Margot Robbie wearing Tom Ford
Monday, February 29, 2016
Dress
After consideration, I would choose this dress as my fav look from this year's Oscars. It has texture and photographs well under harsh light:
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Turning Pink
The results are truly dramatic: I have been using a SPF50 Coppertone sunscreen everyday, my Lancôme tint on sunny days and staying indoors mid-day. My complexion is turning pink and those freckles and brown spots are disappearing. The oily spots on my skin are also starting to go and I am getting the results I have always though I deserved from my healthy fruit and veg diet.
Well done everybody!
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Smug
For once, Canada is smug. We are the ones with a young well-oiled government.
Because for all the consternation on the parts of pundits commenting the American
Presidential election, the core issue is not Left or Right, it is senility. We are hearing
the mad inner dialogue of the old: win, win, win...build a wall...lies like a dog...and so
forth. B. Sanders, H. Clinton and D. Trump are the major contenders left, and all
three are retirement age. And they have arguably cleared the decks of opposition by
blurting stuff out. What about that server...
I haven't checked Congress on the age question, but their behaviour has been pretty
childish as well: shutting down the government, and now declaring up front they won't
allow the nomination of a new Supreme Court Justice. It is not as if they could argue
this would be pre-emptive. Just well, because.
American media seem at a lost in dealing with this. Youngins!!!
* * *
Dinner-Call
Was reading a restaurant review in the Guardian this morning, and here's the twist:
a restaurant where the queue is virtual; you get to go for a drink or coffee and they text you when your table is ready. How awesome is that:
Then a friend told me the queue was fine after 9pm, so I went along. The friend was wrong. We were told there would be a 30-minute wait, so you’d expect me to be grouchy. But no. Having experienced the way a little bit of tech was used to manage it, and weighing up the impact on pricing at a restaurant able to keep its tables constantly full, I’m going to recant. No-reservation restaurants are fine when, as here, the place is surrounded by good bars and cafés and they use a text system to call you to your table from nearby. And yes, I’m told this has been in use elsewhere for a while now, but what the hell would I know about that given I don’t queue?
The point is I did queue for Hoppers, albeit in a very civilised manner, over an espresso with a shot of Amaretto in it at Bar Italia across the road. I’m glad I did. Inside, the space, formerly the Koya noodle bar, has been panelled in glossy wood. There’s rattan on the ceiling, old movie posters on the walls and Ikea plates on the tables. It feels like they’ve done it over with a tight eye on the bottom line for which again, hurrah. I hate going out for dinner and paying an enormous bill to fund the interior designer’s mortgage.
a restaurant where the queue is virtual; you get to go for a drink or coffee and they text you when your table is ready. How awesome is that:
Then a friend told me the queue was fine after 9pm, so I went along. The friend was wrong. We were told there would be a 30-minute wait, so you’d expect me to be grouchy. But no. Having experienced the way a little bit of tech was used to manage it, and weighing up the impact on pricing at a restaurant able to keep its tables constantly full, I’m going to recant. No-reservation restaurants are fine when, as here, the place is surrounded by good bars and cafés and they use a text system to call you to your table from nearby. And yes, I’m told this has been in use elsewhere for a while now, but what the hell would I know about that given I don’t queue?
The point is I did queue for Hoppers, albeit in a very civilised manner, over an espresso with a shot of Amaretto in it at Bar Italia across the road. I’m glad I did. Inside, the space, formerly the Koya noodle bar, has been panelled in glossy wood. There’s rattan on the ceiling, old movie posters on the walls and Ikea plates on the tables. It feels like they’ve done it over with a tight eye on the bottom line for which again, hurrah. I hate going out for dinner and paying an enormous bill to fund the interior designer’s mortgage.
Jay Rayner, Hoppers
February 21, 2016.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Sharp One
Here is a first impressions on the new Samsung phones presented in Barcelona.
The review is nice, and the phone - long the favourite of Android gamers, for its
visual sharpness - seems awesome. In Canada, the Edge might be coming in at
1 050$.
The review is nice, and the phone - long the favourite of Android gamers, for its
visual sharpness - seems awesome. In Canada, the Edge might be coming in at
1 050$.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Monday
I'm having a Monday, over here. I didn't gain any weight over the week-end,
but apparently Hillary Clinton has put on 30 pounds on the campaign trail,
and munches on junk food. My advice to Hillary, ditch the junk but keep the
booze. This is what the Queen does, and it works:every day around 6:30 pm she
has her favourite martini: Dubonnet and gin. Makes it all alright.
Been reading about the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. All the major mobile
operators are there (except Apple, for some reason lost to history). For the first time,
smartphone sales may actually weaken next year - although at half the world's population
with a phone, this shouldn't be a worry - and connected objects are the current darlings.
Interestingly, cars of the future will take over certain phone functions like music playlists
and GPS from a vocal comand. The focus is on the cloud with mutiple devices.
After consideration, I have decided not to try my hand at a 10k calorie challenge.
Everybody is trying it, with variable success. I can't imagine any combination or
sequence of foods that I could get through. Even fit young people are challenged
by this. I did realize something through this mental exercise though: it is very
difficult to reach gut-busting calorie counts with food alone. It is the liquid calories
- aka soft drinks - that are the silent partners to obesity. Now we know.
It is actually sunny and beautiful here; just the small matter of that -12 ºC. Tedious,
all that cold. But my face is splattered with sunscreen, and head out I must...
Maybe to Tim's!
but apparently Hillary Clinton has put on 30 pounds on the campaign trail,
and munches on junk food. My advice to Hillary, ditch the junk but keep the
booze. This is what the Queen does, and it works:every day around 6:30 pm she
has her favourite martini: Dubonnet and gin. Makes it all alright.
Been reading about the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. All the major mobile
operators are there (except Apple, for some reason lost to history). For the first time,
smartphone sales may actually weaken next year - although at half the world's population
with a phone, this shouldn't be a worry - and connected objects are the current darlings.
Interestingly, cars of the future will take over certain phone functions like music playlists
and GPS from a vocal comand. The focus is on the cloud with mutiple devices.
After consideration, I have decided not to try my hand at a 10k calorie challenge.
Everybody is trying it, with variable success. I can't imagine any combination or
sequence of foods that I could get through. Even fit young people are challenged
by this. I did realize something through this mental exercise though: it is very
difficult to reach gut-busting calorie counts with food alone. It is the liquid calories
- aka soft drinks - that are the silent partners to obesity. Now we know.
It is actually sunny and beautiful here; just the small matter of that -12 ºC. Tedious,
all that cold. But my face is splattered with sunscreen, and head out I must...
Maybe to Tim's!
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Pizza Time
Decided to try my hand at home made pizza, with an overnight dough recipe.
1 pm Day 1
7 pm Day 1
7 am Day 2
2 hours to go in the pan
(Should I rush over to CTire for a pizza pan!?)
After 2 hours
Used tomato paste in hot water, with oregano
Sliced tomato and zucchini
Mozzarella cheese and olive oil
After 10 minutes at 550 ºF (fire alarm went off)
Done (in OFF oven)
Delicious!!
http://sweetasacookie.com/best-cast-iron-pizza/
Carb Frenzy
Here we go, fitness aspirants. What is the difference between carbohydrate loading and
carbohydrate backloading? Stumped??
The concept of carbohydrate loading seems to belong to the world of sport nutrition in general. The idea is that - for maximal performance in an event - the athlete will consume a high carb meal the night before, so that his body has all the energy he might need available without being clouded over by digestion.
Carbohydrate backloading is a term I have encountered in the body-builder world, for those who are experiencing weight problems. If one trains on protein and fats, one eats protein and carbs after the training session. In this way, one is burning fat during the training itself, and replenishing glycogen in the muscle after the fact. Indeed, one can , in the evening, eat quite a bit of carbs.
I have seen the recommendation to go on a low-carb regiment - no more than 30 grams of carbs a day - for one week to ten days. On a subsequent training day, the person will benefit from an evening window of 5 or 6 hours where he can eat all the naughty carbs he might desire without adverse effects. And can begin to evening nosh on training days after that. It has to do with the absence of carb-digesting enzymes after a period of abstinence. No longer than that, though.
Guy talk!?
carbohydrate backloading? Stumped??
The concept of carbohydrate loading seems to belong to the world of sport nutrition in general. The idea is that - for maximal performance in an event - the athlete will consume a high carb meal the night before, so that his body has all the energy he might need available without being clouded over by digestion.
Carbohydrate backloading is a term I have encountered in the body-builder world, for those who are experiencing weight problems. If one trains on protein and fats, one eats protein and carbs after the training session. In this way, one is burning fat during the training itself, and replenishing glycogen in the muscle after the fact. Indeed, one can , in the evening, eat quite a bit of carbs.
I have seen the recommendation to go on a low-carb regiment - no more than 30 grams of carbs a day - for one week to ten days. On a subsequent training day, the person will benefit from an evening window of 5 or 6 hours where he can eat all the naughty carbs he might desire without adverse effects. And can begin to evening nosh on training days after that. It has to do with the absence of carb-digesting enzymes after a period of abstinence. No longer than that, though.
Guy talk!?
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Rights
Apple's refusal to comply to government demands to hack one of its
own iPhones - that used by the San Bernardino terrorist Farook - does
seem fated to become an important public policy issue. I personally live
in Canada, but have dabbled enough on the Web to be on the developer
list of various bodies. Mozilla has just sent me a link to a video, and a request
to pass it on. It is the first of a series and deals with encryption.
Am I on board with the Apple team? Probably. But then I have been following
things in Franc which has been taken with la déchéance, whether terrorists
should have their citizenshiprescinded. That is where the scandal lies for the French.
I am a great fan of Apple products ( am actually writing this on a McBook Pro):
they are well-designed and reliable. A good proportion of the computerized planet
agrees with me. The phone in question belonged to Mr Farook's employer, but he
had the savy to disconnect cloud back-up two weeks before the attacks. Was he using
the product's confidentiality capabilities? It would appear that he was.
Apple won't be arguing from Mr Farook's rights. The issue is there nonetheless.
https://advocacy.mozilla.org/encrypt/2/?ref=2016_Encryption&utm_campaign=2016_Encryption&utm_source=newsletter-mofo&utm_medium=email&utm_content=SSAtext2
own iPhones - that used by the San Bernardino terrorist Farook - does
seem fated to become an important public policy issue. I personally live
in Canada, but have dabbled enough on the Web to be on the developer
list of various bodies. Mozilla has just sent me a link to a video, and a request
to pass it on. It is the first of a series and deals with encryption.
Am I on board with the Apple team? Probably. But then I have been following
things in Franc which has been taken with la déchéance, whether terrorists
should have their citizenshiprescinded. That is where the scandal lies for the French.
I am a great fan of Apple products ( am actually writing this on a McBook Pro):
they are well-designed and reliable. A good proportion of the computerized planet
agrees with me. The phone in question belonged to Mr Farook's employer, but he
had the savy to disconnect cloud back-up two weeks before the attacks. Was he using
the product's confidentiality capabilities? It would appear that he was.
Apple won't be arguing from Mr Farook's rights. The issue is there nonetheless.
https://advocacy.mozilla.org/encrypt/2/?ref=2016_Encryption&utm_campaign=2016_Encryption&utm_source=newsletter-mofo&utm_medium=email&utm_content=SSAtext2
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
The Letter
Below is a link to the letter addressed to Apple customers, explaining why they are reticent to help the US government break into the iPhone of a suspected terrorist. They are correct that what the government is asking for is a 'general solution'. I would have to agree that - once someone had thought this through - it would be publicly available soon enough!!
http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/
According to Le Monde, there is a bit of a backstory here. After revelations about the extent of cyberspying on the part of the NSA, both Apple and Google beefed up security. Encryption on a current iPhone is done by the user - who generates a random code - and security is built up in layers.
Apple is effectively being told to stop being so badass.
http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2016/02/17/apple-conteste-la-demande-d-acces-du-fbi-a-ses-fichiers_4867009_4408996.html
http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/
According to Le Monde, there is a bit of a backstory here. After revelations about the extent of cyberspying on the part of the NSA, both Apple and Google beefed up security. Encryption on a current iPhone is done by the user - who generates a random code - and security is built up in layers.
Apple is effectively being told to stop being so badass.
http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2016/02/17/apple-conteste-la-demande-d-acces-du-fbi-a-ses-fichiers_4867009_4408996.html
Sunday, February 14, 2016
So There!
From msn France:
One should put pepper on a dish at the end of cooking, because pepper looses flavour when heated.
One should salt - and that includes on steak - before cooking, and always cook pasta in salted water 'because there is no going back'.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Valentine
Be my Valentine 2016!: The YouTube Vlogger community. You, dear guys and gals, are the best.
Entertaining, informative, and awesomely creative. Will be spending this very cold VDay in your company.
Entertaining, informative, and awesomely creative. Will be spending this very cold VDay in your company.
GettingC
Cold ands getting colder: anything worse than -30° C is too dangerous for the skin, and that is where the wind-chill is at the moment, and expected to go down even more during the day.
So going out for emergency fruit and veg early.
Lettuce doesn't even make it back home at an actual -30° C.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
GWs
The observation of gravitational waves from last September
are of two black holes, respectively 29 and 36 times our Sun.
The combined black hole they created has a mass of only 62.
The missing 3 is the expenditure on gravitational waves.
http://www.msn.com/de-de/nachrichten/wissenundtechnik/forscher-finden-gravitationswellen-und-belegen-damit-einstein/ar-BBpoylT
https://slice42.com/en-ce-moment/2016/02/levenement-les-ondes-gravitationnelles-prevues-par-einstein-reellement-observees-34178/
are of two black holes, respectively 29 and 36 times our Sun.
The combined black hole they created has a mass of only 62.
The missing 3 is the expenditure on gravitational waves.
http://www.msn.com/de-de/nachrichten/wissenundtechnik/forscher-finden-gravitationswellen-und-belegen-damit-einstein/ar-BBpoylT
https://slice42.com/en-ce-moment/2016/02/levenement-les-ondes-gravitationnelles-prevues-par-einstein-reellement-observees-34178/
New Blog!
I'm in tears; my daughter Lyse has started a blog. In point of fact, the impetus to get me
on line came from her. I remember the Skittles wall on her first MySpace. She's also
been on Facebook for years and messages her brood of friends ceaselessly, a digital native.
I'm totally proud and happy!! But,as is appropriate to the genre, I should let her present herself:
http://lyse3125.blog.com/
Monday, February 8, 2016
Uncoupling Proteins
Read on a dieting info site that omega3s are useful in that they work with so-called
'uncoupling proteins'. The latter are membrane proteins that divert the energy produced by the cell to thermogenesis, rather than going into the ATP cycle. In hibernation, for instance. This effect
is heightened by the action of hormones such as adrenaline...Inneresting!
see: Wikipedia
'uncoupling proteins'. The latter are membrane proteins that divert the energy produced by the cell to thermogenesis, rather than going into the ATP cycle. In hibernation, for instance. This effect
is heightened by the action of hormones such as adrenaline...Inneresting!
see: Wikipedia
Found
Found an interesting site this morning, by accident. It is an explanation of how the digestive system works. (In effect, the regulation mechanisms at work are hellishly complex, but this is a beginning).
It did remind me why I am often ill at ease with all the diet talk: so many carbs, so much protein and so forth. Proteins, fats and starches are the the categories in which the digestive system breaks foods down, and in that order. But are they the best away to think a bout how we should feed ourselves!?
The site also led me to a register of all US clinical trials going on. Awesome.
It did remind me why I am often ill at ease with all the diet talk: so many carbs, so much protein and so forth. Proteins, fats and starches are the the categories in which the digestive system breaks foods down, and in that order. But are they the best away to think a bout how we should feed ourselves!?
The site also led me to a register of all US clinical trials going on. Awesome.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Foolish
I need to look ahead to summer, and up my skin-care game.. I am ashamed to admit it, but I basically do nothing except put sunblock on my nose. Last summer, I ended up with a lot of dark spots. So gearing up:
With Coppertone SPF50 form the face everywhere, and concealer on existing dark spots.
Same as yesterday, only added a foundation from Lancôme (Visionnaire). It actually comes with its own concealer, which I don't have. But they gave me a bit of the foundation to try it out for colour.
This product has built-in sunscreen, and a repair serum for sun-damaged skin built-in. Might wear this for heavy-duty protection.
The essence of the new regime is to not go outside between 10 and 3 on really sunny days, and wear a hat if one does... But, but I'm a biking fool!!
Saturday, February 6, 2016
MCereal
I'm not sentimental about cereal; it is, as well as milk, one of those foods earmarked for health to which goodies are added. Looking at labels, Rice Crispies has 0% iron, but a bran cereal can have anywhere between 25% and 75%. So an edible mix of the two for an iron-deprived woman might look like the bowl below.
Yes, there is a taste dimension. Bran cereal is yummy but leaves an after-taste that makes - me at least - think of ...nails!
I am not afraid to mix it up. In the fall, I also make the same recipe with Corn Flakes and Mueslix!!
It looks better all messed in with milk. I am not showing that; many are starting to consume cereal with soy or almond milk ($$), which I have yet to try. Maybe in a courageous moment...
Friday, February 5, 2016
Thursday, February 4, 2016
ISIS Examined
Le Monde is running today - in French translation - a mind-bending piece on the ISIS question. Written by an anthropologist who is both a researcher in France, and a lecturer at Oxford, the longish and complex piece tries to make sense of the persistance of the EI phenomenon.
The take-away for me: Europe is a much harder place for Muslim immigrants to integrate than America!? Perhaps because they are more numerous??
My personal hunch on the issue: radicalization is tied to internet culture, whose tone and personal space is very inclusive as long as one is sufficiently nerd-chic.
https://aeon.co/essays/why-isis-has-the-potential-to-be-a-world-altering-revolution
The take-away for me: Europe is a much harder place for Muslim immigrants to integrate than America!? Perhaps because they are more numerous??
My personal hunch on the issue: radicalization is tied to internet culture, whose tone and personal space is very inclusive as long as one is sufficiently nerd-chic.
https://aeon.co/essays/why-isis-has-the-potential-to-be-a-world-altering-revolution
Monday, February 1, 2016
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