Well we are one week into Tim’s lifestyle hack diet of low or slow carbs and already 3 kgs lighter (both) which is pretty amazing loss for one week. Before you ask, it’s not water as we are both careful at drinking a lot of water (especially as it’s a hot summer at the moment).

So… what did we do? Followed Tim’s guidelines with modifications within the concept of low-carb. That means - some protein, beans and vegetables with every meal. No high GI products meaning no white starches or sugars including all breads, rice, grains, potatoes, sugars, etc. Beans are there to fill and provide some carbs, but better carbs (low GI). Some are avoiding red meat on this diet - with the low amounts we eat of any meat these days, I don’t really see the point in cutting it out. Plus we could both do with the iron content. I also can’t vouch for the “grass feed”, “hormone free” or “free range” aspects of our protein here in China, but if you have a choice it’s probably better.

Meals that work really well for flavour and little of the naughties are Mexican and Indian. You can make refried beans, chilli con carne, pinto bean mex things, any form of daal, Rogan Gosh (we do lamb) or most Indian curries. Cut out the tomato paste/sauce and yoghurt (made with sugar - homemade without sugar would be fine) from Indian and you’re done!

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Experts Warned of Quake Risk in China - NYTimes.com
For decades, Chinese scientists say, they have known of the risk of a potentially catastrophic earthquake along the Longmenshan belt, the area where the Wenchuan earthquake struck, and repeatedly raised their concerns with government authorities. But they say preparations for a quake there were cursory at best, […]

Would not want to be a Chinese engineer or builder right now.
China fights quake lakes and probes schools
Inspectors have taken samples of rubble to see if shoddy construction material was used.
Lin Qiang, vice inspector of the Sichuan provincial educational department, said collapsed buildings might have been more solid “if we educational officials hadn’t left loopholes […]

Pownce: described as a mash between Twitter, chat, file sharing and an improved version of social networking (i.e. tagging friends in certain groups rather than one big room). It’s gaining attention due to the founder, Kevin Rose, also having founded Digg.
Pownce: Against All Odds, Pownce Blew Us Away
on Pownce, you can send a message, or […]

I’ve always wondered about this. Even if it’s an urban myth - it makes sense to wash first (from shop dust at least).
This incident happened recently in North Texas .
A woman went boating one Sunday taking with her some cans of coke which sheput into the refrigerator of the boat. On Monday she was taken […]