21st October, 1999
The
Noticeboard
GARDENING: D.I.Y. PROPAGATION
In the past we tested propagators and found that
they do a good job, particularly heated propagators with
thermostats.
If you dont have a greenhouse or a propagator, you can make
your own mini-propagator. You may have to give cuttings more care
and attention as they develop but the success rate is good. We
recommend the following methods for growing semi-ripe and
softwood cuttings: a) Grow cuttings in a seed tray inside a
plastic bag. b) Use polystyrene cups or food containers for
planting. They allow free drainage and keep roots damp. c)
Plastic food containers ( from ice-cream or dairy spreads ) and
fruit punnets also make good plant pots. d) Stretch a small clear
plastic bag over a wire loop and seal it around the pot with an
elastic band. The plastic used to wrap dry-cleaning is equally
good. e) Use an upturned plastic pint glass over a pot. Put holes
in the base of the glass for ventilation. f) Grow cuttings in
water through a thin polystyrene tile. Puncture holes in the
tile, stick the cuttings through to keep the leaves out of the
water and allow the roots to float. Float the tile in a plastic
food container and change the water regularly.
Most cuttings root better in a humid environment (in a propagator
or under clear-polythene ). However, plants with hairy leaves,
such as Begonias and Pelargoniums, will rot if the air is not
reasonably dry so dont cover them. Keep out of direct
sunlight to avoid wilting.
ASTHMA & OUR LIFESTYLE
Recent theories on the increase in asthma
sufferers have focussed more on changing lifestyles as a root
cause. Double glazing, central heating, insulation, and poor
ventilation contribute to warm dry environments where the risk of
developing asthma is higher.
Children are playing outside less and spending more time indoors,
increasing exposure to dust and indoor allergens such as pet
hairs. The increased popularity of computer games and more time
spent watching TV are two reasons for this.
Asthmatic children should be kept active and do as much aerobic
exercise as those without asthma - swimming is often recommended
by doctors as being excellent in developing lung capacity. While
there is no known cure for the illness asthmatics can lead
normal, active lives under medical supervision. Do not stop
taking your medicine, or alter your dose, or the number of times
you take it, unless your doctor tells you to.
The statistics on asthma in Ireland make grim reading. It is
estimated that there are 270,000 sufferers in the country, thats
1 in 20 adults (5%). Since the last survey in 1995 the levels of
asthma in children have risen from 1 in 7 (14%) to 1 in 5 (20%).
Incidences of the illness are rising at the rate of 1% a year. A
major research project, the International Study of Asthma and
Allergy in Children (ISAAC) is being undertaken this year to
update the 1995 study. ISAAC is gathering data from around the
world on the alarming increase of asthma among children.
THEATRE ACTION
The Cork Fringe Theatre Festival is in full
swing at the Granary this week. It started off with Conal Creedons
(Under the Goldie Fish) When I Was God, all about a
referee at the FAI Cup Final in Dalymount Park. If you missed it,
you missed an eloquent, hilarious and often deeply moving play.
Production was by Red Kettle(Waterford).
Tonight (Thurs) starts a three night run of The Black Box,
a play about an air crash presented by the Talking Birds /
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
Then on Monday we have R+J, an innovative approach to Romeo and
Juliet. This production by Kabosh from Belfast is an multiple
award winner and has been highly acclaimed by critics everywhere.
On the 28th and 29th we have The Undertaking
presented by the Quare Hawks from Dublin. This is a play about a
group of friends who travel from London to Kerry to bury the
ashes of ,Henry, a journey that threatens to become a nightmare.
Then on October 31st the Actors of Dionysus from York present
Agamemnon.. According to the Times -
they bring tears tothe eyes and make the hair at the nape
of the neck bristle
DIXIE, JAZZ & NEW ORLEANS
The Jazz Trail goes back a hundred
and forty five years to the Southern States of America.
In those days banks printed their own currency. Ten Dollar notes
issued in 1854 by the Citizens Bank of New Orleans, and used
largely by the French speaking residents were imprinted with the
word Dix (French for ten) on the reverse side, and
they quickly became known as Dixies. The name spread
throughout the Southern States of America and the area became
known as Dixieland. Inevitably, of course, someone
wrote a song called Dixie and it was from here that
the name became associated with music. During the American Civil
War Dixie
became the most popular marching song of the Rebel Army, and was
considered by some to be the Confederate Anthem.
Young white musicians in the area, attempting to copy the flavour
of Classical New Orleans style Negro jazz, found their music
being called Dixieland Jazz. By the early 1900s
Dixieland Jazz had spread throughout the world. It peaked in the
20s and went into decline in the 1930s with the
emergence of the Big Band Swing era. Although it never regained
the glory days of the 20s. Dixieland Jazz has won the
hearts and minds of musicians all over the world and in so doing
has immortalised itself. No matter what direction popular music
takes, jazz and all it radiates, innovation, flexibility,
creativity and the general buzz of well being, thankfully, it
will always be with us.
CORK SIMON COMMUNITY
Cork Simon Communitys annual Churchgate collections will take place at masses in Douglas and other churches in Cork Southside and City Centre on the weekend of 23rd and 24th October. Cork Simon depends largely on the generosity of the people of Cork to raise the money needed to provide services to homeless people, and hope that mass goers will contribute to this worthy cause this weekend.
FALL IN UNEMPLOYMENT
In June 1997 there were 28,323 people on the
Live Register in county Cork - today there are 19,702. In little
over two years the number of people on the dole in Cork has
fallen by 8,621, a drop of 30%.
Youth unemployment in Cork has also experienced a sharp drop. It
has fallen from 4,195 in June 1997, to 3,293 today. This is a
drop of 22%.
National unemployment has fallen below 100,000 for the first time
in almost twenty years. New jobs are being created at the rate of
1,400 a week and the number of people who are long-term
unemployed has fallen by 40% in the last 12 months.
Cllr. John Minihan tells us that this is due to the fact that the
Progressive Democrats are in the Government.
GUARANTEED GOODNESS
A Guarantee Directive which was formally adopted by the EU on
the 18th of May last gives consumers a legal two year guarantee
on any purchase of consumer goods anywhere in the European Union.
Member states have until 1st January, 2002 to transpose the
Directive into national law. This is a welcome addition to the
existing Sell By Date, but why take so long?
DEFEAT SMOKING
This week were going to deal with another
reason why smokers say that they cant or wont give up
smoking. Stress. I call this excuse Stress, Smokers
Excusitis. Its actually the smoke in your body that
causes you to be even more stressful. Smokers tend to believe
that smoking relieves stress. However, what you are really doing
is adding more smoke, which is full of toxic gases and nicotine
to your body. If you will, just imagine for a moment that you are
in a garage with the doors and windows locked. Theres a car
in this garage with the engine running. You have no way out and
you cant turn the engine off. Imagine how stressed your
body would be. Think of the choking. Each time you light up, you
are doing the same thing to your body in smaller degrees. Your
smoking ads more stress to your body each time you have a smoke.
Lets take a look at the science. Stress is a specific
psychological reaction to threat or danger. To cut a long storm
short, the liver is stimulated into providing energy in the form
of sugars and the heart - begins to work hard to get this energy
to vital organs and muscles. The body is producing the fight or
flight syndrome. We have inherited the fight or flight syndrome
from our early ancestors. Could you imagine a cave man out for a
nice leisurely stroll when suddenly hes confronted by the
largest Tyrannosaurus that he has ever seen? Immediately his life
saving mechanism would be stimulated into giving him extra
strength in order to fight off his attacker or to take flight. He
takes flight and the hunt is on.
Eventually, with great speed and cunning he loses Rex
and finds himself back in his cave. This is a guy who has been
through a stressful period. Is he going to stick his head over
the open fire and inhale some smoke? Of course he wouldnt.
That is the last thing he would do. Just like any normal human he
is far more concerned with that strange odour that is coming from
his sheepskin underpants! Smoking doesnt relieve stress,
smoking causes stress. Defeat Smoking Now.
CRASH - BANG - WALLOP!
Its not funny, road accidents caused 458
deaths in 1998 and about half of the victims were in cars. Of
those in cars, 3 out of 4 were not wearing seat belts. Whats
frightening is, with a lot more cars on the road, a lowering of
driving standards, an increase in aggressive driving, and places
of utter confusion like the Kinsale Roundabout, we still refuse
to buckle up. The last national survey, way back in 1991, found
that only 55% of car users used seat belts. The National Roads
Authority is now conducting a national survey on seat-belt
wearing. There is a £20 on the spot fine for not wearing a seat
belt, and this can reach £150 if it goes to court.
From the US, where police reported 6.7 million road accidents in
1977, we get the following advice. The under twelves should
always sit in the back seat. Always wear a seat belt - even in
your own driveway or when you are parked. Position the seat belt
over your hips, so your bones and not your internal organs can
absorb the force of impact. Simple, sensible safety measures that
cost nothing and can save so much.
STAMP ON IT
An Post is working to make stamp buying more convenient for consumers. When its new Stamp Retailing Service is up and running in the coming months, consumers will be able to buy stamps in over 3,000 shops and 2,000 post offices. The new service is being introduced for 1,000 new retailers and for the 2,000 retailers who already hold licences to sell stamps. It includes commission on the sale of stamp booklets, a merchandising service to tell consumers where stamps are available and a mail-order service for retailers to re-stock. This is good news for everybody, as most shops dont close for lunch, have longer opening hours and may be more conveniently located than post offices.