Author: DokterW

At 17 Browning Street in West End lies Browning Street Studios. They have operated there the last three years. Two years before that they were located just a few houses down the street, where you now will find Betty’s Espresso.

After successfully operating Browning Street Studios in West End since 2008, as a Worker-Owned Cooperative, they now want to ensure their economical future by asking the community to support them in 2014.

Browning Street Studios needs your pledge to help them make history in West End.

To make this possible, and more appealing to everyone, by giving a pledge to Browning Street Studios, the pledgers will receive something in return.

I met up with Browning Street Studios Director Sarah Gall at the studio before we walked down to Betty’s Espresso to have a chat about what is happening there and their future plans.

At the café where they once operated out of I am told they sometimes come here to play music and practice.

She tells me their campaign is almost half-way and that there are only 18 days left to reach their goal. Which shows that the music field is very competitive and tough. But ensures me that they are confident in their campaign.

What sets them apart from other establishments that offer training in music, dance, production and performance is their focus on making their students performance-ready and how to reach their audience with their music and acts.

Browning Street Studios also has a zero-tolerance for aggressive, competitive behaviour such as undercutting your colleagues.

“It is a supporting culture, not a competitive culture [at Browning Street Studios].”

Sarah says they try to foster the musician within the student. Not only teaching their students the standards of a certain genre or instrument, but also allowing their students to add their own uniqueness to the music they end up creating.

This is why they started their Help us make history! campaign. To be able to continue their unique studio and to foster music and creativity in West End.

In an email to Westender Sarah says, “we’re not asking for straight-out gifts of money per se. Rather we are asking our clients and supporters to consider investing in some products ‘up front’ for 2014, or particularly, introducing friends or family to Browning Street Studios by giving them the gift of music this Christmas.”

“It’s a bit like sponsoring a musician. Most of us are now running pretty sustainable businesses from Browning Street, but struggle with the up-front investment to pay for things like security bonds on the business’s commercial leases.”

Fore more info about Browning Street Studios and their campaign, visit these web sites:
http://browningstreetstudios.com.au
http://browningstreetstudios.com.au/helpusmakehistory/
http://pozible.com/browningst

Part of their Mind Reader Tour 2013, Suburban Dark is bringing their not-to-be-messed-with beats and Jeswon’s (Thundamentals) no-bullshit lyrics to Brisbane’s Valley Fiesta.

Suburban Dark is the brainchild of the Sydney duo Chris Irvine and Ryan Wilmott. Meeting at university late 00’s, they decided to create grimy bass music together. Drawing inspiration from dark hip hop, drum n bass, electronica and heavy metal, they have created a unique sound not to be messed with.

Hungry to push the boundaries further they later collaborated with hip hop artists and released their works through hip hop compilations and mix tapes. Taking the direction towards creating what they call fight beats.

Suburban Dark released Second Front earlier this year 26 July. How I missed out on this album is beyond me. Its unique sound sets a new standard for Sydney hip hop. The fusion between hip hop lyrics, electronica beats and analog synths is ingenious. Like the track Skeletonne, featuring Jeswon, with its nostalgic feeling of electro sound, pumping hard and energetic. Then the downbeat and chilled track, also featuring Jeswon, Mind Reader with its catchy lyrics. And the Miami bass influenced track Drugstore, featuring Tenth Dan, that will vibrate any car to bits and pieces. It is an album that is difficult to resist if you enjoy bass-heavy beats coupled with sick rhymes.

Suburban Dark with Jeswon @ Valley Fiesta, Brisbane on Sat 23 Nov.

Holy moly, HOLY HOLY comes to Brisbane to celebrate their successful first single ‘Impossible Like You’. It is part of their special East coast run to share their music and excitement with friends and new fans at the end of this year.

HOLY HOLY is a musical project by two great musicians, award-winning singer songwriter Timothy Carroll from Brisbane and acclaimed Melbourne-based guitarist/composer Oscar Dawson. Their debut record draws inspiration from when living in Stockholm and Berlin in 2011 — demoing tracks in the apartments, stairwells and show-covered studios of those two great cities.

Back in Australia they worked on their full-length debut alongside producer and collaborator Matt Redlich.

If you are familiar with Neil Young, Midlake, Wilco and Bright Eyes, you do not want to miss out on HOLY HOLY when they come to Brisbane with their full band.

Cub Sport should be familiar to most Brisbanites. Previously known as Cub Scouts until they received a kindly worded letter from Scouts Australia. Not much more introduction needed after their rise to fame.

Cub Sport have been busy touring in USA and Europe, part of their Paradise Tour. But it does not end there. After playing in Melbourne and then Sydney, they will come up to Brisbane to the Valley Fiesta music festival — playing their lovely tunes FOR FREE!

HOLY HOLY — Thu 21 Nov @ Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au — 1300 762 545

Cub Sport — Sun 24 Nov @ Valley Fiesta, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Free Event For All Ages

I ran out of Swedish snus (oral tobacco) Friday two weeks ago. This was due to an unforeseen delay of my shipment from Sweden. A delay neither the Swedish or Australian postal service could explain.

Nicotine withdrawal is not a pleasant experience. I became so desperate that weekend I decided to give Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) lozenges a try.

After just one lozenge I had a better understanding why some just give up and go back to smoking. These nicotine lozenges is far from satisfying. Not to mention, they taste awful.

Research has shown that smoking cessation success rate when not using NRTs is at 10%, but when using NRTs it only rises up to 17%.

Plain packaging was introduced last year in Australia to encourage people to stop smoking and to make it less appealing to start smoking.

This is probably the most aggressive smoking cessation approach put into action so far.

It might seem as an exaggeration to call plain packaging an aggressive approach, but in fact there has not been anything more drastic done than this to make people stop smoking.

Except for oral tobacco such as Swedish snus.

In 1991 oral tobacco was federally banned in Australia with seemingly little resistance, as it was claimed that all oral tobacco can cause oral cancer. Even though the Trade Practice Commission advised the science behind those claims were not satisfactory.

Earlier this year a similar struggle was happening between EU and Sweden, where sale of Swedish snus has been banned throughout EU since 1992, but Sweden has been exempt from the ban — for now.

EU tried to impose new rules on what should be allowed to be added to Swedish snus, specifically flavouring, but also trying to put restrictions on tobacco content — risking change to a tradition that is about 200 years old.

Pirate MEP Christian Engström gave a passionate speech to the EU parliament 21 March this year. Saying that plain packaging of smoking tobacco will most likely have an effect on younger people to make smoking less attractive, but might not have a huge impact on those already addicted to smoking cigarettes.

“We also have an obligation to look at what we can do to help current smokers stop smoking,” MEP Engström said.

“Sweden has 13 percent smoking prevalence — the average in Europe is 28 percent.”

The effects of this is that Sweden has the lowest rate of lung cancer and mouth cancer mortality in Europe.

“It is very frustrating that the [EU] commission seems to have decided to ban [Swedish] snus — then it is very selectively reading the scientific reports to gain support for that.”

MEP Engström added that if EU took a harm reduction approach regarding smoking, allowing Swedish snus, it could save about 350,000 lives per year in the EU.

The EU commission were not successful with imposing new restrictions on Swedish snus in Sweden.

I then decided to contact Dr Karl Olov Fagerström who has 20 years of experience in nicotine research. Whom is also supportive of the harm reduction approach, pointing out that a complete ban on products that might help with smoking cessation is counterproductive.

“No one wants to ban cigarettes, yet Swedish snus that is 90-99% less harmful is subject to bans,” he said in an email to me.

I was also given two recent research articles showing that nicotine is not as harmful as first thought, and a research article showing that Swedish snus is less harmful than smoking.

This selective reading of scientific research is not unique to EU, as it seems to also be common in Australia.

On the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission’s (ACCC) website it is claimed that all oral tobacco cause cancer.

When I contacted ACCC about this, they responded by saying they “rely on credible scientific research” that is available on NCI’s website. Adding that studies, seven to be exact, on their website are “significant and authoritative.”

ACCC informed me the ban of all smokeless tobacco products, in 1991 in Australia, was based on studies only focusing on smokeless tobacco originating from USA, due to the lack of research on smokeless tobacco from Scandinavia, such as Swedish snus.

Yet now that there is more research available on Swedish snus the EU and the Australian government seemingly ignores it.

Even the Swedish Cancer Council, Cancerfonden, states on their website that Swedish snus is not without risk. However, due to the most recent research that is available they admit not being comfortable claiming that it causes cancer.

Which is a different approach than what Cancer Council Queensland (CCQ) takes.

CCQ also rely on the same information as ACCC sources from NCI and is not accepting of recent research regarding Swedish snus.

CCQ spokesperson Katie Clift claims that Swedish snus is not a safe alternative to smoking.

“There is also no evidence to suggest that legalising snuff would encourage current smokers to quit and take up the alternative,” she claims.

Presumably not familiar with recent, valid and reputable studies that are available, showing that using Swedish snus as an NRT alternative has proven to be successful.

When I challenged these claims by providing these research articles, among others, regarding Swedish snus I was told that the only reliable source regarding oral tobacco and cancer is from NCI.

I asked if I could meet with someone at CCQ to discuss this further, but was only invited to call them if I had more questions regarding this topic.

On the phone, the first thing I was told that the conversation should be considered off-the-record. Not impressed, I still agreed to this as I thought I would be provided with some interesting information.

But alas, the call was a fruitless endeavour, as I was given the same statements again. That research from NCI is the only trustworthy research and any other research that says otherwise is not valid. Which is why I find it justifiable to divulge I had an off-the-record conversation with someone at CCQ.

A similar discourse has also been going on in Norway recently. Where the science that highlights Swedish snus to be successful as a smoking cessation alternative and less harmful than cigarettes has been blatantly ignored.

ENT Erik Zadig was very frustrated with the current discourse and decided to write about his experience with cigarettes and Swedish snus in Aftenposten.

“I have worked as an ENT for 30 years and during that time I have witnessed how smoking have caused cancer; orally, in the larynx, throat and other parts of the body. I can however not remember one single case where cancer was attributed to Swedish snus,” he wrote.

He also wrote that nicotine on its own is approved as a treatment to be used for smoking cessation. From that he can only assume it means nicotine is not considered to be very hazardous. Adding that Swedish snus is far less harmful than cigarettes, and it should be considered as an acceptable substance to be used for smoking cessation.

When talking about health and tobacco it is always a bit contested to talk with a tobacco company, but by ignoring them can also be a bit unfair. Which is why I decided to contact the largest and oldest producer of Swedish snus in Sweden, Swedish Match, to hear what they had to say about this.

Swedish Match Manager Public Affairs Johan Wredberg tells me pretty much the same what MEP Christian Engström and Dr Karl Olov Fagerström has already told me, that Swedish snus is far less harmful than cigarettes and even American oral tobacco.

The way Swedish snus is produced results in it containing very low levels of nitrosamines, much lower than American oral tobacco.

“Swedish snus has about 0.8-1.2 parts per million (ppm),” which is below WHO’s suggested level for consumables, 5 ppm.

He also forwarded a journal article to me, originating from Australia, [originally] called Supping with the devil, where the authors argue that allowing Swedish snus in Australia would have a positive impact on smoking cessation.

“Epidemiological modelling based on the Swedish experience indicates that there would be major public health gains if a substantial number of current smokers in other countries could also be persuaded to switch to this product,” Dr Gartner and Dr Hall writes.

This is supported by an article written by Prof. Robert Nilsson from last year, stating that there is no convincing data that shows Swedish snus to be a cancer risk as often claimed.

“A lot of consumables contain low levels of potential carcinogens, such as aflatoxins. When those levels are below a certain limit, those consumable are not labelled as carcinogenic. The same standard should apply to Swedish snus with low levels of nitrosamines.”

There is no secret that the consumption of tobacco products is not part of a healthy, staple diet. Nor is alcohol, but we tolerate moderate consumptions of alcohol and see to it that what is sold follows certain, strict guidelines and laws — such as in Sweden regarding Swedish snus.

This would be the most preferably approach for now. Not banning a product that is less harmful than cigarettes and that can be an alternative aid in smoking cessation.

More importantly, the debate surrounding it should be based on science and facts. Looking at all the data that is available and recent. Not letting choices and the debate be lead by bias and opinions.

The scientific research regarding cigarettes and American oral tobacco is in agreement, that both products are hazardous to your health and have a high likelihood to give you cancer.

The scientific research regarding Swedish snus on the other hand seems to slowly be proving it being less harmful than first thought, and more difficult to prove a strong link between it and cancer. What the researchers do agree on, regarding Swedish snus, is that more research needs to be done before we decide if it is linked to cancer or not.

Lastly, if smokers want to use Swedish snus as a possible smoking cessation alternative, especially if they have exhausted all other options, it should be legally, and easily, available to them. Until it is proven without doubt that Swedish snus is as bad as cigarettes — then we can talk about banning all tobacco products, not a select few as we are doing right now in some countries.

As my wife and I enter the newly opened Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant ‘Sing Sing’ in West End we are greeted by Loan, a member of the family who runs it.

She grew up in West End and spent the first fifteen years of her life here, attending both West End State School and Brisbane State High School.

Loan’s family migrated to West End from Vietnam in the late 1980s and still has close ties with the community. This is why they decided to relocate Sing Sing to Hardgrave Road, where the old Kim Thanh Restaurant was, when the opportunity presented itself this year.

Their new location in West End is nicely renovated and has a lovely, bright and open interior — making it feel very spacious and pleasant.

Sing Sing Restaurant has been in operation for 25 years and has a well-established reputation in Annerley, known for its dedication to authentic Vietnamese and Chinese food and friendly customer service.

Sing Sing is still a family business and have the same staff from their old location in Annerley, with her mother and a brother as chefs, and her many siblings working at the front of the house.

The first dish that was served was their Prawn and Meat Rice Paper Rolls with Hoisin sauce on the side. It might sound like an odd combination, meat and prawns, but their individual texture compliments each other wonderfully. You can taste the freshness of the ingredients and the crispiness of the vegetables inside, making this dish the perfect entree to start with and share. The hoisin sauce is freshly made there and blends beautifully with the ingredients of the rice paper roll.

As a second entree we were served their Signature Beef Noodle Soup, which is a Vietnamese national dish. It is slow-cooked for twenty hours and prepared by Loan’s mother. The recipe is a family secret — a dish her mother has been making for the last twenty years. You can smell that it is packed with many different and exciting herbs and spices which creates a very interesting and delicious aroma.

The first taste of this soup is very discreet the first few seconds, but suddenly the flavours explode in your mouth. Each spoon of soup has a wonderful and unique taste. The noodles gives it that extra, light texture. As the beef that has been cooking with the soup for all those hours, it has become very tender and has a very delicious and enticing flavour after absorbing the deliciousness of the soup.

It is a dish best enjoyed between two people if you order it as an entree, as the serving is quiet large. Yet easily consumed if you are very hungry, as it is so very delicious. The soup is served with bean sprouts, sliced chilli, basil leaves and hoisin sauce on the side. The chilli will make it a bit spicy, but mixed with basil the soup will take your taste buds on yet another amazing journey of new flavours.

Our main course was Vietnamese Pork Spare Ribs with Egg and Rice. Served on a bed of rice and sliced cucumber and tomatoes, topped with a fried egg, and with a nuoc cham sauce on the side to bring out the flavours. Another combination yours truly is not accustomed to, but found to be absolutely perfect. Each ingredient compliments each other.

What truly amazed me was the taste of the pork spare ribs. The seasoning was again discreet, but so very tasty and delicious. And it was the first time I have had the pleasure to eat such tender pork spare ribs. A simple, yet very tasty meal that is very filling.

My belt buckle was ready to burst, but I had to try their Deep Fried Ice Cream, as that was yet another dish I have never had before. How this is done absolutely amazes me. It has a thick and crispy shell which blends very well with the ice cream inside. Served on a bed of thickened cream with a beautiful decoration and topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream. The perfect desert to end a perfect meal.

Sing Sing is one of those restaurants that not only offer interesting dishes in regards to combination of ingredients and authenticity, but more importantly, their flavours are truly unique and wonderful, leaving you with the desire to want more. And if you find yourself a bit clueless with what to get, as we were, then their wonderful staff will gladly give you some suggestions to suit your palette perfectly.

On Saturday 21st Sing Sing will host Lion Dancers from the Hock Chong School, one of the oldest Kung Fu establishments in Brisbane, to celebrate the 2013 Lantern Festival. Be sure to make a booking in advance by calling 3844 4954.

• Mains meals ranging from $9.9 to $21.90. The meals we enjoyed were Prawn and Meat Paper Rice Paper Rolls $9.90, Signature Beef Noodle Soup $9.90 and Vietnamese Pork Spare Ribs with Egg and Rice $12.50.
• It is a licensed venue with beers starting at $4. Their drinks are priced for their customers enjoyment. BYO wine only with a $2 corkage per person.
• They offer free karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights.
• If you are keen to learn how to cook Vietnamese food, they also offer cooking classes.
• Parking is located at the rear of the building.

Visit their website here to view their full menu: www.singsingrestaurant.com.au
Receive updates on events and specials here: www.facebook.com/pages/Sing-Sing-Chinese-Vietnamese-Restaurant/146739942034158
Located at: 93 Hardgrave Road, West End, 4101.
Phone: 3844 4954

Disclosure: Sing Sing is not affiliated with the restaurant located at their old location in Annerley.

The 10th anniversary of Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance was yet another smashing success at Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre on Friday evening last week.

I had been invited by Micah Projects to attend the evening to get a glimpse of what this unique event is truly all about.

It is getting close to 6 pm that evening while I help Katie Bennett set up her photo booth before everyone arrives to eagerly have their photos taken throughout the evening.

After helping out Katie with the photo booth I have a chat with Majella Heraghty from Micah Projects.

She tells me that it is important to think of the Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance not as a fundraiser, but a social inclusion event.

“Micah Project’s relies on donations, grants and full priced tickets sales to ensure the night is accessible to everyone.”

“This allows for the provision of heavily subsidised tickets for some of the most vulnerable members of our society.”

It is still not 6 pm yet, but Lynette Vardy is already eagerly waiting for the doors to open.

She tells me that she has been to every Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance since it was first launched ten years ago.

“Every time I come I have great time.”

The highlight of the night is undoubtedly the dancing Lynette Vardy adds.

Right after 6 pm is when you really notice the popularity of Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance. The foyer of the Plaza Ballroom is full of eager attendees excited to enjoy a night filled with fun and laughter.

Dominic whom has been to Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance since 2010 is back to have yet another amazing evening.

When asked what is so special with the event he replies, “having fun meeting different people and having a good night.”

Robyn Evans and Patty is attending for their first time and they are both excited and looking forward to the evening.

After observing the crowd for a bit in the foyer it was time to head inside the Plaza Ballroom as the big event was about to kick off.

While people were still entering the Plaza Ballroom to find their seats they put on some music before the food was served to keep everyone entertained, which filled the dance floor instantly.

Everyone seemed now to have gotten inside and the eager dancers were asked to find their table as the food would be served while a few welcome speeches were given.

David had again been given the responsibility to be the MC for the night and pulled it of wonderfully.

Uncle Des Sandy welcomed everyone with a lovely speech and introduced Aaron Ruska who did an amazing performance on his didgeridoo.

After the speeches had been given, the dinner eaten and the deserts enjoyed, it was time to loosen those belts and hit the dance floor to music performed by Savvy.

As part of the evening they later arranged the dance floor in four corners, each indicated with balloons in different colours. During this game they play music while people are dancing, and when the music stops you have to be quick and pick which corner you want to be part of. Then a colour is randomly drawn to exclude dancers until there are only two left, who will be the winners of the competition.

Rest of the night Savvy continued to play music and everyone is danced and mingled with each other. Yet another successful Moonlight Magic Dinner dance, leaving everyone with fond memories of this great event.

It is not until you attend the Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance you understand how important this event is and appreciate the positive impact it will have on those attending.

An impact that will last for months, as Mal Causer from Micah Projects told me when I visited Campbell’s club few weeks ago.

Photos by Katie Bennett can be found here.