starchief

Yeah, I do but I'm in the desert in Egypt most of the time, so I don't have the option of doddling down to the doc for some tests if I'm feeling bad. I found my sugar was getting too high a year or two ago, so tried the cinnamon (about a teaspoon or two). I then had a hypo (<4) that day (normally I'd be over normal >10).

Just thought I'd share a few 'treatments' for diabetes Type II. Naturally, it's always best to go to your doctor but there are certain other things you can do. BTW, I'm not a doctor (well, I am but not a medical doctor), so none of this info is reliable - do your own research. I take no responsibility. Cinnamon I've had a lot of success with this. The recommended dose is around 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon a day as more can be poisonous. Although, it takes years to accumulate in the fatty tissues to be anything like a problem, so I'm a bit more cavalier. It's also the soluble part (which isn't poisonous), so I regularly put a cinnamon teabag in my coffee (I do it for taste now too). Well, actually, I use barley coffee substitute as coffee isn't too good for diabetics (Coffee & diabetes) I've found the grains (in cereal or coffee) to be far more effective than the soluble. To get most of the soluble requires boiling and draining. Oh, and it's the cheaper cinnamon cassia not the more expensive true cinnamon that's best. Bitter Melon This is prescribed by doctors around the world and does have a measurable effect. It's more usual to have the leaves and flowers dried and in a tea. It does taste exactly like a bitter melon but wow, is it bitter!!! You can actually get to like it but I'm more of a coffee man, so wasn't for me. There's also the fruit that's eaten in some countries. I did buy it but just couldn't bring myself to eat it! Chromium Most diabetics have been found to have low levels and this can be taken in pill format. I've tried it but not for long enough to be able to judge. Fenugreek Again can be very bitter in food (normally curry). Strangely, it's used out here in Egypt, where a spoon of the whole seeds is used as a tea (helba). The result is quite rounded and not bitter at all. The seeds can be used again, or eaten with a bit of sweetener. Apple Cider Vinegar The recommendation is to drink a teaspoon morning and night. I tried it but soon gave up. Now I use it instead of normal vinegar. There's a few others (Natural Remedies for Diabetes) but the easy ones are onion and garlic.

I actually agree with most things there, although (and not a popular position), I'd probably defend Brown a bit more for his actions in the crisis. I disagree with the way the economy was run before that (which is why I'm staggered that the next election will be Labour v Tory - such similar economic policies). Crap analogy but the bolt he's putting on the door after the horse has bolted is double padlocked (the analogy kind of falls down if you take it any further but it's the best one I can think of - told you it was crap!) 100% correct. Especially if Conservative get in. The money has to be recouped somehow and the Tories aren't going to be taxing the wealthy. Both the USD and GBP will be rocky for some time to come, which is why I don't think now's a good time to change ship. My advice would have been, last year, switch to dollars (?1=$2), now (well, a little later than now), switch to sterling ($2=?1.40), later in the year, switch to Euros (?1.40-E1.75). After that? Well, I'm a federalist (power at the most local level) and an internationalist, so I'm all for a complete revamp of international currency. But, failing that, the Euro will probably be the most steady, with money to be made getting it right on the USD and GBP. Although, of course, it really is a fools game to predict. If you're a Europhobe, then keep all your money in Sterling as that will help the pound survive. And it's probably worth mentioning that in the early 1980s the pound went much lower, even ending up at $1.0463 February 1985. The mode average must be somewhere around the $1.60/1.70 mark. And war in the Middle East would certainly be a disaster for me!

The legendary Barry Fry was somewhat similar only he used to pick on individual players to get them motivated. And by pick on, I mean scream in their face. Quite often he'd pick on something they had done RIGHT, just to get them riled. No way did he give the 'If you come back at me...' schtick. He wanted that player to be so angry that he would have to be held back by his team-mates. Out he goes on the pitch, streaming with anger and energy. There's Barry smiling as he'd done his job.

IMHO... The time to get out of Sterling was last year. Now I'm not so sure. I think we're nearing the bottom. I believe that the stimulus package will start kicking in at the end of the year, resulting in an upturn in the pound. The Euro is so diverse and bulky that it's probably difficult for it to have the same downturn but it doesn't also have the same recovery potential. The pound was apparently finished at Xmas when it hit almost parity with the Euro (1.02) but now it's around 1.12 and has remained pretty steady for a while. See the last 3 months here: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/fds/hi/...three_month.stm The Euro zone has also announced a rate cut but the value of their economy(s) is difficult to measure. It could (and probably is) in a worse financial state than currently appears but due to the complexity of the places involved and conservative approach of the (largely) German bank, large rate cuts are probably not on the agenda until the brink. The UK has the advantage of a weak currency and growing unemployment to be a good trading partner, compared with the rest of the European countries. So, the Euro, as it becomes more powerful, becomes less competitive with the pound. The lack (and virtual impossibility) of any real stimulus package also makes the Euro tough to get out of a hole. I expect the pound to go down further in the short-term, then up by the end of the year, with both the cheapness of the UK and the stimulus packages of both here and the US. Protectionism though could really hurt all our economies - especially the developing economies of Eastern Europe that seemed to think it will help ("we won't buy from you but please buy from us - whaddayamean no? We're screwed then!"). The protectionism mooted by the Eurozone will hurt us particularly (extremely in fact) but I don't think it will happen with the US ruling out that state of affairs from their administration. It really hurts everyone. The dollar is also likely to recover with their stimulus package. They are the currency of the world meaning that it's a fairly safe bet to survive but they do have even more severe problems than the UK, so long-term the dollar will probably go down again. I could be absolutely wrong of course. Then again, so could anyone else but my belief is: - the pound will continue to fall until later in the year, when it will pick up - The Euro will not be willing and able to take quick and appropriate action and start going down towards the end of the year - the dollar will begin to become stronger at the end of the year. So: - if you've changed currency before now, congratulations! - if not, you may well be changing at a low rate, losing money in the switchover, then changing back when the pound has recovered - again losing money in switching over. Long-term...well...that's a different matter. If we knew that we'd all be millionaires. Quantitative easing: - Zimbabwe is a poor example - we're not under sanctions, a pariah state, away from the centre stage of the world's financial decisions. It is a risky policy but this is plain scaremongering to compare the UK to Zimbabwe. To those that only follow briefly, we're not actually printing money. There won't be any more in circulation. It's a bit like giving the bank money, so they can feel secure lending their own money to other banks/creditors. And just to add, my solution would include: - larger guarantees to banking institutions - costs very little as most of the credit is in fact good. Cheaper than buying shares or whatever, with largely the same effect. - instead of using shares to buy votes to run a bank, changes in the law to make more effective policing and risk management - interest rates should not have been cut so severely. It reduces savings, which IMO is more important than mortgages for the country's spending power. - VAT should not have been cut at all. 15% instead of 17.5% makes so little difference, we would have been better investing that money to stimulate the economy. - let house prices fall. Sure if you're wanting to trade up, it'll hurt. If you're staying where you are, then no real effect (ok, you're paying over the odds for your house but you always knew that was the risk and what can you do anyway) BUT - if you're looking to buy it becomes more affordable (with the credit guarantee outlined above) - if you're looking to sell then it should also be easier due to the above reason Oh, and just one more thing is a ridiculous comment. I don't know CaleyD but just because he takes a different view is no need to be patronising. There are plenty of economists that agree with his views, as there are with Canada Bobs. I doubt even Canada Bob believes anything is a certainty. One big natural or man-made disaster and everything could change.

They're still in denial!

Yeah, if only for the cheer. Not too bothered about the cup at this stage. We've got bigger fish to fry.

Probably good for him if not necessarily ICT. After less than a full season, he was already talking about "options" rather than buckling down and learning his craft at the club that was giving him a chance.

Whereas Falkirk have still to play Rangers, Celtic and Hearts.

Most of them have a long way to travel - Airdire, Hamilton, Paisley, Ayr...

I expected we'd get 3 points out of this.... I was saying to Starchief just yesterday if we manage to keep Boyd in check that'll be half the battle won!! Um...not exactly how I remembered that... By the way, any subs used? I was watching McGeady assaulting Hammill, then O'Dea joined in. Naturally, Hammill got booked as well - how dare he get up after a bad challenge!

:018: :015: ;) :D Butcher - c'mere! :thumb04:

Rested apparently

Imrie dropped???

I'm surprised Falkirk are down there. At the start of the season, I'd have taken Bullen, Pressley, O'Brien and Lovell. McNamara I thought was finished but he's been ok, whereas McCann has done exactly what's been expected (nothing and injury prone). As for switching allegiance, most folk over, I dunno 25?, or so have done it. Most would probably have supported a Highland League Team and a Scottish League one (St Mirren and Clach for me) before ICT came along. I had to make my mind up pretty quickly - ICT's first game was against the Saints in a friendly! (we lost 3-0 I believe). As it is I still support an SPL and a HL team (ICT and Clach).

...and then in his second season...

ha ha, didnt notice your post, great minds eh..... Except fergieisonfire has Black in there whilst you have Duncan...

ICT will have the last laugh though. A bad run of results for County. Adams goes. Who's waiting in the wings?

You mean I was wrong to say what tactics I think would work best? Where did I say it was a 'piece of cake'? Not surprisingly I doubt we'll come away with anything but you think Butcher comes in and says "Look lads, we'll probably get stuffed here so don't bother playing tactics for this game." We could defend deep, defend high, attack down the flanks, through the middle, completely gung-ho, long ball etc etc.. The whole point of the thread is to say how best to play. My opinion it's to stop Boyd at all costs. My team had a sweeper as Boyd plays in the box, so snuffing out his threat, with the normal back four also taking care of the threats of Miller and Lafferty/Fleck. Naturally Miller could well score goals like he did last week. However, I don't think he's the main threat. Is your suggestion to stop Miller at all costs? Or what tactics exactly? Just give it up and play our reserve team?

What we really need to do is mark well in the box. If we stop Boyd scoring, then half the battle is won. Miller is never a striker and I don't think much of Lafferty either. Defend deep so that those two players can go on mazy but completely unproductive runs that end in a long-shot or a well-defended cross to Boyd.

There is but our strikers weren't doing it anyway. What they lacked was experience. The likes of Brew may not have had the skill to compete well in the SPL (although he probably does IMHO) but they do have the experience to lead the line. What we desperately lacked. I always thought managers put everything they had in to the club - obviously not...

Billy Urquhart to come off the bench at half time..?!

I can't really say much about Eric as I don't know where Butcher got him from or what he expect to get out of him. We've got Gattheusi and Proctor, plus I like Tokely (and not just for nostalgic reasons). I don't have a big problem at RB for the rest of the season. Probably will make mistakes but looking too good at the mo. Just have to differ. Munro would be first choice but I worry he's losing form. If he does, I'd go for McGuire but I would give Munro the chance first. OK, I see what you mean. Brew should definitely have gone sooner but even if he had, I'd have expected Butch to bring in both Kerr and Foran, so yeah, still not panic buys IMHO but desperate situations meant they had to be put in when they still weren't ready. More semantics, I guess on this one.

Depends what currency you get paid in and which bank it goes to. In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Can't agree with all that. Kerr and Foran were both big players for him at Motherwell so no surprise he got them signed up. Not sure where he got Eric from. Tokely is very under-rated. Look at the teams in the bottom six and you would struggle to find a better right-back. He looks ungainly but does a good job in my opinion. I've been waiting for DZ to fail but I have to concede that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. He's now looking a terrific left-back and I don't fear him being put in anymore. I also rate Hastings as an SPL quality left-back. He's looked bad at times due to the ineffectual centre-back pairings we've had. I do worry a bit about Munro. He's coming in to a bad game just as we need everyone. One last chance and, if he doesn't do it, I'd drop him. See - Kerr wasn't a panic buy. He's a first team player brought in by his former manager. BTW, I agree but both Duncan and McBain (and Vigurs) have played well this season, so I think we've got a few choices in that area. Foran does seem to come inn the centre a hell of a lot for a left winger. I presume that's a tactic rather than just his natural style of play.