Giant panda plays with cubs...Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo's female giant panda, Er Shun is now spending time with both her cubs together!  Er Shun's first reaction was to try picking up both cubs at once, something she had difficulty with since the cubs are now quite large, weighing 6.859 and 5.920 kg. Moving forward, they will continue to spend more time together and you will be able to publicly see Er Shun with both cubs starting March 12!

Don't forget to help name our cubs, now through February 28 at http://ow.ly/XNGmT. VOTE NOW!

Canadian judge strikes down law barring patients from growing medical marijuana

A cannabis plant is shown in southwest Quebec on Oct. 8, 2013. A Federal Court judge is expected to release a decision today on whether medical marijuana patients have the right to grow their own cannabis.The constitutional challenge was launched by four British Columbia residents who argued that legislation introduced by the previous Conservative government violated their charter rights.

VANCOUVER - A Federal Court judge has struck down "arbitrary and overbroad" legislation introduced by the former Conservative government that barred medical marijuana patients from growing their own cannabis.

Judge Michael Phelan found the law violated patients charter rights, but he suspended his decision for six months to allow the federal Liberal government time to create a new medical marijuana regime.

Phelan also extended a court injunction allowing people who held licences to continue to grow their own marijuana.

The constitutional challenge was launched by four British Columbia residents who argued that the 2013 Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations blocked their access to affordable medicine.

"Their lives have been adversely impacted by the imposition of the relatively new regime to control the use of marijuana for medical purposes," Phelan wrote.

"I agree that the plaintiffs have ... demonstrated that cannabis can be produced safely and securely with limited risk to public safety and consistently with the promotion of public health."

Kirk Tousaw, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, hailed the decision as a victory not just for medical cannabis patients, but all Canadians.

He called on the federal government to allow new patients to grow medical marijuana. About 28,000 people held licences under the old regime and are covered by the injunction. Two of the plaintiffs were not covered by the injunction, he said.

"They're suffering because they have an inability to access sufficient quantities of medicine to meet their medical needs as a result of the government's actions," he said.

"The health minister, prime minister, they need to act very quickly. Don't wait the six months. Don't come up with a lame and weak response as the previous governments have."

Health Minister Jane Philpott said it was too early to say if the government would appeal. She said she will be working with the Justice Department to ensure there's an appropriate regulatory regime in place.

The Liberal government has committed to legalizing recreational marijuana, but has said little about any plans for medical marijuana since being elected.

Philpott said recreational and medical cannabis should be treated as "two separate issues."

"We're going to have to completely review the regulations around access to medical marijuana," she told reporters in Ottawa.

Canada's system involving licensed producers has grown into a multi-million dollar industry, and the decision caused stock prices to dip. Canopy Growth Corp. share prices on the on the TSX Venture Exchange had dropped about 7 per cent as of Wednesday afternoon.

Mark Zekulin, president of Tweed Marijuana Inc., a subsidiary of Canopy, said it would be "heartbreaking" if the federal government shut down the licensed-producer system entirely. But he doesn't expect that will happen.

"We've built a world-class facility ... and are producing very high quality product that you can't get anywhere else," he said. "I don't think six months from now it's just going to get shuttered and people are going to be out of jobs."

Peace Naturals CEO Mark Gobuty said personal growth can co-exist with licensed producers in a regulatory regime.

"We're all allowed to grow tomatoes and cucumbers at home, but how many of us do?" he asked. "If that is what's in the best interest of all Canadians, then I'm all for it."

The Cannabis Patients Association of Canada, which represents people who held licences to grow marijuana under the old regime, applauded the decision.

"This is about putting the rights of the patient at the centre of public policy decision-making," executive director John Lorenz said in a statement.

But Ronan Levy of Canadian Cannabis Clinics, a network of Ontario medical marijuana clinics, said allowing people to grow their own marijuana might make doctors more wary of prescribing it.

"Can you imagine what it would be like if you went to a doctor, they prescribe antibiotics, and you got to go home and mix up your own antibiotics? I don't think doctors are going to be comfortable with that," he said.

The judge awarded costs to the plaintiffs to be determined by the court at a later date.

The Obamas dance with 106 year old lady

Barack and Michelle Obama met energetic 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin during her visit to The White House, who was keen to show the US President and First Lady her dance moves.
Virginia McLaurin waited all her life to see an African-American in the White House. So, when she finally got a chance to meet President Obama, the 106-year-old woman couldn't contain her excitement.
She squealed with delight. She waved her cane in the air. And she danced -- busting moves that have made her the newest Internet darling.

In a video posted by the White House Sunday night, McLaurin opens her arms wide, greets Obama with an excited "Hi!" and begins swaying.
"It's an honor, it's an honor," she tells the President. McLaurin was at the White House to celebrate Black History Month.
Obama asks if McLaurin wants to meet the first lady and the answer is an obvious one. As she rushes over, Obama, who appears amused, says, "Slow down now. Don't go too quick."

Michelle Obama is in disbelief when her husband mentions McLaurin is 106.
"I wanna be like you when I grow up," Michelle Obama tells her.
"You can," McLaurin replies. " The secret is, just keep moving."
"I thought I would never live to get in the White House. .... And I'm here to celebrate black history," said the energetic old lady to which the Obamas replied "You have just made our day."



Maxy sez : 4 Bad Habits That Can Make Diabetes Worse

 Avoid these pitfalls to help you better manage your condition.

Diabetes can be a manageable disease if you practice good health habits, follow your doctor's advice, and stay away from these four bad habits:

No. 1: Watching TV. One study found that for every two hours people spend glued to the tube, their risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases by 20 percent.

No. 2: Skipping sleep. Not getting enough shut-eye can cause night sweats, which can worsen symptoms by dehydrating your body. Being tired or stressed can also increase your appetite for sugar and other diabetes no-no's.

No. 3: Not tracking blood glucose. Gauging whether medication or insulin shots are working to control the disease requires frequent blood tests.

No. 4: Yo-yo dieting. Diabetes maintenence centers around proper nutrition — not diets. Losing and re-gaining weight all the time may throw off your metabolism.

Thousands of Canadian university students seek 'sugar daddies'



Last March, 20-year-old art history student Hannah joined SeekingArrangement.com (SA) and became a “sugar baby,” a well-paid companion to older men called “sugar daddies.”

A friend urged her to sign up because Hannah’s finances were tight. Since then the York University student has earned $10,000 in taxable income. 

Asked why she chose sugaring, as the practice is called on SA’s blog, over the demanding retail job she held in college, Hannah replies, “It’s quite enriching. When you hang out with people who are older they have wisdom to share.” In addition to knowledge, the three sugar daddies she connected with in 2015 each gave her a monthly allowance that paid for her textbooks and basic living expenses. She figures she’ll continue until graduation. (Her identity isn’t being revealed to protect her privacy.)

Hannah isn’t alone. SA claims that, as of December 31, 2015, more than 156,000 male and female students across Canada are registered members of SA; it’s an 11 per cent increase from a year earlier. SA attributjes this to the 3.2 per cent rise in university tuition and says that sugaring eases the financial burden and subsequent stress of post-secondary education. The site is LGBT friendly and has about 10 per cent LGBT users. The average age of sugar babies is 26, and the average sugar daddy is 45.

Shortly after Valentine’s Day, the site released its annual ranking of post-secondary schools with the highest number of sugar babies. The University of Toronto ranked first with 133 new sign-ups in 2015 for a total of 594 sugar babies. University of Guelph came second with 122 sign-ups and 479 sugar babies, while tech giant University of Waterloo was last with 22 sign-ups and 152 sugar babies. Hannah’s alma mater York is ranked sixth with 90 new sign-ups and a total of 465 sugar babies.

Hannah, busy with her studies at York, opts to provide companionship to one man at a time and agrees to meet between five and six times a month. Most recently, she dated a 46-year-old Quebecer who lives in Ottawa. She described him as a hippie.

“We go to Montana’s. I’m vegetarian and they have the best veggie burgers. And then we’ll go to a movie. And we eat a lot of pizza.” She can’t see him much on account of the distance between Toronto and Ottawa. Her $1,000 allowance, however, is deposited directly into her bank account, every month, on the 15^th.

Brook Urick, a spokesperson for SA explains that sugar babies set their desired allowance on their profile in a section called ‘Expectations.’ “The options range from negotiable, low, moderate, high. This is only an indicator of how much they expect, or would like to receive in gifts and allowances,” she said. Some sugar babies like to be compensated in clothes or car payments.

Hannah is clear about the minimum $1,000 ‘Expectation.’ She has others, most importantly the stipulation that she wants a platonic relationship. “It’s a good way to weed out the people looking for that sort of stuff. Sex.” After a beat she adds, “I’m actually still a virgin.”

Her job as a sugar baby, she said, is to provide good company, be an activity partner, and help someone feel less lonely.

She’s not the type Mackson McDowall is looking for. The 60-year-old retired immigration lawyer joined SA five years ago, estimating he has compensated up to 70 women for their companionship. Ten of those were serious in that they were “sensual in nature and lasted more than a year,” he says. 

McDowall explains why someone like him would be interested in signing up to be a “sugar daddy.”

“Well, I’ve never been married and I’m not gay,” he says. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Basically I enjoy meeting women. And if  something sensual comes of it then so be it. Basically…I always hope for it.”

But he wants people to know SA is not a site filled with ladies of the night.

“A prostitute is a person that sells their body for the immediate transmission of wealth,” he says. "And that’s not the objective of SA."

In fact they offer companionship and partnership in dining, dancing, attending business events, gambling, outdoor activities or just hanging out and talking. If the chemistry is there and there is mutual attraction, a relationship can develop.

There are American girls available on SA also. In fact, they out number Canadians.... I'm not sure what other  North American mothers think of this but I venture to say they would be in as much turmoil as I would be, if my daughter chose to be a 'sugar baby'.

 

Thanx Yahoo

Snickers' Ad

Snickers pokes fun at Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue with Photoshop fails ad

Can you spot eleven errors the hungry photo retoucher missed??

This 'simple' children’s brainteaser has the entire internet arguing - can YOU find the answer?

A deceptively simple children's brainteaser is sweeping the internet as adults struggle to work out the correct answer.

The perplexing puzzle, based around a basic mathematical equation using a range of fruits, asks you to decipher which number each fruit symbolizes, similar to algebra, then work out the total.

But the apples, bananas and coconuts appear to be leaving adults completely flummoxed.

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The deceptively simple brainteaser featuring apples, bananas and coconuts has left adults flummoxed. It is not clear where the puzzle originated from, but it has been circulating since December and has now resurfaced as Facebook users are still no closer to agreeing on an answer.

The first sum shows that three apples added together amounts to 30, suggesting that one apple is equal to the number 10.

On the second line, it states that one apple (10) plus two bunches of bananas equals 18, which seems to imply that each bunch of bananas is equal to 4.

The next line states that a bunch of bananas (equivalent to 4) minus a coconut equals 2- suggesting that a coconut is equivalent to the number 2.

On the final line, it asks you to guess the total of half a coconut (1), an apple (10) and a bunch of bananas (4).

A quick glance at the puzzle might suggest the answer is 15, however people trying their hand online were coming up with a plethora of different answers.

Some people failed to spot that the first bunch has four bananas, left, while the final bunch has just three, right

Not all coconuts are created equal: One was made up of two halves, left, while one was made up of just one

After one site shared the image on Facebook, almost 400 people tried their hand at solving the riddle.

One Facebook user stated that the correct answer should be 14, seeing as the bunch of bananas on the final line in fact symbolized 3, rather than 4.

Indeed, on closer inspection there are just 3 bananas in the final bunch, and 4 in the rest.  

Paul Blanch wrote: '16 - easy! 3 apples = 30; therefore apples are worth 10 Apple - 2 bananas = 18; the apple is worth 10, so the bananas are worth 4. Banana - coconut = 2; the banana is worth 4, so the coconut is worth 2. The last line? Coconut (2) +apple (10) +banana (4) =16.' 

Another user wrote: 'Its very simple, and the answer is 16. Each apple stands for 10, while each banana stands for 4 and each coconut stands for 2. You now have the answer.'

Obaidullah Khan Barcha said: 'On second and third line there are 4 bananas in a bunch but in the last line there are only 3 bananas in a bunch, that's why the answer is 15.'

Ethan Pearson agreedm saying: ' There is only 3 bananas in the last equation so it equals=15Apple=10, Apple+Apple+Apple=30Banana=4, Apple+Banana+ Banana=18.

'Coconut=2, Banana-Coconut=2Banana=3Coconut+Apple+3 Bananas=15. Answer is = 15.'

Perplexingly, one man came to the conclusion that the answer was 20. He commented: '1 apple equals 10, coconut equals 6 and banana bunch equals 4 so your answer is 20.'

Frustratingly there is no definitive answer to the riddle, leaving guessers with no choice but to continue scratching their heads.

Dr Kevin Bowman, professor of mathematics, said: ‘You can interpret it in many ways; one way is no more correct than another.

‘There’s no ambiguity in the first equation; 3 apples is 30, so one apple is worth 10.

'But because all the bananas aren’t the same, you could say that they all represent different amounts.

‘You might even say that the two coconut pieces in the third equation are different sizes, and therefore add up to three quarters or even seven eighths when put together.

‘In that sense, there are an infinite number of possible answers.'  People are torn over whether the correct answer is 14, 15, 16 or even 20.

(I don't know about you but my head is spinning and I am going to get some aspirin.)

This isn't the first mind-bending puzzle to sweep the internet in recent months. Earlier this year, National Geographic's puzzle asking you to identify which direction a bus is travelling in left thousands of adults scratching their heads.

Their version of the popular puzzle showed a yellow bus with identical windows at either end - giving no clue as to which is the front or back of the bus. The correct answer is that - if you're in the UK - the bus is travelling to the right. And the key to solving the puzzle is the fact that you can't see the passenger doors. However in North America, you would be driving on the right side of the road, therefore you would be going left.

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Which direction is the bus travelling in? National Geographic's version of a popular logic puzzle for their Brain Games TV series went viral earlier this month, but it often proves too much of a challenge for adults

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There it is! Gergely Dudás' elusive panda is hidden in amongst hundreds of festive snowman; eighth row from the top, fourth from the right. The picture went viral in December with thousands of people sharing it online.

In December, an illustration featuring a hidden panda left thousands of people flummoxed as it swept social media. Hungarian artist Gergely Dudás posted the Christmas puzzle on his Facebook page on December 16th, showing hundreds of hand-drawn snowmen with the single black and white bear hidden among them.

 

I guess we are geared to problem solving. We also like challenges. Our fascination with puzzles give us the satisfaction we are seeking. It is also a great way to keep your mental faculties sharp. Sadly, mine weren't too sharp to begin with.