We're good for something more than maple syrup and hockey

Trudeau welcoming Syrians

It’s been a year since three-year-old Syrian refugee Alan Kurdi died when his family tried to reach Greece by boat; and, since that time, local Canadian refugee advocates have worked tirelessly to assist both Syrian newcomers and their sponsors. But their work has also taken on an international dimension.

Louisa Taylor, director of 'Refugee 613', a non-partisan group that works with citizens, sponsorship groups, settlement agencies and lawyers in Ottawa has been contacted by officials in Norway, Ireland and the United States who are trying to determine what aspects of Canada’s refugee policy might be replicable in their jurisdictions.

Taylor recalled telling representatives from foreign embassies and the European Union how the recently arrived Syrian refugees are integrating into their new communities with assistance from members of their private sponsorship groups.

She explained that, thousands of Canadians who had never thought about refugees a year ago, are today intimately involved in resettling and helping refugees make lives here. They are looking for apartments to rent, helping with CVs, looking for language classes and navigating the job market, she said.

“This is a beautiful byproduct of this experience. All these people are looking at their own community and society with different eyes.”

When Taylor explains that Refugee 613 has amassed a mailing list of people who want to receive updates (as there are more people who want to sponsor than there are refugees available to sponsor), “their eyes go really big,” she said.

“The motivation is a real challenge for people of some countries to understand because they are fed a narrative of the migrant as the problem, the migrant as the other, the migrant as a threat,” she said. “They wonder, ‘Why would you go out of your way to sign a contract with the government to say you will be responsible for someone you’ve never met?’”

Taylor explains: “The fact is, as long as there is conflict or persecution in the world we want to be a country that will give people sanctuary.”

She added, “We’re not unique. We know there are other communities [around the world] that could be doing this in a heartbeat.”

Canadian officials processing Vietnamese refugees in 1979

To date, several countries around the world have launched or are poised to start refugee programs inspired by what exists in Canada. Germany has private sponsorship programs in many states. The United Kingdom is introducing a refugee sponsorship scheme called Refugees Welcome, based on the Canadian model. Australia’s pilot program, meanwhile, began three years ago and became permanent in 2015. And next year Argentina and New Zealand are also launching pilots similar to Canada’s. 

In June, New Zealand Red Cross secretary general Tony Paine told Radio New Zealand that it would be a positive step for the country to adopt a sponsorship program similar to Canada’s.

“It’s a good additional tool to have in the toolkit, as Kiwis think about how they can help with a crisis that is happening around the other side of the globe,” he said. “It’s just another thing that we can do as Kiwis to help people who are facing terrible and desperate times." 

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly commended Canada’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis and praised citizens for extending “caring, warm hands” to people who had nowhere else to go.

 It is the most vulnerable who are coming; roughly 50 per cent are children, many are women and there are large groups of families. 

Canada is exceptional in some ways. One of the ways is geography. As we are surrounded by three oceans and the U.S., we don’t have to deal on a day-to-day basis with millions of people trying to cross our borders. We have the luxury of being able to select people we deem admissible to come to Canada.

In February, Naomi Alboim, a professor and chair of the Policy Forum at Queen’s University was in Italy outlining Canada’s refugee policy to politicians and NGO workers. Alboim recalled how keen her audience was to see “ordinary Italians” interacting with refugees just as ordinary Canadians have been doing.

The majority of questions dealt with integrating refugees into Italian society: “They said, ‘How do we ensure they (refugees) do not become the ‘other’? How do we ensure refugees are better integrated and have interest in civic participation?’”

She outlined Canada’s labour market integration programs to them and the importance of society working with refugees. She described the ways refugees have  to integrate through language classes, access to higher education, employment and recreational initiatives that provide hands-on access to varied and experiential learning.

 She has been invited to speak on similar topics in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and, in October, Alboim will present lectures at universities in the Baltic States.

“We cannot put them [refugees] in economic ghettos; we cannot marginalize them politically. That is what happened in a lot of European countries such as France and Belgium. They [refugees and migrants] believe they aren’t being represented by the state and they don’t have meaningful interaction with the state. And this can cause distrust and flash ethnic violence. We’ve seen this globally.”

Canada has been fortunate to not suffer as many terrorism attacks as other countries and, therefore, the government’s focus remains on integration and not on ramping up security or military presence.

“The philosophy of inclusion is unique to Canada and it can be replicated. It requires a moral investment from government, dedication and emotional investment from citizens and it takes money."

Language instruction. Communication is the first and biggest hurdle

 Syrian refugee learns to play sledge hockey

A Syrian refugee who lost his leg before coming to Canada last fall with his family has developed a passion for a Canadian sport.

Omar Al Ziab, 15, was walking home from school in 2011 when a military vehicle ran him over, crushing his right leg and leaving his other leg badly injured.

In November of last year, he received a prosthetic leg just weeks after arriving in Canada. Now just nine months later, he's making new strides – on the ice.

"They told me, 'You can play, just try,' and I tried. When I played [sledge hockey] the first time it was so awesome and it's fun," said Al Ziab.

"My friends tell me, 'Oh you are now a Canadian,'" said Al Ziab.

Adjusting to school in a new country

To invest or not invest in North Korea

Jim Rogers is nothing if not a contrarian, and one of his boldest moves is trying to bet on North Korea.  The famous investor, who cofounded legendary hedge fund Quantum with George Soros, said North Korea is where China was in 1981.
"If we all bought North Korean currency, we'd all be rich someday," Rogers said.
In short, Rogers is seeing the controversial country open up, which he says makes it a good bet.

Here's the relevant excerpt from the Q&A explaining why:

"Well, North Korea today is where China was in 1981. Deng Xiaoping started opening up in '78. Most of us, including me, either weren't aware of it or if we were aware of it. We ignored it, didn't pay any attention. North Korea is doing that now.
He added:
"There are 15 free trade zones there now. You can take bicycle tours of North Korea, if you want. You can take movie tours. I'm sure if [Kim Jong Un's] father were alive, he'd hang him. If his grandfather were alive, he'd torture him and then hang him, you know, for some of the things he's doing. I mean, you go to North Korea now, you see these astonishing restaurants with white tablecloths, cutlery, candles. I mean, this is North Korea we're talking about. Chefs. It's happening."

Rogers noted that Chinese and Russian investors are pouring in to the country and said that he almost became an investor in a Chinese group that had a bank in North Korea. He added that his lawyer told him he couldn't invest.
He said:
"They're going to be the richest people in China, because they're starting banks, and everything else in North Korea, and you and I just sit and look and say, 'Buy me a Champagne someday.'

Rogers is a pretty colorful guy and is known for his bold bets. He also has investments in Zimbabwe and has been looking at investing in Kazakhstan and Rwanda. That said, he isn't the only one looking at North Korea.
North Korea has been pushing to attract foreign investment, even posting videos on its "unique economic zones" on YouTube. And earlier this year, The New York Times published a profile on James Passin, a hedge fund manager at Firebird Management, who is trying to bet on the country.

Still, there is growing tension between the Hermit Kingdom and the rest of the world. The country has been launching ballistic missiles, with Kim Jong Un reportedly hosting a party to celebrate the most recent test.
That is making life harder for those who are invested in the country. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that the only law firm in North Korea set up by a foreigner, Hay, Kalb & Associates, will suspend operations. Opportunities or not, investors are skittish unless they have a clear view into the future and can project probable income and profits. In a country welcoming investors but threatening the world with weapons of mass destruction, the future is a little murky.

North Korea's Weird Internet
Despite being an extremely reclusive country, North Korea does have an internet. It's just not like the internet everyone else is using. It's more "Information Local Traffic Only" than "Information Superhighway."

Happy Reunion



Story and Video Courtesy of Winnebago County Animal Services

Roughly 2 years ago Jose of Columbus, Wisconsin fell on hard times. He was going through a divorce, lost his house, became homeless and had no choice but to live in his vehicle. Jose got Chaos as a puppy and according to Jose, “Chaos helped me through so much in my life, I took him everywhere with me!” A friend of a friend, in another town, took care of  Chaos while Jose got back on his feet. It was three months before Jose was in a position to take his dog back. Sadly, the friend wouldn't let him in the house and refused to give the dog back, leaving Jose heartbroken and unsure about what he could do about it. “I didn’t think I would ever see my dog again,” said Jose.
 Almost two years passed. Then, in 2016, a Winnebago County Services staff member was at home in South Beloit and found a dog sitting in her driveway. She called Animal Services and an officer came out to her house and brought the dog back to the shelter. The dog was wearing a collar with a 2014 National Identification Number.

The next day, Jose was going through his emails and he had received a microchip renewal notice. It was time to update his microchip information for Chaos. Jose became upset and disheartened. He began to reminisce about his lost friend wondering what happened to him. He began to scroll through old photos of Chaos. Suddenly, the phone rang!
A shelter staff member called the phone number that was associated with the ID number. Thankfully, Jose still had that contact information. The staff member informed Jose that his dog is at Winnebago County Animal Services. Jose excitedly said, “Choas?!" and he began to cry!
He said,“I was speechless and I couldn’t stop smiling. I just couldn’t believe it."
“I couldn’t get to the shelter fast enough," said Jose. "I couldn’t wait for it to open so I could see Chaos! I left at 8 am today and had an hour and a half drive, so I was very anxious!”
The reunion of the ecstatic dog and emotional master was a beautiful thing. Seemingly, Chaos had got tired of waiting for his master to come and get him and set out on his own to find him. They do not forget.
“I haven’t been happier in a very long time! This has taken a huge weight off of my shoulders and has made my entire week! Thank you so much to all of your staff for all you do. I will always appreciate you!”

An encouraging bright spot in a life which has had a sad and harsh journey for a couple of years. Lately, things are looking up for Jose and Chaos.

The saddest photo I've ever taken



 

Wolfram Gottschalk and his wife Anita have been married 62 years. But now in their old age, they’re living apart, against their will. Whenever they get a chance to visit one another, both burst into tears.

“I just want to see them together,” said the couple’s granddaughter Ashley Bartyik. “They’re a pillar of strength in our family.”

Wolf, 83, and Anita, 81, are in separate care facilities in Surrey, B.C., and even though the regional health authority says it’s working to reunite the couple, their families fear time is running out. Wolf has dementia and has been diagnosed with lymphoma.

In January, Wolf was hospitalized and told he couldn’t go home, because he required a higher level of care. He was moved to the Yale Road Centre in North Surrey, where he’s been living for the past eight months, apart from his wife. Anita lives at The Residence at Morgan Heights, a 30-minute drive from her husband.

“She is just begging anyone that can help her get her husband back," Bartyik said. "It’s been very, very difficult for our family.”

Bartyik drew attention to her grandparents’ plight when she posted a photo of them during a visit. Both were wiping tears from their eyes, as they sat facing one another. Wolf slumped in a wheelchair.

“This is the saddest photo I have ever taken,” Bartyik wrote.

“They cry every time they see each other, and it is heartbreaking.”

Fraser Health said it’s trying to reunite the couple and get them living under one roof

“We are also exploring options other than this particular facility that his wife is at now,” said spokeswoman Tasleem Juma.

“Certainly when the scope is narrowed to one facility, it becomes difficult to place them there, because we have to wait for another bed to become available.”

Since there is so little time left for the couple, I think Tasleem Juma should move her butt. When people co-operate and work together solutions can be found quickly. Obviously the system is not sympathetic to human beings or the human condition.

So change the damn system.

Embrace your mid-life crisis ? Or suffer through it??

Instead of fretting about hair loss and diminished virility, should mid-life be re-evaluated as a time to try new experiences and re-invent oneself? This eternal question has eternally plagued mankind and perhaps there is no eternal answer.   It has been proven that a new sports car, new wardrobe, a toupee and a younger woman only serve to point out to the world at large that you are going through your mid-life crisis and handling it very badly.

There are only two subjects, according to the film director Peter Greenaway: sex and death. Put them together and you have the mid-life crisis. On the one hand, the waning of one's charms, vigor and fertility; on the other, the grim future of the liver-spotted paws, the living road map of veins and wrinkles and the incessant drain of sand through Father Time's hourglass.

Of course, we prefer to avert our thoughts from such elemental things, and tell ourselves that the mid-life crisis (MLC, for short) is about concerns like status and goals. But these things  are probably peripheral to mourning the loss of hair and muscles and panicking about erectile dysfunction.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the MLC as a "loss of self-confidence and feeling of anxiety or disappointment that can occur in early middle age". But when is that, exactly? Most authorities suggest it begins in the mid- to late-40s, though it's perhaps a state of mind more than a black letter day on an actuarial table. And every individual reaches their crisis according their given circumstances.

Anyone who watches sitcom or romcoms will know men are typically the butt of MLC storylines. But the writer and journalist Miranda Sawyer recounts a, by-no-means rare, example of the distaff side of MLC. Of her own experience, she says,"The strongest feeling I had was that I've done everything wrong… I woke up in this life and it wasn't really my life," says Sawyer, recounting the moment her mid-life crisis truly descended in her 40s.  She felt her life "should have been completely different".
Sawyer has documented her experiences in a new book, Out of Time, and is candid enough to admit that mid-life sex can be a ticklish issue.
"As you get older, there's a lot invested in your relationship with your partner and to ask them for more sex, different sex, less sex, better sex, becomes really, really hard."
It upsets the equilibrium in the relationship that took years to build.

Nor is the phenomenon confined to the straight community. Broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, 59, detects what he calls the gay mid-life crisis when he spots a man of a certain age in  ridiculously tight shorts. The MLC for gay men, he says, is inextricably bound up with coming out. Whether they like it or not, formerly settled married men who come out in their middle years reset their personal chronometers, says Fanshawe.
"One day they're fine and with the wife and children… six months later they've come out and suddenly there's this tattooed leather queen coming down the road. Whatever age you actually come out, in your head you're 16. It's a kind of year-zero of being gay."

You might be interested to know what a world-class philosopher has to say about the MLC, but Alain de Botton (46) wasn't available, so we had to settle for the late Arthur Schopenhauer instead, a 19th Century German seer.
Schopenhauer's basic argument is that the problem with getting everything you want is that then your pursuit is over and you have nothing left to do. He thought we were doomed to swing endlessly between the boredom of having no goals left, and the agony of having unsatisfied desires.
Happily Schopenhauer managed to get out of the bed on the right side one morning and acknowledged that although he believed all desire was ultimately pointless and fruitless, he thought the pursuit of simple activities, like going for a walk, seeing friends for a coffee, was less likely to lead to depression and futility.

Someone who gets that very well is former businessman turned stand-up comic Dave Streeter. He had it all, to coin a phrase: family, business, nice house. But then the business went, and pretty soon, so did everything else. Streeter adapted the presentation skills he had learned at work into stage patter.
"My wife got the house, the car, the kids. I got the guilt and a four-man tent," he says. "The tragedy is, I don't know four men that like camping."
Like all the MLC veterans, Streeter looks back on it as a valuable if painful stocktaking.
 His new passion is vibing, a kind of disco on two wheels. Vibers work up a sweat on static bikes to the sound of dance favourites.  Vibing could be seen as a metaphor for the MLC: pedalling furiously, but getting nowhere. But it could also be the perfect tonic for the MLC condition.
What do Schopenhauer's insights boil down to, after all, but the tried and tested maxim: it's not about the destination, it's about the journey.  Thoroughly enjoy your journey from the very beginning and you will have few if any regrets when you hit middle-age. In fact you will be eager to see what else life has in store further down the road.

All the data suggests that we're living longer and beginning to adapt accordingly. What used to be pensionable age is now considered late middle-life.  If you're not there yet, by the time you are, science will probably will have recalibrated the present retirement age, to the bloom of youth - think of all that time you'll have to work on your Pokemon Go handicap.

On his 80th birthday, the French statesman Clemenceau was taking the air on the Champs-Elysees with a friend when a beautiful young woman came towards them. As she passed by, Clemenceau turned to his companion and sighed, "Oh, to be 70 again!"

So to anyone inclined to take a dim view of Clemenceau and the flicker of carnal desire awakened in the octogenarian, all I can say is that he was clearly ahead of his time: after all, 80 truly is the new 70, 60 is the new 50, 50 is the new 40, etc.



Food for Thought : Health Benefits of Cherries

Chock full of vitamins and minerals, cherries are one of the healthiest fruits you can snack on all year long. You can enjoy cherries as a snack, in pie filling, or in a glass of cherry juice. In addition to being a low-calorie healthy snack, there are many health benefits of cherries that you can enjoy by grabbing a handful of this delicious fruit.
Minimizes Pain :
If you have arthritis, you may experience lingering pain that hangs around even with the help of painkillers. Cherries are naturally able to minimize and even eradicate arthritis pain. This is because cherries can significantly reduce the presence of uric acid in the body, leading to less inflammation and pain. This effect is strongest when you enjoy Bing cherries.
Lower Blood Sugar Levels :
People that suffer from diabetes should enjoy cherries on a regular basis. This powerful fruit is full of anthocyanin, an antioxidant that has many health benefits. Cherries can naturally increase insulin production in the body, helping diabetics to more naturally maintain healthy blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic, it is better to eat fresh cherries than canned cherries. Canned cherries often have added sugar and less anthocyanin.
Minimizes Risk of Heart Disease :
When you enjoy this tart treat, you are doing your heart a favor. In fact, cherries can be as effective as some prescribed heart medications without the side effects. They are good at regulating fat and glucose in people with metabolic conditions. If you are on medications to prevent stroke or heart disease, cherries can improve the efficacy of these drugs if you eat them at the same time as taking your medication.
Get Rid of Belly Fat :
If you are carrying a few extra pounds or a spare tire around your middle, cherries may be the answer you’re looking for. Since belly fat is a huge problem in the United States, this is one of the most popular health benefits of cherries. Even if you don’t change your diet, eating cherries can help your body build up less fat and gain less weight.
 Reduces Chances of Gout :
Gout attacks can be excruciatingly painful, so wouldn’t you do anything you could to prevent them? Adding a handful of tart cherries to your daily diet can keep gout away. People have noticed a reduction in gout attacks after just two days of regularly eating cherries. In order to enjoy this health benefit, you just have to eat 1/2 cup of cherries every day.
Reduces Muscle Soreness :
Many runners and hardcore exercisers are starting to realize the power of cherries. Instead of reaching for a sport drink or glass of water after a workout, many fitness buffs are reaching for a large handful of cherries or a glass of cherry juice. Cherries can reduce muscle inflammation, leading to less soreness and quicker healing. If you decide to drink cherry juice, be sure that you are drinking tart, unsweetened cherry juice.
Slow Down Aging :
If you are looking for an anti-aging potion, look no further than cherries. There are numerous anti-aging health benefits of cherries. This is because cherries are full of isoqueritirin and queritrin, antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in the body. By keeping your body free of free radicals, cherries can slow down the aging process and keep you feeling youthful for decades.
Fights Cancer :
When you enjoy the bright red color of cherries, you are noticing that which makes cherries good at fighting cancer. Flavonoids in cherries give them their color and fight free radicals in the body. This can halt the growth of cancer cells and keep them within normal levels. While all cherries are full of antioxidants, the darker the cherry, the more benefits it has.
Improves Sleep :
Our bodies rely on melatonin, a chemical that regulates sleep cycles, to help us sleep well at night. Tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin. Reach for a glass of cherry juice at night to help you sleep better.
Boosts Memory :
Cherries are an excellent source of anthocyanin, a chemical that can improve your memory. By regularly adding cherries to your diet, you can notice an improvement in your recall skills. This chemical can also improve your motor skills. For those with a faltering memory, this may be one of the best health benefits of cherries.
                                                           Cherry Pie 

 Total time : 3 hours  25 minutes       8 servings

Pastry:
2      cups all-purpose flour
1      teaspoon salt
2/3   cup plus 2 tablespoons shortening
6      tablespoons cold water 
Filling:
1-1/3     cups sugar
1/2        cup all-purpose flour
6           cups sour cherries, pitted
2           tablespoons butter or margarine, if desired
1 .  Heat oven to 425°F. In medium bowl, mix 2 cups flour and the salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).
2 .  Gather pastry into a ball. Divide pastry in half; shape into 2 rounds. Wrap flattened rounds of pastry in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable.
3 .  Roll pastry on lightly floured surface, using floured rolling pin, into circle 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths and place in pie plate; or roll pastry loosely around rolling pin and transfer to pie plate. Unfold or unroll pastry and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side and being careful not to stretch pastry, which will cause it to shrink when baked.
4 .  In large bowl, mix sugar and 1/2 cup flour. Stir in cherries. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over cherries. Cover with top pastry that has slits cut in it; seal and flute. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking.
5 .  Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust. Cool on cooling rack at least 2 hours before serving.
Expert Tips :
There are two types of cherries—sweet and sour. Sour cherries, also called pie cherries, tart cherries or tart red cherries make wonderful pies. Sweet cherries are great for eating fresh, but not for pies.
Substitute 6 cups frozen unsweetened pitted red tart cherries, thawed and drained, or 3 cans (14.5 oz each) pitted red tart cherries, drained, for the fresh cherries.

A proud Grand-poppa                   G.

aaaaaw!



How to enjoy your colonoscopy ... Lewis Black



You're OK

Are you a trivia genius?

 



Maxy Sez : A Glossary of Key Diabetes Terms

By Lynn Yoffee | Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPh 

Confused by words like glucagon and diabetic retinopathy? Cut through the medical jargon with these easily understandable definitions of diabetes-related terms.

Learning that you have diabetes can be overwhelming — with lifestyle changes, new medications, and the variety of tests needed to stay healthy. One stumbling block for anybody managing a chronic condition can be the vocabulary of medical terms. Here's a glossary of some of the most common diabetes terms you need to know.

A1C: ----a test that reveals exactly how well your blood sugar (glucose) has been controlled over the previous three months.

Beta cells:  -- -cells found in the pancreas that make insulin.
Blood glucose: also known as blood sugar, glucose comes from food and is then carried through the blood to deliver energy to cells.

Blood glucose meter: ----a small medical device used to check blood glucose levels.

Blood glucose monitoring: ----the simple blood test used to check the amount of glucose in the blood; a tiny drop of blood, taken by pricking a finger, is placed on a test strip and inserted in the meter for reading.

Diabetes: ----the shortened name for diabetes mellitus, the condition in which the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or your body is unable to use insulin to move glucose into cells of the body.

Diabetic retinopathy: ----the eye disease that occurs in someone with diabetes when the small blood vessels of the retina become swollen and leak liquid into the retina, blurring vision; it can sometimes lead to blindness.

Gestational diabetes:---- the diabetes some women develop during pregnancy; it typically subsides after the baby is delivered, but many women who have had gestational diabetes may develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Glucagon: ----the hormone that is injected into a person with diabetes to raise their blood glucose level when it's very low (hypoglycemia).

Glucose: ---blood sugar that gives energy to cells.

Hyperglycemia: ----also known as high blood glucose, this condition occurs when your blood glucose level is too high; weight loss, thirstiness, and frequent urination are typical symptoms.

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome: ----a condition usually caused by an infection or illness that results in blood sugar levels rising to dangerously high levels; HHNS can lead to seizures, coma, and death.

Hypoglycemia: ----also known as low blood sugar, severe hypoglycemia can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from dizziness to seizures.

Insulin: ---- a hormone made by the pancreas that assists in the use of glucose for energy; people with diabetes who don't make enough insulin will inject it.

Ketoacidosis: -----a condition often caused by an infection or other illness like dehydration, or from taking too little insulin; when the body begins to break down muscle and fat for needed energy, ketones are released into the urine and blood, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis.

Ketones: -----the chemical substance made by your body when there isn't enough insulin in your blood; a build-up of ketones can lead to serious illness or coma.

Nephropathy: -----a diabetic kidney disease in which protein is spilled into the urine; it can progress over time and result in significant kidney damage.

Neuropathy: -----diabetes-caused nerve damage, typically in the feet and hands; major organs can also be affected.

Pancreas: -----the organ that makes insulin, needed to convert glucose to energy.

Type 1 diabetes: ----insulin-dependent diabetes that requires life-long insulin treatment; type 1 occurs when the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, preventing your body from properly using blood glucose as energy.

Type 2 diabetes: ----non-insulin-dependent diabetes, a condition in which your body either doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use it properly and can't properly use blood glucose as energy; type 2 may be treated with oral medication, but could eventually require insulin.
Maxy sez : Always remember you are in control .

152 year old time capsule found

Basia Baklinski, conservator from Lang Pioneer Village Museum, handles the time capsule. (Sheridan Graham/Peterborough County)

A time capsule from 1864 that was discovered on the site of the former County Court House jail was unsealed Friday. It contained items such as coins, photographs, county council minutes, and newspapers.
The green-tinted glass jar was found Wednesday under a cornerstone of the structure.
It was placed there on June 9, 1864, when the jail was being built. At the time, Peterborough was yet to be declared a city and Canada's Confederation was still two years away.
The partial demolition of the historic jail is underway to turn the space into a park.
County Warden J. Murray Jones said they had no idea the capsule existed until an old Peterborough Examiner newspaper article was brought to their attention.
"That was the first we'd heard of it," said Jones, who helped unveil the capsule Friday along with other dignitaries.
The Examiner article, dated the same day the capsule went underground, stated that a, "hermetically sealed box," was going under a "ponderous cornerstone," at the "south east angle."
The wording made the search a bit tricky, Murray said.
"It took us a bit of time siphoning out the clues to the location," he said.
After about six weeks of looking, the search almost came to an end.
"We were about to give up on it," said Murray.
Then, on Wednesday, the team decommissioning the jail found that "ponderous" stone, a three-by-three-foot limestone block. And underneath it, a deteriorating steel panel, covering an eight by 10 inch hole.
About 50 people gathered at the back the County Court House Friday to watch as the capsule made its way back to the surface after 153 years underground.
"We get an unbelievable opportunity to touch history of Peterborough County," Murray said.
Afterwards, items were removed one by one by conservator Basia Baklinski and placed on table in county council chambers.
Three photographs were first to be pulled from the jar. Once unrolled, the browny-yellowish prints revealed images of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church and Central School, the courthouse and Auburn Mills, a former wool mill. Next came a large blue sheet of paper, with faint writing that appeared to be list of politicians of the time. A copy of the Peterborough Examiner dated June 9, 1864, and a copy of the Peterborough Review from June 3, 1864 were also inside. A total of five coins fell out, including two large pennies, and 5, 10 and 20-cent pieces.
County council minutes from Jan. 26, 1864, and what seemed to be two business cards were also inside.And there's still two more items that didn't make it out. They were too damp and difficult to remove. One is a small dictionary and the other is believed to be an almanac for 1864.
Baklinski was going to wait for them to dry out and try again. Moisture encased in the jar actually worked to help preserve the items, she said.
"The paper is damp, so that allowed it to be rolled out. If it had been crisp and dry, we wouldn't have been able to roll it," she said.
Baklinski has been a conservator for about 20 years and works with Lang Pioneer Village Museum. Opening a time capsule from the 1860s was a first for her Friday, and an experience she won't soon forget. Items from the time capsule will be preserved and then displayed in the County Court House.
Meanwhile, Murray is already pondering what they'll be putting in next year's time capsule to mark Canada's 150th birthday.They'll be dropping the new one in the same hole the one from 1864 came out of.
 Other artifacts were also unearthed during the demolition that came from the same time period. None of which have any value but they provide a small window into our past, something I have always found fascinating. Having been on a couple of digs when I was very young, I learned the thrill of making an interesting find.  Usually only pottery shards or tools,  but was like reaching back in time and touching the hand of the person who last laid them down.

Items included minutes of Peterborough County Council, coins, photos, a copy of The Peterborough Examiner newspaper, and other documents. (Sheridan Graham/Peterborough County)

The copy of The Peterborough Examiner was dated June 9, 1864. (Sheridan Graham/Peterborough County)

Artifacts from under Peterborough Jail

Time capsules have always been popular in Canada. In fact, our family has left a couple at houses that had happy memories for us, fifty years ago and forty years ago respectively. Someone will have a nice surprise and a few good laughs when they are found. One is hidden in a wall and another in the garden.  The fascinating thing about the Peterborough capsule is that the items have not been seen or touched by human hands for 152 years ... even the air in that jar was from 1864. There is a time capsule somewhere under the parliament buildings in Ottawa. I think it may be under the Peace Tower. Fun, eh??

Flea market, garage sale and thrift store smart shopping

People are starting to feel the urge to get organized for the new school year, and many have embraced decluttering guru Marie Kondo's "Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." That means garage sales are popping up and local thrift stores are brimming with gently used items that may be your next big treasure. Before diving headlong into secondhand shopping, be sure you know the best things to look for at the local thrift store.

BOOKS

The book section of a secondhand store is a bookworm's delight. People often read books once or twice and get rid of them. Many are handed over in excellent condition and sold for a fraction of the cover price. Student textbooks are a smart secondhand buy, as well. Even if there is a newer update, chances are the changes are small and won't affect your studies.

CLOTHING

Only some types of clothing are worth buying used. Maternity clothes, baby clothes, and formalwear all make the list. A normal pregnancy runs 40 weeks, which means far less wear and tear on a maternity wardrobe than a regular one. Children and babies, in particular, outgrow their clothes so quickly that there's a good chance the outfits have been worn only a handful of times. Ditto for formalwear, which may leave the closet once or twice before appearing at the thrift store. Inspect the items carefully for stains, tears, or missing buttons.

JEWELRY

Reselling gold or jewelry will never return to the owner anywhere close to the original price. So why invest in the first place? Instead, satisfy your need for bling with pre-owned jewels tagged at discounted prices. Do business with a reputable jeweler or have the piece inspected first.

FURNITURE

Furniture is a tricky category. Items such as couches, mattresses, and anything with cloth could be hard to clean or might be carrying bedbugs, so steer clear. On the other hand, pre-owned tables, chairs, shelves, and the like can be value buys. These pieces often sell for dirt-cheap prices at resale shops and garage sales and are easily refinished for little cost.

FITNESS EQUIPMENT

Are you in the market for a stationary bike, elliptical machine, or treadmill? Garage sales, buy/sell/trade groups, and Craigslist are good sources of barely used, mint-condition fitness equipment. Secondhand workout videos, free weights, and smaller fitness equipment also are easy to find for less than their retail cost.

 

HOME DECOR

Picture frames, mirrors, vases, pictures, wall art, and so on are good items to buy used. People change decor often, and thrift stores and garage sales are ripe for plucking hidden gems from the castoff pile.

 

TOYS

Garage sales, thrift stores, and buy/sell/trade sites are chock full of gently used toys. In due time (sometimes weeks or days), kids discard a favorite toy and move on to the next big thing. Take some pressure off your wallet and troll others' unwanted playthings. You'll have your pick of coveted toys at bargain-basement prices.

HAND TOOLS

Small DIY repairs sometimes call for a hand tool that's rarely used again. The next time you need a hammer or wrench, check the bins at local thrift shops. Chances are you'll find what you need in excellent condition, and at a price that's far below retail. Power tools are also good secondhand buys but should be tested first to be sure they're in working order (or need just a small fix).

BOARD GAMES

Families' and kids' zeal for any particular board game is bound to dissipate over time. Many find their way to garage sales and resale shops. Here's a chance to liven up the home scene without spending a lot. Just be sure all the pieces are accounted for and there are no torn or worn parts.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

It costs a lot to buy and maintain a new instrument, especially for a student musician, so buy a pre-owned instrument and save. It's likely someone else has lost interest and given up the instrument. If your child does the same, you aren't out as much silver.

 

TABLEWARE

As long the dishes are clean and free of cracks and chips, there's no reason not to buy them used. Glassware and serving platters show up with remarkable regularity at secondhand stores and garage sales. Run the items through a cycle in the dishwasher on the sanitize setting and you'll have a fresh-looking table in no time.

BICYCLES

Hitting the road on a two-wheeler can be a cheap excursion, especially if you ride used equipment. Adult bikes, kids' bikes, and bike trailers are all available for little more than a song through buy/sell/trade sites, garage sales, and sometimes Craigslist. Be sure to take the bike in for a checkup and tune up before heading out. One bike accessory to always buy new: helmets. You won't be able to sanitize them properly and you never know if they've been through an accident.

ELECTRONICS

Shoppers can find terrific deals on older-model electronics through online selling groups, and eBay, Craigslist, and the like are good places to look. Tech gadgets are much cheaper when bought secondhand, but make sure the device works before forking over the cash. Like power tools, electronics (i.e., anything that gets plugged in or turned on) should be tested before purchase if possible.

BIG-TICKET ITEMS

Some of the best secondhand goods are big-ticket items. Cars and houses come to mind. Other big-ticket merchandise worth buying used includes swing sets and bunk bed frames. Swing sets can cost a small fortune, but a used one might save you upward of $1,000. The only downside is you may have to disassemble, move, and reassemble it yourself. Ditto for bunk beds. Happy bargain hunting.

Take me now ... I've seen it all

Wedding dress made out of human hair costs $78,000. Whaaaat?

How a 30-something couple got rich and retired by not joining home ownership 'cult'

Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung are a 30-something couple who retired last year with more than a million bucks in the bank. Now they travel the world.

Their secret? They say they're only living the dream because they rejected that dream we're all told to strive for: home ownership.

"It's a cult," said Leung, 34, shortly before he and Shen took off for Japan. "All made up."
"My parents have been screaming at me to buy a house for the last eight years," said Shen, 33. "'If you're a renter, you're a loser.'"
But she argues the opposite is true in expensive real estate markets.
"Ditch the house," is part of the couple's manifesto titled The Millennial Revolution. It's all laid out on their website where they tell young people how to achieve financial freedom.
Their advice includes investing your money instead of blowing it on a house — at least in pricey cities like Toronto and Vancouver where homebuyers are often saddled with a big, fat mortgage.
"As soon as they sign those papers, stick a fork in them, they're done," said Leung. "They're not going to have any money for the next 20 years and they're going to be stressed out at work to pay their mortgage."
Home ownership dream goes bust
Shen and Leung say they too once bought into the home ownership dream. Both established successful careers as computer engineers in Toronto. They married in 2010 and then took the next step: house hunting.
They say they had managed to save $500,000 by working hard and living modestly. The couple was ready to spend it on a down payment — until they saw what was on offer.
They scoped out dilapidated houses selling for half a million dollars, including one Shen decided was possessed. "Whoever bought that house is probably finding lots of bodies under the floorboards. The house was scary."
Shen says the stressful environment at her job also helped kill their home ownership buzz. "People were working crazy hours. There were people getting blood clots and actually like collapsing at their desk."
She says it made her think, "Do I really want a house that is so overpriced that I just am going to feel like it's prison and I am going to have to keep working at my desk until I die?"
So the couple decided to nix the house hunt. Instead, they enlisted the help of well-known Toronto financial adviser Garth Turner and invested their $500,000.
Living their dream
They put 60 per cent in stocks and 40 per cent in fixed income investments like corporate bonds. That ratio shifted when the market turned volatile.
By late 2014, Shen and Leung say they doubled their money to $1 million.
Their investments continued to grow so the two decided to ditch their jobs last year. They don't even pay rent now because they're always travelling.
They live on $30,000 to $40,000 a year, money that largely comes from dividend payments generated from their stock portfolio.
Unlike owning a million-dollar home, says Leung, "if you have a million-dollar portfolio, it pays you."
The two say they now get to do whatever they want. Besides travelling the world, they do volunteer work, take on the occasional freelance job and have published a children's book.
"I had a recent checkup with my doctor and, after giving me a clean bill of health, he diagnosed me with being 'obnoxiously happy,'" said Leung.
Of course, not every millennial has $500,000 to invest and there are no guarantees in life that the markets won't let you down. But Shen and Leung claim anyone can easily learn how to build on their savings, no matter how small the amount. They say the returns will likely be better than buying a home with a big mortgage and related expenses like property tax.
"If you have a house, you either sell off the entire house, or you get nothing," Shen said. "You can't take off a shingle and use it to pay your debt."
Not all renters do well
According to Statistics Canada, household debt in Canada is at near-record levels, largely due to money owed on mortgages.
But University of British Columbia professor Tsur Somerville argues investment savvy renters aren't necessarily better off than homeowners. When he studied the topic, Somerville concluded that, on average, homebuyers and renters achieved equal financial gains.
He says renters only do well if they're disciplined investors.
"It's hard to be that disciplined," said the director of the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate.
One advantage of home ownership, he says, is "the mortgage payment forces you to be disciplined. Otherwise, the bank kicks you out."
Still, Shen and Leung are adamant that they have found the solution to financial freedom, and it involves not committing yourself to eternal mortgage payments on an expensive home.
But the couple claims home ownership may be in the cards for them in the future — in a smaller city or town where a house would be much more affordable.

"We are not anti-house," said Shen, "we are anti-debt."

Aiming for a house is pretty old school. But it gave a young couple a common goal. It taught them to work in harness with each other and the pay-off was owning a chunk of this planet that no one could take away from them. And it provided a good environment to raise a family.
The world has changed. The economy is always shaky and volatile, interest rates on your savings hit the bottom and never bounced back, taxes are going up, real estate is off the chart and even the price of food is escalating at a rate never witnessed before. This is not the world I grew up in. It always seemed a very safe world but now you have to constantly be on guard from people who want to scam you, cheat you or trick you out of your hard earned dollars, or get you deep in debt at exorbitant interest rates.  Your own identity is not even safe. It can be stolen along with your credit and bank accounts.
Maybe keeping all your assets fluid and keeping on the move is the brave new world we are facing. I would like to know how this would impact retirees. It is probably not a lifestyle they could sustain for long. And the market is so risky and volatile, how can you know what is safe to invest in. You would have no fall back position. Owning real estate is safer than money in the bank. I think this young couple will enjoy their lifestyle for a few years and then buy a home. We are nest builders. We like to put down roots, always have a place to come home to.
What works well for Kristy and Bryce may not work for you. Before you make such a life choice, study the way your parents came up in the world. 'Old school' ways do not necessarily mean unsound or erroneous ways.

'I Gave Up': 13-Year-Old Boy Commits Suicide After school's indifference to bullying

A 13-year-old boy from Staten Island, New York, took his own life on Thursday after being bullied by classmates at school.
In teenager Daniel Fitzpatrick's tragic suicide note, which was supplied by his parents to The New York Daily News, he claimed that his old friends at Holy Angels Catholic Academy had stopped talking to him and didn't like him.
"I gave up," Daniel, who was scheduled to start at Brooklyn's Xaverian High School in the fall, wrote on lined paper.
"The teachers either they didn't do ANYTHING!" he scrawled in the note.
Daniel's cause of death was hanging and the manner was suicide, New York medical examiner spokesperson Julie Bolcer confirmed to PEOPLE.
Daniel's father, also Daniel Fitzpatrick, posted a video to his Facebook page on Saturday to thank people for their support. In it, he condemns both the boys who allegedly "tormented" his son and the Catholic school that reportedly told him, "You'll be fine… These things will pass" when the teen went to school officials for help.
Holy Angels Catholic Academy has not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
"Thank you to all the people out there for your support and condolences, your thoughts and your shares," Daniel says in the Facebook video. "My son's story is now out there for the world to see and for the world to know the pain that he went through. I miss my son very much."
"No parent should have to bury their child. No child should have to go through what my son went through."
"To the parents of the boys that tormented my son, all I have to say is I hope you never have to feel what my family is going through right now. You get to hold your children every night and day for the rest of your lives and their natural lives. I don't get that anymore. Your little monsters took that from me and my wife," he continued.
Daniel's mother, Maureen Fitzpatrick told the Daily News she recalled her son saying he wanted the bullies – who he names in his suicide note – to "know what they did to me and how I feel."
Daniel and Maureen claim the "bullies" mentioned in his note embarrassed him at Holy Angels Catholic Academy – throwing balls at him in gym class and calling him names, according to the Daily News.
"Danny was always left out. He used to come up to me and ask me to get kids to play with him. The other kids would say they thought he was weird," Maureen told the news outlet.
And the parents allege that the school did nothing to prevent or to help the situation.
"He felt like the whole school knew what was going on and was laughing behind his back. They humiliated him," said Maureen.
These days, it seems like kids form in packs and single out a vulnerable victim to bully and emotionally break down. Where did this cruel and predatory behavior come from. It has been a growing problem, especially in the last decade. And so has child suicide.  We are obviously responsible for our children's behavior and I would very much like to know where we went wrong. So tragic.


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Schnitzel Haus

Our very close friends Maureen Mahoney Fitzpatrick and Daniel Fitzpatrick just lost their 13 year old son, Daniel Joseph Fitzpatrick, to suicide yesterday. . Danny Jr. Was bullied for a long time and wrote his story about it. His parents asked everyone to get his story out and that's why we want to help accomplish. Please keep them in your thoughts, prayers and pass on his story so that their loss may possibly save another child. Thank You.

" I am writing this letter to tell about my experience in Holy Angels Catholic Academy."