Among the many things that the provincial government is arguing and debating about is the cost of hydro. The government is claiming that old meters did not accurately meter the hydro being used. Well, okay but if you look at a hydro bill most of the costs are not the actual hydro being used. The costs are other fixed costs that no amount of fiddling with times of usage would change. I think that the government needs to look at the hydro bills carefully. The fixed costs have risen a great deal and this has nothing to do with meters and how smart they are.
The New Democrats asked that the HST be removed from hydro bills and the government does not seem to be budging at that either.
Wonder what other things the government will increase?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Twinkie dieter drops 26 pounds
Now this is a diet that I might consider. After 10 weeks on his celebrated Twinkie diet, Mark Haub has lost 26 pounds, sleeps better and has more energy.
He's been downing Little Debbie Twinkie and Zinger snack cakes steadily since August 25.
What started as a four-week experiment stretched to last Friday because the results were so good. Haub told the Star on Monday. Now that his weight has slipped inside the "normal" Body Mass Index range, he's working out a slightly more extravagant diet.
But Little Debbie will still feature heavily in it.
"My wife says she wishes I'd been like this the whole time we've been married," the Kansas State University nutrition professor says.
As the weight dropped off, he stopped snoring and burned off his new-found energy by doing chores around the house.
His cholesterol levels, once high fell to normal.
The secret, the 41 year-old Haub contends, is how much you eat, not what you eat.
A veteran of low-carb and low-fat diets, the 5-foot-10 Haub was 201 pounds when he gave up whole grains and meat for Little Debbie. A daily calorie intake of around 3,000 slid down to about 1,700.
"Basically, my diet was lactovegetarian," he says of his milk and junk-food regime.
"The message from the movie Super Size me was 'Fast Food is bad,' But that's taking it out of context. His rule was he had to eat everything. It's not the fast food, it's the amount.
He points out he is "physically and mentally improved by increasing what's not recommended and decreasing what is."
Interesting premise that it is the calories that count, not where they come from. Food is fuel and nutrients.
He's been downing Little Debbie Twinkie and Zinger snack cakes steadily since August 25.
What started as a four-week experiment stretched to last Friday because the results were so good. Haub told the Star on Monday. Now that his weight has slipped inside the "normal" Body Mass Index range, he's working out a slightly more extravagant diet.
But Little Debbie will still feature heavily in it.
"My wife says she wishes I'd been like this the whole time we've been married," the Kansas State University nutrition professor says.
As the weight dropped off, he stopped snoring and burned off his new-found energy by doing chores around the house.
His cholesterol levels, once high fell to normal.
The secret, the 41 year-old Haub contends, is how much you eat, not what you eat.
A veteran of low-carb and low-fat diets, the 5-foot-10 Haub was 201 pounds when he gave up whole grains and meat for Little Debbie. A daily calorie intake of around 3,000 slid down to about 1,700.
"Basically, my diet was lactovegetarian," he says of his milk and junk-food regime.
"The message from the movie Super Size me was 'Fast Food is bad,' But that's taking it out of context. His rule was he had to eat everything. It's not the fast food, it's the amount.
He points out he is "physically and mentally improved by increasing what's not recommended and decreasing what is."
Interesting premise that it is the calories that count, not where they come from. Food is fuel and nutrients.
Garden at school
Just read about a garden at D. A. Morrison Middle School. Wonderful what a teacher decided to do. Apparently the front entrance of the school was not very attractive and a teacher decided to do something about it.
Four years ago, Rita Strautins decided that it was time to take back the space and along with students she planted a garden. She created a garden that eliminated the weeds that had taken over the space and grown to the height of two feet. Most unattractive in front of the school.
Initially, Strautins was told that there wasn't much point in starting the garden because students would trample it, but she hasn't had much trouble with that. In fact, she said, the students generally respect the garden.
Safereerah Zainab, 12 is a student in Strautins' French class. She thinks having the garden is a great way to start being part of the community and make the world a better place.
"It shows we actually care about the environment," she said. "It's really nice and it represents the school very well."
The kids are now starting a garden club and next spring they will be tackling a spot near the rear of the building under an old tree. When it's finished, it will make some of the students like Ricci Crowder, 13, happy because she'll be able to eat her lunch outside by the garden.
Strautins did most of the weeding and the students did most of the planting. She found it difficult to take almost 30 student out to build the garden so she began taking a few students at a time on the preparation period. The front garden has different flowers that bloom almost year-round.
The school board did not give D.A. Morrison any money for the project. Instead teachers, students and community members donated resources. But most of the plants come Strautins herself.
What a wonderful example of what can be done!
Four years ago, Rita Strautins decided that it was time to take back the space and along with students she planted a garden. She created a garden that eliminated the weeds that had taken over the space and grown to the height of two feet. Most unattractive in front of the school.
Initially, Strautins was told that there wasn't much point in starting the garden because students would trample it, but she hasn't had much trouble with that. In fact, she said, the students generally respect the garden.
Safereerah Zainab, 12 is a student in Strautins' French class. She thinks having the garden is a great way to start being part of the community and make the world a better place.
"It shows we actually care about the environment," she said. "It's really nice and it represents the school very well."
The kids are now starting a garden club and next spring they will be tackling a spot near the rear of the building under an old tree. When it's finished, it will make some of the students like Ricci Crowder, 13, happy because she'll be able to eat her lunch outside by the garden.
Strautins did most of the weeding and the students did most of the planting. She found it difficult to take almost 30 student out to build the garden so she began taking a few students at a time on the preparation period. The front garden has different flowers that bloom almost year-round.
The school board did not give D.A. Morrison any money for the project. Instead teachers, students and community members donated resources. But most of the plants come Strautins herself.
What a wonderful example of what can be done!
Trees on our property!
You have read about my complaints about city trees before if you have read this blog in the past. You know that I am not pleased with the care that city trees are receiving. Today, I had another experience with our city tree. Over 6 months ago, a branch fell from our tree and hit the neighbour's car. The branch caused about $7,000 of damage. Yes, you read correctly. The branch hit the edge of the rear window and then gradually slid down crumpling the window and other parts of the car. It took over a week for the repair. The city would not pay and also claimed that our tree is fine. Today, many months later a company from Keswick came to trim the tree. How they know which branches are fine when there are no leaves on the tree is interesting in itself. According to my neighbour the company came and looked at the tree several days before. I am sure that the company manages to charge for each trip all the way from Keswick. Again, why can't a Toronto company do this?
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thank Goodness, I am retired!
Oh dear, life is never a straight line. Michael and I discussed the worst things that happened to us and it would be the death of our parents. We were comparing terrible things because yesterday we developed a heating problem. Oh yes, the rads starting leaking in one spot. Thank goodness, it was not on the second floor. Good that the temperatures are not like they will be in a couple weeks. Not sure how difficult it will be to fix the problem but we will deal with it. Someone is coming this morning and then once heat is back on we will figure out what the next steps are. In other words, do we have to do some remodeling etc?
Hopefully, the rest of you are having uneventful lives and have no major repairs.
Hopefully, the rest of you are having uneventful lives and have no major repairs.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Health
Just wrote to a friend who is experiencing health issues. Have another friend whose brother developed pancreatic cancer and those of you who have some knowledge of these things know that the prognosis is not good. However, I did hear that Libby Znaimer had pancreatic cancer and she is a survivor- one of 6%. There is always a chance.
My cold is much better and I just have sniffles and I am grateful that is all that it was.
All else does not matter if you do not have your health. For that I am thankful again and hope that everyone else can enjoy their good health and help those whose health is not as good.
Time to think about these issues. Michael and I have a number of possible trips in the near future and I will use my supply teaching money for them. Will be a good use of the money.
Will tell you about the trips once they are confirmed, but they should be good.
My cold is much better and I just have sniffles and I am grateful that is all that it was.
All else does not matter if you do not have your health. For that I am thankful again and hope that everyone else can enjoy their good health and help those whose health is not as good.
Time to think about these issues. Michael and I have a number of possible trips in the near future and I will use my supply teaching money for them. Will be a good use of the money.
Will tell you about the trips once they are confirmed, but they should be good.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Cold?
How do you catch a cold when you are no longer teaching full-time? I got a cold and a bad one at that. I am finally up and not napping constantly. I think that I will actually practise my instrument to prepare for a performance tomorrow evening.
I have not been able to do much the past few days and as always, I gage how sick I am by how much TV I watch. I have been able to watch plenty and not get bored. Have you noticed how few good shows are on these days and I don't mean just in the afternoons? I actually find that there is more on in the afternoons than in the evenings. Murder, She wrote is a favourite stand-by but how many times can you watch the same shows? I have seen a few more than once. Oh well, I am better and now can be productive. Knitting scarves is good but I watch television when I do that. Oh well, plenty of practising that I can do. Time to do it.
I have not been able to do much the past few days and as always, I gage how sick I am by how much TV I watch. I have been able to watch plenty and not get bored. Have you noticed how few good shows are on these days and I don't mean just in the afternoons? I actually find that there is more on in the afternoons than in the evenings. Murder, She wrote is a favourite stand-by but how many times can you watch the same shows? I have seen a few more than once. Oh well, I am better and now can be productive. Knitting scarves is good but I watch television when I do that. Oh well, plenty of practising that I can do. Time to do it.
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