Smorgasbord Health in the News – Aspirin can trigger teeth to self-repair

Aspirin has been credited with many benefits other than when used for pain or relieving the symptoms of colds and flu, sore throats and neuralgia. Millions take a preventative dose of 75mg or slightly more in some cases in relation to heart disease.

Scientists in Belfast have discovered that aspirin can trigger teeth to self-repair.

By Claudia Tanner For Mailonline

Aspirin could reverse the effects of tooth decay – resulting in a reduction in the need for fillings, scientists have found.

The common pain relief medication can do this by triggering teeth to self-repair, they say.

The cheap drug is able to help form new dentine, the hard tooth structure that is usually damaged by decay, according to researchers at Queen’s University Belfast.

Tooth decay is the most common dental disease worldwide – affecting a third of adults, figures suggest.

Around seven million fillings are provided in the NHS each year in England alone and the experts say the findings could reduce the crippling £3.4 billion a year cost of dental care.

Principal investigator Dr El Karim said: ‘There is huge potential to change our approach to one of the biggest dental challenges we face.

‘Our initial research findings in the laboratory suggest that the use of aspirin, a drug already licensed for human use, could offer an immediate innovative solution enabling our teeth to repair themselves.

This novel approach could not only increase the long-term survival of teeth but could also result in huge savings for the NHS and other healthcare systems worldwide.’

Over four-fifths of the UK population have at least one filling and seven is the average number – but the research team hope this could be decreased.

Find out how aspirin can self-repair teeth? : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4858672/Aspirin-REVERSE-effects-tooth-decay.html

Media Training for Authors – Advertising – Physical Watering Holes where Readers Gather.

Last week I looked at just some of the online watering holes where your readers and other writers gather. This week it is time to face your public and whilst that can often be more daunting than an audition on X-Factor, it can seriously up the sales for your book.

I have sold more print copies face to face than I have ever sold online. As with local marketing to local radio and media, this can very often be the most effective way to sell your books.

To be honest we have got carried away with the notion that we have this global market place that we must conquer. I never did like competing with millions of others and much prefer a smaller pond.  I had two opportunities for selling my books when I was in the UK looking after my mother. Through specific outlets, as part of my nutritional therapist work and by signing up for summer and Christmas fairs.

Just Food For Health is a big book. A4 and 250 pages, and many of you who have read my health posts will have already seen most of it. It covers all the major organs in the body and the diseases that affect them along with the nutrients needed to keep them healthy. It began life as a monthly and seasonal newsletter that went out to my listeners on Spanish Radio. When I went over to the UK to look after my mother I worked out of three alternative therapy clinics and we published the book as a manual for my clients.

However, a copy was always left in reception and sold well to clients coming in to see other therapists. I also had a review copy in local hairdressers and beauty salons, two dentists and a doctor’s waiting room. So basically anywhere that people would be sitting around waiting for appointments.  Pop in with your latest book to your local dentist and doctor’s surgeries, beauty salons and hairdressers and suggest leaving a review book with a label indicating it is not to be removed. It has to be more interesting than the 3 year old National Geographics on offer. With the surgeries you can put a sticker on the front with your Amazon Account or your email for print copies. I used to drop a copy around or stick in the post if it was not local enough.

At the hairdressers you could leave them three copies of your book and offer to give them 10% – 15% of the cover price if they sell.. Go back in two weeks and if it has not worked then take your books back.. But if they have sold you can leave them another three books.

I also signed up for local fairs such as Summer, Christmas and Health events and usually there was a section selling health products or books that were appropriate. I would also slip in my other books that had been released such as Size Matters and I certainly made my entrance fee back and a profit.

As a presenter with Express FM, I would also take along my recorder and do interviews with visitors to the shows to air later, as well as join forces with another therapist to share costs, and to add extra interest to the stand.

Because I was cutting out the middle man, I was able to reduce my books considerably to make them more attractive.

There was no point in getting involved in Spanish fairs with English books, so I am delighted to be back in familiar territory and have already signed up for one Christmas fair over the first weekend in December. My neighbour is a seamstress and makes great bags and other items perfect for Christmas and she also takes casts of newborn’s feet and then produces the sweetest silver and gold sculpures that are framed as a memento.  So we are sharing the cost and we also have cover over the six or seven hours of the fair each day which is very important.

We are exploring another three fairs at the moment and I am looking forward to reducing my stock of print books considerably..The first weekend is costing us just 50Euro between us and we have bought some inexpensive carrier bags for another 20Euro.  I only have to sell three books to cover my costs and no commission to Amazon or a bookshop!

I am also going to use my ebooks as an incentive by giving all print customers a gift certificate for one of three ebooks. It is no cost to me to email them their preferred format and it is an added incentive to buy. Hopefully that will lead them to buy more of my books and certainly leave a review.

Book Fairs.

Book fairs are another terrific opportunity to sell your print versions and I will be exploring those here in a 50 mile radius for spring and summer next year. Book fairs of course bring the most likely customers right to your doorstep and whilst you may be asked to help promote on your blog or social media, the majority of the hard work is done by the organisers.

As I mentioned earlier, because you are not paying another bookseller commission you can reduce the cost of your books. Do however factor in your costs for your spot at the show and also any promotional materials you have produced.

Someone that you should follow if you are not already, is author Judith Barrow who organises the Narbeth Book Fair in Pembrokeshire and heavily promoted the event in September by interviewing all the authors attending: https://judithbarrowblog.com/2017/06/12/my-series-of-author-interviews-authors-narberth-book-fair-mondayblogs/

and also Christoph Fischer with the upcoming Christmas Llandeilo Christmas Fair http://llandeilobookfair.blogspot.ie/2017/10/christmas-book-fair-in-llandeilo-to-be.html

Remember what I reminded you of repeatedly over the last few posts, you are an author but you are also in business. That business is to sell books and I suggest that you start finding out about your Christmas fairs in your area and book fairs in the next year.  They don’t have to be in the City Centres as most Churches and other organisations hold gift fairs from mid-November through to the day itself. Some are free and others only charge £10 to £30.

What about bookshops

To be honest I avoided the mainstream bookshops as they were rarely interested in Indie authors and their books.. But, there are independant sellers on the side streets who have a good foot traffic and who are delighted to do a display of your books. They will take a percentage of course, but I usually negotiated around 25% which is 15% better than the usual high street rate.

Now that nearly all of us have an Amazon presence with reviews it is much easier to go in and persuade a bookshop to trial your books for a few weeks. If they sell some copies they well be open to doing a book-signing with you on one of their busiest days of the week and then you can really establish a long term relationship for any other books.

There are just a few ideas for you to play around with but the ball is now in your court. I can help promote your book here on Smorgasbord but at the end of the day, it is you who has to reach out online and offline to sell those books.. They sure as hell don’t sell themselves very often!

I will leave you with this thought.

There is an argument for large organisations to centralise their operations to achieve economy of scale. However, with corporations such as Amazon who have created a centralised book selling operation, the only profit is made by them. At the end of the day the weeks, months and sometimes years of time, paying for editorial, formatting and design services (unless you do yourself and for the majority tying yourself to Amazon for ever), is going to take a long time to turn a profit at 1 or 2 dollars a book sold.

Everyone else is getting their cut of your work instead of you.  There is only one clear option. Treat your writing as a business, get out there and find readers to buy your books by finding where they are. They gather in large numbers in certain places, so it is much easier for you to find them, than it is for them to find you.

To make a profit on your work you need to sell books.

I hope you have found this series helpful and if you have any comments or questions, fire away. Here is the link for the other posts so far.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/smorgasbord-media-training-for-authors/

Thanks for dropping in and please feel free to share. Thanks Sally

 

Paraskevidekatriaphobics – Have no fear – Friday 13th is lucky for some….

 

I want to be careful here because I have yet to do the weekly shop which involves driving to the supermarket and home again.  However, I like to think that Friday 13th is not unlucky for me since I was born on Friday 13th of February.

Certainly it proved quite lucky for my mother as her first two births had been quite a bit longer than expected.  This time, my father was actually based ashore and was home at 4pm when my mother went into labour.

She was booked into a nursing home in Winchester so they piled into the car and started the 20 mile journey certain that they had several hours in hand.  The only hiccup was having to follow an army truck full of soldiers for several miles along windy country roads, but never one to miss an opportunity for a flirt, my heavily pregnant mother, by all accounts, spent the time waving to them as they blew kisses in her direction.

My father was quite pragmatic when it came to such harmless behaviour but was probably sweating and swearing by now, as he tried to find a safe place to overtake.

Eventually, they arrived at the nursing home and my mother was admitted only to find that, Sally Georgina was in a hurry and I popped out like a shelled pea (my mother’s words not mine) at 6pm.

There have been quite a few Friday 13ths in the last 64 years and thankfully to date I have found them to be causes for celebration not only of my birthday but events and surprises. (The Euromillions numbers are already picked)

Anyway, because of my personal interest, I have over the years spent some time researching the reasons behind the fears that we have for Friday 13th.  Several cultures have feared both the day and the number. Ancient Vikings were concerned that Loki the God of Mischief would make up the numbers around the dinner table and Hindus also did not like that number assembled for a meal. The Last Supper had 13 guests and the crucifixion took place on a Friday.

Since no-one was actually there to verify it is difficult to confirm that it was a Friday 13th that Eve tempted Adam with the apple, but I won’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Today many people will not have 13 guests around the table and in restaurants and hotels for example there will not be a 13th floor, table, bedroom etc. Not necessarily because the organisations are superstitious but because their guests are.  Hard to sell a hotel room number 13 on the 13th floor!

However, some ancient cultures revered the number including the Chinese and Egyptians.  They believed that 13 represented the afterlife but in a good way because that is where you would obtain your riches and reverence. (So much for my Euromillions win in this life then!)

Allegedly in more modern times male dominated religious orders objected to the number 13 since it was revered in Goddess worshipping, prehistoric cultures – and was therefore heavily associated with female power.  Girl power is not a 20th century invention, we simply reclaimed it.

Whatever the reasons and stories behind this distrust of the date, there is no doubt that millions of people around the world, in many cultures have definite views and extreme fears concerning their activities today.

However, in Spain it is not Friday that bears the brunt of the fear.. as it is Tuesday 13th which needs to be avoided.

However you can make it work to your advantage. My husband was happy that there were Paraskevidekatriaphobics.   He booked his driving test in 1980 and was given a date several weeks ahead, so he told them he would take any Friday 13th cancellations, and within a week he was driving away with a pass.

That is also a useful tip when trying to see a specialist in a more timely manner or scheduling an operation.. Friday 13th for some reason usually has free time slots!

I have no idea what today will bring.  But then when do we ever know, on any day of the week, on any date!

Anyway… the recommended viewing for tonight is of course!!!!!

 

Have a great day and perhaps to the Lottery and prove all those who fear Friday 13th that it is nonsense…..Sally

 

 

Cook from Scratch – Mushroom soup and Mushroom Chilli Carbonara

Mushrooms have wonderful health benefits and you can find out more about them and more delicious recipes here in a recent cook from scratch with Sally and Carol: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/09/20/smorgasbord-health-2017-cook-from-scratch-with-sally-and-carol-taylor-mushrooms/

I love soups in the winter months and like to buy the boxes of mixed mushrooms with all their varying flavours that bring depth to a soup.

CREAMY MUSHROOM SOUP

When preparing mushrooms remember that if you wash them you need to dry as much as possible before cooking, however with soup that is not too much of a problem since you need the liquid.

To serve four people a generous supper portion or six as a starter.

• 250gm (8oz) mushrooms (the type of mushroom will determine colour – brown mushrooms give a depth of flavour but you can use shiitake or button too.
• 1 medium onion.
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon and rind (try freezing your lemon before grating and you get the added vitamin C from the pith)
• 600ml (pint) of chicken or vegetable stock.
• 200ml (1/2 pint milk) I use full fat milk to give a creamy taste but you can use semi-skimmed.
• 1/2 teaspoon of thyme
• Salt (to taste)
• Pepper (a pinch)
• A half teaspoon of pimiento dulce to add a little spice and colour.

Preparation
Wash and slice the mushrooms and put into a pan with the finely chopped onion and grated rind and lemon juice. Pour in the stock and milk and add the thyme and salt and pepper.

Cover the pan and bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.

Liquidise the soup and then return to the pan to reheat and check the seasoning.
Serve hot with warm French bread.

MUSHROOM CHILLI CARBONARA

I love pasta although I do not eat as much carbohydrates these days as my requirement is much less than it used to be. However, we have a pasta dish with or without meat at least once a week. Here is a recipe using mushrooms and with a touch of added heat from chilli.

Serves 4 people.

• 250gm (8oz) button, chestnut or shiitake mushrooms.
• 300ml (1/2pint) hot water
• 225gm (8oz) pasta of your choice – Tagliatelle or spaghetti is great especially whole wheat.
• 1 crushed garlic clove or level teaspoon of garlic powder if you like the spice.
• 25/30gm (just over an 1oz) butter
• 15ml (1tbsp) Olive oil (do not worry about virgin or extra virgin for frying)
• 1 Teaspoon dried red chilli flakes
• 300ml (1/2 pint) single cream
• 2 eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Fresh grated Parmesan cheese and some chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Preparation

Cook the pasta according to the preparation information on the packet, drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process.

In a pan lightly sauté the garlic if you have used fresh cloves in the butter and oil.

Add the mushrooms, chilli flakes and cook for about three minutes.

Pour in your hot water and boil to reduce the sauce.

Beat the eggs and the cream with the seasoning.

Add the cooked pasta to the pan of mushrooms and then add the eggs and cream.

Mix through the ingredients

Reheat so that the eggs are cooked but don’t boil.

Serve in a bowl with grated parmesan and chopped parsley.

Images Pinterest.

You will find other recipes for the foods that I consider to be essential to our diet in Sally and Carol’s Cook from Scratch.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/cook-from-scratch-with-sally-and-carol-recipes/

I hope you will enjoy trying these two recipes – thanks Sally..

If you have a recipe that you would like to share then please email me on sally.cronin@moyhill.com

William Price King meets some Legends – Sir Tom Jones – Career and hits 2007 to 2017.

Last week we covered the career and music of Sir Tom Jones through the 1980s up to 2006.. This week we share some of the hits from the last ten years and his most successful song of his career and I will now hand you over to William Price King to pick up the story.

In 2008 S-Curve Records released “If He Should Ever Leave You” from the album 24 Hours. This was Jones’ first album of new material released in the US in 15 years. “The fire is still in me. Not to be an oldie, but a goodie. I want to be a contender.” Jones said. The song was named the 9th best song of 2008 by “Spinner,” and Jones was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Tom Jones was not about to let the fact that he was approaching his 68th birthday get in the way of performing over 200 dates a year, and setting out on a world tour to promote the album.

“Give a little love,” from the album, is a super duper Tom Jones dance tune. The video for “Give a little love” pays homage to Fleischer Studios cartoons, with Jones dancing with an Expy of Betty Boop. The song was also featured in the first trailer for the Robert De Niro / Ben Stiller film “Little Fockers.”

In March 2009, Jones went to the top of the UK Music Charts for the third time in his career thanks to a cover of “Islands in the Streams“, sung with Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon and Robin Gibb, who co-wrote the original with his brothers Barry and Maurice. The song, inspired by BBC’s hit sitcom “Gavin and Stacey,” was released in aid of Comic Relief and reached No. 1 in March 2009.

“Burning Hell,” a cover of the John Lee Hooker classic from the “Praise & Blame” album, was released on Jones’ 70th birthday (June 7, 2010), and the album debuted at #2 on the UK album chart. Jones appeared on the penultimate episode of “Friday Night with Jonathan Ross” in July 2010 and performed “Burning Hell.” By the end of the year Jones had sold a total of over 100 million records.

“Evil” is a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Evil” and features guest musicians from Jack White’s Third Man Records’ Blue Series, produced in Nashville. You can definitely hear White’s trademark sound on Jones’s rendition of this song. Enjoy this brawny, horn-smacked garage-soul stomper. Jones’ full-throated vocal has no hint of cheese.

The single was first made available through independent record stores in 7″ vinyl on March 5. An exclusive three-colored vinyl was also sold at only one shop – Spillers Records in Cardiff. The shop, from which Jones bought records as a schoolboy in the 1950s and early 1960s, was founded in 1894 and is listed in Guinness World Records as the oldest record shop in the world.

On June 4, 2012, Jones performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace, singing “Delilah” and “Mama Told Me Not to Come.”

Tom Jones has featured as a judge on the voice twice, in 2012 until 2015 when he was replaced by Boy George but returned in 2017 for season six.

In September 2015, Jones announced the long-awaited release of his album “Long Lost Suitcase,” through Virgin/EMI. The album is the third in a trilogy of albums, following “Praise & Blame” (2010) and “Spirit in the Room” (2012). The album’s track titles are interwoven into the chapters of his autobiography “Over the Top and Back,” released at the same time. The producer is once again Ethan Johns and the diverse range of compositions includes songs from Gillian Welch, the Rolling Stones, Hank Williams and the Milk Carton Kids.

To end the series here is Tom Jones greatest hit ever – “She’s A Lady”

Apparently Tom Jones’ manager, Gordon Mills, asked Paul Anka to write a song that would be a guaranteed hit in the United States, so Anka thought about Tom Jones and women. The rest is history. “She’s a Lady,” became Jone’s signature song. Jones recorded this song on his album “Sing She’s A Lady.” The song reached #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and became Jones’ biggest selling single of all time, giving Anka his first #1 hit in the USA and his only #1 hit in CashBox Magazine.

Buy Tom Jones Music: https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Jones/e/B000APJ7YA

You can buy Tom Jones’ autobiography: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Memoir-Sir-Tom-Jones/dp/0718180682/

You can keep up with news and performances: http://www.tomjones.com/news/

Additional material: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones_(singer)

About William Price King

William Price King is an American jazz singer, musician and composer. Originally he studied classical music and opera but over the years his style has evolved to what many refer to as the ‘sweet point’ where music and voice come together so beautifully.

His vocal mentors are two of the greatest giants in jazz, Nat King Cole and Mel Torme. His jazz album, ‘Home,’ is a collection of contemporary songs and whilst clearly a homage to their wonderful legacy it brings a new and refreshing complexity to the vocals that is entrancing.

His latest album Eric Sempe and William Price King is now available to download. The repertory includes standards such as “Bye Bye Blackbird” (a jazz classic), Sting’s “Englishman in New York,” Queen’s “The Show Must Go On”, Led Zepplin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and other well-known jazz, pop, and rock classics.

William and Eric Sempe have also brought their own magic to the album with original tracks such as Keep on Dreaming and Red Snow with collaboration with Jeanne King
Download the new album. http://cdbaby.com/cd/williampriceking

William is currently in France where he performs in popular Jazz Venues in Nice and surrounding area.

Connect to William

Website – http://www.williampriceking.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WilliamPriceKing
Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – http://cave-wilson.com/
ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/william-price-king/id788678484

You can find all of William’s posts on Jazz, Classical and Contemporary artists in this link: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/william-price-king-a-man-and-his-music-jazz-classical-and-contemporary-legends/

Thanks for dropping by and we hope you have enjoyed this week’s performances.. Your feedback is always welcome. Sally