Category: Uncategorized

I’ll Continue The Experiment


According to the Telegraph “American researchers found that a plant extract contained in the skin of red grapes helps protect the body against ageing”

Apparently they found that some substance found in grapes has been shown “to prolong life in yeast and animals such as roundworms and fruit flies”. On that basis they decided it would be a good idea to carry out a study on human beings.

So the scientists carried out a study on twenty human subjects of which only ten were actually given the substance over a trial period of six weeks. The results of this experiment apparently show that the substance, “resveratrol” , can have beneficial effects which could reduce the possibility of developing diabetes, heart problems, strokes and ageing.

On that basis alone I intend to carry on with my own experiment, to carry on drinking red wine which is my favourite tipple.

What I need to know is how many bottles a week I need to consume ?

I presume that the reduction in cholesterol that other scientific reports have indicated are not negated by this new substance.

And another question, Does this resveratrol negate the negative effects of the alcohol contained in wine.

I guess what I need is a scientific study which looks into all the reports that say that red wine is bad for you and balances them against all the reports that say red wine is good for you.

In the meantime I will humbly go ahead with my own experiment. Needless to say I won’t be publishing any reports.

However, I am prepared to participate in any official experiments.  My preference is for full-bodied reds so if you could send experimental supplies to my home address at …….

Thanks Rav


Just returned home from a great evening.

Good food, good wine and best of all, Good Company.

Thanks Rav for the spread. Nothing beats a good curry with all the trimmings, and those fried peppers fresh from the garden were the business.

3 Cheers For Jackie Cobell


Who at the age of 56 has just swum into the record books for the slowest channel crossing. It took her just 28 hours and 44 minutes to complete the 65 mile swim.

Congratulations Jackie.

Full story here

Tony Hayward – Demon ???


What a witch hunt the BP saga has turned into.

I understand that Hayward has been,in recent times, the visible face of BP and that he could have, should have been a bit more diplomatic with some of his statements.  Many of which, published by the worlds media,  have been quoted out of context. Some comments, under the circumstances and in the cold light of day, are wholly understandable.

He wasn’t personally responsible for what happened on the rig and there are quite a few other company bosses and rig owners who are thinking “There but for the grace of god….”.

However, it seems these days we aren’t satisfied, until someone’s head has fallen. He is now being lined up as a sacrificial lamb.

But lets not forget that Hayward was running BP, a company that he had been working for since 1982. He didn’t get to that position by being a total duffer.

So for all those who are baying for blood and feel that he should be cut loose without a penny, I ask ” How would that be fair compensation for all those years of effort”.

Of course the answers will come back “What about all those whose livelihood has been destroyed by the oil spill ?”

Well of course BP are going to foot the bill for compensation and I know its going to take years and there will be folks who will never be compensated for the stress and anxiety during the in-between times.

Also, what a boon the disaster has been for Obama.  Sure he’s getting lots of pressure from the people of the USA but hey, he can honestly say “It’s not my fault”  and he has that demon Hayward who works for that British company that he can blame and wring dry for compensation.

But just a minute didn’t this start with an explosion on an oil rig rented from a company called Transocean who probably supplied the equipment and operations personnel too. They were originally incorporated in the US state of Delaware moving to Switzerland via the Cayman Islands but their roots go back to the Birmingham, Alabama based Southern Natural Gas Company.

Not so’s we should be worried at all but Transocean owns nearly half of the 50 or so deepwater platforms in operation around the world. Oh, and by the way, Transocean are headed up by Steven Newman who just happens to be an american. Although the US House Energy and Commerce Committee have sent letters to Transocean we don’t see the  same ferocity of attack aimed at Newman as is being suffered by Hayward.

The buck definitely stops with BP, they have the ultimate responsibility and have to head the clean up operation.

But lets not demonize Tony Hayward.

Now I’M A Real Skype Fan


Just had an international teleconference all from the comfort of my own home. All courtesy of Skype which enabled me to link up with friends and family in Japan, Australia and the UK.

Sound quality was, in the main, very good. The only down side is knowing when to talk as things tend to break down when more than one person speaks.

I signed up for Skype many years ago but had let its usage lapse. However in recent times my sister Chris has become a user and had nudged me to start using especially with the video link. So having successfully experimented with Chris over the huge distance of 90 miles it seemed time to expand my horizons.

So what better time than to pass on Birthday Wishes. Yesterday was Glens birthday, a couple of clicks and we were talking UK to WA ….. pretty cool. Then Glens brother Murray joined from Japan, Glens girlfriend Angie and finally Glens dad who is currently in Coral Bay, WA.

Don’t you just love technology when it is working for you.

Farcebook Inaction = Support For Moat


In my opinion Farcebook (Facebook)  & Mark Zuckerberg, by their inaction, have shown their lack of morality. In essence they are supporting the space wasters who have signed up to support murderer Raoul Moat.

How can they allow this blatant disrespect for the family and friends of the people he has killed and maimed. It beggars belief.

It’s this lack of apparent boundaries, the lack of degrees of acceptability which degrades our society,  allows the anti-social elements to rule us all.

Sweltering


Here we are, nearly 10:30 and it’s already 33 degC in the conservatory with all the doors and windows open. Forecast for this area is 24 degC today.

I am leaking like a sieve…no need to have a hose pipe ban. I reckon I can keep the reservoirs topped up all by my self.