The Welshman

Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist Photo

2009-06-23T11:27:00.003-05:00

Gareth took this photo from the Maid of the Mist boat looking at the American side at Niagara Falls. We were quite close and got some great photos but this was definitely one of the best. Can you believe that it was a bright sunny day?

Visiting the Beaches in Toronto

2009-06-16T19:53:00.004-05:00

Gareth and I spent Sunday in Toronto and managed to get to the beach with Leah and Kayla. We took a break from out stay at Peter and Gwen's at Campark Resort. Leah took this picture of the two of us at the beach watching the volleyball. Hot dogs, ice cream and an absolutely beautiful day walking on the boardwalk. There was also a blues festival across the street in the park we got to enjoy as well.

Get Music off your iPod

2009-06-01T15:49:00.002-05:00

I just found a very simple utility for getting music off my iPod. It is easy enough to get music onto your iPod but the other way around - not. I have tons of music and other material on my iPod that I transferred from my computer. Then my computer crashed. So, finding something that made it very simple and downloaded very quickly and didn't crash my computer was a nice bonus.

You can check download the trial version here: www.EasyiPodTransfer.com

Driving in the Left Lane on the Highway

2009-05-28T10:35:00.002-05:00

It's all about manners. Whether you are holding the door for someone or moving out of the way on the highway so the person behind you can pass. The dangers of driving vehicles slowly in the left lane of the highway are obviously not apparent to everyone. The people that do this will probably not read this whole article. In case you do ...

I hear the reasons like, "I'm going the speed limit" or "They don't need to go that fast." for sitting in the left lane of the highway blocking traffic. I'm very certain, given normal traffic flow, that if more people used the left lane only to pass, then traffic would move more smoothly and quickly. What I've observed is that when someone is cruising in the left lane more slowly than the general traffic, it prompts others to weave dangerously.

Some drivers I'm sure are not confident enough and just stay in one lane (the left lane) so that they are not moving back and forth. I would suggest to these drivers that they get someone to somehow help them become more confident drivers. There are many ways to do this. I'll try and post later something to help with this.

Weight Loss and a Healthy Diet

2009-05-26T19:42:00.001-05:00

There are probably as many different reasons that people are fat as there are people. Well, maybe I exaggerate a bit. But there are bad eating habits – which covers a lot of different ground – to hormonal confusions in the body. So, not every ‘diet’ is going to work for everyone. I don’t really like the word ‘diet’ anyway – I prefer the necessity of changing one’s lifestyle. If you go on a diet and lose weight then go off the diet, very likely you will go back to what you were doing before which was probably contributing to your excess weight. I’ve always felt that the goal should be a healthy lifestyle first and if you are doing that you’ll most likely be OK even if over a few pounds.

Here are some things that I do to stay healthy and keep my weight down.

Water: I drink quite a bit. If I’m hungry I will sometimes drink a glass of water – it handles the hunger. I drink a glass or as much of a glass of water when I get up or as I awake. I always have a glass beside my bed. If I’m thirsty I drink water not soda or tea or anything else.

This one is one of the most important: I NEVER eat till I’m full. I always stop before then. If I’m having a salad, I’ll try and eat it before my main dish – it will help me eat less. I don’t eat bread with a meal. I don’t go more than 2-3 hours without eating. Otherwise I get too hungry and eat too much. If I eat 2-3 meals or dinners till I’m full then I start putting on weight. I think the reason for this is that there is a lag with the food getting to the stomach. If you stop before you are full then wait a few minutes, you will be full. If you don’t stop then your stomach will end up over full and stretch.

I rarely eat dessert. If I eat well I’m usually too full. If I want something sweet, it will be a very small piece.

Deep breathing. I started doing this when I was a teen. I don’t necessarily use the breathing every day but I think this helps with metabolism – not sure – but you can look up on the web exactly how …

At least some exercise regularly – I cycle or swim, walk or do yoga exercises.

Ration my sweets. If I’m having a glass of wine later, I won’t have the dessert.

I seem to do ok with potatoes but try and limit pasta. Probably because it is over-processed.

I never eat ‘fat-free’ food. I hadn’t eaten these types of foods for years and was reading Adele Davis some years ago and found something very interesting. She says in one of her books – probably “Let’s Get Well” – that if you were to take the fat out of foods people would crave carbohydrates. Makes so much sense to me – I see ‘fat free’ food that is loaded with sugar. Go figure!

I rarely use butter on bread.

Fresh vegetables at least 3-4 times a week.

And when I cook my food – I really try to not over-cook it - particularly vegetables.

I’ll try and eat plain yogurt with honey and flax seed (ground up) at least 3 times a week – usually 5-6 times.

I lost quite a bit of weight once using the South Beach Diet – not very rigorously but it was keeping me away from pasta and being too heavy on the carbs.

Whatever you do, pay attention to what works. Do your own research and find out what is good for your body. If you listen to everyone else’s opinion on what to do and what is wrong then it is easy to blame them if whatever you try isn’t working.

Good Luck!

Being Black in Canada vs Being Black in America

2009-05-11T08:32:00.005-05:00

I have a friend. Well, actually I have a few friends but this particularly one is American. And he's black. Very nice guy. He told me a short anecdote. He grew up black in America and through the course of his upbringing became a black militant. He "knew" that when white people spoke to him they saw mainly the color of his skin and he felt everything that he said was filtered through that. It didn't make for a pleasant life.

Several years ago he came to Canada for a company he worked for. Shock may be a bit strong of a word but very quickly he realized that when people in Canada spoke to him they did not see the color of his skin. They were just speaking to him. They did not have any bias or already formed opinions about the type of person he was. It changed him.

He is no longer a militant and even being back in the US of A he finds because he has experienced more tolerance that he can be more tolerant.

Yea Canada!

Spencer and the Internet Movie DataBase(IMDB)

2008-12-07T16:40:00.002-05:00

When you get a moment look up Spencer Jones on the Internet Movie DataBase - he's up there for one movie and should be for a second in the next month or two. Cool.

13B Streetport engine for our 1st Gen Mazda RX-7

2008-12-02T17:28:00.002-05:00

OK - this post isn't for everyone. But if you have ever even thought about rebuilding a car, this is the blog to keep an eye on. My friend Grant Boshoff likes to race cars. His passion goes to rebuilding race cars and he has recently begun the project of rebuilding a 1st Generation Mazda RX-7. Well actually the engine at this point is the object of his passion. If you have any interest at all cars and what goes into a project like this, check out his blog here: Grant Boshoff's blog. If you ever dreamed of committing to a project of this detail, check the site often and you may learn something.

- Martin

Good Night, Good Night

2008-11-25T22:34:00.003-05:00

Gareth played at the Orpheum in Tampa again Sunday night. He was somewhat nervous. The first time he played there a few weeks ago, he played to a very small crowd as it was a Wednesday night. This time, Sunday evening there were a few hundred people there - well, at least a couple of hundred. Anyway, he played nine songs - this time I really wish I had a video camera to record the event - I will next time. By the sixth or seventh song the whole place was clapping along to the beat of the song. Huge cheering for every one. He played seven original songs and two covers. (A cover is simply playing a song written by someone else.)

The difference from the first show a few weeks ago to this one was amazing. He completely filled the room with his music - his own music is catchy and full of life and feeling. He was completely confident and exuded competence - if this is starting to sound like a parent doting or bragging - well, too bad.

He ended with the piece I've included here.Goodnight%20Goodnight.mp3

Gareth's latest Song

2008-11-19T16:46:00.003-05:00

Enjoy! You can download it here:
Stuck%20in%20a%20static.mp3

Or you can go to Gareth's MySpace Music page and listen online:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=387183565

No Flour Pancakes

2008-11-04T15:59:00.002-05:00

South Beach Diet Pancakes: These Rock!

I don't really call South Beach Diet a diet - I see it as just eating properly - anyway, here's the recipe from the book with some of my 'additives':

1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese
(I don't eat anything low fat - tastes terrible and I'm not convinced)
4 Egg whites (I use two whole eggs)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

I double the recipe as what's here won't give you much. They are pretty big pancakes and they are thick as well - so if you prefer thinner pancakes, add a bit more cottage cheese or eggs. And of course you can vary the spices to taste. Filling too.

Throw it all in a blender and you are good to go.

- martin

Gareth at the Orpheum

2008-10-16T15:47:00.002-05:00

Gareth played at the Orpheum - a club in Tampa - last night and did very well. We'll get the pictures up on the weekend and some of the music out to those who want it. There was another band playing there that has asked him to play other venues with them - they though he was great.

Yea!!!
- Mart

Gareth singing "Whisper"

2008-08-31T10:59:00.003-05:00

Here's Gareth singing a song called "Whisper" by Pink Goats Can't Fly (I think that's the name of the Group anyway.)Whisper.mp3

Being Frugal

2008-08-04T11:57:00.002-05:00

My sister has a new blog - all about being frugal. Some good ideas. Check it out at The Frugal Bugle

Leave her comments/feedback - she would like that.

- Martin

Another Song from Gareth Jones

2008-07-31T23:17:00.006-05:00

Here's a cover that Gareth did - a Manchester Orchestra song called "Don't Let Them See You Cry". Enjoy.

I don't think this link is working properly. If it works OK for you, let me know. I'll try and fix it tonight.
- link is not working -

- Martin

yaari

2008-07-31T19:14:00.002-05:00

If you received an email from me inviting you to join Yaari. It is spam - please ignore. And stay away from that site. More data here if you need it: http://tinyurl.com/2xyyke

Thanks,
Martin

K Spencer Jones

2008-07-30T16:10:00.003-05:00

Check out Spencer's website: K Spencer Jones' Productions

Gareth Jamming on his own with a dime

2008-07-06T20:41:00.002-05:00

Here is Gareth messing around on the guitar.
Gareth1.mp3

Matt Dancing 2008

2008-07-03T22:56:00.002-05:00

This is one cool video:

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&vid=a65091fd-f745-
4bc7-b102-31d604d09a20&playlist=videoByTag:tag:viral:ns:
Gallery:mk:us:vs:1&from=MSNHP&tab=m137&GT1=42003

You may have to cut and paste this link. If you have
any trouble do a search on Matt Dancing 2008

Have fun,

Martin

Phil's motorcycle trip

2008-06-11T22:33:00.001-05:00

My brother and Paul are on a motorcycle trip to Canada and back. Check out the blog here:

http://bikerattic.blogspot.com

- Martin

Spencer back from Haiti

2008-05-17T07:16:00.002-05:00

Spencer arrived back from Haiti alive and well and full of stories. This was the Youth for Human Rights Tour. They met with various Haitian Government and UN agencies. I'll get him to write his stories so that I can post some here. Hopefully, he'll also put some these stories on his MySpace page. He has some of his pictures posted at Spencer's MySpace Page. Find the "pics" link beneath the Picture over on the left. Then you will see the Picture link for the Haiti pictures. I've included one here.

He loved the trip and met some really great people. He said there are a lot of wonderful people that really are trying to improve conditions there.

Enjoy the pictures. We'll get some stories up soon.

Love,
Martin

Human Rights

2008-05-09T08:36:00.005-05:00

We dropped son Spencer off at the Tampa airport this morning. He's on his way to Haiti. He will be working with a UN delegation promoting Human Rights. He is going as a representative of the Youth For Human Rights organization. He will be there for a week doing all the photography and video for the program. Spencer was picked from about 20 people for this trip. It is very exciting for him. Haiti is a beautiful country but politically and economically pretty depressed. And it is one of the poorest countries in the Western World. The group is going there because of the many human rights violations. They are doing what they can to help the new government in this respect. Spencer told me that he will be with UN bodyguards the whole time he is there. This is quite a cool project.

Spencer has been making films since he was 11 years old and also taking pictures for the last few. You can see some of his pictures here: Spencer Jones (I hope this link works.)

He will obviously be taking hundreds (if not thousands) of pictures of Haiti and we'll let you know when they can be viewed online.

:)
Martin

MSG - In Everything?

2008-04-13T10:12:00.005-05:00

I had done some research several years ago on MSG and thought I had taken it completely out of my diet. My sister-in-law dug a little deeper in her research and below is her article. Please note that when she speaks of vegetable protein, this also includes soya protein. So, if you think you are getting a product with protein in it, well, read on...

"Weight Loss, Forget About It, Unless You Stop Eating This!
by Willie Jones

I do a lot of research on health and nutrition and nothing makes me madder than the food industry intentionally, without my permission and yours, producing food that causes you and I not only to be addicted to it, but makes us fat! They do this by adding MSG to just about everything we eat!

I admire people like John Erb, who was a research assistant at the University of Ontario and wrote the book, “The Slow Poisoning of America”, as one of the many people blowing the whistle on MSG. The subject of MSG is not new, but not enough attention is being paid to it and the food industry is certainly not going to tell you about it because they are making too much money from it.

MSG is so pervasive in our society that you may not be aware that you are consuming it daily. It is in processed foods, canned, frozen or boxed, restaurants and fast food chains. My husband and I were shocked to find MSG in almost all the vitamin supplements we had. Most consumers are not aware of it because we are being tricked with labeling.

MSG has many aliases. Here is a list of some of the other names for MSG:

- Monosodium glutamate, monopotassium glutamate, glutamic acid

- Anything that says hydrolyzed (such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein)

- Anything that says Autolyzed

- Anything that says natural flavor, or flavors, natural flavoring, flavorings

- Calcium caseinate

- Sodium caseinate

- Yeast extract

- Seasonings

- Soy protein, wheat protein, whey protein, anything fortified protein

- Textured protein

- Carrageenan

- Gelatin

- Soy sauce

- Worcestershire sauce

- Bouillon, pork, chicken, beef

- Barley malt, malt extract, maltodextrin

- Enzymes

- Corn syrup, corn starch, dextrose

- Citric acid

You may be asking how it is possible that MSG can come under so many different names. The FDA has stated that if you use MSG in a product it must be labeled that way. If you use for example: hydrolyzed vegetable protein (which has MSG in it) it must be labeled by its common name and not MSG. This is the loophole the food industry uses to hide the word MSG.

Studies done over the last 30 years on rats have consistently shown that MSG makes them fat. Rats are not naturally fat so it has to be created. The studies done showed up to a 40% increase in appetite in the rats fed with MSG.

It works like this. Your tongue has receptors to detect sugars, carbohydrates, fats and protein, and it is used to determine if actual food is in your mouth. The food industry has figured out that MSG fools the taste receptors into thinking it is going to be receiving protein or sugars etc, so now your pancreas now goes into action releasing insulin to do its job. Within half an hour to an hour you have a blood sugar drop and you want to eat again. So you eat more food with MSG and you continue this circuit over and over again. And don’t forget to check your diet foods, which are usually loaded with MSG.

True weight loss is achieved by the few who have true stamina and will power because for the rest of us, well, the odds are stacked against us. The food industry wants you to buy their food and keep you addicted and keep you gaining weight because now companies can jump on the band wagon and get you buying weight loss pills and prescription drugs. Is there MSG in the diet and prescription pills? The odds are very high that this is the case.

If you have struggled with weight and health issues without success, don’t just give up hope yet. Education is the key. It is up to you to decide what you want to do with this information. For my husband and I, we have given up MSG and we eat organic. I have lost 20 lbs to date and feel great. There are some reputable companies that produce superior products without MSG and pesticides and it is worth seeking them out and supporting their efforts while getting you and your family healthy.

I hope this helps!

Sources: Blaylock, Russell L., M.D. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, Health Press, Santa Fe, NM 87504, 1994. Schwartz, George R., M.D. and Schwartz, Kathleen A. In Bad Taste: The MSG Symptom Complex, Health Press, Santa Fe, NM 87504.

Willie is a researcher and freelance writer whose own health problems prompted her to gain information on health and wellness and share that knowledge with others. She is co-owner of
Clean Body Detox a site that focuses on detox through foot baths and a foot massager.

PANGEA, The International Cafe

2008-03-19T02:22:00.004-05:00

This afternoon I was having a double Expresso in Pangea on Fort Harrison in Clearwater Florida while speaking to Geri, one of the owners. I struck up a conversation with another patron. She mentioned that she'd spent most of her adult life in India. Well, my father lived in India for 30+ years, so I asked her where she'd been. She told me that she'd lived in Vrindavan - the exact same town where my father had lived. Not only that she had visited the hospital where my father had worked. My father Doctor Glyn Jones, was a doctor at that hospital and a member of the Vedanta - a Hindu sect. I had been to Vridavan 20 years ago and it was wonderful hearing about it again from someone who had lived there more recently. Also, interesting were some of the changes occurring within India. She plans on writing a book - hopefully, she does so - I'll certainly read it. Here you can see a picture that I took - this was just outside the gates of the hospital.

New Coffee Shop in Clearwater Florida - PANGEA

2008-03-14T14:58:00.003-05:00

Check out this great new coffee shop in downtown Clearwater. Reminds me of Queen St West in Toronto. And the coffee is excellent! They are open from 7 am to 2 am so it feels even more like Queen Street. I've included one picture but you really have to go there to get the feel of it. It's just north of Cleveland on Fort Harrison. Check it out:) and give them your feedback - they want to know what the community needs and wants.