Monday, November 26, 2007

Nov 26 BusyMothers Companion

WWW.busymothers.com.au

At Busy Mothers we are committed to supporting parents in the exciting and challenging task of managing a busy family.

We spoke to Catherine Lockhard about this great resource!

The Concept:

At Busy Mothers’ we are committed to supporting parents in the exciting and challenging task of parenting and organising a busy family. We know that parenting is busy, hard work yet truly rewarding. The Busy Mothers team, Catherine and Gillian, wanted a resource to help them organise their families and lives. As teachers they were used to having systems in place to help make the running of their classroom smoother and easier allowing them more time to concentrate on what was really important – teaching their students. They wanted something similar for their homes that would allow them to concentrate on what was really important – spending time with their families. When they couldn’t find anything that suited their needs, they came up with their own system and The Busy Mothers Companion was created.

The Companion:

The Companion gives parents tools they can use to help keep the day to day running of their family and household in order. You can individualise your companion to suit your family.

What do you receive when you purchase the Busy Mothers’ Companion?

• Your own personal assistant. Well, not quite but the next best thing.

• More time to do the things you like to do.

• Less stress in your day.

• An end to feeling that you are always chasing your tail.

• A way for you to acknowledge what it is you actually achieve each day.

• A place for you to easily access all the tools you need to organise your busy household.

At Busy Mothers what we want for you, is to be able to:

• Really enjoy the time you spend with your kids.

• Acknowledge the great job you are doing.

• Reduce the amount of time you spend on fiddly, sometimes annoying yet necessary household organisation.

• Increase your energy levels by redirecting your time to the most important areas of your life.

• Stay one step ahead of your family so you can anticipate their needs and respond rather than react in damage control.

• Create the space to be able to take care of your own needs as well as those of your family.

Here are some emails we have received from our customers:

Your companion is fantastic. Having a lot of fun sorting it all out,

Thank you again.

Nikki

Thank you for compiling the companion, it has so much in the way of tools that have been around for so long, it just took a couple of clever mums to put it all together. So far I am still filling up my companion, but, I have actually used it more than a few times. I am looking forward to spending more time finalizing and personalizing my companion more.

Kind Regards

Maryanne

Just knowing that I can record every little aspect of our day to day lives, in the one spot (where it can''t get lost) and it will all be there to refer to when I need it and help our family unit run so much more smoothly and organised, will be such an enormous help to our family and finally let me get back on top of things. Sally, Qld I have found the BMC so helpful, I really don’t know if I can pick a single page out! If I was to choose the one we use the most, it would be the menu planner… this has been a life saver in our household… I now know exactly what is for dinner every night, no more struggling to dream up something at the last minute… but the one page I would probably pick out [as my favourite] would be the Medical information tracker as I have never had anything like this to record all the children’s medical info, chickenpox and surgeries etc… its fantastic. We have changed Doctor’s a few times over the years, due to moving etc… so our medical records are all over the place, its great to have our own records to keep track!!

So thank you!!

Karen Qld.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Nov 25: Advertising in the UAE/Middle East

Are we getting the best advertising, branding, experience when it comes to PR and Marketing in the the UAE?

Maybe?

What is certain is we get a lot of excuses.

What we also know is that small is the new big and the boutique agencies are cleaning up!

What we also know is there are many jobs waiting to be had IF YOU ARE HUNGRY!

Too bad people today want the easy way out!

MOVEMBER

You still have time to throw a dirham, dollar, pound at my MO!

www.movember.com

James Piecowye

161223

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

nov 21 Sexy and Handsome with Hood Habits

We spoke to the Good Habits ladies last night, and ate some great cake!

Carole Holditch and Paula Savage walked us through a way to look like a million dirhams for life.

Seems pretty easy!

contact us!
Please feel free to contact us for information, advice or help.

info@goodhabitsuae.com

Welcome to Good Habits
THE GOOD HABITS WAY!!!

If you�re looking for a quick fix to permanent weight loss, here�s why you are destined to fail��.

So diets don�t work for you. You�ve tried every one going and lost a few pounds on all of them. You�ve starved on grapefruits, brought packets of slim shakes, sickened yourself with cabbage soup, know the calorie count of every biscuit etc. You do lose weight�..and then you�ve started eating normally again and arrived back at square one.

The truth is if you are overweight there are no miracle cures to give you instant and permanent weight loss. Healthy weight loss should be gradual, �if its fast it will not last!� On a well balanced healthy diet, you should lose 1lb-2lb/ � -1kg per week. Basically all you need to do is take in fewer calories than you burn up, combine this with increased exercise and you�re on the way to success!

A Healthy body needs a healthy diet and you don�t get this by eating just one or two specific foods or existing on a calorie intake that�s just above starvation level. Healthy eating need not be boring or expensive and doesn�t mean worrying about what to eat. Its about feeling well and staying healthy, It means eating more of many popular foods that help our health, which makes it easier to eat less of fatty and sugary foods. No food should be forbidden and variety is important. It often means only small changes in the meals you already eat, just eat more of some food and less of others.

Take your diet seriously and make the choice to change your eating habits for life and start making your diet work for you!
We don�t wish you good luck, luck has absolutely nothing to do with it! Instead we invite you to become part of Good Habits. That way you can�t fail and that�s a promise!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

nov 20 CYBER Presence with Dr. Catherine Todd

We spoke to Dr. Catherine Todd about the cyber world and how we live there and why! Amazing.

The message? We need to think more about all things cyber!

Faculty Profile

Dr. Catherine Todd
B.Eng. [Hons.], PhD [Electrical Engineering]

Dr. Catherine Todd is an Assistant Professor in the College of Information Technology. Catherine received the B. Eng. (Electrical) degree with honors (Class I), followed by the PhD degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wollongong, Australia. In 2002 she completed a cadetship in Electrical Engineering at the BHP Steelworks in Port Kembla, Australia. Prior to joining UOWD, Dr. Todd worked as a staff member at the School of Informatics, University of Wollongong in Australia. Her academic interests are in the areas of digital signal (image) processing and control systems, with particular focus on virtual manipulation and its applications in medical education. Dr. Todd’s research interest includes: Decision Support Systems for Mammogram and Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Artificial Retinas, and Automated Segmentation and Manipulation of the Human Cochlea.

Cyber (subculture)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007)

An example of cyber fashion

Cyber, also referred to as cyber culture or cyberculture, is the name given to a subculture that has roots in multiple music scenes including the European Dark scene and rave/clubbing scenes. Someone who identifies with the Cyber subculture can be referred to as a "cyber", although the term "cybergoth" is used to refer to what is perceived by some as a goth-influenced end of the subculture, and "cyberkid" to refer to those who attend trance/hard dance clubs. While science-fiction inspired fashion and an interest in electronic dance music are two areas that define the cyber subculture, cybers also tend to have a general interest in new and future technology, an optimistic view of its influence on society, and other such cyberculture topics. The subculture enjoys niche status and a

Tips And Resources: Teens Online

Web Sites And Blogs About Teens And Technology

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2007

(AP / CBS)

(CBS) Parents of teenagers have always been concerned about what their sons and daughters are up to. But in the technology era of ultra-connected tweens and teens, it's a lot harder to keep track of young adults' every move.

A new study shows that at least 93 percent of Americans between the ages of 12 and 17 use the Internet regularly. When socializing is largely digital, what's a parent to do?

Read on for tips on how to keep teens safe online - and lots of useful links for Internet users of all ages.

Expert Tips For Parents

CBS News science and technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg interviewed author Gregory Smith about how to keep teens safe online. He gave CBS News some tips to share.

1. Get up to speed on modern-day technologies. Parents can't fight a battle that they don't understand. This includes taking an inventory of everything in the house that can connect to the Internet.

2. Use content filtering on any computer that a minor uses at home to access the Internet. My recommendation is CyberPatrol, which has easy to use pre-set age-based filter settings.

3. Use stealth technology where appropriate for troubled teens or teens suspected of using the Internet to access inappropriate content or those who communicate with strangers. My recommendation is PC Tattletale. No matter what - don't disclose that your using stealth software to your kids. They'll think you know a little more than they do and that's good enough to make them think twice.

4. Develop an Internet Use Policy for your children and clearly spell out expectations and repercussions. My book gives a good example of a draft agreement. If kids break the rules, warn first, then revoke the appropriate online capability if abused a second time. Internet usage and tools are a privilege, not a right and most come with fees to use them.

5. Talk to your children about the risks of going online. Don't sugar coat the risks either. This is possibly the most important recommendation I can make. Make sure your kids know that they can come to you and talk about anything. A healthy relationship between parents and kids helps pave the way for a good childhood and better prepares them for a prosperous life as an adult.

Related Resources

Check out Gregory Smith's Web site here.

GetNetWise is a service supplied by the Internet industry corporations and other groups "to help ensure that Internet users have safe, constructive, and educational or entertaining online experiences." Check out its tools for families database or its training series.

For a report from the Progress and Freedom Foundation titled Parental Controls and Online Child Protection: A Survey of Tools and Methods, click here.

Check out the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee, a "diverse group of public interest, non profit and industry groups working to educate the Congress and the public about important Internet-related policy issues."

GenTech on CBSNews.com

In compiling the series "GenTech: The Wiring of Teen America," the staff at CBSNews.com looked at many Web sites and blogs. Here are some interesting places to find more information. While we found them useful, we can't vouch for all the information found in them.

BlogSafety.com - A forum where teens, parents, teachers and adult bloggers can learn about the benefits of safe blogging & social networking.

WebMD’s Health Blogs - The blog page of WebMD, with discussions on variety of health-related topics.

CMDC: Children’s Digital Media Center - Funded by the National Science Foundation, this university partnership examines the impact of the media on youth.

CyberTipline - National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's site for reporting sexual exploitation of children.

Instructional Technology Resources - A blog on technology resources for educators, maintained by an Ashland University librarian.

Technology and Child Development Blog - The blog for a class at the University of Washington on the new technologies influencing kids and how technology influences childhood development.

Family Resource - Uses the accessibility of the Internet to educate parents on subjects ranging from relationships to finances.

GetNetWise - From the Internet Education Foundation, this Web site enables parents to protect their families from online dangers.

Guardian Angel Technology - Research and shop for the latest technologies in personal tracking, from cell phones to child monitoring devices, to prevent kids from going missing.

i-SAFE America - Non-profit foundation, endorsed by the U.S. Congress, dedicated to protect the online experiences of youth.

Kotaku - A regularly updated insider’s look to the freshest trends in computer gaming.

National Institute on Media and the Family - A nonprofit, national resource center for research, information, and education about the impact of the media on children and families.

NetSmartz Workshop - Co-founded by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, this Web site is an interactive safety resource to teach kids and teens how to stay safe on the Internet.

Newsome.org - The personal blog of lawyer and professor Kent Newsome, with a focus on legal and technology-related topics.

Parent Hacks - A blog about parenting that includes “practical parenting wisdom.”

Opinionated Parenting - A parenting blog where a mother and a father face-off on different issues.

Parenting Club - An online parenting community that includes parenting tips and advice, as well as message boards.

Parents.com - Web site for Parents magazine that includes articles and advice.

Pew Internet & American Life Project - Produces official survey reports on the impact of the Internet on multiple facets of life.

Polly Klaas Foundation - An organization that distributes missing child information, child internet safety advice, and other parenting information.

SafeKids.com - A site that is a “family guide to making the Internet and technology fun, safe and productive.” It includes child internet safety advice and information for parents.

SaferSurfers.com - A site “dedicated to helping families surf the Internet with awareness, safety, and knowledge.”

SafeTeens.com - A site with information for teens and parents about safe blogging and internet surfing.

Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education - An academic site dedicated to technology use in education.

Software Time - A product that limits the amount of time that can be spent online.

National Cyber Security Alliance - Advice and resources on cyber security.

The Mom Coach - A blog for mothers and their families.

The Parenting Chat - A message board for parents of young children that covers a wide range of parenting topics.

Wise Kids - A site that promotes safe internet use for children and teenagers.

Wired Safety - An online safety and help community.

Ypulse.com - Daily news and commentary about Generation Y for media and marketing professionals.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Wealth,complaining and prices.

Does it all come down to how you and I think about the distribution of wealth?

A person making 40,000 dirhams a month doesn't care about bread prices up 20%.

But a person making 600 dirhams a month does.

Maybe wealth needs to be reconsidered?

Pioneering Study Shows Richest Two Percent Own Half World Wealth

The richest 2% of adults in the world own more than half of global household wealth according to a path-breaking study released today by the Helsinki-based World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER).

The most comprehensive study of personal wealth ever undertaken also reports that the richest 1% of adults alone owned 40% of global assets in the year 2000, and that the richest 10% of adults accounted for 85% of the world total. In contrast, the bottom half of the world adult population owned barely 1% of global wealth.

The research finds that assets of $2,200 per adult placed a household in the top half of the world wealth distribution in the year 2000. To be among the richest 10% of adults in the world required $61,000 in assets, and more than $500,000 was needed to belong to the richest 1%, a group which — with 37 million members worldwide — is far from an exclusive club.

The UNU-WIDER study is the first of its kind to cover all countries in the world and all major components of household wealth, including financial assets and debts, land, buildings and other tangible property.

‘One should be clear about what is meant by “wealth”,’ say co-authors James Davies of the University of Western Ontario, Anthony Shorrocks and Susanna Sandstrom of UNU-WIDER, and Edward Wolff of New York University. ‘In everyday conversation the term “wealth” often signifies little more than “money income”. On other occasions economists use “wealth” to refer to the value of all household resources, including human capabilities.’

‘We use the term in its long-established sense of net worth: the value of physical and financial assets less debts. In this respect, wealth represents the ownership of capital. Although capital is only one part of personal resources, it is widely believed to have a disproportionate impact on household wellbeing and economic success, and more broadly on economic development and growth.’

Wealth levels across countries

Using currency exchange rates, global household wealth amounted to $125 trillion in the year 2000, equivalent to roughly three times the value of total global production (GDP) or to $20,500 per person. Adjusting for differences in the cost-of-living across nations raises the value of wealth to $26,000 per capita when measured in terms of purchasing power parity dollars (PPP$).

The world map shows per capita wealth of different countries. (Figure 1: World Wealth Levels in Year 2000) Average wealth amounted to $144,000 per person in the USA in year 2000, and $181,000 in Japan. Lower down among countries with wealth data are India, with per capita assets of $1,100, and Indonesia with $1,400 per capita.

Per capita wealth levels vary widely across countries. Even within the group of high-income OECD nations the range includes $37,000 for New Zealand and $70,000 for Denmark and $127,000 for the UK.

Wealth is heavily concentrated in North America, Europe, and high income Asia-Pacific countries. People in these countries collectively hold almost 90% of total world wealth. (Figure 2: Regional Wealth Shares)

Although North America has only 6% of the world adult population, it accounts for 34% of household wealth. Europe and high income Asia-Pacific countries also own disproportionate amounts of wealth. In contrast, the overall share of wealth owned by people in Africa, China, India, and other lower income countries in Asia is considerably less than their population share, sometimes by a factor of more than ten. (Figure 3: Population and Wealth Shares by Region)

The study finds wealth to be more unequally distributed than income across countries. High income countries tend to have a bigger share of world wealth than of world GDP. The reverse is true of middle- and low-income nations. However, there are exceptions to this rule, for example the Nordic region and transition countries like the Czech Republic and Poland.

The authors of the UNU-WIDER study explain that in Eastern European countries ‘private wealth is on the rise, but has still not reached very high levels. Assets like private pensions and life insurance are held by relatively few households. In the Nordic countries, the social security system provides generous public pensions that may depress wealth accumulation.’

World wealth inequality

The concentration of wealth within countries varies significantly but is generally high. The share of the top 10% ranges from around 40% in China to 70% in the United States, and higher still in other countries.

The Gini value, which measures inequality on a scale from zero to one, gives numbers in the range from 35% to 45% for income inequality in most countries. In contrast, Gini values for wealth inequality are usually between 65% and 75%, and sometimes exceed 80%.

Two high wealth economies, Japan and the United States, show very different patterns of wealth inequality, with Japan having a wealth Gini of 55% and the USA a wealth Gini of around 80%.

Wealth inequality for the world as a whole is higher still. The study estimates that the global wealth Gini for adults is 89%. The same degree of inequality would be obtained if one person in a group of ten takes 99% of the total pie and the other nine share the remaining 1%.

Where do the world’s wealthy live?

According to the study, almost all of the world’s richest individuals live in North America, Europe, and rich Asia-Pacific countries. Each of these groups of countries contribute about one third of the members of the world’s wealthiest 10%. (Figure 4: Regional Composition of Global Wealth Distribution)

China occupies much of the middle third of the global wealth distribution, while India, Africa, and low-income Asian countries dominate the bottom third.

For all developing regions of the world, the share of population exceeds the share of global wealth, which in turn exceeds the share of members of the wealthiest groups. (Figure 3: Population and Wealth Shares by Region)

A small number of countries account for most of the wealthiest 10% in the world. One-quarter are Americans and another 20% are Japanese. (Figure 5: Percentage Membership of Wealthiest 10%)

These two countries feature even more strongly among the richest 1% of individuals in the world, with 37% residing in the USA and 27% in Japan. (Figure 6: Percentage Membership of Wealthiest 1%)

According to Anthony Shorrocks, a country’s representation in the rich person’s club depends on three factors: the size of the population, average wealth, and wealth inequality.

‘The USA and Japan stand out’, he says, ‘because they have large populations and high average wealth. Although Switzerland and Luxembourg have high average wealth, their populations are small. China on the other hand fails to feature strongly among the super-rich because average wealth is modest and wealth is evenly spread by international standards. However, China is already likely to have more wealthy residents than our data reveals for the year 2000, and membership of the super-rich seems set to rise fast in the next decade.’

Composition of household wealth

The UNU-WIDER study shows major international differences in the composition of assets, resulting from different influences on household behaviour such as market structure, regulation, and cultural preferences.

Real property, particularly land and farm assets, are more important in less developed countries. (Figure 7: Asset Composition in Selected Countries) This reflects not only the greater importance of agriculture, but also immature financial institutions.

The study also reveals striking differences in the types of financial assets owned. Savings accounts feature strongly in transition economies and in some rich Asian countries, while share-holdings and other types of financial assets are more evident in rich countries in the West. (Figure 8: Composition of Financial Wealth in Selected Countries)

According to the authors of the UNU-WIDER study, savings accounts tend to be favoured in Asian countries because ‘there appears to be a strong preference for liquidity and a lack of confidence in financial markets. Other types of financial assets are more prominent in countries like the UK and USA which have well developed financial sectors and which rely heavily on private pensions.’

Surprisingly, household debt is relatively unimportant in poor countries. As the authors of the study point out: ‘While many poor people in poor countries are in debt, their debts are relatively small in total. This is mainly due to the absence of financial institutions that allow households to incur large mortgage and consumer debts, as is increasingly the situation in rich countries’

The authors go on to note that ‘many people in high-income countries have negative net worth and—somewhat paradoxically—are among the poorest people in the world in terms of household wealth.’

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Nov 18 PAKISTAN 2 weeks on.

U.S. diplomat urges Musharraf to lift emergency rule

Two weeks into the Emergency Rule in Pakistan we asked what is your take today?

The number of people coming out on the side of the President/General is high.

Others suggest we need to mind our own business, western countries, any country!

According to the CBC,

Musharraf has insisted that the emergency rule powers were necessary to ensure fair elections and to strengthen the fight against Islamic militants. He reiterated Saturday that he would not lift the widely criticized measures unless the security situation improves.

Just to remind you of the situation in brief.

Again from the CBC.

Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 coup, swore in a caretaker government on Friday and declared he had "introduced the essence of democracy" in the country.

Bhutto and Musharraf had been negotiating a power-sharing arrangement, but talks apparently collapsed as the general moved against the opposition following his decision to suspend the constitution.

She has in recent days made increasingly strident demands for Musharraf to resign, and has proposed the opposition form a unity front to serve as a transition government ahead of the scheduled elections.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Nov 14: BPeace

What if people in business, you and I, did just as we think and made our work empower others and lead to them changing their world?

This is not a dream!

Here is a group that really seem to have their ideas, hearts and minds in the right place!

Fostering Peace by Building Women's Businesses

Members of the Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) volunteer their time to help women in regions of conflict and post-conflict start businesses.

What We Do & How We Do It

Apply your business experience to help women in conflict regions. Details >>
Origins

Read about how we started in 2002—and how we're growing. Details >>
Governing Board

Our Governing Board includes leaders from diverse industries. Details >>
Partners

Bpeace works closely with UNIFEM and other organizations focused on the economic empowerment of women. Details >>

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

November 13 MOVEMBER the man!

Well we spoke with Adam Goroni one of the founders of MOVEMBER, back in 2003, Nicole Betts who is pushing the cause in the UAE and Julian Wilcock a MObro.

It is all about awareness!

Here are my details!

go to www.movember.com and give it a go!

Member Name	James Piecowye
Member Rego	161223
Member Country	United Arab Emirates

Cancer Nov 12

We talked about Cancer!

person running outside with dog

Finding out you or someone you love has cancer brings many changes.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, in active treatment, or are caring for someone with cancer, you will probably need to deal with many practical issues, make tough decisions, and cope with a range of emotions.

When everything feels like it’s just too much, remember that everyone living with cancer deals with cancer in their own way. There are ways you can cope.

http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3172_200694892__langId-en,00.html

Sunday, November 11, 2007

November 11: Remebrance Day

Sorry no audio is available from last night.

We talked about Remembrance Day and whether or not remembering those who have fallen in war really has currency today.

There was no easy answer.

A Day of Remembrance

Why the Poppy?

Today, fields of brilliant poppies still grow in France.

A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

During the tremendous bombardments of the First World War the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

After John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields was published in 1915 the poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield.

During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November, 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 116,031 of their countrymen who died in battle.

James' Movember growth!

James Piecowye of NIGHTLINE in Dubai.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Nov 7 Gemma Bryden, Amazing Story

Gemma Bryden , Gemma@bryden.com, is going to trek in South Africa to help raise money for a great cause.

Gemma is 20, a Dubai resident, and was told she would never walk again after a car accident 18 month ago!

WOW.

How is this trek happening? Gulf for Good and that means she also has to raise 17,000 dirhams.

Did I mention she is 20?

The Strandloper Challenge - South Africa

Difficulty - Moderate to Hard

(See scale below)

February 8th-15th, 2008

Gulf for Good’s first Charity Challenge of 2008 will take a group of participants on the ‘Strandloper Challenge’, hiking the full length of the renowned Strandloper Trail in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Those taking part will raise substantial funds for South African charities that support children affected by poverty, violence and AIDS.

Hiking the Strandloper Trail includes trekking across some rough terrain and wading across rivers, so it will be a good test of fitness and determination. It’s important that anyone considering taking part in this Challenge starts training as early as possible – the fitter you are, the more you’ll enjoy yourself.

Prospective challengers, who will need to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship to take part, will be accompanied through one of the finest landscapes in Africa by a local team of qualified guides. Those wishing to participate are advised to register now, as places are limited.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

October 6: Smoking, youth and we have failed.

More youth than ever before are smoking!

The evidence that smoking can kill is loud and clear YET our youth smoke!

Why?

Allen Carr has a great book to help them quit!

The title is Easy Way to Stop Smoking.

Why stop?

Cigarettes are one of few products which can be sold legally which can harm and even kill you over time if used as intended.

Currently there are ongoing lawsuits in the USA which aim to hold tobacco companies responsible for the effects of smoking on the health of long term smokers.

Benzene (petrol additive)
A colourless cyclic hydrocarbon obtained from coal and petroleum, used as a solvent in fuel and in chemical manufacture - and contained in cigarette smoke. It is a known carcinogen and is associated with leukaemia.

Formaldehyde

(embalming fluid)
A colourless liquid, highly poisonous, used to preserve dead bodies - also found in cigarette smoke. Known to cause cancer, respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal problems.

Ammonia

(toilet cleaner)
Used as a flavouring, frees nicotine from tobacco turning it into a gas, found in dry cleaning fluids.

Acetone (nail polish remover)

Fragrant volatile liquid ketone, used as a solvent, for example, nail polish remover - found in cigarette smoke.

Tar

Particulate matter drawn into lungs when you inhale on a lighted cigarette. Once inhaled, smoke condenses and about 70 per cent of the tar in the smoke is deposited in the smoker's lungs.

Nicotine (insecticide/addictive drug)

One of the most addictive substances known to man, a powerful and fast-acting medical and non-medical poison. This is the chemical which causes addiction.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) (car exhaust fumes)

An odourless, tasteless and poisonous gas, rapidly fatal in large amounts - it's the same gas that comes out of car exhausts and is the main gas in cigarette smoke, formed when the cigarette is lit. Others you may recognize are :

Arsenic (rat poison), Hydrogen Cyanide (gas chamber poison)

So why do youth smoke?

Cool!

Plain and simple, cool!

How can we win against that?

Monday, November 05, 2007

nov 5 Flouride

Do we really want to add fluoride to our drinking water in Dubai?

There are a lot of opinions out there!

http://www.holisticmed.com/fluoride/

Note: For more information on health-building techniques, please see the Holistic Healing Web Page.

Fluoride compounds which are put in water (fluoridation), toothpaste and supplement tablets (including some vitamins) were never tested for safety before approval. Recent independent research by scientists not associated with dental trade organizations has shown the following:

Changes Bone Structure and Strength
Fluoride gradually builds up in the bones and causes adverse changes to the bone structure. Quite a few studies have shown that fluoridation leads to increases in hip fractures. The tensile strength of the hip is destroyed over time by fluoride ingestion.

The Controversy Over Fluoride http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/fluoride.html

You may have heard that the addition of fluoride to the water supply is dangerous and damaging. Some advocacy groups publish reports on the hazards of fluoridation, and they point to toxicity warnings on toothpaste, concluding that any substance needing such careful dosage must be dangerous.

In response to claims that water fluoridation is dangerous, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reviewed research on dental cavities prevention and public policy, including fluoridation. It agreed with antifluoride activists that many studies in this area are of poor quality. However, the NIH panel concluded that the unevenness of research does not invalidate the clear benefits of fluoride. The NIH believes that the dramatic reductions in tooth decay in the past 30 years are due to fluoridation of the water supply, and parents and health professionals should continue to ensure that kids receive enough fluoride to prevent cavities.

May 1, 1999
WHY EPA'S HEADQUARTERS UNION OF
SCIENTISTS OPPOSES FLUORIDATION

http://www.fluoridation.com/epa2.htm

The following documents why our union, formerly National Federation of Federal Employees Local 2050 and since April 1998 Chapter 280 of the National Treasury Employees Union, took the stand it did opposing fluoridation of drinking water supplies. Our union is comprised of and represents the approximately 1500 scientists, lawyers, engineers and other professional employees at EPA Headquarters here in Washington, D.C.

The union first became interested in this issue rather by accident. Like most Americans, including many physicians and dentists, most of our members had thought that fluoride's only effects were beneficial - reductions in tooth decay, etc. We too believed assurances of safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation.

Then, as EPA was engaged in revising its drinking water standard for fluoride in 1985, an employee came to the union with a complaint: he said he was being forced to write into the regulation a statement to the effect that EPA thought it was alright for children to have "funky" teeth. It was OK, EPA said, because it considered that condition to be only a cosmetic effect, not an adverse health effect. The reason for this EPA position was that it was under political pressure to set its health-based standard for fluoride at 4 mg/liter. At that level, EPA knew that a significant number of children develop moderate to severe dental fluorosis, but since it had deemed the effect as only cosmetic, EPA didn't have to set its health-based standard at a lower level to prevent it.

We tried to settle this ethics issue quietly, within the family, but EPA was unable or unwilling to resist external political pressure, and we took the fight public with a union amicus curiae brief in a lawsuit filed against EPA by a public interest group. The union has published on this initial involvement period in detail.¹

Since then our opposition to drinking water fluoridation has grown, based on the scientific literature documenting the increasingly out-of-control exposures to fluoride, the lack of benefit to dental health from ingestion of fluoride and the hazards to human health from such ingestion. These hazards include acute toxic hazard, such as to people with impaired kidney function, as well as chronic toxic hazards of gene mutations, cancer, reproductive effects, neurotoxicity, bone pathology and dental fluorosis. First, a review of recent neurotoxicity research results.

In 1995, Mullenix and co-workers² showed that rats given fluoride in drinking water at levels that give rise to plasma fluoride concentrations in the range seen in humans suffer neurotoxic effects that vary according to when the rats were given the fluoride - as adult animals, as young animals, or through the placenta before birth. Those exposed before birth were born hyperactive and remained so throughout their lives. Those exposed as young or adult animals displayed depressed activity. Then in 1998, Guan and co-workers³ gave doses similar to those used by the Mullenix research group to try to understand the mechanism(s) underlying the effects seen by the Mullenix group. Guan's group found that several key chemicals in the brain - those that form the membrane of brain cells - were substantially depleted in rats given fluoride, as compared to those who did not get fluoride.

Another 1998 publication by Varner, Jensen and others⁴ reported on the brain- and kidney damaging effects in rats that were given fluoride in drinking water at the same level deemed "optimal" by pro-fluoridation groups, namely 1 part per million (1 ppm). Even more pronounced damage was seen in animals that got the fluoride in conjunction with aluminum. These results are especially disturbing because of the low dose level of fluoride that shows the toxic effect in rats - rats are more resistant to fluoride than humans. This latter statement is based on Mullenix's finding that it takes substantially more fluoride in the drinking water of rats than of humans to reach the same fluoride level in plasma. It is the level in plasma that determines how much fluoride is "seen" by particular tissues in the body. So when rats get 1 ppm in drinking water, their brains and kidneys are exposed to much less fluoride than humans getting 1 ppm, yet they are experiencing toxic effects. Thus we are compelled to consider the likelihood that humans are experiencing damage to their brains and kidneys at the "optimal" level of 1 ppm.

In support of this concern are results from two epidemiology studies from China^{5, 6} that show decreases in I.Q. in children who get more fluoride than the control groups of children in each study. These decreases are about 5 to 10 I.Q. points in children aged 8 to 13 years.

Another troubling brain effect has recently surfaced: fluoride's interference with the function of the brain's pineal gland. The pineal gland produces melatonin which, among other roles, mediates the body's internal clock, doing such things as governing the onset of puberty. Jennifer Luke⁷ has shown that fluoride accumulates in the pineal gland and inhibits its production of melatonin. She showed in test animals that this inhibition causes an earlier onset of sexual maturity, an effect reported in humans as well in 1956, as part of the Kingston/Newburgh study, which is discussed below. In fluoridated Newburgh, young girls experienced earlier onset of menstruation (on average, by six months) than girls in non-fluoridated Kingston.⁸

From a risk assessment perspective, all these brain effect data are particularly compelling and disturbing because they are convergent.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

November 4 Pakistan and Emergency Rule.

Listen to the podcast!

There is no shortage of opinion in the UAE about the situation in Pakistan.

Generally people are of the opinion that emergency rule is the road to change, for the good!

As read on the BBC!

Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:31 GMT 18:31 UK

I'm of pakistani descent and all I can say is the people of pakistan can only be ruled by Musharraf. They are incapable of dealing with democracy. The politicians are corrupt and Musharraf was at least trying to improve on this.
If the people complain about corrupt and immoral politicans, maybe they should look at themselves first, they might realise they are one and the same.

Sadiq, London

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:31 GMT 18:31 UK

While Musharraf says he is fighting terrorism, he has allowed Madrassas to flourish. He has dismantled political agents in the tribal areas, allowed religous groups with ties to Al Qaeeda to flourish and has pro-Taliban officials in his own government.
After the emergency Rule was declared he cracks down on lawyers and journalists but allow the pro-militants in his own government to continue to to be in power.
For short term gratification he is willing to sacrifice a country and it's people.

Naveed Afridi, Fargo

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:30 GMT 18:30 UK

Musharraf's days are numbered. Time has come to end the political role of the army.

shoaib malik

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:29 GMT 18:29 UK

It is interesting to note that while the country is in a state of emergency, life about town (until now, thankfully) is normal. Makes you wonder about the content television channels present: seems like no more than parts of reality selected and played up to create an unnatural hype, or rather, to induce one. No tv = rudimentary awareness = peaceful existence (easy equation).

Sharmeen, Karachi

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:27 GMT 18:27 UK

Chicken General Musharraf do not have guts or strength to face the supreme Court in his own country. How cans he face the Jihadis, and the foreign groups like Al Qaida and Taliban.

I do not think he can fight war on terrorism further. He is using west just to stay in power.

It about time the west should write him off because he is liar, selfish, arrogant and irresponsible President. He needs to be over thrown and replaced ASAP for the mankind. .

Mohammad Ansari, Idaho Falls

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:26 GMT 18:26 UK

Surprise, surprise, a tyrant who stole power by force in the first place has declared an emergency - which means there will be no elections. You should see the look of surprise on my face - not! Pakistan has a a horrible dicataroship which has sold nuclear technology to other dicatorships, double standards mean we have to tolerate the state - there won't be any sanctions as we need access to Afghanistan and a foothold in that region. I wish Pakistanis well - I hope they will be free one day.

Dev Sanga, Gravesend

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:26 GMT 18:26 UK

the imposition of emergency in pakistan is not going to help matters, i say so because its not going to control religious millitancy.the other disgraceful thing musharraf has done is putting all private media news channel off the air. how stupid is this decision. what message is he sending to the world.the world has become a global village. controlling information is impossible. people in pakistan are listening to the bbc and other news channel can he stop the flow of information.

kamal siddiqui, karachi

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:26 GMT 18:26 UK

Enforcement of Emergency is just a way of escape from facing conclusion of trials in Courts including rapid declining popularity after growing expensiveness of commodities & public curse on Government. Misappropriation of foreign aids received in the name of development, subsiding of terrorist activities, help of quake affectees etc. This all happened to curtain evil activities of Government men and to prolong illegitimate ruling over the country.

GHULAM QADIR

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:26 GMT 18:26 UK

Like all former army rulers Musharaf is brushing away his good deeds. people he want to save are the biggest losers. He was much better than our politicians but now he is moving towards same list.worst thing is that he is destroying his own created system that brought a little stability.

Rashid Hameed, Lahore

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:24 GMT 18:24 UK

The most important challenge is how can the free world disarm Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. A country whose armed forces and intelligence service are riddled with extremists and religious fanatics is a tocking time bomb. Pakistan's time bomb clock has started ticking. By declaring marital law and suspending the constitution, Musharraf has effectively become the dictator and monarch of the country. He will replace the judiciary with judges who will be his puppets.

Rakesh, Winnetka

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:24 GMT 18:24 UK

Welcome to the new state of nuclear Afganistan.

Dr Rasool, U.K

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:23 GMT 18:23 UK

The troubled child of Mr & Mrs Musharaf-ud-din, has taken the entire Pakistani nation hostage just for his childish desire to rule Pakistan indefinitely !

ali murtaza, lahore

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:23 GMT 18:23 UK

It is disgusting and despicable the way Pakistan has been made a Joke by the Army Chiefs through repeated take overs, whether in the form of Martial Law or PCOs. The people of Pakistan are helpless and need help from international community for restoration of democracy and to get rid of military junta. I vehemently condemn the imposition of current PCO & extra constitutional steps

Asad Ali Shah, Karachi

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:22 GMT 18:22 UK

The only threat in Pakistan was the threat to Mushrraf's continued rule and that is why his PCO took away ONLY the FUNDAMENTAL rights of Pakistanis.

And if 'fundamental' is as unimportant as 'only', what rights remain with the people? Zero. Musharraf should accept facts and hand over power to the Chairman of the Senate as provided in the Constitution.

And if he thinks he is indispensable, well the graveyard is already full of indispensable people.

Nadeem Naseem, Lahore

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Added: Sunday, 4 November, 2007, 18:21 GMT 18:21 UK

Musharraf has been fighting millitants at the behest of USA and Europe. That put Pakistan's military up against their own people. All parts of Pakistan are under suicidal attacks. Tthis factor drastically affected his popoularity. Taking advantage of the situation lawyers; most of them are member of one or another political party-beleagured Musharraf. He is smart & honest. He must defend Pakistan against against all threats including corrupt politicians like Benazir and Nawaz Sharif.

Faiz Ahmed, Karachi

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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Your Risk Assessment

Recognize these signs?

Diagnosis of diabetes

Fasting blood glucose (FPG)

Casual blood glucose

Oral glucose tolerance test

Monday, November 26, 2007

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

We spoke to Dr. Catherine Todd about the cyber world and how we live there and why! Amazing.

Faculty Profile

Dr. Catherine ToddB.Eng. [Hons.], PhD [Electrical Engineering]

Cyber (subculture)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tips And Resources: Teens Online

Web Sites And Blogs About Teens And Technology

Monday, November 19, 2007

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Fostering Peace by Building Women's Businesses

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Here are my details!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Why the Poppy?

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Monday, November 05, 2007

The Controversy Over Fluoride http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/fluoride.html

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Dr. Catherine Todd
B.Eng. [Hons.], PhD [Electrical Engineering]