Scientists say organic milk is healthier -
[Click here] to go to read little article about these findings, which I might add, where partly from a study by Danish scientists!
We try to buy organic milk as much as possible. Right now, that's pretty easy because there is a Waitrose supermarket near us, but they are relocating in October, so I'm not sure what we'll do then. Anyway, I think it is even more important to drink organic milk in the US particularly because the non-organic milk has a lot more hormones and antibiotics floating around in it. Nasty stuff (see the intense documentary "The Corporation" for more info about that). When we lived in the US, we used to buy our milk from Trader Joe's whenever possible.
Be good to your body, eat and drink organic!
Sunday, August 27
Thursday, August 24
SOAP
Snakes on a Plane
All the critics panned this film - but I say GO SEE IT. It is a pure popcorn movie and I walked out with smile on my face. It's not a big deep film and it's not supposed to be. It's supposed to be fun! There are some very funny moments (intentionally or not) and the actors are all good. I would watch Samuel L. Jackson read a cereal box. I mean - the man is cool. Most everyone is probably aware of the backstory to this film getting made. Samuel L. agreed to do the film before reading the script because the title was so good. The studio wanted to change the title and SL said he would quit if they did it. There aren't many actors who would stand up to the studio for a film that might not do their career any good. He wanted to do it because it would be fun. How can you not respect that? So support him and the other people that took a risk with this film and go buy a ticket!
~K
Wednesday, August 23
Chilly!
It's been a strange month in terms of weather. June and July were quite warm and sometimes sweltering, but August has been strangely chilly. Feels like October or something. You can wear jeans and a long-sleeve shirt and still feel a bit chilled throughout the day. We've been wondering if June through July was our only summer this year. If there isn't an "Indian summer" coming in September, then we'll be right into fall and winter. Good thing this new apartment has radiators instead of the ridiculous heating system we had in Winchester. K was pretty much frozen solid from last November to May this year. And we'll have a reprieve from the British winter in December when we visit my family in Florida for a couple of weeks.
Don't get me wrong... I like this kind of weather. It's my favorite. Slightly cool-to-cold, but sunny at the same time.
Don't get me wrong... I like this kind of weather. It's my favorite. Slightly cool-to-cold, but sunny at the same time.
Tuesday, August 15
Wal-Mart = Evil
When Bush Jr. talks about "evil-doers" or "evil folks", he should include the people who own and run Wal-Mart. That's right, that American-as-apple-pie institution of cheap, rolled-back prices is nothing more than a dispicably immoral corporation. I don't know how the Walton family sleeps at night, though I suppose they are fairly comforted by their $18-billion net worth (each). And Lee Scott, the CEO of Wal-Mart... well, let's just say he's a bit wealthy, too. These people are staggeringly wealthy and they do so little for charity and even less for their own employees. Isn't that evil?Well, you can judge for yourself. Please watch the documentary Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price and then, like us, decide you're never going to shop at Wal-Mart or its subsidiaries like Sam's Club or (over here) Asda ever again. You have to see this film!
Or at the very least, read the facts.
Sunday, August 6
Limpy and Gimpy
It's a good thing we live in a building full of OAPs (Old Age Pensioners) because we're going to be right there with'em before too long (at least physically). K and I are both nursing semi-debilitating leg injuries. Her right ankle and my left knee. Don't be alarmed. It's nothing serious.
Yesterday morning, when K was having her morning run on the beach, she clambered up a couple of boulders and stepped slightly wrong on one of them. No injury occurred at that time because she was able to keep running, but it must have slightly weakened the ankle (this will come into play later in the day). Now, mid-day, K is out going to a couple of the Westbourne shops, while I'm at home doing a bit of work in our "office" (filing some bills, checking our finances, etc.). Going from the filing cabinet to the desk and sitting down, I slam my left knee quite hard into the leg of the desk. This knee was already a bit dodgey from a strange injury a few years ago. Anyway, it hurt and it kept on hurting. It's OK when I'm moving around, but it just gets a bit stiff and painful if I have been sitting for a while. I'm sure it's just a contusion or something. It's better today.
So, we've finished lunch and now it's time to do some painting out on the patio. K would paint another dining chair and I would paint my wardrobe. While the items were drying, the plan was to go see Superman Returns (tickets pre-booked since Thursday). We carry the wardrobe out to the patio and in the process, K twists her right ankle again. This time it hurt, but she didn't say anything. I only find out about it 10 or 15 minutes later when she tells me her ankle hurts. She tells me about the boulder-clambering incident and then about carrying the wardrobe. We continue painting. By the time we're done, K's ankle has swollen quite a bit and is very painful. She goes inside to sit down with the leg raised and to ice the ankle. But there's no ice in the freezer, the cubes are still a bit liquidy. I put them in a zip-lock bag anyway and then scrape all of the freezer frost into the bag as well. This is somewhat soothing for her ankle, but it's still very painful for her to walk. What about the movie? It's starting in an hour. We try to figure out a way for her to go anyway, but ultimately decide against it. She makes me go by myself, though I really felt like I should stay with her. I reluctantly leave.
Without my navigator, it takes me a very long time to find the movie theatre and I end up driving a lot further than necessary. I make it just in time (good thing I have a seat booked already) and I even get a cash refund for the unused ticket despite the notice on the booking confirmation that says "no refunds or exchanges". I watch the film. I am entertained. I decide that we need to go to the movie theatre more often, rather than saying, "Oh, we'll wait for that one on DVD." The cinema industry is hurting, people aren't going to the movies as much. I feel like we need to help support it. We're going to budget for two movie theatre movies per month (at least).
I hobble back out to the car to try driving home. This is also takes me longer than it should. Before heading home, I go to our "24-hour" Tesco to do the grocery shopping. In the over-the-counter meds section I take a packet of Ibuprofen, open it, and dry-swallow two caplets (I also purchase the packet, don't worry). There's also something called Ibuprofen Gel, so I get some of that, too. Couldn't hurt. Actually, the stuff is great! Rub it on the affected area and away goes the pain and some of the swelling!
This morning, we wake up and assess our injuries. K is able to walk with only a slight limp and so can I. Instead of our Sunday yoga session, we go to the beach for some "hydro-therapy" (i.e.- go for a swim in the cold sea). The temperature was goose-pimple-making at first, but you get used to it after the first plunge. Then it's kind of nice, especially on the ol' knee and ankle. The sea was smooth as glass, very calm. The temperature today is absolutely perfect. Heavenly. We feel fit enough to do some more painting and a bit of house-cleaning. Something tells me we won't be hobbling around for too much longer.
Which brings me around to Limpy and Gimpy. There are a few different animal residents in the garden around our flat. Mostly squirrels, magpies, and a few wood pigeons. I throw bread to the birds and whole peanuts to the squirrels. One of the squirrels has recently injured it's front right paw. He/she runs on three legs with the injured paw held up in the air. He/she is now referred to as Limpy. I wish I could catch it so I can take a look at the injury, but that's probably not a good idea. Anyway, there's also a magpie that looks a little worse for wear. It's really scraggly and thin. Almost looks like another type of bird masquerading in magpie colors. It must have been the runt of the litter. I've been trying to target-feed these two misfits in an attempt to make their lives just a little easier. That poor magpie is so pathetic looking! It probably doesn't have any friends. He/she is now known as Gimpy.
Well, tonight we're going to have an English Sunday Roast for dinner. Roast leg of pork with roast parsnips, mushy peas, gravy, and Yorkshire puddings. OK, the mushy peas aren't a traditional component of a Sunday Roast. I'm sure our English friends reading this are scoffing heartily at this concept. Hey, we had a can of them here and just felt like having them. Who knows, might be pretty good!
---
PS - When I was at Tesco last night, I asked the manager about this faux-24-hour thing. They said it is 24-hour... from Monday morning to Saturday night when they close at 10pm to abide by national employment law. So, it looks like I just misunderstood the sign. It says "Monday 8am - Saturday 10pm". They're in the clear, I guess. Though it is a little misleading to have a big 24-Hours logo on the sign when it's only open around the clock five days per week.
Yesterday morning, when K was having her morning run on the beach, she clambered up a couple of boulders and stepped slightly wrong on one of them. No injury occurred at that time because she was able to keep running, but it must have slightly weakened the ankle (this will come into play later in the day). Now, mid-day, K is out going to a couple of the Westbourne shops, while I'm at home doing a bit of work in our "office" (filing some bills, checking our finances, etc.). Going from the filing cabinet to the desk and sitting down, I slam my left knee quite hard into the leg of the desk. This knee was already a bit dodgey from a strange injury a few years ago. Anyway, it hurt and it kept on hurting. It's OK when I'm moving around, but it just gets a bit stiff and painful if I have been sitting for a while. I'm sure it's just a contusion or something. It's better today.
So, we've finished lunch and now it's time to do some painting out on the patio. K would paint another dining chair and I would paint my wardrobe. While the items were drying, the plan was to go see Superman Returns (tickets pre-booked since Thursday). We carry the wardrobe out to the patio and in the process, K twists her right ankle again. This time it hurt, but she didn't say anything. I only find out about it 10 or 15 minutes later when she tells me her ankle hurts. She tells me about the boulder-clambering incident and then about carrying the wardrobe. We continue painting. By the time we're done, K's ankle has swollen quite a bit and is very painful. She goes inside to sit down with the leg raised and to ice the ankle. But there's no ice in the freezer, the cubes are still a bit liquidy. I put them in a zip-lock bag anyway and then scrape all of the freezer frost into the bag as well. This is somewhat soothing for her ankle, but it's still very painful for her to walk. What about the movie? It's starting in an hour. We try to figure out a way for her to go anyway, but ultimately decide against it. She makes me go by myself, though I really felt like I should stay with her. I reluctantly leave.
Without my navigator, it takes me a very long time to find the movie theatre and I end up driving a lot further than necessary. I make it just in time (good thing I have a seat booked already) and I even get a cash refund for the unused ticket despite the notice on the booking confirmation that says "no refunds or exchanges". I watch the film. I am entertained. I decide that we need to go to the movie theatre more often, rather than saying, "Oh, we'll wait for that one on DVD." The cinema industry is hurting, people aren't going to the movies as much. I feel like we need to help support it. We're going to budget for two movie theatre movies per month (at least).
I hobble back out to the car to try driving home. This is also takes me longer than it should. Before heading home, I go to our "24-hour" Tesco to do the grocery shopping. In the over-the-counter meds section I take a packet of Ibuprofen, open it, and dry-swallow two caplets (I also purchase the packet, don't worry). There's also something called Ibuprofen Gel, so I get some of that, too. Couldn't hurt. Actually, the stuff is great! Rub it on the affected area and away goes the pain and some of the swelling!
This morning, we wake up and assess our injuries. K is able to walk with only a slight limp and so can I. Instead of our Sunday yoga session, we go to the beach for some "hydro-therapy" (i.e.- go for a swim in the cold sea). The temperature was goose-pimple-making at first, but you get used to it after the first plunge. Then it's kind of nice, especially on the ol' knee and ankle. The sea was smooth as glass, very calm. The temperature today is absolutely perfect. Heavenly. We feel fit enough to do some more painting and a bit of house-cleaning. Something tells me we won't be hobbling around for too much longer.
Which brings me around to Limpy and Gimpy. There are a few different animal residents in the garden around our flat. Mostly squirrels, magpies, and a few wood pigeons. I throw bread to the birds and whole peanuts to the squirrels. One of the squirrels has recently injured it's front right paw. He/she runs on three legs with the injured paw held up in the air. He/she is now referred to as Limpy. I wish I could catch it so I can take a look at the injury, but that's probably not a good idea. Anyway, there's also a magpie that looks a little worse for wear. It's really scraggly and thin. Almost looks like another type of bird masquerading in magpie colors. It must have been the runt of the litter. I've been trying to target-feed these two misfits in an attempt to make their lives just a little easier. That poor magpie is so pathetic looking! It probably doesn't have any friends. He/she is now known as Gimpy.
Well, tonight we're going to have an English Sunday Roast for dinner. Roast leg of pork with roast parsnips, mushy peas, gravy, and Yorkshire puddings. OK, the mushy peas aren't a traditional component of a Sunday Roast. I'm sure our English friends reading this are scoffing heartily at this concept. Hey, we had a can of them here and just felt like having them. Who knows, might be pretty good!
---
PS - When I was at Tesco last night, I asked the manager about this faux-24-hour thing. They said it is 24-hour... from Monday morning to Saturday night when they close at 10pm to abide by national employment law. So, it looks like I just misunderstood the sign. It says "Monday 8am - Saturday 10pm". They're in the clear, I guess. Though it is a little misleading to have a big 24-Hours logo on the sign when it's only open around the clock five days per week.
Thursday, August 3
More information about our new home.
I have shamelessly stolen this information about the Bournemouth beach area from various places, including Southampton University's geology site. It's much more informational than I would write and the photos are better!
The Bournemouth Cliffs and the Sandbanks Peninsula are part of Poole Bay, a broad shallow embayment on the central south coast of England. It is mostly a area of sandy beaches and, although occasionally the sea can be in stormy condition, the coast is protected to some extent from the prevailing southwesterly winds by the promontories of the Isle of Purbeck, particularly that of Old Harry Rocks. From our part of the beach looking West we can see the Old Harry rocks from the other side. They are on the far side of Poole Harbour and look intriguing from a distance.
The Bournemouth cliffs are notable for sands and clays of Eocene age and in which some remarkable plant fossils have been found. Until about the beginning of the 19th century these cliffs were well-exposed, attractive yellow cliffs which supplied sand directly to the Bournemouth beaches. This area then became heavily developed and expanded into the present holiday town. A consequence of the development was the construction of a promenade and sea-wall which now covers the base of the cliffs. With lack of erosion are now quite largely vegetated and they are controlled and drained by civil engineering works. Although most of the cliffs are now generally inaccessible for detailed geological studies, some features of interest can still be seen. It is well-worth taking a walk along the foot of the cliffs and considering the geology.
At the other (western) end of the bay, and at the entrance to Poole Harbour, is the Sandbanks peninsula, once a sand-dune-covered sand spit, but now developed for expensive housing. The beach is of interest here and the rock groynes have relics of fossil trees, stromatolites and other fossils and structures from the Purbeck and Portland strata of the Isle of Portland, the source of the rocks.
Knowledge gained from the Bournemouth cliffs is of great interest and is relevant to understanding the geology of the Eocene strata in the region. In historic times the Bournemouth cliffs were once used for mining of copperas (alum-type sulphate minerals) because of the pyrite content. They are most famous, though, for their fossil leaves which seem to indicate that in Eocene times there was here an unusually warm environment even thought the palaeolatitude would normally suggest temperate rather tropical conditions .
The 7-mile beach is great for jogging and walking. It is low tide at around 6am so I crunch on lots of shells!
I usually run west towards Poole Harbour.
This is my usual turn-around point...
The Bournemouth Cliffs and the Sandbanks Peninsula are part of Poole Bay, a broad shallow embayment on the central south coast of England. It is mostly a area of sandy beaches and, although occasionally the sea can be in stormy condition, the coast is protected to some extent from the prevailing southwesterly winds by the promontories of the Isle of Purbeck, particularly that of Old Harry Rocks. From our part of the beach looking West we can see the Old Harry rocks from the other side. They are on the far side of Poole Harbour and look intriguing from a distance.
The Bournemouth cliffs are notable for sands and clays of Eocene age and in which some remarkable plant fossils have been found. Until about the beginning of the 19th century these cliffs were well-exposed, attractive yellow cliffs which supplied sand directly to the Bournemouth beaches. This area then became heavily developed and expanded into the present holiday town. A consequence of the development was the construction of a promenade and sea-wall which now covers the base of the cliffs. With lack of erosion are now quite largely vegetated and they are controlled and drained by civil engineering works. Although most of the cliffs are now generally inaccessible for detailed geological studies, some features of interest can still be seen. It is well-worth taking a walk along the foot of the cliffs and considering the geology.
At the other (western) end of the bay, and at the entrance to Poole Harbour, is the Sandbanks peninsula, once a sand-dune-covered sand spit, but now developed for expensive housing. The beach is of interest here and the rock groynes have relics of fossil trees, stromatolites and other fossils and structures from the Purbeck and Portland strata of the Isle of Portland, the source of the rocks.
Knowledge gained from the Bournemouth cliffs is of great interest and is relevant to understanding the geology of the Eocene strata in the region. In historic times the Bournemouth cliffs were once used for mining of copperas (alum-type sulphate minerals) because of the pyrite content. They are most famous, though, for their fossil leaves which seem to indicate that in Eocene times there was here an unusually warm environment even thought the palaeolatitude would normally suggest temperate rather tropical conditions .
The 7-mile beach is great for jogging and walking. It is low tide at around 6am so I crunch on lots of shells!
I usually run west towards Poole Harbour.
This is my usual turn-around point...
Tuesday, August 1
British Birds
FYI - We just joined the RSPB (a couple of weeks ago). That's the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. We're card carrying members. I know this is very peculiar for people under the age of say... sixty. Well, I'll take the blame for it. I love birds. I love all animals, but birds are the most plentiful animal in the areas we've been living during the past few years, so we see a lot more of them. It makes sense to donate a little money to bird conservation. The world would be a lonelier, much less musical place without them. Plus, we got a really nice British bird encyclopedia for free!
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