I could be investigated by the RSPCA e-div.

Whilst the power and extent of the world wide web normally does not surprise me this is not the case this week.

Following my recent article on this weblog entitled Vacuum cleaner euthanasia or not? I am amazed to learn that I am possibly to be investigated by the electrical division of the Retailers Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Appliances. As far as I can understand, at this early stage, that having somehow become aware of my article, there is a suggestion by society members that I may be being cruel by overworking my appliance when it is in a poor state of health.

Should the RSPCA consider there is a case to answer and the matter be taken to a trial, and if found guilty, I will only be allowed to use my friend for a maximum duration of one hour thirty minutes per day and must allow a full forty eight hours rest between work periods, until satisfactory repairs are carried out . In addition I could be placed on an electrical retailers blacklist and barred from purchasing an additional vacuum cleaner for six months. This seems strange, but the law is not always logical, as a new workmate would mean less work for my older cleaner to do.

Euthanasia or redundancy are not permitted options, to solve the problem, as my vacuum is entitled to the job for the duration of its natural life.

White rice increases risk of Type 2 diabetes, study claims.

The risk of type 2 diabetes is significantly increased if white rice is eaten regularly, claims a study from the Harvard School of Public Health. The authors looked at previous studies and evidence of the association between eating white rice and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Their study sought to determine whether this risk is dependent on the amount of rice consumed and if the association is stronger for the Asian population, who tend to eat more white rice than the Western world.

A significant trend was found in both Asian and Western countries with a stronger association found amongst women than men. The results also show that the more white rice eaten, the higher the risk of type 2 diabetes: the authors estimate that the risk of type 2 diabetes is increased by 10% with each increased serving of white rice (assuming 158g per serving).

Read more in ScienceDaily:White rice increases risk of Type 2 diabetes, study claims

Entre Naranjos – For Sale!

The following is an article I have posted on to the 'No to censorship on Entre Naranjos and Facebook group' facebook page. Entre Naranjos is a urbanisation (housing estate) within the Orihuela Town Council area in Costa Blanca in Spain.

Has anyone else heard the news?

I understand that the Alcalde of Orihuela is putting forward a motion at the next Pleno that in order to save costs on the municipal budget that the Entre Naranjos urbanización is not to be 'Adopted' in the future, although it has been fostered for some time. It is to be put up for sale by auction.

Apparently following investigations by a subcommittee lead by the Concejal de Hacienda and including the Concejal de Urbanismo, the Concejal de Infrastructural y Services, and the Concejal Delegado de Pedanías, the conclusion has been reached that the urbanización will never be profitable for the Council. The costs to maintain it will exceed the tax revenue from the IBI collected from the property owners. It is not worth the hassle its residents create by wanting more and more luxury services.

It's reported that following the recent petition by a few of the more militant residents of Entre Naranjos demanding a local doctor's surgery the Alcalde was heard to exclaim “¡eso es el colmo!”

It is thought that discreet approaches have been made to both the San Miguel de Salinas and Los Montesinos Town Councils to accept Entre Naranjos as a gift. Both declined without any hesitation.

My source of information within the Ayuntamiento, Sra. Esperanza Anónimo, believes that an approach is possibly going to be made to the previous quasi-mayor of the urbanización, imposed unilaterally by the past Partido Popular government on the residents. As 'that person' allegedly acts as if 'that person' still has that position, enquiries are to be made to see if 'that person' wants to, and can afford to, buy it (Entre Naranjos). A preferential discount could be available to 'that person' as well as the added incentive of the compulsory purchase of all known PSOE supporter's properties on the urbanización by the Council prior to the completion of any sale. This would be a way to censor possible trouble makers towards 'that person'.

Perhaps the current quasi-mayor of the urbanización, this time around, imposed unilaterally by the PSOE element of the tripartite government of Orihuela on the residents, ought to be considered as a future owner. This would alleviate any compulsory purchase of properties.

This could push up the final sale price of Entre Naranjos which would help the Orihuela municipal budgets.

The future could be interesting amongst the oranges when the sale goes ahead.

(To the Editor: No names have been included so as to maintain anonymity and keep this non-personal, except for my source as she won't mind. Where used the term 'that person' could relate to either gender, to avoid this news item being censored for being sexist.)

Red meat consumption linked to increased risk of total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality

A new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers has found that red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. The results also showed that substituting other healthy protein sources, such as fish, poultry, nuts, and legumes, was associated with a lower risk of mortality.

"Our study adds more evidence to the health risks of eating high amounts of red meat, which has been associated with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers in other studies," said lead author An Pan, research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH.

Red meat, especially processed meat, contains ingredients that have been linked to increased risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. These include heme iron, saturated fat, sodium, nitrites, and certain carcinogens that are formed during cooking.

Read further details in ScienceDaily Red meat consumption linked to increased risk of total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality

Vacuum cleaner euthanasia or not?

Can't show cable as the retraction mechanism says no!

My vacuum cleaner friend has survived another day's work!

The right rear wheel fell off 5 times but the left one only came off 3 times. The cable rewind mechanism constantly grabs the cable back trying to restrict my roaming area or pull the plug from the wall. To turn it on or off means plugging it in or unplugging it from the power socket in the wall as the plastic on/off switch doesn't work. The HEPA filter is randomly ejected from the rear of the cleaner, depositing its collected dust on the cleaned floor, depending on the strength of the air flow and the heat of the plastic moulding surrounding it.

I am wondering if it is time for retirement, or even euthanasia, of my little friend. Is it cruel to make it continue to struggle, to work on, when the prognosis can only be for worse to come.

What makes my decision more difficult is that it was only brought into our family on 28^th January 2010 when we adopted it from the Carrefour Home brand stable at a special offer price of £51.78 (€60.00 in pretend money). I like to push the boat out occasionally!

I have to consider my little friend's pride, will it feel it has given us value for money? Will it consider that we have understood its little foibles as mitigation towards its survival?

I think I'll have to think about it a little longer. Perhaps modern science will come up with a solution for extending useful life. If all else fails I could use some sticky back plastic (no trade name advertising on my weblog) as a temporary life support. My vacuum cleaner friend survives for another day's work.

The Woodsman’s Cottage Mystery.

 For many years the villagers have wondered about Woodsman’s Cottage. The small secluded building stands like a sentry on the edge of common land at the entrance to the ancient wood. It has been uninhabited for some twenty plus years. The small garden surrounding it becoming very overgrown. The crimson flowered rhododendrons have taken total command of their domain, defeating any other shrubs that may have survived alongside them in the past, allowing only a small glimpse of the red brick cottage to passers-by.

The older villagers can remember when Bill Clayton lived there but his sudden departure from village life was unexplained then and remains so to this day. He was a private man who liked the isolation of his home on the outskirts of the village. As far as those who thought they knew him were aware, Bill had no family. He was an only child, his parents had died, and he was single. There are many rumours about his disappearance. Had he just decided to move away, had the witches of the wood spirited him away, was he dead; no one knows the truth.

The cottage hadn't had any visitors until the day that the 'Property for Auction' sign went up. In fact none of the villagers saw the sign being put up. If it hadn't been for the Auctioneers name and telephone number the mystery would have continued. Several of the more inquisitive locals had made telephone enquiries pretending to be potential bidders at the forthcoming event. All they could find out were the basic details of the cottage, and when and where the auction was to be held. No news about Bill or the seller if it's not him. The mystery continued on.

On auction day a couple of volunteer village spies attended the sale as did John Messenger. He desperately wanted to be, had to be, the new owner of the property he'd coveted for many years. Bill had refused to sell it to him, many times, and they had argued about this.

John found himself bidding against two others in the room. One he recognised as a builder from the nearby market town, and the other was Sarah Clarke another local villager. He couldn't let them buy Woodsman's Cottage. The builder started the bidding at the guide price of £80,000: the battle commenced between the three protagonists. The bids increased by £5000 a time quickly reaching £125,000 and then slowing to £1,000 increases. Sarah stopped bidding first and then the builder leaving John with what he thought was the winning bid at £139,000. This was £14,000 above what he could really afford, but needs must as he felt it was his right to own the property.

The auctioneer started his closing speech: “The bid is with the gentleman seated on the right at one hundred thirty-nine thousand pounds for the first time.” After allowing a short pause he continued: “At one hundred thirty-nine thousand pounds for the second time. Make no mistake I will be selling it.” John's heart was banging, trying to get out of his chest. The air in the room seemed to be thinner as he couldn't get his breath properly. The room had become hotter, his hands were becoming clammy. “This is your last chance ladies and gentlemen: the bid is at one hundred thirty-nine thousand pounds for the third time,” the auctioneer said as he raised his gavel.

“One hundred forty-five thousand” shouted one of the auctioneer’s colleagues, holding a telephone to his ear, sat at the table to the right of the auctioneer, as the gavel started its downward journey.

“We have a new bid on the telephone at one hundred forty-five thousand pounds,” announced the auctioneer, stopping the falling hammer in mid-flight, as he looked in John's direction, in hope of an increased bid from him.

John felt his world fall from beneath his feet. Although desperate to own the cottage; he couldn't respond to this new much higher bid. His ambition had been pole-axed. He looked at the auctioneer and slowly shook his head, left and right. After a new closing speech the gavel was brought down onto the block with a resounding bang. The mystery telephone buyer had won the day with the single surprise bid.

The villagers still had no news about either Bill or the new owner. Woodsman's Cottage was not going to give up its secrets easily, the mystery surrounding it lives on . . .

Edited: 02.12.2012

Continuation story: The mysterious O'Neills 

North Slope By Michael Parker

I have finished reading North Slope By Michael Parker. Click on the link to read all about the book rather than me repeating it here. Michael Parker is a new author to me and I am very pleased to have come across this book. The plot is fast moving with interesting twists and turns. The characters are explained in enough detail to understand them. The description of the Alaska weather and the hardships endured by the cast of the novel bring a chill to the readers bones.

I recommend this book and will include Micheal Parker's other titles in my future reading list.

Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster

I have just finished reading 'Hostile Witness' by Rebecca Forster .

This is an excellent court room thriller with many twists and turns in the plot to keep ones interest. It is a fast moving story with very good character analysis and court room scenes.

It follows the trial of sixteen-year-old Hannah Sheraton who is charged with arson and the murder of her step-grandfather. There is the added complication that he was the chief justice of the California Supreme court. Her mother pleads with Josie Baylor-Bates, an old college friend for help in defending Hannah. As Josie investigates the facts surrounding the alleged crime and the complications of the personal life of the family she gets further involved than a lawyer ought to.

This is the first book by Rebecca Forster that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, having difficulty in putting it down. I recommend it as a very good and interesting read.

Eat your broccoli: Another mechanism discovered by which sulforaphane prevents cancer

Researchers in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University have discovered yet another reason why the "sulforaphane"compound in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables is so good for you -- it provides not just one, but two ways to prevent cancer through the complex mechanism of epigenetics.

Read more in ScienceDailyEat your broccoli: Another mechanism discovered by which sulforaphane prevents cancer