Octopus on oak...

Isn't life full of surprises? Yesterday (Sunday) in the comments on the MENSA quiz post (below this one) Augustus commented that the "8T on an O" could be '8 toes on an orang utan' (or pongo to his mates) but then today I find this:

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
a tree dwelling cephalopod...coincidence or what!...(whistling smiley)

Octopus on oak...

Isn't life full of surprises? Yesterday (Sunday) in the comments on the MENSA quiz post (below this one) Augustus commented that the "8T on an O" could be '8 toes on an orang utan' (or pongo to his mates) but then today I find this:

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
a tree dwelling cephalopod...coincidence or what!...(whistling smiley)

One overtly outstanding...

Follow this link to a MENSA test I found online; there is something a bit fake (IMHO) because it says that a score of 19+ out of 33 is genius level and I think 19 is very easy to attain, in fact you should all get 25 without too much trouble; it also adds that only 2 MENSA members got full marks. I find this hard to believe because I got 33/33 (full marks), with no help from anyone or books/ Google etc. and I took less than an hour; there's no time limit so it's a bit of fun.

Note: the answers have to be exact and with correct spelling to get 'the green light' - you'll see what I mean; also do not use apostrophes where they would usually go!

Here's some U2 (One) to listen to while you do it: thinking with _music may help. Over 25 years of some great music (and a few real duds!) I can still remember hearing them for the first time 'I Will Follow' about 1980/81.

S.O. with _music

One overtly outstanding...

Follow this link to a MENSA test I found online; there is something a bit fake (IMHO) because it says that a score of 19+ out of 33 is genius level and I think 19 is very easy to attain, in fact you should all get 25 without too much trouble; it also adds that only 2 MENSA members got full marks. I find this hard to believe because I got 33/33 (full marks), with no help from anyone or books/ Google etc. and I took less than an hour; there's no time limit so it's a bit of fun.

Note: the answers have to be exact and with correct spelling to get 'the green light' - you'll see what I mean; also do not use apostrophes where they would usually go!

Here's some U2 (One) to listen to while you do it: thinking with _music may help. Over 25 years of some great music (and a few real duds!) I can still remember hearing them for the first time 'I Will Follow' about 1980/81.

Music Videos by PcPlanet.com

S.O. with _music

Overweight or obese...

Lard bucket epidemic...


In 2001, Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office told Parliament that the prevalence of obesity in England had tripled over the last 20 years will continue to rise. Now most adults (63% men & 53% women) in England are overweight or obese.


Trends in overweight and obesity...

"About 46% of men in England and 32% of women are overweight (a body mass index of 25-30 kg/m2), and an additional 17% of men and 21% of women are obese (a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2). Overweight and obesity increase with age. About 28% of men and 27% of women aged 16-24 are overweight or obese but 76% of men and 68% of women aged 55-64 are overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are increasing. The percentage of adults who are obese has roughly doubled since the mid-1980's.”
I haven’t heard of Anne Collins but I think the site is a very good, clear one and if you follow the link there are dozens of other links (listed at the bottom of every page) that give full and informative view and plenty of good advice
Obesity is the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue to an extent that health is impaired...but there is a load of help out there! The extent to which one is overweight can be identified, amongst other things (body fat %, waist measurement/ waist-hip ratio, bone mass...) through the measurement of Body Mass Index or BMI. This is a simple calculation of your weight (Kg or lbs) divided the square of your height (metres sq or ins sq respectively). Or if you can’t be arsed to work it out there are plenty of sites that do it for you; here's one from the US.

As mentioned above waist circumference is another widely used measurement - to determine abdominal fat content. An excess of abdominal fat, when out of proportion to total body fat, is considered a predictor of risk factors related to obesity. Men with a waist measurement exceeding 40 inches are considered at risk. Women are at risk with a waist measurement of 35 inches or greater.

...and of course there are many factors that can cause excessive weight gain leading to obesity and poor health: Food Choices - Physical Activity vs. Sedentary Activity - Parental Obesity - Eating Patterns (skipping meals etc) - Parenting Style - Parental Eating and Physical Activity Habits - Demographic Factors that also encompass diets (Mediterranean / Asian or Oriental...) There are also a few genetic causes of the problem; however, the fact that obesity has increased so much in the last few decades appears to discount genetics as the main cause: according to Stephen O'Rahilly, professor of clinical biochemistry and medicine at Cambridge University, the influence of genetics on modern levels of obesity is insignificant:
"Nothing genetic explains the rise in obesity. We can't change our genes over 30 years."

Also, “...obesity is one of todays most blatantly visible, yet most neglected, public health problems. Paradoxically coexisting with under nutrition, an escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity - "globesity" - is taking over many parts of the world. If immediate action is not taken, millions will suffer from an array of serious health disorders.From "Controlling the global obesity epidemic," World Health Organization

The choice is ours but we decide what our children eat…action this day!

S.O.
health

Overweight or obese...

Lard bucket epidemic...


In 2001, Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office told Parliament that the prevalence of obesity in England had tripled over the last 20 years will continue to rise. Now most adults (63% men & 53% women) in England are overweight or obese.


Trends in Overweight and Obesity

"About 46% of men in England and 32% of women are overweight (a body mass index of 25-30 kg/m2), and an additional 17% of men and 21% of women are obese (a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2). Overweight and obesity increase with age. About 28% of men and 27% of women aged 16-24 are overweight or obese but 76% of men and 68% of women aged 55-64 are overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are increasing. The percentage of adults who are obese has roughly doubled since the mid-1980's.”

I haven’t heard of Anne Collins but I think the site is a very good, clear one and if you follow the link there are dozens of links (listed at the bottom of every page) that gives a full and informative view and plenty of good advice

Obesity is the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue to an extent that health is impaired...but there is a load of help out there! The extent to which one is overweight can be identified, amongst other things (body fat %, waist measurement/ waist-hip ratio, bone mass...) through the measurement of Body Mass Index or BMI. This is a simple calculation of your weight (Kg or lbs) divided the square of your height (metres sq or ins sq respectively). Or if you can’t be arsed to work it out there are plenty of sites that do it for you; here’s one from the US.

As mentioned above waist circumference is another widely used measurement - to determine abdominal fat content. An excess of abdominal fat, when out of proportion to total body fat, is considered a predictor of risk factors related to obesity. Men with a waist measurement exceeding 40 inches are considered at risk. Women are at risk with a waist measurement of 35 inches or greater.

...and of course there are many factors that can cause excessive weight gain leading to obesity and poor health: Food Choices - Physical Activity vs. Sedentary Activity - Parental Obesity - Eating Patterns (skipping meals etc) - Parenting Style - Parental Eating and Physical Activity Habits - Demographic Factors that also encompass diets (Mediterranean / Asian or Oriental...) There are also a few genetic causes of the problem; however, the fact that obesity has increased so much in the last few decades appears to discount genetics as the main cause: according to Stephen O'Rahilly, professor of clinical biochemistry and medicine at Cambridge University, the influence of genetics on modern levels of obesity is insignificant:
"Nothing genetic explains the rise in obesity. We can't change our genes over 30 years."

Also, “...obesity is one of todays most blatantly visible, yet most neglected, public health problems. Paradoxically coexisting with under nutrition, an escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity - "globesity" - is taking over many parts of the world. If immediate action is not taken, millions will suffer from an array of serious health disorders.From "Controlling the global obesity epidemic," World Health Organization

The choice is ours but we decide what our children eat…action this day!

S.O.
health

Orwell's Omen...

'Who controls the past controls the future:
who controls the present controls the past.'

George Orwell‘1984’ (1949). You can read the whole of this wonderful novel online: here’s part I

I was directed to this report in today’s Independent by a thread on a BBC message board and it didn’t get the debate that I think it deserves. The poster commented that "we have sleepwalked into Orwell's nightmare vision". Taken from the Independent’s article, "Only Mr Blair's sternest critics would suggest that he is motivated by anything other than a desire to give to the security services everything they say they need to tackle terrorism." Also:

- A fifth of the world's CCTV cameras are in the UK, and the average person is caught on film 300 times a day. Britain's four million cameras cover almost every town centre, and the numbers are growing.

- More than 5 per cent of the UK population - about three million people - are registered on one of the world's largest DNA data-bases.

- ID cards are scheduled to come into use in 2008, subject to parliamentary approval. More than 50 pieces of information relating to the holder, including biometric information (iris patterns, fingerprints), will be on the cards.

There’s more: ‘Spies’ in the Sky, Body Scanners, Child tagging and Traffic tagging, all in the article but that 1st point flabbergasted me: 20% of the world’s CCTV cameras, now there are other types of ‘spying’ used so we’re not talking about 20% of ALL surveillance cameras in the world but...what do you think?

My own fear, as highlighted by Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay, is who is to watch the watchers? ‘Governments can never be trusted on their own not to confuse national interest with what is in their political interest…’

P.S. Interestingly Gavin Corder (a football hooligan) brought the 'New labour/ 1984' connection to our attention back in December 2005.

Orwell's Omen...

'Who controls the past controls the future:

who controls the present controls the past.'

George Orwell ‘1984’ (1949)

You can read the whole of this wonderful novel online, here’s part I

I was directed to this report in today’s Independent by a thread on a BBC message board and it didn’t get the debate that I think it deserves. The poster commented that “we have sleepwalked into Orwell's nightmare vision”.

Taken from the Independent’s article, “Only Mr Blair's sternest critics would suggest that he is motivated by anything other than a desire to give to the security services everything they say they need to tackle terrorism.” Also:

- A fifth of the world's CCTV cameras are in the UK, and the average person is caught on film 300 times a day. Britain's four million cameras cover almost every town centre, and the numbers are growing.

- More than 5 per cent of the UK population - about three million people - are registered on one of the world's largest DNA data-bases.

- ID cards are scheduled to come into use in 2008, subject to parliamentary approval. More than 50 pieces of information relating to the holder, including biometric information (iris patterns, fingerprints), will be on the cards.

There’s more: ‘Spies’ in the Sky, Body Scanners, Child tagging and Traffic tagging, all in the article but that 1st point flabbergasted me: 20% of the world’s CCTV cameras, now there are other types of ‘spying’ used so we’re not talking about 20% of ALL surveillance cameras in the world but...what do you think?

My own fear, as highlighted by Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay, is who is to watch the watchers? ‘Governments can never be trusted on their own not to confuse national interest with what is in their political interest…’

S.O.

P.S. Interestingly Gavin Corder (a football hooligan) brought the 'New labour/ 1984' connection to our attention back in December 2005.

Oink Oink Offal...

I was going to post on OMG (or GMO for you English folk)...but this appeared on my Reuters tickertape and just made me green with...envy?...No....Nausea?...Yes.

Transgenic, fluorescent, green pig...you think I'm joking right?
From the article: "By injecting fluorescent green protein into embryonic pigs, a research team at the island's leading National Taiwan University managed to breed three male transgenic pigs, said professor Wu Shinn-Chih of the university's Institute and Department of Animal Science and Technology.

¡Se trata de cerdos transgénicos, verdes, flourescentes! A continuación el artículo en Español... (e aqui em Portugues para o aristobaldo!)

"There are partially fluorescent green pigs elsewhere, but ours are the only ones in the world that are green from inside out. Even their hearts and internal organs are green," Wu said on Thursday....nice one Wu!

S.O.

(posted image not connected with article)

Oink Oink Offal...

I was going to post on OMG (or GMO for you English folk)...but this appeared on my Reuters tickertape and just made me green with...envy?...No....Nausea?...Yes.

Transgenic, fluorescent, green pig...you think I'm joking right?
From the article: "By injecting fluorescent green protein into embryonic pigs, a research team at the island's leading National Taiwan University managed to breed three male transgenic pigs, said professor Wu Shinn-Chih of the university's Institute and Department of Animal Science and Technology.

¡Se trata de cerdos transgénicos, verdes, flourescentes! A continuación el artículo en Español... (e aqui em Portugues para o aristobaldo!)

"There are partially fluorescent green pigs elsewhere, but ours are the only ones in the world that are green from inside out. Even their hearts and internal organs are green," Wu said on Thursday....nice one Wu!

S.O.

(posted image not connected with article)

Oceanic odonto-overplay...

With the news that an Australian lass has died after a shark attack can we expect the usual hysteria?
This attack was fairly close in shore and in unclear water; given that the most common type of attack is called a "hit and run" i.e. the shark bites and then quickly releases the person and disappears; given also that said attacks are probably most often cases of mistaken identity as they usually happen near the surface and in poor visibility (breaking surf, heavy currents, murky water…), also including the 'fact' that humans are usually considered too bony to be a good meal for a shark, plus she had 3 very bad injuries (one bite each?) but was alive when she was pulled free, I'm reading this as a case of mistaken identity.

Bull sharks, the ones thought to be responsible in this incident, may possibly be the most frequent attackers of humans (or not…see below), as the wounds they inflict are often attributed to great whites. They are less selective feeders than great whites and occur closer inshore and in freshwater.

…a few facts may clear the water (and hence make attack less likely!)

According to the International Shark Attack File, between 1580 and 2004 there were 1,969 confirmed shark attacks around the world...I guess we can assume that this figure could be tripled/ quadrupled/ whatever to get a real figure including those incidents not reported, not known, remote island attacks no one knows of etc but still, we're still talking about practically nothing in a global context.

Seven fatalities occurred in 2004, a total similar to the four in 2003, three in 2002 and four in 2001, but lower than the 11 fatalities recorded in 2000. The number of serious attacks in 2000-2004, as measured by fatality rate (8.9%), has been lower than that of the decade of the 1990's (12.7%), continuing a century-long trend reflective of advances in beach safety practices and medical treatment, and increased public awareness of avoiding potentially dangerous situations.

Sharks have evolved over 450 million years to be among the ocean's top predators. They can take many years to reach sexual maturity, almost 30 years in the case of the sand bank shark. Larger sharks may only produce two young in a breeding cycle and only one of those is likely to survive. Shark species often only breed every other year and some have a long gestation period (up to two years). This low reproductive rate means that depleted shark populations can take a very long time to recover, if they recover at all.

Conservationists estimate that about 100 million sharks are caught each year, many of them purely for use in shark fin soup. Hong Kong alone imported the fins of more than 28 million sharks in 1999. The sharks are caught, their fins are cut off and they are then thrown back into the sea where they either bleed to death or drown. This really pees me off...I've seen it happen and it is sickening and it's only one of the things that would induce me to happily kill a fellow human; I know that sounds completely LOONY...but, well maybe I am!

Moving on quickly (gulps), as I hinted above there are more than one type of shark that is believed to be the worst 'maneater'; despite it being an aggressive fish which dominates feeding frenzies, and is said to attack more humans than all other shark species combined, a favorite of mine is the Oceanic WhiteTip, mainly because of its ferocious beauty (see image copyright/copyleft Wikipedia) but I guess I SHOULD also have a soft spot for Orectolobus ornatus more commonly known as Ornate wobbegong…wobbegong! Well that does seem appropriate, lots of O's but he does look a right wimp, not like the lovely white tip, below above.

To be honest most potential shark fatalities are easily avoided with a good punch on the snout …that's not the only reported incidence but it's the most recent I could find; of course if it was me it would be the smell of me shitting myself that put the shark off!

The main point of this post is that I used to be obssessed with sharks, before another, more dangerous maneater attracted my attention (I know I do NOT need to elaborate!), having the 70’s as my impressionable years made the film Jaws a big memory…and it really did stop people going in the water! …and by sheer coincidence I may have starred in Jaws 2 as a boy sailor…don’t believe me? ;-)

S.O.

Oceanic odonto-overplay...

With the news that an Australian lass has died after a shark attack can we expect the usual hysteria?

This attack was fairly close in shore and in unclear water; given that the most common type of attack is called a "hit and run" i.e. the shark bites and then quickly releases the person and disappears; given also that said attacks are probably most often cases of mistaken identity as they usually happen near the surface and in poor visibility (breaking surf, heavy currents, murky water…), also including the 'fact' that humans are usually considered too bony to be a good meal for a shark, plus she had 3 very bad injuries (one bite each?) but was alive when she was pulled free, I'm reading this as a case of mistaken identity.

Bull sharks, the ones thought to be responsible in this incident, may possibly be the most frequent attackers of humans (or not…see below), as the wounds they inflict are often attributed to great whites. They are less selective feeders than great whites and occur closer inshore and in freshwater.

…a few facts may clear the water (and hence make attack less likely!)

According to the International Shark Attack File, between 1580 and 2004 there were 1,969 confirmed shark attacks around the world...I guess we can assume that this figure could be tripled/ quadrupled/ whatever to get a real figure including those incidents not reported, not known, remote island attacks no one knows of etc but still, we're still talking about practically nothing in a global context.

Seven fatalities occurred in 2004, a total similar to the four in 2003, three in 2002 and four in 2001, but lower than the 11 fatalities recorded in 2000. The number of serious attacks in 2000-2004, as measured by fatality rate (8.9%), has been lower than that of the decade of the 1990's (12.7%), continuing a century-long trend reflective of advances in beach safety practices and medical treatment, and increased public awareness of avoiding potentially dangerous situations.

Sharks have evolved over 450 million years to be among the ocean's top predators. They can take many years to reach sexual maturity, almost 30 years in the case of the sand bank shark. Larger sharks may only produce two young in a breeding cycle and only one of those is likely to survive. Shark species often only breed every other year and some have a long gestation period (up to two years). This low reproductive rate means that depleted shark populations can take a very long time to recover, if they recover at all.

Conservationists estimate that about 100 million sharks are caught each year, many of them purely for use in shark fin soup. Hong Kong alone imported the fins of more than 28 million sharks in 1999. The sharks are caught, their fins are cut off and they are then thrown back into the sea where they either bleed to death or drown. This really pees me off...I've seen it happen and it is sickening and it's only one of the things that would induce me to happily kill a fellow human; I know that sounds completely LOONY...but, well maybe I am!

Moving on quickly (gulps), as I hinted above there are more than one type of shark that is believed to be the worst 'maneater'; despite it being an aggressive fish which dominates feeding frenzies, and is said to attack more humans than all other shark species combined, a favorite of mine is the Oceanic WhiteTip, mainly because of its ferocious beauty (see image copyright/copyleft Wikipedia) but I guess I SHOULD also have a soft spot for Orectolobus ornatus more commonly known as Ornate wobbegong…wobbegong! Well that does seem appropriate, lots of O's but he does look a right wimp, not like the lovely white tip, below.

To be honest most potential shark fatalities are easily avoided with a good punch on the snout …that's not the only reported incidence but it's the most recent I could find; of course if it was me it would be the smell of me shitting myself that put the shark off!

The main point of this post is that I used to be obssessed with sharks, before another, more dangerous maneater attracted my attention (I know I do NOT need to elaborate!), having the 70’s as my impressionable years made the film Jaws a big memory…and it really did stop people going in the water! …and by sheer coincidence I may have starred in Jaws 2 as a boy sailor…don’t believe me? ;-)

S.O.

Over the edge...

I hope you all appreciate my blog's new girth. The New Year holds much optimism and I thought a bit of width would keep you even happier ;-)

...after all, the girlies say that it's a very important factor in enhancing their enjoyment of blogging. It was "blogging" they said...right?

S.O.

Over the edge...

I hope you all appreciate my blog's new girth. The New Year holds much optimism and I thought a bit of width would keep you even happier ;-)

...after all, the girlies say that it's a very important factor in enhancing their enjoyment of blogging. It was "blogging" they said...right?

S.O.

Off back 'home'...

Off back 'home' and feeling blue,
I'll soon be here to speak to you.
Happy New Year; I hope you're well
now back to work...ooooh f***ing 'ell.

God, that's pathetic ...but I'm now late for boarding...oops. Today apparently, is the most depressing day of the year for dwellers in the UK and other western 'Christian' countries...holidays over, partying done, back to work...long month ahead to when the holes in your pockets are replenished when you'll be 'holding folding' once again...Pah!...sniff.

Off back 'home'...

Off back 'home' and feeling blue,
I'll soon be here to speak to you.
Happy New Year; I hope you're well
now back to work...ooooh f***ing 'ell.

God, that's pathetic ...but I'm now late for boarding...oops. Today apparently, is the most depressing day of the year for dwellers in the UK and other western 'Christian' countries...holidays over, partying done, back to work...long month ahead to when the holes in your pockets are replenished when you'll be 'holding folding' once again...Pah!...sniff.