Tag Archives: May 2002

Deep Vein Thrombosis

DVT poses a threat to some airline travellers. In the UK, DVT used to be called economy (or coach) class syndrome, but this is very much a misnomer. DVT can happen to any one of us, whatever our style of air travel.

It is now possible to take a blood test to determine your vulnerability for blood to clot.

This test examines the number, type, form of your red and white blood cells, platelets and includes the genetic (inherited) tests including Factor V Leiden. It is estimated that 2 million people in the UK alone are at risk through the Leiden V Factor.

By identifying travellers who are predisposed to thrombosis they can be given pre-travel advice or treatment in order to reduce the risks of clot formation and it's consequences.

Hotmail Users News

The Beetle recently received this and thought it might be of interest to the travellers out there who use hotmail. The Beetle has long given up on Hotmail as it was inundating her with embarrassing amounts (and content!) of porn e-mails.

If you have a hotmail account in your name, this might interest you – hotmail has changed the privacy settings on each of it's user accounts so they now have permission to share all user details with other companies. All of their users have effectively just opted in to receive yet more Spam, without even being informed.

There's a couple of checkboxes in hotmail's 'options' section under 'personal profile' labelled 'Share my e-mail address' and 'Share my other registration information' which have been automatically checked regardless of their previous setting without even informing the owner of the account. It's incongruous with their privacy policy, but by now the user details could have been sold. Interesting direct marketing tactic. And while most of the hotmail site is fairly accessible, you can't access the personal profile page to revert these settings with anything other than a Microsoft browser.

More Funny Signs

Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations:
GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN BED.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR.

In a Tokyo bar:
SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS.

In a Bangkok temple:
IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN EVEN A FOREIGNER IF DRESSED AS A MAN.

Hotel room notice, Chiang-Mai, Thailand: PLEASE DO NOT BRING SOLICITORS INTO YOUR ROOM.

Write in and tell us your funny sign! Drop a line to the Beetle!

the Beetle!

International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

“We must make people everywhere understand that the AIDS crisis is not over; that this is not about a few foreign countries, far away. This is a threat to an entire generation, that it is a threat to an entire civilization….” United Nations Secretary, General Kofi Annan

On May 19th, 2002, thousands of individuals in over 500 communities in 75 countries will participate in the world's largest and oldest annual grassroots HIV/AIDS event. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is designed to honour the memory of those lost to HIV/AIDS, show support for those living with HIV/AIDS, raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, and mobilize community involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS. There are at least three ways you can become involved in the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. We invite you to consider participating in one or more of the following ways:

  • Organize a Candlelight Memorial
  • Become a Sponsor or Partner
  • Attend a Candlelight Memorial

Visit the Qingzhou Buddhist sculptures, London

At the Royal Academy from 26 April—14 July. This exhibition shows 35 of the best-preserved figures, carved from limestone (around 550—577 AD) out of the 400 or more Buddhist sculptures found in 1996 in a field in the Shandong province in eastern China.

According to early written sources the area in which the sculptures were found once formed part of Longxing Temple, a name that means 'Dragon Spring'. The figures show the sculptural styles that developed as Buddhism spread along the trade routes across central Asia, mixing foreign with Chinese qualities. Among the statues uncovered are beautiful examples of Buddhas, bodhisattvas (attendants of the Buddha) and triads, in which a Buddha, flanked by two bodhisattvas, stands against a leaf-shaped nimbus.

Experts wonder why were so many figures of Buddha were buried during the twelfth century in a carefully constructed pit within the precincts of a monastery. Whatever the reason, the discovery of a Buddhist treasury at the former temple site confirms the important role that Longxing played as a centre of Buddhist culture in the Qingzhou region during the sixth century.

Thanks to Kevin Brackley from London for spotting this!

Mutual Aid

Need help? Want a travelling buddy or advice about a place or country – want to share something with us – why not visit our Mutual Aid section of the Website:Mutual Aid

Can anyone help Jane? She is a retired college teacher with extensive international experience looking for a short-term volunteer opportunity in East Africa. (Her website is www.mystudybuddy.org) and she says she has no idea where to look, and would be grateful for your suggestions. If you can help, or have any suggestions, please contact Jane.

Can anyone help Mike, who has not heard from his friend for four months? His friend is sailing from the UK to Australia, and his last letter was from Fatu Hiva. He was looking for crew to sail to Fanning island. Can anyone suggest a web-site to help Mike find his friend? If you have any suggestions, please contact Mike Thorneloe:

Thomas from Munich offers up to date advice for anyone planning on going to Kazakhstan, as he has just returned. To contact Thomas, e-mail him