Made in Canada eh!

Canada Day Up Canada Way - Stompin' Tom Connors

Canada is 146 years young. Think about that...it's nothing! People have lived nearly that long. But we have an awful lot to be proud of in this great land. We are a smart, funny, polite nation. Lovers not fighters, I am proud to say that on a world stage our army is a joke. Preserve life and make it better not storm in and take it from others. But that philosophy is only relevant for war. Dying with dignity and abortion are both rights I believe we should have. Sidebar: abortions have been available for a very long time. Like anything illegal or band, where there is a will there is a way. Make it safe and make it a choice. Given the information, people will often make the choice that is right for themselves. Back to the pride of Canada. Consider these: 

Marvels of the Canadian imagination:

1. zipper - or all pants would be elastic waist 
2. wonderbra - every girl loves this support
3. insulin - keeping diabetics kicking
4. standard time - so we know how late the trains are
5. ski-doo - because you can't walk in waist deep snow
6. basketball - we invented it but don't play it so well ;)
7. explosive vapour detector - canaries worldwide are grateful
8. paint roller - spreading beauty one stroke at a time
9. Robertson Screw - have you ever striped a star screw, slipped with a slot? I'll never understand why they are still sold. Trust me...try it!
10. retractable beer case handles - cuz we drink and like our 2-4's they are big enough to accomodate winter mitts  

A tickle to the funny bone or a belly laugh:

1. SCTV - from 1976 to 1983, this little TV show launched the careers of Eugene Levy, John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis and Martin Short who all performed, created characters and wrote skits for the show
2. John Candy - SCTV, SNL, Uncle Buck, Planes Trains and Automobiles
3. Dan Aykroyd - SCTV, SNL, Blues Brothers, Trading Places
4. Seth Rogen - 40 Year Old Virgin, Pineapple Express, Knocked Up
5. This Hour Has 22 Minutes and The Kids In the Hall - ensemble TV cast
6. Lorne Michaels - stand up, writer for Laugh-In, producer Saturday Night Live
7. Jim Carrey - rubber faced man starring in Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, Ace Ventura
8. Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas - SCTV, Bob and Doug McKenzie (not the Wendy's burger chain founder)  
9. Mike Myers - SCTV, SNL, Wayne's World, Austin Powers, Shrek
10. Leslie Nielsen - understated, subtle comedy that when it hits you you guffaw. Real knee slappers...Airplane, Police Squad, Naked Gun

Medical Marvels:

1. Pablum - original developed as a prevention and treatment of rickets in children
2. T-cell receptor genes - the understanding of T-cells will help in the development of drugs to combat infection, cancer, and transpant rejection
3. Cobalt Bomb - allowing deep tissue cancer radiation treatment
4. Insulin - saving the prolonging the lives of 250 million people (and growing) worldwide who suffer from Diabetes
5. Artificial kidney machine, knee joint, heart - developed in Canada
6. First deep brain stimulation for depression leading to remission
7. Toronto Heart Valve - used world wide to replace aortic heart valves
8. Worlds first pacemaker defibrillator is implanted
9. Discovery of gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis, also genes associated with Lou Gehrig's disease, Muscular Dystrophy
10. Elimination of Polio with the Jonas Salk polio vaccine
11. Universal Health Care - because sickness doesn't discriminate

Yummy Food:

1. Tim Hortons - we didn't invent coffee but we made it better!
2. Poutine
3. Bloody Caesars
4. Beer - we didn't invent it but we made it good! 
5. Ketchup chips
6. Crispy Crunch, Coffee Crisp (when Tims is not in hand)
7. Beaver tails
8. Montreal smoked meat
9. Nanimo bars, date squares and butter tarts
10. Newfie Screech :)

Other things to be proud of:

1. The acceptance of medical grade marijuana. Back in the early 1980's it was prescribed for my brother suffering from cancer but the pharmacy was the street.
2. The acceptance of gay/lesbian/transgender/bisexual rights including marriage. Gay marriage rights since 2005
3. Sing it loud, Sing it proud - Our national anthem is a true reflection of the people - true, strong and brave
4. Our Civil War was basically a bar fight that was led by a drunken and possilby insane W.L. McKenzie and lasted less than an hour. Lovin' last longer than fightin'
5. Our music and musicians may not always dominate on the world stage but the best sometimes stay here and enjoy the prosperity and fame of their country. BLUE RODEO! I've spoken many times of my love of Canadian music that comes from the heart and soul instead of manufactured by electronics and the driven by the $ 

So much more can be added to anyone of these lists. I encourage you to see what else you can find. If you don't agree, I will personally take you on a tour of my small part of Canada and prove it to you. Not that your country isn't good as well ;) but CANADA ROCKS!

Canada's Really Big - Arrogant Worms

But nothing is perfect and there is always room for improvement. Having just come back from a quick sight-seeing tour of New York City, I have a few observations. I was quite surprised to notice while shopping that card-chip technology for credit and debit cards was not widely available in the shops we visited. Albeit, it wasn't national chains that we frequented nor was it shops that were readily found in Canada. Speaking to one cashier, she said that many of the smaller retailers had imposed other security measures instead - like matching photo id to credit cards. It may be a few years for 
But I was pleasantly surprised to see that despite the congestion of bumper to bumper traffic there was still room to carve out dedicated bike lanes. The lanes were already there, it just took a commitment and some paint. Bike sharing seems to be growing in popularity since my last visit several years ago. I shake my head in disgust every time the subject is brought up for the city of Toronto. In 2009, Jarvis Street got dedicated bike lanes and they were well travelled. Then people complained that their commute home took 2 minutes longer and they were removed. The costs involved would blow your mind. Another Rob Ford blunder! 

Like it or not, a large percentage of our consumer goods in Canada are at least in part manufactured overseas where labour is cheaper. At the cost of lost jobs, we are able to pay less for products. In the interest of environmental health I am opposed to the uncalculated cost to the health of the planet, shipping consumables from so far away. If I had the financial ability, I would likely shop with more consideration for the labels and country of origin. But of course that poses a whole new problem since often times Made in Canada does not necessary mean exactly that. Several years ago, consumer affairs show Marketplace brought this issue as a a concern to the government. There have been changes made to put some teeth in the legislation. 

Product of Canada label will mean that 98% is domestic product and processing and labour are completed nationally as well. So for at least food products we can feel secure.

Made in Canada means that a major transformation to the product was done on Canadian soil. So coconut oil could be made in Canada, even though you won't find coconuts growing in any maple trees in your backyard. 

Then we can extend our notion of national pride to our backyard and neighbours with confidence while we ensure the security of jobs. 

Immigration is a hot topic for most people but it is very in-your-face in southern Ontario. This area is growing in leaps and bounds and it is disgusting. Green space is gone to new housing developments. From one month to another - a farmers field is plowed over and the corn stalks give way to the billboards touting a new subdivision. Where are all these people coming from? Not other parts of Canada, for the most part. Our borders are wide open and the people paying the price are the hard-working immigrants of a generation ago. Let's face it, all but the native American Indian are immigrants to Canada. But things have changed in the process of immigration. Canada is a big country and we have lots of room for immigration but this area is being raped and razed while our communities are dying a slow death. Like a viscious circle that needs to be broken - more people mean more jobs, more jobs mean more people. The population booms and the working class is not working enough to pay the taxes required to sustain the population in infrastructure, public transit or health care. Just my opinion - don't shoot me. I  would like to see other parts of Canada enjoy some of the benefits of immigration. 

"I am Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. The heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind" - John G. Diefenbaker (13th prime minister of Canada)

Credit where credit is due: http://members.shaw.ca/kcic1/canisms.html
http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/a-brief-history-of-jarvis%E2%80%99-long-running-bike-lane-spat/

What Is the Price of Life? and The Rob Ford Follies

Money City Maniacs - Sloan

I am going to take a stand on what I feel is a disturbing trend fuelled by the almighty dollar. I am annoyed and can't be silenced. More and more often these days we are hearing about the outcome of events being contingent on the raising of a specific dollar amount from the public. The first I heard of this involved a movie. The Veronica Mars movie project. The producer had a script and agreed in principal to make the movie (I don't know if the standard avenues for funding were explored and denied or just bypassed) - the idea was put to the fans. If you want to see it, you have to pay us for making it. Then you can pay again to see it. I guess it's your money, do with it what you want. I've no interest in Veronica Mars or even know who she is. If a movie is made and I find it worthy of my time, I will make the decision to see it then. A cursory glance at one of the internet platforms reveals that not just movies are seeking your dollar so are inventors looking to get their latest notion to market. Fashion trends too. And people are laying their greenbacks down. A few clicks and mental calculations and an easy million has been committed to various projects. 

But this notion of so-called Crowd-Funding has gone to the dark side when a tabloid-type website decided to raise the ransom requested before releasing an incriminating video of Rob Ford (mayor of Toronto, Ontario) smoking crack. Now, I'm no fan of Rob Ford but if he has engaged in illegal activity it is up to the police to deal with it. If a crime occurs, the first thing police do in this technologically aware society is seek out security video from surrounding homes or businesses. And they don't pay to view it. So it stands to reason that if someone is claiming to have video of Mayor Rob Ford engaging in illegal activity, the police need to step in not me and my visa number. He is a master of denial from the Bill Clinton School of It Wasn't Me and is quick to point a finger to someone else. Just one step shy of a temper tantrum, he blames the media frenzy on a specific newspapers being out to get him. Not even the National Enquirer could make up some of this stuff let alone the humble Toronto Star. He sees himself as a hero for the people. The people need to see him for what he is. An arrogant, self-involved, lying buffoon. And for the record, the required amount of money was raised (and then some) but suddenly the owner of the video wasn't interested in talking anymore. 

But let's look at a potential benefit to this new form of fund-raising. I am well aware of the level of my own intelligence but I can't be the only one who thought of this. Some time ago there was a story circulating on the interweb about a cancer cure in the form of DCA by researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. It was on the CBC - Canada's go to trustworthy news source. The claim was that a drug called Dichloroacetate had been found to kill brain, breast and lung cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells alone. The problem was that the patent on the drug had long since expired so there was no incentive by the pharmaceutical companies to invest the money required for further testing. If they can't make money they aren't interested. This is incomprehensible to me. But it lies credence to the long held notion that there has been a cure for the common cold for many years but the industry makes so much money from our coughs and sputters that it will never be disclosed. Same thing here except it's not a runny nose it's the breath of life. And it's not an internet scam gone wild - snopes.com investigated and found that although exaggerated somewhat in the cure-all claims, there was a lot of validity to the story and according to the most cynical professionals, the drug itself was worth investigating further. 

If there is the slimmest of chances of a cure for a deadly disease that affects almost everyone one of us these days in someway...Someone we love or someone we know...If there is a tiny possibility that one person in 10, one in 100 is cured then it's worth the money. Take all the money that we raise to see a movie come to the big screen and preserve the life of a loved one - wouldn't you do it. You could send $5 to see a video of Rob Ford breaking the law or making an ass of himself or you could turn on the 6:00 news any given night and sit on the sofa and laugh with the special someone who was just diagnosed and now has a chance to live. More than $200,000 was raised for that! Think of the good it could have done.

In 2012  2 in 5 Canadians were expected to develop cancer.

In 2012  1 in 4 Canadians were expected to die from cancer.

Sobering statistics. What would you do to change it? If every Canadian made a commitment of $1.00 would it be enough to take control of the drug, do further testing and then put it to market. For the people by the people. And top it up with $1,000,000 from the next national lottery instead of giving it as a winning prize. Then we would all win again. If I could do it and have my brother back - well, it's a no-brainer. 

The Saga of Rob Ford is entertaining so lets roll with it.

Do we really need to pay money to verify that he is an arrogant, lying, disgrace to the city who thinks he is above the law. I give it less than a month before he has done something else to get the world laughing at Toronto. More Ford Nation? He needs to be recalled like the vehicles bearing his name. Mayor Rob Ford has golden horseshoes up his ass along with a silver spoon/soother in his mouth. He has dodged more bullets than raindrops in a thunderstorm and still he stands. But then again Weebles wooble but they don't fall down. The ironic thing is that he often the one stirring the pot and creating the story. This wouldn't be the first time that the always innocent Mayor has found himself on the negative side of public opinion. Off the top of my head:

1. He gave a finger to a fellow motorist when she challenged his being on the phone while driving. An illegal activity in the province.
2. He was photographed driving along a major highway, reading and navigating the congested road. Distracted driving is a crime but he begged off because he is a "busy man". 
3. He gave priority status to the road work that was to be done in front of this family's business to ensure it's completion before a 50th anniversary celebration
4. Conflict of Interest charges were brought against him after he funnelled solicited funds to his football foundation and then voted to not pay it back when the story came to light. For that he was ordered to step down as mayor. He won his appeal and the people lost.
5. Campaign finance violations by exceeding the spending limit and accepting a no-interest loan from a Ford family business instead of a recognised lender. Allegations his own lawyer didn't deny but called insignificant.
6. He extended his sympathy for cyclist who are killed on the city streets by saying "it's their own fault at the end of the day."
7. With his head down trying to avoid reporters he walks into a camera and then with a few expletives and blasphemies claims they hit him with the camera.
8. He questioned the mental competence of a fellow politician when she claimed that he grabbed her derriere in a drunken stupor.
9. It was the Toronto Sun not the Star that confronted the mayor after finding records of an arrest in Florida in 1999 for drug possession and DUI. He vehemently denied the possession allegation "Now I'm getting offended. No means No". Later he admitted having one joint in his back pocket. He pleaded no contest to the alcohol related offence. 
10. He used a taxpayer paid aide to help him coach his high school football team and they used city vehicles for transportation to games and practices.
11. Also a benefit to the Don Bosco High School team that he coached, paying transit customers were booted off a bus in the rain when Ford called the CEO of the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) saying his team needed a bus for a ride back to the school after an away game.
12. After failing off the scale at his Cut the Waist Challenge, he twisted his ankle. While he did lose 17 pounds, he never really seemed to take it seriously and when the going got hard, he gave up and went to KFC instead. And he was spotted with his hand in the bucket. More on this story can be found at my blog written on May 1, 2012 Downsizing An Upsizing World. The link can be found below. 

Credit where credit is due:
www.thestar.com 
www.cbc.ca 
www.snopes.com
www.cancer.ca
http://pinkpantherfancanada.blogspot.ca/2012/05/downsizing-upsizing-world.html

Downsizing an Upsizing World

You're Beautiful - James Blunt

So does anyone else find it ironic that while the population as a whole is up-sizing, things around us are down-sizing. There is a lot of talk in the media about the increasing mass of the world, and I'm speaking of the numbers on the scale. 

I don't live in the city of Toronto but close enough that the mayor is featured in the news on a regular basis. Personally, I am not a fan because I find that his ego needs to be shrunk more than his belt size. It was the Mayor Rob Ford who at the beginning of the year issued a challenge to the citizens of Toronto and a select few other city leaders to join in his "Cut the Waist" weight loss challenge. I don't know how successful he was in his recruitment parade, except for signing his slightly smaller brother (who also happens to be a member of council). Initially the weekly weigh-ins were going well and had all the media buzz to keep the momentum going, there there was a plateau, a few pound weight gain and poof! Well he didn't exactly vanish into thin air but for the past few weeks he has skipped his climb onto the scale. Interestingly just before posting this blog I heard that he has finally made an appearance at the public scale and I offer my congratulations on his further two pound weight loss. It's not easy, especially wen facing public criticism for being caught on video while stocking up on a late night snack of KFC. A recent poll conducted by Metro News, showed that 58% people believe he invites public opinion on what he eats since he made this goal a public affair. But really, I don't care either way how successful his venture is. Enjoy the Double Down Mr Ford...it's only here for a limited time. 

We all know about height, age and health restrictions on some amusement park rides. Some are banned for the very young, pregnant and those with health concerns like heart irregularities, how about weight constraints. No, I don't suppose that they are going to start installing scales at the entrance of the ride, but there are other ways that may have you uncerimoniously turfed from the ride once you have been seated. How embarrassing! As it turns out, not everyone can play. Some of these rides are not built for the differences in the population - but rather for what the designers deam as the average user. This morning during a promotion to herald a new roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland (located just outside the city of Toronto), a number of people were given free passes to give the train on rails a go. Some people couldn't get enough after riding two times and were ready for more. One fellow didn't even get one ride, for after taking his place, he was escorted off since the safety harness could not accomodate his Molson Muscle. Come back when you lose a few pounds the host suggested - although not in those exact words.  And this is not exactly the type of thing that you would no ahead of time. Maybe soon, they will need to advertise weight size restrictions. I feel more sorry for the young children who seem to have expanded in GIRTH, would they fit on the kiddie rides. I recall my daughter being iffy on some rides because her legs were so long that her knees were almost touching her ears when she sat. Do you as a parent stop your child from riding the kiddie coaster or flying airplanes and put them on the motorcycles or bumper cars instead? 

Parking lots are a particular sore spot with me. As cars got smaller, the spots to park them at the mall got smaller also. Not a bad idea initially but in the beginning when there were still alot of big sedans on the road, the average vehicle was subject to a lot of door dings. Now, with the exception of a few oversized SUV's and Hummers, who's drivers have egos bigger than their rides and who feel some sort of warped sense of entitlement that affords them the right to use two spaces, cars are narrow enough to fit nicely. It's the people who can't get out without opening the door all the way that are the problem. It's the ones who prop their car door against yours while they try to get junior in or out of the car seat, or worse the ones who have to open their door to the maximum to heave their bulk out of the smallest compact car on the the market. And with the fluctuating weight change in the vehicle the shock absorbers are working overtime stabilizing the car and scraping their door against the side of your car. It's not their fault, so much as the fact that there really is no room. Never mind if you have carrying extra fast food weight...what if you are pregnant?

Okay, I am sure that any man reading this wouldn't understand but being in the latter stages of pregnancy is not a lot different than being very overweight. You get first hand knowledge of what daily life is like for the extremely obese. Regardless of the size you start off at, when you are 9 months pregnant carrying what amounts to an unweilding beachball in front of you, getting in and out of a car is a challenge without adding the confinement of the public parking spaces. Now, obviously someone recognized this predicament for they have created Pregnant and Family parking spots nearest the door, next to the Handicapped spots. But what about public washrooms? Installing wheelchair accessibility was a good thing, but in doing so, some stalls became smaller to accomodate. I don't know about men's facilities but woman's facilities not only have the toilet rolls mounted on the walls, but sometimes a purse shelf and waste receptacle. I recall being pregnant myself - some 20+ years ago and having to go in and straddle the toilet to have the manoueverability to close the door. There simply wasn't enough room to step in, turn and close the door without some gymnastics. It was then that I got a new-found sympathy for the obese that must do this dance each and every time and some I would think may never make it in and be resigned to using the accessible facilities. Does anybody remember the day when you went into a stall with your mother and there was room for both of you in there? 

I often find that I am more likely to use the spacious facilities given the chance of a little breathing and elbow room, if you will. I am not alone, I often see mothers and their children exiting from there, and people just like me. The most used stall I would bet. Having frequented a number of them, there is something that I have noticed that bothers me. If, you were physically challenged and entered a designated stall, there is no means with which to close the door once you have entered. Think about it...most of the doors swing out, in order to pull it closed, you must grasp the bottom of the door (the top of the door if you are standing). There is no handle. Unless, you live in the province of Nova Scotia. Perhaps other locations have also considered this dilemma and have handles in consideration of the wheelchair bound, but not so if you live in the Southern Ontario area. There is an accomodation that should be made for the service of the handicapped. While they are in there fixing them, maybe they can alter all the doors to swing out so we can stop this potty dance! 

No one is suggesting that public areas are able to accomodate every size and shape of person on the planet. The large, the small, the short and the tall...We must recognize that there is no such thing as one size fits all. One size doesn't even fit most anymore.