1961 Magazine Fall 2016

FALL 2016 ISSUE Nº5

ASHLEY COWIE

BUNRATTY:

TODAY’S REAL LIFE INDIANA JONES

THE SIEGE OF

NASA Mission Possible: The Race to Mars An Interview With Dr. Jim Rice

HOMICIDE HUNTER’S Carl Marino

7 The

TRAITS

Real Women Possess That True Gentlemen Can’t Resist

Fabulous jewelry that roars passion!

&

Nutrition Stress Sleep

1961 Eva Lewis & John Robulack EDITORS IN CHIEF

Michael Gregson SENIOR EDITOR

Michael Gregson has come to 1961 with a strong background in writing, starting with his Honours History/English degree from the University of Waterloo.

Attaining his teaching degree from the University of Western Ontario, he taught English in Yorkshire, England for 2 years before returning to Canada to diversify his career interests.

In his spare time, Michael has been the Executive Director of a Not for Profit Organization, Warm Hearts of Africa, which builds and supports self-sustaining healthcare and educational facilities in Malawi, Africa.

Robert Seuferer

EDITOR AT LARGE Looking to the future while respecting our past: As an entrepreneur, manufacturer, musician, artist, and writer, Robert holds great respect and admiration for arts and history, while pursuing technologies of the future.

Brad Lebold

CREATIVE DIRECTOR An entrepreneur with 15 years’ design experience conducting creative analysis and design best-fit solutions for multi-faceted campaigns.

Zameer Hakamali CONTRIBUTOR

Zameer Hakamali is an accomplished lawyer with a passion for writing short stories and experimenting with music in his spare time.

He has two graduate degrees from Queens University and has studied Philosophy at The University of Waterloo.

Esther B.J. Ligthart CONTRIBUTOR

Freelance journalist and founder of the popular jewelry blog Bizzita.com, with over 20 years commercial and marketing experience within the jewelry industry.

Esther was born in the Netherlands and lived for over 10 years in Italy where she fell in love with jewelry and ran a jewelry store.

Today Esther enjoys writing about jewelry for international trade and luxury magazines, whilst her blog continues to expand with the addition of a store locator and business directory. She continues to work as a speaker and private and business jewelry consultant.

GENERAL & ADVERTISING INQUIRES enquiries1961@gmail.com

Issue Nº5

FA L L 2 016 4 EDITOR’S NOTE SPOTLIGHT

6

Ashley Cowie, Today’s Real Life Indiana Jones

ENTERTAINMENT

16

Homicide Hunter’s Carl Marino

20

Sabine Mondestin: Creating Momentum In a Very Difficult Industry

BUSINESS & FINANCE

28

A Leader Who Inspired a Nation The Quest for Expo 2020

PERSON OF STYLE & SUBSTANCE

30

6

Lord Taylor of Warwick: Adversity Makes You Who You Are.

HEALTH & NUTRITION

36

The 7 Traits Real Women Possess That True Gentlemen Can’t Resist

38 42

Nutrition, Stress & Sleep The Magic of Micro-needling

HISTORY & TRAVEL

48 54 66

On The COVER

Bunratty: the Siege of Phuket: Before and After Irish Food Holiday Explored

FASHION

71

Fabulous jewelry that roars passion!

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

72

The Race to Mars An Interview With Dr. Jim Rice

COV ER MODEL: A SH LE Y COWIE PHOTO BY: MICH A E L SCHOFIE LD

Photo by Michael Schofield

EDITOR’S NOTE After many months of restructuring to offer you a more engaging magazine, we are thrilled to present our newest issue – reimagined to offer more exciting and thought evoking articles. We will introduce you to inspiring individuals that are at the forefront of changing the landscape of everything from entertainment to science and everything in between.

It has always been our goal to redefine what a lifestyle magazine should look like. While we will never fall short of beautiful imagery, we believe that you, our readers, deserve better than celebrity gossip and titillating articles designed to evoke the worst of emotions. We want to educate and inspire you; to put a spring in your step and hopefully, simply entertain you.

NASA’S Dr. Jim Rice certainly fulfilled our wish list.

Exceedingly smart, definitely handsome (we didn’t say the beautiful imagery was all scenery!), he inspires us to think not only far beyond the possibility of living on Mars, but the probability. We may only be at the recognizance stage of inhabiting the red planet, but it’s the courage and dedication of Dr. Rice that will get us there.

While Dr. Rice is the Christopher Columbus of Mars, Ashley Cowie is the real life Indiana Jones that has us at the edge of our seats. Brilliant, fearless and ambitious, the lifelong adventurer and historian indulges us in riveting recounts of historical mysteries. Who knew history could be so sexy?

As the long lazy days of summer draw to a close, we hope to embolden you to rekindle the adventurer within you!

E VA MARIA LE WIS & JOHN ROBUL ACK

Photo by Carlo Sanchez

SPOTLIGHT

ASHLEY COWIE, Today’s Real Life Indiana Jones

By Robert Seuferer

I have to admit; when I was growing up I was fascinated by tales of the great unknown. Exploration was everywhere. Whether it was in space, land or sea the world and beyond was being explored in such detail and society was amazed by it all. Those curiosities were only fueled by adventure movies such as the Indiana Jones franchise. Dreams of adventure, fighting against evil forces and finding treasure are the stuff that makes the imagination of young people go wild.

Little did I know back then that years later I would have the great pleasure of spending some time with a real life Indiana Jones. When speaking with Ashley Cowie, the first thing you realize is that you are interacting with a very intelligent individual. When you watch his shows on television or on YouTube you do get a sense of that, but one on one he’s truly a captivating individual. His passion for his profession is so great that it’s literally been a lifelong obsession for him. Ashley said that when he published his first book at 28, his mom went and a got a photo of him and showed it to him. In the photo was an eight-year-old Ashley Cowie holding a handmade book. In that photo the title he had written read “Book of Ancient History”.

Q: Ashley, how did you begin on the road to where you are now, where did your interests in history begin?

A: My grandfather used to take me around to castle ruins in Scotland, we would constantly explore ancient standing stones and crumbling burial tombs and I became truly fascinated with it. That fueled my interests with history. I was finding old relics like hammers and arrow heads and by 16 I was collecting artifacts and it simply went from there.

Q: What inspired you to take such an interest in ancient symbols?

A: Who is Ashley Cowie? A historian, an adventurer, a photographer, a documentary maker? I’m a keen observer. I see things differently than most people do and by observing details in artifacts and ancient symbols I began to see things that nobody had seen before. It’s like being a historical Sherlock Holmes.

I began reinterpreting ancient carvings by keen observation and asking the basic questions, “who, what, when, where and why”. What was the motivation behind them?

Q: What did you do before you became famous?

A: At 17 I left the small fishing port of Wick in Caithness, in northern Scotland to study photography and audio visual design. 6 years later I returned to Wick and help run our family fishing business. My father, brother and I ran a successful seafood company and we sold it 6 years later. My father, then at 55 years old, taught himself how to cook and opened an all-natural, organic seafood restaurant which over the last 13 years has become very successful, and now has won several awards including the UK’s Most Sustainable 2016.

When the family business was sold my brother went his way and I started down this road. I’m now working with my father again on a new project. We are making a series of 4 interactive cook books based on seasonality.

Those should be published by next year.

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Q: Ashley, how did Legend Quest come about?

A: I was 34 years old and had just published my second book when I got a call from a very flamboyant agent in LA. “We’ve seen you and we think your great, would you travel to Costa Rica to cast for a new show called Legend Quest?” I was on top of the world; this was it my big break, every boy’s dream! I flew there and upon arriving I discovered they had cast 164 people for the part and had shortlisted 16 of us for this last casting shoot.

Two weeks after the shoot our agents called us all up and said the show has been trashed, the budget had been pulled and the show was cancelled all together.

What a disappointment and complete waste of time.

Then three months later I got a call out of the blue saying we’ve got three weeks to film the first episode.

We shot the episode in cathedrals and churches in Palermo and France and the network loved. So off I went for a year of my life filming all over the world.

After we filmed the show a post-production team was chosen by SyFy and they twisted and bent the stories into more story than fact, more action than thought provoking TV. These out-of-the-blue calls aren’t always great though. One summer I got a call from Mr. Robert Watts, the Associate producer of the Empire Strikes Back. He called me and paid me a massive compliment, that I was a real life version of the person Indiana Jones was based on. He wanted to buy a movie option for my latest book. There I was thinking this is about as big as you can get, here is Robert Watts telling me he loved my stuff. Then, several weeks had passed with no replies to my emails and I never heard from him again. I found out some years later after meeting other researches in my fields that he had gone all over Scotland telling everyone in the business the same thing. What a pr**k. Blowing young people up like balloons, and pricking them with a needle, is not cool

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Q: Were you ever a protégé to someone or did you have someone who inspired you along the way?

Photo by Carlo Sanchez A: When I was 22 I met Niven Sinclair, Head Sponsor of the Clan Sinclair. I set up a historical research team with Niven and he commissioned me to study paintings, and artefacts pertaining to the clan Sinclair.

We took helicopter rides over castles and sacred sites in Scotland. I spent an entire year of my life studying Rosslyn Chapel and he was very supportive. I measured the church architecture, and reverse engineered it all the way to the foundations. The crypt at Rosslyn Chapel was sealed in the 18th century. Sir Walter Scott recorded that 20 Templar Knights were sealed inside the crypt. A mysterious painting which had been kept in the Dalhousie family’s private collection for over 150 years recently surfaced at an auction in Edinburgh.

The painting was titled, “Templar Knight at Rosslyn Chapel”, by R.T. McPherson circa 1836. Niven Sinclair commissioned me to study and analyze the Masonic and Templar symbols in it. The painting reveals a staircase that is no longer in the chapel today. Perhaps this was artistic flair or interpretation on behalf of the artist, or perhaps this could be the entrance to the crypt which was sealed in the 18th century. It’s not so easy to get into these secret chambers, believe me I’ve tried.

Photo by Michael Schofield

Q: Has your notoriety changed you at all?

A: Yes, I’m far more humble now. It’s so humbling in fact. When you trying to get there in TV, it’s so rough and you have to be self-centered to survive. You don’t actually see all the people around that you’re working with. It’s a very difficult business to make it in, there’s so much competition; but when you actually make it, you begin to appreciate everyone around you and all the hard work they do to help you. The camera crew, the support crew, everyone. I was shooting a pilot for the History channel for 16 months straight – then it got trashed but I wasn’t upset – I didn’t regret it a bit because I made so many friends and contacts. To cut through the competition, you have to be ruthless in LA, once you’re there, it’s humbling. The super cool thing about it is that every super star says it’s so easy, but every one of them is a very hard working person to get there and to stay there. Even Brad Pit might do several castings a year but only land one or two roles.

The weird thing with television is that it’s like open hunting season on you from the critics. The number one rule in television is don’t read what the critics write. The first thing I do is read and compile all of them and once a year me and my friends have a laugh reading them. Sometimes people can get so passionate about what they are saying, we have a great laugh.

When you’re in the public eye you really inspire people sometimes. I have a young boy, whom I’ve befriended that has some problems. Every so often I send him a little mission and ask him for help researching things that I can’t seem to find any information on. I know he loves it and his mom really appreciates it. It’s these sort of things that make it truly humbling.

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Photo by Michael Schofield

Q: What’s your day to day life like, when you’re not out on an adventure?

A: It changes so much – I spent the last 2 years living on a boat on the River Thames in Chelsea – 6 months ago I decided to live in Barcelona where I write, research and base myself for my European filming trips. I’ll soon to be in Columbia fly fishing for a few months.

Q: Umm, fly fishing?

A: I’ll be filming a pilot documentary about a Scottish fly fisherman (me) in rural Columbia. My girlfriend is Columbian and she has to go back on business, so I went to my producers and said ok how about this, “Scottish guy fly fishing in Columbia”? They loved it!

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Q: There must be a tremendous amount of research for your projects. How many people do you have working on your team who help you with researching your projects and bringing everything together?

A: It varies. For example, a television series that involves filming in several countries, with 6 or 8 episodes, could require roughly 2 or 3 story writers with myself guiding them and leading the charge, maybe 4 producers plus camera and sound people. 15 people plus 5 fixers working on location, plus support services. I recently filmed a pilot for North American network and had to choose a historical story with 6 locations, and it all had to be original content. I took this all on myself, so you can be doing everything, depending who suggests the project as well. You might receive a call where they ask could you present a show they have already developed?

So it’s already written and locations are chosen and much of the work is already done. This requires less people. It is quite taxing both mentally and physically either way. Imagine cramming all the information in a short period of time, cramming information until it

SPOTLIGHT

rolls out like it’s always been there, because getting the content out there in the best way and knowing it intimately is what it’s all about. So you’re studying 16 hours a day non-stop for 2 weeks straight because shooting deadlines are non-movable. You’ve got 18 pages to get together and write and you push yourself until you’re completely exhausted and then the next thing you know you’re swinging down vines and hanging out of helicopters while you’re flying across the tops of trees during filming.

with children there. It will be great fun and it’s for a good cause.

Q: Is there a documentary season or how does the scheduling work?

A: Absolutely, unless you’re doing a small project which could come at any time throughout the year.

Ideas for documentaries are generally pitched in January and February. Then the networks decide which ideas they’re going to move forward with. You have 2 months of writing and preparation, and then filming is typically from September to October. So you have pitch, greenlight, preparation, filming, and delivery.

Q: Your just back from shooting your next documentary.

Would you please tell us about what are you working on now?

A: All I can say is it’s a major international history show for a global network and my pilot will be out in September Q: You are working on a series of children’s books. Please tell us about that project.

A: It’s a project which teaches children history not through the historical figures themselves but through their pets and animals. It’s a way to make history fun and accessible to children through the pets of historical figures. The books are ready to be published but a television series may be in the works. Once the TV element gets sorted out then any necessary changes to the books will be made and then the books will be published.

I’m also working on a project with a radio station in Dubai, UAE called Pearl 102. It’s a radio station set up for children and we’re working on a few different scenarios whereby I’ll be reading to and interacting

Photo by Carlo Sanchez Q: Ashley, out of all of history and all the stories and myths through time, what do you think is the greatest undiscovered relic or treasure with the most potential for being found?

A: I think one of the greatest treasures, if indeed it exists, would be the Amber Room. The Amber Room was a world famous chamber within Germany that held panels filled with gold. During World War II, when Germany entered Russia, the room was disassembled and shipped to Konigsberg, East Prussia. That particular area, however, was bombed by the Allies — leaving the contents of the room uncovered. Only a small portion of a mosaic stone was recovered in 1997, leaving the rest to be buried away. When found, it will be of massive historical wealth.

Q: So far what’s been your favorite adventure?

A: The greatest adventure by far was climbing to the highest peak in the Peruvian Andes searching for the lost Golden Sun Disk of Mu. I led an expedition of 12 camera crew and 30 Inca guides to 14,500 feet in elevation over six days. We actually found a pit exactly where we thought the Golden Sun Disk was going to be. It’s a hugely important artefact. We were climbing up cliffs, avoiding mudslides and swinging over chasms and crossing old rope bridges - it was an amazing adventure.

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SPOTLIGHT

in Caithness. I used 18th century maps and pin-pointed areas that he couldn’t possibly have been buried because of flooding etc. This left me with a short list of places where Rivach could have been buried.

Photo by Kinda Phillips The trouble with my field is relics and antiquities are often buried within churches, temples, mosques or holy sites. So often we can’t get to the treasures themselves even if we think we’re right. But like in life in general, it’s the journey itself that’s the adventure, such was the case with the Stone of Destiny, the ancient king making stone of the Scots and Irish. By following a trail of clues from location to location we eventually found a trap door, hidden under a rug on the floor of a church where the king making stone was once kept.

When we opened the door we found a rectangular black stone that perfectly matched the description of the Stone of Destiny, precisely where it had been kept for hundreds of years.

Q: Please share with us the significance your Murdo Rivach discoveries and the stones with natural holes.

A: Murdo Rivach was recorded as being a wizard in 13th century Scotland. He was believed to have been sent to Caithness by Hugh Ross, of Sutherland, in an effort to collect rent from people living on his lands.

Local people didn’t take kindly to the wizards demands and they beheaded him. Legends say he was buried in a circular grave somewhere at the end of Loch Watten

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I followed the clues to the East end of Loch Watten and I found a 25-meter circular impression in a field. I went right to the centre of the circle and pulled back a lump of grass, and there it was, as plain as day, a stone with several holes in it. I immediately knew this was a stele. In those times people would find stones with holes in them that would be formed naturally, especially if they looked like a face. They would chip at them to enhance the faces. The more it looked like a face the more powerful it was believed to be. These so called Holy Stones, were believed to ward off evil spirits or sometimes attract them. I’ve analyzed the stone with the help of an engineer and discovered that it actually has 2 faces. A very common practice of witchcraft. Now it is accepted that this circle was the exact location of his burial. The amazing thing is that it’s located about 250 meters from my mom and dad’s back door.

Q: What’s your take on mystic prophets and sorcerers throughout history? They are noted as people with amazing abilities who possessed great powers, who do you think they were?

A: I can answer that for you very simply. Around 4000 BC farming began to take hold all over the world.

For hundreds of thousands of years, we were hunter gathers, but farming settled people at one location all year round. The people in ancient cultures who knew the cycle of the sun, the moon and the stars were held in high regard These keepers of time controlled the ritual calendars of the people and as such they had great power over the masses. History books tell stories of powerful priests who could predict lunar eclipses, but would claim that evil forces were going to come and eat the sun, kill their crops. Astronomy was presented as magic, since the dawn of farming.

SPOTLIGHT

Q: Do you think Noah’s Ark will be discovered?

A T WIST IN TIME

A: All over the world creation myths talk about a global flood. I think this is a metaphor relating to the end of the last ice age. Around 10’000 BCE the last ice age ended and seawater started rising. It’s a post ice age hangover that most cultures have, but who’s the editor? Think about it this way, if there was a boat and it had 2 creatures of every species on earth, how much food would you require to feed them for 40 days?

You’d need 5 Noah’s Arks of food just to sustain the animals for forty days.

A twist in time offers an entirely new perspective on prehistory and demands we re-engineer our views on the Stone Age; because all of discoveries in the book involve changing paradigms of pre-history - it’s a real game changer. It’s so big that top archaeologists are astounded that it’s never been seen before: annihilating concepts of a Stone Age, and replacing it with the Rope Age.

Photo by Kinda Phillips Q: You have written 5 books with the newest recently published. Tell us about your books please.

SECRET VIKING SE A CHART I spent years studying the carvings in Rosslyn Chapel and when I was about 25 I discovered was a unique group of symbols. I spent the next 10 years of my life deciphering them. I presented my findings at the International Science Festival where they were received with a standing ovation. The results were tested by professional scientists at Bradford University who confirmed that I had discovered an ancient sea chart.

It’s a chart of the Nordic Empire carved on the crypt wall at Rosslyn Chapel. The chart identifies 4 lines of latitude upon which Viking settlements in North America were, 500 years before Christopher Columbus allegedly discovered America. Based on the chart, the 4th latitude predicts the discovery of a new Viking settlement, that has yet to be unearthed.

For 100,000 years’ man didn’t survive by skills with stone but by highly specialized and advanced rope making crafts. Ropes were made by elite rope making craftsmen and used for everything from ceremonial purposes to measuring; ropes were even used for surveying. Mankind has literally pulled itself through the evolutionary chain using ropes. The book removes any mystery and magic speculation of the pre-historic era and replaces it with the highly skilled craftsmen and rope.

NE W TON’S DOOMSDAY PROPHEC Y Ten years ago I was fascinated with scientific paradox and began studying the issue. I came across Sir Isaac Newton’s end of the world prophecy which predicts the world will end in 2060. It was based on numbers, equations, and measurements of the Temple of Solomon which he derived from the Bible. So I looked at his conclusions and his involvement with Alchemy and discovered that his 3 laws of motion matched the 3 laws of reality believed true by ancient Egyptians. So, I ask the question, did Newton plagiarize them from ancient Egyptian texts?

THE ROSSLYN TEMPL AR The Rosslyn Templar is based around my study of the R.T. McPherson Painting mentioned earlier. The Rosslyn Templar presents an engaging discussion focused around this curious 18th century painting. It reviews the history of Freemasonry and the architecture of Rosslyn Chapel and offers new evidence of the connection between Templars, Freemasons and Rosslyn Chapel itself.

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SPOTLIGHT

THE ROSSLYN MATRIX We touched on it earlier when I had spent a half a year of my life in Rosslyn Chapel reverse engineering the building then a half year on discovery. The book examines overlooked architectural plans, revealing unobserved measurements and designs which underpin the myths. The book balances spiritual interpretations with functional reasoning. Later chapters offer a scientific study of a special carving on the crypt wall that was created from elements from various land, sea, space and time measuring systems. The results reveal the carving is both a treasure map and a mapping treasure.

Q: What’s your dream adventure? If budgets weren’t a concern, if access was available and there was nothing stopping you, what would be your ultimate exploration?

A: I would go to Cocos Island off Peru to a specific spot where the Treasure of Lima was hidden.

Q: What’s next for Ashley Cowie?

A: I’m working on a major historical series pilot that will be out in September and a 1-hour documentary based on Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

I’ve actually found allusions to real life people and places that have been coded into Stephenson’s bestselling book.

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Photo by Scott Goldie

ENTERTAINMENT

HOMICIDE HUNTER’S

Carl Marino

by Zameer Hakamali Let’s get some relevant facts out of the way, because that’s what lawyers, detectives, and sheriffs do.

First of all, who is Carl Marino? Carl Marino is a 6’1” blue eyed actor, marathon runner and ex-cop. I have no qualms saying he’s a handsome man. Prior to becoming an actor he was a sheriff for about 17 years in upstate New York, and now he plays the lead character in the reality television series Homicide Hunter.

I was asked to interview Mr. Marino and write an article on him.

This is my first time doing this, ever. I am a lawyer. I am trying something new.

So did Mr. Marino.

Photo by Investigation Discovery Let me begin with a bit about myself. Not because I am vain (although, I am) but, because of the parallels I noticed while doing this project, it just seemed like the right thing to do.

I am a lawyer by trade. I work at a small firm in Cambridge, Ontario where I practice litigation, helping companies collect money from people who either cannot or will not pay their bills. Parenthetically, this unexciting description of my job captures the over-all, distilled essence of law quite well: “We are entitled to this!” vs. “No!”. That is my career in a nutshell. I have a love-hate relationship with it.

How am I writing this article? What is the reason?

Photo by Investigation Discovery

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Well, I am not entirely sure myself. The glorious and friendly editor-in-chief of 1961 Magazine is the sister of a friend. We began talking over LinkedIn one day, and I am not sure how we actually met. But what I do remember is how I felt: real. Real, because I was

ENTERTAINMENT

genuinely interested in what she did, focusing as she did on things that are beautiful, creative. I expressed sincere interest in her magazine, its topic, etc., and it felt great to say something I meant. Meeting artists and designers who (sincerely) deal in charm and wonderment is, for me, an oasis in the dry desert that is the musty world of law. I needed a drink. So I drank.

before, he was a sheriff for 17 years.

Wait. How does a sheriff become an actor?

If that question hasn’t come to your mind yet, it should have.

“Hmm…” I thought. “I write. I ask questions. Sure!”

In Marino’s case, he too had a love-hate relationship with his career as a sheriff. “I hated the bureaucracy” he said. He hinted at a strong disdain for the culture pervading law enforcement officers – the contrived machismo, the corruption, the backstabbing.

And here we are.

‘It was an effort to get through the day’, he said.

She asked me if I wanted to try my hand at interviewing and writing about people.

I met my first assignment, Carl Marino, over the phone on a warm summer evening. I had to leave my office to talk to him in my car so I could put him on speaker phone.

I was late.

The first thing I must say, because it is so definitive, is that Carl Marino is and was an extremely easy going, friendly, relaxed guy. Even though it was awkward at times – or rather, even though I was awkward at times – I walked away feeling forgiven, as though he was saying, somehow through his energy, “Its okay Zameer *insert smiley face* You’re doing fine.”

This is simply the guy he is – quintessentially nice.

He “answers every piece of fan mail” he gets. Or at least he tries too. That’s Carl Marino.

But on Homocide Hunter? All business.

Based on the real life work of Lt. Joe Kenda of the Colorado Springs Police Department, Marino is responsible for being an intense, tough-as-nails, 23 year veteran of law enforcement who has worked on hundreds and hundreds of criminal cases. In this role Marino takes the audience and the actors themselves step-by-step through the gruesome, mystifying and complicated cases that the show portrays, and the stories that surround them.

Not exactly a huge leap for him, since, as I mentioned

And so there he is, trudging away trying to help people and protect the “public interest” while his own interest was being corroded by acidic nepotism and duplicity.

And then all of a sudden, the foundation gave way and his life fell apart. His parents past away close together, and his relationship with his long-term girlfriend ended. He was left alone. Chin up, chest out – or most probably, eyes moving to and fro, confused, listless – he did what many romantic Americans have done before: he packed up his car with everything he owned, went west, and left it all behind. Gutsy, my friend, but awesome.

Upon arriving on the sun-swept shores of California, he took a job as a private investigator, unable, understandably, to completely let go of his old life and the vestiges of his past career.

And then one day while browsing Craigslist, he came upon an ad that caught his attention. Not an ad about a new gun holster or surf board. No, it was an ad for an acting job. Specifically, it was an ad seeking actors to play police officers on the pilot for “Trauma”, a new television series about paramedics.

I’m sure he stared at that ad with some intrigue, not knowing it was a cross-road. He “had never had a desire to be an actor” ever in his life, after all. Or perhaps he sensed big things to come. It was, after all, an oddly tailored opportunity, out of place but sort of fitting, eclectic: an ex-cop who hated the job of being a cop, faced with an opportunity to act like a cop. It was, at the very least, odd (at least by my standards).

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Spurred by that unknown force known as curiosity, he ‘followed the white rabbit’.

But, he was a cautious, prudent man, and so he reached for this new branch cautiously, clinging to his PI job in the hopes of testing the waters without having to jump in.

“Shucks!” – turns out he wouldn’t be able to do both.

The days that he was required for the new acting opportunity were going to conflict with his PI job.

Oh well, guess its back to that familiar tree. That’s “fine” he thought.

Well, Marino, the universe did not think that was fine: “Whoa! I saw you reach for that branch. Hmm...I’ll just cancel that PI job for you.”

And so be it. With that obstacle gone, he called casting back up and was put on the show as a background paramedic (because by that point, all the police officer positions were taken) The pilot for “Trauma” was a success; he was called back to be on the show in the background, eventually “noticed”, plucked, and put in the foreground.

And given lines.

And then more lines.

And support from other actors.

And then a lead character in a television series.

All that after being a sheriff.

“I absolutely love acting.” he says. He has no memorable moments of being a sheriff, even after 17 years of being on the force.

Nevertheless, perhaps you can and should never fully shed a past life.

As the lead actor on Homicide Hunter, he plays, not a ballet dancer or a clown. No, he plays a detective.

The difference, however, is that instead of shaking down people who need more help than jail-time, he

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gets to tell the stories of people who are part of the criminal process –stories of both the victims, and the wrong-doers. It’s no small feat.

After all, he belonged to a world of people who unintentionally or intentionally, knowingly or unknowingly, hurt people they should be helping; people who undoubtedly become embittered by the contrast of their idealized view of police-work, against the realities of their own fragile moral framework, and those of the organizations and structures they work for.

He saw that world for what it was and then left, went with the flow, finding himself in a world of people who act fake to tell a story that is more real and purposive than the idealized versions around them. When you think it about, Marino’s story is full of symbolism.

And make no mistake – Homicide Hunter is one of the most realistic crime shows out there, which is why it has gained so much popularity.

Marino explained that because the show is based on real life cases, the people who actually lived through those situations are part of the audience, part of the process. Friends and family of people who have been murdered, and who have been imprisoned. They are there to help the actors tell their story. They’ve suffered, cried, feared, regretted, raged, and lamented.

Surely, no amount of adjectives can adequately capture the range of emotions that beset the survivors of a crime and the criminal justice system.

He aptly explained in no uncertain terms, that because of this key distinguishing feature of the show, they all treat their jobs, their roles, with a certain degree of reverence, acknowledging that what is happening on set is a reenactment of something that deeply and irrevocably changed people’s lives – and they will be reliving it with you.

That is, I have no doubt, part of what Marino likes about the show – the fact that it is real, it has depth.

Purposive poignancy.

Nevertheless, unshackled from his previous life as a sheriff, and propelled into a life of recognizable fame, he still charmingly, but unsurprisingly says: I am just a normal guy.

Indeed, but that’s what makes you and your life so interesting.

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Photo by Every Man Jack

When he is not acting or talking to fans, he is running marathons and raising money for various charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project.

Well let me say, I have enjoyed this experience of writing my first article. Marino, I’m sure, enjoyed his first acting gig.

In fact, he mentioned he had just finishing running a marathon. I thought, “wow! That’s an amazing accomplishment! Must have been pretty intense!”

The moral of the story? Reach for new branches as they reach out for you. But remember where you came from – it may come in handy some day.

Ya, not for him. By this year he and his wife had run 13 half-marathons and 2 full marathons. It’s only June.

I have never run a marathon.

He laughed when he said the number, adding jokingly “ya, we have a problem.”

No, Mr. Marino, you don’t – you’re just good at breaking free.

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Sabine Mondestin

Creating Momentum In a Very Difficult Industry

By Robert Seuferer Photography by Steve Lareau

Acting is an incredibly difficult field to get into. Firstly, it’s already completely saturated with competition, many of whom are extremely talented people; Secondly, even if you have a chance at a roll, such as a commercial for example, it probably won’t highlight your talents anyway, even if you are the one selected out of the hundreds of people auditioning for the same role.

Think of a toothpaste commercial for instance – get the point? The other unglamorous side of an acting career is that it actually costs you as an actor a great deal of money for your portfolio design and shoots, printing fees, booking agent fees, management fees, travel expenses, time off work if you hold another job to make your living while you’re making the way up the acting ladder. Not to mention, you need to be mentally ready for loads of rejections and disappointments and then be prepared to keep at it relentlessly like nothing negative ever happened. Simply put building a career as an actor or actress is no easy task. Even more difficult is actually becoming successful at it. You actually have better odds of winning the lottery than you do making an actual living in the acting profession.

That being said, the question begs – How does one make it in such a difficult industry? Of course, there are no secret instructions to follow. The truth of the

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matter is that it takes years of hard work, unwavering dedication, loads of practice, talent development, planning, strategizing, marketing, trial and error, networking, budgeting - all of which is coupled with a colossal amount of pure luck. Yes, I think that should do it.

None the less there are those who are simply born with “it” in their blood and no matter what the odds, they pursue their dreams. However, this story isn’t about becoming an actor or actress at all. This story is about one Miss Sabine Mondestin and point is that I believe it would be impossible to tell Sabine’s story without mentioning the above as a prelude to set the scene, if you will.

Before we learn about Miss Sabine’s story, it is only fair to highlight some of her professional successes, which only serves to show the tremendous dedication she has for her craft. Her story goes against all odds and even though you possibly have never heard the name Sabine Modestin, please take the time to follow this talented lady’s career into the future.

• Sabine has been in numerous commercials and plays throughout the years

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• She was a columnist for the television show “Noir de monde”

were a betting man, I’d place my money on the odds that predict - she’s unstoppable!

• She has written 22 television scripts • She performed in the lead role of the Vagina Monologs play in Toronto in 2014, and coincidently - every show was completely sold out and has now been asked to play the role again • She established her own production company called My Destiny Productions • She wrote, directed, and produced her own web series called 13 Witches which according to my count has collectively received 2,709,659 views on YouTube alone and in all fairness: 18 of those are mine • She wrote, directed and produced a movie called ‘Insanity’ which was featured at multiple film festivals around the world • Sabine also started the Open World Toronto Film Festival or OWTFF in 2015 Of course there are loads of other achievements in Sabine’s career such as having web series 13 Witches mentioned in the New York Times, and of course receiving the prestigious award for “Outstanding Web Producing for a Sci-Fi Horror Series” at the LAWEB festival in LA, California to name a few. Oh, did I mention for all you fashion world fans out there that she has her own shoe blog, which I have to admit is fabulously done? Sabine considers her shoe blog more of a hobby but actually her blog is producing thousands and thousands of views each month and growing. What’s wrong with me?? I nearly forgot she also has a singing career and is selling her songs on Amazon. Quite frankly, Sabine Modestin may possibly be one of the hardest working people I have ever met.

One thing is for sure, she is driven!

If you consider what you’ve read so far to be amazing accomplishments, please note this author agrees with you. I’ve had the great honor of Interviewing Miss Sabine Mondestin and I have to admit she’s truly surprised me at every step of this article. She has found a way to build tremendous momentum for her career, despite the staggering odds stacked against her. If I

Q: You always showed interest in theater and writing.

Was there anything particular that drove you to that?

A: When I was young even though I was bullied at school, I just LOVED being in front of the class. It was the only time I felt alive and happy. I was 5 years old and I was always looking forward to reading in from of the class or to do the "Show and Tell" exercise.

When my mother realized it, she put me in a theater program at 6 years old. To be very honest with you I think I am just a natural performer and nothing else makes me happy ...It may seems strange but it's just the way I am.

As for writing, when I was young I was not allowed to watch TV so I needed to find a way to entertain myself.

I use to write stories to make me forget the fact that I was not watching TV like the other kids. Sometimes I would watch the beginning of a show and I will write the end….I was just 5 years old. Since then I never stop writing script-Partly to entertain myself and also because I have so many stories in my head.

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Q: Did you ever get stage fright?

A: Never, the bigger the audience the better for me.

I find that I am more nervous in front of two people than in front on a stage.

Q: Showing interest in theater and writing is one thing but at what point in your life did you realize that you could actually make a living in this industry?

A: To be very honest with you, I still have my ups and downs. It is not easy for an artist to actually make a living in the industry unless you book a series or you are an A-list actor. That's why I started my production company and the OWTFF. Being an artist is sometimes VERY stressful because you never know when you will have no income ...So you always have to have a Plan B, C and even D. Q: Would you consider yourself a driven person?

A: Yes, when I want to do a project nobody can stop me.

Question 5: What was the first role you performed on stage?

A: The first role I had was a butterfly in a play I was 6 years old. It was the best time of my life because it was my first time on stage. Then I appeared in different roles in a French Canadian series.

Q: What was the first commercial you ever did?

A: Esprit de France (It was a commercial shoot in Montreal but made for France).

Q: Playing Cleopatra for four years is a fairly good run.

How old were you at the time and what was it like to perform that role for so long?

A: I started with Cleopatra when I was 13 and performed the role until I was nearly 17 years old. I Loved it ...I was excited to play such a strong role with so much power. I think it inspired me to write more powerful roles for myself like I did for 13 Witches.

Q: Did Cleopatra ever become boring for you and how would you rate your final performance compared to your first?

A: No it was not boring - I LOVED it. I think I was getting better and better at it with the years.

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Q: How did you become a columnist for Noir di Monde?

What was it like?

A: It's a funny story, I was doing an audition to become a columnist for a sport show. The producer thought that I was not exactly what they were looking for, so he gave me the information of the main host of "Noir di Monde": Harry Delva. I met him and he hired me. I did the show for 3 years until I moved for Vancouver.

Q: Sabine, you were a Freelance researcher for National Radio and television Stations – Tell us how did you get involved in this and what did it entail?

A: I have a degree in Communication and Journalism and did a one year internship by working as a journalist at a place called Promedia. When I graduated, I was lucky enough to have some freelance work as a radio host and as a researcher because of the contacts I made at Promedia.

Q: You started My Destiny Productions as a vehicle to produce “13 Witches”. What was your inspiration behind 13 Witches? How did your idea evolve and come to production?

A: I created My Destiny Production to produce 13 Witches. The story behind 13 Witches is funny, A few years before I created 13 Witches I had an audition for a show called Blood Tied ...It was a guest-star role.

The role required a black French woman. She was supposed to be able to speak French and Creole and was supposed to be a voodoo priestess. I was so proud of my audition, but unfortunately I did not get the part.

So I wrote a little scene as a Voodoo Queen and I posted it on YouTube.....I wrote it in French and in English.

I was so surprised by the results, people actually BELIEVED I was a VOODOO Queen. It was crazy. The French Version went viral. People were even asking me to take care of their problems. I didn’t know how to react and I was getting frustrated. Then I decided to make the best of it and write a story where I would be a witch and use the momentum I had with the Voodoo Queen to market 13 Witches.

Author’s note: I did watch the videos on YouTube and I can see why people believed Sabine was a Voodoo Queen, it’s a very convincing performance.

Q: What sort of struggles did you face producing 13 Witches?

A: So, So Many Struggles! First of all, shooting with girlfriends is not always the best choice. Secondly, the first director left me after the first day because she realized that the project was too big.

Third, I was also working 6 days a week at the same time 13 Witches was being filmed and produced, so I was so extremely tired. It was hard to concentrate. Fourth, I had to do everything from wardrobe, to directing, to scheduling, to acting, to directing, to solving conflict between actors, to regularly doing the marketing to create a momentum 5-shootings with 38 actors in 3 month while I am working full time.

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Question 15: Here you are making fabulous movies and performances in acting. How did a singing come about and where do you want to take it?

A: To be very honest with you I just love singing and I was lucky to meet some amazing people who loved my voice. I am not sure where I want to take it but what I know for sure is I love writing lyrics and working with amazing producers. My songs are doing great for now on Reverbnation so I am happy.

Q: What was it like when you won “Outstanding Producing for a Sci-Fi Horror Series” at the LAWEB festival in Los Angeles?

A: It was so exciting! The sad part was that I could not go to L.A. to receive the prize, I had some commitment in Toronto. The fact that the "New York Times" mentioned 13 Witches was the best treat of all.

Q: What was your inspiration behind “Insanity”? What was the general response to the film?

A: I am a big fan of David Lynch, even though I don't always understand his films. I wanted to create a film similar to his style. So Insanity is a journey in the mind of a disturbed woman.

The response is great so far we are being screened in 6 film festivals.

Q: What new film Projects are on the Horizon?

A: YES! I am working on finding the funding for a bigger budget version of 13 Witches. Since the response was so great, I want to create the next chapter. Lots of 13 Witches fans are asking me for the next film (13 witches was created to be a trilogy). We used our own money to shoot the first one and now we want to shoot the next one.

We are also in pre-production for a feature called “Art of Life”.

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Q: Recently wrote and interpreted the lyrics for "Let Them Hate", "Une Mangeuse d’hommes" and "I Just Want My Chocolate", three songs produced by Steve Lareau. Why Steve Lareau?

A: He is the most talented man in the world. I think it's great to work with someone who knows you and gets you. So I feel that we work great together and I don't need to tell him what I want he just gets it.

He is a genius. That's why we work together on ALL my projects.

Q: How did you get involved with the Vagina Monologues?

A: I auditioned for another play and the producer decided to hire me for the Vagina Monologues instead.

I performed this year again in the Vagina Monologues as well.

Q: What was it like working on the Vagina Monologs and how was your performance and the play in general received?

A: It was so well received! Sold out all the nights that why we did it again.

Q: Shoe Blog…..This is the one piece that sort-of doesn’t seem to fit with everything else. Where did it come from and where are you hoping to take it?

A: I just LOVE shoes. I think they are jewelry for the feet. I wanted to do a blog just for fun - nothing crazy.

So I said to myself why not blog about the best shoes designer of the world.....Let's say it's my hobby.

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Q: The OWTFF was established to help aspiring and established filmmakers gain exposure and recognition.

What gave you the inspiration to put something like this together?

A: The idea came because I wanted to create something with the Hollywood Glamour but accessible for any new filmmakers. I wanted to help actors, filmmakers and anyone in the film industry to have the best exposure possible.

OWTFF always make sure that anyone who submit their film to the festival gain the marketing they deserve. We post their trailers to all our social media and we help them gain exposure even though they may not win.

Q: What was it like putting on the first OWTFF in 2015?

Did you have any challenges you specifically remember?

A: It was great but so stressful. The main challenge was the attendance and the media, we wanted to make sure we had enough press coverage and we wanted people to attend the festival. The first year was great!

Here's a quick video of the first year: https://vimeo.com/148304687

Q: Have you ever had a completely embarrassing moment professionally? Tell us about it and how did you get through it?

A: YES I had some REALLY bad audition trust me so bad that I want to forget them ...And one time the stage props even fell on my head while I was performing. I had to keep going...The show must go on.

Q: for anyone considering pursuing a career in the film industry, what advice you would you give them?

A: Never wait after the phone, do your own marketing, create your own work. Make so much noise that they can ignore you. Now the competition is so big that you can't wait to be discovered ...You need to create your own momentum.

Q: Where do you see yourself professionally in twenty years’ time?

A: I see myself being a very successful producer and director ...I also want to be a full time working actor. I want to be able to create successful VR (virtual reality) entertainment (film and games), and help others to achieve their dream trough my festival and trough my own films.

Q: Do you see OWTFF as a competitor or a compliment to the Toronto International Film Festival?

No, I think we are different. We focus more on the filmmakers who doesn't have the big budget to create the big Hollywood movies. The quality of the film are just as amazing, but they don't have the budget of the film we see at TIFF. Q: Do you ever say, “This is just too much” and consider giving up?

A: I try to do what I have to do and not look at the amount of work I have to do ...I ALWAYS finish my project even if I have to work 24/7.

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A LEADER WHO INSPIRED A NATION

The Quest for Expo 2020

By Robert Seuferer

Image licensed by Ingram Image

APRIL 2007 As sub-prime market began to collapse the impact was felt all over the world. New Century Financial filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in US courts making it the first victim of what would become a long series of events and financial fatalities that would lead to the genius inspiration of one leader. To appreciate the shear genius of his vision it is important to understand the events leading up to his achievement. Anyone who lived through the credit crisis knows that the impact was disastrous the world over. Between 2004 and 2006 the rise of interest rates took its toll on people who were overreached with their credit obligations and on the economies of many nations. The loans in question were highly risky for banks and investors, however many were enticed by the high profit rates that sometimes come with such risky investments. All this coupled with housing shortages meant that the opportunities for home buyers were being devoured at record pace. People were intoxicated with living

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“the dream” and the whole situation was spiralling out of control. The wage spiral model of inflation was failing. With variable interest rates and hosing prices on the rise between 2004 and 2006 and wage increases not keeping pace a bubble was building that was bound to pop.

Let’s back up a minute and understand the scenario.

First we have high risk loans being given to people who can’t afford them. This was particularly obvious in the US. The loans and bonds even assets were being grouped together and being sold out as package deals to investors globally who could enjoy the rich rewards they were giving. All seeming reasonable when backed up by performance history of the portfolios – a seemingly safe investment right? These portfolios better known as Collateralized Debt Obligations made many people incredibly rich. It seemed like the perfect model to investors and the investors like the people

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buying the loans were sucking the opportunities up at record pace.

Fast-forward to July of 2007 and the second major institution falls victim. Investment bank Bear Sterns notifies its investors they won’t be getting any of their money they invested. Surely it wasn’t put in those exact words but any investor with savvy would have been thinking it. The investments in trouble were hedge funds and Bear Sterns, despite considerable efforts, was not able to convince rival banks to help bail them out.

To put it bluntly the system was beginning to collapse.

The S**t Hits the Fan: 9TH AUGUST 2007 BNP Paribas won’t allow investors to take their money out due to, “complete evaporation of liquidity”. The European Central Bank decides to pump 96 billion Euros into the market to improve liquidity and adds an additional 108.7 billion over the next few days, that should do…..right? Wrong! Even the US Federal Reserve interfered followed by Bank of Canada and Japan. Mmmmm, something’s brewing? All this led to the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates in the US by a half percent on the 17th of August, 2007 which results in Banks beginning to lend to each other at a staggering rate.

percent. December 13th saw the US Federal Reserve make plans with 5 major central banks around the world to offer billions in loans to banks in an effort to shore up the situation. Many banks began offering auctions, the US for 20 billion followed by the European Central Bank to the tune of 500 billion which was designed to help commercial banks over the Christmas Period.

Then credit ratings of monoline insurers began to be downgraded, while a huge slowdown in economic growth globally began to take hold. Stock markets started falling around the world, the US Federal Reserve cut their interest rates to 3.5%, the G7 estimated that the global loss due to the collapse of the US subprime market reached 400 billion, followed by the International Monetary Fund announcing that losses could reach one trillion or higher. Housing prices began to fall rapidly, banks continued to collapse or be purchased by larger conglomerates at unbelievable prices. Reports of record bail-outs began to emerge into the media. While huge job cuts were being reported by major companies around the globe. The world was on the brink of financial collapse.

On the 13th of September reports began to circulate that Northern Rock had asked for and been granted emergency financial help from the Bank of England.

The US Federal Reserve then cut its interest rates by an additional half percent on the 18th of September.

While top notch banks around the world began to report major losses due to sub-prime investments. USB report a 3.4 billion loss, Citigroup reveals 3.1 billion in losses, Merrill Lynch reports 7.9 billion in losses and the list goes on.

Ok stop! Stop! STOP! You may think this seems pretty doom and gloom, however from the ashes a Phoenix would rise and these events set the stage for a man with great vision who would inspire people beyond his borders. On the 28th of June 2009 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and ruler of Dubai) announced the launch of Dubai 2020. It was an effort whose main responsibility was to examine the possibility of Dubai hosting either the World Expo or the Olympics and the Para Olympics in 2020. At the time this may have seemed like a very small step to fixing the financial downturn situation affecting Dubai, but while the rest of the world was in panic Sheikh Mohamed pointed to a direction forward.

Many people at the time didn’t fully understand that the list of countries in trouble was increasing as a result of the situation, but their leaders did. On December 6th George W. Bush revealed a plan to help more than a million people facing troubles with their homes in the US while the Bank of England began conservatively cutting interest rates by a quarter of a

Dubai’s economy had come to a screeching halt during the crises with many construction projects in progress in 2008. During this time contractors attempted to focus on completing projects faster, which used up available funds, as payments from investors began to slow down. In the end construction companies began to close leaving large projects on hold in different

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stages of completion and a trail of disaster in the wake.

Dubai’s property bubble burst in 2007-2008 and housing prices dropped to 50% of their highest level leaving investors in loss. The economy became stagnant as people held money close waiting to see just how big “the crash” was going to be. X-pats began absconding leaving mortgaged houses behind and financed cars at the airport. There was a mass exodus of people making the matter even worse. Things were looking very grim.

With the situation as it was, how could a simple effort such as Dubai 2020 keep another nation from the brink of financial disaster? Enter His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision as he began to guide the Dubai 2020 team as the committee went to work making things happen.

On the 2nd of November, 2011 Dubai registered its interest in hosting the World Expo 2020 with BIE, the Bureau of International Des Expositions, followed by the official submittal of its proposal to host Expo 2020 on the 23rd of November. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum then issued Decree Number 2 of 2012 which established the Higher Committee for Hosting World Expo 2020. On the 28th of February, 2012 the Higher Committee for Hosting World Expo launched its first campaign to rally support for its Expo 2020 bid and momentum began to build.

That’s loads of action in a short period of time, but Dubai was very strategic in its approach and left nothing to chance. Backtracking to the period between 2009 and 2011 here’s what Dubai 2020 accomplished.

The committee managed to zero in on Expo 2020, and secured Architects HOK and Arup join forces to structure the blueprint for Dubai’s bid, they managed to coordinate the planning of 25 billion US dollars with of infrastructure required to host Expo 2020 and fill in the blanks to create a rock solid and “Wow-factor” presentation for the BIM Committee.

Fast forward to the 12th of June, 2012 Dubai offered to BIM a presentation reflecting its bid to host Expo 2020 followed by the launch of a new campaign on the 28th of June called, “Be a Part of It” designed to build awareness and support for its bid. The branding for Dubai’s bid was top notch and people in every corner

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of Dubai and the UAE began to display the Expo 2020 snowflake looking mashrabia symbol branded to Expo 2020. The efforts started to take hold as a genuine buzz of excitement began to grow. While the rest of the world seemed to struggle with simply getting by, Dubai and the UAE began to focus on something positive and began to race forward with enthusiasm.

On August 1st, 2012 major companies were announced as partners in the UAE’s bid for Expo 2020. Emirates Airlines, Dubai Airports, Etisalat, Emirates NBD Bank, as well as Jumeirah Group all joined in supporting the UAE’s bid. Nearly every shop displayed the Expo 2020 branding on its doors. Bumper stickers began to circulate and got to the point that no one could drive anywhere without spotting the Expo 2020 emblem.

There was a genuine synergy with people as well.

They understood that this effort was something big and each person wanted to do their part to support it.

The result was a colossal impact to the general attitude of the UAE business world and gave residents of the UAE a much needed moral boost in general. Step by step His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum made sure that Expo 2020 bid was executed without failure. He crossed the T’s and dotted the I’s by his constant monitoring, support and inspiration for the cause. He spared no expense - if it was required the committee was provided the resource.

After BIE conducted an inquiry mission to Dubai in February 2013 news channels started reporting that Dubai was expecting a 28 billion Euro boost to the economy as a result of Expo 2020. These reports fuelled the excitement. Literally Expo 2020 was on cars, shop windows, radio, TV, restaurants, billboards, coffee cups, the internet, business web pages, practically everywhere in Dubai. People felt part of a grass root effort and believed failure was not an option.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum branded his efforts to the world by holding up his first two fingers and his thumb everywhere he went. He would later would explain the gesture as meaning “I love you”, which reflected his sentiment to his people, citizens of the UAE and the world as well as their commitment and perseverance in the bid to claim Expo 2020 for Dubai. He touched the hearts of many and

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motivated people everywhere. Imagine the impression the BIE committee must have had when witnessing this first hand in Dubai and throughout the UAE.

on through difficult times again began to prosper.

Debts incurred during the crises began to be settled.

The economy began to move freely again.

On the 12th of June 2013 5 cities offered their official presentations to the BIE committee. Thailand was disqualified in the end leaving only four candidates.

The final BIE voting was held on the 27th of November 2013 in Paris. Countries who publicly supported the UAE’s bid for Expo 2020 included Canada, China, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Mozambique, St. Lucia and the Netherlands.

Today Dubai has a thriving economy. There are many projects planned for Expo 2020 which haven’t started, but knowing they are in the works has inspired confidence in investors and business to stay calm and carry on. The end result is plain to see. Visiting Dubai reflects a prosperous growing economy with tower cranes dotting the skyline and the tourism industry has taken over as the number 1 industry in the emirate.

Many world-wide companies have now opened offices in Dubai reflecting confidence. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is respected and loved by locals and ex-pats alike. His charisma is quite contagious and his vision for his people and his emirate is unmistakably clear. His clarity not only served to keep things moving forward but has pushed Dubai’s economy to grow and look to the future.

The Bureau of International Des Expositions or ‘BIE’ are a committee based in Paris, France comprising delegates from 168 countries or states whose responsibility are selecting the location of the World Expo, providing the host country its expertise regarding expositions and regulating its execution to ensure that the host state respects its rules. The committee was formed in 1928 with 31 countries originally and now had a difficult decision to make in a 3 round elimination voting process.

People all over the world watched as the voting progressed until it was announced that the final round would be between Yekaterinburg and Dubai.

The final vote resulted as follows: 47 votes for Yekaterinburg, Russia against 116 votes for Dubai, UAE

Looking back, many people might have under estimated the potential impact the credit crises potentially could have the world. Leaders from every nation did the best they could with the resources at their disposal to prevent a world-wide disaster, but there were a few who actually found a way beyond the troubles by focusing on the future. Dubai’s a great example of how one man’s vision inspired greatness and a testimony to what one man’s belief in a vision can achieve.

They had done it! Dubai (UAE), Izmir (Turkey), Sao Paulo (Brazil), and Yekaterinburg (Russia) were all finalists in the bid for bringing Expo 2020 to their country but in 3 rounds of elimination voting, Dubai won by a land slide. The people in the UAE were ecstatic with their success and celebrated with a firework show from the Burj Kalifa, the world’s tallest building and an iconic symbol of Dubai. The festivity was broadcasted the world over.

Slowly the situation began to change in Dubai as His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum continued to persistently work on problems and challenges facing Dubai. Projects that were abandoned began to start back up. People who managed to hold

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L O R D TAY L O R

of WARWICK Adversity Makes You Who You Are. Written by Michael Gregson Photography by Abul Shah Gracious Photography I do not profess to be a lover, or even a casual observer, of British politics. To me, the British parliamentary system is akin to watching very expensive paint dry while some high born codger provides the play-by-play. Nothing can take longer to accomplish nothing and be painstakingly boring while doing so. Enough said on that.

Once in a while however, a politician can break the monotony and stand out above the crowd for one reason or another. Of course, here in Canada we very rarely find this elusive mixture of competency and panache unless you count Doug Ford, who has neither, but brazenly mixes incompetence with a distinct lack of intelligence set at high volume. In short, not the direction we should be going. However, we can harken back to the days of Pierre Trudeau, one Canadian who made politics truly interesting and, in my opinion, made the notion of government accessible to the people. Love him or hate him, he had a unique flair and has proved an outlier in our parliamentary culture. Again, not to get off on a tangent but growing up Canadian in small city Ontario, politics was not exactly top of mind as I never saw how it interacted with my life of high school, hockey and girls.

It is no wonder why I look at British politics and have the same autonomous response of asking myself, “what else is on?”

So when I was given the opportunity to interview Lord Taylor of Warwick, an active member of the House of Lords at Westminster (you know…the neat building in London with the big clock on top), I said “who?”, then of course I said, “Sure! I love London!” Typical

PERSON OF ST YLE & SUBSTANCE

answers, I suppose, from the MuchMusic generation.

All that said, I had to, of course, get “Mr. Google’s” opinion on this Lord Taylor of Warwick fellow. Much to my amazement, what I found was a British politician with somewhat of an interesting story, one that took me to multiple articles, personal publications and this, http://www.lordtaylor.org/, his own website affixed with Twitter and Facebook links and his own blog. Hmmm… not what I expected from an English Lord. Also, given my impression of the staleness and lily white nature of English politics, I certainly did not expect Lord Taylor to be the son of Jamaican immigrants. I assumed that he had a background in law, which he does, but would never have guessed that this English Lord had also acted as a television presenter, had hosted his own radio show on BBC 2, anchors as The Soul Baron on UK music radio and is philanthropically involved with UK organizations which promote cultural diversity and raise awareness of cyberbullying. Hold on a second.

Is this man actually in touch?

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Fast forward to the parliamentary terrace on the River Thames, where I am sitting across from Lord Taylor of Warwick having a spot of tea with my pinky finger raised (I of course want to fit in). Lord Taylor is a very well dressed and charming fellow with an almost fatherly sort of smile which puts me at ease straight away. He is remarkably well mannered, polished and very articulate.

His manner is at first subdued when discussing the logistical nature of the British parliamentary system.

Lord Taylor is one of roughly 800 “Lords” in parliament who are appointed twice per year by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. It is a position that you keep for life, (not bad job security if you can get it) and whose role it is to review Bills put forth from the House of Commons. Discussing his day to day seems a bit humdrum to him as he details his morning of replying to correspondences from within parliament and without, followed by an afternoon of debates, bill ratification and voting. I am bored just thinking about it. It is when he considers his own personal journey, and the platform which his position has granted him

PERSON OF ST YLE & SUBSTANCE

he did become head boy of his grammar school (kind of like class president) and going on to study English and Law at Keele University. He was called to the Bar in 1978 and felt that he finally held a position which he could to fight the racial injustice he became familiar with growing up in the English midlands. This, however, was only the first step.

Let us again press the forward button through what was a successful career in law to 1992 when John Taylor won the right to be the Conservative party candidate for Cheltenham (political riding) in the 1992 General Election. He lost by a slim margin in an election that many viewed as being highly influenced by the issue of race. However, his poise and elocution raised eyebrows and gave him a level of notoriety he had not previously held amongst the party. He quickly became one to watch. Obviously impressing the right people, John Major himself (British Prime Minister), four years later in 1996, made John Taylor “Lord Taylor of Warwick”, one of the youngest men ever to sit in the House of Lords and the only black man at that time.

Lord John Taylor and his wife Lady Laura Taylor

to effect real and lasting change, that his eyes come to life. This is when I truly got to know Lord Taylor of Warwick and started to understand him as a person with a distinct life philosophy.

Growing up in Birmingham, the son of Jamaican immigrants is not a traditional path to the House of Lords. His mother Enid, a nurse, and father Derief a cleaner, led a modest life and taught John (yes Lord Taylor does have a traditional first name) strong family values and the strength to pursue his own path. One thing that Lord Taylor remembers of Birmingham in the 1950’s was that his family was often referred to as “those Jamaican immigrants” and being defined by this status. When Derief rose to prominence as a highly skilled cricketer (baseball on valium for those who aren’t familiar with the sport) his status changed to that of a local hero and John saw the value of setting oneself apart from the crowd. And set himself apart

34 Fall 2016 1961 Magazine

This appointment fulfilled a dream he had since his first school trip to Parliament at the age of 10. Lord Taylor’s eyes open wide at this point in our interview accompanying a soft grin as he recalls this young boy looking up at the ceilings of Westminster and feeling a “strong sense of belonging”. This is the point when you can’t help but like Lord Taylor. He comes across as a genuine soul who really and truly sought after a life in politics not for the prestige but because he felt it was a calling. “Politics is about the now. It is about anticipating future trends and gearing them towards building bridges of thought and conscience” says Taylor. “In Parliament there seems to be an information overload and a lack of revelation”.

In addition to spearheading important pieces of legislation such as the Criminal Amendments Act of 1997 which sought to protect the public through DNA evidence recording, Lord Taylor has been a champion of diversity and the development of youth. The 1997 establishment of the Warwick Leadership Academy (now the Warwick Leadership Academy) seeks to develop oratory skills and confidence in motivated young people and effective training for entrepreneurs

and future political leaders. Also, Lord Taylor is heavily involved with Cybersmile, the only charity in the UK that is solely dedicated to addressing the issue of cyberbullying. In short, Lord Taylor has remembered his challenging upbringing and is seeking to pay his lessons forward for the benefit of British youth. “There is a level of apathy when it comes to the treatment of disenfranchised youth. However, there is so much potential in young people, but most of them just don’t have the eyes to see it. I try to impress upon them that if I can make it, so can they. Everyone has the chance to be better”.

Again, I didn’t know what to expect when I met Lord Taylor of Warwick. At first I thought the only thing I would get out of this deal was in insider’s tour of Westminster however I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised. For a man with such a diverse history of legal and parliamentary achievements, prominent keynote speeches at venues such as the United Nations and a strong proponent of community advocacy, I felt like I was speaking to a next door neighbor. He was, and is, a true gentlemen and one that has used his position in an attempt to make his country better. This is what all politicians should aspire to. Since this interview Lord Taylor has married his lovely American wife Lady Laura, a truly strong British and American relationship.

For more information on Lord Taylor of Warwick, you can visit his website at www.lordtaylor.org or peruse his monthly contributions for Endeavour Magazine. His article, entitled “Winning the Race” discusses multiculturalism and immigration in Britain.

It is an introduction to his book on diversity to be published next year. https://issuu.com/endeavour1/ docs/endeavour_march_2015/7?e=4718258/11621814

HEALTH & NUTRITION

7 Traits

The

the one who continues to capture his attention and love day after day, year after year?

The seven qualities which embody her nature are elemental for every man. It is upon these traits he can build his emotional home, since they lay the foundation for a relationship filled with comfort, intrigue, and the level of independence necessary to support his growth.

Real Women 1 Possess That True Gentlemen Can’t Resist

by Chantal Heide

When it comes to love and attraction there are fundamentals which stand the test of time, since coded in our DNA lies an understanding of what truly defines the ultimate man or woman. While our advanced technology and sense of style create the illusion we’re far removed from our ancestors, early Homo Sapiens, there remains a longing to seek out the ideal mate.

Women are irresistibly drawn to the pheromones of the manly man, cleverly disguised underneath his welltrimmed beard, Coppley suit, and Hugo Boss cologne; as men are drawn to the spirit of the confident woman travelling across their line of sight, her spicy Zara style accenting the fiery power of her femininity.

When it comes to love, it’s all about the essence of the creature.

We all know who the true gentleman is; the man who encompasses an innate desire to love, cherish, protect, and care for the woman who will return his affections.

But who is the woman who wins his heart and soul,

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She is emotionally strong enough to weather his storms. We’ve been culturally desensitized to men’s emotions, with both sexes raised to believe “big boys don’t cry.” But in reality young boys cry just as often as girls, and when tested men exhibit a physiological response twice that of women when shown images considered “heart-warming.” Having the ability to be the pillar of strength in their relationship when a man must heal his heart allows him opportunities to grow through his emotional difficulties.

2

She has vulnerabilities. A woman who is so strong she never needs a man to “take care of” anything in her life leaves him wondering, “What am I here for, anyway?” Men have a deeply rooted desire to protect their woman from danger, and being able to offer something that “only he can tend to” give men a sense of purpose and satisfies their instincts. Whether it’s being the official insect killer or at the very least the one who can make everything better with a soft word and warm embrace, she presents her man opportunities to be her White Knight.

3

She is feminine… at least sometimes. While she doesn’t need to look prepped and primed for a night on the town 24/7, playing up her femininity when they step out together gives her man a lasting ego boost. Men like to feel like men, and having a feminine woman at their side grant them the thrill of feeling their manhood right down to the core.

HEALTH & NUTRITION

4

She does not need him around the clock. Men relish the thrill of the chase, and a woman who can create distance gives him the opportunity to step forward and win her over once again. He never grows tired of this interplay because hunting and acquiring is part of his DNA. Allowing him the opportunity to pursue and draw her in throughout their relationship keeps him intrigued.

5

She is not afraid to challenge him. While real men might love the dynamics of gender roles, they appreciate a strong woman who brings fresh perspectives to her life. A woman who is not afraid to grow herself and share her opinions gives men added opportunities to expand their own worldview.

6

She has confidence in herself. Men will gladly put the woman they love on their trophy shelf, proudly displayed for all to see. The woman who keeps his heart is the one who accepts the pedestal he puts her on, never requiring him to lift her up day after day because her lack of self-worth compels her to step off it. She knows she is worthy of the love and admiration he bestows upon her and allows him the pleasure of loving her, without requiring him to lift her esteem to the level he feels appropriate.

7

She is an independent woman. True gentlemen feel a yearning to be out in the world, conquering. They seek a woman who will likewise balance her devotion with an allegiance to her own needs, taking time for herself and what makes her feel complete. They understand that it’s with this sense of balance she fulfills herself, creating within her the love and happiness she will bring into the relationship. Fundamentally, the wisdom of “happy wife, happy life” is woven into men’s DNA, and they gain a sense of stability knowing she relies on herself first for achieving satisfaction from life.

Photo by Nadezhda Lyra Chantal Heide is a Human Relations expert. She has a successful practice helping clients learn how to find and keep a “magical” loving relationship, and is a public speaker, workshop leader, private coach, frequent media contributor, and published author of “No More Assholes - 7 Steps to Saying Goodbye to Guys and Finding the Real Man You’re Looking For” and “After The First Kiss - Making Your First Year Together Ridiculously Awesome“ You can find her at www.canadasdatingcoach.com .

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HEALTH & NUTRITION

affect our RNA. Another reason for inadequate sleep is nightshift work and not sleeping in the dark. Artificial light and isn't good either. It is estimated that 70% of the people living with stress, computer/tablets and TV do have sleep disorders. Sleeping pattern disorders are very common and can create depressions and adrenal fatigues as well as many other pathologies. If they are not sustained with adequate support (treated) and not taken care of rapidly. Sleeping disorders can also result in autoimmune disorders and deficiencies.

Another contributing factor to sleep disorders is “junk food” and the lack of time to cook and eat nutritionally.

Often resulting in consumption of processed meals containing high amounts of sugars.

Nutrition, Stress & Sleep

By Doctor Gery Maes van de Vorst, PHD in Health Science & Phyto Nutrition WHY GOOD SLEEPING IS COMPUL SORY & WHY TH E RE IS A SLE E PING PROBLE M IN MODE RN SOCIET Y: One could ask oneself the question, if we have good beds with super mattresses made from modern and space-age materials, then why do we sleep disquieting, troubled or restlessly? One of the major causes is in fact television. Surely its rest we seek and need after a hard day’s work, especially with loads of stress during our day. Of course, we need to diminish our stress and unwind after working and before going to bed.

It is normal that we want to spend time with our beloved friends and family. However, often our minds are kept awake in front of TV, being the UV or blue light eye killer, together with the computers and tablets whereon we also socialize or use as a method to relax; these are the typical wave frequencies we should actually take care to avoid or at a minimum limit our exposure to, as they alter our bio rhythms and can even kill the DNA and

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THIS IS WHY WE SHALL CHECKLIST AND PREVENT WORSENING AND REGULATE IN MANY WAYS WITH: • Adequate nutrition • Appropriate exercise • Much fluids intake • Contemplate relaxations other than TV or other electronic devices (the good-old book is still the best with appropriate light that doesn't damage the eye sight of course).

Taking into consideration that most of the people in modern society work indoors and under fluorescent lighting, we never have enough exposer to sunlight to ‘catch-in’ the much needed vitamin D building rays our body requires. This can quickly result in endocrine DNA and RNA damages from Wi-Fi signals, high stress levels and inappropriate nutrition all of which offer little chance for our biological auto defense system to defend itself, which is a situation that we should of course and by all means avoid.

There is a time to sleep and a time to be awake naturally for humans, at day light we are pre-programmed to be awake, at evening we should relax and at night sleep.

And due to modern lifestyles this cycle is often times too much disturbed which wreaks havoc on our bodies.

HEALTH & NUTRITION

WE NEED TO SLEEP PROPERLY: We all know that a baby or toddler sleeps a lot for growth and for resistance to diseases and infections between the ages of 0 to an average of 6 years old. At these ages kids are not having their endocrine cycle affected by the growth of sexual hormones as much, because, of course, they are not fully developed. As such, their melatonin production is unaffected and are not heavily disturbed by factors triggering their subconscious and consciousness resulting in very protected and undisturbed sleep as well as high melatonin productions in their bodies. ’Napping’ is an automated natural reaction if for some reason there is need for more sleep and more melatonin production. Melatonin production has many health benefits, including the huge benefit of better moods.

Once we are over the age of about six the subconscious mind and conscious mind work more together by alertness and hormonal changes. Sexual hormone development actually makes the big changes in our bodies. For everyone, once we are awake, the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol starts being active for the physical stress of a new day (which is made by the adrenal gland) but can only function properly if the melatonin production in our sleep was efficient enough. Another reason why we should never deprive our sleep is because the melatonin is also a very crucial digestive hormone and it is often forgotten that our digestive system is another intelligence (another brain) in our body. In fact, each of our organs do have a clock pattern, such as the liver for example; the liver is most active during the night, which is when one wants to optimize the melatonin pattern production and to respect the circadian cycle, and is also why it is best to sleep in a complete darkness.

Lack of sleep can result in a depressive status, so sleep is important for psychological health. When one drinks large amounts of coffee to stay awake, or to be fit or alert from morning until late afternoon, there is definitely something wrong in the biorhythm of their body. Not to mention cigarettes, energy drinks, and the craving for sugars and chocolate bars, are not beneficial; moreover they degrade the complete metabolic cycles and increase the risk of pathologies such as diabetes

and many other diseases that are only due only to our “Modern” lifestyles. That is why many people suffer from Modern Lifestyle Pathologies.

So, What to do?

RESPEC T YOUR HUMAN BIOLOGIC AL CLOCK: To sleep properly one should eat properly and also live with a healthy lifestyle, as such the body's most important hormones can do the rest of the work! Here are some of the critical hormones that are affected by sleep and nutrition habits: 1) HGH (Human Growth Hormone) 2) Estragon 3) Progesterone 4) Prolactin 5) Irisin 6) Testosterone 7) PYY (gut hormone Peptide YY) 8) Glucagon Like Peptide 9) Thyroid 10) Insulin 11) Glucagon 12) Serotonin 13) Ghrelin 14) Leptin 15) Adiponectin 16) Melatonin 17) Oxytocin 18) Cortisol 19) Adrenaline 20) Dopamine.

Melatonin contributes to hormonal balance and optimizes the hormonal cycle, here are the few simple methods and practices to have an ultimate stratagem for good hormonal balance and good health:

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HEALTH & NUTRITION

Checklist to Increase Melatonin Production: 1. GO TO SLEEP E ARLY ( BEFORE 22:00) 2. Stop watching TV, computers, tablets and dim lights at (20:30). Shut off Wi-Fi and EMF's (relax and light some candles even).

3. Do breathing exercise 15 minutes before sleeping to help relax the muscles.

4. Drink a one warm glass of water before sleeping or chamomile tea.

5. MAKE SURE THE ROOM IS DARK to sleep.

6. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY DIGESTIV E S YSTEM - THE OTHER BR AIN: In the digestive system we find a high amount of many forms of intelligent works and interactions. There is a cocktail mixture of between 1.2kg and 1.5 kg on bacteria's, enzymes, proteins, peptides, etc..., that do correlate together, and it is in a nanotomical quantum physical electrical form that this functionality operates very intelligently. A complete energy and interaction that really is a brain unto itself. We should think about the genetically recognition of our DNA and our cellular that are communicating and working together to bring all what we eat and drink to the best outcomes for optimum health, and we should respect the process by having a healthy lifestyle. It will not help by just loading our stomachs with poison and sugars and eating uncontrollably. The system can get out of balance and if we do so, the melatonin and our entire hormonal balance will get deformed. So it is important that we care for and reorganize our lifestyle with healthy food patterns and healthy sleep patterns so one will never get out of balance.

HELP YOUR BODY - DISTRESS & DETOXIF Y & OX YGENATE: Antioxidants keep our cells clean by combining with and eliminating very dangerous reactive molecules that can cause random changes in proteins, resulting in cancers, heart disease or other chronic illnesses. Those random

40 Fall 2016 1961 Magazine

changes are often referred to as "oxidative stress" and cause inflammation as well. Research shows that natural antioxidants are important in maintaining nerve cell function, for this reason it is important to eat, as much as possible, fresh food that is not contaminated with chemical poison, to drink plenty of water and to add antioxidant food supplements with a must-do exercise program of minimum 20 minutes per day.

Another thing to do is to purchase UV and Blue Light blocking eyeglasses and wear them in the afternoon or behind the computer or TV. By cutting out exposure to blue light, our bodies think it's night, and begin to produce melatonin and the risks of damaging your eyes from blue light exposures are less. If you have too much exposure to blue light and artificial light during the day, then supplement with Zeaxanthing foods and lutein foods (cartotenoid found foods).

Dangers to Avoid: Avoid BY ALL MEANS synthetic foods and supplements to prevent side effects that create other diseases.

Avoid processed foods and foods high in carbohydrates and wash well all foods from eventual pesticides. I recommend to stay away from genetic manipulated foods as well.

FOOD CURES - OTHER STEPS TO DECREASE DISTURBED MEL ATONIN PRODUC TION: Eat natural and preferably organic food, eat and add more raw foods and eat melatonin containing foods such as cherries, and pumpkin seeds, etc... Best to seek foods containing melatonin, there is enough to find on internet so do some research that will benefit you before disconnecting the Wi-Fi. Foods that can help you relax are also helpful, even supplements such as valerian, jujube seed, hops, skullcap, chamomile, passie flower, liquorice, and foods that contain high vitamin B1, 2, 6 and 12 complex and Vitamin D if not enough sun exposure is obtained. Please make sure you have enough Magnesium as well, if necessary do a blood test and ask your house doctor.

HEALTH & NUTRITION

LIFEST YLE CHANGING E ATING STEPS:

About the Author:

Eat more from nature, this is the best; have one glass of aloe vera juice per day and add some senna, fennel, and other fresh botanical herbs to salads and add it to your evening meals. Make sure you have enough probiotica and probiotica (synbiotica's) as this contributes to a healthy digestive system resulting in higher melatonin percentages and contributes to overall better health.

Eat as much as you can raw foods and juice fresh juices with low calories and little rapid carbohydrates. Keep the body PH balanced by eating plenty of foods that contain low acidity and alkalise your body by adding lemon in your water to drink during the day.

Doctor Gery Maes van de Vorst founded in 2009 the anti sugar association to advocate against the sugar added in the food processing industries, which endeavours to bring people together in alternative methods and products with less harm for health and to bring the awareness about the dangers of diabetes and metabolic diseases caused by over consumption of rapid carbohydrates. He advocates for peace globally and is therapist in medical O3 and various other CAM (Complimentary Additional Medicines) and has a doctorate in health science wherewith he is also active in the environment and continuously does research on what to eat and how to cure with food. As a Phyto Nutritionist he organizes medical seminars and workshops for medical staffs willing to understand the broad science of "FOOD AS A PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND CURING FOR ALL DISEASES" and to educate patients, but also medical staffs to bring more values to the health sector as well as the environment and medical industries. He believes all should work together in the search for better health and for the the benefit for everyone. Please feel free to contact Doctor Gery Maes at: gery.maes@yahoo.com

Conclusion: The digestive system has the ability to produce neurotransmitters, and due to also to the melatonin hormone interaction with the many other factors such as the cellular communications waves, that do work in similar patterns waves as our brain, it is clearly an intelligence of processes. As we know that the hormone melatonin operates in other organs such as the brain and also stimulates secretion of bile and pancreatic and liver. We should respect our digestion organs and provide it with great care, meaning NOT ONLY EATING HEALTHY but ALSO RESPECTING OUR CICARDIAN CYCLE and SLEEP enough to prevent hormonal imbalances that often trigger diseases like auto-immune diseases and diabetes.

www.medicalseminar.info www.antisugarassociation.org www.worldwidehealthcare.info

Sleep is clearly the way of cure when one is sick, and it allows the melatonin to restore and to repair damages from sicknesses, but we should prevent our system from being continuously under attack from processed foods and chemical poisons that are in the modern-day food alimentations. Each night a few hours of sleep deprivation increases the risk to bad health and decreases the melatonin’s ability to do its intelligent work, for this my advice herewith concluded is to sleep as much as you can and to learn to listen to your body.

If you have any questions regarding nutrition and health please do not hesitate to email 1961 Magazine for Dr. Gery to respond and advise.

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The Magic of Micro-needling Let’s get to the point. As we age, we lose collagen and elastin, the building blocks of radiant skin. MesoLyft’s micro-needles and serum condition the skin’s surface for a non-invasive boost back to beautiful.

Inspired by the centuries-old European treatment Mesotherapy (the beauty secret of vitamin injections), this pain-free, at-home treatment, is a one-two punch against lackluster skin. Say goodbye to fine lines and hello to smoother skin wherever you need a boost – eye lids, face, lips, neck and décolletage.

First comes the pump - perfectly measured drops of serum on the MesoLyft tip. Then the roller glides over the treatment area, as dozens of micro-needles exfoliate dead cells and push active ingredients into primed, thirsty skin.

MesoLyft is time-tested technique, modern day formulas, and results-driven technology - all rolled into one.

Science You could say we’ve reinvented the wheel. The easyto-use MesoLyft device combines a rolling tip of micro-needles with a pump of area-specific serum.

Mimicking expensive high-tech medispa treatments, it puts the power of science into your hands for both instant and long-term results. While MIT research prompted the creation of the micro-needle wheel, biochemists helped concoct MesoLyft’s skin-saving formulas rich in vitamins, antioxidants and peptides.

The device’s needles meet the highest quality standards at MesoLyft’s U.S. production facility.

Love Love is an integral component of our success. Honesty, integrity, and passion are behind every product in our skincare line, with the intention of helping you look and feel better.

You will feel even better knowing that a portion of the sale proceeds go to School the World, a non-profit organization that develops educational systems in third world countries.

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MESOLYF T LIPS

MESOLYF T SKIN

Lip Plumper. Hydration, Fuller Lips, for more Youthful Appearance

Complexion Brightener/Texture Corrector. Addresses Age Spots, Hyper pigmentation, Pores, and Wrinkles

What it does

What it does

The MesoLyft Lip Enhancer creates a more luscious pout, softening fine wrinkles around the lip line and boosting lip volume.

Mesolyft Skin Brightener’s multi-action formula minimizes large pores, fine lines, and dark spots.

Ingredients • Mango butter: A natural emollient rich in antioxidants and Vitamins A and E. Conditions and plumps lips.

Its high levels of fatty acids make it an intense moisturizer.

• Silicones: These skin-conditioning agents create a soft and silky texture to the lips.

• Aloe Vera Extract: A known soother, it calms the lips after the gentle micro-needle exfoliation.

Usage Roll over the entire lip and around the lip line. Instantly plumps lips and smoothes fine lines. After 3-4 weeks of continued use, there’s a noticeable long-term smoothness.

Ingredients • Papaya: This fruit extract is rich Vitamin A and Papain enzyme, which helps remove dead cells for a fresher look.

• Dermawhite: A complex of flowers from Papaya, Guava and Saxifrage plants that is clinically proven to inhibit melanin synthesis up to 90% • Kojic Acid: This natural gentle pigment exfoliant is derived from mushrooms native to Japan.

• Meadowfoam oil: The extract from this flowering winter plant offers superb anti-oxidant properties and skin-softening benefits.

• Jojoba: A desert plant with calming and moisturizing properties.

Usage Can be rolled onto face, neck or hands – any area with dark spots and freckles.

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MESOLYF T E YES

MESOLYF T NECK

Eye Renewal. Addresses Puffy Eyes, Dark Circles, Skin & Fine Lines

Neck and Décolletage Repair. Smoothes Skin Texture

What it does MesoLyft Eye Renewal respects the delicate tissue around your eyes, often the first place to show signs of aging, by restoring its youthful texture and beauty.

Ingredients • Argireline: A wrinkle-relaxing peptide that works instantly with a Botox-like effect • VoluPlus: With an active ingredient derived from nutmeg, this patented formula works to plump cells for smoother skin.

• Retinol and Vitamin C: A dynamic duo that stimulates new collagen production for long-lasting improvement in skin texture • Ginkgo Biloba Extract: Taken from one of the oldest tree species, this Chinese extract offers a soothing, anti-inflammatory touch and protects against free radicals.

What it does MesoLyft Neck restores youth with a special formula known to increase collagen production for improved texture of the delicate skin.

Ingredients • Dill Extract: A natural ingredient known to repair and generate new elastin fibers in the skin.

• Vitamins E: Potent anti-oxidant with anti-aging properties.

• Vitamin C: Prevents damage from UV light and free radicals.

• Retinol: When combined with Vitamin C, it works to stimulate collagen production.

Usage Roll formula nightly between breasts, along the décolletage, and onto the neck.

Usage Fine lines around the eyes appear to decrease instantly, while continued use improves skin texture on a more lasting level.

45 1961 Magazine Fall 2016

Founder Meet Masha Banar, the inventor of MesoLyft and founder of Visage Sculpture—a cosmetic clinic in Boston that focuses on non-surgical face shaping.

A Certified Physician Assistant, Masha began her career in 2006 at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Boston Medical Center. With most of her initial work assisting in the operating room and patient care, she eventually grew an injectable practice for the Department. In 2010, she opened her own practice, Visage Sculpture. Dr. Jeannie Chung, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Masha’s mentor, serves as the clinic’s Medical Director.

Inspiration Building her practice and brand on trust and transparency, Masha prides herself on creating an outlet for the modern woman to achieve healthy skin and youthful results. Through her years in the beauty business, she listened to clients’ concerns and developed formulas for the most common problem areas. Her knowledge about skin rejuvenation and collagen production gained working with wounds as a Physician Assistant in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, combined with engineering and micro-molding technology, resulted in this one-of-a-kind skincare product.

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TRAVEL

BUNRATTY: THE SIEGE OF Written & Photography by Robert Seuferer

48 Fall 2016 1961 Magazine

M AY 22, 1645 - B U N R AT T Y C A S T L E CO U N T Y CL ARE, IREL AND: 5:00 AM – the black skies to the east begin to reflect a hue of dark grey off in the horizon. Astro, Nautical and Civil Twilight run their phases with little effect. The dull tones simply grow larger but the brightness of day is slow to come. From the battlements of the rooftop the smell of turf burning afar drifts over the hills to north and saturates the air. The slow continuous breeze offers it like incense to a shrine. Strange ominous fogs roll through the corcasses and bogs carving its course through the moss covered oaks of the castle grounds.

Its eerie presence seems mystical to the superstitious sentry watching as it engulfs the castle walls and the courtyard below. Uneasiness lingers over the guards atop of the towers as they gaze out to the north looking for signs of the inevitable invasion.

HISTORY & TRAVEL

BAT TLEMENTS OF BUNR AT T Y C A STLE

FIRE PIT, THE GREAT HALL, BUNR AT T Y C A STLE

Just beyond the northern hills 3300 Irish Confederate soldiers begin to awake and move freely in small bands through the thick forest and nettles surrounding the castle grounds. Less than a mere kilometer away their intended prize rises predominantly above the land in menacing array. Bunratty Castle was the key to controlling the Port of Limerick. With the River Shannon in close proximity, the fortress cannons could easily engage frigates and enforce control of passage.

Funding for the rebel operation came from Rinuccini the Papal Legate, though sufficient for the operation initially, it wasn’t limitless. No one had expected such a long siege. With supplies running low and money in scarce reserve the Confederates believed the English well stocked and fully prepared for the long siege which befell them.

Inside the castle women and children huddled together in the great hall. The fire in the center of the room offered little comfort given the situation. Cannon fire began to bombard against the thick castle walls. Cries from the children echoed against the stone walls and elevated ceilings as dust and rubble began to crumble upon them. Soldiers sprang into action making their way quickly to the cannon platform. Their only hope was to keep the west corcasse under their control enabling them to replenish via ships from Cork. If the west corcasse were to remain free the English might have a chance of holding out - if the women and the children could be removed to safety. This was not the day to attempt an evacuation.

Recent escalation of numerous events brought the English Parliamentarian forces to occupy the castle with 700 soldiers and a dozen nearby ships for support.

This in combination with raiding of the countryside the English freely engaged in drew the attention of the Irish Confederate leaders who were quick to strike back. These tit-for-tat exchanges escalated to the point that a third of the Confederate army was diverted from Kilkenney to Bunratty in attempt to halt the madness and gain control of the citadel. The scene was set for one of the greatest standoffs in County Clare’s history.

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HISTORY & TRAVEL

C AP TAIN’S QUARTER S, BUNR AT T Y C A STLE

BUNR AT T Y C A STLE, E A ST CORC A SSE

The Parliamentarian expedition was under the command of Vice-Admiral William Penn with Colonel McAdam leading the ground troops. Penn was a seasoned seaman who was appointed his first captainship in 1642. At 23 years of age, the young Vice-Admiral had already accumulated plenty of experience at sea.

Having served an apprenticeship with his father Giles Penn who was a merchant in Bristol, he was able to move through the ranks quickly and gain tremendous experience that would serve him well in later years.

After several more days of skirmishes and battle exchange, McAdam learned that their defensive trenches around the castle were being filled in by the Confederate forces. With the help of Penn’s naval officers, a bid to capture the Confederate cannons was undertaken.

The Confederate army was under the command of Viscount Muskerry, with Lieutenant Colonel Purcell, Major General Stephenson and Colonel Purcell commanding the Calvary forces. Having superior advantage of the hill, the Irish soldiers managed firm entrenchments. The hillside was so steep and riddled with boulders the troops dug horizontally into the hillsides and covered their makeshift caves with fascines for camouflage and protection against their enemy and the elements.

C ANNON PL ATFORM, BUNR AT T Y C A STLE May 24, 1645 - The Cavalry Charge: With cannon shot continually raining down on the castle there was no time to waste. McAdam organized his officers and soldiers. Making their way out of the castle and passing the cannon platform on the left, they made their way by twos through the main gate and completed their way quickly to the north hill. The Confederates had little time to organize. McAdam cried for the charge. Catching the Confederates by surprise,

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HISTORY & TRAVEL

McAdam’s force began to drive the Confederates uphill in retreat. Filled with a renewed confidence McAdam’s force forged on inflicting damage along the way. It wasn’t long before McAdam realized that the Confederate Cannons were nowhere to be found.

Cunningly, the Confederates had moved them back over the hill at the first sign of trouble. McAdam realized his troops were becoming scattered with the over-confidence of the initial success. His troops began to break rank and chase the Confederates who were fleeing to their camp. Realizing that the Confederates may not have been as ill prepared as first suspected, he called for his troops to fall in.

His efforts were too late. From over the hill the Confederate Cavalry charged out at full speed. The thunder of hooves filled the ears of the English forces.

McAdam’s men began to fall back in desperate retreat.

The Confederate Cavalry rode in tight formation into the battlefield like a wave of panic to the Parliamentarian forces. McAdam’s troops scattered as blood began to fall. Those who could, made their way back to the castle, others fled into the forests never to be seen again.

Many died on the battlefield that day. The operation was a complete disaster for the Parliamentarian force and McAdam personally.

cattle provisions. Regrettably for Penn extra cannons sent from Limerick to the Confederate stronghold allowed targeting the nearby ships continually. This served to drive Penn’s ships further away and open the opportunity for Confederates to raid the cattle.

Keep in mind there were around 4000 plus mouths to feed - both sides considered – not an easy task in those days, let alone during a continuous 2 month battle siege.

With over 700 mouths to feed, Penn was forced to anchor a small 30 ton frigate named “Green” near the west corcasse to keep supply lines open and defend his force’s passage in the event of a retreat. Green was a very small frigate comparatively speaking and lacked the same fire power as the much larger 100 ton plus ships. However, Green was faster and more maneuverable than the larger ships and served the situation well. Penn also took the decision to move his remaining cattle supply even farther away from the castle to Feenish Island where they could be better protected by the English ships. His decision naturally made it more difficult for Penn to bring supplies to the castle and created a logistical nightmare.

On the May 29th Penn finally decided to attempt a bid to remove the women and children from the castle, including his own wife and son. They would spend two days waiting for a break in the cannons to have the opportunity to smuggle them out. Two ships had been arranged to move the women and children to safety.

One ship was named “Roebuck” and the other was “Ann Percy”. Due to low supplies, the captain of the Ann Percy refused to allow those passengers on board.

In the end many of the women and the children were forced to stay behind despite the peril of the situation.

Disaster struck Penn yet again on the 4th of June.

Penn relocated his cattle to Low Island in order to keep them out of the hands of the Confederacy. In the heat of battle Penn’s forces weren’t able to properly guard the provisions; nor were Penn’s men at liberty to raid the countryside for cattle as before. There were a number Parliamentarian ships located in the vicinity, which should have been able to help guard

E A ST CORC A SSE, BUNR AT T Y C A STLE June 9th saw the Confederates close in around the castle and gain control of the corcasse. The situation was not looking good for Penn at all when a bout of pure luck came his way. In the heat of battle Confederate soldiers thought they heard the stampede of large cavalry force charging at them. In a shear panic the young undisciplined soldiers abandoned the corcasse

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and retreated completely leaving it in Penn’s control.

Upon learning the details of what transpired Muskerry selected 10 of the responsible men and had them courtmartialed and the following day they were executed as a firm example to all.

Both sides still firmly believed the other was well suited to continue the siege, but reality was quite different for both sides. Rations were slight if they came at all and eventually moral began to run low on both sides.

On June 12th Penn was forced to relocate his horses from the castle to Feenish Island where the cattle were being kept due to the fact that he couldn’t feed them.

At the same time Penn was able to bring in around 100 urgently need relief soldiers into Bunratty.

The days crawled by with both sides engaging in bloody and sporadic skirmishes. On the 17th of June all alarms were raised at Bunratty when the whole of the Confederate army had come to arms against the castle. Miraculously Penn and McAdams forces managed to hold the castle. This truly must have been a terrifying experience for the women and children trapped inside the castle.

During the following days Penn made two decisions which ultimately further complicated the situation.

First: Expecting a confederate attack on Quay Island at low tide. Accordingly Penn sent his only available troops (64 men) to defend it. Second: he decided to sail one of his ships to Skattery for repairs and supplies. Accounts state that roars from cannons were unremitting that day as both sides exchanged blows with all they had.

The Confederate forces struggled to gain control of Penn and his experienced troops. The castle itself was well designed to ward off invaders which aided Penn in holding out for so long.

Around this time the confederate camp managed a joyous uplifting by way of a surprise visitor on the 1st of July. This began a series of events that would dictate the outcome of the siege itself. Rinuccini had made his way into the confederate camp with 600 Pounds money to help fund the Confederate’s campaign. The money itself wasn’t colossal, compared to the cost of such an operation; however his deed managed to lift the spirits of the whole camp. It ‘s believed that

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Rinuccini spent around two weeks at the Confederate camp living with the soldiers in the make-shift caves, conversing with them and boosting their spirits overall.

At the same time Penn was attending a council of war on one of his ships, leaving McAdam to the land tactics. As a Navy officer Penn had little desire to involve himself with the land operations and often left those matters to McAdam solely. He would leave to the safety of his ships to deal with other pertinent matters and return afterwards for an update from McAdam. During the exchange of cannon fire, McAdam decided to visit a small nearby castle which had nearly been destroyed, seemingly see the castle before it was completely destroyed. While walking through the rubble of its last standing wall a stray bullet fatally wounded him.

Given the circumstance Penn had no choice but to replace McAdams and appointed Major Hooper to lead the ground troops. Major Hooper was a battle hardened soldier but lacked the leadership skills of McAdam possessed. Hooper’s Welch soldiers immediately challenged his authority by claiming a 2000 Pound money stash that Barnaby, the Earl of Thomond had left behind at his departure. This caused strife within the Parliamentarian forces making a tough situation even worse. The castle was in Barnaby’s possession earlier in the year. With the arrival of the Parliamentary troops Barnaby moved himself and his family to the safety of England until the matter had concluded. Unfortunately, Barnaby would never step foot in Bunratty again and died in England in 1657. After the debacle with the Welch troops a Parliamentarian deserter brought word to Muskerry of McAdam’s death. The news surged through the Confederate camp bringing its spirits to a new high.

On July 5th more relief soldiers arrived to Penn accompanied by 80 cattle and 30 sheep, which were sent immediately to the castle for use. By the July 9th the Confederates managed to position cannons to push Penn’s ships even further away from Bunratty.

On the July 11th the Confederates managed to occupy some earthwork areas around the castle, which had been strengthened by Penn and McAdam initially and tighten a noose around Penn and his men. This caused a number of the English forces to flee to Quay

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Island. In panic Hooper desperately attempted to assign soldiers to the East corcasse and maintain the escape route which he fully intended to use. Hooper sent word to Penn of his intentions to retreat. Penn, who was completely appalled, reluctantly agreed to arrange a retreat but it was too late. The East corcasse fell to the Confederate forces.

Historical accounts offer some confusion to the following event but seemingly Penn had located the women and children to Quay Island for safety the day the east corcasse fell. With the loss of the east corcasse he then made the decision to shift the women and children from Quay Island back into the castle perhaps as some sort of tactical maneuver. He was expecting a full raid of Bunratty Castle the following day. Presumably he would have shipped the women and children off to Cork or somewhere safer but this did not transpire. .

On July 12th an Irish Captain accompanied by 2 English officers boarded one of Penn’s ships named “Peter” with articles of surrender. To add pressure to the situation Confederate cannons opened fire on Penn’s fleet blowing holes in one of the ships. On July 13th with articles of surrender signed by Hooper and other officers on behalf of the English and by Muskerry on behalf of the Confederates boarded the “Fellowship”.

Penn promptly evacuated Bunratty Castle with the women and children and set sail for Skattery Island.

There the wounded were separated from the healthy people and loaded back onto ships to set sail for Cork.

The siege was over.

Outside the castle are a collection of thatched cottages and buildings which offer an impression of the typical lifestyle of the area over the last several hundred years.

The buildings stand in true contrast to the remarkable beauty and wealth that can be seen inside the castle itself. Bunratty visitor center recreates a medieval battle scene most days of the year, which is definitely worth seeing. Occupation of the surrounding area dates back to the 12th century and has loads of rich history to explore and discover. If occasion presents itself visit Bunratty, County Clare to see the scene of this siege and discover what other treats the area has to offer.

One last note regarding Penn and his family - It is generally believed that Vice-Admiral Penn’s wife and son were present during the siege of Bunratty Castle.

Penn’s son, William Penn, in later years would be granted by King Charles II a considerable land holding in the new world in exchange for settling debt owed to his father and a fifth of all the gold mined therein.

As it turned out the land grant became what is now the modern day states of Delaware and Pennsylvania in the United States.

Today Bunratty Castle still stands as a reminder of its past. Castles were built as a statement of endurance of and great strength. Their fortitude lies in their ability to withstand tribulation through the ages. This is only one event that took place in a very special castle which was designed and built to be defendable. Two small spiral staircases are the only way in or out of the castle. This undoubtedly aided Penn with holding out as long as he was able to. The castle’s history dates back to medieval times. Bunratty is filled with beautiful tapestries, rich woodwork and fabulous paintings. Its walls are lined with many types of armory that offer a true impression of what it must have been like during Penn’s tenure.

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PHUKET Before and After Written & Photography by Robert Seuferer

Image licensed by Ingram Image

HISTORY & TRAVEL

Never having been to Thailand, I really didn’t know what to expect. On the plane trip over from my Dubai based office, I recalled story after story of crazy parties and sexual debauchery from dodgy massage parlors, night clubs, weekends of regrets caused by women who turned out to be men and the like. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, however, the one thing that I did know is I wanted to feel the culture of Thailand and see what was there outside of its well-known party scene. I had set my sites on Phuket and not mainland Thailand. Despite Phuket being known for Bangla Street (which isn’t even in Phuket City proper) and offers club after club after club with a few dodgy massage parlors in between) it is also known for being more slowly paced than Bangkok on the mainland. So off I went (Yes I took my wife and my two year old daughter to be on the safe side-and yes gentlemen you may laugh at me it’s ok) on a working holiday with the family to discover what Thailand’s Phuket had to offer. Upon landing I immediately encountered some trouble when we walked up to immigration as a family – no no…..don’t do that FYI!! It was a bit confusing (coupled with some shouting) but immigration wants you one at a time and definitely stand behind the red line while you wait and approach one at a time when invited). The whole experience sort of put a bad taste in my mouth if you will, but I wasn’t going to let it cloud my mind from figuring out what this island had to offer. Having traveled to a good few countries, I know to keep your wits about you and mainly just do what the people want you to do, after all their job is to protect the security of their country. That’s not a small responsibility and I absolutely respect people who take their profession seriously.

After a few apologies and thank you(s) we were in.

Now, I have to say the way the trip came together I really didn’t have time to prepare myself like I usually do. Specifically, I hadn’t found the time to look up the exchange rate – always a mistake. Nor had I booked transportation from the airport to the hotel. So as we walked out of the airport we needed a taxi to our hotel.

There were signs everywhere (in English) reading hotel transfer 200THB (Thailand Baht). Brilliant! I hadn’t a clue what a Baht was worth but 200 of them to get us to our hotel seemed fair enough. Wouldn’t you know it, the first taxi stand we came to wanted 2,000THB to

take us to the hotel. Not knowing the exchange rate or how Phuket’s taxi system works and having just walked off a six hour flight I really didn’t have the energy to tackle the issue as to why it wasn’t 200THB like the 50 signs all around read. Especially since you pay the taxi fare at a stand and not the driver directly, I felt a little confident that the young lady at the counter knew what she was talking about. It turned out to be $52.00US for the taxi – not too bad considering they drove us so far.

The first few things I noticed walking out of the airport in (in actual sequence): 1. The heat 2. The humidity 3. The traffic Let’s put it this way: I walked out of the airport and immediately there was a road we had to cross. The road had two lanes. I was cool and dry leaving the airport and by the time I reached the car park on the other side of the road I was hot and soaked. Not to mention that the traffic was relentless as you tried to navigate your way across. Crossing the roads seemed very dangerous and this impression stayed with me my entire journey in Phuket. I’ll elaborate more on this later. Eventually we made it across and climbed into a van with loads of seats, lights and more gauges than the 777 that flew us there. Don’t know what they were for but I had to laugh. However the main thing was the AC and it wasn’t on. The van was hot and took some time to cool. This, of course, only served to worsen my soaking clothes situation. Thankfully after about ten minutes the van did cool.

Traveling from the airport to our hotel took an hour and fifteen minutes. Traffic was very heavy and we were staying outside of Phuket City on the west coast of the island in Karon. Driving through village after village, my first impression was very much like I imagined it would be. Shop after shop in dirty, crowded villages offering everything you could possibly imagine but probably didn’t need really. Amazingly, I felt a strange desire to walk through these streets and explore shops one by one.

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Something that did surprise me was the steep roads we both climbed and descended during our journey.

As a friend of mine once said, every island is the top of a mountain. So up and down we went, and dare I say that the painted lines on the road seemed to have little meaning to the local drivers. I couldn’t help but notice the unusually large amount of scooters on the road.

It reminded me of India and the Tuc Tucs without the horns beeping. Another thing was the driver eventually turned off the main road down a little side street that seemingly went to nowhere and was surrounded by jungle. Admittedly I was a little nervous wandering where in the world we were going. Knowing our driver didn’t speak English didn’t help either. Eventually we came out onto another main road and all was well.

Upon arriving to our hotel there was the usual checking in, luggage sorted, glass of wine and first day gone.

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Good morning Phuket!!! Just a friendly piece of advice when booking a hotel in an unknown place it always pays to book 5 star and with a brand you know. At least then you’ll have an idea of what to expect. There are hundreds of hotels all over Phuket Island and once I got around to view some of them I was glad I used this strategy. We stayed at the Hilton at Karon Beach, it is a large resort and beautifully landscaped and had loads of things to offer. Don’t be tempted booking with an all-inclusive resort in Phuket. While all-inclusive resorts can be brilliant in some places (such as Can Cun, Mexico) in Phuket I believe you will be disappointed.

Ok, time to get out and explore Phuket! Here’s a photo of what might be your first impression:

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Yes, it may not be what you were expecting but you will see this quite a bit in Phuket. The trouble is if you’ve never been to Phuket it’s very difficult to decide where to stay. Were you looking for something more like this?

Same Phuket, completely different location. If you are going to Phuket for an absolute party holiday maybe Bangla Street is the place for you. There are loads of images on the internet of it but basically its club after club for your partying pleasure. If you are looking for something like the photo above then look at the islands off Phuket are for you. Having gone there, if I were to go back I would definitely stay at one of the Islands off Phuket. You can take a quick boat trip in for the day if you want to see the main island and or have a party-out day and you will be away from all the hustle and bustle when you want to be. Come on miles and miles of beautiful white sandy beaches. In fact the islands off Phuket are quite famous for being in several movies and when you go explore them you will understand why!

The main island is much more interesting at night.

Everywhere is sort-of lit up like a disco-like town. Even the taxi’s can look like mini clubs and can be rather elaborate and cool. This is an extreme example of what I am talking about, believe me it wouldn’t be uncommon to see a small little van which looks and sounds like a night club rolling down the road with a group of party animals hanging out of it.

Not the holiday you’re looking for? How about trekking through the jungle on a massive elephant? I’ve never been on an elephant before and I didn’t know what to expect. The one good thing that came of the adventure was that I realized when you get out of the main towns and villages Phuket has a great deal more to offer and see. It’s full of amazingly beautiful scenery and friendly people. Communications can sometimes be difficult with the locals, but there are usually people who either speak English or at least some English. So don’t worry about it, venture out. I was so glad I did, there is so much there to experience and do.

Getting off the beaten path in Phuket gives you the chance to see what the people of Thailand are like. This is a demonstration of traditional plowing techniques used in agriculture. Many of the larger farms now have modern day equipment to do the work, however these

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techniques are still used today in many family farming operations in Phuket. I couldn’t help but be amazed at watching the skill of this man as he guided his Asian Buffalo with one hand while skillfully controlling the depth and direction of his plow with the other. Not an easy task I’m sure and loads of respect for this man and his craft. There is something very serene about being surrounded by these sorts of activities. Many of us worry so much about our day to day lives, the children, the future, our jobs, businesses, investments, family matters, and stresses and so on. This guy wakes up every day, yokes his Asian Buffalo and tends his fields and is surrounded by the people he loves. I met him, he seems very happy and content and is a nice and friendly fellow. Fortunately I had a translator with me. He’d probably give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and even his buffalo’s name is translated as ‘He Loves You’. It’s hard to believe that the US and Canada and many places in Europe would have very similar farming activities between 50 to 100 years ago.

These are rubber trees which were imported to Phuket around 500 years ago. The bark on the tree is skillfully peeled back and leached into a small cup. After drying for a day or two the sap of the tree becomes a spongy like disk which is ran through a press two times to form a rubbery pelt. It’s these pelts which are processed to become the rubber used in our day to day lives. Think of the tires on your car, this is how they started. The tree trunk’s circumference areas are divided into 3 zones.

Over the course of a year each zone is bled every day for 4 months strait. The bleeding of the sap is via a

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single sliver that is peeled back skillfully from its bark.

After 4 months the bleeding area is shifted to a new zone, where the process begins again. While bleeding in the new zone occurs the previous zone is given a chance to heal for 8 months before it is used again.

This process goes on for about 30 years and then the tree is cut down. Obviously new trees are also planted so the process is sustainable. This may sound a bit silly at first but watching it is pretty amazing and when you feel the pelts that have ran through the press twice you begin to see how the tree makes rubber and feel it in your hands. It’s amazing to think that something we take for grant it has so much work behind it.

During your exploration of Phuket you may come across a few of these towers in the photo below.

No they are not for aircraft or ships either and you will see them around the coastal areas in Phuket.

These are part of a tsunami warning system spread throughout Phuket. In fact, Thailand is now noted as having the best tsunami warning system in Asia. After the Tsunami disaster that struck in 2004 the system was implemented to ensure that everyone is aware in advance of tsunamis. These towers working with radar, bottom pressure detectors and a buoy system set in the sea, the system can detect a tsunami within 2 minutes of forming. There are 136 of these towers spread along all of Thailand’s shorelines. Once a tsunami is detected the alert is sent to a satellite which immediately notifies Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center in Bangkok’s Bang Na District as well as broadcasting the warning on all local radio and television media

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and alerting all local authorities of the danger. The NDWC sends warning via text to every phone of all people who have downloaded their app. Remote areas are notified via a loud speaker warning system and a series of hand radios which are permanently set in key locations, businesses or farms. Even in the remotest areas of Thailand’s provinces the warning will reach the people within 15 minutes maximum of a tsunami forming and probably the alert will reach those areas faster. It’s a very sophisticated with a single purpose to save lives. If you are worried about Tsunamis at least you may find comfort in knowing that great care has been taken by Thailand to ensure they do not face another 2004 disaster in the future.

There are a series of islands which surround Phuket that are a must see. Many of them are controlled by the government but not all. Some like this bat cave even have a family living inside only to protect the area.

Accessing many such sites requires special permission, however diving, snorkeling and swimming off the boat is perfectly ok. There are open sea areas as well as lagoons which you can swim, snorkel, dive and so on.

Some people are afraid of such activities but myself I was one of the first off the boat. Once in the water I did look at ‘what lies underneath’ and all I saw were fish – good enough for me!! It’s when I don’t see fish that I would be worried. Believe it or not many of the fish absolutely go bananas for bananas (yes that was cheesy but true). If you want to see the fish up close and personal, simply get in the water and bring a banana with you. Peel it and you will instantly be

surrounded by a school of fish struggling to get the tasty treat out of your hand. Yes you have to relax and no the fish have no interest in you at all – only the banana. This makes for some great memories and photo opps as well. Forgive me for the photo quality as I am not a professional underwater photographer but at least you get the idea.

Traveling from island to island I was very much reminded of what it would have been like to be a pirate back in the day. Much of the scenery is undisturbed as it would have been a few hundred years ago. I have no doubt that somewhere out there on at least one of those islands there must be some buried treasure.

I know, I know and no I wasn’t drinking either. I did do an internet search on buried treasure in Phuket but as most treasure hunters do, I turned up empty handed. It’s just the feeling you get when you’re traveling around to these islands and witnessing what they look like. I had a great time jumping into the water everywhere we went and any chance I had anyway!

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25 meters tall (approximately 80 feet tall). You can see the head of the statue from a few different places as you travel around the island. So you know it’s big but you really can’t gage its side until you’re standing underneath it. He is one Big Buddha! The monks there are constantly chanting and it’s very hypnotic. There was a very long queue to be blest by an old Buddha Priest. I of course stood the queue and got the blessing, after all you can’t have too many blessings in this life.

This was a small but very busy resort town on Phi Phi Island (pronounced ‘Pee Pee’). Not many people were walking through the village itself as it was hot and extremely humid. There were a number of bars, souvenir shops and restaurants there, however (like everyone else) the best place to be was in the sea.

Walking the coastline was a great way to spend the afternoon. I even noticed the remnants of a large clam shell, the kind that yield pearls, taking me back to the treasure thing and the thought of diving for pearls came to mind lol. What can I say; I’m just an adventurer at heart.

The next day was spent going to the ‘Big Buddha’.

Never having been there before I was absolutely sure of was with a name like the Buddha had to be big, but wait until I tell you, the thing was massive. I would estimate that the Big Buddha is approximately 24 or

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The entire project was built completely from donations, which is simply amazing. Even the road leading up to the big Buddha was donated by someone. At the temple you can pay approximately 26US dollars and put a message on one of the stones which will be used to complete the building. Every stone and tile on the building has been paid for the same way and of course the proceeds go to buy some of the other materials required to complete the building. It’s an amazing project and a very impressive working temple in the making. By the way, here’s a seven minutes happy meditation broken down step by step for your convenience, give it a go when you have a chance, it worked for me! It was a great place to visit and I left the temple with a feeling of peace. What an experience and I was absolutely happy I went.

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Please note the statue behind the Big Guy. It’s actually very beautiful itself.

Hopefully by now you are starting to see that Phuket has so much more to offer compared to its first impression.

The place is amazing and has so much to do OUTSIDE of the towns and villages. One could easily rent a scooter and travel around for an entire day or two easily.

However, if you do this please be very careful to take great care especially in the villages. As I mentioned earlier the towns are also dangerous for pedestrians, partly due to the fact that there are very few paths (sidewalks) so you may end up walking in the street itself with vehicles zooming past you and secondly because traffic is all over the place and not necessarily in one lane or even going the correct direction. Sadly we witnessed the potential danger of Phuket village roads first hand.

The next day started with great expectations. We were collected early from the hotel and driven up high into the mountains. The road in was beautiful.

Green mountains filled with cashew and banana trees.

There was a gentle breeze blowing through the trees making the weather right for a very special jungle safari. I didn’t know much about elephants. I only knew that they were considered smart creatures, they are poached illegally for their ivory tusks and that they are big. That about sums up everything I knew about elephants. So to experience one up close and personal seemed like it would be a pleasant experience. Once we arrived at the elephant refuge, we were shown around and explained a few different things regarding local customs and the like. We had the local style coffee and were shown how to make Red Thai Curry – I love cooking so that was fabulous! However everyone was truly there to see one thing and that was the elephants. Then we saw one, a young female elephant around 6 years old. She was playful and loved being touched. So I grabbed my daughter, as you do, and she touched the elephant too. It was amazing. Now my wife is pretty much petrified of every creature that isn’t human. Despite constant reassurances that the elephants were friendly she was petrified. Still she did her best to get a selfie with the baby elephant and was eventually successful at her goal.

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My wife’s mom (known as Nana in our house) came with us as she was visiting with us for 2 months and my wife (Mary) kept talking about how her and her mom were going to ride the elephant together, which would leave me and Keelyn (my nearly 3 year old daughter) on an elephant together. It was a brilliant plan particularly due to the fact that I know my wife would be completely nervous on the elephant and would probably be freaking out with Keelyn being on an elephant as well. This would allow me to not to be distracted and Keelyn and I would be able to enjoy the ride and we could take some great photos together. As we came to the point where we were going to mount onto the elephant there was an older lady there whose party had not shown up yet and she was a bit nervous about going on the elephant alone.

Being polite I invited her to join Keelyn and myself on our elephant which inadvertently started a game of musical elephants. All this was taking place as we were in the queue to get on the elephants mind you with our turn drawing near. As it turned out my wife ended up with Keelyn and myself and Nana ended up with the lady. Then of course there was the debate on what we should take on the elephant and leave behind. So the bags were left behind and a nappy was brought, which I was responsible for of course – as if we were ever going to change a nappy on a 6 ton elephant trancing through a jungle ever. Thankfully all that was sorted just in time for us to climb onto the elephant. Oh yes there was the nervous bit where I had my daughter in my arms and was trying to focus on climbing onto the elephant while my wife instructed me from behind.

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Needless to say we made it just fine, while my wife made it on with a little encouragement as she was noticeably distraught and nervous. Thankfully the seat had a bar that came down to hold us in, however that wasn’t the end of the concern as Keelyn’s safety was taking center stage (I had both arms wrapped around her and she was on my lap by the way). Then the elephant trainer started off and Mary was very jumpy.

Now, elephants aren’t exactly the best creatures to ride on if you’re a nervous type. They’re huge and tend to sway back and forth. The other thing is you actually have to balance the people load or your seat drifts to one side or the other while you’re swaying back and forth. This didn’t help the situation really. My wife is the one with the closed eyes probably praying I think.

We had multiple stops where we had to readjust the weight by shifting from one side to the other. During which, (who am I kidding?), the entire time my wife looked as though she was going to jump out of her skin. Needless to say, I didn’t dare loosen my choke hold grip on Keelyn. This just went on and on and yes it was amazing to be on the elephant but it wasn’t quite turning out to be the experience I had imagined. Now the eventually elephant stopped to pull a branch off some tasty looking tree and chew on it. I had both arms wrapped around Keelyn and my wife looked like a cat on a hot tin roof, so to speak. During this intermission, of course the forgotten nappy fell to the jungle floor below, which Nana (from the elephant behind) began shouting how we couldn’t leave it as one of the elephants might eat it and my wife was trying to convince her that we would just leave it

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behind. After all we were probably up around 12 feet on the back of the elephant and I sure wasn’t going to relinquish my grip on Keelyn to climb down and get it. Only for us being alone in the middle of a jungle was I not mortified by the situation and the carry on between my wife and her mother! The debate went on for several minutes with no end in sight. I kept watching the elephant trainer who basically didn’t speak English, he simply looked forward the whole time, smart man!!

Then the most amazing thing happened. Believe it or not, just when I was sure that we would spend the rest our safari arguing over what happened to the fallen nappy, the elephant reached out with its trunk and picked it up. She flung her trunk over her shoulder and handed it directly to my wife. My wife, Nana and everyone fell silent in disbelief. I told my wife, “I think she’s handing it to you” and my wife reached out and grabbed it. The nice elephant immediately let it go and the nappy was back – crises diverted. Now this might be a bit of a long winded story with many details you wouldn’t normally include in an article on travel, but all I can say is that it taught me something very important about elephants. They are very intelligent and conscious creatures and I gained so much respect for the animal at that moment. I then told the elephant thank you and off we went.

Here’s the hero herself!

My wife after the nappy ordeal:

Remarkably from that moment on my wife was completely relaxed and calm, she too understood that the elephant was a peaceful and smart creature; As did Keelyn who took the opportunity to fall asleep and get a great rest while her dad tried to hold the limp noodle child in his arms and snap photos of what was left of our trek riding on an elephant as it swayed back and forth through the jungle.

Regarding people who poach elephants illegally, they should be tried for murder as far as I am concerned.

Elephants are amazingly intelligent and conscious creatures.

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Oh yes of course Nana:

Last but not least: Keelyn on the plane trip home or Keekee as we often call her – don’t worry she’s pretty much an adventurer like her father: It was truly an amazing journey.

All in all, we hadn’t been to a single bar or club yet had an amazing time in Phuket. The first impressions didn’t really offer much but we ventured out and explored and found some very amazing places. In the end I hated to leave, a true sign of a good holiday destination. Sure there was loads of time hanging out at the pool and a few glasses of wine, but the greatest adventures and amazing sites were found off the beaten tourist paths and out where the people of Phuket simply live their lives. Would I recommend Phuket as a destination for single, partnered and married people? Absolutely, young and old go see it – go explore it and find your Phuket!

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Irish Food Holiday Explored Written & Photography by Robert Seuferer

If you have ever had the good fortune to travel to Ireland then you would have seen some of the fabulous treasures the country has to offer. All too often, we as travelers tend to go to the touristy places in any country and, of course, see and do the touristy things - as you do. Going to Ireland for some people means booking a room in Temple Bar in Dublin, taking the Hop on-Hop off bus, spending some time in a trendy Irish Pub or a few clubs surrounded by foreigners, and having a few good laughs with the people you meet along the way. Nothing wrong with that at all, especially if you are a first time traveler. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right? However, having engaged in a fair bit of traveling as many have, I am a firm believer that if you want to get the feel of a place and its people, you have to adventure outside of the

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normal touristy destinations, hope for the best and take a chance on something out of the ordinary - perhaps by booking an alternative holiday which allows you to experience your destination in a very different way.

One way to do that is to book a holiday based on the host country’s regional food. What better place to do that than Ireland?

First off, the country is full of amazing places with friendly welcoming people everywhere. History oozes around every corner, so you won’t be lacking things to see and do, but best of all the country has amazing food unique to every region. A great way to travel in this manner is to book into B&B’s and smaller venue hotels which offer a personable touch. Your holidays can be booked with the assistance of websites such as

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www.airb&b.com that make it easy to organize these types of venues. Even if you are a 5 star fan, I highly recommend trying something different by booking a cozy and intimate B&B holiday in strategic cities across your destination. There is no better way to meet the people, understand local culture, or experience food than staying with the locals. Ireland is no exception to this rule of thought. You won’t be disappointed the first time you sit down to a huge spread of local delicacies while having a chat with a lovely and welcoming Irish family.

alive with energy. The thrill of the fiddle catches your attention while the hypnotic pulse of the baron starts your feet tapping. When the accordion, banjo and guitar join in you don’t even realize that you’ve been sucked into another world and you simply feel alive with the music. You’re surrounded by people who you probably won’t understand, not even a single word they say, yet they’re friendly so you feel welcome. And when you sit down and taste that homemade chowder with a pint of beer and a slice of fresh soda bread, you just don’t want it to end. When it comes to food, people and hospitality exploring Ireland’s backroads won’t disappoint you ever!

Another thing to consider is the traditional nature of the Irish host or hostess. As part of their culture when people call in, it’s very important to the Irish host that you leave full. This has to do a great deal with its history and the struggles their people have gone through.

A little background about Irish food:

I’ve been invited in to homes as a complete stranger and despite being called a God Damn Yankee (actually a compliment) I have been bestowed some of the finest Irish delicacies and hospitalities imaginable. We’re not talking about a cup of tea and biscuits wither; Full feast that seemingly came out of nowhere. It’s a very humbling experience when you meet a family that will give you the shirt off their back and are genuinely as interested in your story as you are in theirs. Not to mention, it’s very difficult to say no to an Irish lady who is setting an endless spread of treats before you and urging you to “awe…..go on so”. You simply cannot say no and you wouldn’t want either. There’s been many a nights of dancing and singing and laughter in such venues and all that being said you simply will not find that experience in the trendy quarters.

Some Irish foods have even been recognized as having “Protected Geographical Status” by European Union:

Still worried about enjoying your holiday or making to the pub just for the Craic (Craic - Irish for the fun or thrill of doing something, as best as I can translate it)? Please don’t worry, some of the best nights out in Ireland don’t take place in the trendy spots but in the old local pubs that exist in every little town along the way. There’s just something unbeatable about running out of the cold or rain into an old man’s pub in the middle of nowhere. You walk in and the smell of burning turf fills your nostrils. A traditional Irish band is belting out tunes in some corner and the place is

Traditionally, food in Ireland would have been scarce at various times throughout history – one reason why you’re expected to clear you plate and leave nothing to waste. However when it was available, breakfast would have been a heavier meal with a larger dinner served mid-day. In modern times, a lighter breakfast and lunch followed by a larger dinner served in the evening is normal, however the traditional breakfasts can still be found everywhere.

(List from Wikipedia) • Clare Island Salmon • Connemara Hill Lamb • Imokilly Regato • Timoleague Brown Pudding • Waterford Blaa Pending Applications: • Irish Salmon • Oriel Sea Minerals • Oriel Sea Salt

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A Very Brief Irish Food History: Ireland has a long history of occupation dating back 8000 plus years. Naturally, their food supplies and culinary methods changed and evolved through time.

Also a variety of diet developed based on regional location in Ireland. Wild game and fowl, for example would have been a stable diet for occupants of what is now the Ulster region while fish, shellfish, and seaweed diets would have been found more along the coastal regions with fish the main diet particularly in the northwest of the island. Historically speaking there were 12 provinces whereas today there are only 4. Previous to the introduction of the potato, meat, milk products such as cheese and buttermilk, cereals and vegetables would have been mainstream Irish diet. Of course with fish, mussels, eels, seaweed, and other water products depending on the location would have been common.

Agricultural development seems to have been hit and miss prior to 500 to 600 BC. Going back even further would have probably consisted of hunting fowl and game, gathering, and fishing. Food quality and rations would have been based on political status post 600BC. Whereas pork was considered the cheapest meat, poorer slave class people would have been fed on pork parts, while nobles would have feasted on game and meat.

Blood was collected from live animals and mixed with various oats and seasonings to create various puddings which provided protein. Oats and Barleys were used to make a variety of breads, however breads were not common-place until much later in Irish history. With the development of agriculture food sources became more stable allowing for a greater population growth.

Corn was also introduced into Ireland and was used to make various alcoholic drink.

Later there were various dairy products such as butter & cheese. Eggs, fish, porridge, and vegetables that worked their way into the Irish normal diet.

With the introduction of the potato came the destruction of mass forests and the full scale development of agriculture was established. Foraging and hunting declined and the reliance on cheap potatoes in the Irish diet increased. As cereal prices increased post

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Napoleonic War era, there was a decrease in oats as a staple part of Ireland’s rural population’s diet and an increased reliance on potatoes and cabbage and sometimes salted fish. With most of the country depending on a single crop for survival, the stage was set for disaster when a series of crop failures began to effect Ireland’s potato industry. A series of small famines and 2 larger ones took its toll on the Irish population as a whole in 1739 and 1845-46, where the death toll rose over 1.2 million and emigration hit an all-time high estimated to be 2 to 3 million.

In the aftermath, a mix of historical culinary foods, English influenced foods, trade development, industrial revolution, and newer more modern delights seems to have all meshed together to form the Irish delicacies we enjoy today.

Sample of Traditional Irish Foods by Meal Type: BRE AKFA ST FOODS: Full Fry – Varies slightly from region to region in content but basically has Sausage, Pudding, Rashers, Potato Items (of some type) and beans with small variations by region – it’s definitely a hardy meal of fair portions wherever you experience it • Breakfast Roll – Breakfast items wrapped in a bread layer • Porridge (Oatmeal) – prepared in a variety of ways • Black Pudding – varies by region • White Pudding – varies by region • Sausage – Flavors vary by region • Bacon – Rashers/streaky bacon • Potato Cakes or Potato Bread • Soda Breads – varies by region (White Soda Bread, Brown Soda Bread, Filled Sodas such as Soda Farl, Buttermilk Soda Bread, Etc. • Pancakes - of various types • Scones - of various types • Fruits – a more modern Irish breakfast edition

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LUNCH FOODS:

DINNER FOODS:

Starters:

Starters – Very Similar to Lunch Starters

• Bread – soda or yeast depending on region

Mains:

• Prawn cocktail

• Roasted Duck or Pheasant

• Egg mayonnaise

• Venison

• Salad or the very popular Caesar Salad for a modern twist

• Baked or Poached Salmon • Mussels

• Soups/stews of various types particularly Vegetable & Potato Soup or Irish Stew

• Seafood Platter

• Seafood chowder

• Hand Cut Breaded Fish Strips & Chips (Cod, Salmon, Etc.)

• Mussels • A variety of cheeses/cheese plates Mains: • Soup & Sandwich • Prawns • Crab Claws • Salmon Poached or Baked • Pate with Sauce • Baked or Boiled Ham • Corned Beef Sandwich – made with a variety of lovely yeast bread or potato cakes • Sunday Roast • Sheppard’s Pie • Chicken Pot Pie • Roasted Chicken • Salmon & Potato Cakes

• Roast Beef with Roasted Potatoes & Parsnip • Seared Steak with Peppercorn Sauce • Turf Roasted Steak with Potato • Bacon & Cabbage with Irish mustard • Pork Chops with Apple Sauce • Pork Casserole • Stuffed Pork Loin • Sheppard’s Pie • Fish Pie – Seafood or Freshwater • Roasted Chicken – various recipes for preparing all are delicious Dessert Foods (One of My Personal Favorite Topics): • Cupcakes to die for!

• Apple Crumble with Custard & Ice Cream • Blackberry Tart with Custard & Ice Cream • Rhubarb Tart with Custard & Ice Cream • Apple Tart with Custard & ice Cream • Potato Cakes Filled With Apple Sauce • Apple Cake

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• Chocolate Cake – which tends to be oozing with chocolate and creams • Cheesecake • Toffee Pudding • Bread & Butter Pudding • Irish Ice Creams of Various Flavors Including Vanilla, Chocolate & Honeycomb – YUM!!

A Places to Try on Your Journey: Here are a few examples of fabulous places your travel can be routed around (in no particular order). Please note there are so many more options it would nearly be impossible to list them all: • Moron’s of the Weir, Roymore, Kilculgan, County Galway • McDonoughs, Galway City Center, County Galway

• Fudge – In a Variety of Flavors All Mouthwatering

• Kai Café, Galway City Center, County Galway

Irish desserts as a whole tend to be well presented and delicious. A truly mouthwatering way to end a delightful meal.

• The Pier Head, Kinvara, County Galway

There are of course a variety of wines, beers, ales, and harder drinks available to satisfy your needs.

Talk About Variety:

• The Harbour Restaurant, Donegal Town, County Donegal • Rose’s Kitchen, Main Street, Creeslough, County Donegal • Durty Nelly’s, Bunratty, County Clare

Particularly in Ireland’s larger cities, modern venues have developed representing a variety of foods from around the world. This is due to the European influence on their culture. So if on your journeys you are craving a particular type of food, don’t worry head towards any large city and you will be sure to find it there. Many traditional venues will also offer a variety of dishes inspired by external influences.

• An Sugan, Clonakilty, West Cork, County Cork

Planning your Irish holiday can be done in a variety of ways. Building your itinerary based on regional foods can be a great way to explore this country and meet new friends. Each type of food has its own twist as you travel from region to region as well as specific items you will only find in certain villages and areas. It’s a great way to get to know the local people and walk away with some great memories. Highly recommended for anyone and if you do set sail for Ireland please consider spending your stay in a B&B or smaller hotel venue so you can experience true Irish hospitality first hand. Go dte tu slan. Adh mor ort!. Slan.

• The Hungry Monk Café, Abbey Street, Cong, County Mayo

• Farmgate Café, Englishmarket, County Cork • Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Ireland, County - Cork More upscale with fabulous food • Yvonnes Cottage, Rosturk, Mulranny, Westport, County Mayo

• The Little Cottage Café, Rua 291, Rosses Point, Sligo, County Sligo • Davis’s Restaurant – Yates Tavern, Drumcliff, County Sligo • 1826, Adare, County Limerick • T&H Doolans Water ford, County Water ford Established 1400AD • Sean’s Bar, Athlone, Westmeath – Operation dating back to 900AD • Morahans, Ballinagare, County Roscommon Operated by the same family since 1641AD

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FASHION

Fabulous jewelry that roars passion!

By: Esther Ligthart.

Bizzita.com. Consultant & Blogger.

Courtesy of Violette Gruosi, DeGrisogono Can jewelry make you gasp? Oh, it sure can! Once you have the diamond ring, pearl necklace and golden bangle, it is time to see jewelry that will actually make you smile and dazzle you. The creative ideas of designers, transforming nature into rings with birds, playful monkeys, dressed up animals or astonishing flowers have the wonderful capacity to express emotion.

They are often strong statement pieces and it is truly a great reflection of one’s personality.

Yue and so many more. They delight us with their incredible craftsmanship, design, quality and fantasy.

They are also a great investment, whimsical jewelry has always attracted people and they’ll keep their value so well over the years. The big names like Chopard and Boucheron, have amazing animal and floral jewelry.

But take a look also at deGrisogono, Morphée Joaillerie, Lydia Courteille, Mathon, Zorab, Wallace Chan, Wendy

If I should advice anything regarding this type of jewelry, it would be: follow your heart. Find a piece of jewelry, which really reflects a lovely memory, passion or just YOU. Go for that one piece that delights you.

Go for that smile!

Whenever you buy a piece of jewelry, it is smart to ask about how to keep it clean and protected. Often a soft cloth to clean will do. Be very careful with perfume and chemical products. Jewelry with gemstones is best kept in a soft cloth or jewelry box. Light can sometimes influence the color of a gemstone.

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Photo by Arizona State University (All Rights Reserved)

NASA Mission Possible:

The Race to Mars An Interview With Dr. Jim Rice By: Robert Seuferer

The mission is a go. Tee minus 5, 4, 3, 2…. lift-off. The ground trembles as flames thunder out beneath the rocket, instantly engulfing it in a wall of fire and smoke.

The entire night sky glows orange as the mighty engines rumble through the surrounding marsh and bog lands.

The massive ship begins to inch its way from Earth ever so slowly. The stabilization arm flings back as the rocket burns 3,357 gallons (12,710 liters) of propellant every second at full throttle delivering incredible thrust.

The G-force is incredible as the Astronauts make their way farther and farther from Earth in a bid to escape its gravitational pull. 160,000,000 horsepower are pushing the rocket into space. Its nearly the size of a football field.

High on top of the rocket, sits a small capsule. It’s only big enough for a handful of people. Inside, the vibration caused by the liftoff is so great, the Astronauts physically can’t see any of the control panels. The G-force is incredible as they make their way into the clouds. 160,000,000 horsepower are pushing the capsule into space. Lights are flashing as the control panel beeps. Everything comes down to their training and their support team at mission control. One thing is certain, they are on the ride of their life. The G-force reaches incredible levels, as they make their way into the clouds. 160,000,000 horsepower are pushing the capsule into space. The light from the engine is so bright, it can be seen for miles.

Why would these few men and women risk their lives? What is so important that they would go to such extremes?

"Mars is not just a destination, but rather our destiny in terms of human exploration and settlement off Earth." Dr. Jim Rice It’s not a question of if humans will go to Mars, it’s a question of “When will we go?”

Photo by Dr. James Rice

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MISSION CONTROL:

MISSION CONTROL:

Jim, we’ve got loads of information we will be going over. I’m just going to record it so I don’t miss anything, if that’s ok.

So there’s not a race to Mars? Then who will be the next country to go to the moon?

DR. JIM RICE: Yeah…..and I warn you sometimes I talk too much, so just tell me to shut up if you need to.

Mission Control: [Laughing] That’s what the recordings for Jim, so I don’t have to tell you that. Now I have to ask you, is there any sort of competition/race between countries to get people to Mars?

Jim Rice: Not really, it’s not really like it was in the 60’s. I mean the Apollo program was part of the cold war and the NASA budget was about 41/2 - 5% of the Gross National Product at the time. Which is huge, now it’s down in the weeds. It’s nothing compared to what it used to be in the Apollo days. Fear is a great motivator. So it’s not the same.

I mean those personalities: Kennedy, Khrushchev; the Cold War, all this stuff going on – space it’s a frontier, just like another theater in the cold war and proving our freedom, democracy and our way of life and that our technology is better than what the Soviets had to offer back then.

So there’s nothing out there. People try to talk about one [the Space Race] between the US and China. It’s just not really panning out like that. I think that the Cold War was a unique point in history. It would be hard for that to roll around in the same form or fashion.

There’s not really a firm competition between countries to get to Mars right now. It could change, of course.

You know, a space program is a showcase for your country’s technology, so your political system can take pride. It can be used for propaganda purposes as well.

So other nations are interested in that, but it’s just not a race like it was in the ‘60’s – an all-out race. Like I said, things could change, but not right now. If it was a priority, we could have gone to mars a decade ago.

DR. JIM RICE: The Chinese appear to be heading, in terms of astronauts, to the moon. I don’t know when they will do that, they haven’t really pinpointed a day or year yet, but it’s probably going to happen around 2020 to 2025 - somewhere in that window, I’m guessing.

It will be interesting when they do that because the United States, at least at this moment in time which we speak, have no plans to put a man on the surface of the moon either.

The Chinese, I’ll use them because I think they will be the next nation, unless we get our game together over here, they’ll be the next nation to put people on the moon. For most people in the world, its kind-of going to be like the first time. I did some numbers the other day. Out of the world’s population today 75% of the world population were either too young to remember or weren’t born yet when we landed on the moon. If the Chinese do put people on the surface of the moon, for most people in the world, it’s going to be like the first time. Apollo will be 50, 50+ years ago when it happened.

Europeans are talking about a moon or lunar village type thing. There’s a lot of countries talking about the moon and the US kind-of isn’t right now, but you know that could change and I just wonder that if the Chinese do put people on the surface of the moon, what that will be like?

You can imagine the technology being HD video, or whatever it’s called then, and Chinese astronauts are going to be tweeting, or whatever it’s going to be called then, from the surface of the moon, it’s going to be different. And my question I have is for the United States is: What is it going to do to the population of the United States? Are they going to shrug their shoulders and go, mmm that’s cool…..we did it 50 years ago? Is it going to get people to say we should be doing these types of things again?

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I honestly don’t know which side of the coin to go on. For me personally, I would like to see us up there.

It seems like the United States, we, don’t learn from history, which means we can repeat things. You know Sputnik, Pearl Harbors, to give you some examples. I don’t know, that may be something that lights a fire under people.

Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, who was testifying before Congress, I’ll give you an example I’m talking about; He was testifying and he asked members of Congress, and he asked this rhetorical question: How are you going to feel when the Chinese land on the moon, crate up the American flag, bring it back and put it on display in a museum in Beijing?

Now it’s not clear the Chinese would do that, but it’s driving home the point, how are you going to feel when another nation is up there doing these things and you’re not.

Grant it, we did it 50+ years ago, but we’re not doing it now, and that’s a message that may resonate with politicians and that could change things.

MISSION CONTROL: What’s it going to be like for the country that gets to Mars first?

DR. JIM RICE: It’s to be determined what will happen with Mars and getting people up there. The country that gets there, they bring their way of life, their form of government, and their values. That’s just the way it goes. Exploration, has always worked that way. People in the US like these things: Juno, Jupiter, Gold Rim and the 4th of July, they like these thing but they don’t really. You can believe whatever you want in the poles. It depends how the question’s asked. They have these poles and you can believe what you want to, it depends on how the question is asked. People in general support NASA but when you ask if they want to increase the budget, they don’t want to. Once again it’s about leadership. Once you have the leadership. Once you have the leadership in Washington DC. The president and congress to sign it off, things will happen. Once you get that critical Mass and momentum going, things will happen.

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MISSION CONTROL: There are now countries launching missiles into the satellite zone around Earth, which means that in a war time scenario, satellite communication can now be disrupted by military force. It seems that as time goes on space will become the new battlefield. How important are the technologies used in the Mars Rover missions in aiding to defend countries and nations?

DR. JIM RICE: The same technology that’s used to precision land a spacecraft on mars can be used for military purposes to put a nuclear warhead down your smokestack. So these things go together. Now NASA is a civilian space agency, with the Chinese government, for example, there is no separation of civilian and military use, it’s all under one big bag.

You see, it’s a technological world we live in and it’s becoming more technological every second and if you can’t compete in that technological arena and don’t have an educated populous, then you’re not even in the game. You’re out of the game. So you have to compete in this, because our lives our becoming more and more dependent on technology and it’s not going to change. It’s only going to get more so.

MISSION CONTROL: What’s your involvement with the Mars Rover missions?

DR. JIM RICE: My title is Science Team Member but also Geology Team Leader, this is on the Mars Exploration Rover Project called MER and those were the twin Rovers called Spirit and Opportunity. Opportunity is still going as we speak but Spirit quit working about 6 years ago.

There’s another Rover mission on mars called curiosity but I’m not on that Science Team. I have friends on that team. Opportunity has been on Mars for over 12 ½ years and still going. It’s an amazing story, those Rovers were only supposed to last 90 days and both of them exceeded expectations by orders of magnitude.

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MISSION CONTROL:

MISSION CONTROL:

How do you select where the Mars Rover goes, how do you select its missions?

What would you say the greatest geological thing you’ve found on Mars?

DR. JIM RICE:

DR. JIM RICE:

It’s fun! You get up there in front of scientist and engineers and present what you think is the best site for the mission and science objectives. You sort of have some guide lines because there’s engineering constraints in terms of altitude or how rocky and dusty it can be or slopes and things like that. So you have to be within your constraints because you have to get your mission done safely, successfully or you don’t have a mission to do anything with. So that’s the first priority.

That’s tough, but I guess the one I would say is when I did my PhD Dissertation back in the ‘90’s, the idea of bodies of water, lakes and even oceans; That was controversial. It’s hard to believe but back in the ‘80’s/’90’s the idea of bodies of water on the surface of Mars was so controversial there was only a handful of us that even talked about that at conferences. People thought we were nuts; you were kind-of ostracized.

To me it was so simple: water runs downhill and it’s going to pond in a low area. If there’s gravity, that’s just what’s going to happen, but that whole thinking about Mars, it was so not there when I started out.

Then you start trying to find areas on the planet that satisfy those requirements but also have great science to yield specific instrument package on the Rover and that’s a lot of fun. You get up there and you’re going to get grilled. You, kind-of, have to have thick skin.

Ultimately you want to find the best place to go and the process works pretty well. It takes a while, it’s not one meeting that decides, it goes over a period of years. Eventually sites get widdled out, narrowed down to a handful. I first went to the meetings when I was in grad school back in ‘94/’95. I was just honored to present and I’ve been involved in every Mars mission landing site ever since. I love it.

I remember when I went to a conference when I was working on my Master’s degree, it was the Lunar Planetary Science Conference. That’s in March every year and it’s the international biggest conference of the year. My advisor said you’ve never been to this conference I’ve got to prepare you because it’s going to be brutal. People can be brutal. So be prepared for a bomb being thrown at you. He was right but I remember it was really cool. A paradigm shift started happening and to be involved in it from the very start, that was worthwhile; And then flash forward a number of years, opportunity landed on Mars. We rolled into a crater and sure enough right there in front of us, we now know, were dried up lake beds. And to be on the mission that basically nailed that down, it was a neat completion of a circle from proposing these things, to talking about them in my dissertation when it was very controversial when most people wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole and then being on the team that found the proof of the first lakebeds on Mars…..that was pretty fulfilling time.

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Photo by Dr. James Rice

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MISSION CONTROL:

MISSION CONTROL:

Do Missions to Mars Ever go Wrong?

How many people, all in, does it take to get a Rover to Mars?

DR. JIM RICE: You know I worked on a mission that crashed on Mars.

It was called Mars Polar Lander. We were supposed to land near the south pole of Mars. This was in December of 1999. It crashed and you know you lose your job and this was around Christmas time. Not because you did anything wrong, just flying to Mars is a dangerous proposition. Roughly 2/3 of all the missions that go there fail. Those aren’t good odds to start with. It takes a certain fire and ability to do it, you really have to have a passion to do it.

It happened, I was out of a job. The Mars program shut down. I didn’t know what was going to happen.

I was trying to find a job to pay the bills and eat and eventually the program came back a couple years later. I got involved in it again and I got selected on the Rover team. Once you’ve gone through one of those failures, you never want to go through it again It’s people crying, it’s like a funeral. You spend years of your life on this project and it’s gone in the wink of an eye and you don’t have a job; the media never covers that aspect of it. The thing you hear about is X millions of dollars, program failed. You can’t really appreciate the highest of highs until you’ve been to the lowest of lows.

Another time, people actually forget, is that the Columbia accident happened in 2003. We landed the rover mission about a year later. We had a lot of pressure on us. The Vice President, who was golf buddies with the NASA administrator at the time, whenever we had a science meeting we were told these things have to work.

The whole Mars program is riding on you guys and we were trying to do the best we can but we can’t guarantee if Mars is going to cooperate. Of course it all worked out, but there was a lot of pressure. We had some black eyes at the time: The Space Shuttle deaths, the last time we tried to land on Mars it was a failure. It was pretty special to be part of that team and to still be part of that team. We have a great team and we’ve written the science book on Mars and we’re still doing it.

DR. JIM RICE: There’s a book that Steve Squires wrote called “Roving Mars” about 10 years ago now. He’s our Science Team leader and he’s a great leader. In the back of his book he acknowledged every person that worked on that. I didn’t ever count them up but it’s easily in the hundreds possible thousands. You need the engineering team to develop and test the hardware. The science team is also involved in developing and testing that. Integrating instruments with the Rovers, it’s definitely a team project. These things are so complicated, no one person could ever possibly understand every aspect of it. The example I always use is a football team. When you pull together you win a super bowl or land a mission on Mars. Anyone’s role is just as important as anyone else’s. You need it all pulling together to make it work.

MISSION CONTROL: How did the Mars Rover team discover 92% pure silicate deposits on Mars?

DR. JIM RICE: I’ve always made the comment, “Somebody upstairs likes us!” The right front wheel of both Rovers went out but the weird thing about that was, we were kindof disappointed because that means we can’t climb slopes or as steep as we could before. We were in these hills, the Columbia Hills - and we thought well, we were basically dragging it, it locked up and we were driving it backwards. And the biggest discovery of Spirit’s came because of that bum wheel. If we had not had that wheel, we would have not found this soil because we’re driving it backwards, we’re dragging it.

You can look at the pictures and see we’re dragging it, and it creates like a little trench. Well, it uncovered this bright white soil. Which turned out to be silica, 92% pure silica.

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The reason that’s important is that the way you get silica, that pure of a deposit, is you have a lot of water and you have to have a heat source. So we think in this area there was a geyser or a hot spring going on that basically cooked the rock and formed silica that way.

That discovery was made because we had a bad wheel.

If we hadn’t had that bad wheel we would have driven right over it and would have never seen it.

It’s an adventure every day. When you have a Rover, you drive it to a brand new area, you have a brand new mission because you don’t know what you’re going to find. You know, no one’s ever done this before.

MISSION CONTROL: How did you end up working ‘both’ Rover missions?

DR. JIM RICE: I was at lunch when we were doing a training and one older scientists said, “You know, I was looking at the schedules and if you do it just right you can work both Rovers.” So I’m like, really? Tell me more. Well he showed it to me in flow charts and what that meant was you could only get 4 hours sleep a night in 2, 2 hour shifts. Then you can make all the critical meetings and do everything.

Well, I did that and adrenaline and excitement will take you a long way. I just figured when in my life will I have the chance to work on 2 Rovers on the surface of Mars? I’ll sleep in the grave! So I did that and it was amazing because we landed Rovers on opposite sides of the planet. So when one was daylight and was solar powered the other one is sleeping and the team could sleep, but you ought to see the images coming down from the other Rover when the team’s asleep. I would say hey guys when you wake up, check these pictures out. That was cool stuff. I knew myself if I was home trying to sleep I wouldn’t sleep because I would be wondering what’s in those images? That was great! We’re paving the way for when we get Astronauts up there.

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MISSION CONTROL: How many attempts have you made to become an Astronaut and what is the process like to become an Astronaut?

DR. JIM RICE: To be honest, I lost count of how many times I applied.

I’ve probably applied between 5 to 7 times now and I’ve been a finalist twice and I’ve been real close. I was one person away from being selected in one of those rounds. I wished I would have got in but it just didn’t happen, I was disappointed. My whole life growing up, since I was seven years old, I’ve been interested in space exploration. I grew up in the 60’s when all this stuff was happening for the first time. So my childhood dream was to be an astronaut and it never changed and eventually I knew it was very tough to get in there, it’s a small sliver of a populous there ever get close enough to even smell it. So I figured why not try it, because if you don’t try it you’ll never know and I don’t want to be 70, 80 years old and say that I wished I had tried to do it back then. So I was going to go for it. I never thought I’d get that close.

Astronauts were my hero’s growing up. I’ve met a lot of them over the years.

When I applied the first time, I was down in Johnson Space Center at the Van Morris Conference and 2 shuttle Astronauts asked me have you thought about applying for being an Astronaut? I said yeah but I don’t have much of a chance. They said you ought to apply, we encourage you to apply and one of them said I’ll help you with the application. I was like OK! I’m taking you up on it!! So I applied.

It’s a long process, it takes a year from the day the applications are due to the next class. I kept trying to forget about it because you know it’s needle-in-ahaystack odds. So I kind-of forgot and I came back, then I got this letter in the mail saying we want you to go get a prescreening physical, which does not guarantee you are going to get an interview. I’m thinking: Well, at least this is a good thing! Went and got that, sent it in. Didn’t get a phone call. A couple months later: We’d like to have you come down, if you’re interested and interview for Astronaut. Of course you’re going to say yes!

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

It’s a tough process. It’s a long waiting game. You do the best you can to try to forget about it because rumors are going around and you’re told they’re not going to select the class, they’re going to cancel it, it’s going to be a super small class. You just try to ignore these things and people always ask you, ‘Have you heard anything? Have you heard anything?’ It’s like no, no I haven’t heard anything. And then you get the phone call that you’re going down. You know you’re in the final cut because they’re only bringing 80 people or 50 people down, whatever it is, to the interview and then you’re in a week long medical exam, psychological testing, I mean it’s everything.

It’s really an honor for me to have got that close twice to go through the process and you get the best physical in the world compliments of Uncle Sam and I found out there’s nothing wrong with me. Then when you go through the medical stuff, psychological, interview, you’re left with a pool of people. One year it was 20, they picked 13. What do you do? They can’t pick everyone. At that point everyone could have been an Astronaut.

It’s kind-of a secret. They don’t really say how they pick people. It depends on the make-up of the selection board. It changes cycle to cycle. And then the next time I applied, I didn’t get nothing. I didn’t even get references checked. What happened? It’s just they were looking for different things. The next cycle I applied, I was a finalist again. You just never know. I’ve applied for this cycle now but I’m older now so I think that my chances of getting in are like zero, but I figure why not try it? The worse they can happen is they say no.

Well, they’ve already told me no before it’s not going to hurt my feelings. So I’m going to just keep trying!

MISSION CONTROL: What was it like before NASA had the Rovers?

DR. JIM RICE: Before we had these Rover Missions, Spirit and Opportunity, there was a debate amongst the scientist – do we really need a Rover, because they’re more expensive and harder to operate. Can we just get a lander and grab whatever we see out there? That’s not even a debate anymore! You want a Rover because Rovers extend your area of operations and maximize your science dollars.

There’s a mission that’s going to launch in 2018 and it’s a lander, but what they are going to do is drill down about 2 meters and put a seismometer to try to measure Marsquakes. So there’s a reason for having that lander there, but Rovers are the way to go.

MISSION CONTROL: How far has opportunity driven so far?

DR. JIM RICE: About 26 ½ miles, more than a marathon. Those Rovers were certified to drive less than 2000 feet, less than a half a mile actually. It’s really cool, because where we are now in a place called Marathon Valley – that name wasn’t accidental! We figured by the time we get to that valley we would have covered the distance of a marathon on earth. When we crossed over into this valley our odometer clicked over the distance of a marathon, hence the name of the valley.

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MISSION CONTROL: Dr. Rice, why are we, as human beings, so fascinated with space exploration?

DR. JIM RICE: You know, our bodies are literally made of star stuff.

If you ever wonder where the iron in our blood comes from, well that came from a star that lived billions of years ago and went through its life cycle and died and created iron in a nuclear reaction. It split the iron and it spread through the universe and eventually formed us.

The calcium in our bones came from a star that is long gone too. All the gold, the silver, everything we have – all these elements came from stars that lived and died billions of years ago. So we’re literally made of star dust, our bodies, and I think one reason we look at the sky is its kind-of like our home. We came from there.

I have no doubt that humans will leave this planet and Mars is likely the first step to colonize it and set up settlements there just like the New World happened 500 years ago. There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s going to happen. The question is what kind of timescale?

Who knows! The first footsteps are passing; We’re doing those right now. It’s all leading there. For me personally, I hope the United States maintains leadership in doing

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it. To all those people who say it’s a waste of time and money, I say if it’s a waste of money and a waste of time, then why is everyone around the world so interested in doing these things? That ought to tell you something.

Just last night, I was out looking out at the Moon, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. I was thinking you know, as I looked at those objects, the United States has either something in orbit around all those object or crawling around on their surfaces or both. It’s an amazing time to be alive. It’s frustrating as well, because we could have had people on Mars decades ago, if it was a priority.

Imagine if Galileo, Newton and Kepler appeared today, they’d be blown away by the technology and the fact that we do have spacecraft. They’d be blown away by what we’re doing. Then it would start sinking in that you could have done so much more. They’d be mad.

We didn’t have the technology; We didn’t have the capability! You just don’t want to do it. That’s kind of pathetic when you think about it.

You have to compete.

Photo by Dr. James Rice

Photo by Dr. James Rice