Archive for September, 2015

 
 The Effect of Meat Consumption on Body Odor Attractiveness
 Abstract
 
 Axillary body odor is individually specific and potentially a rich source of information about its producer. Odor individuality partly results from genetic individuality, but the influence of ecological factors such as eating habits are another main source of odor variability. However, we know very little about how particular dietary components shape our body odor. Here we tested the effect of red meat consumption on body odor attractiveness. We used a balanced within-subject experimental design. Seventeen male odor donors were on “meat” or “nonmeat” diet for 2 weeks wearing axillary pads to collect body odor during the final 24 h of the diet. Fresh odor samples were assessed for their pleasantness, attractiveness, masculinity, and intensity by 30 women not using hormonal contraceptives. We repeated the same procedure a month later with the same odor donors, each on the opposite diet than before. Results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the odor of donors when on the nonmeat diet was judged as significantly more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense. This suggests that red meat consumption has a negative impact on perceived body odor hedonicity.
 
 
 Human body odor is individually specific, similar to our appearance. Odor individuality is established very early in life as was clearly shown by Porter’s team and other researchers (for review, see Winberg and Porter 1998). Newborn babies are able to distinguish their mothers’ breast and axillary odor within several weeks after delivery (Russell 1976; Cernoch and Porter 1985). Simultaneously, mothers can recognize the odor of their offspring 2 days after delivery (Porter et al. 1983). Fathers can also distinguish their own baby’s smell from the smell of a strange baby when babies are aged 3 weeks (Porter et al. 1986). Individual odor recognition is not restricted to early parent–offspring relationships, occurring also in adulthood in sibling recognition for instance (Porter and Moore 1981). In addition, body odor plays a significant role in mate choice (Herz and Cahill 1997; Herz and Inzlicht 2002) and in sexual partners’ recognition once the relationship is established (Hold and Schleidt 1977). Based on all the above-mentioned empirical findings, body odor emitted by a specific individual was therefore labeled an “odor signature” (Porter et al. 1985).
 The odor signature is to some extent genetically inherited. This view is supported by 3 lines of evidence. First, odors of parents and offspring can be correctly matched by subjects not acquainted to odor donors (Porter et al. 1985). On the other hand, the raters were not able to match odors of spouses, who are not genetically related. This result also excluded the possibility that matching of parents and offspring was due to shared home odor. Second, odors of monozygotic twins are more difficult to distinguish than dizygotic twins (Wallace 1977), and monozygotic twins are matched at rates better than chance, even when they live apart (Roberts et al. 2005). Third, odor preferences are correlated with genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Products of MHC genes are crucial elements of the immune system, particularly in self/nonself recognition. It was found that women rate the odor of MHC dissimilar men as most attractive (Wedekind et al. 1995; Wedekind and Füri 1997). Such preference may potentially result in more MHC heterozygous, and therefore also more viable, offspring (Penn 2002).
 However, not only is body odor preprogrammed by genetic factors but also much variability is due to psychophysiological and ecological influences. For instance, it has been shown repeatedly that body odor changes across women’s menstrual cycle, peaking in attractiveness around the time of ovulation (Thornhill et al. 2003; Kuukasjärvi et al. 2004; Havlicek et al. 2006). Other studies found that mood (e.g., fear) of a target person may influence hedonic perception of his/her axillary odor (Chen and Haviland-Jones 2000; Ackerl et al. 2002). Eating habits also may have a crucial impact on body odor composition. However, very little is known about the effect of individual alimentary components on human body odor. Some folk beliefs connect odor hedonicity with meat consumption. For instance, Hindu Indians who are usually vegetarian say that people who eat meat smell bad because of it (S Komarek, personal communication). To our knowledge, however, this effect has not yet been tested under controlled conditions.
 The aim of this study was to test the effect of red meat consumption on axillary odor hedonicity. For this purpose, we used a balanced within-subject design with a relatively long period (2 weeks) of diet control. The results may improve our rather poor understanding of how axillary odor is determined and also may be of methodological importance for dietary control in olfactory studies.
 
 Source click here
 
 
 
 -n&m

 
 This may have nothing to do with the Junctions, but is has had me thinking for two weeks as of today.
 
 The now closed – network which closed on Feb 15 2015 and really is closed now as the last of technical stuff and furniture is moved out of Sun TV Network studios in the past few weeks.
 
 
 Incidentally making it a great Dance and Rehearsal space – has a interestingly and for me a confusing decorative style for the room they used as a boardroom or maybe there large meeting room.
 
 The door of the room entitles the room Queenston Heights and inside there is a framed picture of Isaac Brock.
 
 Why Isaac Brock and the Queenston Heights battle would have such significance to the Sun News Network team completely eludes me,
 
 Any one have any ideas?
 
 Brock died at the Battle of Queenston Heights, which was nevertheless a British victory
 
 

 
 This item will be considered by Etobicoke York Community Council on October 6, 2015. It will be considered by City Council on November 3, 2015, subject to the actions of the Etobicoke York Community Council.
 
 Etobicoke York Community Council consideration on October 6, 2015
 
 ((Deferred from September 8, 2015 – 2015.EY8.80) )
 
 
 EY 9.25 ACTION 9:45 AM Ward:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17
 
 Holding Utility Companies Accountable to a Higher Standard of Repair
 
 Origin
 (August 19, 2015) Letter from Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti – Ward 7 – York West
 
 Recommendations:
 1. Etobicoke York Community Council request the Director, Transportation Services, Etobicoke York District, and Utility Cut Operations staff to direct applicants of Utility Cut permits within the Etobicoke York district to notify and work with the Ward Councillor for approval of all curb cut restorations being completed within the Etobicoke York district, as a measure for ensuring the standard of quality for temporary curb cut restoration is met.
 
 
 Summary:
 Over the course of several weeks, my office has seen a growing number of grievances regarding the quality of curb and apron repairs being undertaken by Utility companies. Under TS 4.60.07.03 of the Engineering and Construction Services Division Standard Specifications for Road Works, Utility companies are required to meet a certain standard of quality when applying temporary pavement restoration of mixed asphalt by neatly matching the finished grade of existing pavement. After visiting numerous sites with constituents who have expressed their grievances with the quality of the temporary repair work being done, it is undoubtedly clear that there is negligence with the standard of quality required for temporary curb cut restoration.
 
 
 
 Therefore, in an effort to hold Utility companies accountable to a higher standard of repair when conducting curb cut restoration work in the Etobicoke York district, applicants should notify and work with Councillors prior to cutting City infrastructure in their wards.
 
 
 Background Information:
 (August 19, 2015) Letter from Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti – Ward 7 – York West – Holding Utility Companies Accountable to a Higher Standard of Repair
 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-83685.pdf)
 
 Source: Toronto City Clerk at
 www.toronto.ca/council
 
 
 
 -n&m

 Click image above for full size.
 
 
 All text the City
 
 Terms of Reference for a City of Toronto Photo Laureate
 
 Committee Recommendations
 The Economic Development Committee recommends that:
 
 
 
 1. City Council approve the terms of reference for a Photo Laureate as described in Appendix A to the report (September 1, 2015) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture; and
 
 
 
 2. City Council request the appointment of the City of Toronto’s first Photo Laureate in 2016 pending its consideration of support for the honorarium as part of the Economic Development and Culture 2016 Operating Budget.
 
 
 Origin
 (September 1, 2015) Report from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture
 
 Summary
 The purpose of this report is to outline the terms of reference for the honorary position of City of Toronto Photo Laureate established by City Council in May 2014.
 
 
 
 The position of the City of Toronto Photo Laureate will honour a photographer who is recognized for artistic excellence and who has made a major contribution to photography through their work. Toronto’s Photo Laureate will be an advocate for visual culture, art photography, photojournalism, and use his/her unique perspective to create a dialogue on contemporary issues.
 
 
 Background Information
 (September 1, 2015) Report and Appendix A from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture on the Terms of Reference for a City of Toronto Photo Laureate
 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ed/bgrd/backgroundfile-83127.pdf)
 
 Motions
 Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Shelley Carroll (Carried)
 
 Source: Toronto City Clerk at
 
 
 -n&m

The Netherlands plans to have a 100% wind-powered railway system by 2018
Awesome!

DAVSEP 2015

With each passing week, renewable energy makes greater and greater strides in supplying more power for our lives, and a lot of that innovation is happening in transport. The Netherlands is the latest country to set the pace for adopting alternative energy sources: the companies in charge of the country’s railways are looking to move the entire network over to wind power in the next three years.

Dutch energy company Eneco has just approved a deal to meet that target with the VIVENS rail firms in the country, Gizmodo reports. Wind power already supplies energy for half of the network – some 2,890 km (1,800 miles) of track – so Eneco has until 2018 to source the rest from the Netherlands and its neighbours. The proposed scheme is partly intended to increase renewable energy adoption in other European nations too.

“What makes this contract and partnership unique is that a whole sector decreases its CO2 footprint enormously and sets an example for other sectors to follow,” Eneco account manager Michel Kerkhof told Railway Technology. “Mobility is responsible for 20 percent of CO2 emissions in the Netherlands, and if we want to keep travelling, it is important that we do this without burdening the environment with CO2 and particulate matter. This contract offers all Dutch citizens the option to make a climate neutral trip, regardless of distance.”

Around 1.2 million passengers travel on trains in the Netherlands every day. Eneco has agreed to supply 1.4 terawatt hours (TWh) of wind-sourced power by 2018, which is roughly the same amount of energy consumed by all the households in Amsterdam, the capital city. Half of that total is expected to come from foreign sources in Scandinavia and elsewhere, with the rest generated in the Netherlands.

Eneco has made a point of using specially built wind farms for the project to avoid putting existing plants under unnecessary pressure and to keep prices down. The railway operators, meanwhile, are making energy efficiency savings in other areas (through train design and driving techniques) in order to keep demand as low as possible – this in turn ensures that the extra price of wind power isn’t passed on to customers.

“This partnership ensures that new investments can be made in even newer wind farms, which will increase the share of renewable energy,” adds Kerkhof. “In this way, the Dutch railways aim to reduce the greatest negative environmental impact caused by CO2 in such a way that its demand actually contributes to the sustainable power generation in the Netherlands and Europe.”

The march of wind power continues unabated all across the world. China is now producing more energy from wind than the US is from nuclear, while Denmark now has enough wind farms to exceed the country’s total energy needs at certain points. As more plants come online, the risk of outages due to calm, still days becomes much lower.

-n&m

20th Anniversary: A Celebration of Community & Urban Greenspacing

Save the date: Saturday, September 26, 2015

Get ready for a family-friendly celebration… it’s the park’s 20th anniversary this year, and we’re planning a party.

Local non-profit organizations and dedicated volunteers have come together to plan a special event, celebrating the past, present and future of our park.

We’re planning a fun Kids Zone, a Sports Zone, an interpretive History Zone, and a Main Stage on the Town Square with music and dancing. We’ll have a Food Zone and a birthday cake competition judged by local VIPs. The event will finish with an outdoor movie on the Square.

According to the report of Huffington Post, “
 
 
 These Kensington Market (Toronto, Ontario),
 The Junction (Toronto, Ontario),
 
 Parkdale (Toronto, Ontario),
 
 Byward Market (Ottawa, Ontario),
 
 
 
 
 
 -n&m

All-Candidates Meeting for the Upcoming Federal Election, Oct. 8
 Location: 3049 Dundas St. West
 Date: October 8 at 7 pm
 
 The Junction Residents Association (JRA) is hosting an All-Candidates Meeting for the upcoming Federal Election. We are inviting all Junction residents to join us. It is a chance for residents of this vibrant, active and developing Junction community to learn from the candidates the policies, plans and ideas that impact us a citizens and as residents of this community. Please come and meet the candidates and be part of the debate.
 
 The agenda for the night is simple, inviting and inclusive:
 
 Opening remarks by JRA
 Self-introduction and statement (3-minute maximum) by each candidate
 Open questions from the audience to candidates; candidates’ answers limited to 2 minutes (one hour total). Questions are to be written, short and to the point and will be read out by one of the JRA executive members during the question period. All candidates will be given a chance to respond to the questions asked.
 Closing statement (2-minute maximum) from each candidate
 Open mingling of residents and candidates (15 to 20 minutes)
 We hope you are able to join us for this evening of civic engagement and conversation.
 Thank you for your time, and your contribution to the civic life of this riding and life in Toronto.
 
 September 17th, 2015 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments are closed
 
 
 -n&m

HOW WILL YOU VOTE?
 
 Come meet the Federal candidates running in the Parkdale–High Park riding. This is your opportunity to question the candidates on matters that are important to you AND hear their vision for our community.
 
 Federal election day is on Monday, October 19th, 2015. Advance polling runs from Friday, October 9th to Sunday, October 12th. Click here for voter information.
 
 Date: Tuesday, September 29th
 Time: 7:00 p.m.
 Place: 128 Fern Avenue – Fern Avenue Public School
 
 Co-Hosted by the Roncesvalles Macdonnell Residents Association (RMRA) and the Parkdale Residents Association
 
 

 
 
 
  reddit user Farmertml provided this info
 
 
 Finally a reddit thread where I can be useful and tell you more about this!! I am actually a grape technologist working for the last 7 years looking after table grapes for a UK importer and retailer! This grape variety is actually called Sweet Sapphire and comes from from the International Fruit Genetics breeding program. Moon Drops is the trademarked name for the variety from the Grapery in the USA. The breeder is is also responsible for creating the ‘Cotton Candy’ flavour grape and many other varieties. In the rest of the world the variety that’s in the photo will be sold as sweet sapphire. More info about the variety can be found here. http:// internationalfruitgenetics.com/sweet-sapphire.php There are actually a couple of other varieties with the same elongation including ‘witches fingers’ which is sold in the U.S. Over Halloween – they are however pointy rather than indented at the bottom.
 If people are interested I can explain more about the hybridisation process and how the grapes are created and crossed but I’m at work and will have to do it later.
 
  ama by Farmertml on grapes
 
 Click here
 
 
 -n&m

Location:Don Valley Pky N,Toronto,Canada

 Click the above image for a larger version.
 
 All text TIFF, all chocolate and ice cream I am eating while writing this post TIFF sponsors.
 
 WAVELENGTHS
 
 BRING ME THE HEAD OF TIM HORTON
 
 Artist: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson
 
 Guided by the spirit of Evan Johnson’s Cuadecec Manifesto (which calls for makings-of en masse),
 
 Bring Me the Head of Tim Horton is a strange, stirring and anarchic behind-the-scenes look at Paul Gross’s new feature, Hyena Road.
 
 
 BRING ME THE HEAD OF TIM HORTON, 2015 / 30-MINUTE COLOUR & BLACK-AND-WHITE DIGITAL VIDEO WITH SOUND /
 
 FREE
 
 
 PRESENTED AT TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX, REITMAN SQUARE, 350 KING STREET WEST. RUNS SEPTEMBER 14–20, 10AM TO 10PM.
 
 
 -n&m

For a number of weeks this blog author has been enthralled with these community gathering sites.
 
 
 

 and another example.
 
 

The Chair made the following statement at the start of the Sept 8 meeting: