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