A large increase in melanoma has been experienced in countries where chemical sunscreens are in use. This has been seen in the last decade in places such as Australia where promotion of sunscreens has been ongoing. In 1992 Queensland had more incidences of melanoma per capita than any other place on Earth.1 Not to be joked about is the result of applying sunscreen to your skin, which as an organ absorbs chemicals.

The world health organisation has today raised the Influenza alert level to 6, the highest level, indicating a pandemic is underway. They rate the 2009 flu pandemic as currently moderate, with most people recovering, and I quote: Read more details in the World Health Organisation press release. This is also a timely reminder to people who work in office spaces about coughing/sneezing not into your hands, but the best cloth at hand.

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.

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. You can read the full article at ScienceDaily.

Watch this and then you will see why action is the better option than no action

The Two Beans Worth Coffee Blog at espressocoffeesnobs.com references an LA Times article as stating: 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 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.

Watched a video linked from a work memo today. Its a good reminder for people in Australia as we go into winter, with the flu, and all sorts of nasties spread by coughs and sneezes. Why Don’t We Do It In Our Sleeves?. This covers how to sneeze and/or cough into our sleeves. The experts say that germs on cloth die out pretty quickly, whereas coughing into our hands spreads the germs onto everything we then decide to touch….

I am currently travelling. and am in Adelaide this week; Flying with Qantas. Besides getting up at 3am, all is good with today. I have started eating at 3 hourly intervals, smaller meals, in an attempt to get my metabolism kickstarted. This is still on a calorie intake 20% less than my Base Metabolic Rate (approx. 2100 per day). Combine this with my jogging, and I should see some results over the next few months.

I went for a walk today, and it turned into a jog. Total distance about 4.59km (according to my GPS). I think this was the first time I have run for exercise in about 8 years, and the first time I have exercised in weeks. It feels good, and I think I will be doing this each day!