Family Money: Fundamentalists versus Chartists

By Leslie Wright

If you thought from the headline that we were going to discuss political conflicts in oppressive regimes, I’m sorry to disappoint you.

The terms “fundamentalists” and “chartists” here refer to two schools of thought and the analytical methods they use to try to predict how any particular stock or market is likely to perform in the future.

Ideally, investors want to buy stocks at a low price and sell them at a high price to make a profit; but any experienced investor will tell you it’s not as easy as it sounds. Picking the right time to buy and sell means staying informed of trends.

One source of information is technical analysis, which uses past historical performance to try to predict future prices. It’s an investment philosophy that attempts to create order out of chaos.

Technical analysts chart past trading volumes and prices. Current prices and volumes are compared with similar historical data. They believe past data show patterns which are assumed to continue into the future.

Many modern investment houses and brokerage firms have eliminated the human factor (which is subject to emotional rather than rational decision-making), and installed computer-generated trading programs instead.

These programs depend on historical performance charts to set buy and sell levels, and work on the principle that history tends to repeat itself. They set out to identify trends in the past that mirror the current situation. It is then assumed that the current trend will continue as it did in the past, and prices at which the stock will be bought or sold are determined solely by the computer.

This method is useful where markets may move very fast - such as the commodities & futures markets, for instance; or where the trading firm wants to eliminate the human emotional factor from its trading practices (since this factor may lead to missing out on a less-than-clear buying signal or holding on too long to a less-than-clear selling signal - or chasing losses, as happened with the Nick Leason and Barings’ debacle.)

Fundamentalism

Another investment philosophy is based on fundamental analysis, which uses financial information from companies - such as balance sheets and income statements - to forecast future stock price movements.

This fundamental information is gleaned by exhaustive research, and includes price-to-earnings ratios, capital assets’ value, the state of the company’s order book, to list just a few of the more important bits of data.

Needless to say, to gather this information takes time and resources - more than most amateur investors have available to them. Only large financial services companies and banks have the resources - both in human and technological terms - to undertake the degree of research & analysis required to pick stocks which are both undervalued and likely to move better than the mean index.

In short, fundamental analysis tries to estimate what a stock should sell for, while technical analysis - chartism - tries to judge what other investors think it will sell for.

These approaches are not mutually exclusive: some investors use technical charts to time investments after first choosing stocks using fundamental analysis.

Making charts

Technical analysis consists of many different tools that rely on particular chart formations.

Two main chart types are used: bar charts and candlestick charts.

Bar charts use a vertical line to represent a stock’s price movements during one day. The line starts from the lowest price of the day, and ends at the highest price of the day. In between are the closing price (marked on the right side of the line) and the opening price (marked on the left side of the line).

Candlestick charts are similar to bar charts, with a vertical line representing intra-day price movements. However, the opening and closing prices form a rectangle that is coloured according to whether the stock rose or fell.

Over time, analysts can detect patterns on these charts. The patterns are then compared to technical indicators. Three basic indicators used by technical analysts are the moving average, support and resistance levels, and the relative strength indicator.

The moving average shows the average value of a stock over time. For example, a 100-day moving average is calculated by adding up prices from the last 100 days and dividing by 100. These averages smooth out price fluctuations while still giving the price trend.

Typically, a stock price moving above its moving average is a good sign, and a stock going below its moving average is a bad sign.

Support and resistance levels are, respectively, a floor or a ceiling to future price movements. When a price falls, this may create greater demand for the stock and lessen selling pressure. This leads to a support level for the stock.

Similarly, when a stock price rises, this creates more incentive to sell and less incentive to buy, leading to a resistance level. Technical analysts calculate support and resistance levels from prices where the stock rebounded in the past.

The relative strength index measures momentum using a formula to compare days the stock closes up with days it closed down. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating greater stock rises.

A stock is usually considered overbought if the index is above 70 (so you should consider selling) and oversold if the index is below 30 (so you should consider buying).

Does it work?

Many academic studies have focused on whether technical analysis works. Results are inconclusive. Like astrology, technical analysis has both strong supporters and doubters.

Nevertheless, technical analysis continues to have adherents, and reports on charts and past prices are available from many brokers.

But as with all investments, past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future.

Many leading financial newspapers publish charts to show individual market trends, as well as to track individual stocks. These are useful indicators, but need a great deal more analysis than most newspapers (with some notable exceptions) can devote space to.

But if the trend seems to be downwards, the herd instinct takes over, and many people will sell out in a panic, rather than identifying the weakness as a buying opportunity. (But not always.)

Similarly, when a market has been going inexorably upwards - for instance the NASDAQ in the first quarter of last year - many amateur investors will still be eager to jump on the bandwagon, even though fundamentalist wisdom will have identified the trend as about to reverse, and time to get out.

Supporters argue that technical analysis does not explicitly have to predict a future price. It is often used to identify trends in the short and medium term. This improves an investor’s chances of making money - and in the end, that may be all that matters.

Are we all getting fatter?

Am I the only one who thinks the world is getting fatter? Or at least more plump? I just read some statistics that in the 1970s two third’s of the world’s population lived below the poverty line. Today that number has been reduced to about one third. Wealth distribution, better education, the Green Revolution and modern agriculture techniques certainly account for much of this progress. When I think about people getting fatter, it is not the lower income peoples of Third World countries I am wondering about. I suppose the people I observe could be called the middle class or upper middle class in more nations than just a couple of rich democracies.

Now, before the brick-bats start flying, let me state that I do not have a hidden prejudice against obese people. A curiosity about a social phenomenon is not the same as being a bigot. I simply see a lot of very fat people in every country I travel in the past few years, which makes me realise that the eating habits of huge portions of the world’s population have greatly changed. Therefore there must be some cultural changes taking place which seem to effect people’s appetites. Fat people are springing up in nations which traditionally did not have a problem with obesity. So why is this?

There are many opinions as to why this could be. We have been discussing this problem for years...it is not new. Some people think it is simply that ordinary people really don’t know the way food chemistry works in the body; which food contains what and how it metabolises when digested. Others think perhaps modern life and its conveniences don’t make us work hard enough. Not work hard enough? I’ve never seen people so driven by their work as they are in this day and age. Too many modern conveniences? Not enough exercise? Too much money? Too much food? Ah, there we may have struck on something.

Food is big business and very political now in every nation. Countries which produce more than they consume export the excess, and those which do not grow enough of something in demand must import it. Advertising in all its forms pumps out propaganda on food 24 hours a day in one form or another. How about choices? Pay dirt! So many choices and so much competition would account for the bombardment of advertising. But the food must get to the mouth before it turns to fat, right?

I think I really have the answer to this particular social idiosyncrasy. Many societies base their cultural interaction on food, and the ceremony with which it is accompanied. Even cave dwellers held ceremonies after the kill of the beast and the fire was struck. But they were not obese, not even pleasingly plump. I believe the problem...if it is one, comes from something much more connected to the human condition than cultural ceremony and national cuisine. It comes from curiosity. All of those new products on the shelves need to be sampled. There is an endless supply and human ingenuity will always come up with new products and new recipes.

One doesn’t actually have to be of a certain race or ethnic background to get fat. In other words, Northern Europeans, tall, hardy and stout are not the only people who’s girth increases to mammoth proportions. But I will admit that cultural cuisine has a lot to do with adding those extra pounds or staying lean and mean. Western food can be incredibly mouth-watering, but the portions and the calories can add up if one doesn’t actually dig ditches for a living.

I have Thai friends who went to study or do business in the USA and Europe, and after two years came back to Thailand as plumb as pickles. Why? Because they had never seen so much food in their lives, and of such variety. They wanted to try it all. They had no idea what the ingredients were in anything they ate. It was scrumptious, and even as they grew out of their clothes, bought bigger ones and stretched the new ones to the limit, they ate, and ate. Always trying something new, always more dishes to taste. Thais are curious and food is their passion.

And so we have the beginnings of an obsession. Food is something we of every nationality all have in common, and so people will always talk about food. What they are eating at the moment, what they ate yesterday, what they will eat tomorrow. I realise Thais have been accused of being total bores on food. But that is because they are not scintillating conversationalists by nature. Americans and British however, can be fabulously witty, interesting and informative. But when a group of them gets together and food is in the offing, many times the conversation turns to IQ 64. For example, in a restaurant, when my native English speaking pals all have menus and are about to order a meal, talk leaps around the table and the basic topic is “great meals I have eaten” while the waiter takes the order. Other friends and associates email information to me on dozens of different topics. My English speaking friends do that too, AFTER they have told me what they had for breakfast, lunch and dinner, what their friends and kids are eating, and what their neighbours are cooking. My German and Austrian friends all gather to discuss philosophy and the meaning of life. Come to think of it, what else could we discuss over a pig’s knuckle and a heap of sour cabbage?

by Lesley Warner

America’s famous aviatrix Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 at her grandparents’ home in Atchison, Kansas. Amelia grew up with a normal mother and a heavy drinker for a father. She had many jobs before she got into flying.

Amelia Mary Earhart

In 1920 she decided to visit her family in California and while there she went to an “aerial meet” at Daugherty Field in Long Beach. After which she boarded an open-cockpit biplane for a 10-minute flight over Los Angeles.

She said, “As soon as we left the ground I knew I myself had to fly!”

Shortly afterwards she began lessons with pioneer aviatrix Anita “Neta” Snook at Kinner Field near Long Beach

By October 1922, Amelia began participating in record breaking attempts and set a women’s altitude record of 14,000 feet.

In autumn 1925, Amelia joined the Boston Chapter of the National Aeronautic Association and invested what little money she had in a company that would build an airport and market Kinner airplanes in Boston. During this time she took full advantage of the circumstances to promote flying...especially for women. She regularly became the subject of columns in newspapers. The Boston Globe called her, “one of the best women pilots in the United States”.

Amelia was soon making a name for herself and in September 1928 she flew a solo flight from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast.

Aviation was quite a new concept and the industry looked for ways to improve its image. Amelia was appointed Assistant to the General Traffic Manager at Transcontinental Air Transport (later known as TWA) with a special responsibility of attracting women passengers.

She continued to take all challenges offered and in 1930 she broke several women’s speed records in her Lockheed Vega aircraft.

By early 1932 no other person had successfully flown solo across the Atlantic since Lindbergh. Amelia would not duplicate Lindbergh’s course but would fly from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and make the British Isles her destination. On May 20, 1932, exactly 5 years after the Lindbergh flight, Amelia’s modified Lockheed Vega began the journey. Somewhat off-course, she landed in an open field near Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

In the autumn of 1934, Amelia decided that her next flight would be a trans-Pacific flight from Hawaii to California...and then on to Washington D.C. She departed Wheeler Field on January 11, 1935 and landed in Oakland, California to a cheering crowd of thousands.

Later in 1935, Amelia began plans for an around-the-world flight. The Lockheed Electra 10E was chosen as the plane for the flight. The flight would be two major firsts...she would be the first woman, and she would travel the longest possible distance, circumnavigating the globe at its waist. She said, “Please know I am quite aware of the hazards...I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail their failure must be but a challenge to others.”

On June 1, 1937, Amelia and her navigator Fred Noonan departed Miami, Florida bound for California by traveling around the world. The first destination was San Juan, Puerto Rico...from there skirting the northeast edge of South America and then on to Africa and the Red Sea. From Karachi the Electra flew to Calcutta on June 17... from there, on to Rangoon, Bangkok, Singapore and Bandoeng.

It was June 27 before Amelia and Noonan were able to leave Bandoeng for Port Darwin, Australia. At Darwin the direction finder was repaired, and the parachutes were packed and shipped home...they would be of no value over the Pacific.

Amelia reached Lae in New Guinea on June 29. She cabled her last commissioned article to the Herald Tribune. Photos show her looking very tired and ill.

On the morning of July 2, ITASCA received only broken radio messages in which she spoke of running low on fuel and how she was unable to locate her destination.

Nothing was ever heard again and no one has ever found Amelia’s body or plane.

by Mirin MacCarthy

The last edition discussed the advantage to cats getting to live out their nine lives by being kept indoors. It is clear that an indoor life for cats removes the potentially fatal threats of feline Aids, automobile injuries, snakebite and rabies from wildlife.

Is it fair?

Owners will swear that their cats will be miserable if cooped up indoors constantly. This is not correct and with a little attention to what the cat likes and needs, a pet owner can make a home that is healthy, safe and happy for puss too.

Puss in Boots

Put yourself in the cat’s shoes, or take a few moments to look at the home from the cat’s perspective. Cats need not only food, shelter and toilet areas but they need fresh air, sunshine stimulation, play and affection, places to climb and hide and greens to chew.

Fresh air and sunshine

Open securely screened windows to let fresh air and sunshine in, or enclose an area of the balcony. Attach shelves to narrow window ledges to let the cat sit and watch the world go by.

Places to climb, hide and explore

Cats need to scratch and climb. A scratching post at least two feet high is essential, though a floor to ceiling pole with perches is even better.

Give cats something to do when everyone is away - i.e., hide a few treats sneakily around the house. Open cardboard boxes left out or open cupboards to give cats new frontiers to explore.

Stimulating toys

Give cats stimulating, safe toys that activate their hunting response. Try to think like a cat, is the toy furry or feathered? Can it be made to hop or fly? Does it move and feel like small prey? These kinds of toys will give cats the most natural exercise and amusement. Make some yourself with feathers, pipe cleaners bells and elastic. Avoid toys with small or loose parts that can be stuck in a cat’s throat or swallowed.

Grass to chew

Remove all poisonous indoor plants and replace with pots of grass, alfalfa or catnip. This gives the cats fresh tasty greens to chew that aren’t exposed to chemicals or pesticides.

Play

Play games with your cat, this is not nuts. Cats have a very real need for human companionship. They enjoy chasing small soft balls and especially love chasing dancing lights spots from laser light pointers. Some even like games of chase and hide and seek around doors. Mine love hiding under the bedclothes where they are convinced you can’t see them.

The key is gradual adjustment

It is possible to help an outdoor cat adjust to a contented life indoors. The key is to make the conversion very gradually and to provide lots of attention and stimulation while the cat is indoors. Begin by letting the cat out only in the middle of the day. Cats are nocturnal hunters and this change will help them shift from the hunting urge. Over a month or two gradually shorten the length of time the cat is outside until you no longer let it outside unsupervised ever. Consider leash training which can be achieved with much patience. Or screen in porches or small enclosures so they can enjoy the great outdoors in safety. Refer to <www.catnip.com.au> for great ideas for modular cat gardens. Purrfect.

by Duncan Stearn

Part Two: The Early Years 1954-1976

In September 1954, the South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was formed at a meeting in Manila in the Philippines. Aimed at providing an umbrella defence of key states in the region it consisted of the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, France, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand.

During the delicate negotiations the work of Prince Wan, as Thai Foreign Minister, was singled out for praise by the British Foreign Secretary (later Prime Minister) Sir Anthony Eden who wrote, ‘Your smooth and timely but firm guidance has had an essential part in the success for the work we have done.’

In April 1955, Prince Wan attended the nine-day Bandung Conference in Indonesia. Held in the Javanese city of Bandung and chaired by Indonesian President Sukarno, delegates from 29 Asian and African countries came to hear speeches denouncing colonialism and demanding self-determination for all subjugated peoples. Among the dignitaries attending the conference were Zhou En-Lai from the People’s Republic of China, ‘Pandit’ Nehru of India, Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, Pham Van Dong of North Vietnam and U Nu of Burma. Prince Wan, already noted for his tact and impartiality, was elected Rapporteur.

In the world of international politics, Prince Wan’s standing was so high that he was unanimously elected as President of the United Nations General Assembly in 1956. He held the post until the end of the Eleventh Session of the UN in 1957. Prince Wan was the first, and only, Thai to have been elevated to such a prominent position in the arena of international politics.

During his presidency, Prince Wan had to weather the international storm of two potentially explosive dramas: the Russian invasion of Hungary and the Second Arab-Israeli War, also known as the Suez Crisis. Both crises occurred at almost the same time, in mid-late 1956, and there were very real fears of yet another world war breaking out. That neither incident escalated into a major conflagration was due in no small measure to the conciliatory efforts of Prince Wan.

Prince Wan remained Thai Foreign Minister (with a break of eight months in 1957) until October 1958 when, aged 67, he virtually retired from the arena of international diplomacy, returning to Thailand to concentrate on linguistics and concentrate on more academic pursuits.

Nevertheless, he was to remain very much in the public arena of Thailand for the remainder of his full life. Although he had an interest in playing golf and ballroom dancing, his chief love remained books, writing and language.

In 1965, Prince Wan was appointed Rector of Thammasat University, holding the post until 1970. In 1969, aged 78, the elder statesman was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in the Thanom Kittikachorn government. That same year he became President of the Siam Society for the second time, holding the position until 1976. He had first been president between 1944 and 1949.

In 1971, His Majesty the King appointed him President of the National Congress, the forerunner to the Legislative Assembly that eventually drafted the 1974 Constitution.

The illustrious career of Prince Wan came to an end when he died on September 5 1976, at the venerable age of 85.

by Anchalee Kaewmanee

The planet Mercury rules both signs of this combination. For those who are familiar with mythology, Mercury is the messenger of the gods and governs the communication of thoughts and ideas.

Self-expression is one of the strongest needs in life for natives born into this Sun/Moon combination. Whether possessed with the gift of fine story-telling, or it takes on the forms of writing, debating, the art of fine conversation, or simply manifests into an irritating habit of habitual nagging, the Gemini-Virgo’s desire to communicate is ever-present. That need to express their latest ideas and deepest feelings will not be denied. And like all highly expressive people, they demand an audience. It is vital they get feedback and output from the world around them so they can air their views and show off that wit and sophistication. These people need sounding boards. If deprived of such a forum, they will lapse into states of moodiness and agitation, and their sharp criticism can hurt.

Restless and nervy, exuberant and enthusiastic, the charm of a native born into this combo usually guarantees the audience will sit up and take notice. This is an extremely intellectual combination, and a pursuit of knowledge drives this sign to acquire a fine store of information on various subjects. Happily, these individuals also exude an aura of worldly wisdom. Not so happily, they have difficulty specialising in any one field of endeavour. Since there is so much to learn, they often feel it is a waste of time to master any one subject or skill.

Despite their urbane, light-hearted manner, the Gemini-Virgos are often discontented. They set high goals and almost impossible standards, not only for themselves, but often for those around them. Dissatisfaction with themselves or the projects they are working on is the source of much of the confusion, anxiety and depression they may feel throughout life.

When they succumb to these vague feelings of self-doubt and discontent, they become moody, restless and hypercritical toward their family, friends and associates. Often they will project their problems onto the people closest to them. If the frustration becomes too much to bear, natives of this sign often resort to self-destructive behaviour, alcoholism or drug abuse being the most common. It is advisable for these people to recognise those feelings of discontent and develop a little compassion for themselves. To recognise and appreciate their own many talents and to forgive their personal flaws is vital if they are to find peace. They must realise that reward and recognition are not always instantly forthcoming, despite all their labours.

The perfect critic and analyst, the perception of the Gemini-Virgo is always on target. Although not very emotional, this combination is considerate and thoughtful. And the advice which these natives are always dispensing is usually well thought-out and wise. Oftentimes, it would be a good idea to practice what they themselves preach, however.

Professionally, this combo is well suited for fields that involve analysis and precision. In addition, these people can excel in the communications media, particularly advertising, journalism, marketing and promotion. A Gemini-Virgo is a terrific salesperson.

A very detached view of love makes this combination not nearly as romantic as they appear. That restless nature craves variety, so they will most likely have many love affairs before they are ready to settle down. In this case, it is probably for the best that they sow their wild oats when they are young. A tight leash held on a Gemini-Virgo only makes them more determined to slip the lead. Although they all can be considerate and thoughtful lovers, they can also be highly critical towards a mate when they are having their own personal difficulties in other areas of life.

by Apichart Panyadee

The period of the greatest flower painters of the Dutch masters, the floral marquetry work of Amsterdam and The Hague, and the incredible work of Jan van Merkeren were recaptured from the middle of the 19th century. 

A Spanish cabinet-on-stand influenced by late 16th century Moorish work.

It was often recreated either in a purely 18th century form but with a 17th century style marquetry, or by simply taking one of the many plain and unadorned 18th century walnut or mahogany pieces and inlaying it. The Flemish draw-leaf table, one of the earliest types of extending dining room tables, is a common subject for reproduction; the copies mainly dating to the early part of the 20th century, realise about half the value of 17th century items.

For example, a mid-18th century Dutch mahogany bureau of typical form would have been a plain magoghany piece when first made. But a hundred years later, the revival of the earlier style would have included profuse inlay.

A late 19th century copy of a Spanish cabinet influenced by Moorish work of the late 16th century.

A typical 17th century Napoleon III style of side cabinet was popular, thus made in several countries. A later rendition would most probably be taken from a large Dutch amoire and ‘improved’ for 19th century taste. The telltale larger proportions of the oversized Dutch piece would certainly give away the game.

A typical Napoleon III side cabinet made in several countries. This one had 17th century panels from a Dutch amoire inserted.

Spain, too, recaptured its golden era - this time the 16th century. The early 16th century Mudejar style of Moorish geometric ivory and coloured woods became popular, especially as French, and to a lesser extent, English taste turned towards the Middle East and Arabia for exotic inspiration. Spanish craftsmen seem to have been able to produce copies of earlier work easily. They were looking back 300 years, but neither the standard or work nor the materials had changed much. This can make it most difficult to distinguish copy from original, or fake from copy. Only with experience and very careful study can one tell a late 18th century drawer lining from an earlier one. The 19th century examples inconveniently seem to slip back to the earliest period; possibly these were really intended to deceive.

Louis XV kingwood and tulipwood amoire that has been altered to suit 19th century taste. Wooden front panels have been replaced with glass to create a display cabinet.

Spanish cabinet-on-stand were heavily influenced by Moorish work, and very popular in the late 16th century. There may or may not be a reduction in size in these items, and unless there is, it is difficult to tell the age. A piece in very good condition could arouse suspicion. On the other hand, it is unwise to base one’s choice on this premise alone. Indifferent quality of carving means it is an item from a later date. The carving may be flat and uninspired.

A Louis XV amoire was often altered to suit later fashion and taste. The most common alterations to these pieces were done to the top panels. The wooden panels were removed and glass panels inserted. This effectively turned a cupboard into a new saleable display cabinet. Also, many times gilt bronze mounts were added in the 19th century. A collector must remember that elaborate work was often added in this period, which drove up the prices of the later items which were copied or altered. Therefore originals often were cheaper than reproductions.

by Marion

Last week’s edition outlined the principles of the liver cleansing diet, (LCD) and how the liver is of critical importance as the main vacuum cleaner of the system. Because the type of fats you eat on a daily basis is fundamental to your health and longevity, and has the greatest influence on your liver function and weight, it is important to look at good and bad fats and how to avoid saturated and damaged fats.

Essential Fatty Acids

Many people believe that all fats are bad; however, this is not so. Some fats are essential to optimum health and indeed are named essential fatty acids (EFA’s). In a diet which completely excludes EFA’s the liver function, metabolism, hormonal and immune functions slow, also dry itchy skin, depression, fatigue, joint pain, hair loss, circulatory problems and rapid ageing occur. “EFA’s Omega 3 and Omega 6 are of vital importance to health and diet both, as the body cannot manufacture them. They are the main constituents of membranes outside cells and tiny metabolic organs inside every cell. EFA’s are necessary for proper liver function, to eliminate toxins and to cleanse the blood. They keep the cell barriers strong and improve the efficiency of the immune system also.”

Omega 6 EFA’s

“These unsaturated EFA’s are most beneficial and are mainly found in seeds. Safflower, sunflower, hemp, linseed, sesame, black currant and pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of EFA’s, protein, plant hormones and fibre. Other sources of omega 6 EFA’s are human breast milk, soya beans, walnuts, spirulina and lecithin. In “The Liver Cleansing Diet” Dr. Sandra Cabot recommends, “A mixture of linseed, sunflower seed and almonds (called LSA) as an excellent way of boosting EFA’s and protein.” Simply grind in a coffee grinder or high-powered blender 3 measures of linseed, two measures of sunflower seeds and one measure of almonds to make a delicious nutty tasting powder. Sprinkle this LSA on vegetables, pasta, soups, fruit salads, and cereals or add to a soy milk health shake. LSA is also a great brain food and will help those with a poor memory!” I am going to rush out and buy some if I don’t forget.

Omega 3 EFA’s

This group is just as beneficial as the former and is found in fresh cold water fish such as mackerel, tuna, herring, flounder, salmon, rainbow trout, bass and sardines. The fish can be steamed, baked or grilled but absolutely not fried, deep-fried or smoked because the EFA’s are damaged and oxidised by those processes. Canned or tinned fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel are a healthy source of oils provided they are not smoked either. Other beneficial Omega 3 EFA’s are found in flaxseeds, canola, soya beans, dark leafy green vegetables, cold pressed virgin olive oil, avocados, almonds, macadamia, cashew and pecan nuts. All nuts have to be eaten fresh if their oils are to be beneficial, not rancid and poisonous.

“Oils Ain’t Oils”

Oils and fats that are essential to our health will not do us any good if they are denatured or damaged in storage, processing or cooking; in fact they will be harmful.

“EFA’s are very vulnerable to deterioration from exposure to light, air or heat. Sunlight, artificial light, and the oxygen in the air will cause EFA’s to become rancid and oxidised to dangerous polymers, aldehydes and peroxides. This places increased burdens on the liver and the immune system. The application of heat in both the hydrogenation process and frying oils at high temperatures destroys EFA’s. Deep fried and/or reheated oils contain many toxic cyclic monomers causing liver disease, reduced immune function and increased risk of cancer. Those with sluggish or poor liver function or gall bladder disease should NEVER eat deep fried foods.”

Hydrogenated Margarines

Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils are used for processed oils, margarines and shortenings in convenience foods, packet biscuits and cakes. Do not think that polyunsaturated margarines are good for you, they are really harmful liver enemies because of the hydrogenation process used to turn natural oils into unhealthy trans-fatty acids. “Trans-fatty acids are bad news for the liver because they impair the function of the liver’s most important detoxification enzyme, which breaks down toxins and carcinogens (cancer producing agents). Also, studies have shown that consumption of trans-fatty acids (hydrogenated margarines, etc.,) increases total cholesterol and triglycerides which are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. While on the LCD it is essential to avoid all hydrogenated margarines and butter (diary products). Instead use fresh avocado, houmos, tahini or (non hydrogenated, non dairy) ‘soy butter’ as spreads.”

Care for Oils

Dietary Oils will only be good for us if we take care of them by protecting them from air, heat and light. “For salad dressings, home made cakes and light stir frying, good quality, unrefined and genuinely cold pressed oils are what’s needed. A good choice is virgin olive oil, because it has not been heated, refined or bleached. Keep the oil in the fridge. Do not fry foods in oil at high temperatures, instead stir-fry the Chinese way. Put a little water in the wok first, not oil, then add the vegetables and after slow low heating add a small amount of oil. This method keeps the cooking temperatures down to a non-destructive 100 deg C (212F) which avoids overheating and oxidation. Adding garlic and onions to the wok helps as they are rich in sulphur and minimise free radical damage. Some oils are less damaged by heating than others, and the best for stir frying are canola, sesame, peanut, high oleic sunflower, safflower and virgin olive oils.”

Liver Tonics

“Nutritional medicine is very powerful, as well as being risk free,” as Dr. Cabot says, and she has found that, “99% of people can control high cholesterol levels by diet alone.” Dr. Cabot recommends six natural health therapies for the liver. They are psyllium, taurine, dandelion, St Mary’s Thistle, globe artichoke and slippery elm bark, which have liver protective, restorative properties. Also, three helpful foods, carrots and beets, lecithin, alfalfa and barley leaf, are antioxidants, cholesterol reducing and liver cleansers. Dr. Cabot’s “Livatone” powder contains all these ingredients and is also available in capsule form. More information about these tonics and the brilliant Liver Cleansing Diet can be found at <www.whas.com.au> and www.liverdoctor.com Dr. Cabot’s book, “The Liver Cleansing Diet” (ISBN - 0-646-27789-8) is packed with great recipes, even titled “Yummy recipes”, also an eight week eating plan and many cholesterol reducing therapies. The book and the LCD come highly recommended from many converts who benefited enormously.

by Richard Bunch

From Hugh Twigg, Eastern Seaboard: I work for a company on Eastern Seaboard, recently a number of staff were dismissed, although for the most part their whereabouts are known, the IT supervisors isn’t. This presents me with a problem as the company will not replace him and has made looking after the computers etc. part of my job. I have a little bit of knowledge but my immediate problem is that I need to change a PC to boot from floppy, at the moment it is booting from the C drive. I know how to do this from the BIOS, but when I try to enter the BIOS it asks for a Supervisor password, neither I nor anyone else in the company knows this. Surely there must be a way around this?

Computer Doctor replies: There is good news; there is a simple solution that will allow you to get in the BIOS. This means opening the PC and then shorting out two terminals on the motherboard, performing a boot while the terminals are shorted then returning them to their original position. On some motherboards this is achieved by changing a jumper, on others it is necessary to bridge two joints with conductive material like a screwdriver. If you can find the motherboard manual this will tell you, otherwise you may be able to obtain the information from the manufacturer’s website. You may also be able to see the pins labelled on the motherboard, this will read something like CMOS. Don’t forget that resetting the CMOS will return all your BIOS settings to default so these will need to be customised once more. In a workplace environment, it is often good practice to set a BIOS password as this will deter the office meddler from altering settings. Of course to be absolutely secure you will need to enforce a physical restraint to prevent the case being opened thereby allowing access to the motherboard.

Tricks with Outlook and Outlook Express

With the advent and unpleasant side effects of some recent viruses, like propagating itself by e-mailing to addresses stored in your address book and particularly attaching documents selected at random from your hard drive, this tip will help to prevent the spread or in any event alert you to the problem.

Create an invalid entry in your Outlook or Outlook Express address book. Enter a bogus first and last name starting with a non-alphanumeric character (*virus-alert!, for example). Enter <illegaladdress as the e-mail address, make sure to include the less-than symbol (<). Outlook and/or Outlook Express will alert you that this address is invalid, it’s supposed to be! It will then ask if you still want to add it. Click Yes and then OK.

When a virus tries to mail itself to the addresses in your address book, this will be the first entry it encounters. The mail server will reject the address and in all probability all other addresses in the message’s ‘To:’ and ‘cc:’ fields. Some servers may send the message to the valid addresses, but the invalid address will alert you to the problem because the message will bounce.

The other thing to be mindful of is that viruses can masquerade as a harmless file type, so it is wise to turn on file extensions in explorer etc. so if you see a file with a double extension like relay.gif.exe you can be sure you have a problem.

Send your questions or comments to the Pattaya Mail at 370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, 20260 or fax to 038 427 596 or email to [email protected]

The views and comments expressed within this column are not necessarily those of the writer or Pattaya Mail Publishing. Richard Bunch is managing director of Action Computer Technologies Co., Ltd. For further information, please telephone 01 782 4829, fax 038 716 816, e-mail: [email protected] or see the firm’s website www.act.co.th

Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001  Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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Updated by Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
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