Spring Cleaning - Garage Barrage in Progress.

Now no cars can fit in our big, double garage so now I've officially declared "The War on Junk". I'll also be so bold as to post the "before" picture to ensure my "action plan" will be carried out. Stay tuned for the "after" pic.

I scoured the internet to come up with a short list of ideas to maximize the use of space and get things organized.

Spring Kitten

Picture by Wendy.

Benzy is nearly one year old and he seems to love Spring. He likes to play in the fake flowers. Who wouldn't?
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Goodbye Prince!

Only 57 years old. He will be missed.

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Happy Birthday To The Queen of Canada

Today is the actual birthday of our Queen. Oddly, we actually celebrate the holiday on a different date and not on the birthday of Elizabeth II, but for the stodgy, old, long-dead Queen Victoria. A royal proclamation issued on 5 February 1957 established the Canadian monarch's official birthday as the last Monday before 25 May. The sovereign's birthday had been observed in Canada since 1845, when the parliament of the Province of Canada passed a statute to officially recognize Queen Victoria's birthday, 24 May.

The current monarch is officially titled Queen of Canada, although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 15 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations. In this capacity, she, her consort, and other members of the Canadian Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Canada. However, the Queen is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role. Most of the monarch's governmental and ceremonial duties in Canada are carried out by her representative, the Governor General of Canada, although several powers are the sovereign's alone. In each of Canada's provinces, the monarch is represented by a lieutenant governor. As the territories are not sovereign, they do not have a viceroy. Read about the Dear Lady CLICK HERE.
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Erin, Out Standing In Her Field?

Our daughter Erin works for the St Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA). Her official title is Manager of Biology, in Watershed Services, reflecting her Honours Science Degree in Biology from the University of Western Ontario. Pardon me for bragging. One thing she enjoys most about her job is the ability to get out of the office and into the field. Wednesday and Saturday she was literally "in the field" as her team of 8 or so participated in two controlled burns. Trained in basic firefighting techniques, she was commended this week by her team-mates for aptly extinguishing a smaller part of the burn that had jumped out of the confined area.

The locations of the controlled burns are kept confidential to safely keep would be rubber-neckers away. The SCRCA obtains permits to conduct these burns in order to maintain clear areas and preserve the land according to plan.  The permit gives authorities a "heads up" as the local fire department is notified in advance. In the unlikely event the fire should get out of hand, the department could be summoned; by calling 911, for the heavy equipment.  

More than once Erin has told me how she enjoys these kinds of field work and "I can't believe they pay me for doing things I love to do".  Throughout the winter she is mostly stuck in the office as her job also utilizes some of her MBA skills (a later degree she acquired at the University of Windsor) as she garners funding through government grants to pay for the programs the SCRCA administers. Now, this past year since being promoted to manager, she has delegated and scheduled more of her time to outside work, especially for the coming summer months, doing what she likes best. Good going Erin!
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'Out Of It' For Two Decades

"I don't always celebrate every twenty years, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis..."

Twenty years ago today, April 15 1996, I signed the papers that formally transferred ownership of my company, Carroll Healthcare and ended my affiliation with the firm. I thought it was fitting that I buy some Dos Equis beer since of course "dos equis" means two "X's" in Mexico and is the Roman Numeral for Twenty. I actually drove over to the beer store (which I haven't done for what seems like years) and bought a six pack. Today our long-time accountant, Jim Morris, who was with us before and throughout the sale, visited to review our annual income tax return. We poured a glass and toasted the occasion. I developed Carroll Healthcare from 1975 to 1996 which is about twenty years. Then I watched it thrive and finally disappear in the following twenty. Here's to the next twenty years. I wonder what that will bring? Ha ha!

Strangely, as of today, the web page for Carroll Hospital Group still exists. CLICK HERE to view it.

The internet never forgets? Here is another blurb from the year 2000:

Carroll Healthcare, as it is known today, was established in 1975 as R&S Goods. Two years later, the company was incorporated as Carroll Equipment. In the original business, Carroll Equipment purchased used hospital beds, which were then refurbished and sold to Ontario nursing homes. Soon after, the company began the process of manufacturing new beds for the nursing home market and, slowly, the refurbished beds were phased out. By the mid 1980s, the company utilized its new equipment and technology to develop the DL and DLX Series beds, as well as a higher quality line of resident room furniture. Throughout the early 1990s, once the Echo Series bed had been developed, Carroll began distribution in the U.S. Distribution was also established shortly thereafter across Canada in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and the Maritimes. Today, Carroll continues to have a strong distribution network throughout North America, while some national chains purchase directly from the manufacturing facility.  http://www.nurses.com/doc/carroll-healthcare-inc-0002

The brand is still recognized on Google Image. Just for fun do an image search on "Carroll beds" or CLICK HERE.
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"Hmm! I blew it again...

My "artsy" Wynne Turbine pictures for today:

Hmm! I blew it again. It just doesn't seem to work."

...It just doesn't seem to work".

And here's another one I dreamed up... 

"I love coming up with ideas using your money!"
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It's Nice To Look At Hot Pictures On A Cold Day.

I went back through my files and came across two pictures taken on a Caribbean cruise aboard the Noordam back in mid-November 2014. Hope they make you feel a little warmer on a cool, wet April day. As usual, click on the picture to enlarge it.

The calmest sea we have ever experienced on a Caribbean cruise. Nov. 2014.

"The Pitons" twin volcanoes in the island of St. Lucia. Nov. 2014.

CLICK HERE to see more "calm sea" pictures from that cruise in 2014.
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Falling Down.

It's sad to see all these old barns literally collapsing before our eyes. They have endured all the seasons, decade after decade, many of them well over a hundred years old. Eventually the nails that hold them together actually rust through and the boards fall away. New farming methods and huge mega-sized amalgamated farms don't have need for these old buildings and maintenance has been long since discontinued. Enjoy them when you see them because in a few more years they will be mostly gone.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

This old barn complete with roof vents and lightning rods is just a mile or so north of St. Thomas Ontario one the west side of Dalewood Road. It would appear the days are numbered for for this relic from the past.
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Contact Your Member of Parliament. - Enough is Enough!

Benjamin Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

End this Madness - I NEED YOUR HELP NOW!!!
Contact your MP and MPP!  This is absolutely the final straw:

Click to enlarge.

Famous Canadian candy treat faces
drastic legislation to curb terrorism.
Liberal Government To Plug More Loopholes.
Globe and Mail, Ottawa, Ontario, April 1, 2016 

Candy manufacturer Clarence Crane invented the brand in 1912. The inventor originally designed the candies to be disks without holes, but when his poor little daughter tragically choked on one and died, he vowed to end the senseless killings, so he put holes in the middle and re-dubbed them Life Savers. The logic of a candy with a hole in it is now being challenged by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premiere Kathleen Wynne. Under pressure from the US Obama administration to plug more leaks in airline security, a new piece of legislation will be introduced to address the issue.
 

A representative of the Wrigley Company who manufactures Lifesavers under license for Mars Incorporated said an appeal is likely since the "candy with a hole" has been produced for over a hundred years without any serious incidents involving smuggling or terrorism. We will continue to produce the traditional Lifesaver for sale in USA (during the appeal process there) but the Canadian version will now be shipped with the hole filler pre-installed to more resemble solid discs in the airport x-ray scans. Eventually the hole fillers will be phased out and the candies will be produced as one-piece discs.

Illustration from instructional leaflet (TSA) 631/95

Costs Increase.
Unfortunately the weight of the additional candy to fill the hole and the substantial re-tooling and labelling costs must ultimately be passed on to the consumer. The hole-filler itself has been deemed a "security modification" so under TSA rules (with which Canada complies) they are not subject to HST or GST, but interestingly still attract Provincial Sales Tax. Wynne expects the tax to bring much needed revenue to enforce the airport ban however the tax and the product modification could add as much as one dollar CDN to the price of a roll of the tasty treats. "We tax Tim Horton's Timbits so why not Lifesaver holes? Fair is fair." Wynne said. (Although Tim Hortons Limited will be exempted from the legislation since they already provide "hole fillers" in the form of Timbits which could be used to fill the holes in their donuts.)  Additional funds, since airport security is a federal jurisdiction, could also be acquired by increasing airport parking fees in federally owned airport facilities she suggested. "Parking is a luxury. Citizens should use public transit to access the airport anyway." Wynne said.

The Canadian Coast Guard, a section of Fisheries and Oceans Canada has expressed concern that the new format may confuse consumers who traditionally expect to see a hole in real life preservers. A Coastguard representative who requested his name be withheld pending the appeal said his office intends, depending on the outcome of the appeal, to pressure Mars Incorporated to change the name of the product to more reflect the new shape. The names "Bonbons Bague de la Vie" or perhaps "Disque de Bonbons" has been suggested by the government. The spokesman said a package warning disclaimer should appear on the label to clearly indicate that the product will not provide any significant or real life saving qualities in an actual emergency. Changes to the Safe Boating Guide could reflect the concerns of the TSA when operating pleasure craft near Canadian/US borders. He did add that as long as the holes used as fillers are available on your boat, they don't actually need to be inserted into the candy before consumption. The Coast Guard and OPP have been instructed to check for the presence of these fillers as part of their routine boat inspections.

Proposed 7mm filler holes for Life Savers as per Regulation (TSA) 631/95.

Regulation (TSA) 631/95" specifically prohibits the air transportation of foodstuffs (with holes) in carry-on luggage or on their person. This regulation requires that all producers of "tubular foodstuffs" delete the holes from their products. To satisfy the regulation, all the existing stock of Lifesaver brand candies would be supplemented with a "TSA CONVERSION KIT" containing twenty, 7mm "Hole Fillers" one of which is to be placed inside each Lifesaver. A "detailed instruction leaflet" will also be included in both official languages or visit the TSA web site. Extra conversion kits may be purchased for a nominal fee at any Service Canada or Service Ontario location. At this time it is not illegal to bring Lifesavers across international borders by car or other means other than air or water whether or not they contain the required fillers..

Attempts have been made to contact Tim Hortons and other manufacturers of "tubular foodstuffs". The Canadian Cheesemaker's Federation has voiced concern that, as written, the rules could encompass Swiss cheese which has totally enclosed holes that will be far more difficult and costly to fill.  A TSA spokesman reminds us that cheese tends to trigger the "sniffer" alarms and falls in a fuzzy area somewhere between liquids and gels. It probably wouldn't be allowed on your person under current rules anyway. It seems at least for now, the Lifesaver brand has been singled out as the main target of the new legislation. 

As is usually the case in such circumstances, no information or reason was given that would indicate why the stately old confectionery is on the TSA's "no fly list". Dr. Mohammad (Akitti) Akbar of the prestigious Ballistic Studies Department at the College of Cosmic Virgins in Iran speculates that the Lifesavers, when stacked and the holes aligned, create a cylindrical recess of a precise 7mm diameter in which high explosives could be injected. When the candies are then tightly wrapped in foil and paper they form a miniature pipe bomb which would explode and send glass-like, hard candy, shrapnel throughout the cabin of the aircraft. In the past other seemingly innocuous items have been employed like pressure cookers, shoes, bras, jock straps, toy monkeys and Teddy Bears etc.

Officials from the offices of Prime Minister Trudeau and Premiere Wynne did not return our telephone calls or emails. 

UPDATE: A German company has served notice that it will file suit against Mars Incorporated if they proceed with plans to eliminate the holes in the Life Saver brand candies since they will then infringe on the design of their Werther's Original  brand of caramel flavoured candy owned by the German company August Storck KG, based in Berlin, Germany. You may recall there was a lengthy lawsuit by Mars Incorporated against August Storck when they attempted to market "Wholly Wurthers", (a similar hard candy with a hole in the middle) in North America in 2001. 

The Germans were quick to remind consumers that their candies, unlike Life Savers can be safely brought aboard an aircraft virtually anywhere. (with the exception of some Arab nations where candies of any type are banned for religious reasons)

Please! Please! - CLICK HERE To sign my Petition - Please! Please!

OFFICIAL LIFESAVERS HOTLINE.

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A Walk In The Bog

This past Sunday brought exceptionally warm (18 C) sunny weather so Wendy and I decided to drive over to the northwestern part of our city to visit the Sifton Bog. You can read the fascinating statistics of this geological feature if you CLICK HERE.  I wouldn't call us "regulars" at this place as it's been about 8 years since we were here last.  CLICK HERE if you wish to see my blog entry from back in September 2008.



Spring has not really sprung yet, even so the scenery was superb.
 

No jacket required as the temperature rose to nearly 70F and there was not even a breeze.

Wendy counted 14 painted turtles basking in the sun beside Redmond's Pond.

It's hard to believe this peaceful scene is within the city limits.

The buds are ready to burst forth anytime soon.

Since it's right in our own town we really should plan to visit this amazing spot a little more often.
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The Best Use For Windmills II

Here's another use for those ugly windmill towers when they fail in a few years. I imagine how  nice it would be to press a button and automatically elevate your living-room up to the sky? What a view!

Send me an email with your idea for utilizing these "towers of power" and I'll make it into an "artsy" pic and post it here.
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The Best Use For Windmills I

Think of a use for these huge monstrosities because when everyone finally realizes what a disastrous white elephant our Liberal government bought, and the subsidies are ended, the companies that installed them will disappear like rats in the night. The first wind turbine I ever saw was on the Dutch island of Curacao about 1985. It has been over thirty years since the first ones raised their ugly heads in places like Holland and USA and the costly problem of getting rid of them has yet to be resolved.

Here's my first of a series of ideas to re-utilize these technologically amazing monuments to stupidity. What do you think?

Can you come up with other ideas to utilize the structures when they are deemed junk? I need your input. Let me know and I'll create an "artsy" pic to post here. I'll even send you a print if you wish.
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"Wynne" Powered Stir Spoon

As an on-going fulfillment of my moral obligation to the preservation of the world as we know it, I am proud to unveil my newest concept in "green" energy conservation. In the spirit of brotherly love and socialistic entitlement I have decided not to patent this idea but to present it to Kathleen Wynne and the masses as my gift to Humanity.

Ta-dah! I'm sure to cause quite a stir (no pun intended)  with this unique, non-emission, small carbon footprint, soon-to-be indispensable kitchen gadget. The one-and-only wind powered stir-spoon.

"Yes!"

In honour of our Ontario Premier I christen thee "The Wynne Powered Stir Spoon".
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Have a Happy Holiday.

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