Medical Month

August is the month that I do all my medical stuff. A couple of weeks ago I had a Cat Scan. and a day later I had the blood work done. That was on a Thur. and Fri. The next Tues. I visited the doctor for the results. To me that is fast work. So Cat Scan was normal, cholesterol was 4.9. and no diabetes. So hopefully, the next time I see him is when I get a flu shot in Nov. Aug. is a great month for all this stuff. People don't like to get sick in the summer. The doctor's office is empty, so no waiting. And actually I was out before my appointment started. In the winter there is a lot of colds, flu's and people falling on the ice and breaking something. This is Sunday afternoon and almost time to start the barbecue. The picture I am going to put up is me at the Golden Gate Bridge in Calfornia. To tell the truth, I didn't know that they had eight bridges.

San Francisco

I enjoyed my trip to San Francisco. Beautiful weather. Not too hot. And I had to do the thing all tourists do. Ride a streetcar. It was great. Found out how those things work. There is a cable that runs under the street at all the times. When they want to pull away, they just push down on the lever, it clamps unto the cable and away we go. All the drivers I saw were black and they were having a great time. I think they were all comedians. Sometimes they were so crowded, you had to hang on for dear life. Reminds me of trains in India. At one point an elderly couple wanted to get on. The driver said that there was two spots to hang on, on the other side. And hang on they did. Must have been experienced streetcar riders. There was a black lady next to me. At one point she said, "Darling, I guess we're not strangers any more."

Of course I had to get a picture of me hanging from a streetcar. I do have to admit that the car was standing still. If my son took my picture of a moving car, I would be gone and my son would still be standing there.

So I guess I can take that off my list of things to do. And while I have my list here, I should check fo others to remove. The one, "Climb Mount Everest" may as well go. Getting too crowded up there now, anyway.

The Wisdom of Larry the cable guy......

1. A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?

21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, 'What the heck happened?'

22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.

23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

Mexico

My son said that we were so close to Mexico we just had to go. So that was one of our side trips. We parked our car on the U.S. side and walked over because we were told that driving back was difficult. And that sure was true. Coming back, I think we saw six lanes of traffic. And it was backed up as far as the eye could see. Anyway, we just wanted to say we were in Mexico. Now the biggest surprise was the border. It was just a turnstyle. There wasn't a soul there. Well, there may have been souls but there were no people. I imagine there are not too many people trying to sneak into Mexico. Once inside, we were bombarded by hawkers and taxi drivers ( in yellow shirts). So we looked around there for a spell and then came back. This time it was a real border crossing. Though I must say, it was easier to get back into the U.S., than getting back into Canada later on. Coming back home we went thru customs in Toronto. In the lineup next to me was a group of Mexicans. It seems that they come up her to work also. Fancy that. Anyway, when I get up to the desk, its why,when,where,how much etc. Now in the lineup next to me it was "Do you speak english?" Head shake "No". "Do you speak French?" Head shake "No". Very good, off you go.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO DRINK BAD WINE

Just a hint that I did drink some wine on our trip. How can you not go to California and not drink wine ? So we went to the Santa Barbara wine country, as in the movie "Sideways". And the reason for that is because the Fess Parker Winery is there. I had to drink Davy Crockett wine. How could I not? Wine tasting cost $10.00 at each place. For that you get to try out six types of wine and you get to keep the glass. Quite a large glass with a coon skin cap imprinted on it. The winery along with eleven others is located in Los Olivos. Another one you might reconize is The Firestone Winery. Went there too. Now a word of advice. One should not start a wine tour at 10 am. Needless to say I was the only customer. No, we did not see Fess Parker, but we did see his daughter.

Big Rain

Since I haven't written for so long, it looks like I went to Alcatraz and never came back. We had a great time and my son drove 2000 miles in those 10 days. Had to see and do as much as possible. Must compliment the California drivers on their courtesy. On any of those super highways, when we wanted to change lanes, there was never a problem. And we didn't even have foreign plates.

We did go to Alcatrez. Not a place you would want to spend a large part of your life. I was disappointed though about the parks dept. letting it fall apart. They don't do any repairs. I don't think they understand that when tourists go there, they want to see how it was, not how it is now. Over time ,"how it was" will be all gone and there will be nothing left but a pile of rock. And it is not like they can't afford it. The ferry carries about 500 people and comes every half hr. Fee is $24.95. In Nova Scotia, we have a number of historical spots which have been kept up. Have to think living history.

I loved the way they did the tour. Your tour guide is a tape player around your neck so you could go at your own pace. Just stop the tape if you wanted to stay longer at any spot. That's a great idea.

On another note, we had big rain yesterday. We received a month's supply of rain in one day. So I can't cut the grass today, too wet. Tomorrow is supposed to be another rainy day.

The Day Before

This is Monday, June 2.

Today is garbage day. There is usually a parade of trucks driving by the evening before. Looking for anything useful. You can be sure that all the metal will be picked up. Whatever is left is really garbage. I look at this as a good thing. Everything gets recycled, one way or another. I've picked up things from my neighbours that I can use. I don't think any of them would. The last thing I picked up was a footstool. The top is a padded lid. It's for magazines etc. The only thing wrong with it was that one of the hinges had become unscrewed. Three screws later, it sits in my living room.

I have a next door neghbour, who is divorced with two daughters. She has two cars in the driveway. One doesn't work and has been sitting there for years. It has become her storage shed. The other car has been sitting there for a month because it has a flat tire. My wife says that I should be a good neighbour and change the tire for her. I said no, I would be a fool if I changed it. She has two daughters, with two boyfriends, who walk past that car every day. They stay over a lot of nights. I think they should change the tire.

On Sat. she hops in her car, drives out of the driveway and parks it in front of the house. Still with a flat tire. I go to church that evening and when I come home, I see that the shedcar is gone. My wife tells me that someone came and towed the car away, And what else? They changed the tire on the other car.

The one thing I can't understand is with all those cars is that they didn't park in front of their house. They parked in front of mine. Hopefully, with one car gone, someone will park in the driveway. But, this is not a sure thing.

I have to get up at 4 AM tomorrow. Becauseeee! I am going to California tomorrow with my son. I say going with, but actually he is taking me. So I am looking forward to that.

Start The Morning With Chi

Its Sat. morning. Nice out now,but I think it is supposed to rain later.

I have one of those Magic Bullett blenders. That is some little machine. I use it almost every day. I have gone over to a liquid breakfast, so to speak. Put everything in the glass provided, screw on the base and voom,voom,voom finished. Here is my recipe. Got it from the newspaper.

Fill the glass half full of milk. Put in one banana, (use large spoon) for one spoon of wheat germ, sunflower seeds (without the shell of course), walnuts, flax seed, chi seeds (you should look up its content and history) and virgin olive oil. Then you need two tablespoons of yogurt and top it off with milk. After that,the three vooms and you are finished. Now you have everything you need in a breakfast. You can buy the flax seeds already ground but I like the crunch. I hope this will give me fortitude this morning because I have to go yard sailing with my wife.

Bought a new hat the other day. I guess it is something like a cowboy hat. Wide brim and all. My friends are poking fun at me but I like my hat. Makes a big difference walking in the sun. The wide brim keeps my face cooler than with my other ones. When I was much younger, I was expecting to be wearing a hat all the time like my father. But John F. Kennedy put the kibosh to that. He didn't wear a hat, so that became the new fashion. Wiped out the hat industry. So when the kids grew up and it was time to switch to a new hat, there wasn't any. They just kept wearing their baseball caps. So now old men still wear them. Come to think of it, it does go with the rest of the clothing. And that's not a compliment.

Back from the yard sales. I think this is the first time I've gone out and not spent any money. Of course I spent money on gas, which today is seling for $1.40 a liter. That would be $5.30 a gal. My wife and son just took off to Wal-Mart. She is running around looking for new glasses. We had tests done last month. My glasses are still good. No change in five years. The doctor said that eyesight doesn't change much after 60 yrs. of age. They just have to watch out for other things.

I was going to add a photo of the Magic Bullett. But I changed my mind and will put up one of my hat. My son just got an e-mail from one of my brothers. He bought an Apple computer at a yardsale for $75.00. Now he is asking my son how to get into it if he doesn't have a password. He is always buying computers at yardsales. I don't know if he ever checks them out first. Money with wings.

The Calm, Quiet Vitamin -- and Why You Need It

Know what's super bad for your body? Inflammation. It’s thought to be at the core of problems like heart disease and heart attacks.

Know what's a great way to quiet inflammation? Get your fill of vitamin K. Good choices: just about anything leafy and green -- from spinach and kale to collards and turnip greens.

Fanning the Flames of Inflammation

Inflammation is your body's response to injury or infection. And when it occurs in your blood vessels, inflammation can be a sign of bad things to come -- like ruptured arterial plaques, clot formation, heart attack, and stroke. Enter leafy greens. They pack a real vitamin K punch, and more and more research is linking high vitamin K intake to a lower bodywide inflammation index.

Going for the Green

Bored with salads? The trick to getting more greens -- and more vitamin K -- into your diet may be learning to use them more creatively. Start with something simple but different, like this Basic Sauteed Kale recipe from EatingWell.

Then, move on to these K-rich greens recipes that will have you feeling like a world traveler:

.Simmer kale with chickpeas and exotic spices for this vegetarian Indian dish: Indian-Spiced Kale and Chickpeas.
.Slip collard greens into your red sauces, like with this unique Italian dish: Pasta with Greens and Tomato Sauce.
.Mix spinach with butternut squash and beans for this Brazilian soup: Amazon Bean Soup with .Winter Squash and Greens. Here's why your hands can't do without K.

COMMON DRUGS HASTEN DECLINE IN ELDERLY

By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Elderly people who took commonly prescribed drugs for incontinence, allergy or high blood pressure walked more slowly and were less able to take care of themselves than others not taking the drugs, U.S. Researchers said on Saturday.

They said people who took drugs that block acetylcholine -- a chemical messenger in the nervous system critical for memory -- functioned less well than their peers.

"These results were true even in older adults who have normal memory and thinking abilities," said Dr. Kaycee Sink of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, who led the study of 3,000 people of whom 40 percent were taking more than one anticholinergic drug.

"The effect is essentially that of a three- to four-year increase in age. So someone who is 75 in our study and taking at least one moderately anticholinergic medication is at a similar functional level to a 78 to 79-year-old," Sink said in an e-mail.

Sink's findings, presented at American Geriatrics Society Meeting in Washington, add to a growing body of research that suggests these so-called anticholinergic medications can hasten functional and cognitive declines in elderly people.

Some of the most common such drugs in the study included the blood pressure drug nifedipine (sold as Adalat or Procardia), the stomach antacid ranitidine or Zantac, both with mild or moderate anticholinergic properties, and Pfizer Inc's incontinence drug tolterodine or Detrol, which is highly anticholinergic.

"The tricky part ... Is that many useful drugs from many different classes of medications have anticholinergic properties," Sink said.

She said in many cases newer drugs are available that do not have these effects and said doctors should look out for them for elderly patients.

MEMORY DECLINE

Dr. Jack Tsao, a neurologist with the U.S. Navy, reported last month at a American Academy of Neurology meeting that elderly people who took anticholinergic drugs had a 50 percent greater rate of memory decline than people in a long-term study who did not take the drugs.

Sink studied the effects of taking multiple anticholinergic drugs on walking speed, basic activities such as dressing, eating, taking care of personal hygiene, grooming, and harder activities like shopping, cooking and managing money on her test subjects whose average age was 78.

The researchers found that the more anticholinergic drugs people had in their systems, the worse their physical function, based on reports from people in the study and on independent measures of their performance.

In a separate study this month in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Sink found that older nursing home residents who took drugs for dementia and incontinence at the same time had a 50 percent faster decline in function than those treated only for dementia.

"I would encourage patients to bring in a list of everything they take (even over-the-counter medications) to their doctor and have them review it at least yearly," Sink said. "Physicians should try to decrease anticholinergic burden whenever possible."

The Top Diet . . . for Your Ticker

Which does the best job of protecting your heart: a Mediterranean-style diet or a low-fat plan?

Either approach is good for your health. But the Mediterranean type gives your ticker some extra protection. Here's how.

Cholesterol BusterThe

Mediterranean-type diet brought cardiovascular disease risk down 15% in a recent study, versus 9% for the low-fat plan. Why the difference? The olive oil, nuts, fruits, veggies, whole grains, and fish that characterize a Mediterranean diet are chock-full of fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants -- all things your heart loves. (Here's something else your heart craves.)

And More . . .

Some other reasons that might persuade you to eat like the people living in Greece, southern Italy, and other Mediterranean Sea spots:

Your heart could be healthier after only 3 months of it. Here's how.
It could be a boon to your brain as well as your heart. Here's what we mean by that.
Throw in a walk and you'll get healthy even quicker. Here's why.

So go ahead, take the first step toward the heart-healthiest diet there is.

Step 1: Trade in your beef hamburgers for this delicious Mediterranean take on burgers.

Did You Know?

Whole-grain bread with olive oil makes a smart appetizer. Here's how it may help you eat less overall.

Snow Again.

I guess you would call this a spring surprise. Looked out the window this morning and there was the ground covered with snow. I wasn't expecting that. Yesterday I was looking at the grass and thinking, that soon the lawnmower has to come out. But it won't be today.

Received my passport the other day. Only took a week. And I need that because.... a couple of weeks ago my son asked me if I would like to go to California. So California, here I come. Going to L.A., driving up the coast and back by another route. He has a friend who has an association with the Gallo family, so we may get a tour.

Doing my walking every day, so I can get in shape for chasing a streetcar. We will be gone nine days.

Filled up with gas last night. Only needed half a tankful. A bit of madhouse, cars pulling up to the tanks in both directions. In this province we have gas regulation, which means that the price of gas stays the same for a week. It changes every Thur. night. So if you pay attention to the news, you get a bit of a warning. There is no instant price increase when the price of a barrel of oil goes up. So no gouging. There is a two week lag. The price will be higher today. So that is the reason for the rush last night. I paid $1.269 for a liter. And for you americans that would be $4.80 a gal. I have a van and it cost me $50.00 for half a tank. I better keep this page open until I find out the price today.

So I did go out and the price today is $1.338 a liter which is $5.06 a gal. My head still works in gals. so that sounds worse. Anyway, that's how it is. Tomorrow it may be one cent less. For some reason, they do that on Sat. An adjustment I guess.

Also bought some groceries. They are also going up. And money as groceries in the pantry gets more interest than money in the bank. And you can't eat nthe money in the bank. You may not be able to get it.

Wonder Foods

Here's why these three foods are practically a staple among health - conscious celebs and foodies - plus how to pronounce them, so you can casually order an açaí smoothie with all the cool of George Clooney.

Açaí berries (ah-sigh-EE or ah-SIGH-ee) Brazilian surfers eat theirs with granola, and we know what their bodies look like! Packed with twice the disease-fighting antioxidants of blueberries, açaí has already made Oprah's list of Top 10 Superfoods and The Washington Post called the blackberry-flavored fruit the "new pomegranate." But you may find it easier to sip yours: Celestial Seasonings sells an açaí-green tea blend, and açaí martinis are on chic bar menus everywhere.

DIY açaí fruit soda: Just mix chilled sparkling mineral water with a few ounces of açaí juice, available at health-food stores. Sip. Look cool. Feel healthy.

Quinoa (KEEN-wah) Dry quinoa looks a bit like sesame seeds but when cooked it becomes fluffy with a hint of crunch, making it an excellent substitution for rice, cous cous, and pasta. Quinoa's major claim to food fame, however, is what RealAge researchers call its "nutritional profile." A cup of quinoa has more protein than a quarter-pound hamburger and more calcium than a quart of milk. Yowza. It's also loaded with iron, magnesium, and a bevy of other minerals and B vitamins. No wonder the Incas named it "the mother grain." Try it in this warm winter salad from our friends at Eating Well.

Quinoa and Black Beans
Stir in your favorite jarred salsa for extra zing. This is also good the next day for lunch.Makes 2 servings, about 1/2 cup each

1 teaspoon canola oil 1/2 bell pepper, chopped2 tablespoons chopped red onion 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed2 tablespoons broth (or water) 1/2 cup hot quinoa (cook according to package directions)

Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add bell pepper and onion and cook until almost tender. Add beans and broth (or water) to the pan. Cook until heated through. Stir in quinoa.

Per serving: 162 calories; 4 g fat (0 g sat); 0 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrate; 6 g protein; 4 g fiber; 60 mg sodium; 224 mg potassium.

Matcha (MAH-cha) When you drink a cuppa matcha (also spelled maccha), you're getting green tea's powerful antioxidants to the max, because you're actually consuming the whole green tea leaf in powdered form. In Japan, slightly bitter matcha is traditionally served syrupy thick. But in the US, you'll find matcha stirred into lattes, sprinkled on ice cream, and used to bolster energy drinks and turn smoothies into pick-me-ups (it's said to boost alertness). Just be respectful of matcha if you're caffeine sensitive: Ounce for ounce, it has almost as much caffeine as coffee.

To rev up a hot homemade latte, whisk in 1/2 teaspoon of the powder.

For a quick summer cooler, blend 1 1/2 teaspoon with a cup of milk and some ice cubes.

I Think You'll Like This!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE
1940's, 50's, 60's and 70's

!First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, raw egg products, loads of bacon and processed meat, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes or cervical cancer.

Then after that trauma, our baby cots were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

Take away food was limited to fish and chips, no pizza shops, McDonalds, KFC, Subway or Nandos.

Even though all the shops closed at 6.00pm and didn't open on the weekends, somehow we didn't starve to death!

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy Toffees, Gobstoppers, Bubble Gum and some bangers to blow up frogs with.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.��

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of old prams and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and dens and played in river beds with matchbox cars.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo Wii, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 999 channels on SKY,

no video/dvd films,

no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were noLawsuits from these accidents.

Only girls had pierced ears!�

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

You could only buy Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns at Easter time...

We were given air guns and catapults for our 10th birthdays

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them
!
Mum didn't have to go to work to help dad make ends meet!

RUGBY and CRICKET had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! Getting into the team was based on MERIT

Our teachers used to hit us with canes and gym shoes and bully's�
always ruled the playground at school.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!

Our parents didn't invent stupid names for their kids like 'Kiora' and 'Blade' and 'Ridge' and 'Vanilla'

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ALL!

And YOU are one of them!

CONGRATULATIONS!

PS -The big type is because your eyes are not too good at your age anymore

A GREAT SENIOR MOMENT

A very self-important college freshman from Ottawa University took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen standing next to him while waiting for a bus, that it was impossible for the older generation to understand his generation.

"You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one," the student said, loud enough for the other passengers nearby to hear.

"The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars,computers with light-speed processing and ...

" When the student paused for breath ...the Senior took advantage of the moment and said: "You're right, son. We didn't have those things when we were young ... so we invented them.

Now, you arrogant little wimp, what are you doing for the next generation?"

The applause was resounding..

All About YOU: Why Too Much Vitamin A Is Bad

Somersaulting down the sidewalk isn't the only thing that's bad for your skeleton. So is taking too much vitamin A.

Your body definitely needs some vitamin A, but more than 2,500 international units (IU) a day could hurt new bone formation.

Know Your Limits

You can't OD on food sources of vitamin A -- carrots, red peppers, sweet potatoes, and the like. Just make sure your vitamins and supplements don't put you over the 2,500 IU limit -- and choose supplements that contain the beta carotene form of vitamin A. Other things that are bad for your bones: cigarettes and excessive alcohol.

More Ways to Boost Your Bones

Keeping bones strong is easy! Just follow this advice:

.Beware the supermodel diet. What's that? High protein and diet cola. Here's why it's bad for bones.

Ditch the cigs. Check out this butt-kicking plan from Mehmet Oz, MD, and Michael Roizen, MD.

.Add these exercises to your workout.

.Get plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K. Here are some good food sources of K.

Know your osteoporosis risk, so you know what you're dealing with. Take this risk assessment right now!

THE HUMAN BODY

The human body is a machine that is full of wonder. This collection of human body facts will leave you wondering why in the heck we were designed the way we were.

-Scientists say the higher your I.Q., the more you dream.

-The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.

-You use 200 muscles to take one step.

-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.

-Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.

-A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.

-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.

-The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.

-The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.

-It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

-The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.

-Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.

-At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.

-There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

-Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.

-The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.

-Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born.

-When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.

-Your thumb is the same length as your nose.

At this very moment I know full well you are putting this last fact to the test...

now remove your thumb from your nose and pass this on to the friends you

think might be interested in comparing their thumbs to their noses as well...

Subject: English....The importance of...

Why is it important to learn English when you live in an English-speaking country?


Have a great Day..

Infection: Eye Health: Diabetes

Over 2 million Canadians have diabetes. It is the leading cause of blindness in North Americans under 65 years of age. Diabetes is a condition where the body either cannot produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cannot respond properly to insulin (type 2 diabetes). Insulin is important because it moves glucose, a simple sugar, into the body's cells from the blood. Glucose, which is used by the cells as a source of energy, comes from the food people eat. If insulin isn't available or doesn't work correctly to move .....

A Quick Way to Spoil the Health Benefits of Fish

Yes, eating omega-3-rich fish is a great way to reduce your risk of stroke. But not if you order the Friday fish fry!

In fact, eating fried fish actually raises your risk of stroke. So ask the kitchen for broiled or baked -- and no butter. You'll be glad you did, for these two reasons.

Tipping the ScalesOne, fried foods are typically high in trans fats. The other reason to steer clear of the fryer? Fried fish can skew the balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fats in your diet -- and that's not good.

Fish Favorites

For high-omega-3, low-mercury fish, choose baked or broiled salmon, trout, or pollock, or try herring or sardines.

Even if you swear no one can grill delicate, flaky fish, you can -- if you have the latest George Foreman grill in the kitchen. The nonstick surfaces and no-need-to-flip feature of this indoor beauty let you grill anything.

Cutting Back on Bread? Try This Trick

Are you at the mercy of the bread basket whenever it comes your way? Here's a tip that will get you eating less of the wheaty treat.

Instead of slapping butter on your slice, dip it in a little bit of olive oil drizzled on a plate with a smidge of balsamic vinegar. People who opt for the oil instead of the spread eat less bread, studies show.

More on Olive Oil

Another bonus with this trick: The fats in the olive oil will help boost absorption of the nutrients in your meal. Plus, unsaturated fats, like the kind found in olive oil, help sate your appetite better than saturated fats do. A little at the beginning of a meal will help you eat less overall.

More Ways to Eat Less -- and Not Miss Anything!

Eating less sounds like deprivation. But it doesn’t have to be. You'll eat less -- and feel just as satisfied -- if you follow these tips:

Load up on beans, nuts, apples, pears, and other fiber-rich foods. Here's why.

Focus on the water content in your foods. Here's what we mean by that.

Cure your portion distortion. Here's how.

Teachers Admit Strapping Pupils

It's another case of corporal punishment traditions colliding with the law.

But this time there were no courthouse protests.

Rather, there was courtroom support for a principal and a kindergarten teacher of an Aylmer-area Mennonite school.

Johan Penner, 30, principal at the Old Colony Christian School, pleaded guilty to six counts of assault with a weapon -- a brown belt without a buckle.

Anna Klassen, 42, pleaded guilty to one count.

Supporting them was a large group of people from their Mennonite community.

"They are gentle people, they are peace-loving people, which makes it more interesting that they be in a court of law on something like this," said their lawyer, Gord Cudmore.

"It is the last place they would find themselves and, quite frankly, it's the last place they should be.".....

The Best and Easiest Way to Live Longer

Been a while since you went for your walk? You might not be so quick to skip it when you hear this:

Walking every day could slash your risk of an early death by 50 percent to 70 percent. Here's what we mean by that . . .

Fitness BreakdownWalking is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get -- and stay -- fit. And few things affect your longevity as much as your fitness level does. Case in point: In a recent study involving a group of veterans, mortality rates were anywhere from 50 percent to 70 percent lower in the ones who werefittest -- regardless of whether they had underlying heart disease.

It’s No Joke — Cellphone Ban For Drivers Begins April 1

It’s no April fool’s joke — one week from now talking on a hand-held cellphone while driving will be illegal and so will smoking in your car if a child under 19 is along for the ride.

The measures were passed by the province in an effort to avoid driver distraction and to promote healthy living.Nova Scotia is the second province in Canada after .....

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?pid=1856

Can Eggs Make You Smarter?

Like your poached egg and whole-wheat toast in the morning? Your brain might enjoy it, too.

Eating selenium-rich foods -- like eggs -- could help keep your memory sharp and your brain speed on high as you age.

Your Brain on SeleniumIn rural China, researchers found that elderly people who got at least the U.S. recommended daily value of selenium (about 55 micrograms per day) had cognitive test scores that put them in a league with people 10 years younger.

Super Sources

You can get your daily dose of selenium ...

4 Shot At Doughnut Shop

Men inside doughnut shop targetted.

For the second time in a week, a gunman has let loose a barrage of gunfire on a group of young men apparently minding their own business in the city's west end.

Toronto Police said the latest multiple shooting occurred around 1:10 a.m. yesterday when a man armed with a long-barrel shotgun walked up to a Country Style doughnut shop in the Westway Centre, a plaza on the southeast corner of Kipling Ave. and Dixon Rd. in Etobicoke, and fired several blasts through a window at four men inside.

"They were sitting at a table," .....

Luck Smiles On Too Many In Lotto Draw

Second-prize winners of Wednesday night’s Lotto 6-49 draw probably thought Lady Luck had favoured them in a big way, but she actually smirked instead of smiled.

The draw for a $3.99 million jackpot saw 239 tickets with five of the six winning numbers plus the bonus number, making for a smaller second-prize payday than some ticket holders might expect.

Total second prize money was valued at $285,294.30, but holders will only receive $1,193.70 each after the loot has been divided.

The number of second-prize winners is striking when compared to recent draws for similar jackpots

Don Pister, a spokesman for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, said a draw on March 15 yielded only three second-prize winners, while no one picked five numbers and the bonus on March 5.

Pister conceded Wednesday’s result was unusual .....

Record-Setting Pilot Dies At 26

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Vicki Van Meter, who made headlines in the 1990s for piloting a plane across the United States at age 11 and from the U.S. to Europe at age 12, died in an apparent suicide. She was 26.

Van Meter died Saturday of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Crawford County coroner said. Her body was found in her Meadville, Pennsylvania, home on Sunday.

Her brother said she battled depression, but her family thought she had been dealing with her problems.

"She was unhappy, but it was hard for her to open up about that, and we all thought that she was coping," Daniel Van Meter said. He said she had opposed taking medication.

Van Meter was celebrated in 1993 and 1994 when she made her cross-country and trans-Atlantic flights accompanied by only a flight instructor. Her instructors said she was at the controls during the entirety of both trips.

Stock Market Problems

The current financial crisis in the US is likely to be judged in retrospect as the most wrenching since the end of the second world war. It will end eventually when home prices stabilise and with them the value of equity in homes supporting troubled mortgage securities.

The S&P 500 index of financial stocks has already lost one fifth of its value this year and shares in many investment and commercial banks, such as Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers have shouldered even bigger losses.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Sunday that it is buying troubled Wall Street firm Bear Stearns.

The deal values Bear Stearns at $236 million, or just $2 a share. Shares had closed at $30 on Friday, down 47 percent that day.

Some analysts expected to be a brutal day for global stocks. Short-sellers could have a field day with bank stocks.

Asian stocks fell sharply Monday as uncertainty grew following an announcement that one of the world's biggest investment banks was being bought for a fraction of its former value.

The Federal Reserve, in an extraordinarly rare weekend move, took bold action Sunday evening to provide cash to financially squeezed Wall Street investment houses, a fresh effort to prevent a spreading credit crisis from sinking the U.S. economy.

Asian stock markets fell and gold prices hit a record high by this surprise rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve failed to calm investors panicked by the demise of Bear Stearns.

The euro meanwhile vaulted to a record peak over $1.58, up nearly 1 percent on the day.

The Wonders Of Ketchup

It's estimated that ketchup is in more than 80 percent of all homes in Canada. Ketchup is easily one of the most-used products around the whole world.

It is the inseparable companion of the french fry and the burger. Americans use ketchup on hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. People in China like to use it on fried chicken, but in Sweden it's used on pasta. In Thailand teens dip potato chips in ketchup, while in Eastern Europe it is a favourite pizza topping.

But ketchup is more, much more, than a mere condiment.

It could aid in prostate cancer prevention. Yes it does, the H.J. Heinz Co. argues in all seriousness, which is busily repositioning its flagship condiment as just that.

It's the lycopene in tomatoes. And there is evidence, although it is still far from a certainty, that lycopene somehow wards off prostate cancer.

And from Readers Digest we get:

Ketchup isn’t just for hot dogs and burgers. It has unusual stain-fighting powers as well:

POOL HAIR: Does chlorine turn your blond hair green? Fight back with a ketchup shampoo. Massage ketchup liberally into your hair, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse out with baby shampoo. Not only should the discoloration be gone but the chlorine smell, too.

COPPER: Brighten your copper pots and pans using ketchup as a cheap tarnish remover. And you won’t need gloves. Coat the copper surface with a thin layer of ketchup and let sit for five to 30 minutes, depending on the severity of tarnish. Rinse and dry immediately.

SILVER: Ketchup will help your silver rings, bracelets and earrings sparkle. If they have a smooth surface, dunk them in a small bowl of ketchup for a few minutes. If they have a tooled or detailed look, use an old toothbrush to work ketchup into crevices.
To avoid damaging the silver, don’t leave ketchup on for longer than necessary. Rinse clean and dry thoroughly.

Ontario Drivers - Attention

Please see message below.

Hi Friends,Someone I know sent me this:

I just had an experience which I hope you will not share.

I was driving on the 417 West at Panmure at broad daylight at 2 p.m.,when I came upon two police cruisers who had pulled over a thirdvehicle. I slowed down to be cautious, and was surprised when the second cruiser pulled out and pulled me over.

Approaching on the passenger side, the officer asked if I knew why Ihad been pulled over. I honestly expressed that I had no idea.

He informed me that Ontario law now states that when approaching anyemergency vehicle, on the roadside, with lights flashing, you must enterthe left lane. He then proceeded to ticket me, taking three demerits andissuing a fine of , wait for it, . . . $490! (Yes, I'm choking as I type that.)

I realize I did not change lanes, but I do believe I was cautious. Mymessage is, be careful. He said that they are cracking down hard on thisbecause of three injured officers in the last ten days. I did not realize this was the law. Neither did any of my recently-licensedchildren. Or, evidently, not the 47 drivers (I counted) who broke the samelaw as I sat waiting to receive my ticket!

__________________________________________________________________

Hi,

For my part, I saw this happen today (Feb 24th) on Highway 69 South of Sudbury, on the passing lane on the Magnetewan flats. A cruiser was parked on the shoulder of the southbound lane with his lights flashing. He had no vehicle stopped, he was just parked there.

I was northbound and reduced my speed, the extra lane was on the southbound side so, there were two lanes between me and the cruiser.

A southbound motorist passed the cruiser without moving to the outer lane and the Officer immediately pulled out and gave chase to that driver.

I saw him stopping him in my mirror before going over the next hill. The car did not appear to be speeding, in fact he seemed too slow, but failed to change lanes and was (presumably) stopped for that reason!

Ted

Read the actual Law below:
Below is the the excerpt from the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. relating to this offence. It is under section 159.1 (1), (2), (3),(4),(5).

Approaching stopped emergency vehicle

159.1 (1) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light or red and blue light that is stopped on a highway, the driver of a vehicle travelling on the same side of the highway shall slow down and proceed with caution, having due regard for traffic on and the conditions of the highway and the weather, to ensure that the driver does not collide with the emergency vehicle or endanger any person outside of the emergency vehicle. 2002, c. 21, s. 1; 2007, c. 13, s. 20.

Same

(2) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light that is stopped on a highway with two or more lanes of traffic on the same side of the highway as the side on which the emergency vehicle is stopped, the driver of a vehicle travelling in the same lane that the emergency vehicle is stopped in or in a lane that is adjacent to the emergency vehicle, in addition to slowing down and proceeding with caution as required by subsection (1), shall move into another lane if the movement can be made in safety. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.

Same

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) prevents a driver from stopping his or her vehicle and not passing the stopped emergency vehicle if stopping can be done in safety and is not otherwise prohibited by law. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.

Offence

(4) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable,(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $2,000; and(b) for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.

Time limit for subsequent offence

(5) An offence referred to in subsection (4) committed more than five years after a previous conviction for an offence referred to in subsection (4) is not a subsequent offence for the purpose of clause (4) (b). 2002, c. 21, s. 1

Bureaucracy At Its finest

THE DAM

This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania This guy's response is hilarious, but read the State's letter before you get to the response letter.

DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.

A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2006.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcementaction..

We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

D Price

District Representative and Water Management Division. avid L.

Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. Price,

Your certified letter dated 12/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane, Trout Run, Pennsylvania.

A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials 'debris.'

I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is:

(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or

(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued.

(Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.)

I have several concerns. My first concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.

If you want the stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2006? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! The bears are not careful where they dump!

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.


THANK YOU,

RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS

Warning On World Food Shortages

The UN secretary general has warned that millions of people are at risk of starvation as global food stocks have fallen to their lowest levels for decades.

In a letter to a US newspaper Ban Ki Moon warned that shortages are forcing prices to rise which may have devastating consequences for the world's most vulnerable communities
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The most acute effects have been seen in Egypt, where thousands of people have resorted to violence due to shortages of basic food commodities and rising food prices.

At least 10 people have died over the past two weeks, in riots that erupted at government subsidised bakeries.
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The unavailability of basic food products such as bread,.....

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/958CC5D2-638C-428E-AF84-91041B355EF0.htm

More Than The Dough Is Rising

Having owned a bakery for a number of years, I can understand the plight of these guys.

Flour Power Sends Bread Prices Rising

Higher wheat costs will take larger slice out of wallets

Calgarians will soon fork over more dough to buy a loaf of bread as several local bakeries prepare to boost their prices in the face of punishing cost increases.

With soaring global grain prices, bakers have seen their flour expenses grow significantly in the past year.

Wheat contracts hit an all-time high of $25 a bushel on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, while futures hit $12.15 on the Chicago Board of Trade on Monday.

The situation has led some bakeries to boost the price for their baked goods and stores like Rustic Sour Dough Bakery said Monday they will charge more for bread beginning in late March.

The 17th Avenue bakery's flour costs have more than doubled since last summer, from about $8.60 for a 20-kilogram bag of unbleached white flour to $17.40 per bag today.

"It looks like I will have to bring in an increase," said Jos Rehli, owner of Rustic Sour Dough, who said the increase in white flour alone is costing .....

http://www.canada.com:80/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=876ff8c8-d5d0-4462-8b1c-9d1b82917e51&k=79901

With Age Comes Wisdom

A guy is 65 years old and loves to fish.

He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, "Pick me up."
He looked around and couln't see anyone. He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again, "Pick me up".

He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog. The man said "Are you talking to me?" The frog said, "Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up. Then, kiss me and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I'll then give you more sexual pleasure that you ever could have dreamed of."

The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front breast pocket. Then, the frog said, "What, are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will give you sexual pleasures like you have never had."

He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said, "Nah, at my age I'd rather have a talking frog."

Product Labels

You know how books have a table of contents that explains what's inside?
Nutrition labels are sort of like that. They tell you what's inside the food you're eating and list its smaller parts

Food labels were regulated in 1994. Before then, food companies could print their products’ nutritional information basically anywhere they wanted to (and often in really small print).

Deciphering food labels is tricky business. They're filled with lots of multi-syllabic words that border on being impossible to pronounce, chemicals that sound like they could kill you just by touching them and ... much, much worse.

The fact is that they can be misleading.

The nutrition facts label on your favorite breakfast cereal tells you it's full of vitamins and minerals. So it must be healthy, right?
But what if it's also loaded with sugar?

Do you often see labels on foods that say things like "fat-free," "reduced calorie," or "light?"
It's important to remember that fat-free doesn't mean calorie free. People tend to think they can eat as much as they want of fat-free foods.

Fat-free or low-fat foods may contain high amounts of added sugars or sodium to make up for the loss of flavor when fat is removed.

Get the inside facts when you read the label. Reading labels helps you buy products that fit your budget and the amount needed for your family.
It can help you find foods low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.
Also, be sure to read labels for information about calorie, sugar, fiber, protein content etc.

The most important thing is to become familiar with ingredients by consistently reading labels. You will begin to recognize common ingredients and when there is a questionable one, you can research it (which is fairly easy to do on the internet) to determine if it is safe.