#ultra milk said COLOURS

[faunandfloraas]

skz + 🥛

[aion-rsa]

A Clockwork Orange at 50: Malcolm McDowell Revisits Kubrick’s Film

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“I think I’ve always been my own kind of person, and you know sometimes to my detriment,” says Malcolm McDowell, chatting to Den of Geek via Zoom, 50 years after the release of A Clockwork Orange.

“I’ve never really played the Hollywood card, I’m not really an insider, that’s just not my thing. And I like to be able to say no. And that’s it.That’s not probably a politically correct thing to do. However, too bad. I’m still here 50 years later.”

McDowell is talking to us from LA, his accent a soft mix of Yorkshire, where he grew up, and California where he has resided for much of his professional life. He is funny and charismatic, with a hint of the mischievous, he says people still find him “a little intimidating” – traits which he brought out in spades for his breakout roles, first as rebellious school boy Mick Travis in Lindsay Anderson’s If… and then as violent delinquent Alex Delarge in Stanley Kubrick’s bold, blistering and controversial satire A Clockwork Orange.

Watching it today it seems hard to believe the movie is 50 years old – it’s lost none of its power. Set in a futuristic dystopian Britain, McDowell plays gang leader Alex, who with his band of ‘droogs’, gets high on ‘milk plus’ and commits a horrible home invasion and rape, and later a murder. Apprehended by the police, Alex agrees to participate in a new kind of aversion therapy which makes him physically unable to commit crimes, causing pain and nausea at the very thought, in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Alex is robbed of freewill, becoming the Clockwork Orange – an organic thing with a machine inside – of the title. It’s a movie of big themes, of totalitarian governments controlling citizens and left wing dissidents exploiting individuals, it’s a discussion of goodness and evil, of youth and authority, which is visually striking and often shockingly so. And to many it’s a masterpiece.

Kubrick’s film is an adaptation of the novel by Anthony Burgess, which like the movie uses a language Burgess called Nadsat (from the Russian suffix meaning ‘teen’) – a mix of Russian, English and Cockney rhyming slang. 

McDowell recalls his first meeting with Kubrick which took place at Kubrick’s house in Boreham Wood, during McDowell’s lunch hour filming Bryan Forbes’ Long Ago, Tomorrow. Kubrick said he’d seen If.. four or five times and it had made a big impression on him.

“We had a very nice chat but he didn’t mention anything and at the end I said ‘Well, I’ve got to get back to work. Was there anything you wanted to talk to me about in particular?’ And I could see his discomfort, at having to actually tell me that, yeah, he was thinking of making this book into a movie. And anyway, he begrudgingly gave me the title, gave me a copy of the book and told me to read it and call him,” McDowell smiles.

He describes the book as “a damn difficult read on the first go” but by the third go he was convinced. “I read it and I went, Holy crap, what a part! Oh geez!”

No kidding. Alex is front and centre of the entire film, he’s the narrator and charged with delivering difficult lines about ‘ultraviolence’, ‘weepy young devotchkas’ and how the treatment is affecting his ‘gulliver’.

Burgess was a linguist and his decision to make a new hybrid youth slang was a practical one. He wanted the youths in this world to feel ‘other’ and separate from the grown ups but felt if he’d chosen to use contemporary slang that the book would date quickly. It was a shrewd move that Kubrick stuck to, helping the film have a sense of timelessness.

Then there were the iconic costumes worn by Alex and his droogs – removed from any particular era of fashion they were simple but immediately intimidating. The look came about via a moment of serendipity between McDowell and Kubrick when Kubrick asked his star what he had in mind for the costume himself. 

“I said ‘Futuristic, I don’t know!’” McDowell laughs. “He goes, ‘What have you got?’  I went ‘What have I got? I mean I’ve got jeans and a T-shirt and I’ve got my cricket gear in the car’. He goes, ‘We’ll put it on. And then ‘What’s this?’ I went, ‘Well, that’s the protector’. He said ‘Wear it on the outside’. And that’s the iconic costume, right there, boom.”

McDowell says he had around six months of prep time where he got to know Kubrick really well, where Kubrick grew to trust him which he describes as being really fun. That trust between the two was important – McDowell had heavy lifting to do physically, including the indelible scenes of the ‘Ludovico technique’ which saw his eyelids pinned back (he scratched a cornea) and the humiliation scene, after his conversion, (he cracked several ribs). McDowell plays this down, “Most of the time it was fun to do. I had a couple of injuries but they weren’t life threatening. They were fairly painful, but it was really a small price to pay.”

On a rewatch these moments still standout, though there are others too – an extended sequence where Alex is being drowned in a trough by his former friends knocks the breath out of you. 

“To be honest with you, it’s a complete cheat,” says McDowell of the scene. “There’s one cut right at the beginning. That water was cold and they coloured it with Bovril. I mean can you imagine beef extract? It stank to high heaven, it was absolutely like shit! And it was cold because we shot it I think in November. So they couldn’t heat the water because it steamed. I could only literally last three to five seconds before I had to come up for air. And so he put a tank of oxygen in there with a mouthpiece, and I spent my time trying to find the mouthpiece, which was bobbing around. It was harrowing.”

Not to mention he was being beaten with a billy club at the same time. 

“Admittedly, it’s rubber, but it still hurts,” McDowell recalls. “You can still feel it, and you feel like you’re in a nether world, you’re underwater, you’re sort of like drowning, but not quite. It’s a pretty good shot though.”

As well as the language, the soundtrack, the costumes and McDowell’s performance, the movie is also remembered for the controversy surrounding it. Allegations of copycat crimes as well as death threats sent to the director prompted Kubrick to pull the film from UK distribution in 1973, making it difficult to see in Britain until after Kubrick’s death in 1999. McDowell says the withdrawal didn’t especially affect him at the time, since he was in another country filming, and the movie had already been shown for a year. “It wasn’t like he pulled it at the height of its success so people couldn’t see it.”

Though it remains tough to watch in part, McDowell says younger audiences seem more comfortable with the comedy and satire elements of the film, a strand that was always intended.

“It is a black comedy and that’s how it was made. And I would have to say that that element of it has caught up, and kids when they see the movie now just roar with laughter and that makes my heart sing because that’s what I thought when I made it,” he says. “When it first came out, my god! It was total silence in the cinema, nobody moved out of their seats.”

When we ask McDowell what he hopes new viewers coming to the film today might take from it he’s typically candid: “I really have nothing to say about that. You know they can take whatever they want.” Though he says he thinks it’s amazing that the film is still relevant which he attributes to Burgess’s book even more than Kubrick’s adaptation.

Then after a beat he follows up with an anecdote.

“Well, actually I did go to a screening for the 40th anniversary at the Egyptian, I also gave a bit of a talk. At the end I was walking towards the bathroom and a young kid passed me, and goes ‘Oh my god! Clockwork right?’ I went, ‘Yeah!’ he goes, ‘Which part?’ I went, ‘The old guy’. He goes, ‘The old guy! Oh!’ I went, ‘No! the young guy! It’s 40 years old!’ he went, ‘Oh!’ he didn’t even connect,” McDowell chuckles. “I don’t know what he was smoking.”

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To mark its 50th anniversary, A Clockwork Orange Ultimate Collector’s Edition is now available to own here and includes the feature film on a Ultra HD Blu-ray™ disc in 4K with HDR and a Blu-ray™ disc with the feature film and special features. Fans can also own A Clockwork Orange in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers.

The post A Clockwork Orange at 50: Malcolm McDowell Revisits Kubrick’s Film appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3B9M0du

[deeeelightfuldee]

surveys 066.

What do you want more than anything else? To be honest, it was to start a life, family, marriage with kile. that won’t happen now, so I’m trying to determine what I want. I think I still want those things, but maybe I just need to find someone else to give them to me. Do you have to cross any bridges on your way home? home from what? What type of phone do you have? samsung galaxy s21 ultra Have you ever tried coconut water? yeah NOT for me Are you able to keep a lid on your temper? yes, very much so.  What colour are the blankets on your bed? uhhh all very neutral. creamy, white, gray What was the last thing you said aloud? baby hairs, yeah. Is there anybody who makes you feel empowered? uhhhhhhh not really anymore.  Does your house have a basement? it does! How many online accounts do you have? Or have you lost count? accounts of what? Which Asian country would you like to visit the most? ooooo maybe Japan Who was your first love? John Are you the type to hold grudges? not usually. though, I am sure kile thinks otherwise. What was the last video game you played? switch when I was home What's your favourite flavour of vitamin water? xxx or whatever Are there any bands/artists that get you all emotional? hearing dejavu by olivia rodrigo really made me emotional cus its exactly the situation between kile and I What do you think about double stuff oreos? the more the better Are you happy in your on t? what does this question even mean Have you ever been to a convention? (comic, Youtube, etc.) yes, homeschool, dare2share Do you have any disgusting habits? im sure I have habits that other people would not like? I guess? Can you get your favourite fruit all year around, or is it seasonal? umm most fruits you can get year round if you lower standards and raise your prices lol What brand are most of the electronics in your household? whatever kile sent us. now im going to have to figure out my brand preferences. Is any part of your body hurting right now? yes. my shoulder is getting really bad and my foot hurts. but im alright What's your favourite aunt or uncle's first name? ooooooooooooo boy. steve Do you prefer your tea with or without milk? tea with milk???? thats a thing? What sound makes you cringe? nails on a chalk board Have you ever smoked a cigarette? nope. i could understand the appeal to a degree.. but nope. If so, do you still smoke? n/a What do you think about androgynous names? i’m neutral about it. if thats what floats your boat, go ahead Do you see yourself getting married one day? i always did. I really did when I thought about kile, mostly because I just couldn’t fathom a life without him. now here I am having to figure all this out again. Idk. Maybe its just not going to happen for me. Do you get sick often? no. Who was the last person you invited into your home? uhhh, prob em? Are you of legal drinking age in the country you live in? yes How old were your parents when they got engaged? like 19ish Are your parents still together? nope. they divorced when I was 16/17 What flavour was the last ice cream you ate? phish food I think Are you health conscious? increasingly, but not overly. Have you ever done a first aid course? not yet. If so, would you be prepared to perform CPR if necessary? I could partially but by no means am I trained. Do you have any friends who bat for the other team? I did when I was working or when I was in school. Not mega close friends tho so we have lost touch. Have you ever written a letter to a politician? no. I am just not interested. Are there any songs that get stuck in your head very easily? OH ALL THE TIME. **I know you had a really tough couple events today and I’m sorry for that. Please don’t give up. things will get better. I am rooting for you. I wish we could talk. just focus on your happiness with the house. 

[dykereid-moved]

Okay but I would absolutely love a rockstar!Matt au please

y’all only love me for my matt content bye /lh

insp. n insp. (stream rockstar taec road to 10k!!!!)

so basically. the bau is a rock band i havent fleshed out who is who Yet other than matt who is lead guitarist (v sexc)

he definitely gives off pop punk vibes

first ever east asian fronted band to Ever chart #1 on the billboard 100 so like super duper popular

matt?? absolute heartthrob all the teenage girls Love him

the most insanely talented guitar solos Ever like something u would hear straight out of a queen song

his signature guitars are a red fender stratocaster guitar n a red les paul both red bc i said so n i think red is such a good colour on matt

he dabbles playing bass too

which means all his fans go nuts whenever he starts playing the bass during their concerts

he’s still married to kristy n has 500 kids in this au bc he’s a great dad n a sexc dilf

for every tour stop he n the band makes, he makes sure to bring kristy n the kids a souvenir which means he always goes home with So Many gifts n cool souvenirs

he has way more tattoos than canon n has dedicated tattoos to kristy n the kids

imaGine matt with his hair down like all sweaty like people get after a whole ass concert n they’re high on adrenaline. yeah.

u kno how rockstars model on the side?? yeah matt models on the side (think machine gun kelly magazine shoots)

he has a voice to Die for but he doesn’t sing a Lot which is just :(((

he definitely wears a lot of shirts with the sleeves cut off

multiple ear piercings n definitely a nose piercing mayb a tongue/eyebrow piercing???

he climbs stages. n i mean Climb.

he wrote songs dedicated to kristy n the kids AND they’re the highest charting songs of his band bc his fans are suckers for how much he loves his family

i’d like to think that matt sets Boundaries with his fans and i mean Boundaries

like his fans aren’t allowed to do the crazy ppl things that they do for celebs n he’s publicly spoken out about their behaviour

when he got married he Told his fans publicly to back off n to either respect kristy Or stop listening to his music. that’s it.

Skinny Jeans bro he has model legs he’s gonna use the model legs like sex appeal man

matt defers from the “normal” rockstar behaviour in that he’s just. a Normal guy who happens to be world famous rockstar matt simmons

his coffee order is an iced americano with 3 extra shots of espresso n oat milk bc he’s lactose intolerant LOL

he’s sponsored by monster bc i said so n he only consumes the ultra flavours

matt always always wear his wedding rings during concerts as the same in canon bc he’s sappy lol

yeah i’m sorry it’s kinda short lol n i took inspo from like most of the artistes i listen to it it’s basically just a lot of pop punk but yeah rockstar matt simmons u r v important to me

[thecrowchronicles]

Fun things I’ve said recently that I think deserve recognition:

‘Life’s short, let’s make it even shorter.’

‘The versification of the English language’

‘This spoons has a real Dark academia dead poets society secret history marauders era good omens vibe rn’

‘He’s me fr’ (about Andrew minyard)

‘BECUASE UR BOYFRIEND THINKS ENGLAND IS WORSE THAN AMERICA’

‘Haha funny or sad outrageous funny’

‘Nowhere in france is a good place to be buried’

*What does that imply?*

‘That implies that I hate france’

‘Tf is wrong with men.’

‘Oh for fucking fucks’

‘did u say I have to be nice or I said u have to be nice..’

‘When did I say that.’

‘And who said I’m supposed to be nice? I’m a menace’

*Ever heard of sympathy??*

‘No :(‘

‘LMFAOO U THINK IM CALM?’

‘Milked a cow except it’s just what it eats come out not milk’

‘There’s straight up hard core Omegaverse smut’

‘You’re thinking about work? I’m thinking about how much of Taylor swift’s discography I could listen to in that time’

‘I just Markes me brain fuzzy’

‘A reverse slay.’

‘No you stupid little skins nitty wannabe, get a real fag like a normal person instead of puffing away on those colourful little plastic remotes that fill up landfill. Or better yet! Just inhale air. 1/5 dentists say it tastes almost as good as a limited edition ultra fresh tutti fruity mango loco blast supreme vape bar.’

‘I feel like the devil took a shit inside my brain’

[moments-minutes-more]

I’ve done been tagged

By the ever lovely @geckcellent no less!

Relationship status: A single serving of Kat.  Super mega ultra single tm.  Those who are interested in me have historically been awkward weirdos who can’t take a hint, and those whom I have pined for are feel extremely out of my league.

Favourite Colours: Burgundy, cranberry, silver, chocolate, and lime.  So, food colours, generally!

3 Fave Foods: Jersey Milk, garlic shrimp+rotini, fried rice

Song stuck in my head: For once, I have none!  But, because of this question, I’m currently getting Get By by Delta Heavy suck in my head just so I can link y’all to the music video!  Either the video itself will get stuck in your head, since it’s very well done and mesmerizing or the misheard lyric of “I got a thin tomato to get by” will.  I guarantee it.

Last song I listened to: Get By by Delta Heavy, but before that, it was likely I Have Friends in Holy Spaces by Panic! At The Disco

Last movie I watched: Phantom of the Paradise

Top 3 tv shows: Community, The Good Place, aaaand I guess How I Met Your Mother?  B99?  I really don’t know what my third place would be.

Books I’m currently reading: None.  Because I’m a filthy peon who fills her day doing other things.  Jokes aside, I kind of want to reread Hey Nostradamus!  again because each time I read it, I react differently.  It’s just special to me to consider how my views on faith, religion, intimacy, and morality has changed, assisted by the backdrop of this book.  I just had the thought the other day, since the book spans like 20 years between its 4 narrators, how Reg starts off as a religious man and ends a Godly one.  Reg’s transformation didn’t mean as much to me when I was younger, but it still shook me.  I had more breakdown of the other main players, but I figure y’all don’t want to hear it, lol.

Last thing I Googled: “DND a creature that can’t touch water” I feel like my DM has something planned for my familiar named Phi, based on how he said “I never said she was a Celestial” and “Mike caught on to what I was doing with Phi.  He said ‘Is Phi ____?’ and I said yes.”  I was going out on a limb and seeing if I could get any hints with her refusal to touch water.  She’s a cat though, so I’ve always assumed it was a cat thing.

How many blankets do i sleep with: 2 in any season save for winter, which I use 3.

Dream places to visit: Back to Rome, Iceland, New York City?

Anything you want: Apparently in the US there’s a lottery where the jackpot is 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS as of yesterday.  So, uh, that?  Let me see how much that is in CAD.  $1 568 550 000.  That’s astronomical.  Otherwise, a fulfilling job where I can live comfortably and not be a huge ball of stress everyday.

Sup, @ladyazariah @deadly-penguins @mildlydistressedpidgeon @iireallyfuckeditupthistimemydear 

[elisaflowersmakeup]

How to apply blusher like a makeup artist (and these hacks will totally change your beauty game)

 Whether you're looking for a natural flush or some dramatic draping, these makeup artists' tips and tricks will help you go beyond your basic blush application.

 BY KALEIGH FASANELLA  AND GABI THORNE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY ALLURE SATURDAY 26 JUNE 2021

If you thought there was just one way to apply blush, you're not alone — but you should also think again. Just like with lipstick and eyeliner, blush can be used to achieve different aesthetic effects depending on how and where it's applied.

For instance, let's say you're on vacation. You're (of course) slathering on the sunscreen but you might still want to look sun-kissed. Said effect can easily be faked with blush, though you wouldn't apply it the same way you would if you were going for the classic apples-of-your-cheeks-only flush that most folks are familiar with.

The same goes for other techniques, too. Any makeup artist will tell you that application is everything, and it's for this reason that Allure tapped several pros to find out exactly how and where to apply blush to get the specific results you're after.

1. Natural: On the Apples

For most makeup non-professionals, this is the most common method of applying blush. Its popularity stems from the fact that it gives an ultra-natural effect — like you just got back from a light jog — and it couldn't be simpler to do.

"You can create a healthy, natural-looking glow by swirling a small dab of colour onto the apples of the cheeks and buffing it out in circular motions," says New York City-based makeup artist Elisa Flowers, who adds that this ubiquitous technique both widens and brightens the face. Another helpful tip from Flowers is to place your blush two fingers away from your nose and two fingers away from the bottom of your eye. "This keeps it from looking unbalanced," she explains.

2. Dramatic: Draped

Rihanna rocked this '70s-style blush at the 2017 Met Gala, in case you need even more visual motivation to break out of your comfort zone. It's a trend that's seen its fair share of runways over the past few years, but draping looks cool in real life, too — and doesn't take as long or as much skill to execute as you might think.

"I call draping 'side-eye blush,' says makeup artist Ingeborg. "It can be done with a soft and fluffy, smaller-to-medium-size brush and simply involves applying it on the temple area, draping the colour downward across the cheekbones so that it frames the face," she explains. She favors Viseart's ultra-pigmented blush palettes (especially in Rose/Coral) for this approach.

Similarly, Flowers says you can sweep the blush from the top of the cheekbones to the hairline, wrapping it around the brow area in an arc. "This motion brings a beautiful brightness to the face," she says.

For this method, New York City-based makeup artist Joseph Carrillo cannot emphasise enough how important blending is. He likes using two to three shades – a bold blush colour with the other(s) being a softer hue typically within the same color family. "The softer shade is to look like a wash of colour on temples, hairline, [and] cheekbones," he says, while the bolder colour is "buffed out around the temple and on the outer part of the eye and high points of the cheekbone."

He recommends starting with the deeper shade at the end of the eye socket and buffing the pigment toward the temples and high points on the cheekbones using a dense brush (he likes Charlotte Tilbury's Powder and Sculpt Brush) and circular motion. Then, with a larger, fluffy brush, work in the second color right on top and around the edges to ensure the shades flow into each other seamlessly. He loves the six-pan Nars Orgasm on the Beach Palette, especially for warm summer days.

3. Sun-Kissed: Allover Glow

As far as we're concerned, a just-back-from-Barbados makeup look is never a bad idea. Just because we know you'd never slack off on using sunscreen doesn't mean anyone else has to know your faux glow happens to be courtesy of well-placed blush.

According to the pros, this technique works best when applied on top of bronzer; the bronzer acts as a base layer that helps to diffuse the blush's pigment so it doesn't look too harsh against the skin. For this, makeup artist Carissa Ferreri loves using Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Sun Touched or Milk Makeup Lip and Cheek in Perk.

"The trick is to create the right amount of dewy glow and apply the slightest bit to the top of the nose on the bridge — think where your sunglasses would hit," she explains. "And for more staying power, sweep a powder blush on top of the cream."

Another great tip is to add a touch of colour to your eyelids, forehead, and chin. Ingeborg says that this helps to give the finished look a truly realistic, spent-the-day-in-the-sun effect, as these are the points of your face that the rays would naturally hit first.

Carillo loves this glowy look with a dewy foundation and some faux freckles courtesy of the TikTok-famous Freck Beauty's Freckle Pen. He employs two shades of blush (a bright color and a softer hue in the same color family) with this method to create the desired dimension. With a stippling brush, he adds the darker colour to the high points of the cheeks and bridge of the nose, and then the softer shade on the apples, chin, and nose.

4. Flushed: Intense and Low

Sure, no one enjoys being blasted in the face by wind or getting burnt on the slopes; that's how you end up with a raw, apple-red complexion that requires extra TLC for days. But faking it with blush? Now that can be extremely cute.

"The trick is to create the right amount of dewy glow and apply the slightest bit to the top of the nose on the bridge — think where your sunglasses would hit," she explains. "And for more staying power, sweep a powder blush on top of the cream."

Another great tip is to add a touch of colour to your eyelids, forehead, and chin. Ingeborg says that this helps to give the finished look a truly realistic, spent-the-day-in-the-sun effect, as these are the points of your face that the rays would naturally hit first.

Carillo loves this glowy look with a dewy foundation and some faux freckles courtesy of the TikTok-famous Freck Beauty's Freckle Pen. He employs two shades of blush (a bright color and a softer hue in the same color family) with this method to create the desired dimension. With a stippling brush, he adds the darker colour to the high points of the cheeks and bridge of the nose, and then the softer shade on the apples, chin, and nose.

4. Flushed: Intense and Low

Sure, no one enjoys being blasted in the face by wind or getting burnt on the slopes; that's how you end up with a raw, apple-red complexion that requires extra TLC for days. But faking it with blush? Now that can be extremely cute.

Ferreri favors using a gel or cream blush formula for this method, and she prefers either pink or rosy tones for the most natural finish. "I like this look to have no texture so that the colour looks like it's just coming from within," she says. "Focus the blush a bit higher on the cheeks, like right under the eyes, and then diffuse any harsh lines."

She adds that you can also take any leftover colour from your fingers or brush and apply the softest touch on top of your nose, just under the bridge. This allows it to look more realistic, which is ultimately what you're going for with blush.

Carrillo also prefers gel and cream formulas for this flushed look, "or, as some call it, 'drunk blush'," he says. He likes using the bottom of a makeup sponge (what he refers to as "the belly") to blend the blush, starting at the apples of the cheeks. "For placement, smile and apply the colour in the centre of the apple," he shares. "Start with less, and build gently fading the edges off."

For the nose blush, he recommends adding the pigment to the sides of the bridge to complete the flushed appearance. One of his favorites to use is the Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush, available in six rosy and peachy hues.

5. Sculpted: Along the Cheekbones

If you want to create definition without contouring, blush is an excellent alternative that will still give you a chiseled effect. According to Flowers, the best way to achieve this sculpted, sophisticated look is to buff your blush directly onto the cheekbones, and just above — almost where you would normally place highlighter. "Apply using small circular strokes, blending outward and upward," she explains.

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Makeup artist Patrick Ta typically uses this technique to pat in powder blushes in an upward motion with his own Complexion Blush No 1 to lift the face. "I like to start mid on the cheekbone and work diagonally upward toward the outer corner of the eye," he shares. "I also love to diffuse blush under the eye to create a seamless look." But he makes sure to stop right before the hairline.

On the other hand, Carrillo blends the blush with an angled brush, "starting from the tragus, gliding the brush along your cheekbone, dusting it inward." He buffs any leftover product on the temples.

Now that you have the techniques, all you need are the products. If you're not sure what blush colour will suit you, check out this handy guide that will help you find your new favorite color based on your skin tone.

[pamphletstoinspire]

BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAS (JEREMIAH) - From The Douay-Rheims Bible - Latin Vulgate

Chapter 4

INTRODUCTION.

In these Jeremias laments in a most pathetic manner the miseries of his people, and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, in Hebrew verses, beginning with different letters according to the order of the Hebrew alphabet. Ch. --- In the first chapter the order is exactly observed, but in the three next phe comes before ain, either for some mystery to us unknown, or by the derangement of transcribers, who perhaps thought that those verses were better connected, as they seem to be, (C.) though this is not very clear. H. --- In such pieces the sentiments of a pensive heart are poured out without much connection. W. --- The Greeks style this word qrhnoi, and Heb. kinoth, or lamentations. H. --- S. Jerom, (2 Par. xxxv. 25.) thinks it was the first composition of Jeremias, and sung at the death of Josias. W. S. Jer. in Zac. xii. 11. --- The eulogy of the king seems to belong to him rather than to Sedecias. C. iv. 20. C. --- Yet it might afterwards be applied to the latter, (H.) and to the ruin of Jerusalem. Eccli. xlix. 8. S. Jer. Pref. Theod. &c. --- The city is represented standing, and sometimes in ruins. Chap. v. seems to have been written after the rest. v. 4, 18. C. --- It is not acrostic like them. The prophet alludes to the wretched condition of the Jews, after the murder of their Messias; and hence the Church makes use of the lamentations on the anniversary of our Saviour's passion, inviting all sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, to repent: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, be converted to the Lord thy God." W. --- Many passages are applicable to a soul fallen into sin, as the commentary under the name of S. Jerom, (H.) compiled by Rabanus, (Du Pin) shews. H.

The additional Notes in this Edition of the New Testament will be marked with the letter A. Such as are taken from various Interpreters and Commentators, will be marked as in the Old Testament. B. Bristow, C. Calmet, Ch. Challoner, D. Du Hamel, E. Estius, J. Jansenius, M. Menochius, Po. Polus, P. Pastorini, T. Tirinus, V. Bible de Vence, W. Worthington, Wi. Witham. — The names of other authors, who may be occasionally consulted, will be given at full length.

Verses are in English and Latin. HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY

This Catholic commentary on the Old Testament, following the Douay-Rheims Bible text, was originally compiled by Catholic priest and biblical scholar Rev. George Leo Haydock (1774-1849). This transcription is based on Haydock's notes as they appear in the 1859 edition of Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary printed by Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Changes made to the original text for this transcription include the following:

Greek letters. The original text sometimes includes Greek expressions spelled out in Greek letters. In this transcription, those expressions have been transliterated from Greek letters to English letters, put in italics, and underlined. The following substitution scheme has been used: A for Alpha; B for Beta; G for Gamma; D for Delta; E for Epsilon; Z for Zeta; E for Eta; Th for Theta; I for Iota; K for Kappa; L for Lamda; M for Mu; N for Nu; X for Xi; O for Omicron; P for Pi; R for Rho; S for Sigma; T for Tau; U for Upsilon; Ph for Phi; Ch for Chi; Ps for Psi; O for Omega. For example, where the name, Jesus, is spelled out in the original text in Greek letters, Iota-eta-sigma-omicron-upsilon-sigma, it is transliterated in this transcription as, Iesous. Greek diacritical marks have not been represented in this transcription.

Footnotes. The original text indicates footnotes with special characters, including the astrisk (*) and printers' marks, such as the dagger mark, the double dagger mark, the section mark, the parallels mark, and the paragraph mark. In this transcription all these special characters have been replaced by numbers in square brackets, such as [1], [2], [3], etc.

Accent marks. The original text contains some English letters represented with accent marks. In this transcription, those letters have been rendered in this transcription without their accent marks.

Other special characters.

Solid horizontal lines of various lengths that appear in the original text have been represented as a series of consecutive hyphens of approximately the same length, such as ---.

Ligatures, single characters containing two letters united, in the original text in some Latin expressions have been represented in this transcription as separate letters. The ligature formed by uniting A and E is represented as Ae, that of a and e as ae, that of O and E as Oe, and that of o and e as oe.

Monetary sums in the original text represented with a preceding British pound sterling symbol (a stylized L, transected by a short horizontal line) are represented in this transcription with a following pound symbol, l.

The half symbol (1/2) and three-quarters symbol (3/4) in the original text have been represented in this transcription with their decimal equivalent, (.5) and (.75) respectively.

Unreadable text. Places where the transcriber's copy of the original text is unreadable have been indicated in this transcription by an empty set of square brackets, [].

Chapter 4

(No prolog)

[1] Aleph. How is the gold become dim, the finest colour is changed, the stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the top of every street?

ALEPH. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus! dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum!

[2] Beth. The noble sons of Sion, and they that were clothed with the best gold: how are they esteemed as earthen vessels, the work of the potter's hands?

BETH. Filii Sion inclyti, et amicti auro primo : quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli!

[3] Ghimel. Even the sea monsters have drawn out the breast, they have given suck to their young: the daughter of my people is cruel, like the ostrich in the desert.

GHIMEL. Sed et lamiae nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos : filia populi mei crudelis quasi struthio in deserto.

[4] Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child hath stuck to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked for bread, and there was none to break it unto them.

DALETH. Adhaesit lingua lactentis ad palatum ejus in siti; parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.

[5] He. They that were fed delicately have died in the streets; they that were brought up in scarlet have embraced the dung.

HE. Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis; qui nutriebantur in croceis, amplexati sunt stercora.

[6] Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took nothing in her.

VAU. Et major effecta est iniquitas filiae populi mei peccato Sodomorum, quae subversa est in momento, et non ceperunt in ea manus.

[7] Zain. Her Nazarites were whiter than snow, purer than milk, more ruddy than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire.

ZAIN. Candidiores Nazaraei ejus nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores ebore antiquo, sapphiro pulchriores.

[8] Heth. Their face is now made blacker than coals, and they are not known in the streets: their skin hath stuck to their bones, it is withered, and is become like wood.

HETH. Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum et non sunt cogniti in plateis; adhaesit cutis eorum ossibus : aruit, et facta est quasi lignum.

[9] Teth. It was better with them that were slain by the sword, than with them that died with hunger: for these pined away being consumed for want of the fruits of the earth.

TETH. Melius fuit occisis gladio quam interfectis fame, quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terrae.

[10] Jod. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

JOD. Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos; facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiae populi mei.

[11] Caph. The Lord hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger: and he hath kindled a fire in Sion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

CAPH. Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suae : et succendit ignem in Sion, et devoravit fundamenta ejus.

[12] Lamed. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should enter in by the gates of Jerusalem.

LAMED. Non crediderunt reges terrae, et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Jerusalem.

[13] Mem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.

MEM. Propter peccata prophetarum ejus, et iniquitates sacerdotum ejus, qui effuderunt in medio ejus sanguinem justorum.

[14] Nun. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they were defiled with blood: and when they could not help walking in it, they held up their skirts.

NUN. Erraverunt caeci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine; cumque non possent, tenuerunt lacinias suas.

[15] Samech. Depart you that are defiled, they cried out to them: Depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they quarrelled, and being removed, they said among the Gentiles: He will no more dwell among them.

SAMECH. Recedite polluti, clamaverunt eis; recedite, abite, nolite tangere : jurgati quippe sunt, et commoti dixerunt inter gentes : Non addet ultra ut habitet in eis.

[16] Phe. The face of the Lord hath divided them, he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, neither had they pity on the ancient.

PHE. Facies Domini divisit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos; facies sacerdotum non erubuerunt, neque senum miserti sunt.

[17] Ain. While we were yet standing, our eyes failed, expecting help for us in vain, when we looked attentively towards a nation that was not able to save.

AIN. Cum adhuc subsisteremus, defecerunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum; cum respiceremus attenti ad gentem quae salvare non poterat.

[18] Sade. Our steps have slipped in the way of our streets, our end draweth near: our days are fulfilled, for our end is come.

SADE. Lubricaverunt vestigia nostra in itinere platearum nostrarum; appropinquavit finis noster, completi sunt dies nostri, quia venit finis noster.

[19] Coph. Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of the air: they pursued us upon the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

COPH. Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis caeli; super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.

[20] Res. The breath of our mouth, Christ the Lord, is taken in our sins: to whom we said: Under thy shadow we shall live among the Gentiles.

RES. Spiritus oris nostri, Christus Dominus, captus est in peccatis nostris, cui diximus : In umbra tua vivemus in gentibus.

[21] Sin. Rejoice, and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Hus: to thee also shall the cup come, thou shalt be made drunk, and naked.

SIN. Gaude et laetare, filia Edom, quae habitas in terra Hus! ad te quoque perveniet calix : inebriaberis, atque nudaberis.

[22] Thau. Thy iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Sion, he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he visited thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he hath discovered thy sins.

THAU. Completa est iniquitas tua, filia Sion : non addet ultra ut transmigret te. Visitavit iniquitatem tuam, filia Edom; discooperuit peccata tua.

Commentary:

Ver. 1. Colour. Heb. "gold." Sept. "silver;" (H.) denoting the patriarchs, (Theod.) chiefs, (Vatab.) or ornaments of the temple. C. --- It had formerly glittered with gold; now there was nothing but smoke and ruins. W.

Ver. 2. Best. Heb. "gold of Phaz," in Colchis. Gen. ii. 11. C. --- In Solomon's reign, they powdered their hair with gold dust. Jos. Ant. viii. 7. --- Vessels. Is. xxx. 14.

Ver. 3. Sea-monsters. Lit. Lamia. Heb. Tannim. H. --- The lamia has a face like a woman, and a body like beasts; and is cruel, yet feeds its young. W. --- The fabulous lamia is supposed to destroy all children, (Diod. Sic. xx. Ovid. Fast. vi.) and cannot be meant. But the sea dog, though most cruel will not neglect its young ones. C. --- Ostrich. Heb. henim, (H.) "swans." Is. xiii. 21. Job xxix. 14. The ostrich is said to break some of its eggs. Elian iv. 37.) -- Swans do the like, and devour their young; for which reason they are hated by the Indians. Elian xiv. 3. --- Sept. "their young (drajohs) have suckled the daughters of my people, so that they can find no remedy, like," &c. H. --- Though the ostrich has wings it never flies, but dwells in desert places. Such is the condition of the Israelites. Theodoret. --- The ostrich forsakes its eggs. W. --- All are solicitous for themselves.

Ver. 5. Scarlet. Lit. "yellow;" croceis. H. --- Heb. means purple. Those who have been educated in the most delicate manner, are forced to feed on the most disgusting things. 4 K. vi. 25. and xviii. 27. Deut. xxviii. 54.

Ver. 6. In her. Sodom was destroyed by God. Her temporal misery was short. H. --- Jerusalem was exposed to greater afflictions (C.) here, (H.) and her ingratitude and abominations were greater. Ezec. xvi. 46.

Ver. 7. Old ivory. Whiteness shews its age. Pliny iii. 8. --- As it grows old it turns yellow, and loses much of its value. But the ancients had the art of dyeing it scarlet. Æneid xii. Iliad iv. Ovid ii. Am. v. C. --- Heb. poninim may signify (H.) "pearls," the shells of which are stained with a delicate red; though the epithet ruddy may mean "shining," in which sense purpureus is used. Hor. iv. Od. 1. --- The complexion of the Nazarites was fair, with a mixture of red. Cant. v. 10. They were probably clothed in white, and were highly respected. 1 Mac. ii. 49. Amos ii. 11. Num. vi. 18. C.

Ver. 8. Coals. Heb. "blackness." Sept. "soot." H. --- The people were naturally brown. Fasting and distress cause them to turn black. C. v. 10. Joel ii. 6. C. --- They were so changed, that old acquaintances knew not one another. W.

Ver. 9. For. Lit. "by the barrenness of the earth." H. --- Such a death was, no doubt, more painful than to perish quickly by the sword. C.

Ver. 10. Pitful. So their nature dictates. W. --- But hunger made them the reverse. Some think they slew their children, to prevent them being exposed to more cruel torments, (C.) as the people of Colchis do their sick. Chardin. --- Sodden: boiled or roasted; coxerunt. v. 5. Deut. xxviii. 55. At the last siege of Jerusalem, this barbarity was manifested. C. Jos. Bel. vii. 8. Gr. 21. See C. ii. 20. --- Daughter. So cities are styled. W.

Ver. 12. Believed. God had so often protected this city against Sennacherib, Holofernes, &c. H. --- It had been also so strongly fortified. 2 K. v. 6. C.

Ver. 13. Priests. They too generally favoured H. the false prophets. C. ii. 26. &c. They were judges, and condemned the innocent: or exposed (C.) the citizens to destruction, by not warning them to amend, (H.) and to submit to the Chaldees. C. --- Impostors are called prophets, as they have the same outward appearance. W.

Ver. 14. They. Sept. "Her guards have tottered in," &c. --- When. Prot. "so that men could not touch their garments," as they were defiled. H. --- These hypocrites were afraid of touching blood, as they observed external ceremonies, while they disregarded the spirit of religion.

Ver. 15. Depart. They were not ashamed to speak thus to others, or the citizens address the priests contaminated with blood. Even the Chaldees looked upon the Jews with abhorrence, as an abandoned people. --- For they. Heb. "but they understood not, and wandered about. They, (C.) the Gentiles, said." H.

Ver. 16. They, the Jews; or rather the prophet thus describes the Chaldees. C. v. 12. Deut. xxviii. 50.

Ver. 17. Save. The Egyptians attempted it in vain. C. xxxiv. 8. and xxxvii. 10.

Ver. 18. Streets. There were enemies within as well as without. C.

Ver. 20. Christ, &c. According to the letter, is spoken of their king, who is called the Christ; that is, the anointed of the Lord. But is also relates in the spiritual sense to Christ our Lord, suffering for out sins. Ch. Is. liii. 5. S. Aug. de Civ. Dei. xviii. 33. --- It literally speaks of Josias, or of Sedecias. W. --- Josias was slain by the Egyptians. S. Jer. in Zac. xii. --- But Sedecias seems chiefly to be meant. The people were much attached to him, though he was wicked; and they expected that he would have rescued them from the power of the Chaldees, as his league with the neighbouring Gentiles (C.) seemed to insure, (H.) if they had proved faithful. C. --- But all was useless against the Lord. H.

Ver. 21. Rejoice. Edom had manifested her joy at the misfortunes of Juda. The prophet hints at this with a cutting irony. Ps. cxxxvi. 7. Abd. 11. --- Come, as at a feast. Edom was visited five years after the Jews. C. xlix. 7. --- Naked. Sept. "and shalt pour it out," (H.) or vomit. C. Grot.

Ver. 22. Accomplished, and sufficiently punished by exile. C. l. 20. Is. xl. 2. --- Discovered. Gen. xliv. 16. and 3 K. xvii. 18. C. - In vain wouldst thou hid them. H.

[sunriseverse]

and here's the autobots!

arcee: woolly bird’s nest. while relatively tiny compared to species such as oyster mushrooms, the nidula niveotomentosa, upon closer inspection, is a truly wonderful species. native to the americas, australia, and south-eastern asia, the spore-packets (peridioles) that are said to resemble bird’s eggs are trapped in a gel in the mushroom’s cups, and the gel dissolved when it rains, allowing the peridioles to splash out onto the damp surroundings, which are ideal for their growth.

(woolly bird's nest by Brian38 on project noah)

bumblebee: a surprisingly talkative, energetic mech, bumblebee matches well with shooting stars, another species of tiny fungi. however, despite their size—each one being barely a half an inch at most—they’re some of the most energetic mushrooms, as, when they mature, their caps exvert, suddenly releasing the spores within up to two meters!

(shooting star mushrooms by michel hairaud)

bulkhead: a generally laid-back mech, not keen on drawing attention to himself, but holding hidden depths, what better match for this former wrecker than the bay cup? occurring in clusters of large, concave fruiting bodies, the peziza badia does well in conditions other fungi would shy away from, such as poor, sandy soil, and damp, bare ground. an edible species when cooked, they occur in much of the world.

(peziza badia from ultiumate-mushrooms.com)

ratchet: a grumpy, sometimes offputting mech, the autobot medic pairs well with the red cage, its orangey-red colouration a close match to his own paint-job—and its reputation for being foul when mature often drives people away from it, despite its edibility.

(red cage mushroom by andre baertschi)

optimus: dependable, well-regarded, and generally quiet, optimus is surely an oyster mushroom! with two species, the tropical pleurotus djamor and the pleurotus ostreatus, it varies in colour from whites to pinks to greys and blues and browns. a team player, these mushrooms grow in clustered tiers on tree trunks, and are one of the most popular and widely-marketed edible fungi.

(pleurotus djamor from ultimate-mushroom.com (left) and pleurotus ostreatus by michael kuo (right))

wheeljack: the violet crown cup is surely a match for this loose canon—bearing an equally eye-catching colour to the wandering autobot, both are deadly, and hard to find.

(violet crown cup by achim bollmann)

smokescreen: loud and brash, smokescreen’s fungal counterpart is clearly the indigo milk cap. an oddity in its edibility despite its deep blue colouration, these mushrooms, unlike others in the delicioso section of milk caps, associates with oaks as well as conifers, rather than strictly conifers.

(indigo milk cap by AmandaSLC360 on pinterest)

ultra magnus: last but not least, the awkward, stickler for rules magnus! for him, the shiitake fits well! a humble mushroom, it has many uses in cooking, and has been cultivated in china since at least the tenth century.

(shiitake mushrooms by stephen hight)

(all information taken from the book of fungi by peter roberts and shelley evans)

welcome to “assigning (tfp) transformers mushrooms”! this is a rather long post, so i'll be putting it under a readmore. this is only the decepticons, since i hit photo limit—i'll reblog with all the autobots in a few minutes, so you might want to wait for that

soundwave: indigo pinkgill. such an elegant, dignified species! with a cap surface ranging from smooth to finely scaled, this unassuming, indigo-blue to almost black mushroom native to most of eurasia is a perfect fit for the unassuming, but possibly deadly, decepticon communications officer and spymaster!

(indigo pinkgill by peter creed)

starscream: what better fit for the ambitious, vibrant decepticon SIC than the scaly tangerine mushroom? a species first noted in zanzibar, its fruiting bodies are rather small in comparison to other species, but what they lack in size, they make up for in lustrous gold colouring, with almost-spiny protrusions from their caps.

(scaly tangerine mushroom by ShaumingLo on project noah)

knock out: what better fungi to fit this flashy red mech with a not-so-secret lethality than russula emetica? known colloquially as “the sickener”, this species is poisonous in its natural form, but, despite this, was often eaten in eastern europe after boiling to remove its toxins. while both it and the decepticon medic may be grudgingly tolerated, they form an important part of the woodland ecosystems of eurasia, and northern africa and america.

(russula emetica by MichalPL on wikipedia)

arachnid: rosy larch bolete. mainly found on larches in the western region of north america, these alluring, dusky pink mushrooms also have been reported to live on pines in china and taiwan. while the fruiting bodies may appear delicate and tempting, they’re said to be incredibly bitter.

(rosy larch bolete by debbie viess)

shockwave: this mystifying and slightly intimidating mech could be none other than the oak bracket! while this species initially grows at the bases of living trees, its presence is often fatal to them. when found on urban and garden trees, it often leads to preventative felling. however, they’re also said to have antibiotic properties!

(oak bracket by juniors bildarchiv gmbh/alamy stock photo)

breakdown: what could fit better for this solid, determined mech than the apple tooth? while originally fairly common and found on old apple trees in orchards, the felling of so many of these orchards has made it increasingly rare, even becoming a part of the red list of endangered fungal species in some countries. its simplistic shape, formed of thousands of what appear to be fungal stalactites crowded together, nonetheless is incredibly breathtaking once given a second glance.

(apple tooth fungus by lucie zíbarová)

dreadwing: for an honourable and surprisingly elegant mech, what could fit better than hericium coralloides? this beautiful, frost-like mushroom is prized in many asian countries, where it can be found gift-wrapped in flamboyant packages.

(hericium coralloides by michael wood)

megatron: violet potato fungus. the simplistic form of this mushroom reminds one of megatron’s early days as a miner. however, like the mech himself, it has surprising traits as well—a striking purple, the insides of its truffle-like fruiting bodies are a rich, olive- to dark greyish-brown.

(violet potato fungus by joseph pallante on inaturalist)

(all information taken from the book of fungi by peter roberts and shelly evans)

[foodflavourcompany]

The concerns:

There’s so much noise about the dangers of consuming processed foods. Processed food/ultra-processed food or packaged food items are often referred to as convenience or pre-prepared foods. They are said to contain flavour agents, artificial flavours/colours, trans fat and other chemical additives. They are also linked to heart disease, obesity and other lifestyle diseases. Are they really inferior or there is confusion and conflicting information?

True definition of processed foods:

Any food that has been altered from its natural state can be defined as processed food. Bread, canned food, peanut butter, frozen fruits and vegetables are examples of processed food. Additionally, milling, heating, blanching, pasteurizing, freezing, canning, drying and fermenting are considered various forms of processing. Cooking is also a form of processing food. The processed food may also contain additional ingredients such as preservatives, food additives, nutrients, or other substances approved by the food authority.

This indicates that the majority of the food we consume can be classified as processed food. Processing is an essential part of food because food starts to lose it’s taste and nutrients as soon as it's harvested. Therefore, it becomes very important to know the differentiation between various degrees of food processing. It safeguards taste and nutrients and prevents deteriorations. For example, pasteurizing milk can kill pathogens and stop foodborne illnesses. Likewise, fortifying milk with vitamin D, and salt with iodine to enhance their nutritional value.

Different categories of food processing:

Minimally processed or unprocessed foods.

Processed ingredients.

Processed foods.

Highly-processes or ultra-processed food

Processed ingredients.

Processed foods.

Highly-processes or ultra-processed food.

Simplification of a complex issue:

Processed foods are often misunderstood. There are many reasons for a food to be unhealthy, especially those foods with high salt, sugar or fat. There’s no doubt that some of the processed foods are indeed unhealthy but barring these few, most of them are hearty and nourishing. For busy households, they can be time savers; to fight nutrient deficiencies for impoverished communities; and a great source of nutrition for developed countries. Food processing also helps in increasing shelf life and palatability of foods.

Where is the conflicting information coming from?

The USDA’s recommendations for healthy food are based on nutrient intake, but the NOVA food classification system recommendations are based on the degree of processing. NOVA’s latest definition states that any food with typically five or more ingredients will be classified as ultra-processed food. These ingredients are often included in processed foods also, for e.g., salt, sugar, fats, oils, stabilizers, preservatives and antioxidants. So, to assume that any processed food, which contains five or more ingredients is harmful or dangerous will be totally wrong. Processed food and ingredients manufacturers and will be at a total loss if this were to be true.

The clarification:

For centuries, humans have been processing their food by adding preservatives to keep it fresh, fortifying it to add nutrition/prevent deficiencies, and adding flavour to make it delicious. Processed and ultra-processed foods can be found in almost every kitchen and have become the most valuable part of our diet. Although the classification system was implemented with good intention, it sometimes creates confusion resulting in misunderstanding among consumers.

Conclusion:

It’s high time that food and beverage manufacturers, food flavour companies and government agencies come together to look, correct, and clarify this confusion among consumers. It is very important to inform consumers as to what classifies the food as processed or ultra-processed, what exactly is healthy or unhealthy. All the misleading classifications need to be re-examined to help enable consumers and manufacturers to make more informed decisions.

[divyasen123]

Almonds price

Daily Intake of Dry Fruits A Must for Health

The benefits of nuts and dried fruits, if they are regularly included in our diet, help improve our health and prevent some disease....

We all know consuming Dry fruits is good because our ancestors said so. Thanks to the ultra-busy lifestyle, we never had the time to drill into details such as what, how, and why to consume. Consuming dry fruits should be done in moderation and preferably during the morning. Even though these crunchy delights are also ideal to curb evening time cravings.

 Some people find it difficult to consume these nutrient powerhouses because of taste issues. The best way out is to mix them with turmeric milk, shakes, gravy, smoothies, desserts topped with mountain honey, granola bars, ladoos, or cakes and still enjoy the immense benefits these have on offer. The Kadha made with dry fruits, milk, and gram flour is an effective remedy used for treating cold and cough, particularly during the changing weather.

 Here is a little more detail on which dry fruits you should be consuming to improve your overall body function and well-being.

 Almonds

 Anjeer

 Almonds or Badam are brown nuts best eaten when soaked overnight. The ritual still goes on rigorously in many Indian households. And why not, almonds are good for controlling cholesterol levels, blood pressure, helps in weight management and controlling diabetes.

 Buy mamra badam

 Mamra Badam or the twisted Badam- a relatively costly variant of almond is particularly recommended to control blood sugar levels due to the presence of monounsaturated fatty acids that controls the amount of glucose into the bloodstream. Eating badam makes you feel fuller easily and that is why it helps in eating less and managing weight. Further on, the presence of Vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium helps maintain heart function by reducing bad cholesterol and maintaining blood pressure levels.

 Dates

 The brown coloured dry fruit is super rich in iron content. Dates or Khajoor is given to people who are anaemic. High levels of fructose, sucrose, and glucose make it an instant energy booster often eaten to break fasts. The high fibre Dates are excellent for people suffering from constipation issues. Particularly, ripe Dates help ease out diarrhoea and improve overall digestive balance.

 Walnut

 Walnuts or Akhrot are great to improve cognitive functions due to the presence of neuroprotective compounds such as Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, and antioxidants. The antioxidants along with flavonoids inhibit the movement of free radicals in the body and in turn stops the growth of cancer cells.

Walnuts are also great for hair due to the presence of Biotin. Research shows walnuts help maintain wrinkle-free skin due to the presence of Vitamin B and antioxidants.

 Apricots

 The presence of Vitamin A makes this bright orange dry fruit good for eye health. There are an increasing number of people who have vision issues. Apricots or Khumani are great for children and adults. The beta carotene in Apricots is good for the optic nerves and eases away eye-related problems occurring due to old age. Apricots are also good for developing immunity in the body. High quantities of iron, calcium, Vitamin C, and potassium make Apricots great for dealing with Anaemia, maintaining bone health, and skin wrinkles.

 There are other nutrient-rich dry fruits such as Cashews, Pistachios, Figs/Anjeer, HazelNut, Raisins such as Kishmish/Munakka, dried Berries (Raspberry/Blueberry), Brazil Nuts, Pine Nuts, and Macedonia dat are both grown in India and imported from countries like Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, USA, and Australia

[noble-pro]

Vietnam Trail Marathon 70km - The Inaugural Edition

The Vietnam Trail Marathon was in its inaugural edition. The team already organised the Vietnam Mountain Marathon and the Jungle Marathon so were experienced in race directing. Nonetheless I didn’t expect such a quality show. We landed at 05:30hrs and got a taxi into Hanoi were we collected our race bibs. From there it was an organised bus ride 5hours to the north west. Destination Moc Chau. Moc Chau reminded me of a mountain resort but with a rather misplaced corporate luxury hotel in the middle of it. The race brief was amidst a performance of local traditional dance. It felt very patriotic as they displayed what was good about their province including dancing around with pictures of milk urn, it was very colourful and jovial. Buffet dinner with lots of sticky rice, spring rolls and noodles and then bed. The alarm was set for 2.30am. It was 8.30pm in the UK so on getting up it felt like I definitely wanted to be heading to bed but typically I woke before the alarm thinking ‘oh god I’ve overslept’. However, pre race routine kicks in and I headed towards the kettle for a coffee and bowl of oats. The bus left at 3am and the race started at 4am. It was warm to me coming from a British winter but all the locals were really wrapped up in coats and gloves. They kept touching me and asking me why I wasn’t cold! Moc Chau is an area famous in Vietnam for its tea plantations and peach blossom. The race took place at the height of the peach blossom season so people were bringing the trees into their homes for lunar new year. Mopeds with trees attached to them flooded the roads. This race took my breath away. Running through the dark for the first 2hours or was over pretty technical terrain. I used the LED Lenser SEO 7R.  As the darkness lifted I was amazed to see what I was running through. We climbed up to a plateau in the dark on a technical single track. It was humid so the rocks were slippery and everytime I reached to grasp something for balance it was thorny and spiky. The plateau revealed small villages that no car can access. They were so deeply hidden in rugged terrain with no running water or electricity. However the people did have plenty of energy as they tended their crops and smiled and waved. The children ran along side laughing which was a very precious experience. The trails weaving through the landscape changed from jungle like with roots and vines that tangled between your feet to rural farms with cows, buffalo and pigs to flower fields, tea plantations and blossom orchards. However the think sticky mud didn’t change – it was so slidey and hard to move through. One French runner lost the sole of his Hoka Shoes and so had to finish the last 30km with just the uppers of his shoes held onto his feet by socks worn over the top. My race was made because of the scenery. I had no expectations. I felt pretty rotten from the beginning. I had done 3 weeks of decent running but nothing over 4hrs or 20miles. Then 10days of being ill and then a week limping about on my sore foot hoping it would hold up to the rigours of 70km. My body clock wasn’t sure if I should be sleeping or whether breakfast was appropriate. I felt nauseous especially as the sun came up and the humidity rose. My foot was really sore (long standing issue I manage). I guess it’s fair to say I wasn’t feeling the love for ultra-running. In hindsight I had arrived in Vietnam after a really tiring and stressful 3 or so months so not sure I was in the most optimal condition but whinging (even to myself) in a place like this was totally ridiculous. I resolved to just make sure I would do my best. The race continued up and down slipping and sliding over its 3645m and I kept pushing on needing to see more beautiful scenery. The race was superbly marked and although I ran alone I never felt unsafe. I was pleased to finish I must admit. 9hrs 37mins. 1st female. 5th overall. It took a few hours to stop feeling sick but the sun shone and lying prone in a tea plantation was delightfully relaxing. The people were so friendly. I mingled amongst runners and traditionally dressed locals. I felt a bit like a giant at times. I was delighted to win a wooden water buffalo having said hello to so many on route. It was a great day for many reasons. I’d been able to run in one of the most beautiful places in the world; to help put things into perspective; Jon won his age group in the 21km race; the sun shone and I met more new friends. 3 days relaxing afterwards was spent kayaking, swimming, cave exploring all in Ha Long Bay. The name Hạ Long means ‘descending dragon’ and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. The bay features about 2000 limestone islets in an area around 1,553 km2.  The limestone has gone through 500 million years of formation with tectonic influenced plate activity, rain and humidity shaping the topography of the area. Heading back to the chaos of Hanoi was quite a contrast. The red on the traffic lights doesn’t mean red! Just cross with confidence apparently and you’ll be dodged! There was weasel coffee to be tried- the weasel eats the coffee cherries, partially digests  the coffee beans, poos them out where they are collected, cleaned, dried and roasted. Following the French invasion in the 1800s, coffee was introduced into Vietnam, but was considered a luxury so only the French colonists along with Nguyen dynasty’s nobles could drink it. The farmers were forbidden from consuming it therefore the only way to drink it was to pick up the Weasel poo which was a block of coffee beans sticking together. They soon discovered it was more aromatic, smoother and less bitter. With time before leaving the country for the 11hour flight home there was also time for a Vietnamese massage which was a whole body experience. Lots of pressure, clicks and cracks! An amazing place! So many experiences. The trip contrasted; from being physically demanding in the mountains motivated by the people and breathtaking landscape; and yet mentally relaxing with the time on the ocean. Thank you to the race organisers and as always to all my sponsors. SCOTT Running, KOMFUEL, Led Lenser UK, Beta- running, Rocktape, Squirrel Nut Butter, Coffee Buddies, & Symprove.   Read the full article

[kootenaygoon]

So,

Because I’d stubbornly refused to leave Nelson like Paisley wanted, I felt like there was almost no chance I was going to be able to quit smoking weed. That seemed like an increasingly daunting goal, as I felt like I was barely making it from one joint to the next without devolving into panic. My mental health was a tedious chore at this point, as I tried to tease some sort of joy out of my seemingly defunct brain. Was it the antidepressants? Or had something actually shifted in my brain chemistry? Was I ever going to feel happy again? Or would I continue to mope dejected, operating at half efficiency? I fantasized about my life in university, reminiscing about how productive and social and superhuman I’d been back then, gung-ho and convinced the world was on my side. Thinking about that version of myself made me sad, like remembering a friend who passed away young. 

Whatever was going on, I knew I needed to commit to CrossFit. It was the one thing in my life that made me feel like I had real control, like I was making my body stronger and more capable. The gym was becoming increasingly popular, with most of the police force and fire department showing up on a regular basis. Eventually I converted Kai, who then brought out his wife Sheyla. I appreciated that it wasn’t all body builders and gym rats, that there were lots of women and people of all ages. It was the closest thing I had to a church. 

One Saturday, as I headed back to my RAV steaming and shirtless, a woman shouted out my name. She was severe-looking and short, with a tight black pony tail and a six-pack exposed by her soaked through sports bra. She was still heaving from burpees as she half-jogged out into the parking lot.

“Hey, I’ve been meaning to grab you the last couple of times I saw you,” she said. “I wanted to say that I really enjoyed that article you wrote on racism.”

Having stopped mid-stride, I now turned and gave her my full attention. I shook her hand, thanking her and introducing myself. Her name was Natalya. 

“That story actually upset a lot of people. Have you seen the comments on the website? They’re vicious.”

“I thought it was really brave. I’ve never read anything like that in a newspaper before. When I saw you were in my class, I just had to say something.”

A few days previous I’d published a cover story called “Nelson racism: ‘White people don’t want to accept it’”. It was coverage of a youth centre event in which people of colour shared their experiences of living racialized in an ultra-white community like Nelson. Run by well-meaning hipsters, it was intended to be a response to the Black Lives Matter movement. I knew it was an incendiary topic, but I had no idea how violently people would react. The newsroom phones had been ringing all week, and one community group was organizing an emergency meeting to discuss the fall-out.

“The thing is, people don’t like to hear the truth around here. They like to live in their bubble thinking everyone’s all chill and accepting, but the truth is a lot uglier than that,” she said, lighting a cigarette. “My ex is black, and you wouldn’t believe the shit we’ve been through. With the police and everything.”

I nodded. “It’s definitely opened my eyes. It’s one of those issues that’s easy to ignore if it doesn’t affect you, right?”

She laughed. “It’s like these people were trying to prove your headline right, trying to prove that white people can’t accept that they’re racist.”

“It was pretty ironic.”

During the event, Police Chief Paul Burkart had showed up in uniform, which I thought was a powerful statement. He was taking the issue seriously. But just as he was entering the centre, shaking hands with his friends and making his way towards the bleachers, the organizers took him aside. They told him he wasn’t welcome in uniform, with his gun, because they were trying to create a “safe space” for people to share. I watched him march out annoyed and knew I already had a follow-up story. As I chatted about the event with Natalya, I mentioned that my next piece would feature his response to the event: “I want to be part of this conversation”.

“See, that’s cool. A police chief putting his money where his mouth is, I like that,” she said. “Taking racism seriously. I think that’s ridiculous they asked him to leave like that.”

“So I guess your kids are half?”

“Oh yeah, they’re milk chocolate. Curly hair like yours. I’ve got the two, a son and a daughter. Both in elementary school.”

“Hume?”

“Rosemont. My son will be heading to Elephant Mountain Secondary next year.”

All around us our fellow CrossFit enthusiasts were flooding out of the gym, making their way to their cars. Natalya took a purposeful step in my direction. I could smell the human musk of her workout, as well as some sort of fruity body lotion. As we chatted, she purposefully placed her palm on my bare chest like she was daring me to react.

“You have a special aura about you, has anyone ever told you that?”

“Nobody’s told me about my aura before, no.”

“I don’t mean it in some hippy dippy way, it’s just like you have this energy that flows all around you. I can see it coming up from your skull and flowing down your shoulders. I have a thing for auras. Yours is very kind, gentle. But there’s a sadness there too.”

I scoffed. “I don’t know how gentle I am. I’ve always been a hippo.”

She giggled, delighted. “A hippo?”

“Yeah, that’s my power animal. I spend a lot of time in the water, I’m big and hulking like them. There’s no subtlety to my personality.”

“I get it,” she said, laughing. “That’s perfect. A hippo.”

Cold wind whistled past and I felt my nipples get hard. My hair was still bobbing in sweaty ringlets. Standing within touching distance of Natalya was intoxicating, starved as I was for female contact. She was smaller than Paisley, more compact, and maybe a decade older. I’d dated women with kids in the past, and I liked how they had their shit together. Moms typically knew what they wanted out of life, and knew how to get it — they didn’t bother with the flaky emotional bullshit of women in their early 20s. This woman clearly wanted me, and wasn’t going to bother pretending otherwise.

“I heard you’re staying with Neil Solomon,” she said. “Over in Fairview.”

“Moved in just last month.”

“My daughter is in Piper’s grade. She’s such an incredible little girl, huh?”

I nodded. “I feel lucky I ended up there. Trying to put myself back together, you know? It’s been a tough six months.”

She nodded. “I know exactly how that is. My divorce still isn’t finalized. We’re fighting over the house. It’s bananas. We really love each other, but sometimes that means we really hate each other.”

“That’s pretty much where I’m at with Paisley too.”

“You should’ve been warned. It’s one of those curses. Every couple that moves to the Kootenays together ends up breaking up, eventually. This is the place where relationships come to die,” she said, exhaling a long line of smoke. “That’s why there are so many single parents around everywhere. Like me.”

“Oh, is that where you all came from?”

She punched me in the arm, then gazed up at me defiantly. We stood breathing for a few moments as the parking lot began to disgorge its cars. I was already picturing what she would look like naked, what it would be like to slowly peel her bra over her head. This was the sort of incentive that would get me out of bed in the morning, that would convince me life was worth living. I smirked flirtatiously, hooking one finger in the waistband of her shorts. We’d been talking for less than five minutes but there was a live, electric connection flowing between us. She opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn’t speak.

“I don’t have my kids tonight, do you want to come over for dinner?”

The Kootenay Goon

[pharmaphorumuk]

FCS: A life-limiting condition

GP Karishma Patel tells us about the daily challenges of living with the ultra-rare condition Familial Chylomicronaemia Syndrome (FCS), which prevents the body from breaking down fats.

My name is Dr Karishma Patel and I am a GP with an ultra-rare genetic condition called Familial Chylomicronaemia Syndrome (FCS). I was diagnosed with FCS at birth. On the newborn heel prick test the sample of blood was lipaemic and a yellow-straw colour, so the doctors immediately knew there was something wrong. Further tests revealed a triglyceride level of above 200mmol/L (normal < 1.7 mmol/L).

People with FCS are unable to metabolise fat properly, resulting in a build-up of lipids (called triglycerides) in their blood. This build-up of triglycerides causes many symptoms including severe abdominal pain, recurrent attacks of acute pancreatitis which can be fatal, eruptive xanthomas (fatty deposits on the skin), hepatosplenomegaly (an enlargement of the liver or spleen), memory impairment and fatigue. Some people go on to develop diabetes due to the recurrent stress and damage that the pancreas undergoes.

There is currently no cure for FCS and patients must follow a very strict diet of 10-20g of fat a day. I find that I must eat less than 15g per day to manage my symptoms. To put this in context, just one avocado is about 25g of fat.

Not only am I affected by FCS, but my family and friends have been very affected by the condition too. When I was first diagnosed, it was very hard for my parents as there was very little information about FCS; even the paediatrician said that this would be a “learning curve” for him as he had not encountered such high triglyceride levels before. My parents were even told to expect the worst as the doctors were unsure of my life expectancy. My mum was told to stop breastfeeding immediately and instead my parents were given a prescription milk to use with vitamin supplementation.

“FCS patients must follow a very strict diet of 10-20g of fat a day. To put this in context, just one avocado is about 25g of fat”

In the 1990s, the labelling on food packaging did not contain the fat content or nutritional information, so my mum would study the ingredients to work out whether the food was “safe” or not, and on numerous occasions she would  write to  the manufacturer of the product to  ascertain the ingredients/fat content in the food. All of our family holidays were self-catered to ensure the low-fat diet was adhered to. Even now the enjoyment of travel is coupled with strain as explaining to people what I can/ cannot eat is difficult and my requests can often be ignored or not understood. Managing travel delays is tricky as there is usually nothing suitable around for me to eat.

The most worrying time for my parents was when I was in my mid-20s. I was working full time as a junior doctor and found it very hard to be organised with supermarket shopping and meal planning due to the antisocial shift pattern and the long hours. Despite strict adherence to my low-fat diet, I was being admitted to hospital every eight weeks for severe abdominal pain (requiring morphine analgesia) or pancreatitis. This, apart from being the most painful thing I have ever experienced, was extremely unsettling as I would only have short periods of time when I had no abdominal pain. I became depressed and I found it embarrassing to be admitted to the hospital – my place of work – and frustrated with myself that I could not stay well despite how restricted my diet was.

Now at the age of 31, I feel I have reached a period of stability with my FCS, thanks to working closely with my doctor to find solutions that help me manage the symptoms. I have made an active choice to only work three days a week so I can focus on my health.

I still have constant anxiety around food, and my social life is severely impacted by the dietary restriction. I avoid most social events as they are usually centred around food and drink, and I feel guilty when I let friends or family down at short notice because I have abdominal pain or feel fatigued.

It is extremely difficult to live with a rare disease, especially one which people cannot see. I often get told by people, “Oh, at least you will always be thin”.

Looking towards the future, I am becoming more confident in my health which has enabled me to travel more. During my 20s I never considered pregnancy, as my FCS was so poorly controlled, but now I feel more equipped to manage the condition and I can consider having a family of my own.

I feel fortunate that I was diagnosed at birth as I have always known that I am not to eat fatty foods; I can only empathise with those who have had to change their diet and have those things taken away from them when diagnosed at a later stage. For many patients, FCS is not diagnosed until later in life, usually after multiple attendances to A&E for recurrent attacks of pancreatitis. One of the main ways to help diagnose FCS is through a simple blood test for triglyceride levels, however, this test is not routinely taken in this setting. Awareness of the condition still seems low, so making a new diagnosis is difficult and requires specialist input from a Lipidologist.

Due to the limited availability of treatments in Europe, there seems to be no agreed information about how to manage the condition, other than stick to a 10-20 g fat a day. Even this is an art as there is variability between what patients can tolerate in terms of dietary fat. Once you are diagnosed, there can also be conflicting advice from dieticians and consultants.

For anyone newly diagnosed with FCS, I think they should be positive and confident that with access to the right support, they can live a happy and healthy life. There is a lot more information available now about FCS than when I was first diagnosed – and even an annual FCS Awareness Day on the 1 November. The most helpful thing I came across was the LPLD Alliance Charity (www.lpldalliance.org) as it gives practical tips on how to live with the condition and puts you in touch with other patients so that you are no longer alone.  I am now happy to be a trustee of the charity. It makes a big difference to me knowing others are facing the same difficulties that I am.  It’s a great source of psychological support, which I feel is often  overlooked as it’s difficult for non-sufferers to understand the relentless daily burden that FCS imposes on our lives.

With editorial support funded by Akcea Therapeutics UK Ltd.

The post FCS: A life-limiting condition appeared first on .

from https://pharmaphorum.com/views-analysis-patients/fcs-a-life-limiting-condition/

[theguineapig3]

OHO? A TAGGY GET-TO-KNOW-YOU POST? DON’T MIND IF I DO~ (Thanks, @raxon-raxoff!)

Rules: Answer the questions in a new post and tag 10 blogs you would like to get to know better.

A - Age: 21

B - Birthplace: North Carolina, USA 

C - Current time: 9:27 pm

D - Drink you last had: Milk- but, like, the REALLY GOOD ULTRA-PASTEURIZED SHIT. I mean, regular whole milk is already heavenly, but THIS STUFF. Aw man. Gotta get me some more of that. 

E- Easiest person to talk to: My gf and my brother! Also my guinea pigs, maybe? 

F - Favorite song: I don’t have a specified FAVORITE, I usually just have a specific JAM at any one time. Current JAM is “You’re Welcome” from Moana.

G - Grossest memory: The summer camp I used to attend is located in a swampy section of the North Carolina sandhills, so their mud is particularly abundant and gross. Every camp group is expected to embark on the (in)famous “Mudwalk” at least once during the summer, and I HATED it. The mud looked gross and smelled even worse, it was full of insects and spiders, it stained everything a horrible shade of brown, and once it dried on your skin it itched something awful. No one else seemed to understand why I hated it, because it was a favorite activity of most campers. Ugh, ugh. This summer I was a counselor for a day camp program and I was the HEROIC VOLUNTEER willing to forego the mud in order to carry everyone’s packs to the other side and photograph the event. They invited me in once some other adults had made it across, but I refused. “I did my time as a camper,” I said. Ugh. I won’t say “never again” because I’m in a career that sometimes requires dirty fieldwork, but that’s different. That’s for science. ONLY FOR SCIENCE.

H - Horror yes or Horror no: No thank you!

I - In love?: Yes!!!!.

J - Jealous of people?: I definitely get envious of other people’s talents. I’m genuinely comfortable with a happy, mediocre life, but whenever I hear about some child prodigy or genius, my knee-jerk reaction is to feel down about myself for not reaching that level. It’s frustrating.

L - Love at first sight or should I walk by again?: Is this a meme?

M - Middle name: “Clare” was the name of my great-great(?) aunt.

N - Number of siblings: One brother.

O - One wish: I’d like to be able to motivate myself without relying on a time crunch to kick me into high gear. At this point procrastination isn’t even a choice, it’s just how I function and I hate it.

P - Person you called last: My grandparents! It was kinda late when they got home so we only talked for 30 minutes, but it was a really nice conversation nonetheless.

Q - Question you are always asked: The one I get most often is “Why are you always smiling?” or “Why are you so happy all the time?” and tbh? I’m not trying. My face just looks like this. 

R - Reason to smile: The world!! Is beautiful!! And I’m!! In love!! Life is good!!

S - Song you last sang: I was working on a current project: a setting of John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer to an arrangement of the traditional hymn Blest Be the Tie That Binds. (I thought it’d be better to up the tempo to 105 bpm rather than 95, but that meant I needed to re-record the vocal track; oops.)

T - Time you woke up: 8:30, but I snoozed the alarm once.

U - Underwear colour: Orange stripes. It’s new!

V - Vacation destination: The beach, but my dream is that someday it won’t have to be a vacation destination, I’ll just look outside my home and there it is.

W - Worst habit: Should I put procrastination if it’s more of an executive dysfunction issue? I’ll go ahead and put it, considering that’s the one that most negatively impacts my daily life.

X - X-rays: Besides regular dental x-rays, the only time I’ve ever had one was the last time I was in Scotland and broke my foot while biking. 

F - Favorite food: That’s a good question. I really love soft comfort foods- macaroni+cheese and chicken ‘n dumplings are probably my most favorite. I’m particularly partial to a recipe I have for ramen noodles with ham and a homemade cheese sauce.

Z - Zodiac Sign: Western - Capricorn, Chinese- Pig

Tags, tags! You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, but in case you do: @fabletelle, @ghostypeaches, @accioharo, @yami268, @djwaglmuffin, @linybeany, @cutepiku, @glittercanblog

[babymilkaction]

IBFAN highlights risks of WHO's Governance reforms at the Executive Board meeting

145th WHO Executive Board. 29-30th May 2019

The 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva has now ended  CLICK here for IBFAN’s statements.  We are also tracking WHO’s  transformation processes and governance reforms – and will deliver the statement below today at the Executive Board meeting. With other Civil Society NGOs – as members of the G2H2 hub – we helped craft this statement that highlights some of our concerns.  While we strongly endorse it, we do so with one important reservation -we think it is premature and diversionary to refer to a WHO Global Forum, when there are so many problems that need to be addressed, not least WHO’s incorrect Conflict of Interest definition (1) and its Framework for Engagement with Non state actors (FENSA).  We attended the very bad WHO forum in Moscow in 2011 so are particularly wary of how easily corporations can influence policies. (2)

IBFAN statement on Agenda item 6.1, “WHO governance reform processes” and sub-item “Involvement of non-State actors” (Document EB 145/4)

IBFAN has worked alongside WHO for about 40 years and has followed WHO’s reform process, often with alarm. In our experience, when WHA resolutions are translated into legislation, properly monitored, implemented and defended at Codex, they really can and do protect health and have probably saved millions of lives. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. The baby food issue can be used as a model wherever human health is under threat from harmful marketing practices. The call for increased engagement and partnerships with entities that caused these threats will not help. It will lead to misplaced trust, image transfer, confusion and a weakening of resolutions. To stop the public good being subverted, WHO must remind governments that effective legislation, not here-today-gone-tomorrow voluntary commitments, is what’s needed. We disagree with the statement in report 145/4 that WHO’s constitution ‘forsees’ the participation of NSAs in WHO’s governing bodies. WHO’s basic documents have always been clear that NGOs must be “free from concerns that are primarily of a commercial or profit-making nature.” This is one important reason why FENSA must be evaluated. In allowing Businesses and Philanthropies to enjoy Official Status, WHO has taken a huge leap into the dark. It is vital that the risks of such a fundamental change be evaluated, acknowledged and addressed.  There certainly should be no talk of global forums – that can so easily undermine the status of the WHA (2)–  before this essential work is done. WHO has a constitutional duty to consult with civil society as rights holders. Corporations do not have these rights. The term “non-State actors” makes it impossible to see what’s really happening and who is really working for the public good. We even all wear the same colour badges. Fensa also places a huge strain on WHO’s due diligence process. WHO is clearly under pressure to be less ‘risk averse’, to use FENSA as an enabling framework for undue public-private entanglements, to not bother correcting its own Conflict of Interest definition.[1] We call on WHO to resist such pressure, stay within its constitutional mandate, safeguard its independence, trustworthiness and integrity, WHO’s unique role as the coordinating authority in setting global health norms is at stake. Civil society is there to help.

(1) WHO definitions confuse conflicts of interest within an institution or person with conflicts between actors who have diverging or fiduciary duties (which in the case of corporations is to maximise profits).

(2) The WHO  Global Forum in Moscow see  press release :WHO Global Forum in Moscow. Tackling food-related diseases: voluntary measures or regulation – carrot or stick?

  ___________________

International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) creeps closer to WHO

This is an example of the risks of working too closely with food corporations and praising voluntary commitments. While we of course support WHO’s efforts to encourage governments to legally ban industrially produced Transfats (TFAs)  Is it really wise to promote the  International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA)?

IFBA is the front group for 12 of the world’s largest producers of ultra-processed foods,  Nestlé, Unilever, Pepsico etc  – corporations who have been responsible for much of the  global consumption of TFAs for decades.   Isn’t one of IFBA’s long-term goals to gain Official Relations status with WHO – and if they get this will they really help achieve WHO’s goals?   (The baby food industry ISDI – lost this status in 2013)

Denmark was the first country to mandate restrictions on industrially-produced trans fats.  When the trans fat content of food products declined dramatically, cardiovascular disease deaths declined more quickly than in comparable OECD countries.

WHO welcomes industry action to align with global trans fat elimination targets

7 May 2019 News release Geneva

WHO welcomes the commitment by the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to align with the WHO target to eliminate industrially produced trans fat from the global food supply by 2023.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with IFBA representatives, including chief executive officers from several of the 12 companies comprising the alliance, on 2 May 2019 to discuss actions to take to eliminate industrial trans fats, and reduce salt, sugar and saturated fats in processed foods.

The meeting also stressed the value of regulatory action on labelling, marketing and called industry to full adherence to the WHO Code of marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes.

“The commitment made by IFBA is in line with WHO’s target to eliminate industrial trans fat from the global food supply by 2023,” Dr Tedros said. “WHO will be monitoring the next steps to be taken by companies to help ensure the commitment is realized.”

Of particular note was the decision to by IFBA members to ensure that the amount of industrial trans fat (iTFA) in their products does not exceed 2 g of iTFA per 100 g fat/oil globally by 2023. This is in line with the WHO’s objective and recommendations of its REPLACE action package, which was developed and launched in 2018.

“Eliminating industrially-produced trans fat is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save lives and create a healthier food supply,” added Dr Tedros.

In line with the REPLACE initiative, WHO has called on all food producers and oil and fat manufacturers, not only IFBA members, to commit to elimination of industrial trans fat from the global food supply.

Trans fat intake is responsible for over 500,000 deaths from coronary heart disease each year globally.

IFBA newsletter

  IBFAN highlights risks of WHO’s Governance reforms at the Executive Board meeting was originally published on Baby Milk Action