Thursday 24 November 2016

Be effective YouTube style

I found a lovely piece on effective habits by Stephen Covey here.

Unlike some pieces on the web it is very instructive and focuses clearly on habits you can focus on to become more effective.

I thought it might be a nice follow-up to feel the fat and eat it anyway.

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Evidenced based space medicine

Dr John Cherry has developed a brand new medical training curriculum for astronauts going into space.

It is the skills the astronauts are provided with that are new. 

An example of these skills would be ultrasound technology. 

They will be receiving the hands on skills in emergency medicine that they might not have received previously and this time based on the evidence John Cherry’s team gathered in their research.

Breaking new ground

“Before I started this work there was no evidence base behind the training that was provided and so sort of a best guess approach as to what would be good for them to know when it came to being in space. 

What we’ve done is looked at what conditions they might experience or what they might face when they’re in space.” Said Dr John Cherry.

They have used those four variables to create a curriculum that is specifically designed to teach the most important skills an astronauts need in a space medical emergency. 

This is so they will be “as best prepared as possible in the eventuality of an emergency in space”.

A new curriculum

This work is now being adopted by the European Space Agency, and every European Space Agency astronaut will now take this training before going to space.

The research and curriculum is to be unveiled at a conference starting on the 21st of November.

Monday 21 November 2016

Feel the fat and eat it anyway

I've got to the end of the day and I have been eating chips and crisps all day.

And guess what, I feel fine.

I'm not wafer thin and sculpted to bodily perfection.

However, I'm happy.

No allusions

I may never be a model or a red carpet actress who gets paid to be drooled all over, but I'm ok.

The world didn't end, my phone didn't explode and all my clothes didn't pop off.

I ate loads of fat and carbohydrates and I'm still here.

Feel the fat and eat it anyway.

You can always have a protein based vegan salad and a juice drink tomorrow.

Wednesday 16 November 2016

Disabled does not mean dangerous

Recently I was walking in my local area and I saw a Down's Syndrome kid on a leash.

Now I understand some parents feel the need to use leashes on very, very small children.

But this child was on their way to becoming a teenager.

I realise being the parent of a disabled child may be hugely challenging, but a leash..?

Sign of the times

When I was young I remember playing with a Down's kid at an after school club and there was no sign of a leash at any point.

This is concerning.

Have we forgotten our or more to the point their humanity.

Would you like to walk the streets on a leash?

Saturday 12 November 2016

Courts rule bedroom tax unfair

It may be some relief to campaigners to learn that the courts have ruled the bedroom tax unfair.

The mind boggles at how something so wrong as to be challenged by one of our most conservative institutions ever got tabled for statute.

In our current conservative, Trump reality we may increasingly see the courts come to our aid.

They have held off Brexit and challenged the crack down on the disabled.

Never has my desire to have trained as a lawyer been stronger.

Thursday 10 November 2016

Government fails the disabled

Today the UN Report into U.K. Government maltreatment of disabled people was published.

The Government contravene three of the UN articles defending human rights, from a document forged post 1945.

These articles cover living in the community, work and employment and adequate standards of living.

In finding that disabled people are not being adequately protected by the Government the present action suggested merely having further assessments with no concrete action on how to tackle these woeful inequalities in living standards.

The findings of the report can be read in full here.


Wednesday 9 November 2016

Hillary's been Trumped

Trump is now set to be head of the White House, duck and cover.

Just when you think that news from the states can't get any more weird, this happens.

The idea of having a female President is apparently so weird that the majority of Americans would like a male nut job instead.

I'd love to be balanced about this, but the last time someone suggested building a wall between political landscapes we were at the height of the Cold War.

America, honestly you've left me speechless.

Tuesday 8 November 2016

Harry's got the humpf

I feel bad for Prince Harry, not content with fixitating on an election that isn't our own the British press have to fixate on his love life as well.

In battling for his private life the Prince has had to throw in his cards and admit his relationship with an American actress.

Shock horror, she's not white

Though I noticed I had to be told this American actress is mixed race, as if this was the most unusual thing in the world.

Even after his mother's death Britain hasn't moved forward enough to see a mixed race relationship as anything other than, a relationship.

I can feel the press madness coming as I type, so I will leave it there.

The rest no doubt will be filled in by a Royal mad press corp.

Harry, all I can say is I'm sorry, I hope they grow up soon.

Monday 7 November 2016

Targets not enough for a diverse world

The Clear Company, has voiced support for the Parker Review’s recommendation that all FTSE 100 company should have at least one board member from an ethnic minority by 2021.

However, the company also maintains that if we are really to create a diverse business environment we need more than targets.

For example, the firm is aware of the unconscious biases that come into play in the hiring process.

Yet they still fully support this move towards greater diversity in the business landscape, by making lack of diversity more visible.

Kate Headley director of The Clear Company said: “The recommendations outlined in the Parker Review are a positive reflection of the growing understanding of the importance of having a diverse and inclusive board. However, targets alone are not enough to improve diversity, companies need to foster tangible cultural change."