Graze

GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER: Aaron Young

Aaron writes: This picture was taken within 24 hours of arriving in Iceland, the first of three planned days. I was on my way to see the famous geysers and majestic waterfalls, stopped to have a look at the ponies, enamored by their natural dressage. Two of them came to greet me, flirted a bit and continued grazing. So inspired by these creatures, their air and their view, I have now been in Iceland for a month.

I cancelled my trips to Holland and Paris, scribbled two little movies and sent requests back to Los Angeles for funding with love. Frankly, colleagues were highly concerned. They only knew a smattering of Iceland, but enough to talk me out of the first film due to impetuosity and lighting conditions. And then, the very next night, a full moon lit up the streets of Reykjavik to absolute perfection. My colleagues then deferred to my discretion, which is staying in Iceland until the essence of Her beautiful people are expressed for the cinema.

(Aaron is currently waiting on film funds, while trying to bottle and export magical Iceland air).

Thank you, Aaron, for this graceful image!

Please pop over to the Iceland Eyes Facebook Page and give it a Like, if you'd like. And be sure to cruise through the tabs above for new content and updates.

Regarding Wikileaks and its strong connection to Iceland, The Reykjavik Grapevine currently leads the local pack with current details on the situation. And here is a good read from September on local MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir's relationship to Wikileaks and Julian Assange himself. (For the more daring, here's a link to Birgitta's appearance on Red Ice Radio.)

The Smoke Alarm ExperienceS

Unlike back home where smoke detectors in houses are scarce, the halls where I am currently living in has smoke detectors placed in the kitchen, one along the corridor and in every single bedroom. I live in a five storey high building. Thus, when one unit sets off the smoke detector, the smoke alarm for the entire building rings! I should say it BLARES so loud till it always feels like your ear drums were going to burst and my heart never fails to beat fast due to the shock of the blaring. It is especially nerve-wrecking to be awaken when one is in deep slumber. I practically jumped out of bed the first time I experienced the smoke alarm going off.

The usual cause of the blaring was not due to real fire, but just the neighbour's excessive 'smokey' cooking or steam after a hot shower, which sets of the sensitive smoke alarm. Having to evacuate everytime the alarm rings INTO the cold outside, isn't exactly FUN....

Just like I was told, after the first false alarm, I will have my own set routine of things to do while evacuating.. like grabbing a jacket and long pants.. then keys... then shoes.. then out the door....

World news

Sometimes reading the news can be a jaw-dropping experience. It is a worry how some people take things to a whole new level of extremity. Click on the links to read more about it.

1. . Eye for an Eye: Iranian man sentenced to have drops of acid poured onto his face for blinding his lover's husband.
 
2. 14 year old girl says, "Marriage is my right": She is ready to be a good wife

Calories in Pasta, Noodles and Rice

Back home I know its carbs, I know its fattening, I know too much of it isn't good. But I've always chose to ignore it. As of right now, since I am doing most of the cooking on my own, I somehow become more aware of the 'bad stuff' of certain food. It's like when I earned my own money, I tend to be more concious of how I spend it. So, the same goes for the food I consume now.

Again, Google was my bestfriend =D

The LINK pretty much provides the answers I was searching for.

On another note: Does everyone know how to read the food labels on packets? I spoke to EJ yesterday and she was telling me how she reads the food label everytime before buying the item. of course, sometimes she closes one eye during those chocolate craving moments. I've probably glanced through the label, but only when I felt like it, but the labels were never really my first priority. Cravings were MY top priority! ;)

SOURCE
Food label claims are not as straightforward as they may seem. For instance, a food labeled "Sugar Free" actually contains sugar, and foods labeled "Calorie Free" contain calories.
What the food label really means: 

• "Reduced," as in Reduced Sugar, Reduced Fat, Reduced Calories, Reduced Sodium, et al: Contains at least 25 percent less of the named offender than the regular version.
• No Added Sugar: No sugars were added during processing.
• Sugar Free: Contains fewer than 0.5 grams per serving.
• Low Calorie: Contains 40 or fewer calories per serving.
• Calorie Free or No Calories: Contains fewer than 5 calories per serving.
• Light or Lite: Contains one-third fewer calories than the regular version, or less than 50 percent fat per serving.
• Low Fat: Contains 3 grams or less fat per serving.
• Fat Free: Contains fewer than 0.5 grams per serving.
• XX% Fat Free: Based on the amount, by weight, of fat in 100 grams of the food. For example, a 100-gram serving of a food that is "97% Fat Free" would contain 3 grams of fat.
• Low Cholesterol: Contains 20 mg or less cholesterol and 2 grams or less saturated fat per serving.
• Cholesterol Free: Contains fewer than 2 mg of cholesterol and 2 grams or less of saturated fat per serving.
• High Fiber: Contains 5 grams or more fiber and 3 grams or less fat per serving.
• Good Source of Fiber: Contains 2.5 to 4.9 grams fiber per serving.
• More Fiber or Added Fiber: Contains at least 2.5 grams more fiber per serving than the reference food.

Brocolli - the main staple in my diet in Glasgow. Read about the good and the bad, will write about it another day.

Such a fan...

of Kiara DioGuardi! I AM!! :)

Calorie counting biscuits

I had a conversertion with Amy yesterday about Digestive biscuits. Is it fattening?
Digestive biscuits has been part of most ppl's neccessity for binging when they are hungry after a meal... especially since digestives are sold at a pretty attractive price in Aldi. I myself have three packs of digestives in my room for winter days :)


So, eating too much of one thing makes us curious about how much fat/calories are in it... Just like the tortilla incident where we were crazy over it and were told that it was healthy but in the end found out it has an incredibly high levels of calories.


Google is my bestfriend =D


From the UK daily mail: DIGESTIVE BISCUITS
Pros: Contains protein and some dietary fibre, and are not loaded with artificial ingredients.


Cons: High in fat, particularly saturated fat. Also high in sugars, but low in vitamins and minerals. A chocolate topping adds more calories and fat. Digestives are also the saltiest of all mass-produced biscuits. Three of them supply as much sodium as a packet of crisps. Typical biscuits consist overwhelmingly of highly refined flour, generous quantities of sugar and chemically hardened vegetable fat. Healthier-seeming versions prominently featuring ingredients such as oats and dried fruits often contain just as much or even more sugar than the standard biscuit and surprisingly large amounts of fat. The worst thing about biscuits is the trans fats they contain - chemically altered fats produced when vegetable oils are hardened. The Department of Health recommends that we consume no more than 5g trans fats per day.

Also found a calorie counter for certain common biscuits/tortillas/bread:
LINK

I might have to cut down on eating Digestives ;)

Good Morning!

Woke up this morning to a window covered with ice. -13degrees outside. No, i did not venture out today. Stayed warm and comfy in my room. At times, I worry I am becoming too comfy in the room ;)

Hot chocolate seems to be a necessity now to start the morning.

A bright side to winter: Uni closed for three days including tmr!
I love the Pink song I uploaded to my music list :)