DCUK Anyone remember the resident dietitian ?

I do, she once reported me to the Cardiff plod! Eddie

     

Easy Roasted Cauliflower Stir Fry With Pork

Have you been to Beijing recently? If you have, you may well have had this lovely dish, or something quite similar. But if like me you haven't, not to worry, you can try it at home. The slightly crispy, saucy, spicy cauliflower and pork are so good together - I hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

For the pork and marinade:
½ cup sliced lean pork
2 teaspoons shaoxing wine or dry sherry
½ teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch

For the rest of the dish:

One medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets
oil
Salt and pepper
6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
6 dried red chilies, halved
6 slices ginger
2 scallions/spring onions cut into large pieces
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons shaoxing wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce


Method

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine the pork with the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, spread out the cauliflower in a single layer and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and roast until crisp and golden, about 20 minutes. Stir the cauliflower halfway through baking.

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in your wok over medium heat. Add the garlic, chilies, and ginger, and cook for about 2 minutes, making sure they don’t burn. Turn up the heat to high, add the pork, and cook until browned.

Stir in the cauliflower (keep the heat on high), and cook for a minute. Add the scallion, sesame oil, wine, and the soy sauces. Season with additional salt if needed. Cover the lid and bring everything to a simmer. Uncover, give everything another stir, and serve.

Some will serve it over rice, but as most who read recipe's here are living the LCHF lifestyle perhaps a small serving of cauliflower rice or some fine green beans would be nice?

As always if you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugar numbers test is best i.e. check/use your meter.

The original recipe idea and a step by step guide can be found here it's really useful.

All the best Jan.

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs for the Elderly, a Very Bad Idea !

The words of Jeffrey Dach MD

Flawed and Corrupted Study

A 2008 publication by Jonathon Afilalo in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology concludes that," Statins reduce all-cause mortality in elderly patients and the magnitude of this effect is substantially larger than had been previously estimated. "  

Statistics Manipulated

This 2008 metanalysis by Afilalo is a statistical sleight of hand that gives the results opposite to reality.  Their conclusion is directly opposite to multiple previous studies.  Also, this published study had no Disclosure Statement, another warning sign of bias from authors receiving compensation from drug companies.

Lowering Cholesterol in the Elderly is a BAD IDEA

Contrary to the above flawed 2008 metanalysis, it is a very bad idea to lower the cholesterol levels in the elderly with statin drugs. An excellent article on the topic appeared on the Junk Food Science Blog.

Here's the evidence:

1) the Honolulu Heart Study published in Lancet 2001, showed that patients with the lowest cholesterol had the highest mortality.  The authors concluded,"These data cast doubt on the scientific justification for lowering cholesterol to very low concentrations  in elderly people."

2) Krumholz from Yale published his study in JAMA 1994 looking at elevated cholesterol to see if it was associated with increased all-cause mortality or heart disease.  He reported that elevated cholesterol was NOT a risk factor for mortality or heart disease.  He said,"our findings do not support the hypothesis that hypercholesterolemia or low HDL-C are important risk factors for all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease mortality, or hospitalization for myocardial infarction or unstable angina in this cohort of persons older than 70 years."

3) Beatrice Golomb MD in Geriatric Times 2004, reports that in the elderly, higher cholesterol is linked with improved survival.

She says, "While patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease receive mortality benefit from statins in studies predominating in middle-aged men (Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group, 1994), no trend toward survival benefit is seen in elderly patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease(Shepherd et al., 2002).   A less favorable risk-benefit profile may particularly hold for patients older than 85, in whom benefits may be more attenuated and risks more amplified (Weverling-Rijnsburger et al., 1997). In fact, in this older group, higher cholesterol has been linked observationally to improved survival." 

The above taken from here. Check this link out for much more very useful information.

Eddie

Research Misconduct in Pharamacuetical and Medical Devices Industries

Graham

Stuffed Aubergine Rolls

Well you don't have to be a vegetarian, but this recipe using Aubergines stuffed with ricotta and baked in a rich tomato sauce can make a delicious vegetarian dinner. Served simply with a green salad it is great tasting food, and can fit well into a LCHF menu plan.

Ingredients (Serves 3 - 4 )

2 aubergines cut length ways into 0.5cm  / ¼ in thick strips

salt and freshly ground black pepper

olive oil for brushing

For The Filling
150g/5oz  ricotta

150g/5oz buffalo mozzarella
pinch freshly grated nutmeg
2 spring onions, finely chopped

For The Sauce
250ml/8fl oz extra virgin olive oil
450g/1lb cherry tomatoes, halved

1 garlic clove, crushed

pinch sugar
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/355F/Gas 4.
2. Season the aubergine slices well with salt and freshly ground black pepper and brush with oil.
3. Griddle / Grill for a couple of minutes on each side in a hot griddle pan, or until golden-brown grill marks are formed. Remove from the pan and drain on kitchen paper.

4. For the filling, mix the ricotta, mozzarella, nutmeg and spring onions together in a bowl.

5. Lay out all of the slices of aubergine onto a clean surface. Place about one teaspoon of filling at the bottom edge of each one.
6. Roll up the aubergine slices, like a cigar, around the filling, then rest them seam-side down on a plate.

7. For the sauce, heat the olive oil in a pan and add the cherry tomatoes.

8. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until the tomatoes begin to break down.
9. Remove from the heat and stir in the garlic and sugar. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

10. Spoon some of the sauce into the bottom of an ovenproof dish.

11. Carefully place the aubergine rolls, seam-side down onto the sauce, and spoon over the rest of the sauce.

12. Transfer to the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the cheese begins to melt.

13. To serve, spoon the rolls onto plates.

Serve with a lovely green salad  ...... great tasting food.

Original recipe idea is here

All the best Jan

Flu vaccine 'barely effective' against main viral strain !

This year's seasonal flu vaccine is barely able to protect people from the main strain of flu being spread in the UK, health officials say.

Doctors are being urged to use antiviral drugs quickly to protect vulnerable patients.

Evidence shows the vaccine is stopping only three out of every 100 vaccinated people from developing symptoms.

But Public Health England says people should still get vaccinated to protect against other strains of flu.

Flu is a constantly shifting target and that makes it difficult to develop a vaccine. It is why a new jab is needed each year.

Twelve months ago, the World Health Organization settled on the three most likely strains of flu that would be circulating this winter.

But one of them has since mutated so significantly that the vaccine seems to offer little protection.

It works in just three out of every 100 people. A flu vaccine normally works in 50 out of every 100.

Full story here. Another case of big pharma nil healthy lifestyle ten.


Eddie

The Old Mutual Health Convention - 19 to 22 February '15

Real Meal Revolution is proud to be a part of the Old Mutual Health Convention. Watch Prof Noakes throw down a challenge as Jonno interviews him!

Graham

Dijon Chicken With Mushrooms

This mustard chicken dish is great for an easy dinner party, and served with cauliflower rice or a simple green salad. Approx 4g carbs per serving.

Ingredients - Serves 4

4 chicken breasts skin on

200g mushrooms sliced

1 garlic clove crushed

1 onion sliced 

3 tbsp dijon mustard

1 tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped

500ml white wine

A splash of brandy

Method

1. In a pan, heat a glug of olive oil. Season 4 chicken breasts, then fry, skin-side down, until golden. Turn over and sear, then set aside.

2. Fry 200g mushrooms, sliced, in the same pan until golden. Add 1 garlic clove, crushed, and 1 onion, sliced, then cook until soft.

3. Stir in 3 tbsp Dijon mustard and 1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon.

4. Add 500ml white wine and a splash of brandy, then bubble for 2 minutes.

5. Add the chicken, skin-side up, cover and simmer for 10 minutes

6. Cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring now and then.

7. Garnish with fresh tarragon.

This lovely meal can be served with cauliflower rice, or perhaps a simple green salad. A delicious tasting low carb meal. A chilled glass of white wine - optional.

Original recipe idea can be found here

All the best Jan

DCUK Admin outed at the flog !

Senior Buddhists suggest mummified monk is in 'meditative trance'

More here, Eddie

Jeez no wonder the Church is on the way out !

The Low Carb Dietitian's Guide to Health and Beauty by Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Franziska Spritzler

Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE, is a strong proponent of carbohydrate restriction for people struggling with weight and blood glucose issues. In addition to working in private practice, she is a freelance writer whose articles about low-carbohydrate diets have been published online and in diabetes journals and magazines, including the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Spectrum. She is also the creator ofwww.lowcarbdietitian.com.

The book is available pre-order for Kindle and other devices here.

Dietary Sodium: Where Science and Policy Conflict

Impact of the 2013 IOM Report on Sodium Intake in Populations

Abstract

The 2013 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report “Sodium Intake in Populations: Assessment of Evidence” did not support the current recommendations of the IOM and the American Heart Association (AHA) to reduce daily dietary sodium intake to below 2300 mg.

The report concluded that the population-based health outcome evidence was not sufficient to define a safe upper intake level for sodium. Recent studies have extended this conclusion to show that a sodium intake below 2300 mg/day is associated with increased mortality.

In spite of this increasing body of evidence, the AHA, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), other public health advisory bodies, and major medical journals have continued to support the current policy of reducing dietary sodium.

http://link.springer.com/

Unfortunately the full text is behind a paywall.

Graham

A qualitative investigation of patients’ understanding of carbohydrate in the clinical management of type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Background

A healthy diet is the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) self-management. Carbohydrate is of particular interest as the nutrient with the greatest direct effect on blood glucose (BG) levels. The present study aimed to explore T2DM patients’ understanding of carbohydrate and beliefs around the role of carbohydrate in T2DM management.

Methods

Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with T2DM patients. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, and a deductive thematic approach to analysis was employed using the Framework method.

Results

Four significant themes emerged: (i) a naïve conceptual understanding of carbohydrate and sugar-centric specificity to dietary behaviours; (ii) a narrow focus on BG management to the neglect of overall dietary balance; (iii) positive reception of moderate dietary advice focused on portion control from healthcare professionals (HCPs); and (iv) the impact of external moderators of dietary choices, including the influence of significant others, emotional and opportunistic eating and budgetary constraints.

Conclusions

Participants’ beliefs and understanding of carbohydrate led to an overemphasis on sugar restriction for blood glucose control to the neglect of their overall dietary balance. Diabetes educators need to place greater emphasis on the role of various types of carbohydrate foods for glycaemic control, as well as on concepts of wider metabolic health, during T2DM dietary education. Participants placed a high level of trust and value on practical, moderate portion control advice from HCPs regarding carbohydrate foods. However, HCPs need to be cognisant of external moderators of behaviour, such as the influence of family and friends, budgetary constraints and environmental eating triggers.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

This is from the official journal of the British Dietetic Association check out the BDA fact sheet on Carbohydrates

 Graham

Mushrooms Anyone ?

We never get tired of mushrooms, for breakfast, eggs, bacon and a hand full of small mushrooms all fried in butter. As a starter or light lunch, a large portabello mushroom, filled with pate and covered in grated cheese. Cook at 200c for 20 minutes on a baking sheet. Add the cheese after 15 minutes cooking. Serve with a mixed salad.

Or how about this great recipe, lovely as an appetizer, or as a side dish .... stuffed mushrooms are it.

 

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons of butter,
• 1 package button mushrooms, washed, dried, and stems removed
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced or 3-4 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic
• salt
• ¼ cup Flat-leaf Parsley, chopped, or 3-4 tablespoons of dried parsley
• 4 whole Green Onions, chopped
• 1 slice (wedge) Of Brie Cheese (or other cheese - but brie does work well.)

Instructions:

Melt butter in large skillet/pan. Add mushrooms and turn to coat in butter. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Brown for a couple of minutes, then remove mushrooms from pan and place in a baking dish.

In the same pan add garlic, parsley, and green onions. Sprinkle very lightly with salt. Stir and toss to coat for a few minutes. Remove from heat.

Carefully cut white rind off of brie wedge, then cut tiny pieces of brie to fit each mushroom. Press each piece of cheese into the inside of a mushroom.

Pour parsley garlic mixture over the top of mushrooms.

Put pan into a preheated 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes, or until brie is melted.

Original recipe idea if you want to give it a try.

All the best Jan 

Look Ma! No Bong! Afrezza Inhaled Insulin Device is a Cool Gadget

Sanofi and MannKind Corporation announced today that Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, the only inhaled insulin, is now available by prescription in U.S. retail pharmacies nationwide. Afrezza is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to control high blood sugar in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. 

Afrezza is a drug–device combination product that consists of a dry formulation of human insulin delivered from a small and portable inhaler to help patients achieve blood sugar control. Afrezza is rapidly absorbed and has a short duration of action. It is administered at the beginning of a meal.

This is a vast improvement over the Exubera "Bong" that Pfizer attempted to launch back in 2007. In June of that year, Amy Tenderich, author behind award-winning blog Diabetes Mine, wrote:

"Because for any PWD [person with diabetes] with an actual social life, Exubera inhaled insulin is looking like a bomb. As I told the reps at the ADA conference frankly, the science behind it IS revolutionary, and we PWDs are grateful for strides in alternative insulin delivery, of course! But the Exubera Inhaler Device really is as bad as it looks in pictures. Worse, because the bulky 'white' plastic portions are not white at all, but that hospital-grade biege that reminds you of walkers and bedpans. An aesthetic nightmare, in the age of cool gadgetry" (see "Are you happy to see me, or is that just your Exubera Bong?").

The Afrezza device is definitely a cool bit of gadgetry! This may be the first time that a drug/device was designed based on fostering relations with patients via social media, something that Pfizer may have learned too late. How so?

It appears that Sanofi's relations with the PWD community via social media and in the real world has paid off. I have documented these efforts here on Pharma Marketing Blog (see, for example, Sanofi Launches Diabetapedia: "Google" for Diabetes and Sanofi US to Develop Documentary Featuring Real Patients and Their Stories). Sanofi did such a great job soliciting input from PWD via social media that  the U.S. Diabetes team (Dennis Urbaniak, Joan Mikardos, and Laura Kolodjesji) received the third annual Pharmguy Social Media Pioneer Award (see here).

I felt that this team deserved recognition because they didn't give up on social media even after a "disgruntled" patient caused Sanofi to shut down a Facebook page that did not have comments turned off (read about that here). Urbaniak et al learned a lot from this experience and shared what they learned (listen to this podcast: "What Sanofi-Aventis Learned from Its FaceBook Experience").

In a poll, Kolodjeski was praised because "she keeps the patient at the center of all her efforts. She is a great example of how we should go about our business in Pharma." One respondent described Urbaniak as "the most innovative guy in pharma" and said he "opened new ways of engaging with patients in the diabetes field, with courage and consistency."


Urbaniak left sanofi and is now Managing Director at Accenture where he can spread his "customer centric approach" to other pharmaceutical companies.

http://pharmamkting.blogspot.co.uk/

Graham

Thought for the day.

Why you can't trust David Cameron !

Cost of Managing Diabetes Per Person Doubles Over Two Decades

Increased spending on drugs is seen as the primary culprit...

Based on an investigation by researchers from the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, medical spending attributable to diabetes per person doubled between 1987 and 2011.

"Despite the modest decline in the use of inpatient, ER and other medical services, the excess medical spending on those services that is attributable to diabetes continued to grow due to a substantial increase in the price of those services," the researchers wrote.

Xiaohui Zhuo, PhD, of the agency's Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and colleagues compared per person medical costs and uses among adults aged ≥18 years with and without diabetes.
The researchers used three time points, based on data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey and Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys 2000 to 2001 and 2010 to 2011.

Comment from our Editor-in-chief, Dave Joffe:

According to researchers from the CDC in Atlanta, medical spending attributable to diabetes per person doubled between 1987 and 2011. Part of the problem comes from the younger age that patients are developing diabetes as well as the more heroic and expensive ways we are treating patients' glucose levels and complications.

Inpatient care, ER visits, outpatient visits and prescription drugs were among the types of medical services included in the analysis. The investigators also considered changes in unit cost, as defined by expenditure per encounter for the services.

Excess medical spending per person attributed to diabetes was $2,588 (95% CI, $2,265–$3,104) in 1987, $4,205 (95% CI, $3,746–$4,920) from 2000 to 2001 and $5,378 (95% CI, $5,129–$5,688) from 2010 to 2011.

The largest proportion of the $2,790 increase was spent on prescription drugs (55%), followed by inpatient visits (24%), outpatient visits (15%) and ER visits and other medical spending (6%).

The rise in prescription drug spending was due to increases in volume of use and unit cost, but the growth in outpatient spending was almost exclusively due to more visits. Heightened unit costs drove the increases in inpatient and ER expenditures.


"Further studies are needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of increased spending on drugs," the researchers wrote.

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/

LowCarb is tthe answer no need for more "heroic and expensive ways" to bring glucose levels down.

Graham

Low carb salmon and asparagus crustless quiche

Ingredients:
6 eggs

One tin of whole asparagus spears 244 grams
100 grams of flaked pre-cooked salmon
6 tablespoons of double cream

Salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 2-4

Mix the eggs and cream in a bowl or pyrex jug

Pour into a non stick baking dish 8" x 1.5"

Place the asparagus spears and salmon

Place into a pre heated oven at 190c and cook for twenty minutes.

Serve with a mixed salad. Great lowcarb food and won't break the bank. Tastes great hot or cold.

All the best Jan

DCUK aka The Gulag aka The Flog does the skulduggery ever end ?

Meanwhile back at the Gulag

Over at the forum of flog, members voice concerns about information going to the flog's facebook page. Members ask too many straight questions, get bluffed off, and the thread is locked and sinks into oblivion.

Changes are made on the forum and new thread starts called 'New Forum Improvements' a members post to the forum admin on the new thread "Yes, the linking of threads to Facebook. This has been discussed on another thread but still awaiting reply. Thanks" admin replies "Hi danny - this thread is only for dealing with technical issues."

This is code for, we will do what we like with your posts and if you don't like it you a can f**k off.

Another member posts.

"I was going to PM you about this but decided it should be said publicly.
As you know we had a thread (now closed) re the linking of threads to Facebook. Several of us expressed a dislike of this practice. I understand that you personally are not in control of what happens on Facebook and accept this.

I would like to say that I find the new practice of displaying the new profile posts so publicly on the forum home page now to be disturbing: several of us complained because we didn't like Facebook, now the forum has become more like Facebook! That seems like a kick in the teeth for those of us who expressed our opinion on that closed thread (who together have posted many thousands of messages on this forum)."

Danny posts.

"Totally agree. Very disappointing end to a very informative thread. Basically it says we understand many members are unhappy be we are unwilling to deal with it so lock it and hope it goes away. We were promised that Giverny and Admin were dealing with this."

Will the members get a straight answer? Are the forum "Improvements" beneficial to the members? are the "improvements" further marketing ploys to further the commercial aims of the flog?  is more skulduggery going on? 

We need to be told! The way to the Gulag is here.

Eddie

Association of decrease in carbohydrate intake with reduction in abdominal fat during 3-month moderate low-carbohydrate diet among non-obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective

The effectiveness of a moderate low-carbohydrate diet (M-LCD) has been demonstrated in terms of glycemic control, body weight and serum lipid profiles. We investigated the effect of a 3-month M-LCD on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and examined an association between decrease in carbohydrate intake and reduction in abdominal fat among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

Seventy-six patients (45 men and 31 women; mean age ± SD: 59.5 ± 11.1 years) with T2DM were instructed to follow an M-LCD for 3 months. We assessed abdominal fat distribution using computed tomography and macronutrient intakes from 3-day dietary records at baseline and after 3 months.

Results

The patients complied well with the M-LCD - %carbohydrate: %fat: %protein at baseline and after 3 months were 51:27:15 and 41:33:18 in men and 54:27:16 and 42:37:19 in women, respectively. VAT and SAT significantly decreased during the 3 months (P for time <0.001 for both). Decrease in carbohydrate intake (g/day) and %carbohydrate were correlated with decrease (%) in VAT. The correlations were significant in men (Spearman correlation coefficient r = 0.469 for carbohydrate intake (g) and r = 0.402 for %carbohydrate) but not in women (r = 0.269 and 0.278, respectively). The correlations in men remained significant in multiple regression analysis adjusted for age and changes in energy intake.

Conclusions

In men, decrease in carbohydrate intake was significantly correlated with VAT loss during a 3-month M-LCD, independently of reduction in energy intake.

http://www.metabolismjournal.com/

Graham

Featured food of the week Scallops

Another great food idea and photograph from the mega Simply Recipe site here.

Mudeford Quay Dorset

King scallops

I usually keep to food ideas that everyone can afford, let's face it we could all low carb eating fillet steak, lobsters and caviar etc. Every now and again we push the boat out, and scoff King Scallops we get from a great fresh fish shop at Mudeford Quay in Dorset. King scallops are very expensive, but if I could afford it I would live on them. We used to live a few miles away on the South Coast and spent many happy hours on the Quay.The kids used to like catching little crabs with bits of bacon on the end of a little hand held line set up, all put back in the sea alive at the end of the session.

The way I cook 'em, the scallops, not the kids, is in a hot frying pan with a little butter. When they are just starting to lightly brown, get 'em out quick, over cook them and they are ruined. Serve on a bed of double creamed wilted spinach. Low carb tough, not for me and Jan. Just don't ask me to do the washing up, groan !

Eddie

Have I taken idleness too far?

Never let it be said I boast about my punishing fitness regime, but have I taken idleness too far? Just got a dog and he learns fast, the worlds first voice activated TV remote control. Well, it saves me having to move.   Eddie

DCUK Forum The truth, the whole truth, anything but the truth !

This item was emailed to me from a member of DCUK yesterday, who for obvious reasons wants to remain anonymous. The words below were posted by forum member Jane Watt. Her post was almost immediately deleted. At the time of deletion two mods were logged in, Ian and Catherinecherub. I am sure Ian would never have deleted this post, he is a man of the highest integrity, draw your own conclusions. Jane very clearly describes the duplicity and underhandedness that has become the hallmark of DCUK over the years. Yet again we see corrupt mods running the forum in a totally dishonest way. Banning, thread locking and deleting members posts, to hide their own spiteful prejudices and outright dishonesty. Eddie

"I recently resigned as Moderator. i was waiting some sort of “official” response 
before setting out the basis for my decision. However I’ve just been re-graded 
without comment!

I didn’t know where to start this Thread- under what Forum it might come. I 
thought of Introductions and Greetings, but did feel that’s where Newcomers 
might go first and I don’t want them to be faced with this!
But I did want explain my actions. i had thought there might be some sort of 
announcement I could respond to, but there’s been no response from any 
Moderator.

The reasons are many but the basis is the fact there’s no Moderator “team”. 
There’s very little discussion and a very “high-handed” way of dealing with 
issues. I imagine most of the “team work” goes on as PMs.

I wanted to be a Moderator because I have skills, qualifications and long 
experience in helping people to communicate respectfully and clearly with one 
another. I don’t post often because I believe to many posts can be overwhelming. 
I do use the “Like” button quite a lot and some of the Games.

I understand there are long standing issues with the past and another Forum – 
i’ve had a look at, but don’t want to be involved with that enmity.

All the Bans etc are beyond me. Naturally, I do feel some of the disrespect and 
rude terms used on the few “comments” posts that show discussion on the 
Moderators’ Forum are out of order. We should not be jumping on certain members 
when we allow other “respected” ones to post harmfully (in my opinion).

Some Moderators can be very patronising towards members and other posters.

We should be respectful in our language towards others and I wanted to help 
achieve this.

There is little “transparency” in the hierarchy here and I felt that I could not 
be seen as being in agreement with all Moderation actions, especially those that 
hadn’t been “discussed”.

It’s complex to try to use technology to provide a human resource. We should be 
wary about how we do this. Just because we use old words (eg. chat) for newer 
actions, it doesn’t make it the same thing. It’s very difficult to start using 
writing to convey what would have been done in speech in the past. I’d hoped I 
might be able to help Members achieve this kindly. A new Moderator rule recently 
introduced involves making a certain number of posts – I don’t think this tick 
box approach is appropriate in such a “human” environment. The “like” button is 
very helpful to add support to a response to a new poster, when they may feel 
overwhelmed by the number of eager to help posts from Members.

I will continue you to be a member and act as before. I believe in openness, 
honesty, respect and responsibility. Thank you to all members who daily share 
generously share their experience with us all.

Jane"

Bettye Lavette - Let Me Down Easy

About my bed time good night all,
Graham