For the record, I've been a vegetarian for three years now, as it was July 1st that I changed my life style to much healthier eating habits. I did little to no research before I made the change, learning as I went.
Then I moved back into the family home and planted a big garden. That was last year and I had some success with growing my own veggies. This is year two and I've made some big changes to how I garden. I've raised all my beds and changed the soil medium for better plant growth. I have also started a worm bin to compost my greens. My red wigglers do good at composting giving me the best fertilizer you can have for the garden. But feeding them has proven to be a bit of a problem, sorting out the scraps of green and chopping up newsprint for them is time consuming.
Then we purchased a juicer! Well let me tell you both my life partner and myself have undergone a transformation in the way we eat. We pretty much through anything we have in this machine and out comes the most nutritious thing you can put in your body. Afraid of the taste? just add more apples and carrots. It has only been a few days and I notice that I not only feel better, but I seem to be happier. Add to this that we are not wasting our veggies as much and getting more into our bodies on a daily basis this is something I can't believe I've missed out on the past few years.
It of coarse has me rethinking the garden I plant, as I will be putting in way more carrots and leafy greens to consume that are also easier to grow. Spinach, carrots, kale, swiss chard, beans, peas all of which are easy to grow but are easy to waste as well as it's hard to eat it as fast as it grows. But now I see just how much we can consume if we juice it.
Now for the best part, my worms LOVE the pulp that is made while juicing. It makes for a very easy way to feed these incredible creatures that turn this into black gold for the garden. I can see already I do not have enough worms to eat it all. So I hope to increase the size of my worm farm hoping to make enough compost so I don't need to bring in as much as I've had to this year. We will see but this is a HUGE game changer for me and already I can't wait for next years garden! How we all eat and grow our food in the future is what I'm most interested in. I hope to be an expert in back yard farming and pass this on to anyone wanting to do the same. Good gardening to all and happy Canada day.
PS We purchased an Omega VRT400HDS juicer. For a single auger style it works good, and the scrapper design keeps the screen clean while it juices. I do not receive consideration for this endorsement
Monday, 1 July 2013
Friday, 28 June 2013
Johnny Depp
I love great actors, and there are more then a few out there. A great actor takes you away from the subliminal and puts you inside of what they are doing. They make life worth living for many who have dull lives or are otherwise restricted from the best of what the world has to offer. Then there's Johnny Depp.
I for one am annoyed that Disney kept him all to themselves with the pirate movies, I understand the money he made but his talent was wasted after the first one. He is the one person I can look at and say,
"hey I'm not the only one" that's crazy. He has an incredible gift at what he does, many movies he has been in would not have been made were it not for his incredible acting. And I for one can't wait to go see "the Lone Ranger" with Johnny playing Tonto. As he said on Letterman he wanted to set the record straight on what we have done to these first nations people at the same time entertaining us to death. Something only he can do.
Anyways happy birthday Johnny, at 50 you still look like you are 29 and I hope you have manny more "good films" to do before you call it a career!
I for one am annoyed that Disney kept him all to themselves with the pirate movies, I understand the money he made but his talent was wasted after the first one. He is the one person I can look at and say,
"hey I'm not the only one" that's crazy. He has an incredible gift at what he does, many movies he has been in would not have been made were it not for his incredible acting. And I for one can't wait to go see "the Lone Ranger" with Johnny playing Tonto. As he said on Letterman he wanted to set the record straight on what we have done to these first nations people at the same time entertaining us to death. Something only he can do.
Anyways happy birthday Johnny, at 50 you still look like you are 29 and I hope you have manny more "good films" to do before you call it a career!
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
The "N" word
What is it about this word that stirs so much emotion? It's a lot like swearing, the "F" word just rolls off your tongue so easily, I can think of a few more that are the same, but the "N" word is taboo. You are not allowed to say it, think it, or otherwise use it unless you are black, in which case you get to use it anyway you want. I did see someone on TV the other day saying that he wished the word would just disappear, and I understand that. The persecution that the African Americans has endured and still endures is mind boggling. It ranks right up there with what the Jews must have felt after the war. It's just like trying to quit smoking, when you see someone smoking you conjure up all those moments when you were addicted.
Maybe one day everyone will get that we are ALL made from the same DNA and that we are all equal in most ways. That is the most wonderful thing about science, it dispels most of the bullshit.
7 billion, equal in all ways, and counting
Maybe one day everyone will get that we are ALL made from the same DNA and that we are all equal in most ways. That is the most wonderful thing about science, it dispels most of the bullshit.
7 billion, equal in all ways, and counting
Saturday, 22 June 2013
Catastrophes
The best news items are usually a catastrophe of some sort, be it a volcano, hurricane or fire. These are the most exciting for us to watch, as we must all be thinking what it would be like to be caught in one. No one catastrophe is worse then the next as loss of life and possessions are usually the result. This week Calgary, a city 200 miles south of where I live, got hammered by relentless rain to the point where most of the downtown core was flooded. The storm was rotating counter clockwise dropping all it's rain up against the mountains where it rolled back faster then the cars on the adjoining highway to all the lower lying areas. Two or three towns were completely evacuated stranding hundreds of thousands.
It has occurred to me that many cities and towns were built in low lying areas where settlers had put up stakes in the past. Unfortunately many of these places were not the best place to build. They were convenient at the time as water was handy to get with minimal work getting it back to their shacks. But today, with the spread of these cities and all the land being paved over it has lead to these kind of things happening.
I feel really bad for our neighbours to the south, and wish them the best in dealing with what can only be a massive mess not to mention power outages and ruptured sewers. No, not something I would want to deal with. If we needed it, the work would have been great. But this provence is already short of skilled workers do to our oil industry, it will take a long time to dig out of this one for sure.
It has occurred to me that many cities and towns were built in low lying areas where settlers had put up stakes in the past. Unfortunately many of these places were not the best place to build. They were convenient at the time as water was handy to get with minimal work getting it back to their shacks. But today, with the spread of these cities and all the land being paved over it has lead to these kind of things happening.
I feel really bad for our neighbours to the south, and wish them the best in dealing with what can only be a massive mess not to mention power outages and ruptured sewers. No, not something I would want to deal with. If we needed it, the work would have been great. But this provence is already short of skilled workers do to our oil industry, it will take a long time to dig out of this one for sure.
Friday, 21 June 2013
Cheating
The games we play in life make us all cheaters, and bullies, and hypocrites. It would appear to me that this is instinctive, as a means to existing. Yet this is the very thing they try and stop, the cheaters and bullies.
In China apparently it's you're right to cheat. If you paid good money to cheat then that is your right. As witnessed at the state exams for entrance to university. They searched all the students for radio and cell phone devices, confiscated them and forced the students to write their exams without cheating. The parents were so upset they trapped the officials in the building and were tying to "get them" when police finally arrived. To them, it was their right to help their kids cheat and what these people did stopped them from doing so, and I suspect that a great deal of money was wasted as the cheaters could not communicate with the students. A truly "ironic" moment don't you think?
So how is it we keep falling for these scams? How is it we want so desperately want to believe everyone is on the up and up? It's a strange life we live, sure hope their are answers in the afterlife.
7 billion, pulling one over on you, and counting
In China apparently it's you're right to cheat. If you paid good money to cheat then that is your right. As witnessed at the state exams for entrance to university. They searched all the students for radio and cell phone devices, confiscated them and forced the students to write their exams without cheating. The parents were so upset they trapped the officials in the building and were tying to "get them" when police finally arrived. To them, it was their right to help their kids cheat and what these people did stopped them from doing so, and I suspect that a great deal of money was wasted as the cheaters could not communicate with the students. A truly "ironic" moment don't you think?
So how is it we keep falling for these scams? How is it we want so desperately want to believe everyone is on the up and up? It's a strange life we live, sure hope their are answers in the afterlife.
7 billion, pulling one over on you, and counting
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Sports like hockey
I witnessed what can only be described as the most sickening video ever of a 16 year old hockey player getting beat up so bad he had a two black eyes, a broken nose and a concussion. Laying on the ice unable to defend himself he was hit ten times with roundhouse punches that would make you squirm in your seat. The parents were there as they filmed all his games and had to watch in horror as their son got this beating.
They took this video to the police and showed it to the league officials who basically said, "it's part of the game" and they should go on with their business. They did however suspend both the puncher and the poor kid who did not partake in any way in this fight. The police are not taking this seriously and it looks like it will end up under the rug. Even a lawyer who has taken on cases like this said it would go nowhere in court.
It has made me very glad I never put my own son in this game, but then it occurred to me that the parents of this boy could take him out of it as well. They never once said anything like this. If the brutality of the game is not to your liking then walking away is the right thing to do. These sports are all getting out of hand, taking shots to the head by well conditioned athletes is doing real damage. Most of these kids will never play professional and are risking brain trauma just to play a game! Then there is the "overprotection of players" that is happening. Little league players with so much protection on they can barely move.
All I know for sure is that this is going to stop one day, there will be a death so gruesome it will kill these leagues with lawsuits up the ying yang. I'm just glad this was not me at this game, as I would be in jail for taking revenge on someone involved. I know I would have gone off the deep end if that was my kid getting beat up, further showing why I'm sick of the game and not interested in watching it anymore. For the record, I played a lot of hockey when I was young, and loved the sport till I was signed for "rep hockey" when the fun was taken out of it for me. I stopped playing at 14 years old and do not regret it.
They took this video to the police and showed it to the league officials who basically said, "it's part of the game" and they should go on with their business. They did however suspend both the puncher and the poor kid who did not partake in any way in this fight. The police are not taking this seriously and it looks like it will end up under the rug. Even a lawyer who has taken on cases like this said it would go nowhere in court.
It has made me very glad I never put my own son in this game, but then it occurred to me that the parents of this boy could take him out of it as well. They never once said anything like this. If the brutality of the game is not to your liking then walking away is the right thing to do. These sports are all getting out of hand, taking shots to the head by well conditioned athletes is doing real damage. Most of these kids will never play professional and are risking brain trauma just to play a game! Then there is the "overprotection of players" that is happening. Little league players with so much protection on they can barely move.
All I know for sure is that this is going to stop one day, there will be a death so gruesome it will kill these leagues with lawsuits up the ying yang. I'm just glad this was not me at this game, as I would be in jail for taking revenge on someone involved. I know I would have gone off the deep end if that was my kid getting beat up, further showing why I'm sick of the game and not interested in watching it anymore. For the record, I played a lot of hockey when I was young, and loved the sport till I was signed for "rep hockey" when the fun was taken out of it for me. I stopped playing at 14 years old and do not regret it.
Bangladesh
The CBC did a profile look at the aftermath of the building collapse that happened in Bangladesh. As sad as it was I couldn't get over just how well dressed these people were. Even though they were paid very little to work in those factories making what can only be described as VERY CHEAP and not very good looking cloths, they themselves were dressed in very colourful silks. It made me want to go out and buy some for myself. Did they miss a chance to do original styles of their own, export these beautiful and colourful robes to wear?
All I know for sure is that these cheap cloths they produce do not last long and for the most part are ugly. I try to put myself in their place and wonder just how unstylish the people are that ware this shit I'm making! But this is the market Wall Mart has made, cheap cheap cheap. I purchased some socks at Super Store (Loblaws) that leave a trail of fabric on the carpet and fall apart so quick I can't keep up with replacing them. I of coarse do not buy this crap anymore, but then when I try to find decent cloths to buy it becomes very hard, or the price is astronomical do to low demand.
When was it that all these stores decided that only the lowest priced goods were what we wanted? Like sheep everyone did the same thing producing crap at the absolute lowest price possible. You all know what I'm talking about, to go out and find anything that is made decent is hard to do. I remember buying a shovel at Crap Tire once, lasted for less then a day. The rivet used to hold it together bent resulting in it's unsuitability. Of coarse I could take it back but when I tried to find a better one all I found was the same kind of crap.
The final thing I want to say about this is something they do not report on. It was revealed in the piece that there was a big rush to put out the "Joe Fresh" order and this was why many died in the collapse as they were working overtime to get it done. All these big buyers put time limits on delivery of the goods, and when they fail to get it out on time they get even less money for the work. Wall Mart does this to trucking companies that show up late with a trailer, no matter why they were late they fine the company more then they make on the load. I know this for a fact as I've been in the trucking business for many years. The post Office does this as well, with the poor owner operator getting stuck with a loss, I mean even 5 minuets late gets you fined. This is the reason for catastrophes like this, way too much pressure to get things done. This needs to stop, everyone needs to take a breath and relax a bit.
7 billion, taking a moment, and counting
All I know for sure is that these cheap cloths they produce do not last long and for the most part are ugly. I try to put myself in their place and wonder just how unstylish the people are that ware this shit I'm making! But this is the market Wall Mart has made, cheap cheap cheap. I purchased some socks at Super Store (Loblaws) that leave a trail of fabric on the carpet and fall apart so quick I can't keep up with replacing them. I of coarse do not buy this crap anymore, but then when I try to find decent cloths to buy it becomes very hard, or the price is astronomical do to low demand.
When was it that all these stores decided that only the lowest priced goods were what we wanted? Like sheep everyone did the same thing producing crap at the absolute lowest price possible. You all know what I'm talking about, to go out and find anything that is made decent is hard to do. I remember buying a shovel at Crap Tire once, lasted for less then a day. The rivet used to hold it together bent resulting in it's unsuitability. Of coarse I could take it back but when I tried to find a better one all I found was the same kind of crap.
The final thing I want to say about this is something they do not report on. It was revealed in the piece that there was a big rush to put out the "Joe Fresh" order and this was why many died in the collapse as they were working overtime to get it done. All these big buyers put time limits on delivery of the goods, and when they fail to get it out on time they get even less money for the work. Wall Mart does this to trucking companies that show up late with a trailer, no matter why they were late they fine the company more then they make on the load. I know this for a fact as I've been in the trucking business for many years. The post Office does this as well, with the poor owner operator getting stuck with a loss, I mean even 5 minuets late gets you fined. This is the reason for catastrophes like this, way too much pressure to get things done. This needs to stop, everyone needs to take a breath and relax a bit.
7 billion, taking a moment, and counting
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