timesofmalta.com

Doors founder Manzarek dies at 74

AP — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:43:00 +0200

Ray Manzarek, the keyboardist and founding member of The Doors who had a dramatic impact on rock ‘n’ roll, has died at 74 after a battle with cancer. Manzarek died in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family, said publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald. His manager, Tom Vitorino, said Manzarek died after being stricken by bile duct cancer. Manzarek founded The Doors after meeting then-poet Jim Morrison in California. The band went on to become one of the most successful rock ‘n’ roll acts to emerge from the 1960s and continues to resonate with fans decades after Morrison’s death in 1971. Manzarek continued to remain active in music. He briefly tried to hold the band together by serving as vocalist, but eventually the group fell apart. He played in other bands over the years, produced other acts, became an author and worked on films. The Doors were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Manzarek is among the most notable keyboard players in rock history, playing it as a lead instrument at a time when the guitar often dominated. The sound added a distinct end-times flavour to Morrison’s often out-there persona. The group is best known for hits like Break On Through To The...

Does prostate cancer treatment help older, sick men?

Andrew M. Seaman, Reuters Health — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:05:00 +0200

Older men with other illnesses may not live long enough to benefit from aggressive prostate cancer treatments, such as prostate removal or radiation, and they’d have to live with their side effects, says a new study. “If you’re going to die of a heart attack in five years, what’s the point of going through radiation?” asked David Penson, the study’s senior author from the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, Tennessee. “The key point is that when men are choosing therapy for prostate cancer, they need to consider their tumour characteristics, their age and other characteristics,” he said. About one man in every six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, according the American Cancer Society (ACS). While it can be a serious disease, the ACS says most men don’t die from the slow-moving cancer. Still, many choose to have surgery and/or radiation to treat the cancer, even though it can lead to side effects that impact quality of life, including erectile dysfunction, incontinence and other problems (see Reuters Health article of June 27, 2012: reut.rs/MpPr4t.) As an alternative to surgery and radiation, some doctors recommend so-called active...

Harry Potter edition fetches £150,000

Jennifer Cockerell, PA — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:26:00 +0200

A first edition of the first Harry Potter book, personally annotated by JK Rowling, has sold for £150,000 at auction. The one-of-a-kind copy of Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone contains revealing commentary and 22 of the author's own original illustrations. The book, which was published in 1997 and went on to win Rowling worldwide fame, was sold to a telephone bidder at Sotheby’s in central London. Also going under the hammer at the First Editions, Second Thoughts auction was a copy of Roald Dahl's Matilda with new illustrations by Quentin Blake, which sold for £30,000, the second highest sale of the night. The auction saw lots from a total of 50 celebrated authors who had annotated, commented on or illustrated a first edition copy of one of their works. Other highlights included Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, which sold for £18,000, Julian Barnes' Metroland, which went for £14,000 and Alan Bennett's The Uncommon Reader, which fetched £11,000. Others contributors included Margaret Atwood, Helen Fielding, Ian McEwan, Philip Pullman and Sir Tom Stoppard, with the night raising £439,200 for charity.

Speak now or never!

André Delicata — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:08:00 +0200

TheatreSecret Bridesmaids’ BusinessSt James Cavalier When a close group of people are put under pressure in a specific situation and pushed by unravelling events, their bonds of loyalty and friendship are often put to the test. The effects of this were dealt with much sensitivity and humour by Elizabeth Coleman in her play Secret Bridesmaids’ Business, which was put up by MADC over the last two weekends and which will also be running this weekend. The staging at St James was handled very well by director Chiara Hyzler – yet another strong female director this month, thanks also to Stephanie Spiteri’s excellent set design. The theatre in the round was given quite the makeover for this play, with the most prominent change being the removal of the seating on one side of the stage and an extension of the seating area built outwards so that the performance space became two-tiered. This added space and dimension to the play which took place in the hotel suite where Cathy Lawlor’s Meg Bacon is impatiently waiting to sort out the last-minute details with her demanding and flustered mother, Colleen, played waspishly by Vanessa MacDonald, the day before her wedding. She is also waiting for...

CT scans examined in cancer probe

Ella Pickover, PA — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:33:00 +0200

Youngsters who have CT scans are more likely to get cancer than those who do not, a study suggests. Researchers found that children and teenagers exposed to scans were 24 per cent more likely to have cancer than those who had never had such scans. But the authors said that the incidence of cancer in children is “extremely small” to begin with, so a 24 per cent increase makes this risk just slightly less small. A computerised tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body. Patients who undergo such scans are exposed to a small amount of radiation, but most of the time, the benefits of having a scan outweigh any potential risks. Of 680 000 Australians exposed to a CT scan from birth to 19 years, cancer incidence was increased by 24 per cent compared with the incidence in over 10 million unexposed people, the new research found. The authors of the study, published on bmj.com, cautioned that the increased incidence may be attributed to the fact that patients could have had the scans because of pre-existing cancer. They wrote: “The increased incidence of cancer after CT scan exposure in this cohort was mostly due to irradiation.

Saxophonist to round off MPO series

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:09:00 +0200

Malta Philharmonic Orchestra’s resident conductor Michael Laus brings the very successful MPO Concert Series at the Manoel Theatre to a close with an enticing programme of Stravinsky and Rachmaninov alongside Heitor Villa-Lobos’s colourful Fantasia for Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra on Friday. Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, that opens the evening, is based on excerpts from operas by Pergolesi that marked the beginning of his neoclassical style. Maltese saxophonist Christine Dimech will be the featured soloist in Fantasia for Soprano Sax and Orchestra, what is today the most popular piece for the soprano saxophone, highly acclaimed for its virtuosity and spirited writing. Dimech is one of Malta’s leading saxophonists, equally at home with the classical and the jazz repertoire. The concert starts at 7.30pm with a pre-concert talk at 6.45pm. Tickets may be obtained by calling 2124 6389 or by sending an e-mail to bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt.

Call on iodine levels in pregnancy

Tim Moynihan, PA — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:28:00 +0200

Pregnant women and those planning to have children should ensure adequate iodine intake, according to the authors of a new report. Lack of iodine, for which good dietary sources are milk, dairy products and fish, can lead to reduced mental development in their children, the study found. Iodine is essential for producing the hormones made by the thyroid gland, which have a direct effect on foetal brain development. A group of researchers from Surrey and Bristol universities, led by Margaret Rayman of the University of Surrey, used samples and data from Bristol-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), also known as ‘Children of the 90s’. This is a long-term health research project in which more than 14,000 mothers enrolled during pregnancy in 1991 and 1992, and the health and development of their children has been followed in detail since. The researchers measured the iodine concentration in urine samples taken in the first trimester from 1,040 pregnant women, classifying 67 per cent as being iodine deficient. Mental development of their children was assessed by measuring child IQ at age eight, and reading ability at nine. Adjusting the results for external...

Jagger plans family fun at Glasto

Anthony Barnes, PA — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:43:00 +0200

Sir Mick Jagger has revealed that he is planning to make a weekend of it when he headlines Glastonbury with The Rolling Stones and will hang out with his children. Rather than heading down simply to play his slot at the event, the veteran star said he was aiming to hang out and have a “good time”. In an interview with Q magazine about the forthcoming appearance, he said: “I’ve got nothing else to do on Glasto weekend, and I want to spend some time with my family and have a good time as well.” He said that his daughter Jade and Elizabeth “will bring these yurts” to the festival next month. Sir Mick, 69, went on: “I don’t need them to show me the cool places to go. I’m sure I can find some places of my own that are much cooler.” And asked whether he expected to be hassled, he said: “Depends where I go. I think everyone will be pretty laid back.” The frontman said he was no stranger to camping and had been with his own children despite earning millions – although the weather was a little less unpredictable than the UK. He said he had been “on the beach with my kids in the Caribbean, but it’s just the same as Brighton – there’s just less chance of bad weather”. Sir Mick told the...

Russia claims vote theft at Eurovision

AP — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:06:00 +0200

Russia is investigating an alleged vote theft at the Eurovision Song Contest. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was meeting his counterpart from Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic which is trying to find out why its announced votes did not give any points to Russia. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, said the country’s mobile phone operators reported that Russia’s Dina Garipova came second in the local vote, which would have given her 10 points. However, when the announcement was made on live television, there were no points for Russia. Lavrov called it an “outrageous incident” and said the points were stolen from Garipova. Garipova finished fifth overall on Saturday, 17 points behind fourth-placed Norway, so 10 points would not have made a difference in the ranking. But Russians have been passionate about the contest for more than a decade. Dima Bilan’s win in 2008 was treated as a major national triumph. In Eurovision, votes compiled by national phone operators go to a television broadcaster in each country, which presents the tally via a live video link with the country hosting the competition. Azerbaijani television earlier lamented the “loss of the votes” but...

In their elements

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:09:00 +0200

By its very nature, outdoor furniture is made to last and to survive the elements – quality furniture, for instance, is treated so that it can sustain heat and moisture resistance. However, after a few seasons on the terrace or in the garden, your outdoor furniture may start showing signs of stress. With some basic maintenance, you can ensure that your chairs, tables, loungers and cushions look beautiful for the summers to come. Of course, it depends on the material used as wicker, wood, fabric, wrought iron, steel, resin and aluminium all require different maintenance methods. Wicker To clean wicker furniture, simply dry brush all surfaces on a weekly basis. For more thorough cleaning, you can spray off dirt and spills using a hose or a pressure washer. If the furniture has experienced a particularly wild party or has been held hostage by a bunch of wild kids, use a sponge, mild soap and cold water to wash. After washing, allow the furniture to dry completely. Then apply wax to keep the wicker shiny and water-resistant. Wooden Most wooden outdoor furniture is coated with varnish, which means that it can be cleaned using soap and water. After washing, make sure to completely rinse...

Create an attractive space

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:03:00 +0200

Did you know that the oldest surviving examples of outdoor furniture were found in the gardens of Pompeii? Also referred to as garden or patio furniture, outdoor furniture is designed using weather-resistant material. Studio 9 caters for the three most convenient and attractive options. You may decide on which option best suits your needs and tastes. The solid teak range is ideal for those who want to enjoy the look and feel of wood. It is very durable and may be left outdoors all year round. However, it is recommended to treat teak with certain oils yearly specifically to help the teak wood resist weather and the adverse effects of being outside. You may find a wide range of extendable tables and chairs together with sun beds and umbrellas at Studio 9. Aluminium is modern, robust and long lasting. It is lightweight and may be easily moved around. Studio 9 manages to put a little warmth in the range of aluminium outdoor furniture with the latest aluminium and synthetic wood tables and chairs, which are maintenance free. There are roughly 600 species of palms from which rattan furniture is made. This is one of the more popular options because of its diversity in style and shape and...

At fresco

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:01:00 +0200

The classic salad niçoise Serves 4-6 You need• 4 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered • 450gr string beans • 1 fresh lettuce • 420gr canned tuna • 4 firm tomatoes cut into wedges • 1 small red onion, peeled • 8 anchovy fillets, halved lengthwise • 4 large eggs • 16 whole black olives For the dressing5 tbsps olive oil • 2 tbsps red wine vinegar • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Method Wash the vegetables and drain. Boil the potatoes in salted water for eight minutes. Drain and set aside to cool. Trim the end bits from the beans. Boil in salted water for 12 minutes (four minutes for frozen beans). Drain and set aside to cool. Shred the lettuce leaves coarsely with your fingers and arrange the leaves on a large serving dish. Drain the tuna, place it on a plate and break it up into chunks with a fork. Slice the onion thinly and break the slices into rings. Place the eggs in a small saucepan, cover with water and slowly bring to the boil. Let the eggs boil for 10 minutes, drain and leave to cool before peeling them and quartering them with a sharp knife. Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a screw-top jar, close the jar...

Rare, authentic baroque performance

John Anthony Fsadni — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:07:00 +0200

RecitalPatrick Bismuth, violin; Bruo Procopio, harpsichordBir Miftuħ Chapel The 17th edition of the Bir Miftuħ festival opened last Friday with a superb concert of baroque music, featuring Patrick Bismuth from France on the baroque violin, accompanied by Bruno Procopio from Brazil on the harpsichord. The concert was organised by Din l-Art Ħelwa with the support of the Embassy of France and the Alliance Française de Malte – Méditerrannée. The concert was unlike many other Maltese performances of baroque music in that the instruments used were authentically baroque, and even the musical approach and interpretation of the pieces followed pre-Classical conventions. Such practice is referred to as a historically informed performance. The first work , Pièces pour le violon divisées par suites de tons by Jean-Féry Rebel, consisted of a series of dance movements in the lute tradition. This was followed by François Couperin’s first concert from the Concert Royaux series. Although both works required no flights into the violin’s top register, which are very typical of later literature, Bismuth’s virtuoso technique magnificently exploited the Baroque violin’s potential. Vibrato was used...

Feng shui landscape planning

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:01:00 +0200

Some locations have the potential of creating a harmonious and peaceful living environment, while others will strengthen the commercial success of a business. Sites have different kinds of energy – some are suitable for residential use whereas others can be supportive to a particular type of business. The characteristics of a location are determined by the natural and manmade forms in the immediate surroundings. Feng shui landscape planning is based on the interpretation of forms and compass information and helps to identify the different types. Similar to a traffic guiding system which uses road signs and cones to ensure a smooth traffic flow, in the world of feng shui, energy is directed into a property by positioning carefully selected forms in the exterior. The most important aspect in feng shui is to guide positive energy into a property and redirect harmful energy. Water features, stone settings and different types of auspicious forms and patterns help create an exterior space which looks good and improves the quality of life. Rika Nishimura is a certified Japanese feng shui practitioner who has extended her services to Malta. She is a member of a leading feng shui research...

Have a great summer

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:08:00 +0200

Founded in 1891, Petrolea has always prided itself on stocking fine quality merchandise, from fine bone china, crystalware, top designer Alessi products and giftware to general kitchenware, household plastics, bathroom accessories and more. After more than a century of supplying domestic appliances, Petrolea still prides itself in offering the best and most modern kitchen and household novelties, while maintaining high standards of service. Petrolea also specialises in outdoor and leisure furniture and equipment which help you turn your home into an evolving and joyful experience. One of Petrolea’s main brands for outdoor furniture is WEKA. Petrolea was the first company to import WEKA products to Malta 11 years ago. Nowadays, the high quality, heavy duty range includes sun loungers, armchairs, deckchairs, outdoor trolleys, swings, coffee tables and tables which seat from two to 15 people and which come in all shapes. WEKA tables are also extendable. Petrolea also stocks a wide range of charcoal, gas and charcoal fuel barbecues by renowned brands such as BST Italy, WEKA and Flammat. BST Italy manufacture high quality charcoal barbecues that come in different sizes. Screw and bolt...

Keanu Reeves makes directorial debut

Mike Davidson, Reuters — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:04:00 +0200

He has played a science-fiction hero, policeman and even Hamlet. But now, actor Keanu Reeves is taking on a new role – as director of a contemporary martial arts movie aimed at both Chinese and Western audiences. Reeves has stepped behind the camera to make his directorial debut with Man of Tai Chi, a trilingual film loosely based on the life of a stuntman, Tiger Chen, whom he befriended while working on the sci-fi The Matrix trilogy. At the Cannes Film Festival to promote his new movie, due out later this year, Reeves said he knew he had always wanted to try directing and spent five years developing the script. “It was also tied to getting older,” Reeves, 48, who was long one of Hollywood’s most glamorous action stars, said in an interview at a hotel on Cannes palm-lined waterfront. He said the main character of the film, in which he also acts, is a stuntman and martial arts expert, struggling to maintain his traditional values and beliefs against the pressures of modern society. This character is played by Chen. Reeves plays the villain who lures him into underground fighting and the promises of money, glamour and power. The film, made in English, Cantonese and Mandarin and...

Licence to grill

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:02:00 +0200

The evening breeze, sizzling meat and a cold beer – barbecues are the perfect summer combination. Just don’t turn them into a baptism of fire and burnt fingers. Life is a number of firsts. The first time you drove a car on your own, your initiation trip abroad, your first job, and the first time you grilled meat on an open fire – these experiences all stay with you. In the case of your first barbecue, literally so, because you probably still stink of hot fat and smoke. Barbecues are dirty and tiring. You end up arguing with your loved ones over the right way to grill a sausage and your fingers will be so badly burnt that you will not be able to use your keyboard for a whole week. And yet, it’s not summer without them. What makes barbecues so attractive is their primitive appeal – sizzling a hunk of meat over a naked flame is as old as civilisation itself. Then there’s the deceptive simplicity of the whole process. You might think barbecues are a matter of throwing some food over a fire – wrong. There is a method, from deciding what type of wood to use and what spice rubs to grind to the endless temperature checks. So before you put on a funny apron and start calling yourself...

Take the weather with you

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:04:00 +0200

Share the summer spirit with Allibert, the new outdoor furniture to be found only at OK Home in Rue D’Argens, Gzira. Allibert furniture is designed with an eye for style and quality, yet is also budget conscious. Allibert furniture includes a variety of outdoor chairs, tables, lounge sets and sun loungers in resin poly rattan – these embellish any garden, roof or balcony, creating the best atmosphere for those who want to make the most of their outdoor living space. Allibert also has a complete range of dining solutions as well as new round wicker lounge sets, all in a comfortable design that not only looks and feels good but is also maintenance free and weather resistant. The material is made of a durable polypropylene which is 100 per cent recyclable. The Futura table perfectly suits the polywood trend. The tabletop is finished with wood look slat structure and the stylish and slim design gives the Futura table the look and feel of a wooden table while offering all the advantages of resin. This table is maintenance free, lightweight and weather proof and complements the Montana chairs – both are available in anthracite, brown and cappuccino. The range also includes cubes and sun...

Up the garden path

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:10:00 +0200

In an island where occasionally, there isn’t even room to swing a cat (though why you should do that to the poor feline is, frankly, beyond us), outdoor space comes at a premium. Which is why every time we come across a public open space, we react with uncontrolled enthusiasm – kids scream and adults go into squatting mode. For those lucky enough to have a garden, summer is, excuse the pun, the time to have a field day. Fruit trees are heavy with juicy produce, tropical plants are in full bloom, the bougainvillea is like a scarlet gash clambering up the walls, and the lawn plays with your toes every time you step on it. But nothing happens by chance – you cannot just lie back on the sun lounger, frilly drink in hand, and watch as your summer garden blooms. Well, actually you can, but only after you have mulched, watered and carefully chosen your plants. Cultivating a summer garden is hard work – but the reward is bloomingly beautiful. To the dig Before planting, first get to know your garden – learn which parts are in full sun, full shade, partial sun and partial shade and plant accordingly. While some summer plants will thrive in full or partial sun, others cannot stand the heat.

Saxophone under the spotlight

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:10:00 +0200

Batera Duo is celebrating the early history of the saxophone repertoire while drawing attention to research projects by raising funds for the University of Malta’s Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT). Formed in April last year, the duo – comprising Gozitan saxophonist Philip Attard and Maltese pianist Christine Zerafa – are presenting another fundraising concert at the Sala Isouard of the Manoel Theatre tomorrow at 8pm. The saxophone is a relatively modern instrument, having been invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adophe Sax in 1846. It took some time to evolve and immerse itself in the musical society and the first valid pieces for the saxophone were composed in the 1930s. Batera Duo will highlight four of the most important pieces written in that decade, which are essentially core works of the saxophone repertoire. The programme will include works by Alexander Glazunov, Jacques Ibert, Eugéne Bozza and Paul Creston. RIDT’s CEO Wilfred Kenely said: “Following on the success achieved last year, when Batera Duo raised funds for the University’s RIDT, Philip and Christine offered to dedicate their time and musical talents for yet another fundraising...