Have you ever met one of your heroes? As a teenager I was a huge Beatles fan. I knew all the songs, all the lyrics. In fact I was so nerdy I could have told you the track order of every single (British version) album they produced between the years of 1962 and 1970. I was an uber-Fab Four geek. The inspiration of their incredible songwriting led me to write and perform songs of my own. Of the four, John Lennon was my biggest hero but I was well aware that all four of them made the band what it was – take any of them away and I do not believe their career would have been quite as successful.

In 1990 the guitarist in my band, Niall, offered me a ticket to see Paul McCartney play at Wembley Arena. This was his first major tour in some time (possibly his first since having ditched the ‘Wings’ format of his ever-changing backing band) and punters were told to expect plenty of Beatles songs. Niall’s brother-in-law was McCartney’s press agent at the time, which meant that we not only had tickets, we had backstage passes (which explains how I met Donald Sutherland backstage at a McCartney gig).

I spent weeks anticipating the fact that I was going to meet one of my childhood heroes. Yes of course I’d have loved for John Lennon to still be alive and to be able to meet him (meet him? I’d have put super-glue on my palm before shaking hands with him in order to get plenty of time to chat to the guy!). What does one say to such an important, if distant, figure in their lives? “Your music changed my life, Paul.” Hmm, bit corny and probably something he’s heard his whole life. “I love you.” Me and several million other people. I couldn’t work out whether there was anything worth saying and decided to just realize how lucky I was to be able to be in the same room as the guy.

As it turned out, even if I’d had a perfect speech planned to harangue the man with, I wouldn’t have been likely to get it out as when he was suddenly stood in front of me (Linda by his side), my tongue stuck itself to the roof of my mouth and it was all I could do to mumble “Hello” as we shook hands. In my defence, as he entered the room he really did bring that superstar presence into the place. This was one of the most famous people in the world and I guess if I was going to be reduced to a speechless buffoon I’d rather it was by a Beatle than by anyone else in the world.

The gig that evening reduced me to tears of joy so many times. ‘Live and Let Die’ was amazing, as were quite a few of his solo classics (even ‘Ebony and Ivory’ took on a poignancy I’d never credited it with before). But it was hearing Beatle’s songs live that brought the tears to my eyes again and again: ‘The Long and Winding Road’, ‘Hey Jude’, ‘Yesterday’ and then the entire medley from the second half of Abbey Road, concluding with ‘The End’, fittingly the last thing his former band ever recorded. By the end of the night I was practically speechless again and I’d realised something. The middle eight of ‘The Long and Winding Road’, which I’d always felt was ‘mine’ as a teenager, do not apply. ‘Many times I’ve been alone and many times I’ve cried’? Actually, despite the many times I had cried in those formative years, I’d never been alone – I could always stick a Beatles album on the turntable and let their songs chase away my loneliness.

August 8^th – Could I of asked for a better day? Film is in the camera; I have 10 minutes to shoot. “O.K. So John, if you lead; Ringo, Paul and George follow and just walk across the zebra crossing”. This is great, there is even a white VW parked on the side of the road and if you think of the association with the band a little further, you’ve got the registration plate reading ‘Linda McCartney Weeps’. Brilliant.

“I’m gonna’ take my shoe’s off. Is that O.K?”. John is wearing this all white suite – very smart, looks a bit like a priest. Ringo; all black, McCartney has no shoes on like a ghost and George… well he looks a bit like a grave digger come to think of it, wearing his all denim attire. I hope this comes out ok, It’s like Sgt. Pepper I guess… being able to read into it. But who would do that?

por Jane Phillimore

Doze anos atrás, visitei um terapeuta alternativo com alguns sintomas de saúde pouco específicos. Quase nem tinha sentado ainda quando ele disse que minha dieta precisava de uma atenção especial – eu tinha que cortar todo laticínio, trigo, álcool e cafeína, e substituir as proteínas por leite de soja e tofu. Hoje em dia esse tipo de conselho é rotina, mas naquela época me pareceu glamourosamente radical: tive que procurar uma loja natural para comprar um estoque de leite de soja, porque a disponibilidade era mínima no mercado comum e as salsichas de soja eram apenas um brilho no olhar de Linda McCartney.

Na ocasião perdi um bocado de peso e me senti muito rejuvenescida. Tanto que, quatro meses depois, comecei a comer normalmente de novo. Até porque, como foi reconhecido agora, a soja, longe de ter as propriedades mágicas de saúde que a brigada da medicina alternativa proclama sem cessar, pode na verdade ser ruim para nós. Sua reputação de agir contra o câncer, baixar o colesterol e combater a osteoporose é baseada em má ciência e marketing superlativo da poderosa indústria da soja.

No mundo inteiro as evidências são contra a soja.

No Reino Unido os estudos são amplos e já confirmaram, por exemplo, que a fórmula infantil de soja (único alimento de 6.500 bebês atualmente) tem um efeito estrogênico em ratos.

A soja contém altas quantidades de várias toxinas químicas que não podem ser completamente destruídas nem por um longo cozimento. São:

– fitatos, que bloqueiam a absorção de minerais pelo corpo;

– inibidores de enzimas, que atrapalham ou impossibilitam a digestão de proteínas, e hemaglutinas, que fazem as células vermelhas do sangue se aglutinarem, inibindo a absorção de oxigênio e o crescimento.

Pior do que isso, a soja contém altos níveis dos fitoestrógenos (também conhecidos como isoflavonas) genisteína e daidzeína, que emulam e às vezes bloqueiam o hormônio estrógeno.

O lobby da soja argumenta que os japoneses comem grandes quantidades de soja e, como resultado, têm baixos índices de câncer de seio, útero, cólon e próstata.

Este é o grande mito sobre o qual se constrói a idéia de que soja é saudável. Em primeiro lugar, os japoneses não consomem tanta soja; um estudo de 1998 mostrou que um homem japonês típico ingere cerca de 8 g (2 colheres de sopa) por dia, nada semelhante aos 220 g que um ocidental consumiria comendo um pedação de tofu e dois copos de leite de soja.

Em segundo lugar, embora os japoneses tenham índices menores de câncer no aparelho reprodutor, pensa-se que isso se deve a outros fatores dietéticos e de estilo de vida: eles comem menos carnes gordurosas, mais peixe e vegetais e menos comidas processadas e enlatadas do que numa dieta ocidental típica.

Finalmente, os asiáticos têm níveis muitos mais altos de câncer na tiróide e no aparelho digestivo, incluindo câncer de estômago, pâncreas, fígado e esôfago.

Sou vegetariano e consumo tofu e leite de soja aos montes. Devo parar?

A soja se tornou a carne e o leite dos vegetarianos, a maior fonte de proteína de sua dieta. Mas comer soja na verdade coloca os vegetarianos em sério risco de deficiências minerais, incluindo cálcio, cobre, ferro, magnésio e especialmente zinco. Segundo o dr. Mike Fitzpatrick, bioquímico da Nova Zelândia que mantém um website de informações sobre a soja (http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz), isso ocorre porque a soja contém altos níveis de ácido fítico, que bloqueia a absorção de minerais essenciais no trato digestivo. Para reduzir os efeitos de uma dieta rica em fitato você precisaria comer, como os japoneses, bastante carne ou peixe com pedacinhos de soja.

Tenho intolerância ao leite de vaca – deveria mudar para o leite de soja?

A soja se tornou a opção da moda para pessoas que “não toleram” laticínios. É pouco sabido que a soja é o segundo alergênico mais comum. Apenas 1 por cento da população é verdadeiramente alérgica ao leite de vaca, e destes, 2/3 serão intolerantes também ao leite de soja. Além do mais, o leite de soja é rico em alumínio. Isto porque sua proteína passa por processos de acidificação em tanques de alumínio para ser isolada. Não admira que o gosto seja ruim.

A soja pode afetar a tiróide?

Já se sabe há anos que os fitoestrógenos da soja deprimem a função da tiróide. No Japão, pesquisa de 1991 mostrou que 30 g de soja por dia resultam num grande aumento de hormônio estimulante da tiróide. Isso pode causar bócio, hipotiroidismo e doença autoimune da tiróide (síndrome de Hashimoto).

Estou grávida. Devo evitar a soja?

Provavelmente, e especialmente se você for vegetariana. Um novo estudo sobre bebês nascidos de mães vegetarianas mostrou que os meninos têm um risco cinco vezes maior de hypospadia, um defeito congênito do pênis. Os pesquisadores sugerem que isso se deve à maior exposição a comidas ricas em fitoestrógenos, especialmente soja. Níveis impróprios de hormônios como os causados por um alto consumo de soja durante as 12 primeiras semanas de gravidez também pode prejudicar o desenvolvimento cerebral do feto.

Mas certamente posso alimentar meu bebê com fórmula à base de soja, não? Deve ser seguro: está disponível em todos os supermercados e farmácias.

“Bebês alimentados com soja estão servindo de cobaias numa experiência enorme, sem controle ou monitoração”, disse Daniel Sheehan, diretor do Centro Nacional de pesquisa Toxicológica do FDA (USA), em 1998. A única comida de um recém-nascido é o leite que ele toma: um bebê alimentado com leite de soja recebe estrogênio equivalente a cinco pílulas anticoncepcionais por dia, segundo Mike Fitzpatrick. Os níveis de isoflavona desses bebês sào 13.000 a 22.000 vezes mais altos que nos bebês não alimentados com soja.

Como resultado dessa sobrecarga de fitoestrógenos, bebês alimentados com soja têm risco dobrado de desenvolver anomalias da tiróide, incluindo bócio e tireoidite autoimune. Os meninos podem ter o amadurecimento físico retardado, e as meninas podem entrar na puberdade muito cedo (1% das meninas atualmente mostram sinais de puberdade, como desenvolvimento dos seios e pelos púbicos, antes dos três anos de idade), além de infertilidade. Os pesquisadores também sugerem que diabetes, mudanças no sistema nervoso central, comportamento emocional oscilante, asma, problemas imunológicos, insuficiência pituitária e síndrome do cólon irritável podem ser causados pelo alto consumo de fitoestrógenos na infância. No ano passado, componentes da soja também foram implicados no desenvolvimento da leucemia infantil.

A soja pode ajudar no câncer de próstata?

Há pessoas que acreditam nisso. Michael Milken consome 40 g de proteína de soja todos os dias com essa esperança. A ciência é menos conclusiva – um estudo recente sobre nipo-americanos vivendo no Hawaii mostra que homens que comeram duas ou mais porções de tofu por semana durante a meia idade não só tiveram envelhecimento cerebral acelerado, e mais do dobro de incidência de Alzheimer e demência, como também pareciam cinco anos mais velhos do que os que não comiam.

Minha mãe morreu de câncer no seio e eu fui aconselhada tanto pela medicina convencional quanto pela alternativa a aumentar minha ingestão de soja para me proteger da doença. Isso acontece?

A evidência é altamente inconclusiva. Em “The Brest Cancer Protection Diet”, publicado no ano passado, o dr Bob Arnot afirma que comer entre 35 g e 60 g de proteína de soja diariamente protege contra o câncer do seio porque aumenta a presença de genisteína, que é um bloqueador do estrogênio. Mas isto ignora a evidência contrária: em 1966, pesquisas mostraram que mulheres que comiam soja tiveram aumentada a incidência de hiperplasia epitelial, uma condição que pressagia a malignidade. Em 1997, a genisteína na dieta mostrou estimular as células do seio humano a entrar no ciclo das células cancerosas. Em resultado, os pesquisadores aconselharam as mulheres a não comer produtos da soja para evitar o câncer de seio.

Mas a soja previne a osteoporose, fragilidade óssea que afeta particularmente as mulheres após a menopausa?

Não. Na verdade, a soja bloqueia o cálcio e causa deficiência em vitamina D – e ambos são necessários para ossos fortes, dizem as nutricionistas e especialistas em soja Sally Fallon e Mary G Enig.

Existe algum tipo de produto de soja que eu possa comer em segurança?

Sim. Produtos fermentados da soja, como molho de soja, tempê e missô. O longo processo de fermentação neutraliza os efeitos das toxinas naturais da soja.

É possível evitar a soja?

É difícil. Você pode parar de ingerir produtos óbvios como tofu e leite de soja, mas ela também pode ser encontrada em cereais matinais, sorvete, hambúrgueres, lasanha e toda sorte de coisinhas assadas como bolos, biscoitos, tortillas, pão. Leia os rótulos cuidadosamente e coma comidas orgânicas sempre que for possível.

Por último: o lobby pró-soja sempre diz que, nos Estados Unidos, um quarto da população foi alimentado com fórmula infantil de soja durante 30 a 40 anos, sem problemas adversos de saúde. Então, por que eu deveria me preocupar?

Os cientistas estão apenas começando a pesquisar e entender os efeitos nocivos a longo prazo que podem ser causados pelo consumo de grandes quantidades de soja. Como escrevem Fallon e Enig: “A indústria soube por muitos anos que a soja contém muitas toxinas. Primeiro disse ao público que as toxinas eram removidas pelo processamento. Depois alegaram que essas substâncias eram benéficas.” Parece que há uma grande batalha pela frente.

* * *
O original deste artigo foi republicado por www.mercola.com, site do médico Joseph Mercola, que faz o seguinte comentário:

“Um excelente relatório ilustrando os perigos e equívocos mais comuns quanto à soja.

Um ponto do artigo com o qual não concordo, entretanto, é a afirmação de que somente 1% da população é alérgica a leite de vaca. Embora isso possa ser verdade através dos meios convencionais de diagnose, uma grande maioria da população tem algum grau de alergia ou sensibilidade ao leite de vaca, e ficaria melhor se o evitasse completamente. Seria melhor evitar tanto o leite de vaca quanto o ‘leite’ de soja e beber somente água.”

http://correcotia.com/soja/soja01.html

As A Real Wave Is Upcoming, Fred Vidal Tapes For Youtube Beatles’ AND I LOVE HER And Rocks America In A WINGS Style!

25 Views in 9 hours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a56V6ftmNQ

AND I LOVE HER (John Lennon-Paul McCartney)

I give her all my love
That’s all I do
And if you saw my love
You’d love her too
I love her

She gives me everything
And tenderly
The kiss my lover brings
She brings to me
And I love her

A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me

Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her

Actress Blake LIVELY, SHE'S THE ONE! A Choice That Fred VIDAL Confirms By The Recording of This Song.

Paul McCARTNEY & WINGS With wife LINDA Was Second Experience For ex-Beatle Still Prolific In Many Songs and Permanent Stage Performance, Worldwide during the 1970's and the 80's.

Fred Vidal To Buy this Morning in FRYES Burbank, CA new CD BON JOVI, The Circle, an Album that He will Play for this Holiday Season, Everyday.

BON JOVI, Another Inspiration of Fred VIDAL, and More than An Inspiration, The Band That gave Him The Motivation to Succeed in Music, Since KEEP THE FAITH, And Even before.

Just a little horseradish would set these off...

Such harmless words. But oh so poignant.

Before I get to that, Thursdays dinner party. Justine (a dear colleague / friend from agency days of old), invites me over to her place.

In attendance; one of her colleagues, a journo who is bessy mates with the PR-PR guru in our Sydney office, and me. She lived with her cousin (who she mentioned was a photographer), in a stunning art-deco mansion block, overlooking Rushcutters Bay.

The view was stunning. The sort of second lounge area sits in huge windows, with big comfy lemsip sofas. My Sunday if I lived there? Coffee, oj, papers, croissant in that order!

After the youtube drama (some numpty released an ad pre-airing, unhappy client), we tuck in. Lovely food, stories, company. One of my best nights in Sydney.

Some story highlights:

- Justine came to stay with her cousin for a week. Still there 4 years on
- Her cousin owns several properties in Bali, and has furnished the apartment with nicks and nacks from his travel there. Totally eclectic, random, shouldn’t work, but does!
- He took her to a glam Sydney fashion show. After supping some champers, she offended an up+coming designer, when asking, ‘Sydneu’s lovely. But don’t you just think it’s no soul?’
- She gave cooking advice to a top Sydney Chef (Neil Perry), on how he could improve his Oysters. He took it more gracefully than the fashionista…

Needless to say, she’s beautiful, with a heart of gold. I kept spotting people I couldn’t quite place (Some Jaggers, a Beatle or two), but failed to make the connection. Anyway, she shows us one of his books, Siblings. All photographed together in their birthday suits. Big hoohaa at the time, a senior Aussie politician was involved, but had to pull out due to the ‘controversy’…

Anyway, cousin arrives back, lovely bloke. He asks if I’d like to see another of his books, so of course I say yes. He pops one in my lap, which has a very post-coital, slightly mashed looking Kylie grinning ear to ear, alongside the equally happy Mr. Michael Hutchence.

I flick through, and the whole thing is a celeb-spatter fest. Grace Jones, David Bowie, Nicole (pre and post tom (very hetro) cruise), you name em, he shot em.

He must have a real talent, they all look somewhat at ease. Something to do with the setting for the bulk of the shots no doubt; for a while, he was the club-appoonted photographer at the embassy club in London. He told a touching story about Paul and Linda, which I’ll share another day. Just makes you hate the evil one legged gold digger that bit more…

Book was stunning, his style effortless, his subjects totally at ease. A very interesting character, and as one of the snappers for Vogue Australia, I can see why Justine really did get some great opportunities to offend the ‘cream of Sydney’. Just as I did last time I was here.

But that’s a different story….

Iain is enjoying the Sydney Sun…

Rock in Roll is in memory of Piper - mans best friend - making the best out of man

Sir James Paul McCartney

, MBE (born 18 June 1942), is an English singer-songwriter, poet, composer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, record and film producer, painter, and animal rights and peace activist. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings, McCartney is the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music.^[1][2][3][4] McCartney gained worldwide fame as a member of The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. McCartney and Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and wrote some of the most popular songs in the history of rock music.

Linda Louise McCartney (Eastman, September 24 1941 – April 17 1998) was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman, heiress to the Lindner Department Store fortune.

At a young age I was brought into the rock and roll by the beatles, rolling stones and then Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. But my best is Paul McCartney…I was struck by his song…Let it Be…this was the beginning to a long road of rock and roll with Paul McCartney and Linda Louise McCartney.

In 1980 Paul McCartney came into our lives in another way. We lived in a small growing city of Calgary (now over one million people) craving our lives after our second year of  being married. During this time we wer blessed with a little girl, our daughter, Jenni Micheal Demers. Like any new parent, we loved Jenni with all our hearts and souls. I would take her to the Calgary zoo and spent hours listening to songs from  Paul McCartney  albums.

With our little gift Jenni we had so much fun being new parents…it was really a great joy to be alive. But, suddenly, in the summer of 1980 Jenni had pitching high fevers. As any young parent would do, we took Jenni to the our physician. He gave the normal check-up and sent us away with prescribed medication. The physician told us it looks like a minor cold and it won’t be long before she is better again.

We were relieved and comfort Jenni – giving her the prescribed medication. But, after a couple of days ( running into the weekend) Jenni was getting worse. Back then, I worked during the day while my wife Patricia was a bartender with the only White Spot at that time. Saturday, I called the doctor and he actually came over to our home ( they just don’t do this now) and he took her temperature. Some more medication and told me if she doesn’t seem to get better by the evening, give him a call.

So – what does this have to do with Paul McCartney?  Read on…

That evening I had no choice but to call our doctor, but to my disappointment, our doctor was called out of the city and another doctor was “On Call”. This particular doctor was extremely rude and it appeared I interrupted him out of his beauty sleep. He wasn’t cooperating or caring for my concerns – so I took Jenni to the Foothills Hospital at 2:00 am running into emergency with Jenni in my arms. My wife Patricia wasn’t far behind after I had called her from her work. 

The doctors worked on her for a good week, still with spiking fever. The agony was unbearable for us young parents. But, the doctors all said that this kind of fever would eventually go down, but it never did. I took daily notes of Jenni’s spiking fever, recording each and every temperature.

By the end of two weeks, Jenni seem to be getting better, her fever was still spiking, but she was hungry – this was a good sign, so we thought. Patricia and I took turns, her days and myself, evenings, being with Jenni 24/7. Towards the end of the second week, we were wearing out, both still working and coming to see Jenni in the foothills hospital.

As any other evening, I would comfort Jenni, holding her in my arms, hoping and praying for Jenni to get better. The last evening I feed her and she seem to fuse. I called the doctor on station and he pretty much told me,” Look…we can’t just get your doctor to come in for nothing..” I said,” Why not…she doesn’t look good, please come in and have a look at her…” Then he had the attitude,spurting out,” Are you a doctor?”

I will never forget this red-headed doctor for the rest of my life. That evening Jenni died… 

We had to prepare for her death and this is where Paul McCartney comes back into our lives… we used one of his songs which really described how we felt : I believe in Yesterday …why she had to go, I don’t know, she wouldn’t say…. shadow hanging over me…yesterday…I believe in yesterday….I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday…yesterday…love was an easy game to play….why she had to go, I don’t know, she wouldn’t say…  now I need a place to hide away…. I believe in Yesterday.

Thank you Paul for such a beautiful song… it will last in our hearts forever.

With Paul McCartney’s determination to bring his own songs and poetry into the entrepreneur spotlight was a risky – but only if you didn’t know what you were doing – Paul McCartney knew exactly what he was doing. With the determination of his be-loved wife Linda McCartney, Paul established his own rock and roll world. Expressing his inner soul to the world.

In my teens I would scramble out to the record stores to get his first edition of these famous albums :
1. McCartney

2. McCartney II

3. Ram

4. Red Rose Speed Way

5. Wings across America

6. Wild Life

7. Wings at the Speed of Sound

8. Off the Ground

It was a time to release my inner soul within rock and roll.  Paul McCartney brought us his very artistic gift to the rest of the world. His expression of music brings your soul alive. Paul McCartney proved his ability way and above the era of the beatles, but he never forgot his tidings. I have never personally met Paul McCartney, but it would indeed be a great celebration if I had the honor of meeting him. As a struggling young lad I used my earned money very carefully – so when I bought Paul McCartney’s music I was gifted with every lasting music straight from his heart.

Music and Art is the most expressive release of anyones inner soul. Expression is the root of mankind and without it – where exactly would we be.

Maybe…within the Grace of God I may be able have the chance to meet Paul McCartney. Realistically though, it may never be…well…in this life time… we may meet at the Grace of God.., we never know the wonderful world of grace.

I will close this blog by saying “Thank you Paul McCartney” for bringing my soul alive with Rock and Roll…

bari – http://201art.com ( In memory of Jenni and Piper)

As Beatlemania strikes for the fourth time – yes, fourth: there was that first one, then the chronological single releases in the 80s, then Anthology, now these rather comely remasters – it seems only fitting to gad about playing Stones records.

But what would The Beatles be like if they were still around today? Notwithstanding some high profile deaths, would we be dismissing them for not having had a Top 10 hit since ‘Got My Mind Set On You’? Would we be saying, “Oh, but you have to see them live to understand. Not that they’ve performed since that rooftop gig in ‘69”? Would we be suggesting their last great peak was when Linda supported an addled Lennon on guitar duties in the early 70s?

Mick Taylor was the Stones’ unsung hero as 60s turned to 70s, initially stepping in when Brian Jones was seemingly not fit for the job, and then way too dead for the job. But the man on Exile On Main Street’s ‘Tumbling Dice’ is still Keef, a trademark riff boogie-ing the song along. It’s an easy, devastated rocker, bang-on cool in its barely glued swagger, and the touchstone for all those would-be Stones. Just pick up Primal Scream’s Give Out But Don’t Be Give Up and jump to ‘Call On Me’. “Carbon-copy” implies a laborious step between the two.

Charlie Watts would be pleased in his dotage to hear Junior praising the drums. She goes on to join the gospel backing for the “baaayyy-beh”s, and she and her sister give it the full lungs for the fading “got to roll me”s, swept up in the ecstatic cyclone of soul-soaked seedy rawk.

Partners in crime:

Pra quem não sabe, Linda McCartney era uma fotógrafa fodona.

Ói:

Stella MCartney em 1981 por sua mãe Linda

Do caralho, né? Tem mais fotos dela nesse link.

… Linda também era foda.

O casamento de Paul e Linda.

Seaside woman é do Wings, a banda de Paul e Linda McCartney. Foi gravada em 77 com Linda nos vocais principais. Virou esse curta de animação que ganhou o prêmio de melhor curta em Cannes em 1980.

E o registro do mais improvável encontro. Hiroshima sky, com a voz de Yoko, Paul no baixo, Linda nos teclados + participação dos filhos de Paul & Linda e de Sean Lennon. Era 1995.
John, we’re here now together

Heres the reply to my email about use of plastic in packaging from Linda McCartney foods. Thanks to their Customer Care Coordinator Carrie Curtis, for the quick response:

“Thank you for your enquiry regarding our Linda McCartney Products.

We are happy to confirm that all the following products are packaged in
cardboard only:-

Linda McCartney Sausages x6 300g
Linda McCartney Country Pies x4 664g
Linda McCartney Sausage Rolls x6 342g
Linda McCartney Cheese and Onion Plait 340g
Linda McCartney 2 Vegetable Roasties 330g
Linda McCartney 2 Vegetarian Farmhouse Pies 292g *(New Product)*
Linda McCartney 4 Vegetarian Burgers 200g *(New Product)*

We appreciate that it is only through customer feedback, such as yours,
that we may work to ensure we meet and exceed our customer’s
expectations of our products in the future. I have therefore taken this
opportunity to pass on your comments regarding our packaging onto our
Product Development Team for their review.”

The MEAT FREE MONDAY campaign was officially launched on June 15, 2009. Paul McCartney, his daughters Stella and Mary McCartney, Yoko Ono and many other celebrities were in attendance.

Watch a video about the ‘Meat Free Monday’ launch:

Over the last few years scientific data on livestock’s contribution to climate change has been increasing. Having a MEAT FREE MONDAY every week is a simple way to start making a real difference in the world. The more people who join in, the more difference we can make.

Sir Paul McCartney explains:
“I think many of us feel helpless in the face of environmental challenges, and it can be hard to know how to sort through the advice about what we can do to make a meaningful contribution to a cleaner, more sustainable, healthier world. Having one designated meat free day a week is actually a meaningful change that everyone can make, that goes to the heart of several important political, environmental and ethical issues all at once. For instance it not only addresses pollution, but better health, the ethical treatment of animals, global hunger and community and political activism.”

The Meat Free Monday website will feature useful tips and recipes from Linda McCartney’s cookbooks as well as the UK’s leading chefs. It will also provide a community of support and information for those who want to know more about the way diet choices can influence a healthier environment.

The campaign is supported by Linda McCartney Foods. The complete Linda McCartney range can be found on the brand new Linda McCartney Foods website.

Watch a video of Linda McCartney talking about her first vegetarian cookbook, Home Cooking

For more info, visit the official website (www.supportMFM.org)

Hello once again dearest readers, this post is something of a news and catch up style post. Largely because apart from my Reading reports last weekend I haven’t posted much of late. So let’s start by clearing out my mail box folder that is titled ‘Blog Stuff’. So just be warned that you may have seen some of this stuff already, but I reckon it’s worth at least a second view anyway!

First up was the news from two weeks ago that Mr Robert Zimmerman (aka Bob Dylan) is to release a Christmas album this year. A number of commentators have suggested that this may damage his credibility. Somehow I don’t think so, many supposedly credible artists have recorded Christmas songs with no damage to their credibility. I mean how about the Dame’s (that’ll be Mr Bowie to the non regular readers) duet with Bing Crosby back in 1977 on “Peace On Earth/ Little Drummer Boy” Anyway the ‘DYLAN TO RELEASE CHRISTMAS ALBUM’ headline prompted the Independent newspaper in the UK to put together a top ten worst rock n roll career moves. It includes things like marrying your 13 year old cousin (Jerry Lee Lewis), showing your potential Nazi leanings (Clapton, Bowie et al), getting your non musical spouse/ girlfriend involved in your music a la John & Yoko, Paul & Linda, Pete & Kate, Pete & Jordan, er well ok the last one probably helped Peter Andre’s career really and that one isn’t in the article anyway, but I thought it was worth a mention. Anyway now you get the drift read the whole thing by clicking here. Incidentally Bowie’s supposed Nazi salute at Victoria Station on his return to London by train in 1976 was in my opinion just a wave, that looked just like a Nazi salute when captured in still photograph form. Why do I believe this you may ask? Well largely because I was there. I’m not usually the sad kind of fan who does things like that, but I only worked 5 minutes walk from Victoria at the time so I thought it was worth going, well that and the fact that I am a massive Bowie fan too!

Bob really got into the Christmas spirit by designing and using enormous candle shaped drumsticks.

Just about a week ago Living TV ran a report on the most expensive wedding singers, I have reprinted the top 12 and their prices below (the original source was in fact the New Zealand Herald);

1. The Rolling Stones – up to £5 million

2. Sir Elton John – up to £2 million

- Kylie Minogue – up to £2 million

4. Christina Aguilera – up to £1.5 million

5. George Michael – £1.3 million

6. Amy Winehouse – £1 million

- Sir Paul McCartney – £1 million

- Leona Lewis – £1 million

- Jennifer Lopez – £1 million

10. Barry Manilow – £750,000

11. Rod Stewart – £600,000

12. Duran Duran – £500,000

You could book me and my mobile disco for much less than any of those! I reckon that Gareth Gates and Leon Jackson would be up for paying you to appear at your nuptials celebration, what do you think? Why no Billy Idol? He could make some money by turning up at half a dozen weddings each weekend just to sing “White Wedding” at each one. Incidentally I found a wedding songs site, click here to check it out. Interestingly enough none of the above top 12 seem to feature much on any of the song lists, maybe that’s why they have stooped to playing weddings themselves methinks!

Back in my day the couple didn't get bare until the wedding night! Oh that's a different type of bare is it

Many of you will have seen the many different subtitled versions of the clip taken from a film about Hitlers last days in his bunker in Berlin. The first one I saw was Adolf talking about the Chelsea versus Manchester United Champions League Final in 2008. Now that was very good, but one which I think is even better is as usual the same clip of film, but this time Hitler learns that Michael Jackson has died and will be unable to perform at the Fuhrer’s birthday celebrations. Click here to see it and let me know what you think of it as well.

"hello mikey wikey it's adolfy wolfy here" - "why isn't he waving back? Am I too old for him or something?"

If you have read any of my posts from the Reading Festival will know from the anguished comments added by my good friend Nick H that we managed to miss the appearance of Them Crooked Vultures a band (although back in the day the moniker would have been supergroup) that has John Paul Jones off of Led Zeppelin, Dave Grohl off of the Foo Fighters and Josh Homme off of Queens Of The Stone Age amongst it’s membership! So for all the rest of you that may also have missed them here is a video from their appearance at the Brixton Academy just before the Reading and Leeds festivals. Click here to see it and take comfort in the knowledge that they will be touring in the UK later this year.

And finally for today let’s end with some sad news, it has been reported today that Charlie Watts has left the Rolling Stones, just three years before their 50th Anniversary. 68 year old Charlie took a massive amount of persuading largely from KeithRichards to take part in the last Stones Tour and it seems that with the possibility mooted by Mick Jagger of more Stones activity next year the oldest member of the band has decided to quit. Now that is BIG news, let’s face it though Noel leaving Oasis doesn’t even begin to compare does it?

So until the next time dear readers, ain’t it a shame that Charlie Watts won’t be appearing at a wedding near you soon!

Charlie is an excellent drummer but he was pretty crap with chopsticks

Before contacting Linda McCartney Foods about their packaging policies I’ve had a look at their site to see if they give any information this is what they say in their FAQ section:

“Can the packaging be recycled?

As a brand we have a passion for the environment and encourage sustainability and are ever looking at way to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Where possible we use recycled materials and actively encourage consumer to recycle.

Our new packaging clearly labels which elements of our packaging can be recycled, using the new WRAP guidelines…….
“For details of the recycling facilities in your areas please go to www.recyclenow.com “

I will have a closer look at some of their products on my next trip to the supermarket. I still wonder if there are alternatives to using plastic in packaging. I bought punnets of blueberries from the supermarket the other day from good natured fruit. The blueberries are packaged in a punnet which is made from recycled cardboard from sustainable resources instead of plastic. The plastic looking window is actually a wood based material which is recyclable and compostable. Why can’t more food companies use this style of packaging? So far in my investigations it seems for many packaged food companies the problem with their products is that any plastic film they use is not currently recyclable. Had a look at wraps site:

Wraps aim is to create the case for change, support change and deliver change.

They work with local authorities, business and households to prevent waste, increase recycling and develop markets for recycled and sustainable products. They have the following to say about plastics recycling:

“Mixed plastics are a highly visible part of the waste and recycling landscape and an area of growing importance. ”

 ”Around one million tonnes of domestic mixed plastics packaging – approximately 45 billion individual items – are disposed of in the UK each year and this tonnage is growing. It now represents at least nine per cent of household waste by weight with approximately 86 kilos thrown out per household, per year, in the UK.”

This figure is huge! Here’s an example of a wrap guidelines packaging label indicating what can be recycled, its pretty handy:

I carried out some research on companies that sell chilled and frozen vegetarian products to  discover which has the least plastic packaging. So far I have contacted Quorn and Grassington’s.  I will contact more companies later this week. Both Quorn and Grassingtons customer services were extremely prompt in reply about their packaging policies. Thank you to both companies for their replies.

Here’s what John Moore for Grassingtons had to say ” Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your query. Our policy is to use cardboard only for our product packs where this is possible.In the past couple of years the only product which we have made which has not been packed directly into a cardboard carton is Grassington’s Beef Style Meatballs, which uses a foil bag. We are currently trying to find a more environmentally friendly solution for this type of product, so this may change in future.”

and Mark Lumsden Consumer Care Advisor for Quorn“Thank you for your letter regarding Quorn packaging. Different Quorn products are packed in different, appropriate types of packaging. Our paperboard material such as sleeves and cartons are all recyclable. So too are the plastic items of packaging such as polypropylene trays and polyester & polyethylene film that we use. All items can also be incinerated with no toxic by products. In addition to recycling, all our paperboard is from carefully managed, renewable forests. The plastic items we use are made from virgin material as they are in direct contact with food, but they can be recycled and often end up as things like plant pots! With regards to the use of biodegradable packaging unfortunately, even though we think this would be a very positive step to take,this is not possible at the moment. Most of our Quorn products such as mince & pieces go through a pasteurisation process after they have been sealed in the tray with lidding film. The biodegradable packaging available at the moment would not withstand this process.”

Grassingtons product range means most of their products are put direct into cardboard which obviously can be recycled so they are not using plastic packaging at present. This is great to know if I want to occasionally eat good vegetarian convenience food.

Quorn products which have plastic packaging  –  polypropylene trays and polyester & polyethylene film are recyclable. Unfortunately my local council doesn’t do kerb side collection of plastic. However I have discovered there is a trial happening at the moment in Bristol for mixed Plastics recycling at some locations.

The trial collections are at the following locations:

• Asda, East Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4JY
• Tesco, Callington Road, Brislington, Bristol. BS4 5AY
• Roo Bar, Clifton Train Station Car Park, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2PN
• Tesco, Kellaway Avenue, Golden Hill, Bristol, BS6 7XW
• Chalks Road Car Park, Chalks Road, St Georges, Bristol, BS5 8AA

These five trial sites, now accept the following plastic types:

• 1 PET – plastic bottles
• 2 HDPE – plastic bottles
• 5 PP – plastic packaging such as yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, food packaging trays etc.
• 6 PS – polystyrene

Unfortunately, these banks are unable to accept the following:

• Cellophane
• Carrier bags (there are other sites in Bristol that accept carrier bags for recycling)
• Bubble wrap
• Bin liners
• Any hard plastics (drain pipes, toys etc).

During October 2009, the city council will be reviewing the trial.  If it has been a success and affordable, they will look at extending to other banks within the city. I hope this happens!

I have had a look at some of the Quorn products to see if the plastic packaging is labelled with a  symbol identifying what type of plastic. I couldn’t see any symbols on Quorn chicken style pieces. I was looking at the product which is packaged in a plastic bag not tray. Symbols would really help consumers know if there local recycling bank/depot accepted the packaging for recycling. I like the idea of using quorn mince/pieces bags as plant pots. I’m going to try growing herbs in my left over packaging.

I will contact Cauldron and Linda McCartney foods next…

If you live in the Bristol, UK area you can check out this great site http://www.recyclenow.com/

It shows you all the locations for recycling in your area, what you can recycle, top tips for decreasing your waste. How packaging is changing, how manufacturers are trying to reduce.

Jack Lawrence escreveu músicas para Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Darin e Ink Spots, mas teve uma que interessa aos fãs de Beates. O músico, que morreu este ano, compôs “Linda” em 1946 para então garotinha de cinco anos que viria a se tornar fotógrafa e esposa de Paul McCatney. A canção teve sua versão mais famosa na voz de Jan and Dean.

Como Lawrence explicou em seu site:

“Meu advogado na época era um amigo próximo, que eu visitava e via seu filhos crescerem. Um dia ele me disse: “Jack, faça me um favor. Você sabe que minha esposa Louise tem nome de música – famosa na voz de Chevalier – e minha filha Lara também – de Mercer-Raskin – assim como meu filho John tem um monte. Mas minha filha Linda ficou de fora. Que tal escrever algo especialmente para ela?”

“Como éramos bons amigos, claro que escrevi. Quando fui gravar, frustação. A maioria dos produtores gostou de tudo, exceto uma coisa: “Porque Linda? Não é um nome popular.” eles diziam. Um deles disse “Chame-a de Ida – em homenagem a minha sogra e eu produzo. Tive que lembrá-lo que já existia “Ida – Sweet as Apple Cider”. Outro cara me sugeriu o nome Mandy. Ele sentia que tinha muito mais melodia que Linda. Lembrei também a ele que Irving Berlin já tinha pensado nisso anos antes com “Mandy, There’s a Minister Handy” e etc.”

“Acredita que nada aconteceu com minha “Linda” até eu desistir em 1946?  Aí o meu amigo advogado me ligou e disse que um de seus clientes, Charlie Barnett estava abrindo uma empresa e em troca dos direitos autorais, concordou em gravar “Linda”. Tudo bem, eu disse. E aí algo estranho aconteceu. De alguma maneira, Ray Noble recebeu uma cópia da música, se apaixonou, fez um acordo de uso e gravou-a com Buddy Clark cantando. Depois de tantos anos indo a lugar nenhum, minha “Linda” era a sensação. Não me lembro durante quantas semanas ela foi número 1 nas paradas.”

“A pequena garotinha de 5 anos, Linda Eastman, para quem escrevi a música, cresceu e se tornou uma apaixonante e talentos mulher, que se casou com Paul McCartney e participou de seus shows ao mesmo tempo que se dedicava à família. Veja o que uma música pode fazer!”

Ouça a música:

FONTE: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m3d18-He-wrote-a-song-about-the-lovely-Linda-before-the-world-knew-Linda-McCartney

Comentário do João: Nascida para brilhar!

Stella McCartney A/W 09/10

Stella McCartney A/W 09/10

Nature-loving Stella McCartney worked closely with her inner child to come up with a Bambi-inspired ad campaign for fall. The campaign, shot by Ryan McGinley in the woods of Worcestershire, England, features cinema’s most famous deer and his pals Thumper, Friend Owl, Flower the skunk — and assorted butterflies and bluebirds. “I’m a huge Bambi fan, and the film reminds me of my mum,” said McCartney, referring to the late Linda McCartney. “And we wanted to have some fun. The clothes in the campaign are looking quite fierce, and we wanted to contrast them with the innocence of Bambi,” she added. Model Sigrid Agren is pictured stroking a live fox, while the Disney characters have been layered onto the photos. The art direction was done by McCartney’s in-house team, together with Partner and Partner in London. The ads will break as double-page spreads in the September issues of French, Italian and British Vogue, V and Another Magazine.

Paul McCartney performs a couple of solo acoustic songs during the Wings performance at The Spectrum. McCartney is pictured with an Ovation guitar. © ROGER BARONE 1976

Paul McCartney & Wings: The Spectrum (May 12, 1976)

Paul McCartney & Wings slide show from The Spectrum (May 12 and 14, 1976) all rights reserved. © ROGER BARONE

You know that last photo shoot the Beatles did at Tittenhurst Park? Here we see Yoko and a very pregnant Linda sitting on the sidelines. We rarely see the two of them together and most of their relationship was defined by how the husbands were getting along. I wonder….