away from the Tube Station. The premises are flush and in line with the other shops from the outside, but a Buddha adorned interior in the form of pictures and the statues placed liberally around ledges and out of reach for the public.

Frost had been invited to the relaunch and the invite said, “Press food and cocktails review night”, so I was looking forward to the acclaimed Malaysian style food with “Bespoke” cocktails.

Zen Sai boasts delights such as, “Beef Rendang” A celebrated dish that dates back to the 16th century with diced flank steak, slowly cooked in a blend of fresh spices and coconut milk. “Chicken Dansak” A Persian delicacy adopted by Malaysians, chicken on the bone is cooked with lentils, green chillies, mangosteen and tamarind. “Spicy Whole Seabass” A succulent Seabass infused and cooked with lime, chilli, garlic and ginger.

However, there were the cocktails to try first and there is no denying that the blends and range of flavours in cocktails tried were exceptional. I had 2 and felt the effects of those alone, so the mix and measure is great. Between drinks and conversation we were treated to some finger food and Malaysian in style with Satay Chicken and Salt Chilli Chicken Wings. Some Pav Bhaji and Pakora…  it was making the right moves and waves for people to be just ready for the main event…

Now, if you have not guessed already, I waited for about an hour and the words, “restaurant closed for the evening” were heard a couple of times, which changed the mood and the demeanour of those supposed to be writing a review. So how can we write a food review?

The problem with asking the press to come and review a location, is to make an impression that can be relayed to the public, so when the event is either under par, or has short comings, it doesn’t look good and some journalists are brutal!

I don’t think Zen Sai is a bad place and their hospitality was warm and welcoming, however, I feel that maybe their relaunch will need another relaunch. It is not because of the lack of food, but because you can’t review what you don’t have. It is a bar and dining experience without the dining! If the finger food is all that was on offer then the turn out may not have been so generous and the venue could have just labelled it a cocktail night. Because that can be reviewed and positively so! I don’t think that the  “Food & Cocktails Review” night was living up to the hype and that can actually hinder what is seemingly a good location and experience, but I can only speak for half of it, because that was all I got!

Ironically, I didn’t think that I would be going home to cook my own food for my evening meal, as I was reviewing (or supposed to be) a “Food & Cocktail” event, with little on the food.

Do I think they got it wrong? Absolutely! It means that all their feedback will be as underwhelming as the meal! I can only come to the conclusion that it either wasn’t properly thought through, or their expectations were juxtaposed to mine.

So my review is, if you’re in Camden then go to Zen Sai for some fantastic cocktails and if you get served food there then please write and let me know what it is like, because I have only an email letting me know what they serve and I can only guess what it tastes like…

Dr David R Hamilton… Self Love at BAFTA

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On Sunday 6th July 2014, I was at BAFTA waiting to see Dr David R Hamilton (PhD), not really knowing what to expect and thought how many people would be either Watching Wimbledon, or getting their BBQ ready for some Sunday lunch. As I look around at the audience, it is evident there is a high female content, so thought that maybe I was not really meant to be there and made sure that I could get to a point in the event and leave were it not for someone like myself . I sat and waited and Sunita Shroff announces that David Hamilton will be coming on stage and a rapturous applause greets him as he takes to the stage. He has a warm demeanour, a soft Perth accent and gracious in the welcome before starting his talk. He gave a little info about himself and how he gave up being an Pharmaceutical engineer, or Organic Chemist, as he typified.

Credit: http://drdavidhamilton.com

Credit: http://drdavidhamilton.com

What I found fascinating was not the fact he had science to back up the theories that doctors and scientist either were scared to admit, or commit to, but opened himself up to the fact he is just as vulnerable as all of us. No piousness or judgemental accusations… not even a snide underhand remark, which was easily the best thing about his whole talk. He was one of us and as flawed and capable of making mistakes like the rest of us!

Delving into the medicine side of things, Dr Hamilton said that the placebo effect account for 80% of the drugs efficiency, which makes sense. As the more expensive the drug, the better it works, even though it may be the same as a cheaper version. Humans definitely are strange… and are contradictory in situations that should be obvious. For some reason, more means better, when it can actually mean just the same!

Mentioning long term effects, Dr Hamilton mentions things we should all know, but we really do take for granted. For example stress! We all know how bad it is for the body, but do we know what it does? It causes micro tears around the body, which means the repairing and swelling of these micro tears makes our blood pressure rise.  And this in turn causes cardiovascular distress! So, why is it we hate people so much? This too is stress! Self inflicted, but it is stress none-the-less! A rise in Cortisol a lowering of Oxytocin and deliberately calcifies our own arteries! The problem is, is it healthier to be happy than sad, but we don’t teach this! We are so far apart from our families and friends that being happy almost seems like a luxury, or something saved for a special occasion.

After going through the benefits of a simple thing, such as a hug (which raises Oxytocin and makes you feel good and be healthier) Dr Hamilton went on to give The Roseto Effect as an example. I remember reading about this when I was younger, but didn’t think much of it until the points raised were made apparent! If I miss out all the parts leading up to the conclusion and condense it, it will make more readable sense, as I still have much more to say.

The basics of Roseto, Pennsylvania were that the men had a lower heart disease rate than anywhere else in the US and the reasons could not be found as an obvious source. They did all the naughty things from smoking to drinking and eating fatty foods, but the main reason was not down to the water, area, or anything material, but something immaterial! There was little stress! Ironically they did everything we should do today. There was no keeping up with the Joneses. Houses were very close together, and everyone lived more or less alike. The elderly were revered and incorporated into community life. Housewives were respected, and fathers ran the families. Basically they were together and loved each other! Empathy, kindness, compassion… all the things the modern society are thin on. Oh, we have it in waves, but it should be the dominating factor, not something used sparingly. Social interaction and compassion leads to a life of longevity and better health!

Before we broke for lunch, we were given a very good, feel good meditation with affirmations… I would say it here, but I feel that you need to go see Dr Hamilton for the full experience! I would also be doing him a disservice for not giving the full credence it deserves!! I will use it for a more positive outlook and think that everyone should have it, even if it’s to get your day started and ended on a good foot!

The break for lunch sparks debates and theories with everything being positive, so a job well done! It was also great to be looking forward to a second half of more positivity.

Being married to an actress, it was almost fitting that Dr Hamilton started the second half with a short film from his wife, Elizabeth Caproni, Called The Angel. Not a straight forward one, but ones that we don’t see, until we open up to see them! It was a very cathartic and understated short, which fitted in nicely without being pretentious. As his wife is dear to his heart, Dr Hamilton is naturally proud of her achievements and her ability. And rightly so! She is writing and directing with her own production company (Pocket Rocket Productions) and doesn’t look like stopping either!

Dr Hamilton continued with positive affirmations, especially when you can say your wife screened her short film at BAFTA, so that is a good way to look at how real they can become! Even giving up his well paid job to become a public speaker and author could also be proof that his affirmations are solid and work. I think that everyone got their own piece of need and want from the affirmations and maybe that is all that it is supposed to be!

One of the anecdotes hit home with me and that was when Dr Hamilton mentioned how he was bullied at school! The problem with children are they learn more by environment than by what is taught to them by teachers and parents and ironically this was both in this instance. Coming from a background that was hard pressed for cash, a time came when his teacher asked the pupils to bring 15 pence in for a school trip! However, when he was at home, he felt guilty about how he would hear his mother cry about the money they didn’t have and being unable to by Christmas presents for the children. So with the guilt for not being mindful with his own pocket money, he didn’t bring the money in for the trip and like most teachers of the day she embarrassed him in front of the class by giving the other kids big yellow badges, which alienated him from the rest of the class!

I believe, Dr Hamilton, when he says that children are born devoid of hate, self aware and full of love and yet they are reprogrammed by adults, which shows where the real issue is. The aptly named Self Love Deficit happens in the first 6-7 years of their life and then when life’s difficulties occur, we tend to reflect back to those childhood situations and the adult mentality regresses to being that child again and rarely dissipates throughout adulthood as it has become habitual and part of the subconscious.

The thoughts can be reprogrammed to think more like a positive person and habitually so. After all the brain is like a muscle and can be trained with enough repetition. Therefore mental atrophy is akin to muscular atrophy! Basically, if you don’t use it, you lose it. If you don’t feed the negativity, you cannot have that process anymore.

Dr Hamilton went on to say something which was totally prophetic, but should be basic knowledge! You cannot disentangle the emotions from the brain chemistry, body chemistry, or respiratory system. For instance, when you’re upset, you are usually slouched over, or head is down, but changing your posture automatically changes the way the body reacts! Standing up straight and lifting your head can change the whole dynamic making you feel better! Same with stress and anxiety. These can make you sweat and once you cool down, you feel better, but if you add the change of thought to add to it, you can make the situation more positive than negative. Minimising the time spent in misery will make a healthier outlook, but that is obvious, right?

As Dr Hamilton was getting to the conclusion of the talk, he reminded people to always be themselves. By that he meant no mask that is trying to please everyone. You may not get the whole amount of people, but you get the ones that are meant to be with you and empower you. The right people will expand you as you will them being in each other’s lives. Expanding your thoughts and life may put you outside of your comfort zone, but your thoughts and body language can push the envelope and your life will match your attitude!

My final thoughts on the seminar are that I have a problem with it! And the reason is that far too many men are missing out of life skills and embracing self love, because the closest thing to self love is not the one that should be discussed due to its graphic nature. I am talking about those people that think being macho is relevant! It may have its place, but it should not be all who you are. The fact women have switched on to better themselves proves why men are getting left behind! Anyone who wants to keep their attitude on a poor level needs revaluate what exactly they want from life!

If after all that you want to have the changes, but not go to the seminars… then buy one of his books, check out his website. He is also on Facebook, so you have no excuses. His website is www.drdavidhamilton.com, Twitter is @DrDRHamilton and Facebook is David R Hamilton PhD

Thank you to BAFTA for being open on a Sunday and for Sunita Shroff for hosting, who can be found on the website www.sunitashroff.com And BAFTA is www.bafta.org

 

Female Superheroes… Why has Hollywood gotten it wrong??

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The geek in me wants to write 100,000 and the human in me is not going to allow it… well, we’ll see!

OK, what am I talking about and where is the evidence? Sometimes the lack of evidence IS the evidence! For instance, how many superheroes can you name and how many of those are female? If you know a few… how many of those have had a film role? Now share you list with someone other than your best friend and social circle and see if they have heard of any of the people you’re talking about and if they have seen those films!

Let’s see…  we have Red Sonja… Yes, she is a female comic character, so all those from the 80’s, you can dust of your VHS and claim that one for the ladies! You can have Wonder Woman too… although the film was only a TV film, which sort of counts… Supergirl, although, it is sometimes painful to recollect that movie. Batgirl… short lived, as it was and bad as a franchise, let alone a film. Invisible Woman… yes, forgetting that movie too. And of late, we have Black Widow! Now, there are few I have left out because I would need most of the article to explain the what’s and where and trust me, we have a lot to discuss! OK then… just a quick overlay.

Brigitte Nielsen

Brigitte Nielsen

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone

Helen Slater

Helen Slater

X-men has so many swap overs that you have to know your characters to know if they are good, or bad. Storm was a thief, a princess, leader of an underground mutant outcasts and if I brought you up-to-date, there would be a geek uberfest in whether she is good, bad, or just a fence sitter, so just on that character alone, you can imagine if I began to discuss the others that would be where I lose those who actually wanted to know why I am pointing a finger.

So, how did we get to finally have the point where Marvel and DC have a major hold in Hollywood productions and kids actually know what they are all talking about when you mention current super heroes and the many characters that have been around as early as the 1940’s, so it is not a modern thing, by any means.

I think the best way to describe it is that the characters have been diluted! Many nuances, flaws, personalities are there for what Hollywood thinks we want, rather than going with a tried and tested version. It’s like they could not even be bothered to do the homework and make the character an actual iconic figure, except we get one that has been… well, watered down!

So let’s take an example… Gal Gadot is due to play Wonder Woman (which has seemingly been moved to 2016) and the amount of brouhaha that her appointment to the role brought! Believe it, or not, the whole thing was misinterpreted from comic to actress and from the fans. The character is an Amazonian from Themyscira and she is a warrior that is far more advanced than their island suggests. Her persona is dour, yet adaptive to many situation and has never seen a man before their intrusion and always taught never to trust them, so she is naturally brash! Her body type is well toned and a well honed fighter in weapons, hand-to-hand combat and battlefield strategy. Her presence is imposing and can move a room to silence without saying a word. Amazing acrobatic skills, horse riding, aircraft flying and adaptive to ones she has never flown before.

Wonder Woman/Gal Gadot

Wonder Woman/Gal Gadot

Now whilst Hollywood can do most things to make her character stand out and be nearly all the thing on paper… The fans knew that the moment they chose someone of Gadot’s stature, Hollywood will definitely, almost certainly and royally mess it up! The stats are wrong for the body type in height and stature, but given the time now added onto the movie it will be good enough for the build and maybe the other actors will be short enough to give the illusion of her height.

Also the uproar from the fans made Gadot retort and now there is already friction between the die hards and the actress. Granted, she is expected to stand her ground, but the problem is that her speech is not to those for whom decades of collecting and admiring Wonder Woman is their life and passion, but for those that don’t exist! By that I mean that the fans have more knowledge on Wonder Woman than Gadot had given them credit and so it was badly received and likely to have an impact on those that may gone to see it, but will dig their heels and not even entertain it. Trust me; I had a discussion lasting all day on this very subject when it broke!

It doesn’t look good, already we have the future foreboding… how about a present one? Black Widow! Many fans were so excited, that I cannot put into “Safe For Work” terms how much so. However, whilst Scarlett Johansson did the best with what they gave her, she had to up it for Avengers, as they took note of a huge backlash at tepid version on Ironman 2 and made her more character savvy. All they have to do now is give her the right weapons and it will be a complete character. Black Widow is now a character accepted by the masses and her memorabilia is flying off the shelves, which make money for the studios (Hence why they were snapped up by Disney) and more pot to play with for the next film.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson

Now one from the past, but we don’t need to look too far back… Invisible Woman should be as far as we need travel. Jessica Alba was not the obvious choice, but a name all men and women would want to see! When the Fantastic Four finally made it on to our screens it was very lukewarm… and that is no pun intended. As aggressive as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman’s name) is, she loves and adores Reed (her husband-to-be) and so their relationship is not really all that believable. In actuality, her hidden frustrations were not what should activate the power, but give her more believable control over it! Truth is, is that when her raw power is compared to the others, she is the strongest! Even before she learned what to do. Her character was very uneven and bring her into the Hollywood limelight was probably more frightening than the character portrayed in the film! So, when the sequel came out many had hoped for a better Woman, but it was as though they thought people would be duped twice and when people found out, they just didn’t go to see it, or pay for the DVD! Not Jessica’s fault, as the whole film was bad and Chris Evans went on to be Captain America without even as much as a blemish from his previous role.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba

We get to the part where I ask, “Why have we got so little in the way of female superheroes”? If you knew how many powerful and amazing characters they have to choose from, it would be an argument to say they are spoilt for choice! I personally think that considering the male dominance, they truly lack the testes to get a movie out there! It is not hard, sorry about that, but it for some reason we are still driven by egocentric rich alphas that have no clue what really goes on outside their little bubble. A wealth of life and diversity has more than enough room for a female superhero role model.

By Miku Nyan aka Protokitty

By Miku Nyan aka Protokitty

However, they made 3 different versions of Hulk to get to the current one… but how many people know the Hulk has a cousin that is also infected with his blood, but is far sassier and more of a character than her screaming & destructive elder cousin? Jennifer Walters and she is an attorney with a diminutive stature (in human form) and would easily be considered the girl next door! She stays smart and is far more outgoing in her Hulk form, but doesn’t shy away from a fight. She is far more interesting as a character then Bruce Banner, but she has never even made it to be a consideration of female superheroes. I digress, there are female superheroes that are not just a distaff and are more than Hollywood has even bothered to entertain.

I could go on and on with example after example and all are heroes and all are worth their merit, but it seems Black Widow would be flying the flag for 21st century female superheroes and you will have to wait a couple more years for Wonder Woman.

Online gambling, its rise and fall.

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I recently discussed an incident that happened regarding an online gambling site. We will get to that shortly… I have found that the government have had a strange interest in gambling and the alleged taking more than the person can afford to gamble toward betting shops, but not so much toward betting sites! Have we taken a bad thing and made it worse? By that I mean, have we gotten to a stage of where the need to make money is far more important than the consequence? The funny thing about this is that everyone can argue their point and we would not be any closer to an answer. The whole process is fairly tight and multiple accounts cannot be used to take advantage of the offers from gambling company. The information is stored, even if you manage to delete your account and not used it for a while… Well that seems to be not true either, as the need to take your money may be actually greater than the rules set in place! I spoke to Paul Higham from Brighton and he had a situation from Paddy Power!

Stephen Hawking and Paddy Power

Stephen Hawking and Paddy Power

According to a Diamond Reels report, he had placed a bet with them and won £110, but after having won, he was denied the winnings due to the fact he had already opened an account previously! Mr Higham had used the Paddy Power offer which was allegedly for new customers only, but they had already taken his details, allowed to bet his own money with the offer and then told he was unable to claim his winnings due to having been a customer in the past! I am sure had Mr Higham lost, it would have not been a case that they would have liked to refund his money, but since that never happened, I am just speculating. When I contacted Paddy Power for their stance on the subject they looked into it and came back with, “We have looked into the case and are happy it has been dealt with in line with our policies. We aren’t commenting beyond that.”

 

I checked the revenue for online gambling in the UK for the last 5 years and the numbers are astounding. On Facebook alone the gambling sites supported took £1.3 billion in 2010 and almost reflectively in 2014 £3.1 billion. On reflection, it seems as though Mr Higham’s £110 win is not even equitable as a fraction, or a percentage. Initially, I thought that maybe Paddy Power were going to put it down to some miscommunication, or some error they could gladly sort out with a few emails and I could write a happy ending, but unfortunately it took them the best part of a week to even give me the quote, which for one week’s work is pretty underwhelming. However, I digress… As Paddy Power is only one incident that doesn’t pose online gambling in a very good light, could the honeymoon period be over for them and are they looking to just take everything from the customer until the customers finally just give up on them completely? To tell you the truth, I don’t really know! All indications say that online slot machines are starting to get better and better results and customers! Will an odd flutter here and there be able to sustain them and will modern technology be their demise? I wish I had that crystal ball, as I would put the mother of all bets on it! Like most people, I am not against gambling, as we all do it in some form, or another.

 

What I do find disturbing is that in 2014, when technology and business are almost fused together that they thrive off each other. Thus, one must make sure to get into good online gaming sites such as https://www.slotsformoney.com which is legit and offers you the best games out there. Human intervention comes into play and makes the action seem totally illogical. It shows that the computer can make a decision using all the information given and yet still a human can come along and make it seem as though the machine has no ability to do exactly what it was designed to do. So my conclusion for online gambling isn’t that the program is designed to fail from the beginning with the programming it has, but the rules are constantly changing. Something that you can’t program a computer to do and requires actual human intervention. And we all know, “To err is to be human”!

 

 

Diabetes… It’s Not Too Late To Take Control

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Nexus PR have wonderful people there, so when I got notification to go one of their events, I was only too happy. I met Nicky, Emma and Isla at The Balthazar, 4-5 Russell Street, which is a beautiful restaurant, with a naturally beautiful venue room. On entering the upstairs venue room there was an amazing piece of technology, which did an instant scan of your retina and could do a 3D image of your retina and show exactly where, if any, issue involving the retina is! To say it quick would be an understatement and it was well used over the course of the afternoon.

 

There was a genuine point to having the eye testing equipment, which was not the solo piece of medical advice there, as they had blood pressure testing too! Things attributed to Diabetes, but either overlooked, or ignored by the person with it! Simply health Advisory Research Panel (ShARP) were the company supporting the event and Speaking on behalf of ShARP was the exceedingly talented Dr Gill Jenkins.  Who is a practising GP (in Bristol) with special interests in lifestyle health, in particular around obesity, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, lipid management and joint health. Dr Jenkins has a breadth of medical experience since qualifying in 1981, including psychiatry, cardiology, rheumatology and emergency medicine. Her skills are not just in medicine, but whilst her Pilot’s license wasn’t needed in the event, it just goes to show how remarkable she is. After Dr Jenkins, was Dr Ralph Abraham. Dr Abraham specialises in diabetes and Endocrinology; lipid disorders; heart disease prevention. Dr Abraham Trained at Kings College Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital as an academic physician turning to full time private practice in 1984. Founded London Medical in 1991.

 

Rounding things up was Francesca Marchetti. Francesca is a self-employed optometrist working in the West Midlands/Warwickshire area, for both multiple and independent practices. She has previously worked as a part time lecturer/clinical demonstrator at Aston University. Francesca works at the “Midland Eye Institute” in their refraction clinics. She has recently been appointed secretary to the Warwickshire LOC (Leaders in Oncology Care) and is an AOP (Association of Optometrists) Councillor for the Midlands. Dr Jenkins started the proceedings by listing the reason behind Diabetes Mellitus. Poor sugar control can lead to:

 

  • Higher risk of heart disease.
  • Peripheral vascular disease.
  • Stroke.
  • Kidney damage.
  • Erectile issues
  • Nerve damage.

I think that the penultimate reason alone is a reason for males to make sure their blood sugar levels are kept in check! The stats may bore the general public, but they are a correlation of information compiled to show how far and how long this disease has been going! Mitigating factors can contribute to diabetes, such as high blood pressure, obesity, age, reduction in activity levels and unsurprisingly denial. Dr Jenkins said that the number of pre-diabetes has tripled since 2003, which is shocking by any means! If you had millions of pounds (sterling) and it tripled in 10 years, I am sure that you would not be upset. However, that figure is attributed to the number of people. The strange thing is that people are not really educated about diabetes! We all either know someone, or have a family member with it, but yet people are not bothered about such a debilitating disease. They are not in the knowledge of how they can lose their sight or limbs down to diabetes and it is often too late when they are in a situation that threatens to do just that! Bariatric (weight loss) surgery has shown to reverse the condition in 86% of people with Type 2 diabetes.

 

This proves that sufficient diet can also do this, however, many people with this condition are not motivated enough to change their diet sufficiently. The NHS spend £13.8 billion per annum treating people with diabetes. Believe it, or not, that figure is conservative! That doesn’t take into account complications, or other treatments extenuating from this. Dr Jenkins also explained that whilst some young people get Type 1 diabetes, it is usually virally activated and out of the total amount of people that have diabetes, about 85%-95% are type 2! I suppose that was as good a point as any to make way for Dr Abraham to speak, as trying to prepare yourself for more frightening stats is not easy! He started by saying, “If you have pre-diabetes it’s silent. There are no symptoms and a shocking number of people are in this position and are sleep walking towards serious health problems. It is particularly important to be aware of your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, especially if you’re overweight, or have a family history of diabetes.” ShARP did a series of surveys and found that 53% of adults questioned had convinced themselves they were at no risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. 49% were displaying potential signs of diabetes. And the amazing figures kept coming! 76% with potential diabetes had not mentioned it to their doctor. 38% believed their symptoms were not serious. 18% disliked seeing their GP and 14% turned to the internet for advice over their GP… Exercise is one of the easiest way to attack pre-diabetes.

 

Almost 21% of adult never, or rarely, work up a sweat working out. Diet also works well, so that in tandem with exercise is a great combination. A Mediterranean diet, high in fruit, vegetables, monounsaturated fats, grains, legumes, nuts, lean meat and moderate intake of dairy foods has been found to reduce the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 83%. Dr Abraham made an excellent analogy referring to the amount of glucose that is in the modern human’s body. Just for reference, it is in nearly everything you eat… even things like Beef burgers!! It’s an industrial compound… which we happen to ingest. Anyway, the analogy was this, “If you think of putting glucose in a hot pan, it will start to turn to liquid then bubble and then solidify and become brittle. If you apply that to the human body and 30-40 years of glucose in your body at 37 degrees Celsius then it is similar to caramelising.” Given or lifestyle, we should be looking at what we eat better and how we take care of ourselves! We are not the same as our forefathers and their diet was different! They worked, because it was fundamental to survival and was an everyday occurrence. Given how we, as modern humans, take all this for granted, we should be more vigilant and aware of the things we do and do not do. Looking at the whole picture, Dr Abraham stated a Nine Care Process to check yourself.

 

  • Blood pressure.
  • Weight.
  • Smoking status.
  • Cholesterol – blood checks.
  • Hba1c blood checks (long term sugar level).
  • Eye checks including Retinal Screening.
  • Feet check – peripheral pulse loss from vascular damage and sensory loss from nerve damage.
  • Kidney check – including renal function blood tests – especially creatinine and eGFR.
  • Urinary Albumin.

Most people would not associate any of these with diabetes, but it is often the start of pre-diabetes and on to a more serious Type 2 diabetes. The most interesting things about these events are the fact that many stats scare, but you find one subject that just rattles you and leaves you thinking, “I’m sorry… say that again!” for me it was the St George’s University of London research that patients with foot ulcers are also more likely to die from heart disease, or a stroke! Yep, I had to do a double take when that was mentioned! How often do we check our feet, or take anything happening to them seriously? Remember that the accumulation of negligence and ignorance is the main reason people suffer from diabetes. I was hoping that the effervescent Francesca Marchetti would be able to get the shock from my system… well, it is a talk on diabetes and she is the eye specialist… I only hoped that it would be. Many of us had already had or eye scans before sitting down, so many of the people in the room were secretly hoping a picture similar to their eyes didn’t appear… thankfully one didn’t! Diabetic patients are at more risk from glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye). The retina needs a constant supply of blood, but high blood sugar levels can cause blood vessels to become blocked, or leak! This damages the retina and stops it from working!

 

Blood leakages are easier to detect than plasma leakages, but both are damaging to the retina if supply is lost! Everyone that has diabetes should have an annual eye exam. A bleed in the eye is often a reflection of one in the body, or brain. Francesca stated that in England alone, 1280 people a year go blind because of diabetic retinopathy. That also tends to be down to poor systematic diabetic control. Francesca passed around some glasses to imitate stages of cataracts and retinopathy, which shows how annoying it must be for people with these symptoms. Cataracts can occur 10-15 years earlier in patients with diabetes. Surgery can prevent further damage, but at the moment there is no cure for retinopathy. Francesca also started dropping starts which should not exist, by right, but the human animal is a strange creature indeed! About 48% of people with diabetes have never had their eyes checked… I wonder how many without diabetes would fit into that demographic. A third of people with diabetes will develop renal disease because of the damage to the small blood vessels in the kidney. A woman is 8 times more likely to develop kidney disease, but for men it’s 12 times more likely! Men just need to stop being so “macho” and just get checked!! Kidney disease kills 21% of people with Type 1 diabetes and 11% of those with Type 2! Because high blood pressure is more common amongst diabetics, this all adds to the complications and enhances the danger. Elevated AGE (Advanced Glycation End)  have been linked to a host of problems including:

 

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Liver damage
  • Formation of amyloid plaques, which lead to Alzheimer’s
  • Impaired kidney function
  • Extensive brain damage from strokes

Apart from the link between AGE and dementia, evidence suggests that getting diabetes in middle age increases the odds of a form of brain damage associated with dementia. Brain scans from the Mayo Clinic confirmed that having blood sugar problems can literally shrink the brain, with diabetics having an average of 2.9% less brain volume than those without the condition. Midlife diabetes was also associated with an 85% rise in micro-strokes. I always think that “micro” doesn’t extend the seriousness of the stroke! It is serious enough to shut down functions of the body, which means it should be taken seriously and not ignored to the point it becomes debilitating. Francesca finished off by some facts that don’t look good for our future, if this is not stemmed as a disease and even things like depression can be detrimental to the condition doing its own damage along with the disease. Thankfully the meal was ready to cheer up the crowd.

 

The sad thing is that we need events to make people aware, but maybe the media can make things better! The awareness needs to be wider afield and not just a quick advert telling how wonderful a product is to eat (or drink), but actually letting people know more about it!  Whilst many are aware of the dangers of modern additives and excess sugar, feeding it to your family does not help the situation. We got to chat to the specialists during the meal from The Balthazar and Francesca said thatthe UK has a National Eye Health Week! I didn’t even know!! It is from 22nd September – 28th September this year and if you have never  had an eye check, or are overdue one, that would be the best time as any, so you have no excuse about forgetting, or  being too busy. It is a weeklong and you have had more than enough warning. From the wonderful women of Nexus to the wonderful speakers of this event, is association with ShARP.

 

 

Dr Jenkins can be found at www.sharppanel.co.uk/sharp-experts/dr-gill-jenkins

Dr Abraham can be found at www.londonmedical.co.uk/en/consultants/ralph-abraham

Francesca Marchetti can be found at www.college-optometrists.org

Details for The Balthazar can be found at www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Dining/Balthazar/7bc84/

Goat's Cheese and Tomato Medley.

Goat’s Cheese and Tomato Medley.

Lamb Cutlets with Sauteed New Potatoes and Veg

Lamb Cutlets with Sauteed New Potatoes and Veg

Lemon Cheesecake with Raspberry and Cream

Lemon Cheesecake with Raspberry and Cream

 

And don’t forget that National Eye Health Week is from 22nd September – 28th September 2014. Thank you Nicky, Emma and Isla at nexuspr.com

 

MH 370… A Conspiracy?

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The quiet after such an event is unsettling. 239 people are missing and still there are no signs of anything being done to remedy this. The facts seem to make the loss of this aircraft almost impossible and unlikely. Lets’ start at the beginning and see what we can ascertain. March 8, 2014 Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong vanished from sight. No distress calls were indicated by pilots or electrical systems. No wreckage of a crash site has been discovered.  The question still remains: what happened to flight MH370? Before we look as far as the flight, we have to look before the announcements were made! 2 stolen passports were recorded and queried after the flight had left the ground and not before. One Italian (Luigi Maraldi, 37) and one Austrian. (Christian Kozel).

 

 

The strange thing about this is, I heard from the Walter Maraldi before I heard about the missing plane! This what he said over the missing passport, “Last summer he was in Thailand and handed over the passport so he could hire a scooter but when he brought it back, they said they had already given it back to someone else, so he reported it stolen. The whole thing is a mix up – we have no idea who the person was that used my son’s passport. The first I knew something had happened was when my son rang from Thailand on Saturday morning to say he was alive.” “He said he had seen his name on the news reports as being on the missing airplane and he wanted to let us know he was alive and well. To be honest, I had no idea what he was talking about as I hadn’t seen the news by then.” “Once everything was cleared up, we said goodbye and I went and watched the news – a few minutes later the Italian Foreign Ministry rang to ask if I was the father of Luigi Maraldi and to say that he was on the passenger list.” “They were amazed when I said they were mistaken as I had just spoken to him and he was fine. They asked me for his number so they could call and check for themselves. They said his passport had been used by someone and they needed to check for certain he was OK. We are delighted that he is ok but he was never really involved in the disaster directly.” Mr Kozel discovered he had been listed when uniformed police officers turned up at his home in Salzburg at the weekend. He said: “I was pretty shocked when I saw them at my door, and was relieved to find out that although I was dead, at least it was only on paper. He said he had reported the passport as stolen while he was in the same part of Thailand two years ago.

 

So given these situations, should Interpol have been more vigilant? Should Malaysia have been more aware and have those passport details on their database? If not then why have a passport with so much information? They were reported missing, but not subject to scrutiny getting on the same flight. Ok, so having thrown that into the first aspect of scrutiny, how about we extend it slightly with irregularities of air traffic control (ATC)… Carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members – took off from Kuala Lumpur at 12.21am (4.21pm GMT) Saturday bound for Beijing, where it was expected to land at 6.30am (10.30pm GMT). However, after reaching 35,000ft and 120 nautical miles off the coast of the Malaysian town of Kota Bharu the plane vanished. _73498637_china_malaysia_plane4_624

Malaysian newspapers that an ‘anonymous’ pilot had heard a ‘mumbled’ last transmission from the aircraft – although this is contradicted by air traffic controllers who say there was no distress call. It is alleged that the transponder was either switched off, or failed, which should have alerted the ATC, as that means other aircraft cannot see them either until they have a visual, which may not be enough time to avoid a collision. It is also alleged that if the aircraft had dropped below 30,000ft the ATC would not have them on their screen, but would still be able to maintain radio contact, so this brings the question of why this was not a red flag! At 1:21AM the plane’s transponder stopped transmitting. The other system that is not mentioned is the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS). The ACARS is a service that runs health checks and diagnostics on an aircraft and reports this information to computers on the ground. It allows planes to receive a transmit information and messages from the ground by radio or digital signals via satellites.

 

According to Malaysian officials the ACARS sent its last update at 1:07AM. It was scheduled to send further updates every 30 minutes, but failed to transmit data at 1:37AM. Inmarsat network had continued to pick up “routine, automated signals” from MH370 hours after it had gone missing. Automated attempts to open channels and allow communication between the aircraft’s systems and the satellites (a process some refer to as a “digital handshake”) were unsuccessful due to Malaysia Airlines no allegedly being subscribed to this service. Satellites ping communication system approximately every hour. In the case of MH370, with the last one taking place around 8:11 AM. This means that the engines and systems were running for at least another 6-7 hours. However, Inmarsat analysts found that satellite contact with the missing plane couldn’t pin point its location. Maybe there is a reason behind Malaysian Airlines not subscribing and the inability of Inmarsat seems to justify it slightly, but not totally. So, between ATC AR3D radars and Inmarsat satellite systems… MH470 disappeared without even a pause for concern. This doesn’t instill confidence for the passengers of any airline flying in the Asian countries in and around that area. Flight path_634x968 Whilst this could all be one huge coincidence, we have yet to include the pilots and their behaviour toward this flight and even before hand. Zaharie Ahmad Shah who is distantly related to the daughter-in-law of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Shah is known to be a supporter of human rights groups and causes, including campaigns for increased media freedom in Malaysia. He is also a close friend of Sivarasa Rasiah, vice-president of the People’s Justice Party, of which Shah is also a member. Authorities believe that the transponder and ACARS were switched of deliberately, some have suspected whether one or both of the pilots have been involved or coerced into rerouting the plane. There has been some scrutiny into the co-pilot’s alleged breaking Malaysia Airlines’ policy of inviting passengers into the cockpit.

 

In 2011 he allegedly invited several young female tourists to join him and his co-pilot in the cockpit, where they reportedly paid little attention to flight controls and instead chat, smoked, took photos and entertained the women. Investigators expressed a theory that involved the missing plane evading radar by dropping to altitudes as low as 1524 metres (5000 feet). A technique known as “Terrain Masking” Also called, “Nav Of The Earth” flying. Highly skilled and used by stealth and helicopter pilots. Managing this for several hours is akin to military style flying, so how much training did the pilot have and to do this confidently for hours is nothing to sniff at. Does this mean they did this deliberately, or was this done to avert systems failure? Even if the theory of flying in another aircraft’s shadow is to be believed, it still requires amazing skill and concentration.

 

Given that most of this points toward a pilot and co-pilot cooperation, it is unlikely to be something that resembles a pilot suicide, but it has not been ruled out. It is also highly possible that it could have been landed in a remote location. Given the satellite and ATC could not have located the aircraft, the knowledge of the pilot cannot be taken for granted, as the coincidences seem to be piling up. Not saying that they can’t, it just seems that more than the complete information is not being presented, as most of this begins to look and sound like a Hollywood epic. OK, so all information doesn’t look good and the fact that 239 people’s lives have not been accounted for, it has been a calamity and would be comical, if it wasn’t such a disaster. By that I mean that it is unbelievable that something of this nature even exists. And given that the treatment of the grieving parents, family and loved ones was totally unbelievable, I am sure that it must be a cultural contrast to somewhere like the UK, or US. Delayed Message_634x469(Delayed Flight message board for Flight MH370) None of the missing passengers were named, or honoured, in any way by the Airline and even the treatment by the Prime Minister is strange by any standard. And as for the way they conveyed their message, well, I am sure that anyone finding out in this manner would be beside themselves with anger and overflowing with emotion. To remind you, this is what the SMS said, “Malaysian Airlines deeply regrets to inform you that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board survived”. Having put the insensitivity aside, the removal of the distressed woman that are trying to understand that 12 days in they have no information to where their children are, was badly handled and made the authorities look really bad.

 

I understand that the authorities want to be in control, but the families should always be the first to be told ahead of the media and the lack of this empathy alone has meant the world watched the country implode on itself whilst trying to explain what they don’t know and what they haven’t done. So, what could have happened to MH370? Well, there are known theories and also outrageous one. I will leave you to decide which ones are which, but I will indulge in a few to see if any of them are relative to your thoughts. Disintegration is highly unlikely, but not impossible. Factors to destroy everything on that aircraft, including the aircraft, means a vast amount of heat, explosion, or corrosion. To the best of my knowledge, there were no active volcanoes around the area, or in Asia, so that can be ruled out. Given the size of the 777, I would wager that some time would pass before all were disintegrated and an explosion of such magnitude would be noticed! If on board bombs were the cause, they would have to have precision and sophistication, as there would be debris, were it not. Nose dive and sunk… Now this too is unlikely, but also not impossible! Forget about the “oil-slick” trails, as that is not a likely theory. You would see fuel trails before you see oil and that would be a huge amount given the capacity of the fuel tanks and the pilot would have dumped as much as he could before impact. The zero debris is the thing that doesn’t support that theory and the fact that absolutely nothing managed to see, spot, or notice it considering the ship and aircraft traffic along the suspected routes.

 

However, all this can be also done in a gap in traffic and timed perfectly, or unlucky to not have someone come and see it at the right time. “Lost”! I am hoping that the whole area is known to the military as well as the users of the flight path and the sea vessels that use the area too! I have never been to Malaysia and not sure it’ on my “To Do” list, as I have other places I need to visit first! All sarcasm aside, I can assume that no mysticism has cloaked the aircraft and an island has them trapped in plain sight… OK, so I had a little sarcasm left, but just making sure that all avenues are considered… Hijacking… erm… there has been nothing to suggest this and we have heard no demands. No claims of a sectarian group claiming it in the name of whomever. And this would be the strangest hijacking in the history of hijacks! I still have to put the options on the table and make sure that I don’t have my totally clouded opinion on the table, as it were. Bad weather… no, I am not clutching at straws, as it was reported that the weather was not idyllic for search aircraft, left alone a 777, which is a better glider given the wingspan (Just shy of 200ft) and relatively young at only 20 years of service as an aircraft. It’s safety records and capabilities should almost negate the weather of that day, but could it still be a factor? One serious enough to keep as a plausible possibility? My opinion says no, but it also doesn’t mean a freak weather We are approaching 4 month, as of the publishing of this article, when flight MH370 was first announced that it had gone missing and everything is quiet. No updates, no noise from the families and loved ones… Have the FAA/CAA learnt little to nothing since the Air France 477? 5 years is a long time and the fact it took 2 years to find that aircraft, you’d have hoped systems would have been upgraded, made more able to be found by constant activation codes and mapping. Many things that have been invented don’t have to be cumbersome and can easily be installed without interfering with current systems. Even though the 777 has one of the best jet liner safety records. I could give you stats about how impressive it is and the groundbreaking technology and capabilities it holds, but I don’t think the issue lies with the Aircraft, but the human! Malaysian Airlines could have done so much and yet they allowed profit before people. Their shares plummeted (excuse the connotations) after MH370 and confidence is not a word associated with the airline and its board, let alone the franchise as a whole. Whilst the problem lays at their feet, they have not been active enough to get things done and seemingly unwilling to be held accountable.

 

According to the airline, they have given contractors 300 days to find the aircraft. Malaysian Airlines have set plans for new aircraft, but they will be arriving in 2015 and likely to be the 737, which has more modifications than the 777, but will it raise their poor share price? Naturally tourism and flights have taken a major hit and is at an all time low. Kuala Lumpur is looking at ways to improve the ailing situation… Have you noticed that there is nothing to aid those still grieving and looking for answers? Well, After three months of failed search efforts, families have become convinced the authorities are concealing the truth about the disappearance of the Boeing 777 and will launch the crowd-funding campaign Indiegogo in a bid to get answers. The campaign comes as Malaysia’s acting transport minister Hishammuddin Hussein condemned Boeing and Rolls Royce this week for their part in the search for the missing jet and has hit back that responsibility for the entire investigation should fall on Malaysia, Australia and China. “We are taking matters into our own hands,” Sarah Bajc told The USA Today, whose partner Philip Wood, 50, was on the flight. “There is no credible evidence that the plane is in the southern Indian Ocean, where planes, boats and a mini-sub have searched in vain for week. “I’m convinced that somebody is concealing something.” “Called ‘Reward MH370: The Search for the Truth,’ the campaign will launch Monday on Indiegogo, starting with minimum donations of $5. A $2 million fund for private investigators is also being raised to follow up leads, which Bajc acknowledges “won’t go very far”.

 

The grieving relatives of passengers on board missing flight MH370 is offering a $3 million (£1.8m) reward for a whistleblower to come forward and give key information into the flight’s investigation. This will add a new dimension to the outcome and many false stories, psychics, scryers and scam artists will try to be the hero of the mystery or just in it for the money. So, what have we learned as we look through the facts? It all looks like an epic story from the most unbelievable and incredible movie to come out of Hollywood. A seemingly strange events that when laid out seem suspicious and fictitious. It would seem almost mystical in its entirety. Until more information arises, the tale will always be clouded with conspiracies and twisted information. If as outrageous and mystical as this all seems, one can only hope that a miracle happens and brings them all safe home to their loved ones and a whole new chapter will arise as to what really happened?

 

 

Patricia Byrne Dies Aged 80

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Better known as Patsy Byrne, born on July 13, 1933 in Ashford, Kent, England. Easily remembered for one role that is iconic… “Nursie”(Bernard) in Blackadder!

patsy byrne blackadder death

Patsy was married to Patrick John Seccombe from 1967 until his death in 2000. It is with a saddened heart that we lose an icon on 17 June 2014 at Denville Hall, a retirement home for performers in Northwood, London. She was 80. She leaves behind her 6 step-children.

Her career spanned from 1962, The Cherry Orchard, all the way to 2006 on Holby City. Her range of acting was vast and was even on BBC’s children TV shows, as well as dramas and, of course, comedies.

Her talent is not restricted to the screen, but having toured the with the RSC, where Patsy met her husband, she also doubled as an assistant stage manager, at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch. Later taking acting roles at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, and eventually the Royal Court in London. In 1998, Patsy played the character, “Toussaint” in Les Miserable.

The only daughter of a railway engineer, Patricia Anne Thirza Byrne was born on July 13 1933 at Ashford, Kent, and educated at Ashford Grammar School for Girls. After studying Drama at the Rose Bruford College.

Patsy Byrne revealed that the Queen’s nurse’s real name was Bernard, apparently an in-joke inspired by the Conservative politician Bernard Jenkin.

Her loss is to the industry will not be forgotten and immortalised as her character in Blackadder, she will live on and thankfully bring a smile as big as hers! With Rik Mayall (Lord Flasheart) also passing through the veil, I am sure they will be banding together making jokes and more laughter with their own sketches.

Thank you, Patsy, may you hold your head high, as you leave a legacy most actors only dream of.

 

 

Stephanie Kwolek: A Biography

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Stephanie Kwolek was born to Polish immigrant parents in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, July 31st 1923.

In 1946, Stephanie earned a degree in chemistry from Margaret Morrison Carnegie College of Carnegie Mellon University. She had planned to become a doctor and hoped she could earn enough money from a temporary job in a chemistry-related field to attend medical school. Stephanie initially only intended to work for DuPont temporarily, she found the work interesting enough to stay and not pursue a medical career.

Kevlar, which Stephanie Kwolek invented.

Kevlar, which Stephanie Kwolek invented.

Stephanie Kwolek is the inventor who pioneered a technology used in protecting many soldier and police! She was working for DuPont, a chemical company, when she managed to figure out how to produce the super-strong compound in 1964. But it took Stephanie, who joined DuPont in 1946, 15 years to score a promotion! It took until 1999 until she received recognition for the achievement, but she was extremely humble and not bitter saying, “If you were ambitious and applied yourself, you could acquire a great deal of knowledge. There were a lot of bright, creative men. This made the atmosphere in which I worked so stimulating and so enjoyable.”

Stephanie Kwolek solved a problem other scientists had not. Extremely rigid polymers like the ones the chemists worked with were very hard to dissolve. But Stephanie Kwolek came up with a chemical solution that, when spun a certain way, came out bundled with all the fibres twisted in one direction.

Stephanie knew immediately she’d come up with something big. She though, “the whole thing was very exciting, let me tell you. The stiffness was absolutely spectacular. That’s when I said, “Aha.” I knew then and there it was an important discovery.”

Kevlar was so much stronger than DuPont’s previous inventions, the company had to get a new machine to measure its toughness.

So why am I reporting all this and making it an article? The problem is that Stephanie Kwolek died June 18th 2014 and I had to do some extensive research to see why the UK newspapers had not covered this story!

As an ex-military man myself, I owe her for the practical implication that I have had the pleasure of working throughout my service career. And the life saving properties during the conflicts. So I feel saddened that considering our lives have been changed on such a dramatic scale that she has had no kudos, coverage, or even a mention that is worthy of a pioneer and an amazing woman.

I could write on about how magnificent her achievement is and given the era, she had to work against a male dominated field and the money DuPont would have made in her stead would have been significant, to say the least! I am almost certain that you are wearing, or have worn something made by this woman and not have even known the history behind her.

Stephanie Kwolek has done few interviews and when she has, she has always seemed happier to have done the invention than to have been recognised for it and I think ending this article on a quote will sum up the woman and how grateful I am to her.

I raise a glass in the celebration of the understated magnificence of Stephanie Kwolek and you have the last word on how revered you are.

“At least, I’m hoping I’m saving lives. There are very few people in their careers that have the opportunity to do something to benefit mankind.”

Stephanie Kwolek died June 21st 2014, aged 90