Too fat for x-rays

 
“The nation’s rising obesity problems mean many citizens are not only too large for scanners but they have too much fat for the rays to penetrate.”

What the hell? It seems that reality is turning upon itself and we are entering some kind of strange new world. I’m not making this one up, its actually true. I’m thinking if radiation can’t get through your body, then there might be a problem…

Here is the link: Americans ‘too fat for x-rays’

And on the other side of the country, the opposite seems to be happening: Refugees taught how to eat American food

Maybe there is a middle ground where everyone can lean the benefits of eating properly? I doubt the locals will like refugees telling them about portion sizes, and vegetable counts…

Brilliant Blue

Sitting at work, we are snacking on a packet of Smarties sent over by Amber’s parents from Canada. As they were passed around, everyone became more excited than usual when they discovered that it has the blue coloured smarties. I’m told that these were banned by the EU many years ago, since they cause hyperactivity in children. There is a yellow colouring that is banned in the USA that isn’t covered here that basically does the same thing, so it all balances out it seems. Bizzare that there is no standard on this. Here is the offical word on E133, Brilliant Blue:

“Used in dairy products, sweets and drinks, synthetic usually occurring as aluminium lake (solution) or ammonium salt; Can cause hyperactivity, skin rashes, bronchoconstriction (combined with 127 and 132), chromosomal damage. It is also used in inks, as a fabric and wool dye, and to stain proteins. Banned in British Commonwealth 1972-1980. Banned in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway Switzerland, Sweden.” Refer to the Food Additives Guide for more info.

They are good for work productivity though.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Only 2 more weeks until the festival starts. I’ve actually already heard mixed reviews on it. The locals complain about the crowds, some people say its the same every year, but others are really into it and say its always a good time. I think it doesn’t depend how much you get into it, explore new things, and drop any judgements for a while. Plenty of tourists, but plenty of people having a good time too I hope. Either way, this is what I’ve got lined up:

Chanbara Yamato
This extraordinary new show, from the creators of the Yamato Drummers and the sword masters behind Kill Bill, combines the power of the Taiko drums and the Samurai sword in a breathtaking and explosive spectacle.

Trans-Canada Highway
Come with me as I re-live the events as I hitch-hiked the world’s longest highway. The road ahead is icy, the weather unforgiving, the driver a stranger and the passenger petrified…

Best of Irish Comedy
Ireland’s finest under one roof. Excellent value Celtic showcase featuring three top comics for the price of one.

Dwight Slade
Dwight’s quest for truth-n-justice continues with his loyal companion: a mischievous, irrational Dark Monkey (that some say is the soul of his comedy-partner Bill Hicks…)

Howard Marks – An Audience With Señor Nice
Brand new show based on Howard’s long awaited follow up to his 800,000 selling autobiography, ‘Mr. Nice’, titled ‘Señor Nice – Straight Life’, an exclusive preview to Howard’s forthcoming UK stand-up tour.

Will let you know how they all turn out

Home Baking

In the last few days I’ve been trying out some new recipies, some for the summer, some just with new ingredients, and some new techniques. Inspired by Jen’s mention of Indian bread, I decided to have a go at making it. The results are in the picture above. I made 3 in total, but the first was a little like cardboard, a few adjustments and the two above was pretty tasty. Not quite perfect yet, so expect a few more test samples to be put up soon.

Year of the Loan

After eight long years of this dark debt cloud over my head, I’ve managed to pay off my student loan. Finally. Everything is reset back to zero and it’s a new financial beginning. It took a lot longer than it should of because of some early enjoyable reckless spending, and not really caring about the loan on my first trip to the UK, and while in Canada, allowing it to grow with the high interest rate the government imposes on those further educating themselves to ultimately help the country (or another one in my case). Nothing like charging students interest while they are still in university. Luckily the government have revised this now and only require you to stay in the country to live interest free.

However, I am glad that such a scheme exists so I could take advantage of it, spend it up, then slowly pay it all back.

Yoga

Tonight I finished week 4 of my beginners (astanga) yoga class, reaching the half way point. Its great to be doing something once again fitness wise, especially yoga which I enjoy. The classes are starting to get more interesting as the flow of postures is slowly coming together but some are still really confusing and without being told the names of each its a bit trickier to look up on the web. Sharing with another class doesn’t really help either since it disturbs the flow of energy (its easier if everyone in the place is doing the same thing). I glance over at the advanced classes and they seem to have the same problem. Just people in a room together, no real interaction even if it is a silent focused one.

I’m not disregarding it althogether though, will see how I go in the next few classes.

Food section added.

I’ve finally got the food section going. Will be adding to it as I test out more receipes. Hopefully add in some photos too for the full effect. Might try and take a travel angle on it as well, good ones to make on the road maybe? See how we go…

Use the link on the menu above to check it out, or just click here

All systems go…

One week after that dreadful night of crashing harddrives, everything has been returned to normal, if not better. I’ve recovered most of the data, and put it all on a new hard drive monitored constantly by backup systems. I was lucky to only lose a bit of music (which I have replaced) and thats all. Everything is a bit more organised now too, so will hopefully have a more frequent flow of photos appearing on the site.

Thats enough talk about computers for now

Pinhole Workshop

Yesterday I went along to a free little workshop on pinhole camera. Basically, its a home-made camera using a blacked out cardboard box, and a bit of foil with a pinhole in it as the lens. The image is recorded on photographic paper which is then developed. This is the result…

Advocate’s Close

London Photos are now up too…

Mind Games

Do you ever just sit at work on a friday afternoon, look around the office and try to image what type of animal everyone would be?

Another long day…