I promise to no longer touch any ones keyboards at work if you all promise to keep your hands off mine.
After seeing a twitter post on this, I read an article at the Beeb on how; and I definitely quote:
Research by the University of Arizona last year found the average office desktop harboured 400 times more bacteria than the average office toilet seat.
…
“Should somebody have a cold in your office, or even have gastroenteritis, you’re very likely to pick it up from a keyboard.” … one of the causes of dirty keyboards was users eating lunch at their desk, with crumbs encouraging the growth of bacteria. Poor personal hygiene, such as not washing hands after going to the toilet, could also be to blame.
Read more at the BBC well before you have lunch.
This is also a good time, going into the colder months in Southern Australia, to brush up on your coughing skills; and it is about this time last year I discussed the best way to do this.
February 13, 2008 at 9:00 · Filed under food, health
ScienceDaily have an article on new research on artificial sweeteners.
Want to lose weight? It might help to pour that diet soda down the drain. Researchers have laboratory evidence that the widespread use of no-calorie sweeteners may actually make it harder for people to control their intake and body weight. Cutting the connection between sweets and calories may confuse the body, making it harder to regulate intake.
Personally, I have never ascribed to the need for artificial sweeteners. If I want to sweeten my food, I will use a natural product like cane sugar, and as raw as possible. I also reject diet drinks and diet foods. Your “diet” is merely your food intake as a whole. If you want to be “on a diet” then alter your food intake and type on a permanent ongoing basis. Not just for a set period.
On a side note; I often think about going completely raw with my food but find it difficult to reconcile with eating in our modern society as a whole. Food for thought.
In a study done by Rutgers University, NJ, the scientists found that rats could reduce the likelihood of pre-cancerous sun-damaged cells from becoming cancerous by 100% if the rats either exercised or drank caffeine. However, when both the exercise and caffeine were combined, the preventative qualities of the combo raised the efficacy to a whopping 400%
I found the actual study report at rutgers.edu.
I’ll drink caffeine to that (oh and run to that when I can).
July 25, 2007 at 11:36 · Filed under Musings, health
I have to say something about policing transport in Melbourne. I have had a number of occasions where I have called emergency services. Only once were they able to respond, and they let the crazy violent people back onto the train - the crazy people acted normal for the Police and resumed their craziness after they left. In the case of calling 000, it is difficult to advise the operator where you will be (which station, town, etc.) by the time Police will get to respond, hence I see a low level of response from them.
Any other policing on Melbourne trains is done by the internal security of Connex Melbourne. Their main focus appears to be revenue gain by ticketing as many people as they can. I have had them stand on a carriage watching the crazies in the next carriage, and do nothing. It was my action in initiating a 000 call that got something done about it, but as I said previously the Police were able to do little. I don’t blame the Police here, I think they do the best with what resources they have. It is the engagement of Connex and Police that is lacking.
Trains are dirty. Seats stained with whom knows what. Barrier jumping graffiti taggers get away (the ones I see and report). Why is it that I have to call 000 to report graffiti? I think an SMS/Text reporting number would help, so the train cops could respond.
The reason I care to blog about all this? The train driver was smoking on the train this morning. I had to move carriages, and will raise a complaint today. How do you police that? Had I been smoking (I don’t smoke, but hypothetically) then I would have the full extent of the transport law applied to me to prosecute or fine me. What happens to the driver? Nothing, Nil, Nada.
Ultimately, Melbourne transport is an undesirable necessity.
