This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium – slightly longer than usual, to mark the last compendium of 2010. This week…

1. my cyberfriend Wordsmith sent me a link to a really good Alzheimer’s article in the NYT [1]. Thanks, mate.

2. a later, equally interesting NYT article focuses on the morality of Alzheimer’s screening in people with few or no dementia symptoms, given that so far there’s no effective treatment [2]. A quandary indeed.

3. the journal blood reported that a stem cell transplant produced an HIV cure [3]. I think there’ll be lots more stem cell transplant success in coming years.

4. the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that Echinacea produced only a minor (i.e. statistically insignificant) reduction in common cold severity or duration [4]. Ho hum.

5. Hepburn Wind’s two turbines are en route from Germany on the SE Panthea [5a]. (Click on ‘Current Vessel’s Track’ (left sidebar) to see its current position.) Slightly too early for transport on a high tech carbon neutral cargo ship – due to begin service in 2012 [5b].

6. the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council approved engine changes for F1 – downsizing from eight to four cylinders – starting in 2013 [6]. Fuel consumption will be 35% less. I reckon the reason for this change is financial and not environmental.

7. Nutrition Diva said there’s no reason not to drink water during meals [7]. Doing so promotes satiety and thus assists weight loss.

8. Grammar Girl published a list of the four most frequent grammar questions put to her in 2010 [8]. Fascinating.

9. US researchers found that happiness increases creativity [9]. And creativity increases happiness. So it’s a positive feedback loop.

10. and because happiness and creativity are both linked to physical fitness, here are the latest US [10a] and Aussie [10b] physical activity guidelines. Brisk walking for 150 minutes per week is all it takes, folks.

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.

This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium. This week…

1. I saw this item about a whale’s stomach contents [1]. We humans should be ashamed. But I doubt we are.

2. Grammar Girl explained the difference between ‘further’ and ‘farther’ [2]. Click on the link if you want to delve further.

3. I read this Australian Government leaflet containing the ‘National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults’ [3]. So what are you waiting for?

4. my Prime Minster, Mr Rudd, deferred the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme until 2013, i.e. six years after he called climate change the moral challenge of our age. To register your disgust, click here: [4]

5. an Archives of Internal Medicine paper documented an association between depression and chocolate consumption [5]. Rightly, the authors pointed out their study tells nothing of causation let alone directionality.

6. a US National Institutes of Health panel concluded there’s currently no scientific evidence that modifying any factor reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease [6]. This includes diet, medications, complementary medicines, physical activity, and social engagement.

7. in Nutrition Diva’s Episode 91, about sugars, she concluded there were no nutritional differences between the types of sugar [7]. How sweet.

8. still on food, I read the USDA’s ‘Freezing and Food Safety’ fact sheet [8]. Everyone who freezes food should read it.

9. Melbourne was named, for the third time, the world’s Ultimate Sports City [9]. I don’t give a shit.

10. last Wednesday Hepburn Wind signed contracts to build Australia’s first community-owned wind farm [10]. I give a shit.

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.

This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium. This week…

1. Lord Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal and the President of the Royal Society, said Australia should ‘step up’ on climate change [1]. Even that’s a no-brainer, it won’t make a skerrick of difference.

2. the Get-It-Done Guy published an interesting article titled ‘Writing Good E-mail Subject Lines [2]. Every person who writes an email would benefit from reading it.

3. an Annals of Internal Medicine paper concluded that a leg length discrepancy of only 1cm is enough to accelerate knee osteoarthritis [3]. The problem’s that a 1cm discrepancy’s almost impossible to detect clinically; and x-ray involves radiation exposure.

4. Meadow Lea margarine, made by Goodman Fielder is still GE-free. But Goodman Fielder’s in the process of being partially taken over by pro-GE multinational giant Cargill. [4a]. If you’d like to keep Meadow Lea GE-free, click this link: [4b].

5. Nutrition Diva wrote about how unhealthy microwave popcorn is [5]. Don’t fret. In the same article she gives us a recipe for healthier (and probably cheaper) homemade microwave popcorn.

6. when a New York chef offered cheese made from his wife’s breast milk, NYC’s Health Department said it’s not for public consumption [6]. I can’t fathom why not.

7. Australian scientists announced they’ve identified an early warning sign for Alzheimer's, evident in the brain years before the disease causes any cognitive decline [7]. That’s great. But currently there’s no proven prevention for Alzheimer’s.

8. darling Emily was promoted to co-manager of the Prince Bandroom [8]. Good for you, Em. I’m proud of you. Go, girl. xx

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.