Do You Ever Feel Like You're In This Alone?
Boston, MA — Being alone is an increasingly important dynamic in healthcare. One that – thanks to changes in medical and communications technology, our connections to family, and even the way we work – is becoming increasingly prevalent.
What are you afraid of late at night? For many of us it's a cough that just won't go away, a mole that looks a little suspicious, a headache that feels too sharp. We sit in the glow of a screen and look for answers.
Almost 40% of us are using increasingly sophisticated online self-diagnosis tools to try to crack our own medical puzzles. Sometimes that WebMD Symptom Checker reports that the range of possible diagnoses is somewhere between indigestion and intestinal cancer. But other times the answers are much more specific and our self-searchers feel that cold trickle of fear and just like that: they know.
Advances in both home medical testing and electronic medical records are making it possible to get much more clinical information on our own, too. A home blood test can reveal anything from high cholesterol to HIV with no more than an email or electronic recording. Physician offices are signing patients up for digital portals that automatically deliver test results right to their inbox.
It's not just patients who find themselves alone. It's their doctors, too. Almost 50% of doctors report symptoms of burnout — emotional exhaustion, low sense of accomplishment, detachment. One reason is they're working increasingly on their own.
A primary care physician recently talked to us about how his day-to-day connections with colleagues had changed over the years. When he first joined he practice, he would talk with his fellow doctors over coffee in the morning and again over lunch. They'd consult across cases and talk about changes in long-time patients. Today, he starts at 7AM. In the course of a typical day, he won't see more than one of his colleagues and generally just in passing in the hallway. They don't collaborate like they once did. They can't. They don't have time. Instead, they've nearly doubled the number of patients they see in order to keep up with changes in reimbursement from major payers.
As the medical home model pushes each professional to work only at the top of their skill set, this sense of solo practice will become greater and greater. There will be more opportunities to give care, but less connectivity between them.
Did you know that married cancer patients live longer than single people who have the disease? It turns out that the support that marriage provides makes a big difference. A study, published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that single patients were 53% less likely to receive appropriate therapy than married patients. Help from a spouse made it easier for those patients to regularly take their medications and keep up with chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Single cancer patients also were 17% more likely to have late-stage cancer at the time of diagnosis. Maybe all that nagging to go see the doctor really does make a difference. The biggest finding was in ultimate outcomes: Married patients were 20 percent less likely to die of their disease than single patients.
Shifting demographics are changing how many people have access to that essential support. From 1950 and 2011, according to calculations by the University of Maryland sociologist Philip Cohen, the marriage rate fell from 90 marriages a year per 1,000 unmarried women to just 31, a stunning 66% decline. Although most Americans will be married at some point in their lives, barely half are married right now. Older, more wealthy people are the most likely to be married – and also those already most likely to have access to the best care.
If you look beyond that core union to other historically close familial relationships, the problem becomes even more staggering. In China, for example, fewer and fewer young people have been respecting the tradition of Filial Piety, the ancient Chinese ethic of young people showing care and respect to their parents and older relatives. So much so, that parents can – and do – now sue their children for lack of care and support.
Want more? Check out this infographic on self diagnosis. And, this recent New York Times article on Medicine's Search for Meaning.


This week's unfiltered is not about discrimination. Instead, my intent is to bring attention to what I believe is an obvious difference between what Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Andrew Luck is coached to do and what Redskins' head coach Mike Shanahan asks of Robert Griffin III. Not because one is Caucasian and the other is African-American, but because both are very skilled passers.
Luck—a supreme athlete in his own right—is being asked to execute plays where his legs are used to get completions, while Griffin III is asked to run power sweeps. Why?
Is it because Shanahan is desperate to win after failing with Jason Campbell, John Beck, Rex Grossman and Donovan McNabb? Is it because his son (offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan) isn't ready for the job he has? Maybe the problem lies with Griffin III in that t hey tried a more conventional approach but he showed far more interest (and ability) in playing the way he did at Baylor.
Rather than request Shanahan teach him to play quarterback, Griffin III seems to relish his role as some kind of football mutation. That is fine in a video game and it's certainly good enough to dominate the collegiate landscape. But this is the NFL and as Michael Vick has proven over an uneven career, running around like a super hero isn't good enough.
As a young man, Griffin III probably thinks he's invincible. But he doesn't have x-ray vision, superhuman strength or warp speed. He's just a talent in dire need of schooling. Hell, Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods all received proper training and RG3 is nowhere near as talented as they were at a similar age. So why isn't last year's Heisman Trophy winner being taught properly?
In my view, only seven players in the last thirty years could legitimately win games running as well as passing: Steve Young, Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Dante Culpepper, Michael Vick, Cam Newton and now Griffin III. Of those seven only Young really learned to play quarterback. Coincidentally, only Young won the Super Bowl.
To their credit, Cunningham, McNabb and Culpepper each made strides throughout their careers and ultimately won dozens of games using their minds and arms, but all three developed bad habits. Perhaps scarred by so many years of designed running plays and one-read escapes, none reached their potential. Even if you believe they each got the most out of their careers, you cannot deny the fact they wasted valuable time as young players running around. And it's clear to anyone paying attention Vick has never really grasped the subtleties of the position. And at 32, his best days are behind him.
Again, this is not about race but it's fair to wonder why former Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coach Leeman Bennett never asked Young to run the football nine times per game like Shanahan asks Griffin III? And why isn't Luck running deep pass routes against double coverage as Griffin III did two weeks ago?
Consider these numbers: Young rushed 74 times in 1986 while Griffin III is on pace for 144 carries this season. Is Griffin III twice as fast as 25 year-old Young?
Someone who really cares about Griffin III's health and career should encourage him to have a serious conversation with his head coach. He should insist Shanahan stop treating him like he runs on batteries. He ought to demand his offense look more like what Luck is executing in Indianapolis.
Without a doubt the quarterback position in the NFL is open to more players than ever before. But I fear talent like Griffin III is taught with little nuance and even less focus on actual development. It's as if Shanahan doesn't care if Griffin III learns the material; he simply wants him to pass the weekly tests.
The Colts' offense gives Luck a foundation he'll likely build on while the Redskins are lazily relying on Griffin III to deliver action hero stunts.
And as the Falcons proved in week five, there are no stunt doubles in the NFL.
-The Philadelphia Eagles are now 16-17 in their last 33 games.
-It's apparent to me LeSean McCoy has had enough of Andy Reid's foolish play calling.
-Jon Gruden accurately noted McCoy was "hot" last night. But Reid either couldn't or wouldn't adjust. His lack of flexibility is his biggest blind spot.
-Keep a close eye on tackling the rest of the season. The new rules preventing contact and padded practices mean weak defenses will get worse.
-I don't agree with the notion quarterbacks must be tall to succeed in the NFL but you have to have a higher football IQ and a smarter coach if you're short.
-Philip Rivers' regression and Norv Turner's general norville-ness hides the fact A.J. Smith is doing a bad job.
-Dan Dierdorf said Peyton Manning will call "15 run plays in a row…he has no ego when it comes to that." That's not true Dan, and you know it! If Manning had any genuine interest in running the football, he would have signed with San Francisco.
-If indeed there were quality tailbacks like DeAngelo Williams available at the trade deadline, the Packers will regret not getting one.
-Luck is having a terrific rookie season, but the two-year anticipation of his arrival makes it seem average.
-That Pepsi commercial makes Drew Brees look like a retired boy band member. He is one little dude, but still taller than Vick.
-The Giants should seriously consider resting Ahmad Bradshaw for a couple of weeks. At this rate, there is no way he'll have anything left after Thanksgiving.
-Bradshaw feet, Andre Brown's shoulder and David Wilson's youth are the reasons the 49ers will not release Brandon Jacobs.
-Another outdoor game, another Vikings' loss. Trust no dome team until they win a game in the elements.
-Twenty-five rushes by Ray Rice; twenty-four passes by Joe Flacco. If they were unleashing the quarterback is it safe to say they're now constraining him.
-Mike Tomlin seems to make an incredibly poor decision every week. Was he just in the right place at the right time?
-The Colts' win over Green Bay four weeks ago was inspiring and I sincerely hope head coach Chuck Pagano wins his fight against leukemia, but his post-game speech Sunday left me confused and uncomfortable. If it's bigger than football (and clearly, it is) why is he talking about his daughters and Lombardi Trophies in the same sentence? I'm sure I'm in the minority, but to me it felt self-serving and explorative.
Atlanta Falcons (8-0) – Eventually, their reliance on Matt Ryan will cost them.
Houston Texans (7-1) – Matt Schaub is averaging 31 pass attempts per game.
San Francisco 49ers (6-2) – Could equal last year's win total…and disappointment.
Baltimore Ravens (6-2) – Returned from the bye and returned to their principles.


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La settimana mondiale dello Spazio (o World Space Week (WSW)) è una ricorrenza internazionale annuale.

Celebrata  dal 4 ottobre al 10 ottobre in varie parti del mondo, in particolare Europa e Asia,  la Settimana Mondiale dello Spazio è ufficialmente definita come "una celebrazione internazionale della scienza e della tecnologia, e il loro contributo al miglioramento della condizione umana".

Storia
Il 6 dicembre 1999, l'Assemblea Generale delle Nazioni Unite ha dichiarato la Settimana mondiale dello Spazio come una celebrazione annuale di eventi da commemorare tra il 4 e il 10 ottobre.  La scelta delle date si basava sul riconoscimento di due date importanti nella storia dello Spazio: il lancio del primo satellite terrestre creato dall'uomo, Sputnik 1, avvenuto il 4 ottobre 1957 e l'entrata in vigore del Trattato sullo spazio extra-atmosferico,  il 10 ottobre 1967.

Evento mondiale
La World Space Week è il più grande evento spaziale annuale al mondo. Nel 2017, la settimana mondiale dello spazio è stata celebrata con oltre 3.700 eventi in 80 paesi.  Gli eventi includevano attività scolastiche, mostre, eventi governativi e attività speciali nella planetaria di tutto il mondo.

Temi
Ogni anno, un tema per la Settimana mondiale dello spazio è stabilito dal Consiglio di amministrazione della World Space Week Association.
In merito al tema "Esplorare nuovi mondi nello spazio", molti eventi della World Space Week 2017 si sono concentrati sui piani per l'esplorazione umana dello spazio e le scoperte di pianeti simili alla Terra nei sistemi solari vicini.

Nel 2018, il tema della settimana spaziale mondiale sarà "Space Unites the World".  Questo in parte riconosce lo storico incontro UNISPACE + 50 che si terrà a Vienna sempre in questa data.

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Festività internazionali

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Kristin: I'm still fighting off this unnerved frustration of seeing 50/50's Will Reiser being denied a nomination, but here's what I think considering the nominees: It's a tough call in this category, because most of the contenders are strong. I have not seen A Separation, so I cannot comment on Asghar Farhadi's script, but I was very fond of the little Sundance film Margin Call that quietly slipped itself into the running. J. C. Chandor's script is smart, well-thought out, and brought down to the level of those who don't speak financial jargon. On the other hand, there's Woody Allen's writing for Midnight in Paris, which is witty and light-hearted, much like the film. I would sign off Kristen Wiig and Mumolo for Bridesmaids, although it's neat to see the a comedy among the dramas in the writing department. Comedy rarely receives credit for how difficult it is to act, much less to write for actors. That leaves Michel Hazanvicius's original screenplay for The Artist, which could also do something here. My guess is that Allen or Hazanvicius will win the trophy, although Allen certainly won't be appearing at the ceremony as usual.
Matt: How I wish I would have had the pleasure of seeing A Separation; it only recently arrived to a theater near Madison. My favorite for this category is Midnight in Paris; I love the way Allen took larger than life characters and brought them to life. As Gil met these famous artists of the past, I felt I was meeting them too. And who among us hasn't met an annoying pseudo-intellectual like Paul? Allen writes great characters. I understand he had a lot of historical material to draw upon, but he wrote them in a way in which I understood some of them for the first time.
As far as The Artist is concerned, I felt this was a bit of an interesting nomination for a film that included such a small amount of dialogue. The screenplay is only forty-two pages long and contains mostly directorial notes. They say the screenplay should serve as the blueprint for a film; Hazanavicius' script takes that approach quite literally. To me, the magic of The Artist lies in the visuals, the acting, the staging, and, quite ironically, the sound. The screenplay seems inconsequential.
Kristin: I've seen all of the nominated except for John Logan's screenplay for Hugo. Although coming up with something wholly original means writers have to start from scratch, I consider the Best Adapted Screenplay category more difficult for two reasons: first, there is a far heavier competition in this category, because more films are based off books, comics, historical events, etc., today; second, there are grievances to deal with considering the author, family involved, and staying true to the original story while still making it workable for film format.
Having read most of Michael Lewis's Moneyball, I hold a special appreciation for writers Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin as well as Stan Chervin for transforming a baseball statistics book into a an interesting sports story for sports fans and nonfans alike. I felt like parts of Ides of March were cliche, and its script not quite as smart as some of the other competition, such as The Descendants. I believe that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a triumph in converting from book to film at large, possibly could have been brought to an even higher level by making it more understandable for the masses.
Matt: First of all, The Ides of March seems to be a very strange choice for this category. While enjoyable, I didn't find it anything out of the ordinary. Characters say their lines which move the plot along; in short, there is a lot of plot, but little story. As far as Hugo is concerned, I have not read the book, but I found the film to be a fabulous, mythic retelling of reality.
I have to agree with Kristin about Moneyball; it does take something special to make a movie about sport's statistics exciting, especially when that sport is one as dull as baseball. (I probably just lost everyone [don't judge]; I LOVE football.) Moneyball's script is a great example of the hard work it takes to bring a film to the screen. The writing of a film is no less a collaborative effort than the actually production of that film. With great characters and fantastic dialogue, Moneyball is my choice for this category.
Kristin: There isn't a doubt in my mind that the most deserving of the nominated is Emmanuel Lubezki for his gorgeous and harrowing work in The Tree of Life.
Matt: It took cinematographer Wally Pfister four Oscar nominations before finally snatching the award for Inception. Emmanuel Lubezki is on his fifth nomination. Those previous nominations include such films as The New World and my personal favorite of his work, Children of Men. Lubezki's floating camera in The Tree of Life gives a real immediacy and intimacy to the events we witness. The real and surreal are equally delivered with breathtaking beauty. Lubezki needs to win the award for this category.
The Artist's cinematography does what it must do in order for the film to work, in that it emulates what a film of the late 1920s would look like. I appreciated the fact that it does not rely on editing to portray the information necessary to the scene. Guillaume Schiffman packs a lot into the frame, something film critic Jim Emerson explains in greater detail here.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is, without a doubt, beautifully shot. Jeff Cronenweth, like his father, is a good cinematographer. It is difficult, however, to judge how much of his work rests on his own talent and how much is due to frequent collaborator David Fincher. You know a Fincher picture by its visuals from the first shot onward, even though he has used several different DPs throughout his career. For a Fincher picture, the DP doesn't seem to matter as long as he is good. As for Cronenweth, he shouldn't despair; Roger Deakins has been nominated nine times without a single win.
Kristin: Each of the nominated films in this category had incredible sets. To pick just one and say that it's been than the rest is proving difficult for me to do, but I will say that Midnight in Paris served as a favorite of mine in this category because the locations of where it was filmed made me feel like I got to take a trip to Paris with Owen Wilson. Every scene held some kind of beauty and intrigue, taking Wilson to places he read about in books or learned about in a class. My vote is for Midnight in Paris.
Matt: Midnight in Paris really immerses you in the world of 1920s Paris. Nothing about any of the sets felt contrived. The art direction sucked me into that world, and like Gil, I was pretty depressed when I had to leave that world and come back to the 21st century. In Hugo, I especially enjoyed the recreation of Melies' sets for the film. The automoton was pretty fabulous as well. The Artist had an interesting challenge in that they had to recreate several 1920s film sets. I would be okay with Harry Potter getting some recognition in this category; however, I'd have to go with Kristin on this one.
It's December. It's the end of the year, and in terms of the film world, the best movies–and potentially the most Oscar-nominated-hopefuls–are rounding themselves out this month. And along with those movies, we also have Christmas-themed movies as well as big entertainment blocks for the holiday crowd that comes in during the month.
I was thinking about what my next post should be about, and I couldn't get Inception out of my mind (pun not intended). I recently bought the Blu-ray copy of it (finally got a Blu-ray player!), and watched all the extras on the disc. I still haven't gotten to seeing the movie this year yet (and it's almost over!), but I plan to have at least one more viewing (in addition to my four theater visits last year) before year's end.
Last year, when the movie first came out, I was blown away. I hadn't seen a film like this in a really long time, and at the same time, I was moved by the emotional tone of it. That, with the complexity and the beautiful visuals and the creativity, I wondered if I had ever seen such an awesome film on screen. Since then, I have waited to be "blown away" by another film. I went to the last Harry Potter flick and attended screenings of all the big superhero films and the action movies of the summer. I didn't really care if other films didn't include the complexity that Inception contains–I was just waiting to experience that "blown away" (in a good way) feeling from watching a movie. Most people experience this feeling from time to time in different amounts–it's common, although depending on the person, it doesn't come around very often.
The closest I have come this year to feeling that "blown away" feeling was from seeing 50/50. It's nothing like Inception in any way or context (oh wait, I guess it has JGL in it too), but it was one of those movies that was marketed to be a bro comedy, and when the credits started rolling, I sat there, stunned at how moved I was from it. The feeling that you get when you might have average expectations, and when you leave the theater, you realize you were completely wrong for not having the highest of expectations from a film because it was just that good when you saw it.
But even so, 50/50 doesn't shine a light to that "blown away" feeling that I experienced after seeing Inception. Perhaps it is because there was no Nolan film to fill the year, and I'm especially attracted to his style of filmmaking. I still remember seeing The Prestige a few years back and thinking about what a great movie it was. And no one should be able to say that they weren't at least partly impressed with both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. All three of those movies have been ranked on my top list for a while now. When I saw Memento, I wondered if there was a more complex film ever even created. CNolan has a sharp, dark, and tight filmmaking style that makes his movies dark, monumental, and beautiful simultaneously. I just hope people's expectations don't break through the roof before The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters.
All of that to say–I look forward to breaking that Inception ice and being blown away by another film, even if I have somewhat high expectations going in to see a screening of it. But until then, I remained buzzed from the sheer greatness of Inception, and perhaps secretly wonder if another movie will ever make me feel like that again.


The incorporation of healthy, simple daily tasks such as journaling may provide welcome opportunity to assess all that one has to be grateful for. The act of experiencing or giving gratitude can be extremely beneficial for one's overall health. I saw my life transform in many wonderful ways as I began to truly explore the meaning and benefit of gratitude. I was also kinder to others because my entire attitude changed.
Increased self-awareness was one of the many benefits of my new intention to practice daily gratitude. Life sometimes becomes so busy that we begin to think only of ourselves. However, gratitude made me more aware of all that others were doing for me. I began to see not what I lacked, but what I was gaining throughout life. This simple act of journaling was incredibly revealing for me!
My newly increased self-awareness made me want to invest more in those around me. Selflessness directly correlates with one's level of happiness. I began to give to others more and more and then received a happy mindset. I even made new, strong friendships that I believe will be long lasting.
With selflessness came new friends and a heightened feeling of belonging. This closeness with the people around me and even with nature was incomparable to anything I have ever experienced before making the decision to practice gratitude. My new sense of community with humans and with nature also brought about a new and improved sense of self.
Starting to practice gratitude stirred up something inside of me I did not even know I had! My desire to be creative and expressive increased exponentially. The outpouring of artwork and writing was extensive. I felt true healing through my own art and through my own heart!
Before I began to actively practice gratitude, I had been feeling really down on myself – depressed, even. However, my newfound positive psychology helped to ease and mitigate my depressive symptoms. Over time, I began to feel uplifted and rejuvenated, like a light had been turned on within me.
Practicing this positive and gracious way of living helped me build up internal strength. Certain things that might have set me off or would have irritated me before did not dissuade me from my enduring, positive state of mind. Ultimately, this optimism helped me overcome everyday challenges. This mental fortitude may also help one get through trauma.
Life is not perfect, even when you practice gratitude. Even so, when I am confronted with negativity throughout my daily life, I do not see it as something that will keep me down. Rather, I see negative or difficult situations as opportunities or learning experiences for me. Moving forward is much easier now. Situations can be negative or positive – that is all for you to determine. I have now chosen to see the bad as something that could eventually lead me to more good.
More positive thoughts meant healing for my mind. Yet, once I began to feel better by using this positive practice in my daily life, I wanted to take care of myself on every level. I also began to put healthy things into my body and, in turn, was able to put forth even more healthy words and attitudes towards things that were going on in my life at the time.
Let's face it – technology can be taxing (at least, for me, it was). In the past, I was spending an unhealthy amount of time on my phone or at the computer. This excess screen time detracted from time spent with friends or even getting out of the house and seeing the world.
Less time on technology meant more time for better, life-giving things. The peace and serenity that nature provides only furthered the other new benefits I experienced. For instance, my stress levels plummeted even further down.
My urge to exercise and move around increased. I ended up spending more time outside and doing outdoor activities. Any events with friends or loved ones were likely to also involve some physical movement on my part. This in turn even furthered my connection with those around me.
The friendships I had were furthered and deepened because of my new sense of awareness. I was now more engaging and enjoyable to be around. I realized that all of these people had a special place in my life and each relationship took on new meaning for me.
Grudges only serve to bring you down. Unconscious stress can still cause many problems. It was important for me to be forgiving in order to truly move forward in my own life and healing process.
I was definitely made happier when I started to practice gratitude. This happiness can be attributed to all of the aforementioned benefits of developing this new daily practice. I was more available and accessible emotionally, because happiness is such an important aspect to have in your life. I even saw my new mood becoming infectious. People around me were becoming happier as well!
During this time, I began also to encourage others to better themselves and look forward to their own futures. The compassion I experienced actually ended up helping not only me, but the people around me. A study suggests "happy people become happier through kindness".
Wasting time was no longer on my agenda. Wasteful activities no longer took up space at my place! Instead, I dedicated and planned time for things that were actually meaningful for me. I was truly able to savor each moment of each day this way.
My new practice gave me a lot of time for introspection. Not everything in my life was doing right by me. So, I had to cut out toxic environments and toxic people from my life, which was hard, but necessary in order to move forward in my journey towards a happier, better me.
This is still my daily practice because it continues to amaze me and provide me with amazing life and health benefits. I now give more than I take. I am truly happier because of that.
Developing a gratitude practice totally changed my life for the better. My cognition, mood, and health have improved exponentially in a short amount of time. Overall, I am much happier. I will continue this daily practice throughout life because it has been so great and radically life-changing.
I also learned so much through this practice. If you are seeking healing or renewal, I strongly encourage you to do the same. Consider starting by journaling 5 things you are thankful for from your day. This practice can soon become a habit with dedication and repetition.
Each time I choose to focus on the things I have, I light up internally. Every time I focus on what I can do for others, stress lifts off of me and I am so much lighter. This practice has been so wonderful that I recommend it to all of my friends and family. It does not have to be done alone, but can be a great way for family and friends to grow close to one another.
I typically write in my journal at night; that way, I can reflect on all of the happenings of the day. However, it is also a beneficial way to start your day. Each and every move towards this positive emotion helps me in the long-term. Dealing with stress or toxic emotions and relationships has become so much easier.
All of these activities can help to clear your mind or at least get you in the right mindset to transcend any negative emotions that may have been holding you back from becoming your happiest self. If you are interested, here is how to begin your practice.
The post 18 Ways Gratitude Changed My Life And Made Me Happier appeared first on Power of Positivity: Positive Thinking & Attitude.


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Poor State of Roads
I ate out last night, at an Indian restaurant in the Odyssey Pavilion in Belfast. Peter, an old school chum whose 50th birthday was imminent, met me in the foyer. We meet for a meal perhaps three times a year.
The pavilion itself seemed fairly quiet, although there was something "big" on in the Arena, adjacent to the Pavilion. We were shown to a table immediately. I had my usual, unadventurous onion bhajis, chicken Tikka Masala, pilau rice; and we shared Peshwari nan bread.
One topic which Peter brought up in the conversation was the state of Northern Ireland's roads. They are, of course, utterly deplorable - and that is putting it mildly. We used to joke disparagingly about the state of the Irish Republic's roads, before they joined the European Union. Now, the opposite is the case, one has to admit.
The "Roads Service" - as they call themselves - no: I call them the roads disservice. The roads disservice management is totally culpable for a culture of neglect over several decades; and it is simply not good enough for them to blame the NI Office ministers or anyone else. The roads disservice management remain culturally incapable of getting to grips with the disgraceful state of our roads.
The roads disservice has acquiesced in "turning a blind eye" to the damage done to our roads by utility companies, which do not reinstate any trenches, man-hole covers or anything in a proper fashion. Consequently, we have thousands of sunken trenches, poor quality workmanship and pot-holes which the roads disservice is ultimately responsible for. It is their responsibility to see that a satisfactory job is done; that their inspectors return after, say, six months or, if necessary, eighteen months to ensure that the repairs are good.
I shall name a mere two roads in Belfast or, at least, sections of them: Holywood Road and Ravenhill Road. The Holywood Road has some nasty sunken trenches causing uneven surfaces close to St Mark's Church and the junction of Palmerston Road. The roads disservice always claim that these roads are inspected regularly, which is spurious. The damage has been there for months and nothing has been done about it.
The Roads Service has a responsibility to bring utility companies to account. It is not good enough for the roads disservice to shift the responsibility to whichever company originally dug up a road. The roads disservice must surely have powers to enforce utility companies to repair damage incurred and, if necessary, re-surface a whole section of carriageway.
Labels: At Home , Rants And Gripes , The Belmont Pronouncements
Bespoke Suiting
I spoke on the blower this morning to Clarke and Dawe, the men's clothiers, about made-to-measure suits; including the cloth and, mainly the price. Seemingly the rough figure is currently £595, presumably for a two-piece suit.
Then I rang David Young, a bespoke tailor - possibly the only bespoke tailor on the island of Ireland. Mr Young is quietly spoken, unassuming, and sounds a good, all-round egg to me. We chatted at length about types of cloth; cloth weight; the merits of two or three piece suits; Holland & Sherry; and the number of fittings (normally one).
Mr Young has fitting sessions in Dublin for clients there; though he willingly offered to come to Belfast. His fee is currently €1,000 for a two-piece suit; and €1,400 for a suit and waist-coat. That equates to about £868 for a bespoke suit using Savile Row cloths, like Holland & Sherry.
I read a testimonial from one satisfied customer:-
"I was in Ireland a couple of months ago and happened into Mr. Young's shop on Francis Street in Galway. Mr. Young, a kind and unassuming gentleman, informed that he was born and raised in Dublin, but moved to London as a young man where he trained under Peter Moore on Savile Row in the 70s. Years later, he returned to Ireland and set up shop in Galway - his wife's hometown. He seemed surprised at my interest in bespoke clothing. Apparently, there is not big market for bespoke tailoring in Ireland, notwithstanding the economic boom there over the past decade or so. Most of people in his shop were rummaging through racks of ready-made suits and sweaters. His clientele is a small, but loyal group, comprised of lawyers and bankers in the Galway area. He seemed to have no idea there is wide interest outside of Ireland for bespoke tailoring.
He showed me some of his work in progress, which consisted of hand-cut cloth; hand-sewn canvases; soft, lightly-padded shoulders; and hand-sewn buttonholes with beautiful horn buttons. The style appeared to be classic Savile Row, mildly structured with high armholes and nipped waist. He told me that all the work was performed by him personally on the premises, from the cutting of the cloth to the finishing of the garment.
I was shocked to say the least when he told me his price for a hand-made bespoke garment - 1,000 Euro for a suit; 700 Euro for a jacket. That is about half of what I paid to one of the least expensive Savile Row tailors, and about a fourth of what one can expect to pay in most tailoring houses in London.
Based on our long conversation, I commissioned him to make me a jacket out of Donegal tweed. He was reluctant to do it without a fitting (I was returning home in a couple of days) but agreed to do it after I assured him he could make any adjustments on my next visit to Ireland. At 700 Euro, I figured I didn't have much to lose. After I finally selected a cloth from the book, Mr. Young's cloth merchant in London told him he ran out of it. Apparently Magee - the company that holds the monopoly on most of the handwoven tweed market in Donegal - won't sell cloth directly to tailors. Magee, however, does sell cloth to individual customers at a few of its approved retailers, so Mr. Young ordered the cloth through one such retailer in town. In fact he and I walked across town to the shop to confirm it could get the cloth for us.
Back at Mr. Young's shop, he took detailed measurements and told me the jacket would be finished and mailed to me in a couple of weeks. Based on my experiences with London tailors and shirtmakers, I didn't believe it would be finished in two weeks - especially since it would take him a week to get the cloth. But sure enough a couple of weeks later it arrived at my home in Washington.
What is most remarkable to me about the jacket is the fit. It is by far my best fitting jacket, and Mr. Young did it without a fitting. No other tailor has made me such a well-fitting jacket - even after multiple fittings. It's very light for a tweed jacket, and it's beautifully finished. After paying extra for the specially ordered fabric and postage, the final cost was 850 Euros, which was still about half what I last paid for a jacket with shoulders that make me look like a linebacker made by a traveling London tailor.
So if you're ever in Ireland, stop by his shop. He is a very interesting fellow, and he may even teach you how to speak some Irish.
Also, Mr. Young said he would travel here if three or four people in a given place were interested. Again, he seemed surprised to hear there was a demand for bespoke around the globe. I sparked his curiosity when I told him that many of the tailoring houses in London make trips to the U.S. and elsewhere throughout the year. He's kind of insulated there on the west coast of Ireland. I think he would be absolutely shocked by the discussions on this forum. However, while he and I communicated through email a couple of times through his daughter, I don't think he is very computer savvy."
Mr young initially put me off waist-coats, saying that they were not as fashionable these days; nevertheless, a waist-coat can be somewhat distinctive, on the other hand.
If Mr Young were coming up to Belfast, would any readers be interested in having a bespoke suit made? That's my idea, incidentally, not his. It is just a thought. He's going to contact me in about three weeks' time.
Brackenber Uniform
Can you guess who this is? Sorry to disappoint you: it is not young Timothy William, Viscount Sydenham! Try again...
Malcolm Lennox sent me this.
Labels: Brackenber House
Brackenbrian Dinner
The old boys' annual dinner takes place at the usual venue this year. I have to admit that, since I left Brackenber, I have never attended one dinner; nor am I proud of the fact. There are, however, mitigating circumstances: namely, a degree of diffidence on Timothy Belmont's part.
If any fellow old boys happen to be perusing this post, I wonder if they might enlighten me as to the format of the dinner? Do most old boys attend alone? Or in a group? Is one assured of convivial company? Is there a bar? Is wine included with the meal?
If I could be reassured, I might just make an appearance!
Labels: At Home , Brackenber House
Costly Vinegar
I was in Tesco's today, buying a few staples, viz. bread and milk; and spotted some plonk, a 2006 Cabernet Merlot from south Australia, 13.5% proof. It was reduced from nine pounds something to £4.99.
That's hardly surprising. They must have had difficulty shifting it. It's like ruddy vinegar. I shan't be buying it again.
We plopped a saccharin tablet into each glass and that has made it more palatable, at least.
Labels: At Home , Food And Drink , Rants And Gripes
The National Trust: New Image Rot
The National Trust has refreshed its image and brand. This has manifested itself on their new website; documents; magazine; handbook; cards and car stickers. They plan to introduce the new "brand" to clothing and vehicle livery, too.
The National Trust's management expects that this new image will make the Trust "more approachable and engaging".
The most significant changes include the loss of the word "The" from the National Trust to reduce "the feeling of formality"; a bolder use of the oak leaf; and the use of "a much wider palette of colours" for the logo.
What utter rot. How much did this exercise cost? My loyal readers can rest assured that I shan't be travelling down that progressive, egalitarian road of those at GHQ in The National Trust.
Omitting the definite article? "Let's go to National Trust property today"; or "National Trust method is best"; "I'm a supporter of National Trust." Quite preposterous.
Rest assured that Timothy Belmont will be maintaining the original and best, at his reactionary best; including continuation of the definite article and the green colour.
Long live the National Trust.
Labels: At Home , Reactionary , The National Trust
The Evergreen Hawthorne
I was over at the Balmoral Road end of Belfast today, a part of town I enjoy visiting occasionally; and, since I've been getting "withdrawal symptoms" about Fulton's splendid Hawthorne self-service restaurant, there was no stopping me.
En route, I browsed at a few of the German car showrooms, viz. Mini, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. I do admire the little Mercedes SLK; in fact I sat in one and, while the seating position is fine for me, being a kind of sports-car, it is "low"; so it would be unfair to expect the Dowager to clamber in to such a model. I've only had the baby two-seater for eight months anyway. Car showrooms just fascinate me, though.
I lunched at Fulton's self-service restaurant, called the Hawthorne. The fodder was sumptuous, home-made-style and tip-top as usual. I devoured the chicken and mushroom tart, accompanied by a side salad and coleslaw. Their creamy mustard dressing is ethereal, by the way: always remember to pour it over the salad. My only disappointment was that I could not order a pudding, owing to the generous size thereof. Never mind.
There is a Marks and Spencer food store near by, so I dashed in and treated the household to the following:-
Two packets of their most excellent fruit pastilles, made with real fruit juice (9%)
Two sticky toffee puddings: all butter sponge with dates drenched in a Muscovado toffee sauce (42%)
Strawberry & clotted cream cheesecake
Half-fat West Country créme fraîche
Labels: At Home , Food And Drink , Food Heroes
Brackenber: 1960
By 1960, and possibly owing to larger numbers of pupils, the location of the school photograph had moved to Brackenber's grounds. Notice the increase in the number of teachers, too.
The boy in the top row, five from the right, is pulling a face!
Once again, many thanks to Malcolm Lennox for sending me this image. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Ducal Connections
Here is a tale of two dukes who both sat, consecutively, in the House of Commons; then the House of Lords.
Between 1955 and 1964, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Grosvenor, DSO, TD, JP, DL, MP, was the Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. In 1967, Colonel Grosvenor succeeded to the dukedom of Westminster.
In 1964, Colonel Grosvenor was succeeded as Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone by James (Marquess of) Hamilton, MP. Lord Hamilton remained as MP for the constituency until 1970; and subsequently succeeded to the dukedom of Abercorn in 1979.
Sorry Eva!
The Comment Moderation device has fulfilled its primary purpose. I received two comments from Eva, Prince William's infatuated Romanian admirer, during the night; and, subsequently, the device has enabled me to intercept the messages and delete them. Sorry Eva! Should you wish to make contact with HRH, kindly contact him through Clarence House; not through the good offices of Timothy Belmont.
I have been in communication with Simon Cundey of Henry Poole, the tailors. Even if I were serious about acquiring a Savile Row suit, it would be a trifle impractical, in a logistical sense. Nevertheless, he did suggest a first fitting over two full days, with prior notice. The price has not been discussed. I said I'd contact them the next time I visit the metropolis, which could be next year. I lament the days when I could nip over to Savile Row from the Lords and fly back and forward as often as necessary (and if you believe that, you'll believe anything!).
Undoubtedly there is a considerable difference between bespoke and made-to-measure suits: whereas bespoke suits are made, cut and sown completely by hand in the premises over several fittings, with individual requirements and details like buttons and linings discussed with the tailor; made-to-measure would be much more elementary, with measurements noted and then sent off to a factory somewhere for assembly. That's the basic difference; and it's reflected in the price!
Garter Day
I have discovered a most interesting article by Caroline Davies, about the logistical arrangements leading up to the annual Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle in 2006:-
"The robes are hanging from rails in dust-proof bags, each meticulously labelled. Boxes are stacking up along the walls and marked with different names - Sir John Major, Sir Timothy Colman, The Baroness Thatcher.
Behind the barred door of the strong room, heavy gold and enamel collars are being taken out of their blue-cushioned cases and given a brisk going over with a cloth.
"Who's got the Duke of Wellington's hat?" a voice yells. "Ah, this one's Princess Alexandra's. Stuffed with netting so it sits perfectly," volunteers another.
This is the scene at the offices of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood in whose capable and experienced hands hangs the success of Garter Day, a celebration of the world's oldest order of chivalry. And the pa ce is frantic.
Today will be a special day for the Queen. With her birthday announcement that the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex would be made Royal Knights, it will be the first time all four of her children join the annual Garter procession, an ostentatious display of ostrich plumes, glittering insignia and velvet mantles at Windsor Castle.
Founded by Edward III in 1348, and said to be based on the Arthurian Knights of the Round Table, it is the world's most ancient and exclusive club.
Aside from the Sovereign and Prince of Wales, there can be only 24 Knights Companion (or Ladies, who were excluded by Henry VII in 1488 and only reinstated with the admission of Queen Alexandra in 1901) at any one time.
There are, in addition, Royal Knights from the Royal Family, including the Lady the Princess Royal, and Stranger Knights, mainly from European royal families but also, in a post-war act of reconciliation, the Emperor of Japan.
It is the greatest honour the Sovereign can bestow - though it is also a matter of dead men's shoes for the Knights Companion. For the others, membership is somewhat dictated by limited "hardware".
The blue velvet mantles - originally meant to reflect the Middle Ages' idea of heaven - each has a red vestigial hood and is adorned with the Garter heraldic shield. They cost about £4,500 and each new member has the choice of buying a new one or wearing an older one.
Both the Duke of York and Earl of Wessex have opted for new for today's ceremony, and they will foot the bill. Others, such as the Duke of Abercorn who wears his great-grandfather's, prefer family robes. They are usually worn only once a year, and spend the other 364 days locked away in a special climate-controlled room in Cambridge.
In the days leading to the Garter procession, they are delivered to the Central C hancery at St James's Palace where staff match them to their owner's other insignia.
The collars are a different matter. Each comprise 30 troy ounces of gold knots alternating with enamelled red roses of St George, the order's patron saint, and are adorned with a hanging three-dimensional figure of him slaying the dragon. They are few in number and would cost at least £12,000 to replace.
Most date from the 1930s, but the oldest, worn by the Duke of Abercorn, dates from the 1750s. For insurance purposes the knights prefer to leave them locked in the chancery's strongroom, taken out only for Garter Day, or designated "Collar Days" when they must be worn at ceremonial occasions on feast days and special royal anniversaries, though never after sunset.
Each knight, or lady, also receives the glittering Garter Star and a blue riband bearing a smaller badge called the Lesser George - most of which they keep at home.
The most incomprehensible piece of kit, however, is the garter itself, in dark blue for the knights and pale blue with a buckle for the ladies. The order's motto, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame on him who thinks evil of it), is spelled out in gold lettering.
In keeping with ancient tradition, it will be tied around the left calf of both the duke and earl during their investiture in front of the other knights and ladies in the Throne Room at Windsor Castle.
The Queen used to do this herself, but two pages now perform the ritual for her.
Then the garter is taken off straight away and is rarely used again.
Ladies of the order wear theirs at state functions on the left arm, but whether the knights bother under their trousers is open to speculation.
While statute prevents any adornment of the collar, the garters themselves can be set with jewels. "The Queen Mother's was diamonds upon diamonds upon diamonds," recalls one member of the Central Chancery staff.
All insignia and robes must be personally handed back to the Queen on death, a ritual performed by an heir in a private audience. Their banner, which hangs in St George's Chapel, the spiritual home of the order, will then be removed.
No one really knows the reason why the garter was chosen as the order's emblem.
Modern scholars have cast doubt on the tradition that it was inspired by a garter dropped by Joan, Countess of Salisbury, at a ball in Calais which Edward III retrieved and bound to his own leg.
It seems more likely to represent a strap used to attach a sword, as seen on knights on 14th century brasses.
Today it is purely ceremonial, the highlight of the day being the procession before crowds down to St George's Chapel for the installation service.
By early this morning the robes, hats and insignia will have been married up, brushed, packed up and taken on their journey to Windsor. At the end of the day they will be brought back, and locked up for another year."
Labels: Heritage , Royalty
Lagan Canal Revival
There are ambitious plans afoot to reinstate the Lagan Navigation, a canal which linked the city of Belfast with Lough Neagh. A number of authorities have a shared vision to restore the canal already.
Feasibility studies have been undertaken and Belfast City Council is keen to press ahead with the project, subject to funding. Click on the map to enlarge it.
Other interested parties include the Inland Waterways Association and the Lagan Canal Trust.
The original navigation ran from Stranmillis in Belfast to Lisburn; Culcavey; Moira; Aghalee; and through to Lough Neagh. The canal passed through 27 Locks. Built in the 18th century, it was one of the most successful commercial navigations in Ireland. The development of road and rail led to the demise of the Lagan Canal and its abandonment in the 1950s.
About eight miles of the line of the navigation (between Lisburn and Moira), was lost in the 1960s when the Northern Ireland M1 motorway was built. However, a study by consultants has shown that re-instating the navigation would be feasible by making more use of the river Lagan itself. Restoration of the navigation is strongly supported by Lisburn City Council, which rebuilt Lock Twelve as the central feature of its civic office development in 2000. There are also plans to build a new Lock One at the weir in Stranmillis, Belfast.
I am slightly unclear as to how they will re-construct the canal where the motorway section is; and it does sound as if it will be costly. Despite this, I'm enthusiastic about the prospect of our canals in Ulster being revived.
Lady Mairi Bury JP, 1921-2009
I must write a few words about the memorial service for Lady Mairi Bury, while everything is still fresh in my mind.
I thought it was very well done indeed. St Mark's Church in Newtownards was full. The first thing to catch my eye, as I entered the church, was the Londonderry coat-of-arms above the porch. The Londonderry family were patrons of St Mark's, to the extent that they had owned the land; provided the land for its erection; paid a substantial amount of funds towards its construction; and, what is now the Baptistry in the South Aisle was formerly the Londonderry private pew.
The Service was excellent, I thought. The Rev Canon Kenneth Smyth, and his assistant whose name escapes me, gave an interesting sermon about the Londonderry family's connection with Newtownards and St Mark's; and his assistant told us a bit about Lady Mairi's life and interests, including philately and flying.
Lady Mairi's son-in-law, Mr Peter Lauritzen, then walked up to the pulpit and provided us with a splendid eulogy; very well done indeed.
I was seated in the middle of the nave, a few rows behind the Family. I chatted at length to the tall, thinnish chap beside me and I'm afraid I didn't catch his name; for we shared an interest in heritage and old churches. I said hello to Dr Anthony Malcolmson, who was sitting just along from me; and he reminded me that his Brackenber school-days were c. 1958!
I noticed a few people there, viz. the Duke of Abercorn; Lord Rathcavan; Lady Dufferin; and, of course, members of the Londonderry family circle of whom I really only recognized Robin Birley, one of Lady Annabel's sons.
Labels: Society
Ulster Hall Concert
Players in the Ulster Orchestra are permitted to wear anything they like, as long as it is black. Even Bandanna-man!
Now I know why the BBC Invitation Concert, at the Ulster Hall in Belfast last night, began at 7pm: It was a live production on BBC Radio 3. It was publicized in Radio Times as Performance On 3.
I sat in my usual seat upstairs. The Hall was almost full. Being live, a presenter called Petroc Trelawny appeared a few minutes before seven; introduced himself; gave a brief summary of the performance; and prompted the audience to begin applauding.
The conductor was Takuo Yuasa; the soprano, Elizabeth Watts.
The music was Walk to the Paradise Garden, by Delius; Tchaikovsky's Symphony Number 1 in G Minor; and Elizabeth Watts, the soprano soloist, sang Berlioz's Nuits d'été.
I had some difficulty in stifling my coughs and only just managed to wait until appropriate intervals to clear my throat!
I've been sneezing and wheezing for a good part of the week with a nasty cold, so whether I will attend the memorial service for Lady Mairi Bury tomorrow is questionable. I gather the Service will be at St Mark's parish church in Newtownards, County Down, at noon.
The Daily Telegraph has written an obituary of Lady Mairi here; and I have already expressed my condolences in other articles.
If any readers do attend the Service, please feel free to leave a message.
Blade Bargain?
I have just purchased a packet of Gillette Mach 3 cartridges, 12-pack. They are currently available online at Boots. I was in Town briefly this morning and, having popped in to their Donegall Place store, the 12-pack was unavailable there.
However, they can be ordered and paid for online; then you designate a branch for collection, which is convenient enough.
Twelve cartridges cost £11.99, equivalent to £1 per blade which seems good value.
Labels: At Home , Shopping
Reject the Kraft Bid
The trouble with public limited companies is that so many - or the majority - of the shares belong to huge pension funds and others of that ilk. Private individuals often exert tenuous influence.
The Cadbury family, whose faith was founded on the Quaker religion, is firmly against the takeover of their old company by the American conglomerate, Kraft Foods.
So am I.
Janie Cadbury, the widow of Peter "the Cad" Cadbury, has instructed Coutt's, her bankers, to reject the offer on her behalf, saying, "it has got nothing to do with money. I simpl y could not vote for an American company to takeover Cadbury, no matter the price."
Cadbury's hold a royal warrant.
I simply wish Cadbury's to remain British; pure and simple.
Labels: At Home , The Belmont Pronouncements
Molly's New Website
Molly's Yard, a compact establishment with a good measure of charm at the end of Botanic Avenue in Belfast, has a brand new website. I've eaten here several times within the last year; and, though disappointed by the severely constricted menu on December 31st, I remain undeterred. I look forward to revisiting them shortly. Here is their new website.
The Earl of Oxford, making a bow to Queen Elizabeth I, happened to let out a fart, about which he was so ashamed that he went into exile for seven years.
On his return, the Queen welcomed him home with the words, "My lord, we have forgot the fart."
John Aubrey in Brief Lives (c. 1693)
Labels: Anecdotes , Humour
Sophie Wessex
I have just learned that, in honour of HRH''s personal service to The Queen, The Countess of Wessex is to be appointed to the Royal Victorian Order.
I am unclear, as yet, whether HRH is to become a Dame Grand Cross (GCVO) or Dame Commander (DCVO) of the Order.
The illustration above shows the breast star of the GCVO.
Addendum: HRH is appointed GCVO.
Field-Marshal Montgomery was the foremost publicist of his age and, by no conceivable stretch of the imagination, short on ambition.
Winston Churchill said to King George VI: "I'm worried about Monty; I think he's after my job". And the King exclaimed: "Thank God. I thought he was after mine!"
Labels: Anecdotes
Caribbean Villa To Let
Without being in receipt of one penny of commission whatsoever, I thought I'd like to advice readers that a splendid Caribbean villa on the island of Mustique is available to rent.
It belongs to that fully paid-up member of the Labour Party and champion of socialist ideals, the Right Honourable Shaun Woodward, MP, Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; whose official residence is, of course, Hillsborough Castle.
The Mustique villa can be hired for £27,000 per week.
But clearly business has been good for Woodward, whose wealth comes from his Sainsbury heiress wife Camilla, and now the price has shot up by £11,600 per week.
Details of the rental hike come just days after it was revealed that Woodward and his wife have acquired their seventh home, a sumptuous Alpine ski chalet.
The Woodwards' global property portfolio includes a family home in Cirencester, which has replaced their old Oxford town-house, a £1.35 million flat by the Thames in London, a £7 million villa in The Hamptons on New York's Long Island, a holiday home in the south of France, and the bijoux terrace house in his St Helens constituency.
The Ely Letter
I have unearthed an old letter I received from the Ely Lodge Estate in County Fermanagh 33 years ago. It is dated February 8th, 1977; hence my interest in country houses from an early age.
Click on the image to enlarge it.
The letter is from the Estate Office at Ely Farms on the estate. Charles Plunket was the Agent at the time.
It explains that the 5th Duke of Westminster inherited the family seat at Eaton Hall in 1967; and still retained Ely Lodge as his private home; that the 5th Duke retired to Ely in 1977 and his son, Lord Grosvenor (now the 6th and present Duke) was living at Eaton Hall.
In 1977, the Ely Estate amounted to 1,000 acres in County Fermanagh and 1,500 acres in County Tyrone.
Labels: At Home , Country Houses , County Fermanagh Landowners
Metra v Met Office
It would seem that the Met Office cannot rest assured that the BBC will automatically renew its contract this year; according, at least, to a source in the Corporation. Apparently most of the big supermarkets - like Tesco - use a subsidiary company of Metra, New Zealand's national weather forecaster.
Personally, I take many of the Met Office's forecasts with a pinch of salt. In fairness, though, they do tend to get the temperatures largely accurate. Whether there's going to be rain or shine, though, leaves "room for improvement". Despite this, and given their sophisticated computers and monitoring equipment, it's hard to fathom why they cannot do better.
I imagine our British climate is extremely difficult to forecast with accuracy. It seems to vary so much, from the extreme north of Scotland to the south of Kent.
If the big supermarkets trust Weather Commerce, Metra's UK subsidiary, I think the BBC should, perhaps, consider them too. Why not? They might just be more reliable, in a meteorological sense!
Interestingly, Weather Commerce produce a two-day forecast for post-codes in Northern Ireland: Enter your post-code here.
Thriftiness
For the Attention of the Right Honourable Gordon Brown, MP, Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury:-
"There are plenty of ways to get ahead. The first is so basic I'm almost embarrassed to say it: Spend less than you earn".
Paul Clitheroe
Labels: Wise Sayings
Resumption of the NT Volunteer activities begins again this month, when we will be visiting Ballyquintin Point a few times in order to do a spot of hedge-laying and tree-planting.
We shall also be revisiting Anne's Point, which is opposite Mount Stewart. There is a willow tunnel there which we'll be repairing; as well as a wattle bird screen.
There has been a slight "lull" in volunteer activities during December and the New Year; so it will be good to resume work again.
Lifer Spotted
There was a lifer on the flight this afternoon; and he bagged Seat 1c, too, which seemed to have more leg-room. I noticed none other than Lord Maginnis.
It's two fifty-four. I've got through the ordeal of security at Gatwick; and I thought I'd remembered to remove everything from my luggage and my person. The toiletries and the Dell Mini 9 were declared. The coinage and belt were also removed.
I did omit to remove a pair of items, though: The metal shirt-sleeve bands! The penalty, yet again, was a thorough "going-over", and removal of the shoes.
Oh well, no harm done. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I have a BT Openzone connection here in the airport.
Inside the Wolseley
Remember the Wolseley motor car? I do, though they'd been absorbed into the British Leyland leviathan by that time, which became the fate of many marques at the time, including Rover, Jaguar, Daimler, Triumph, MG and more.
A good friend of my father invariably drove Wolseleys; they had become a smart version of the Austin 1800/2200 by the seventies. The little, illuminated Wolseley badge on the grille amused me.
I ate at the Wolseley restaurant last night, named after the aforementioned car because there used to be a showroom at the premises. The Wolseley is quite far up Piccadilly, near the Ritz hotel.
I followed my usual practice, telling them that I hadn't booked; and, without further ado, I was shown to a table in the middle of the restaurant where I could view all.
It's a busy place, though service was prompt. They provided me with a newspaper.
I ordered the seasonal game "fully garnished"; and a side order of mashed potato. It was Scottish venison. I love venison, especially when it's nicely cooked: the meat tonight was quite rare; lean, tender and delicious.
For pudding I had the blackberry and apple crumble with custard. I washed the meal down with a glass of their own red wine.
Price-wise, this place is on a par with the Ivy. The customary cover and service charges are added to the bill.
Labels: Food And Drink , Travel
Ecclesiastical Splendour
It must be about ten years since I last paid St Paul's Cathedral a visit. The entrance fee has increased to £12.50, though it was reduced to £9 yesterday, due to the inclement weather. St Paul's is one of those historic buildings that fill one with awe: Look around and Wren's masterpiece is there for all to admire.
Whilst the crypt of St Paul's lacks the architectural magnificence of the nave and dome, it compensates for this by its historical import. Here we have the tombs and monuments to illustrious personages, many of whom were Admirals of the Fleet and Field Marshals; the two most noteworthy, perhaps, being those of the great Duke of Wellington and Admiral Lord Nelson. Many of our military figures rest here; there are memorials to Lord Alanbrooke and Lord Montgomery, for instance.
The Crypt is vast: The shop is here, as is the cafeteria and the restaurant. The Crypt also contains the Chapel of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; and the banners of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Prince Philip hang here. I think the Order was founded in 1917, so the Chapel is relatively recent.
I chatted to a member of the clergy on duty below the dome. We talked about Northern Ireland and he asked me if Belfast was worth a visit. I replied tactfully that every place was worth a visit at least once! I told him that I listened to Canon Lucy Winkett on Thought For The Day, BBC Radio Four; and he exclaimed: "can you get Radio Four over there?" Had I been impertinent I could have added " Indeed, and we have electricity and cold running water too!" It was an innocuous enough comment, though.
Earlier in the day, I wandered in to Turnbull and Asser's shop in Jermyn Street for a "browse". There was a sale on, though they don't seem to publicize it much. I stepped downstairs, where there were literally dozens of ties on the sale.
Over at the end where my shirt sizes were, I noticed a classic, plain, light blue button-cuff shirt; and, slightly impulsively, bought it. Their button cuffs all have the distinctive three buttons. I told the assistant that I'd been a customer of theirs since the early 80s; and that I still owned a double-cuff silk shirt, along with three other shirts, from Turnbull's. Now I have four, plus two ties and a handkerchief.
Long may they last.
Labels: Heritage , Shopping , Travel
At the Ivy
I ventured out to Leicester Square yesterday evening, the aim being to seek out a much-lauded and hailed restaurant called The Ivy. Armed with my map I found it quite easily: It is just off Charing Cross Road, down Litchfield Street. The Ivy is literally opposite St Martin's Theatre, where The Mouse Trap still plays.
The Time was four-fifty; the Ivy didn't open till five-thirty; so I re-traced my footsteps on to Charing Cross Road and encountered a small bar called The Porcupine, where I had a small restorative.
At five twenty-five, I drank up and made straight for the Ivy. The staff at this restaurant are exceptionally courteous, which softens the obligatory 12.5% service charge and £2 "cover" charge. I advised them that I hadn't booked; she inquired if I had a theatre booked (no); showed me to a table; offered to relieve me of my very heavy British Warm overcoat and hat; handed me a plastic card for the cloakroom on departure; and even brought me a newspaper, since I was on my own.
They have plenty of staff wafting about, keeping an eye on patrons attentively. I was brought a basket of fresh, crusty bread and a dish of flavourful butter.
I ordered the slow-cooked Cornish lamb shoulder with roasted winter vegetables; and also had a side dish of honey-baked parsnips with thyme. The lamb was delicious; it was absolutely tender, with little fat at all. Slow-cooked indeed and succulent; a generous portion, too. The couple beside me had just arrived, and the chap liked the look of my lamb so much that he ordered it himself! I had made a wise choice.
I washed it down with a glass of Chardonnay wine.
I had sticky toffee pudding for dessert, accompanied by a little jug of pouring cream.
The experience was all quite civilized. I'd certainly return.
Wireless Marvel
I'm seated in my London hotel room, with my diminutive Dell Mini 9 on my lap, tapping away happily. The hotel has free wi-fi and I'm using their own connection. It's ruddy marvellous, because my little netbook has all my settings, bookmarks, favourites and passwords.
The Mini 9 was possibly my best purchase in 2009. I find it quite indispensible.
I got into trouble at Belfast City Airport, because I'd packed the Mini 9 in my hand luggage and should have "declared" it to them! That cost me a thorough "going over". I nonchalantly read the Daily Telegraph while the security girl swabbed all sides of it, from top to bottom, and whatever else they do. I'm sure she enjoyed it.That's the computer, by the way, not me!
Labels: Humour , Travel
Bank Buildings, Belfast: An Historical Note
The Bank Buildings was built in 1900 by W H Lynn. It is still one of Belfast's finest late Victorian edifices, constructed with such materials as red sandstone, polished granite floors and pilasters. The front faces Castle Place; and its name refers to Cunningham's Bank, 1767, which stood on this site.
A former palace of the Lord Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore stood on this site too; and a branch of the Northern Bank later. Three buildings are known to have occupied this prime location in Belfast.
Moving on to Callender Street: the building where Alden's in the City now stands was once a tobacco factory! Murray's tobacco factory was here in 1888 and it was connected to 21 Arthur Street.
Last published on December 4th, 2008.
Labels: At Home , Heritage
The Late Ian Dury
I've never been a "fan" of the late musician-cum-entertainer, Ian Dury; though I have enjoyed one or two of his hits. So, having read a generally favourable review of Sex, Drugs And Rock And Roll, a so-called "biopic" about his life, I decided to go and watch it.
I found it strangely fascinating. Dury was a remarkably strong character, given his physical handicap with polio, thus necessitating having to wear a leg caliper. His father seemed to be self-made and wealthy, since we saw him driving a white Rolls-Royce or Bentley Silver Cloud. And Young Dury was taught to look after and fend for himself, especially given his disability. Dury hated being thought of - or treated as - a "cripple".
All in all, I was glad I went to view it. Catch it if you can.
Four Illustrious Generations
His Grace the Duke of Wellington has just become a very proud great-grandfather, to infant Arthur Darcy Wellesley, Viscount Wellesley.
The Duke's son and heir is Arthur, Marquess of Douro.
Lord and Lady Douro's eldest son is Arthur, Earl of Mornington.
The Natural Baronet
How can I put this - phrase this - in a nice way? Sir Richard Wallace, 1st and last baronet, was the natural offspring of the 4th Marquess of Hertford. Despite Sir Richard's elevation to the ranks of the gentry with a baronetcy, his status as Lord Hertford's illegitimate son probably remained a stigma to him throughout his life, given Victorian rectitude.
Sir Richard inherited an absolute fortune, unimaginable to many nowadays, let alone in 1871.
He inherited his father's estates in County Antrim, around Lisburn, for instance, making him one of the largest landowners in the Province, with 58,365 acres.
Next week, I intend to visit the Wallace Collection, at his former London home, Hertford House in Manchester Square. I've never been there before: Have any readers visited the Collection?
I've been receiving literally dozens of comments from a follower in Romania, purporting to call herself Eva; and she is obviously infatuated with Prince William, judging by how eager she is to make contact with HRH.
My readers and followers would be unaware of these innumerable nuisance messages.
As a consequence of this, and with reluctance, I am applying Comment Moderation with immediate effect in order to rectify matters.
Regular readers: Please be assured that this action will not effect your contributions and messages; and I still welcome comments!
Old Building Saved
It is gratifying, for once, to see that the High Court in Belfast has effectively overturned a planners' shameful decision to permit the demolition of an old Victorian building in Queen Street, Belfast.
I commented about this about three months ago.
The building's finest feature is a carved stone door-case, the archway being supported on red granite colonettes with grape and acanthus capitals. The keystone boasts an Elizabethan gentleman's head, sporting a long beard, ruff and hat; flanked by shields, oak-leaves, roses and acorns; with bosses of thistles and shamrocks.
The Honourable Mr Justice Treacy was told on Friday that the application to quash the planning permission decisions was no longer being resisted.
New Royal Portrait
There is a new portrait of Princes William and Harry on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London. TRH are seen wearing the uniforms of the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals).
Clarence House has issued more details here.
The painting was commissioned by the Gallery and the artist was Nicky Philipps.
Prince William wears the breast star and sash of the Order of the Garter.
Suits you, Sir
I've treated myself to many things down the years; and, in some ways, wonder whether I ought to have "invested" in a bespoke suit from a Savile Row tailor decades ago. How much do they cost nowadays? £3,000? I must admit I've refrained from such expenditure on a suit, despite my size and figure remaining constant since adulthood.
I suppose there would be logistical - or practical - issues as well: several fittings, necessitating flights to the metropolis.
Are there any decent tailors left in Belfast or Northern Ireland? There used to be an old tailor tucked away in an entry off Ann Street; but he is long gone. I think his name was Peter McAllister or something like that. He made me an Oxford grey suit about 25 years ago and it is still going strong.
Back to that question about Savile Row: would you pay £3,000 for a suit?
Sixty!
I must have been mad to venture up to the old school last night, what with the treacherous conditions. Still, I had sent them an email inquiring if the swimming-pool was operating; and they replied in the affirmative.
I motored up the windy drive carefully, parked the car and stepped out in the Brashers into the relative warmth of the sports complex.
I could possibly perform this routine with my eyes closed; I've been doing it for thirty years!
The changing-room was empty. No surprise there. One of the sixth-form attendants was on duty at the pool, so all augured well.
Shock, horror, surprise! The water was quite warm and temperate, so I jumped in, equipped with the trusty goggles and nose-clip; and began the age-old swim of sixty lengths.
I had the 25-metre pool to myself, apart from the headmaster and his young family arriving at about 45 lengths into my swim. Then a nice, hot shower. Done!
Matters Equestrian
Country Life has informed us that the Lady Lloyd-Webber is to succeed HRH The Princess Royal as President of the Pony Club. Madeleine Lloyd-Webber is an accomplished equestrian rider herself.
It is Snowing!
For the benefit of readers and followers outside Northern Ireland, this is the current scene in Belfast.
The Big Freeze continues...
Pool Closed Again
I motored up to the Sports Club this evening, in the expectation that the swimming-pool would, at least, be open.
Yet again, they have let down the loyal membership with a printed notice on the door stating that the pool is closed due to a "broken cover". No notification to members; no indication as to when we can expect the pool to re-open. No adequate communication.
It doesn't really surprise me; though it is still deplorable. Little wonder numbers are dwindling. Those who supervise the pool appear to be indifferent towards the Sports Club. Were a member of staff at a private health club to treat members in such a manner, they'd have been dismissed within a week or two. Not twenty years.
I'll simply continue to exercise at the private health club I belong to, though I'll miss the swimming.
Swimming Again?
The Sports Club re-opens this evening, so I am ever hopeful that the swimming-pool will be warm enough for the customary sixty lengths. It's a fortnight since I last swam. The pool wasn't particularly warm last term; so much so that one lady stopped coming for the remainder of the term. Little wonder that membership figures remain stagnant!
Apart from the exercise, it's also an opportunity for an invigorating shower.
The Miraculous Lozenge?
One article caught my eye in the papers yesterday: the 20 pence a day lozenge that, it has been claimed, is designed to ward off all cold and flu bugs.
Seemingly the lozenge would be taken once a day before breakfast and would cost a mere 20p per day. Scientists hope to have it for sale within two years. It is called Veldona.
Here is the main article.
Restore Harrod's
I do wish that the House of Fraser would buy back Harrod's. They owned the store from 1959 till 1985, when it was bought by the Fayed brothers for £615 million. I care not whether it is taken back in a hostile manner or otherwise, because Fayed would doubtless be resistant to its sale.
Harrod's is a national institution and tourist attraction. The great store proudly used to hold four royal warrants, till about 2002 when Fayed withdrew them himself, thereby pre-empting senior members of the Royal Family.
I insist I am not being xenophobic; I simply disapprove strongly of Fayed's attitude and behaviour towards the Royal Family. I know the man has resented being unsuccessful in his attempt to acquire British Citizenship. That is different matter; one decided upon by the Government.
The House of Fraser was injudicious to sell Harrod's in the first place, to my mind.
Labels: At Home , Rants And Gripes , Reactionary , The Belmont Pronouncements

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EMIR UPDATE – Margin rules and other developments
Home Publikationen EMIR UPDATE – Margin rules and other developments
On 28 July 2016 the European Commission endorsed, with amendments, the draft rules on margin requirements for non-cleared OTC derivatives contracts ("Margin RTS"). The margin rules are designed to prevent the build-up of uncollateralised exposures by requiring certain counterparties to post initial margin and variation margin.
Autoren: Karen Butler
The date on which counterparties will be required to comply with the margin rules will depend on the aggregate notional amount of non-centrally cleared derivatives trades that have been entered into, with the application of the margin rules determined as at the "date of inception" of the derivatives contract (please see our previous alert for further details).
The Commission amendments relate to certain technical matters which:
outline the rationale for delaying the application of the margin rules to single stock equity options and equity index options by 3 years;
confirm that cash initial margin can also be held with non-EU credit institutions where an equivalence decision has been issued by the European Commission;
clarify that the application of the margin rules to FX forwards will apply from the date specified in the delegated act under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, or 31 December 2018, whichever is earlier; and
amend the concentration limits for pension scheme arrangements - concentration limits restrict the proportion of specific forms of collateral, to promote diversification and reduce risk.
The Commission has also clarified in the Margin RTS that counterparties may apply to or notify their member state regulator for the intra-group exemption once the margin rules have entered into force (i.e. 20 days following publication in the EU Official Journal). An application or notification will have to be submitted where: (a) the counterparties are located in different EU member states, or (b) one counterparty to the derivatives trade is established in a "third country" and the other is established in an EU member state. The exemption will only be granted if certain conditions are met (the conditions that apply will depend on how the counterparty is categorised). If the exemption is granted then the counterparty will either be wholly or partially exempt from the margin requirements. The relevant counterparty must publicly disclose details relating to its reliance on the exemption.
There is a temporary three year reprieve for intra-group derivatives transactions between an EU counterparty and a third country entity without the need for an equivalence decision by the Commission in respect of the third country (provided that all the other conditions of the intra-group exemption are met). This three year reprieve will be cut short if the Commission subsequently makes an equivalence decision for the third country prior to the end of the three year period.
It is critical that counterparties understand whether they meet the requirements to qualify for the intragroup exemption from the margin requirements and that they submit the application to the relevant member state regulator using the relevant final application form.
We note that the FCA has published a draft application form for the intragroup exemption pending finalisation of the Margin RTS to give counterparties an idea of the types of questions they will be asked and the information that they will be required to submit in order to give counterparties more time to prepare their applications. The FCA is expected to publish the finalised application form shortly.
The application or notification must be completed on a per counterparty basis, and may cover all the intragroup OTC derivative contracts falling within the intragroup exemption, provided that the information is clearly provided per counterparty.
The European Commission has also proposed an adjusted timetable for implementation of the margin rules as follows:
the variation margin rules to apply: (a) to the most active qualifying counterparties from one month following the entry into force of the margin rules; and (b) from 1 March 2017 for all other qualifying counterparties or one month following the entry into force of the margin rules (whichever is the latest);
the initial margin rules will be phased in as follows: (a) one month following entry into force of the Margin RTS, for counterparties whose derivatives trading exceeds the €3 trillion threshold; (b) from 1 September 2017, for counterparties whose trading activity exceeds €2,250 billion; and (c) from 1 September each year (i.e. 2018, 2019, 2020) for other qualifying counterparties, depending on whether their trading activity exceeds the relevant threshold.
Third country regulated markets
The European Commission has declared certain US designated contract markets to be equivalent to EU regulated markets. This means that derivatives trades that are entered into on such markets will no longer be treated as OTC for EMIR purposes. Counterparties will not be subject to the risk mitigation obligations (e.g. confirmations, portfolio reconciliation, dispute resolution, margin etc.) or the central clearing obligation in EMIR.
Derivatives Clearing involving Category 3 Firms
There have been three clearing mandates determinations approved by the European Commission so far. The date from which counterparties must comply with the mandatory clearing obligation under EMIR will depend on which of the four categories the counterparty falls into (please see our previous alert for further details).
On 13 July 2016, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a consultation paper that proposes to postpone the phase-in date for central clearing of OTC derivatives contracts entered into with a Category 3 counterparty for three years. Category 3 counterparties consist of financial counterparties and alternative investment funds (please see our earlier link on counterparty categorisation) whose aggregate month-end average outstanding gross notional amount of all non-centrally cleared derivatives over the relevant three month period does not exceed Euro 8 billion. The consultation closes on 5 September 2016 and ESMA is expected to publish its final report by the end of 2016.
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The Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) is a consortium of private liberal arts colleges in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis–Saint Paul) of Minnesota dedicated to providing cooperative programs, services, and opportunities for their respective students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The ACTC is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The five members of the ACTC are:
Augsburg University
Hamline University
Macalester College
St. Catherine University
University of St. Thomas

The ACTC was officially incorporated in 1975 in order to share and enrich academic offerings for the students of the five institutions. The consortium continues to promote student exchange between its member campuses and to develop and share academic programs. The opportunity for cross-registration makes possible a range and depth of course offerings and majors unavailable at any single institution.

According to the ACTC's official website (see link below), "this partnership combines the benefits of our campuses' small, liberal arts atmospheres with the diverse opportunities of a large university. Students enrolled at one institution are able to experience the strengths and benefits of each school."

External links
Official website
Augsburg University
Hamline University
Macalester College
St. Catherine University
University of St. Thomas

College and university associations and consortia in the United States
.
Universities and colleges in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Education in Minneapolis


I'm not Irish. Not even close. In fact, I'm so not Irish that I usually forget it's St. Patrick's Day until I'm reminded by a storefront four-leaf clover or beer specials or something.
So it's a total coincidence that I wore a bright green shirt today. Walking down Broadway at noon, I was confused by all the head nods, smiles and knowing looks I was getting from fellow pedestrians. Hmm, I thought, everybody seems happy for an ordinary Tuesday. It wasn't until the guy with the green Mardi Gras beads winked at me outside of a pawn shop that I realized what all of these well-wishers had in common: They, like me, were wearing green shirts.
So today -- hurrah! -- I am one of the St. Patrick's Day revelers. Even if it is by accident.


Small group of Estonians are organizing already the 6th International Conference Buddhism & Australia that will be held on 2-4 February, 2017 in Perth.
This annual conference is organized by Perth based non-for-profit educational organisation Buddhism & Australia Inc , the Estonian Nyingma' foundation in Perth, and is hosted by Edith Cowan University School of Arts and Humanities.
As Western Australian universities do not have Buddhist studies until today until today, Buddhism & Australia is the only academic annual Buddhist conference in WA ( as well in Australia).
The author and main organizer of the conference is Vello Vaartnou, the head of Buddhism & Australia Inc and Estonian Nyingma who established the practical Buddhist tradition in Estonia in the 80s, built all five Estonian stupas and created first Estonian thangkas. Today Vaartnou is the author of two international Buddhist conferences and two online Buddhist encyclopedias. His latest project, an online Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia, was launched at the UC Berkeley in 2012 by the author and it was called a Century Project before its actual beginning. By now it has over 53 000 articles, all illustrated and cross-linked. In 2011, Vaartnou initiated an online Australian Buddhist History project which aims to collect and preserve Australian Buddhist history.
Estonian Nyingma/Buddhism & Australia has represented Australia at the 10th Anniversary of Buddhist studies in Hongkong University, at the UC Berkeley PNC 2015 conferences in Macau University, PNC 2016 conference in Los Angeles etc.
This year's conference brings together 18 speakers from UK, Finland, India, Mongolia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Australia, China, Sri Lanka.
The Transmission of Buddhism in the West; From Cover Girls to Monastic Banking: lay and monastic economic ethics in pre-modern and contemporary Tibetan culture; What is Happiness; What's a Buddhist to Do? Explorations in Nihilism; Buddhagaya, the Light of Asia and Struggle for Spiritual Mastery; The Ten Kinds of Equanimity (Upekha); A Critical Quest for the "Dharma Lineage" of Chin-Nikāya, the Buddhist Sangha Founded by Chinese Immigrant Monks in Thailand; Early Buddhist Critique of the Brahminical Theory of Varṇadharma and Svadharma; Advancements and Challenges of Buddhist Nuns in Bangladesh.
The speakers will expand on Negotiating Belief in a Tibetan Buddhist Forum, Buddhist Philosophy & Mindfulness, Need of value based education in the twenty-first century: Perspectives of Buddhism; Buddhist View on Environment etc.
It's a great opportunity to engage with Buddhist history and philosophy and also meet and hear from Buddhists, monks, lay Buddhists and scholars in an inviting and relaxed setting.
Estonians are organizing international academic Buddhist conferences in Australia Small group of Estonians are organizing already the 6th International Conference Buddhism & Australia that will be held on 2-4 February, 2017 in Perth.
Miks mitte ka kodulehe arendamine ja seal on täielik info. Kui on kindel tähtaeg fotodega veebilehe valmistamine kaasaegselt kohta ma ei oskagi arvata sisukuse poolest mahukama kodulehtede tegemine mõistlikult Aara disainerid leidlikult lahendatud soodsa kodulehe koostamine kui ka, lisaks on fotodega veebilehe arendamine maksimaalselt kestvate tulemustega.


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Stabilisation of β-catenin in hypothalamic neurons through feeding related stimulation and the role this may have on synaptic function in the control of metabolic homeostasis.
Polymorphisms in the gene T-cell factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) carry one the biggest genetic linkage to the development of type 2 diabetes. However the exact mechanism through which this occurs is still under debate, although these polymorphisms are suspected to be somehow due to increases in TCF7L2 gene expression. The TCF7L2 transcriptional co-factor, β-catenin, is regulated by several metabolic hormones in peripheral tissues and has been shown to be important for the formation and function of neuron synapses. Overexpression of TCF7L2 causes the translocation of β-catenin out of the cytoplasm and into the nucleus, potentially affecting its functions. It is possible that modulated TCF7L2 expression is affecting β-catenin function at the synapse in hypothalamic neurons and contributing to the metabolic dysregulation in individuals with the TCF7L2 polymorphisms. We aim to determine if various feeding related stimuli are able to increase β-catenin stabilisation in hypothalamic nuclei that control glucose homeostasis and if this stabilisation of β-catenin is affecting neuron function.
The stabilisation of β-catenin in fasted versus fed rats was assessed in the hypothalamus through immunohistochemistry. The paraventricular (PVN), dorsomedial (DMH) and arcuate (Arc) hypothalamic neuclei all showed increases in the number of cells stained positive for β-catenin. These regions also showed increased expression of the β-catenin responsive gene markers of Axin2, CyclinD1, Cyclin D2 and c-myc.
To investigate which feeding related stimuli was inducing the changes observed after feeding the hypothalamic neuronal model of GT1-7 cells was used. GT1-7 cells were stimulated with leptin, glucose, insulin, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue Exendin-4 and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). Glucose, insulin, Exendin-4 and alpha-MSH all had the capacity to stabilise β-catenin through increasing phosphorylation at the serine 552 and 675 residues on β-catenin. In the case of Exendin-4, this was shown to be a PKA dependent effect.
Glucose and Exendin-4 were administered to rats in an attempt to replicate the observations made in cell culture. Despite glucose not showing an effect on the stablisation of β-catenin, Exendin-4 increased the number of positively stained cell for β-catenin in the PVN, DMH and Arc using immunohistochemistry. This was further supported by elevations in Axin2, CyclinD1, cyclinD2 and c-myc transcripts.
Finally, β-catenin expression was suppressed using siRNA transfection, or stabilised via inhibition of GSK-3β in GT1-7 cells prior to stimulation with Exendin-4. Decreased β-catenin expression reduced the secretary capacity of the cells when stimulated with Exendin-4, while increasing β-catenin stability had the opposite effect. This indicated that β-catenin was important for neurosecretion.
Additionally, there was also a further study that sought to determine if the phosphorylation of Akt in the brain observed after administration of the atypical antipsychotic medication, clozapine, is dependant on a reported side-effect of this class of drug in which insulin is hypersecreted. Activation of Akt by clozapine has been linked to its procognitive effects in schizophrenic patients, This has previously been thought to be a direct drug effect. Rats which were pretreated with octreotide, a somatoestatin analogue, to suppress insulin secretion from β cells before clozapine administration. Octreotide/clozapine treated rats all displayed severely lowered Akt phosphorylation in cognitive brain regions, including the hippocampus, cortex and amygdala, when compared to rats that received clozapine alone.
The results obtained in this thesis outline novel mechanisms in which β-catenin can be stabilised in hypothalamic neurons and indicates the importance that β-catenin has in synaptic function. Various metabolic stimulants are contributing to increases in the stabilisation of β-catenin in hypothalamic nuclei responsible in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Increasing levels of β-catenin is able to increase the neurosecretary capacity of neurons. Conversely, suppressing β-catenin expression lowers neurosecretion. As TCF7L2 polymorphisms increase the expression of the TCF7L2, it is possible that there is increased interaction between TCF7L2 and β-catenin, sequestering it into the nucleus and lowering localised synaptic levels of β-catenin. This would impair neurosecretion and may be contributing the glucose homeostatic dysregulation in individuals carrying a TCF7L2 polymorphism. Results also showed that the clozapine induced Akt phosphorylation in the brain, which has been linked to positive cognitive outcomes in schizophrenic patients, is dependent on clozapine induced insulin secretion as opposed to a direct drug effect.


The series of fourteen linocuts from "Peter Grimes" formed the backbone of James' first solo exhibition after leaving college, which took place at Aldeburgh's Gallery 44 to coincide with the 37th Festival in 1984. The linocuts were used to illustrate the Festival catalogue in following years. The Britten-Pears Library bought an entire set of the linocuts for their collection at the Red House – and Peter Pears attended in person! The exhibition not only featured James' prints but also his powerful paintings. Since then James has frequently held exhibitions at Gallery 44 during the Aldeburgh Festival.