Jun 11, 2013

Doc Jazz: a Palestinian Surgeon’s Musical Intifada

copied from the Palestine Chronicle  by cl...........

Doc Jazz: a Palestinian Surgeon’s Musical Intifada

Apr 1 2013 / 6:44 pm
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doc_jazz_cover
By Sahar Mansour
Times change, situations change, people change. This is how the world has always been, and this can definitely be said about these turbulent first decades of this 21st century. For this reason, it’s nice to know that there are also things and people that seem to be weathering these changes, and stubbornly remain there as constant and dependable factors.
In the limited world of music for the Palestinian cause, the phenomenon known as ‘Doc Jazz‘ can certainly be counted as one of these dependable factors. Almost since the very beginning of internet activism, he has been present and active, which is why to most people who are interested in the Palestinian cause, he would barely be in need of any introduction. He is the Palestinian surgeon who, next to his ongoing career as a surgeon, has been engaging in activism on and off the internet, with his music, his writings, his organizing skills at demonstrations and inspiring speeches, and his unstoppable energy.
These aspects of Tariq Shadid have indeed remained unchanged, but be careful not to mistake this constancy for lack of evolution and development. Those who remember him from his first songs for the Palestinian cause and have not checked back since, will probably be unaware how the quality of his musical recordings has been evolving constantly, now resulting in high-fidelity songs of a high quality, and with rich arrangements. His musical repertoire – at least those songs of his that are available online – has now reached 100 songs, most of which deal with almost all aspects of the Palestinian cause. There is barely an aspect of the struggle that is not represented in one of his songs. Best of all is: he does the entire production by himself, writes the songs and the lyrics, plays all the instruments, and does all the vocals.
His most recent album is ‘Intifada’, which was released in November 2012, and which features a selection of his most popular Palestine-songs, like Intifada, Right of Return, We Resist (Free Palestine) and Freedom Flotilla, as well as two of his Arabic songs for the cause. In the beginning of this year, he also came out with the song ‘Hungry’, dedicated to the cause of Samer Issawi and the other Palestinian political prisoners who protest against their detention by their unimaginably long hunger strikes. The song was well-received, and was featured on Dubai TV in a special about the Palestinian hunger strikers.
He has also recently joined the Free Samer Issawi Campaign, and has contributed to keeping the ongoing Twitter campaigns for that cause alive. Every day, at the same time, so-called ‘Twitterstorms’ are organized, which are joined by hundreds of dedicated tweeters, and rarely fail to get the daily hashtag to trend on the Worldwide list. On his website, all these world trending hashtags are collected, together with information on how to contribute to trending on Twitter effectively.
Another aspect that underlines the continuous evolution and expansion of his musical and activist project, the ‘Musical Intifada’, is his impressive following on Facebook. His Doc Jazz fan page there now boasts an impressive 31,000 members, a sign that his work is steadily increasing in scope and exposure. Having a quick and superficial listen to his music may not immediately explain why, and the reason for that is its almost incredible variety of musical styles. If you have listened to one of Doc Jazz’s songs, don’t assume that you already know the drill. The sound and style is not exactly what you will find in the entertainment world’s Top 40, so if that is what you are looking for, you may end up with a prejudiced judgment. This is a more sophisticated type of music that requires you to take time and really listen, but if you do, you are very likely to be captivated. You will encounter hip-hop, rock, funky jazz-pop, piano ballads, Palestinian folkloric music and modern Arabic music, and this description still doesn’t cover everything you can find in his impressive repertoire.
What perhaps best illustrates this, is the statement of recognition that was recently presented to Doc Jazz by the Edward Said National Conservatory in Palestine, for publication on his website. It reads:
“The Edward Said National Conservatory recognizes the musical work of Dr. Tariq Shadid, who goes by the name of Doc Jazz, as an important contribution to Palestinian music. We are impressed by the magnitude of his oeuvre and the richness of his compositions, wherein he manages to combine a wide variety of musical styles with a message that expresses the hopes and aspirations of our people. We appreciate the fact that he embraces modern musical trends just as much as his efforts to conserve the folkloric traditions of Palestinian music. We believe that his work can serve as an inspiration to aspiring young Palestinian musicians to develop their own efforts at musical composition and creativity.”
Indeed, that sums it up quite beautifully. Imagine if this was all we had to say about Dr. Tariq Shadid, wouldn’t that already be quite something? Well, to be truthful, it doesn’t end here.
Tariq Shadid has been writing for the Palestine Chronicle for well over a decade, and many of his writings can be found there, as well as on his website. A selection of his writings from before 2007 has also been published into a paperback called ‘Understanding Palestine’, which is available on Amazon. His articles mostly have one thing in common: they call for Palestinian self-determination, and they mobilize against normalization, and against racism. This is probably why his pieces are read and shared so widely: even though they may refer to current events happening at the time they were written, they are almost invariably characterized by timelessness, and contain truths that are applicable to the entire history of the Palestinian struggle.
Besides being an excellent musician and writer, this incredible allrounder also has a very artistic hand at drawing and painting. He painted the cover of his album ‘Front Door Key’, of a small Palestinian girl holding a key that symbolizes the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes, and recently drew a portrait of Samer Issawi that can now be found on websites and social media all over the world.
It’s hard to imagine that someone who is not only a full-time surgeon, but even the Head of Department of Surgery at his hospital, is able to do all these things and excel at all of them. However, if you realize that he is a Palestinian, you will undoubtedly conclude that it is that legendary Palestinian drive and dedication that forms this basis of excellence. Those who are willing to look around, will never fail to see the amazing talents that the Palestinian people – both inside of Palestine and in the diaspora – are able to present to the world.
No one lives forever, but it has become obvious that as long as Tariq Shadid can breathe, sing, write and operate, he will not change who he is, and what he stands for. In this ever-changing and evolving world, this one-man production machine of Palestinian activism will remain a force to be reckoned with. The world emphasizes and celebrates the talents of Jews – even when it comes to the Palestinian cause, as if there aren’t any Palestinians available to represent themselves – but this is only because they are not willing to see the amazingly talented icons of the Palestinian people. They are there, they are impressive, and they will be seen and overwhelm the world.
- Sahar Mansour, originally from Jenin in Palestine, was born and raised in Belgium. She is studying English Literature at the University of Ghent. She contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.

Hey Mick Jagger, I Want That Jacket




Right, I really want this jacket.......this was copied from crazymamablogspot.com....
here is the link....this website has some very good pictures of the Rolling Stones...
http://wwwcrazymama.blogspot.com/2013/06/rolling-stones-give-toronto-surprise-by.html


viernes, 7 de junio de 2013

Rolling Stones give Toronto a surprise by performing 'Worried About You'...

Rolling Stones give Toronto a surprise by performing 'Worried About You'


AEG Live is the promoter of the Rolling Stones' 2013 tour, which features former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor as a guest on all the tour dates. The tour has been named "50 and Counting" as a celebration of the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary.
At the June 6 concert in Toronto, the Rolling Stones skipped performing "Happy," which has guitarist Richards on lead vocals. "Happy" has been a mainstay at most Rolling Stones concerts since the song came out in 1972. The Stones skipped playing the song at their Chicago concert on May 28, 2013, their Los Angeles concert on May 20, 2013 and their Chicago concert on June 3, 2013. Richards has been singing "You Got the Silver" at concerts where "Happy" is not part of the set list. In addition to "Happy," the other song that Richards has been consistently singing lead vocals on for the 2013 tour is "Before They Make Me Run."
As of May 8, 2013, select concerts on the tour will feature a song performed by request from fans who voted online via the official Rolling Stones mobile app. For each concert, fans will be given a choice of five different songs to vote for, and the Rolling Stones will perform the song that gets the most votes for that concert. The Rolling Stones also did this for their "50 and Counting" concerts in 2012. At the concert on June 6, 2103, the song performed by request was "Worried About You."

Jun 9, 2013

I Would Like To Publicly Thank Larry Hancock.....


I would like to publicly thank Larry Hancock for taking the time to respond to my comment on his website having to do with his post Whispers.....

Well, obviously not only is he a brilliant JFK Assassination researcher but he is also kind and gracious.  No wonder he is so well-respected in the field.  His post was so inspirational to me I really went off on what my kids would call my own rant.  I could not stop thinking in the night--I must make some sort of new comment and include an apology.

Well, instead, as everyone can see Larry went on not only to respond with important information about the upcoming JFK Assassination Conference put on by Lancer every November in Dallas,  but he took time to answer my comment in a way that was very in depth, interesting and informational.  

Wow, Larry....I really want to go on your tour this November in Dallas....thank you for your kindness and your good information.

I’m just hoping you do not connect my post to me as a participant on the tour.......

Respectfully,

chloe louise,

and here is my comment with some spelling corrections.......


Dear Larry–I love your work and I like to post it on my blog–The Ronnie Republic and I have been following you for a long time. I have two very important things to say…First and foremost…what do you suggest for the average JFK buff on attending Dallas in November. I previously read about a Dealy Plaza Tour on Sunday and I think it was by Lancer. What do you suggest one does to join in on the interesting things that will be taking place in Dallas this November. I would love to hear you speak. Looking forward to your suggestions…
Second, and this is only a comment….reading further on your post provided by the link. I really enjoyed reading this info by Mr. Bradford but it started reminding me of the time I read in Vanity Fair ages ago about the Chappaquiddick incident of Teddy Kennedy. Of course it was an accident, but instead of just going to the police and going on with it, the Kennedys did everything they could do to make the thing proper in light of their public office and the whole thing turned into a big mess. Instead of fixing it up as they set out to do it just became more complicated and grounds for ridicule. This is the problem I have with Bobby Kennedy.
Now I feel like there are about 4 major problems with info on the JFK incident. First, I think it was all on a need to know basis, and involved seedy individuals which would include mob and CIA. Those people are never going to talk and even within those groups there are probably many who suspect most of the facts but there is not and never will be any certainty. The problem with that is, and I hate to say it, but if there is never a solid 30 second take away for the American public of who actually pulled the trigger and why, the whole thing is never going to fly….especially now because I think that most people cannot take time to be bothered to understand this highly complicated story.
Once I read and saw the movie, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, I realized there are way too many Roddy Martindales out there. The info is like stocks and stars in the sky. It is right there but we are never going to be able to see it clearly because there is so much counter information or obfuscation to go along with it. Thirdly–think about it–with members of the Kennedy family living and active in political society–what is the government going to say–oh, we accidentally killed your family member or allowed it to happen. I just don’t think the people in charge are going to let those facts come to light in a clear fashion that everyone can understand. The last thing–once we start finding out all of this information there is always plenty of real unflattering info about the Kennedys themselves, everything from Mary Meyer, many other women, the health of John Kennedy, the arrogance of the family, particularly the dad and Jack and Bobby. Really, I want to know the answer–I saw Oswald shot trying to watch cartoons that morning 50 years ago–but I think the whole thing is just too much. When I start hearing some of these facts that are so seedy--its like I just can’t take anymore and have to move on to another subject.
Well, what do you think? Seriously, your book and your ability as a speaker is one of the best approaches because there is a certain subtlety to it that can be more tolerated and believed and accepted. And that’s the other thing–once all the arguing starts among the researchers the listeners shut their ears, their eyes glaze over and everything is lost. I hate to say all of this because I have been following it forever–my family teases me–but I am beginning to have my doubts. And I don’t intend any of this in a mean way–I actually mean it all as a compliment by an interested observer who has been following this info forever. I really think The Men Who Killed Kennedy is one of the best things out there because its understandable and it tells a somewhat reasonable story.
Thank you for your time and letting me speak–I really appreciate it and I appreciate your work. I appreciate the work of all the researchers. cl


here is a link to that page on the website of Larry Hancock:

http://larryhancock.wordpress.com/2013/06/01/whispers/

Jun 7, 2013

Larry Hancock Talks About November In Dallas

Larry Hancock talks about the Lancer Conference this November in Dallas, Texas.......



On the next point, actually I do think there is a solid 30 second take away and even a sound byte – “Senior CIA officers let certain keIn regard to Dallas, the JFK Lancer conference will be a key vehicle not only to connect with a great number of the most experienced researchers on the case but to have a considerable amount of personal time with them. In addition to four days of presentations (the schedule runs from 8 am to 9 pm each day) a number of focus group sessions where you have the chance to engage in a small group discussion on various topics. For myself I will be moderating focus groups on the cover up and on the Cuban exile aspect of the conspiracy. If you have not been in Dallas before, there will be separate tours that you could take, lead by a real expert on not only Dallas but the physical and people aspects of Nov. 22, 1963 – Jerry Dealey will be leading those tours and he is a Dallas historical docent plus one of the major gurus on both physical nature of the plaza and of tLarryhe TSBD. In addition to that both Jerry and I will be leading walking tours of the plaza area on Sunday.
In regard to your other points, it is pretty obvious that for various reasons the Kennedy family chose not to engage in the investigation, at least publicly, and their control of various pieces of evidence has been a serious hindrance – as a co

Larry Hancock

Larry Hancock is a leading historian-researcher in the JFK assassination. Co-author with Connie Kritzberg of November Patriots and author of the 2003 research analysis publication titled also Someone Would Have Talked. In addition, Hancock has published several document collections addressing the 112th Army Intelligence Group, John Martino, and Richard Case Nagell. In 2000, Hancock received the prestigious Mary Ferrell New Frontier Award for the contribution of new evidence in the Kennedy assassination case. In 2001, he was also awarded the Mary Ferrell Legacy Award for his contributions of documents released under the JFK Act.First thank you for the re-posting and for your kind remarks…both are much app

Larry Hancockreciated!!unter, there is some reason to believe that Bobby specifically may have held certain information and even material in the hope of becoming president and moving into a position to order a true investigation. That was never going to happen withFirst thank you for the re-posting and for your kind remarks…both are much appreciated!! Johnson in power, for reasons I discuss in SWHT. So, from my perspective, the whole Kennedy family track is simply something to set aside – the fact that we have a document showing Bobby actually signing for a full autopsy nIn regard to Dallas, the JFK Lancer conference will be a key vehicle not only to connect with a great number of the most experienced researchers on the case but to have a considerable amount of personal time with them. In addition to four days of presentations (the schedule runs from 8 am to 9 pm each day) a number of focus group sessions where you have the chance to engage in a small group discussion on various topics. For myself I will be moderating focus groups on the cover up and on the Cuban exile aspect of the conspiracy. If you have not been in Dallas before, there will be separate tours that you could take, lead by a real expert on not only Dallas but the physical and people aspects of Nov. 22, 1963 – Jerry Dealey will be leading those tours and he is a Dallas historical docent plus one of the major gurus on both physical nature of the plaza and of the TSBD. In addition to that both Jerry and I will be leading walking tours of the plaza area on Sunday.egates a lot of speculation. Bottom line, the family could have done a lot more but then that could be said of a lot of people in positions of political power who knew there was a lot more to the story than a lone nut.y individuals involved in thIn regard to your other points, it is pretty obvious that for various reasons the Kennedy family chose not to engage in the investigation, at least publicly, and their control of various pieces of evidence has been a serious hindrance – as a counter, there is some reason to believe that Bobby specifically may have held certain information and even material in the hope of becoming president and moving into a position to order a true investigation. That was never going to happen with Johnson in power, for reasons I discuss in SWHT. So, from my perspective, the whole Kennedy family track is simply something to set aside – the fact that we have a document showing Bobby actually signing for a full autopsy negates a lot of speculation. Bottom line, the family could have done a lot more but then that could be said of a lot of people in positions of political power who knew there was a lot more to the story than a lone nut.e anti Castro effort know that JFK was entering into negotiations with Castro about taking Cuba neutral, those officers passed the information to extremely militant Cuban exiles who were already trying to kill Castro along with the message that JFK was a national security threat and a traitor to the Cuban exile cause…the result was the attack in Dallas.” The attack had three goals, revenge on JFK for the Bay of Pigs, elimination of him as a threat to a revolution against Castro and thirdly a plan to frame Castro for the attack. The first two elements worked, the third aborted when Oswald was taken into custody. Now that’s easy for me to say, but it takes over 400 pages in SWHT aOn the next point, actually I do think there is a solid 30 second take away and even a sound byte – “Senior CIA officers let certain key individuals involved in the anti Castro effort know that JFK was entering into negotiations with Castro about taking Cuba neutral, those officers passed the information to extremely militant Cuban exiles who were already trying to kill Castro along with the message that JFK was a national security threat and a traitor to the Cuban exile cause…the result was the attack in Dallas.” The attack had three goals, revenge on JFK for the Bay of Pigs, elimination of him as a threat to a revolution against Castro and thirdly a plan to frame Castro for the attack. The first two elements worked, the third aborted when Oswald was taken into custody. Now that’s easy for me to say, but it takes over 400 pages in SWHT and another couple of hundred in NEXUS to present the case for that conclusion.nd another couple of hundred in NEXUS to present the case for that conclusion.
Bottom line, will we ever know all tactical details of the Dallas attack, the answer is not with any total certainty – although a bit more of that may come clear this November. Will we know why JFK was killed and generally who was behind it, the answer is that I believe we do but its a matter of circumstantial evidence and sources. Could you win a criminal trial, probably not, a civil trial, most likBottom line, will we ever know all tactical details of the Dallas attack, the answer is not with any total certainty – although a bit more of that may come clear this November. Will we know why JFK was killed and generally who was behind it, the answer is that I believe we do but its a matter of circumstantial evidence and sources. Could you win a criminal trial, probably not, a civil trial, most likely. And in terms of the cover up, we could absolutely present sufficient evidence of that as well as perjury and obfuscation to convince any group of 12 random individuals.ely. And in terms of the cover up, we could absolutely present sufficient evidence of that as well as perjury and obfuscation to convince any group of 12 random individuals.
LoLong winded answer but I hope it helps, we can go further if you wish. Best regards, Larryng win


L


ded answer but I hope it helps, we can go further if you wish. Best regards, Larry

Mermaid Street, Rye

file under my London obsession..........

would this be a good day trip from London.....cl






A glorious image of Mermaid Street in the historic East Sussex town of Rye

copied from the website of Google UK   by cl......

Jun 5, 2013

Whispers--from the Website of JFK Assassination Expert Larry Hancock

copied from the website of Larry Hancock........



New post on Larry Hancock

Whispers

by Larry Hancock

I wanted to share an very informative article just prepared for posting by my friend Rex Bradford.  The article is taken from a presentation Rex gave at a Lancer conference in 2008 and is the sort of overview work that we truly to see brought forth for the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination.  I should note that Rex is doing the same sort of overview for this November's conference, focusing on the period following the assassination. He will address the obfuscation which occurred during what was supposed to be an open investigation of the murder - but which we now know was something a good bit different.
Rex's piece, just published online, deals with remarks and insights from those individuals who know or felt there was something more to the assassination than you would find in the Warren Commission report. Overall it gives a quite chilling view of what people did not want to face up to, including people in a position to have some very legitimate concerns. It definitely should be shared with as many people as possible as we move forward to November.
Whispers from A Silent Generation,  Rex Bradford
-- Larry

Larry Hancock | June 1, 2013 at 8:46 pm | Categories: Everything else | URL: http://wp.me/s1DeOb-whispers
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Jun 4, 2013

Brontë Walk--Haworth

copied from the telegraph and found on google images.......


Brontë Walk - 10 Great British Walks in pictures


Haworth map - 10 Great British Walks in pictures


Brontë Walk - 10 Great British Walks in pictures





Where: Haworth, West Yorkshire
Distance: 8 miles – variable
Duration: 3½ hours
Star point: Includes the Brontë's famously inspirational waterfall
Fitness: Moderate to harder
At the heart of Brontë country lies the village of Haworth, where the sisters found their inspiration and artistic peace.
This modestly taxing walk touches all parts of that literary equation, starting near Haworth church, which holds the Brontë family vault, then following signs for "Brontë Way and Top Within" leading out into the countryside.
A short diversion off the main path takes you to the Brontë Waterfall ("…fine indeed; a perfect torrent racing over the rocks, white and beautiful!", wrote an entranced Charlotte).
At the furthest and highest point of the walk you come to Top Withins, farmhouse ruins that are said to be a blueprint for the Earnshaw's family house in Wuthering Heights. If you stand here, you really do understand the idea of inspirational peace.
Then follow the path back through the village of Stanbury (pubs!), over the dam of Lower Laithe Reservoir and back to Haworth with, maybe, a visit to the Brontë Parsonage Museum.
Details and map: Yorkshire.com. Other Haworth walks: haworth-village.org.uk.

My friends Charlotte and Jane



Reading a book by Karen Smith Kenyon,  THE BRONTE FAMILY--PASSIONATE LITERARY GENIUSES. According to her bio she lives in SD, it would be fun to ask her a few questions about writing her book as I live in San Diego  too.  

To me, Charlotte and Jane Eyre are magical figures.  I visited Haworth a few years ago and it was practically an earth shaking experience for me.  Charlotte and Jane represent a certain unshakable truth about mankind--seriously, I could hardly keep from crying when I saw her tiny dress as if I knew them and they were my friends that had endured suffering and hardship--well, in a way I guess they are available to everyone as a friend because they are a classic in literature and it is easy to see why.

Visiting the Bronte Parsonage was really quite inspirational.  I would love to take that trip again and this time I want to take the walk on the moors--everyone always says to bring a raincoat just in case....


-- 
chloelouise




Jun 3, 2013

Charlotte Cory: Capturing the Brontes

a picture of a beautiful girl working on her blog.........




An installation by Charlotte Cory, one of the country's leading surreal photographic artists. The exhibition is an imaginative, witty and informative exploration of the Brontës and the history of early photography, drawing on the Victorian craze for collecting cartes des visite – portraits once produced in their millions and now discarded. Using twenty-first century techniques, Cory creates colourful new characters for these long forgotten figures, which are at the same time poignantly reminiscent of Victorian taxidermy; animals collected and preserved for posterity in their glory, and now extinct.

www.charlottecory.com

copied from the Bronte Society webpage by chloe louise


Charlotte Cory: Capturing the Brontes

Imaginative, witty installation on the history of early photography
Showing:
October 04th 2013 12:00am - December 31st 2013 12:00am

Al Jazeera America and Ali Velshi--Now That's A Good Combination


copied from the website by cl.......

Ali Velshi joins Al Jazeera America

New Half-Hour Series Will Focus On The Economy’s Impact On Everyday Americans
NEW YORK – (April 4, 2013) – Al Jazeera America, the new US-based news channel set to launch later this year, today announced that Ali Velshi, CNN’s former chief business correspondent and anchor of “Your Money” and CNN International’s “World Business Today,” has joined Al Jazeera America to develop and host a daily primetime business program.
Based in New York, the as yet-to-be named 30-minute magazine-style program will initially launch in a weekly format but is expected to move to a five-days-a-week schedule by year’s end. The program will cover a variety of topics including employment, personal finance, healthcare and education and will feature a mix of field reports, studio guests and interactive discussions designed to highlight how economic developments in the U.S. and around the globe affect the daily lives of Americans. The program will draw upon the extensive global resources of the Al Jazeera Media Network and will employ specialists and other correspondents who will lend their expertise.
In making the announcement, Ehab Al Shihabi, executive director of Al Jazeera international operations, said, “We are thrilled to secure Ali’s extraordinary talents and services. Al Jazeera America will be bringing respected, independent reporting to its viewers and that’s exactly the type of coverage Ali Velshi is known for."
Velshi built his reputation covering breaking news events and politics, as well as global and national issues such as the world financial crisis, the collapse of U.S. financial system and the debt ceiling debate.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Al Jazeera America, an organization that puts quality, fact-based journalism first,” said Velshi. “It’s a tremendous opportunity and I look forward to taking advantage of the extraordinary U.S. news-gathering capabilities the channel is building and working with such a diverse and talented group of colleagues to tell compelling stories that matter to Americans.”
Al Shihabi said that Velshi is exactly the kind of journalist that viewers will be able to find on Al Jazeera America. “As is the case with Ali, all Al Jazeera America reporters will be fiercely objective, substantively strong, and absolutely committed to the truth,” he said.
Al Jazeera America, which will launch in 2013, is the new U.S. news channel that will provide both domestic and international news for American audiences. It will be headquartered in New York City with additional bureaus in key locations across the United States.
You can follow us on our social media accounts:

Good Luck to Al Jazeera America from The Ronnie Republic

Welcoming Al Jazeera America to the political conversation and the media in the United States.  I love watching Al Jazeera English in London and I like to write about Al Jazeera on my blog...the ronnie republic.

-- 
chloelouise


here's Ronnie and he says "Welcome, I just love the news."

here's Chlo-langen....."Actually, I've always been a news person....I watch all the news channels....It's just who I am."

May 31, 2013


file under:  my collection of pictures of beautiful dinners and striving for a healthy diet......


Nordic Diet Could Be Local Alternative To Mediterranean Diet

A typical Swedish meal of fried herring and lingonberries includes some of the local ingredients of the healthy Nordic diet prescribed in a new study.
iStockPhoto.com
The Mediterranean diet has long been a darling of nutrition experts as a proven way to prevent some chronic diseases. Heavy on olive oil, vegetables, fruit, nuts and fish, the diet most recentlyhas been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and dying compared with a typical low-fat diet.
But in many regions, including Nordic countries like Denmark and Sweden, it's not easy to go Med. Olive oil, for one, is hard to find. And while obesity rates in the Nordic countries are much lower than in the U.S., there are still plenty of people at risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases who could use some dietary inspiration.
That's why a group of nutrition researchers in Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway set out to design a "healthy" Nordic diet around locally produced food items, like herring,rapeseed oil (also known as canola) and bilberries (a relative of the blueberry). To test whether it was actually healthy, they prescribed the diet to people with metabolic syndrome — a precursor to diabetes — and compared them to others on an "average" Nordic diet higher in red meat and white bread.
The study was randomized and lasted 18 to 24 weeks in 2009 and 2010, with 96 people in the healthy diet group and 70 in the control group. The healthy Nordic diet group ate mostly berries (currants, bilberries and strawberries), canola oil, whole grains, root vegetables and three fish meals (preferably fatty fish like salmon and mackerel) per week, and avoided sugar. The rest of the time, they could eat vegetarian, poultry or game, but no red meat. The researchers provided them with some of the key ingredients for their meals.
The control group, on the other hand, ate butter instead of canola, fewer berries and vegetables, and had no restrictions on red meat, white bread or sugar intake.
While the researchers didn't see changes in blood pressure or insulin sensitivity in the people on the healthy Nordic diet, their bad cholesterol/good cholesterol ratio improved significantly, as did one marker for inflammation, according to Lieselotte Cloetens, a biomedical nutrition researcher at Lund University in Sweden who co-authored the study. In the long run, Cloetens says, the change in the inflammation marker could result in a 20 to 40 percent reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes for people on the healthy diet.
The results appear this week in a European journal, the Journal of Internal Medicine.
The research coincides with a similar, but distinct movement in the region — "New Nordic" cuisine. Claus Meyer, the owner of the acclaimed Noma restaurant in Copenhagen, boldly defined New Nordic with a manifesto. His aim? To inspire chefs and highlight the culinary wealth of the Nordic region — foods like fungi, beech leaves, birch juice, reindeer, and chick weed. New Nordic has become "a mentality of sort of scientific and creative exploration," Ben Reade, head of culinary research and development at the Nordic Food Lab, told NPR freelancer Sidsel Overgaard last year.
While Meyer has collaborated with researchers at the University of Copenhagen to explore whether a New Nordic diet could help overweight people drop pounds, his diet places a special emphasis on seasonal, local foods, and on foraging. "It is more defined, from a culinary point of view," than the healthy Nordic diet in the recent study, says Cloetens.
So will the Nordic diet be competing with the Mediterranean diet in far-flung countries seeking to emulate svelte Europeans? Cloetens is confident in its healthfulness, but warns, "since it contains many local produced food items, it might not be easy to consume by people outside the Nordic countries."
And, she says, next she and her colleagues need to investigate whether the healthy Nordic diet can also help people lose weight and keep it off

Seriously...I want to eat this dinner right now!....copied from NPR THE SALT  by chloe louise