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Written by derek smith
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Thursday, 31 December 2009 00:14 |
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I decided I wanted to be a writer in my teens. Until I undertook some professional training I was unaware of the difference between writers and authors. As well as the techniques and practices from my training I also held onto the adage ‘write about what you know’. Following this line I began writing my book in the 70s. It was to be about my first few months in Australia and it was to be my only book. I did not realise then what a profound affect this time had on my life and the lives of others. Throughout the long period the book took shape I came to understand what an interesting and groundbreaking year 1966 was. I also discovered my place in the 20th century and that of my generation. I wrote was I thought was the book and began to look for a publisher. It was in this process of moving from writer to published author that I was side tracked. First, I began by writing and publishing short stories because ‘they’ said is was a way to be noticed and recognised. This sidetrack took me through many short stories the most popular of which seemed to be my science fiction. I stepped away from writing what you know to writing through my imagination. These SF and a few Fantasy stories lead to two novels and an anthology. It was not until early in the millennium and after a complete re-write of my one book (after it had been professionally edited) that I felt the project was finished. The book was published in 2006 after a long journey. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (writing as Mark Twain) in Huckleberry Finn ends his book ‘and so there ain’t nothing more to write about, and I’m rotten glad of it, because if I’d known what a trouble it was to make a book I wouldn’t a tackled it, and ain’t a-going to no more.’ |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 31 December 2009 00:14 |
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Researchers Aim for Healthier But Tasty Ice Cream |
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Written by derek smith
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Tuesday, 17 November 2009 00:06 |
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I have been known to question the ridiculous items some scientists feel the need to waste valuable resources investigating but then there are the good folks at the University of Missouri-Columbia. They found adding nutrients such as pro-biotics, which are already found in some dairy products, and fiber to ice cream can improve digestive health. Many diseases are caused by inflammation that starts in the intestines, improving digestive health with functional foods might reduce that inflammation. Although functional foods have health benefits, there are many challenges to adding nutrients to ice cream.Major challenges are texture, flavor and psychological acceptance. The nutrients added often have bitter tastes and affect the texture of ice cream that we have to mask. Flavours like chocolate are easier to work with because the flavor is so strong that it can overcome other flavors from the nutrients. Another challenge is determining whether people would be upset that scientists are 'tampering' with a comfort food. “We need to know if they would be more willing to pay for ice cream with added nutritional benefits." The research team are looking at using the açai berry and remnants from grapes in wine-making to add nutrients to ice cream. They hope to have a prototype ready for tasting in the next six months.Another plus for wine (recycling the grape remnants!) and healthy ice cream, chocolate no less. Could you ask for more? |
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THe House Where I Was Born VII |
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Written by derek smith
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Thursday, 19 November 2009 00:45 |
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The games played today are in stark contrast to those we used to play when I was a boy. Running up and down the entryways between the houses yelling was popular. You could hear the echo of your shouts. This game lasted only until your grandmother came out and told you ‘to pack it in’. Marbles was the next choice. Normally played in a circle we did not play this way but used the holes and cracks in between the pavement and the walls of the houses. People would step around us onto the road when we crouched ready to flick. This was not a problem for them as there was little traffic. My uncle was a milkman before he joined the Army in ’39. He told me the milkman used horse drawn carts to deliver milk then. The horse knew the route as well as the milkie and just plodded along stopping at all the usual spots. My uncle was one of the first to have a new electric milk float. I remember nobody told us why there so many holes in the pavement and we never thought to ask why nobody repaired them. Every year the Greyhound pub in Tinsley Green takes a popular playground game to its most competitive level, as it stages the British and World Marbles Championship. The tournament in its current guise has been played since 1932, although evidence suggests that the game has been played here for more than 200 years. |
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The House Where I Was Born VII |
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Written by derek smith
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Thursday, 12 November 2009 00:00 |
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There is a new movie ‘Pirate Radio (The Boat That Rocked)’ about commercial radio stations in the 60s that reminded me about Radio Luxemburg. For anyone who did not listen to so called popular radio in the early 60s it is impossible to explain just how bad it was for a teenager. The music played by Government run radio was bland, boring and banal, it ranged from Mantovani to Rosemary Clooney. But then along came pirate radio, they had no licences to broadcast and operated from various places offshore – islands, boats and other countries. I remember lying in bed listening to Radio Luxemburg (which broadcast from Luxemburg) on my transistor radio. It was great to hear all the new records that were aimed at my generation. Of course, it helped foster the rebellion that the Government was always trying to shut the stations down. Once I put the earpiece in no one could hear but me and I could stay awake as long as I wanted during those long, bright summer evenings. 1966 and all that:The Beatles released their 7th album - Revolver. |
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