Gayla Trail is one of a growing breed: the city dwelling food gardener. A Parkdalian, and creator of the wildly popular urban-gardening website YouGrowGirl.com , she has learned to take any adversity the mean streets throw at her and roll with it.
She has three gardens: one near a bar where she won't grow food; but the others-one on the roof of her building, the other a community plot tucked behind a downtown beer store-have been producing plentiful harvests for a decade.
Ms. Trail, who was an aspiring scientist before leaving her hometown of St. Catharines to do a fine arts degree at York University, put in a few years as a graphic designer before launching her website in 2000. Now, she is a guru for urban gardeners not only in Toronto but also in the United States. She is big in Brooklyn and the U. K. In 2005, her first book You Grow Girl was published; next year Clarkson Potter is publishing her second book, on the topic of urban food gardening, and not a moment too soon.
Trail is an inspiration of what can be done with a simple idea.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sleeping ticket taker
What a storm a sleeping ticket taker has generated! His image was posted on face book and other sites. The important part is that he generated a great deal of discussion. Unfortunately, he has not become a symbol of what is wrong with Toronto's transit system because some groups are supporting his situation. An article in a local paper discussed the Japanese system which sounds idyllic. They have people to greet passengers and help them on their way. Granted we would not want that in every station but there are stations that could afford to have someone help. There are also people to help passengers access wheelchair platforms and generally make the trip safe and comfortable.
Apparently, W. Edwards Deming went to Japan after the war and taught the Japanese how to improve their systems. Perhaps, we need a Deming to help with our transit system. This will also require that the government be prepared to offer some money to help. Apparently, Toronto is one of the few transit systems that does not have different levels of government help with financial support.
Hopefully some good will come out of the discussions.
Apparently, W. Edwards Deming went to Japan after the war and taught the Japanese how to improve their systems. Perhaps, we need a Deming to help with our transit system. This will also require that the government be prepared to offer some money to help. Apparently, Toronto is one of the few transit systems that does not have different levels of government help with financial support.
Hopefully some good will come out of the discussions.
Do Re Mi!
Love this. Wish more people would stop to do this. I know this one is staged but boy did it bring smiles to people's faces. Hopefully, you can find this on YouTube. Having computer difficulty this morning and not able to upload the page.
It did bring a smile to my face and hopefully it will do the same for you.
I am off to bring smiles to others. My group is playing at a seniors' residence that is one of the saddest that we know. From the sublime which is where we played last week and now to other end of the spectrum. We do not all have the same resources. Time to smile and bring some joy to others lives.
Have a wonderful day.
It did bring a smile to my face and hopefully it will do the same for you.
I am off to bring smiles to others. My group is playing at a seniors' residence that is one of the saddest that we know. From the sublime which is where we played last week and now to other end of the spectrum. We do not all have the same resources. Time to smile and bring some joy to others lives.
Have a wonderful day.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Teacher's attitude makes a difference
It has finally been researched. A teacher's attitude does make a difference. On Monday, a new study from the University of Chicago found that math anxiety among female Grade 1 and 2 teachers may hinder girls more than boys.
In Ontario, more 90 per cent teachers in those grades are women.
The researchers studied a relatively small group: 17 female teachers and 117 students-65 girls and 52 boys-for a year. They noted when school started, the children's ability at math was not related to their teachers' attitudes, says lead researcher Sian Beilock, associate professor psychology.
However by year-end ,the more anxious teachers were about math, the more likely girls were to believe that "boys are good at math and girls are good at reading," Bielock adds. Boys showed no signs of being influences.
Girls who believed that performed worse at math than girls who didn't, and worse than the boys.
Beilock says teacher angst was manifested in subtle ways such as spending less time on math or being less enthusiastic about it.
While some Ontario educators agree with the importance of attitude, they had doubts about the findings related to gender.
A teacher's attitude affects what part of the curriculum they focus on, the resource they choose and the way they instruct. And it's critical in the primary years when kids are laying the foundation.
Earlier this month, a major study by the American Psychological Association that looked at almost half a million students in 69 countries debunked the myth that there is a gender gap in math ability. But it also found that in countries where men and women are perceived as equal including Canada, girls perform better in math.
Interesting that math is the focus of a study. I wonder about other subjects and teacher influence. Perhaps, it would be a good idea to have specialists already in younger grades to avoid this problem.
In Ontario, more 90 per cent teachers in those grades are women.
The researchers studied a relatively small group: 17 female teachers and 117 students-65 girls and 52 boys-for a year. They noted when school started, the children's ability at math was not related to their teachers' attitudes, says lead researcher Sian Beilock, associate professor psychology.
However by year-end ,the more anxious teachers were about math, the more likely girls were to believe that "boys are good at math and girls are good at reading," Bielock adds. Boys showed no signs of being influences.
Girls who believed that performed worse at math than girls who didn't, and worse than the boys.
Beilock says teacher angst was manifested in subtle ways such as spending less time on math or being less enthusiastic about it.
While some Ontario educators agree with the importance of attitude, they had doubts about the findings related to gender.
A teacher's attitude affects what part of the curriculum they focus on, the resource they choose and the way they instruct. And it's critical in the primary years when kids are laying the foundation.
Earlier this month, a major study by the American Psychological Association that looked at almost half a million students in 69 countries debunked the myth that there is a gender gap in math ability. But it also found that in countries where men and women are perceived as equal including Canada, girls perform better in math.
Interesting that math is the focus of a study. I wonder about other subjects and teacher influence. Perhaps, it would be a good idea to have specialists already in younger grades to avoid this problem.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Pope will blog!
Pope Benedict is telling priests that they must learn to use new forms of communication to spread the word of the gospel!
Pope Benedict who is not a fan of modern technology acknowledged that priests need to make the most of the "rich menu of options" offered by new technology.
"Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources-images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites-which alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechises," he said.
We this certainly makes for a new church. Does this mean that the actual buildings are no longer as meaningful. Apparently, this is an attempt to reach non-believers. Interesting.
Pope Benedict who is not a fan of modern technology acknowledged that priests need to make the most of the "rich menu of options" offered by new technology.
"Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources-images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites-which alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechises," he said.
We this certainly makes for a new church. Does this mean that the actual buildings are no longer as meaningful. Apparently, this is an attempt to reach non-believers. Interesting.
It may matter what hand you are dealt!
It seems that what you hand favour may make a bigger difference than first thought. Children who are mixed-handed are twice a likely to have language difficulties, scholastic problems and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) according to new research.
The survey of almost 8,000 children over eight years is the latest evidence that non-right-handedness is bad for you, an aberration likely caused in equal measure by prenatal stress and genes that fail to express themselves.
Previous science has linked left-handedness to all kinds of pathologies from minor ailments such as allergies, migraines and eczema to autoimmune diseases such as Lupus or Graves, and cognitive deficits such as ADHD. There are also man-make risks, especially among operators of heavy machinery designed for right-handers, although many of these have been easily remedied in recent years with dual control panels.
The effect is so strong that there are separate drug dosage guidelines for lefties and righties with immune system problems, including AIDS, from which lefties seem to deteriorate quicker.
Who would have believed that the use of the left hand for some tasks could result in medical issues not just the inconvenience of living in basically a right handed world.
Being left-handed is not bad for everyone.
Here are some lefties:
U.S. President Barack Obama
Former U. S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush
Marylin Monroe
H. G. Wells
Robert de Niro
Goldie Hawn
Angelina Jolie
Bruce Willis
Julia Roberts
Sarah Jessica Parker
Oprah Winfrey
A list I would not mind be part of.
The survey of almost 8,000 children over eight years is the latest evidence that non-right-handedness is bad for you, an aberration likely caused in equal measure by prenatal stress and genes that fail to express themselves.
Previous science has linked left-handedness to all kinds of pathologies from minor ailments such as allergies, migraines and eczema to autoimmune diseases such as Lupus or Graves, and cognitive deficits such as ADHD. There are also man-make risks, especially among operators of heavy machinery designed for right-handers, although many of these have been easily remedied in recent years with dual control panels.
The effect is so strong that there are separate drug dosage guidelines for lefties and righties with immune system problems, including AIDS, from which lefties seem to deteriorate quicker.
Who would have believed that the use of the left hand for some tasks could result in medical issues not just the inconvenience of living in basically a right handed world.
Being left-handed is not bad for everyone.
Here are some lefties:
U.S. President Barack Obama
Former U. S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush
Marylin Monroe
H. G. Wells
Robert de Niro
Goldie Hawn
Angelina Jolie
Bruce Willis
Julia Roberts
Sarah Jessica Parker
Oprah Winfrey
A list I would not mind be part of.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Complaint Choirs
Want a really good whine? Head west. From Vancouver's hatred of the Canada Line, selfish drivers and abysmal health care (and rain) to Bariola Island's three wait for a hip replacement, excessive water use by visitors and clear-cut logging (and rain), B.C. is at the vanguard of kvetching- choral harmony.
Complaint choirs, which set life's little irritants to music-Real food is expensive, junk food is cheap/The jokes are not funny, don't e-mail them to me-were created by two Finnish artists and first adopted in 2005 by a choir in England that notoriously whinging nation.
Misery must really love company. From Birmingham, the idea gained global traction fast, popping up in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the U. S. and Australia. But with four choirs, B.C. reportedly has the highest concentration.
It's less short-tempered than long on laughs, suggests Andrew Carroll, who wrote the grouchy jingle sung by a 15-strong choir at the local United Church. "We've never taken ourselves too seriously on the West Coast." he says. Complaints is a misnomer. This a way of pointing out things in your community that you're not happy with but it's done in tongue in check way.
Complaint choir express the universality of human disgruntlement. "We realized that we're not so different from people in Copenhagen or Tokyo or Mumbai."
There's a great deal of evidence to support the positive effect of music and how it affects your brainwaves. What's more, airing grievances musically could be therapeutic, according to Vancouver-based community psychiatrist Ursual Gutteridge. "ever since Freud's daughter, Anna, described 'ventilation' or venting as a defence mechanism-as a way humans cope with life-society has realized the importance of complaining and having those complaints validated.
It is suggested that there would be more fun in forming a gratitude choir. Something to think about.
Singing any one?
Complaint choirs, which set life's little irritants to music-Real food is expensive, junk food is cheap/The jokes are not funny, don't e-mail them to me-were created by two Finnish artists and first adopted in 2005 by a choir in England that notoriously whinging nation.
Misery must really love company. From Birmingham, the idea gained global traction fast, popping up in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the U. S. and Australia. But with four choirs, B.C. reportedly has the highest concentration.
It's less short-tempered than long on laughs, suggests Andrew Carroll, who wrote the grouchy jingle sung by a 15-strong choir at the local United Church. "We've never taken ourselves too seriously on the West Coast." he says. Complaints is a misnomer. This a way of pointing out things in your community that you're not happy with but it's done in tongue in check way.
Complaint choir express the universality of human disgruntlement. "We realized that we're not so different from people in Copenhagen or Tokyo or Mumbai."
There's a great deal of evidence to support the positive effect of music and how it affects your brainwaves. What's more, airing grievances musically could be therapeutic, according to Vancouver-based community psychiatrist Ursual Gutteridge. "ever since Freud's daughter, Anna, described 'ventilation' or venting as a defence mechanism-as a way humans cope with life-society has realized the importance of complaining and having those complaints validated.
It is suggested that there would be more fun in forming a gratitude choir. Something to think about.
Singing any one?
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