Our Vancouver May 2013 visit

13.05.05: A very good time in Vancouver last month (click to enlarge).

flight of the eagle

13.06.05: He might think of it as Return of the Eagle.

What do you think of Conrad Black?

I was going to include a link to the Star article but I noticed you must pay $5 to include in an email or blog (copyright laws) ... not sure how that applies to links ...

There are more comments about Black in the Star. Check them out via the search function.

Recently, he appeared at a gathering to plug his new book "Flight of the Eagle".

Why does he still have a following across Canada?

He rejected his Canadian citizenship and has been convicted of a serious crime.

Why does the Empire Club still invite him to speak?

Why is he still in the Order of Canada?

Why is he still a member of the Privy Council for Canada?

Why does he still have a temporary visa to remain in Canada?

Why should he be able to regain citizenship (if he chooses to apply)?

Isn't it time we stopped treating him any respect?

Pls read the article and comment (if you feel so inclined).

No surprise - No Seat on UN Security Council

13.05.04: Never-ending stream of negative topics to address with this conservative government.

Not getting a seat on the security council is a slap in the face to Canadians. 
Baird is right in not trying as he would surely fail (and more taxpayer $s would be needlessly wasted).

Hopefully, it (along with the significant waste of our tax dollars in the last few years) will help us to focus on replacing this government asap ... before irreparable damage internationally.

As with many international items, there are various perspective to entertain:

1. Toronto Star May 1st.
2. Toronto Star May 3rd.
3. Toronto Star May 3rd (2nd aqrticle).

While I agree, the seat is not all that important to Canada, it is important how we present ourselves (via our elected representatives).
John Baird has never been politically astute or sensitive. He is an embarrassing representative and never ceases to remind me of his less than desireable behaviour.

The first article of May 3rd, does remind us how Harper has changed Canada significantly (for the worse) in just 24 months.
In my opinion, it began well before that when he ignored significant environmental concerns so more emphasis could be put on shale oil production in Alberta.

Although no political party stands out as best-of-breed, it goes without saying "anything would be better".

I am obviously out of touch as I continue to be amazed how he won a majority in the last election ... and why he chose Baird as Foreign Affairs minister.
Maybe it's a Rob Ford thing...

What NCR means and why we must fight bill C-54

04.12;.13: In the National Post April 3, 3013. 

The article is "Richard J. Braudo on Richard Kachkar: The reason we call them ‘not criminally responsible’".

I have copied the text (sidebar), in case it

disappears.

An excellent explanation by Richard J Braudo (a Toronto lawyer and mental health expert).

 Also, very good rationale why we should appose Harper (again) and fight this bill C-54.

How does your home compare?

13.04.04: Powerstream has come up with a useful presentation of data.
Bar graphs are quite useful for a quick visual summary. 

Their site will show you how your home uses water and electricity ... compared to other homes in your area.

I was a little surprised our home was less electrically efficient than 56% of homes in the area ... and less water efficient than 82% in the area!

I guess changing to CFLs and turning lighs off when not needed doesn't account for much when everyone does it!
Maybe a 12 gallon/day humidifier isn't the way to go...
 
When I thought about it, I attempted to justify our results by thinking other homes were smaller, no inhabitants during the day, did not have an extra fridge and freezer.

What I can do:
1. I may have to borrow the Watt Reader from the local library again and test individual devices. 
2. I need to better understand how to use the Energy Display device Powerstream provided for free.
3. I will take reading of the water meter in the basement, as I turn on and off the humidifier for a few days.

If you use Powerstream, here is how to get to the information:

1. go to Powerstream and sign in
2. click on "Compare Usage in My Area" in right side menu
3. select "electricity" and "amount" - chart will automatically update
4. select "water" and "usage" - chart will automatically update
5. select "usage history - electricity" - to see highs and lows of your usage over the last three years
6. select usage history - water" - to see highs and lows of your usage over last three years

Previous related blog items:

1. Up-to-the-minute Hydro Usage - Dec, 2010 
2. Hydro - Time of Use Pricing - Oct, 2010
3. Powerstream Peaksaver - Jan, 2009

PBO and AG - Required depts

04.01.13: This blog item concerns the government's wasteful and dishonest spending our our tax dollars.
Why is it conservative politicians and senators think it is their right to spend as much as they can, as fast as they can, on themselves?
This last expose on senators Mike Duffy, Pam Wallin, etc, illustrates how stupid they think Canadians are ... and how apathetic Canadians are to bad behaviour by our politicians. Harper implied he had reviewed Wallin's $320 travel expenses (since Sept 2010) and found it acceptable ... later recanted....

Kevin Page has performed a great service for Canadians, as he completes his 5 year term as the first Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO). 
The mandate is:

"to provide independent analysis to Parliament on the state of the nation's finances, the government's estimates and trends in the Canadian economy; and upon request from a committee or parliamentarian, to estimate the financial cost of any proposal for matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction."
As he indicates, it is political (and civil service) suicide to accept the job of PBO. His replacement has not been named and may not be for some time.

Pls read the Toronto Star article (April 1, 2013). This is another example of Harper advocating and setting up an outside control of parliamentary spending (when he was in opposition) and then disregarding its guidance completely.

Remember Sheila Fraser (pic from MacLeans magazine June 2011), the previous auditor general (see my blog article of Feb 2009)? She performed a valuable and necessary service for all Canadians. What happened to her? Do you remember the criticism she received for pointing out irregularities (aka dishonest and irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars) by Harper's party?
Anyone remember the name of the current auditor general - Michael Ferguson?
Let's see how he gets along with Harper. He must report on progress of Kyoto Protocol every 2 years.

It was the auditor general criticism of senator expense claims that prompted this recent senate auditing activity.

Due to the nature of politicians (apparent total disrespect for taxpaying dollars), every Canadian needs to visibly support these two offices.

Reversing Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

03.05.13: Took the NO test and it was normal. Good to see.

Now to focus on eating more green leafy vegs, less oils and fructose.

02.27.13: Coronary Artery Heart Disease (CAD) is plaque build-up in the arteries.

Heart attacks are caused by blood clots resulting from the inside walls of inflamed arteries rupturing due to plaque buildup.

The fix is all about "cap over the plaque" ... strengthening the interior artery walls.

A summary of interesting facts in Dr Esselstyn's video (2 hours in length, or a one hour version):

1. LDL cholesterol gets sticky (plaque) and adheres to the artery wall beneath the protective layer (inflammation of the interior artery wall) which starts the plaque buildup

2. Blocked arteries (plaque buildup) cause less than 10% of heart attacks

3. Inflammation (caused by plaque buildup) finally ruptures the protective layer on the interior artery wall which causes clotting to occur which blocks the artery and downstream heart muscles die from starvation causing the heart attack

4. Dr Esselstyn is convinced changing what you eat can strengthen the interior wall so that the interior wall does not rupture 

5. Nitric Oxide enables elasticity and strengthening of the inner artery wall to dramatically reduce plaque inflammation and rupturing

6. The american diet will ensure CAD occurs in, EVERY person, before they are 20 years old

7. 45% of USA medicare is related to cardiologists

8. Cardiologists treat symptoms not cause ... so don't look to a cardiologist to reduce your CAD ... they are not paid to do that

9. HDL doesn't have to be high to do its job (return cholesterol to the liver) ... begins to illustrate the complexity of HDL/LDL balance

10. Plant based diet will reduce CAD ... easy to say but hard to do

11. Don't eat anything with a face, fructose, any oil 

12. It has more to do with your diet than your genes

13. You can make yourself heart attack proof in three weeks

14.  Leafy green vegetables such as kale, Swiss chard, arugula, spinach, chicory, wild radish and bok choy are all high sources of bioactive NO 

15. Dark chocolate and wine also increase NO

My conclusions:

Is it possible, most north americans prefer to eat what tastes good rather than what is good for them?

I would like to agree with Dr Esselstyn's approach that strengthening the interior arterial wall (endothelium) will dramatically reduce heart attacks.

If eating a specific diet, that is not intolerable, will significantly help, why not try it?

For those who refuse to dramatically change their diet, there is a lozenge called Neo30 approves by Canada health that will increase your NO ... but it is quite expensive and I am not convinced (yet) it will help much.

There is a test you can do to determine your NO level ... health of the endothelial layer.

Taking the test might help convince you to go the easy route and see if the lozenges help ... or go the more effort route and change your diet.

I am taking the test tomorrow.