UP

Just as the word "snow" has many meanings in North American native language, so too are words in English.
You lovers of the English language might enjoy this. There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. I f you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP! . When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP , so........... it is time to shut UP.....!Oh . one more thing:What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U-P

Quote for the Day:
"More important than learning how to recall things is finding ways to forget things that are cluttering the mind."

Save Money for the Household

This was written by Becky Ransey of Indiana and certainly worth a look

"I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little old bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors don't tell you about peroxide, or they would lose thousands of dollars."

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe)
No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small print says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle)

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of "Peroxide" to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

8. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.

9. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.

10. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

11. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.

12. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.

13. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, Pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

14. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors with, and there is no smearing which is why I love it so much for this.

Quote of the Day:

Opportunities are never lost. The other fellow takes those you miss.-- Anonymous

The Amazing Human Body

The human body is a machine that is full of wonder. It will serve you well if you take care of it, much like the moccasins or boots.

This collection of human body facts will leave you wondering why in the heck we were designed the way we were. ===================================================================-Scientists say the higher your I.Q, the more you dream.

-The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.

-You use 200 muscles to take one step.

-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.

-Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.

-A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.

-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.

-The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.!

-The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

-It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

-The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.

-Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.

-At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.

-There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

-Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.

-The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.

-Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born

-When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when
You are looking at someone you hate.

-Your thumb is the same length of your nose.

At this very moment I know full well you are putting this last fact to the test ..
Now remove your thumb from your nose and pass this on to the friends you think
might be interested in comparing their thumbs to their noses as well...
Amazing eh!

Quote of the Day

"Whether a man winds up with a nest egg, or a goose egg, depends a lot on the kind of chick he marries." Author Unknown

DIJANO (Did You Know)?

While surfing the Internet, wearing my moccasin mule slippers, I came across the most unusual facts:

Counterattack
13 people are killed each year when vending machines fall on them. Moral: Don't kick vending machines! They kick back.

Talk about Pinocchio
According to a Cornell University study of online dating, the percentage of respondents who:
Lie about their height:
Men: 53%
Women: 39%
Lie about their weight:
Men: 61%
Women: 64%
Lie about their age:
Men: 24%
Women: 13%

Big Brother is Here
There are currently 32 closed circuit TV surveillance cameras located within 200 yards of the flat where 1984 author George Orwell once lived.

Okay men - stop looking grungy, Shave
According to Women's Health magazine, 86% of women think a 5 o'clock shadow is not

Big Legal Drug Money
Health Canada, the Canadian national health department,buys medical marijuana from a licensed grower for $290.63 a kilo, then resells the drug to Canadian citizens officially permitted to use it for $132.63 per bag weighing 30 grams, plus tax. That amounts to $4,421 a kilo. The governments profit exceeds 1,400 percent.

Where erotic behavior pays off.
To raise money for Vienna's main public library, the city's administrators have set up a sex hotline. Callers pay 53 cents a minute to listen to a well-known local actress read scintillating passages from the institution's collection of more than 1,200 works of erotic fiction, dating back to the late 18th century.

The World's most expensive American car
Carroll Shelby's 1966 Shelby Cobra "Super Snake" sold at auction in Scottsdale, Arizona for $5.5 million

Quote of the Day:

"When you’re in deep water, the best thing to do is shut your mouth. "Author unknown

Gas Tank - Right or Left?

Every morning, I slip into my moccasins and drive my wife to work.
One would think I would have noticed the little secret on my car dash that was staring me right in the face the whole time.
I didn't and I bet you probably haven't either.
Quick question, what side of your car is your gas tank?
If you are anything like me, you probably can't remember right away.
My solution is to uncomfortably stick my head out the window, strain my neck and look.
If you don't do this in your own car you definitely have done it in a borrowed or rental car.

Well ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to share with you my little secret so you will no longer look like Ace Ventura on your way to the gas station or put your neck at risk of uncomfort or injury.

If you look at your gas guage, you will see a small icon of a gas pump.
The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump.
If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left.
If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right .
It is that simple!
Hopes this information will save you time and a pain in the neck.

Quote of the Day:

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere."-- Chinese Proverb

Cancer Findings- Part 3

This last blog concludes recent findings on using proper products relating to our food.

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL

1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This
information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
as well.

Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.
Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this
releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle
Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He
talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not
be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the
combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the
food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends
using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food.
You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners,
instant soups, etc., should be removed from the container and
heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just
safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while
ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers
to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as
dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As
the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt
out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Quote of the Day:

"Good advice usually works best when preceded by a bad scare. "Al Batt, Writer

Cancer Findings Part 2

Something to keep in mind while strolling in those comfortable moccasins. The following is important!

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one
important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like
NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is
harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or
molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to
make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the
gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk
and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being
starved.


c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is
acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than
beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones
and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

Cancer can be fought using the following:

1. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole
grains,seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline
environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh
vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and
reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance
growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells
try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean
sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are
destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

2. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green
tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.
Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy
metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.


3. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of
digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied
and leads to more toxic buildup.


4. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining
from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls
of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer
cells.


5. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6,
Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to
enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other
supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or
programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged,
unwanted, or unneeded cells.


6. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive
and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger,
unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic
environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.


7. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment.
Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the
cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer
cells.

Quote of the Day:

"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you've already got."

Cancer findings - Part 1

Whether you wear shoes, moccasins, or mukluks, you will find the following an interesting dialogue on cancer.


AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY
(TRY is THE KEY WORD) AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHN HOPKINS IS FINALLY
STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.


Cancer Update from John Hopkins


1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.


2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.


3. When the person's immune system is strong, the cancer cells will
be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.


4. When a person has cancer, it indicates the person has multiple
nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic,
environmental, food and lifestyle factors.


5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet
and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.


6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells
and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow,
gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver,
kidneys, heart, lungs etc.


7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and
damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.



8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often
reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do
not result in more tumor destruction.



9 When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and
radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence
the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.


10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and
become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause
cancer cells to spread to other sites.


11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells
by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.



Our next blog will discuss foods that appear to help fight cancer.



Quote for the Day:



"If I've learned anything in my 70 years it's that nothing's as good or as bad as it appears." Bushrod H. Campbell

Breast Cancer - Part 2

Whether following moccasin trails or lounging on the couch with your slippers on , you should know the risks of getting breast cancer:

1. 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no risks
2. Family history of breast cancer significantly increases one's risk
3. Increasing age is the second highest factor for breast cancer, being female is the highest
4. There is a six times greater risk if one's mother or sister had breast cancer prior to menopause
5. There is up to 10 times greater risk if one's mother or sister had cancer in both breasts
6. The risk of breast cancer is slightly higher with a family history of cancer for the uterus, cervix or colon
7. The risk triples for obesity with excess caloric and fat intake

Source: http://www.bcsc.ca/breasthealth.htm

It is a fact that everyone knows of someone that has battled breast cancer. If you can, support the battle against this disease.

Quote of the Day:

A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.-- Chinese Proverb

Special Month: Part 1

Take off those moccasin boots and tie on the runners- it's Breast Cancer Month.
There are some startling facts about breast cancer that you should be aware of every month :

• One in 27 women will die from it
  
• In 2007, an estimated 22,300 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die from it
  
• The cause of breast cancer is unknown and cannot be prevented
  75% of all breast growths, whether malignant or benign are discovered during breast self examination
  
• 9 out of 10 growths are detected by women themselves
  
• As many as 2 million women in North America were diagnosed with breast cancer during the 1990's
  
• Since 1993, incidence rates for breast cancer have stabilized and death rates have declined 8 out of 10 breast growths are non-cancerous
  
• Male incidence of breast cancer accounts for 2% of all cases
  In 2005 an estimated 150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 45 of them will die from it
  
• On average 415 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each week
  
• On average 102 Canadian women will die from breast cancer every week

In the next blog we will discuss YOUR RISKS on getting breast cancer

Source: http://www.bcsc.ca/breasthealth.htm

Quote of the Day:

"Worry is as useless as a handle on a snowball." - Mitzi Chandler

Not Too Late Part 2

In the last blog we discussed ways to detemine if you have poor indoor air quality while lounging in your moccasin slippers.

Today, we are going to look at possible sources for that inadequate air quality in the home.

1. One of the logically reasons may be smoking indoors or smoke coming into the house from outside.
2. Other things that burn such as, gas, kerocene, charcoal biquettes, wood or candles
3. Central heating, cooling or humidity systems
4. New or recently installed building materials and furnishings, including carpets and certain wood pressed products
5. Household cleaning and maintenance products
6. Personal care products such as hair sprays and soaps
7. Mold or mildrew
8. Tracking pesticides and pollens in on shoes or clothes
10. Improper circulation of fresh, outside air.

The most assured and practical way to clean indoor air is to invest in an air exchanger system that will filter out harmful pollutants and distribute fresh air throughout the home. They may "set you back a penny" but well worth the investment.

Quote of the Day:

"We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are."

Not Too Late Part 1

Wandering in your moccasins from room to room in your house or cabin and darn there's that headache again. No, it is not the cooking but something else and it is affecting your health. You are sneezing and at times congested. The problem may be the quality of the air you are breathing. Most people are quite aware that outside air pollution can significantly affect your health, however, EPA studies have shown that levels of air pollution indoors maybe 100 times greater.

Indoor air pollution can be a concern because people can spend as much as 90% of their time indoors, and much of that time is in their homes. You can have an immediate or long - term reaction to poor indoor air quality.

One way to determine whether you have an indoor air quality problem is to look at how you or those in your household feel when at home.
1. Do you or others sneeze and cough in your home?
2. Do you or others in your home wake up congested or with a headache?
3. Do you or others in your home often have an irritated throat, nose or eyes?
4. Does anyone in your home have frequent asthma episodes or respiratory infections?
5. Do you notice that you feel better when you are away from home?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you may have an indoor air quality concern.

Next time we will look at possible causes of poor indoor air quality.

Quote of the Day:

"When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil."
-- Max Lerner

Fanning the Seasons

Not only moccasins are comfortable for the body but also fans can play an important role.
Fans can improve year round comfort and energy efficiency, moving warm air around the home. Most fans feature a switch that allows you to change the spin direction of the fans. This is where I can get confused. During the summer you want the blades to spin COUNTER CLOCKWISE. That is, you want to draw the air up from the floor to the ceiling. In the winter it is the exact opposite. You want to adjust the spin to a CLOCKWISE position to allow better circulation of the warmer air close to the ceiling.
A ceiling fan can be effective , but only if you chose a fan that is the right size for the room. Fifty -two-inch fans are good for rooms approximately 15 feet by 15 feet or 12 feet by 12 feet. the air in larger rooms can be circulated by a 52-inch fan, however, 56- and 60-inch fans are better suited in a room of that size. For smaller rooms such as bedrooms, choose a 34-to 42-inch ceiling fan.

Quote for the Day

"If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your wife told you!"

Easing the Pain at the Pump

It has been some time since we posted articles due to our wonderful summer weather. Now with the approach of Fall, this is about to change. Look for topics on moccasins, moccasin slippers and boots as well as articles on current events as well as various tips on everday things.

To get started here are some tricks to help you get your money's worth at the pumps.

1. Fill up your car or truck in the morning when the temperature is still cool. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanksburied below ground; and the colder the ground, the denser the gasoline. When it gets warmer gasoline expands, so if you're filling up in the afternoon or in the evening, what should be a gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and temperature of the fuel (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products) are significant. A one-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for businesses, but service stations don't have temperature compensation at their pumps .

2. If a tanker truck is filling the station's tank at the time you want to buy gas, do not fill up; most likely dirt and sludge in the tank is being stirred up when gas is being delivered, and you might be transferring that dirt from the bottom of their tank into your car's tank .

3. Fill up when your gas tank is half-full (or half-empty), because the more gas you have in your tank the less air there is and gasoline evaporates rapidly, especially when it's warm. (Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating 'roof' membrane to act as a barrier between the gas and the atmosphere, thereby minimizing evaporation .)

4. If you look at the trigger you'll see that it has three delivery settings: slow, medium and high. When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to the high setting. You should be pumping at the slow setting, thereby minimizing vapors created while you are pumping. Hoses at the pump are corrugated; the corrugations act as a return path for vapor recovery from gas that already has been metered. If you are pumping at the high setting, the agitated gasoline contains more vapor, which isbeing sucked back into the underground tank so you're getting less gas for your money .

Hope this will help ease your 'pain at the pump'.

Quote of the Day:

"It's much easier to point out the problem than it is to say just how it should be solved. "
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Economist

Natural Moccasins/Natural World - tip #2

BUY LOCAL - EAT LOCAL FOODS
As you know marieshoes.com features authentic Canadian moccasins. We consider as precious, nature and the natural world from which our products are made. We stand beside fellow denizens of this planet in protecting our environment and the world, as we know it. To this end we are bogging tips on everyday things that we can do to put the halt on global warming and it's irreparable change to our environment.

Tip #2 – Eat Local Foods …..Did you know that the ingredients for a North American meal typically travel between 2,500 and 4000 km? The cost of transport – in greenhouse gas production – is immense. We are paying for that – thereby condoning it. Discourage such folly! Make a choice to Eat Local Foods…visit Farmer's Markets and buy there; at the Grocers, read the labels and buy locally produced products; if there is a local producer of a product i.e.: honey or milk, and it's not on your grocer's shelves: "ask" for it. Your grocer (or store manager as we know them today) will bring it in for you and everyone will benefit. Be proactive in your purchases and indicating the your preferences. A little action, cumulatively, will add up to make a difference!

We are encouraged by the actions of a grocer in Kamloops, B.C. (Canada). Local producer, Blackwell Dairy's product, was missing from the shelves. When a customer 'asked for it', the grocer responded and started placing the milk on the shelf. First allocating just a small space to Blackwell in the dairy coolers. Every three days Blackwell Dairy had to restock to the fullest – thereby being allotted more and more space. The trend grew and now Blackwell Dairy can't keep up with the demand for all of their products in all of the chain supermarkets.

Frankly, their milk is better!!! Blackwell doesn't have to transport so far and can circulate their products more frequently. Therefore, the shelf life doesn't have to be so long, therefore they don't have to 'boil the good' out of their product to ensure that shelf life. It tastes…oooooh, like milk!

We all win…local producer, local jobs, better product health wise, taste wise, and the cost of greenhouse gases produced during transportation is dramatically reduced!!! This sort of positive message and initiative will impact the onslaught of global warming. If reproduced in every community it's cumulative effect would be immense!

Quote of the Day:

"I can't do it" never yet accomplished anything: "I will try" has accomplished wonders." -- George P. Burnham

Natural moccasins/natural world - tip #1

As you know marieshoes.com features authentic Canadian moccasins. We consider as precious, nature and the natural world from which our products are made. We stand beside fellow denizens of this planet in protecting our environment and world as we know it. To this end we are blogging tips on everyday things that we can do to put the halt on global warming and it's irreparable change to our environment.

• Tip #1 - Park The Car....not all the time....but consider taking the bus or rail, catching a lift (or giving a lift) to a friend, or - Lord help us - "w.a.l.k"!

We are encouraged by a recent VanCity Trust, British Columbia (Canada) initiative....they bought 45 brand-new red bicycles and gave them away - free - to anyone who wanted to ride to work/school/or just ride. The recipients were asked to utilize the 'free transport' for two weeks and pass them on to any other citizen of their choosing. In other words the bikes were given to society, an investment never to be seen again by the company.

Never to be seen again?, physically yes, but felt.....the verbal ripple just keeps on going. This sort of positive message and initiative will impact the onslaught of global warming. If reproduced in every community it's cumulative effect? well, immense!

The rib is - the cost of purchasing 45 bikes and giving them away (a good-news story snapped up by print and tv media alike) was "far less" than a 12-second prime time tv ad.

Let's encourage that sort of advertising!

Quote of the Day:

"The first rule of tinkering is to save all the parts."

Canada Day

Canada Day has been called a few names in the past. It used to known as Dominion Day,
the First Day of July, Confederation Day and July the First.

Canada was formed on June 20,1867, by proclamation sign by the Governor General, Lord Monck. The proclamation called all the British North American provinces to form a federation under the name of Canada on July 1. The holiday celebrates the events that took place on this day.
The July 1 holiday was established by statue in 1879, under the name of Dominion Day which is why Canada Day was originally called Dominion Day.

In 1862, Dominion Day changed to Canada Day after a vote in Parliament. In 1985, Canada Day committees are established in each province and territory to plan, organize, and co-ordinate the Canada Day celebrations locally.

Happy Canada Day and all the best in moccasin trekking.

Quote for the Day:

"If you don't have a plan for yourself, you'll be a part of someone else's."--American Proverb

Outside the Box

As part of your retirement, have you invested in the Stock Market? I am sure many have or think about investing in this very illusive but lucrative area. By wise investing and guidance, many have been successful. However, overtime, there have been bumps along the road and people have lost alot of money.
For example:

1. A year ago, if you had brought $1,000 of Nortel stock, it would be worth $49.00.
2. With Enron, you would have $16.50 left of the original $1,000.
3. Five dollars is all you would have left with WorldCom.
4. If you had purchased $1,000 of Delta Air Lines stock, you would have $49.00 left.

However, if you think "outside of the box", you can get ahead of the investment game and have fun doing it. If you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then recycled the cans, you would have $ 214.00. You could say the return is 21.4% on your investment. Yes, very few stocks can match this performance and the fun of doing the investing.

PS. I am not advocating drinking, but use it as an example of thinking "outside the box". Good luck with your thinking outside the box.

Quote of the Day:

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity."

Commemorating D-Day June 6,1944

D-Day is the day the Battle of Normandy began, starting the Western Allied effort to liberate mainland Europe from the Nazi occupation during the Second World War.
The Allied invasion of northwest Europe began on June 6 and ended on August 19, 1944, when the Allies crossed the River Seine.
It is still the largest seaborne invasion in history, involving 3 million troops crossing the English Channel from England to Normandy, France. The Battle of Normandy lasted for more than 2 months and concluded with the liberation of Paris and the fall of the Falaise pocket in late August, 1944.

D-DAY QUICK FACTS
1.1 million Canadians served in WWII
42,042 were killed
54,414 wounded
14,00 Canadians landed on D-Day
During the first 6 days, 1,1017 died
By the end of the Normandy campaign, 5,020 Canadians died
About 5,400 Canadians are buried in Normandy
In the 2 1/2 months of the Normandy campaign, Allies causalities (killed,wounded,and captured) totalled 210,000.
D (abbr. of day) + day - repeat the first letter to emphasize that this is the day that the operation will start, not on any other day, but this day. The actual name for the invasion is Operation Overlord. D-Day has become a term that can refer to any day of action or decision

We owe these men and women a debt of honour that we will never forget their sacrifice on this day in history.

Tanning Leather for Moccasins - Part 5

The final phase for tanning is finishing the leather.
Leather maybe finished in a variety of ways depending on its use. Using fine abrasives, the leather can be buffed to produce a suede finish. Leather can also be embossed. Another way involves waxing or shellacking and treated with dyes, pigments, and resins to produce a smooth leather and desired colour. Another finish is to lacquer the leather with urethane to produce a glossy patent leather. To bond these processes to the grain of the leather, a process called plating is used.

As you can see the process of tanning leather for footwear like moccasins is a long one even using modern technology. Pity the person without the access to tanning factories. The process must have been difficult and tedious indeed.

Quote of the day:

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity."

Tanning Leather for Moccasins- Part 4

Another source of tanning leather involves chemicals. This process is called chrome tanning. The drying and finishing steps are the same as vegetable tanning. However, in chrome tanning, the hide is placed in a bath of chromium salt. As in vegetable tanning, once the process is complete, the hide is wrung, split and shaved to thickness.

Because the hide is exposed to many drying processes, it needs to have some of the natural oils
replaced. This is called fatliquoring. This is where the hide is placed in a drum of oil emulsion for 30-40 minutes. After this, the hide is again wrung, dried, and finished.

Quote of the Day:

"Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks
before you need it."

Tanning Leather for Moccasins- Part 3

Once the hide has been prepared, there are three methods that can be used to turn it into leather. A hide can be made into leather by tanning, chamoising, or tawing, and while these processes all differ, they are called "tanning". Tanning gets its name from the tannins that are present in all vegetable matter, and these tannins are used to tan raw hides. This is also why tanned leather is sometimes more specifically referred to as vegetable tanned leather.

Commerical tanning practices place the hides in rotating barrels full of water and tannins for several days. There are also many variations of tanning, each tailored to the specific products the leather being treated will eventually become. Boots, for example, have a slightly different tanning process than wallets.

It usually takes approximately 3 weeks for the tanning material to completely penetrate. The hide is then wrung and is set out to smooth and dry.
Leather can be dried in 5 methods depending on the tanning factories equipment.
One of the most common is air drying where hides are hung and the air circulates around the hide. Related to this is drying by tumbling or air circulating through screens. Two last methods require more sophisticated equipment. In vacuum drying, the leather is spread out with the grain side down on a smooth surface and heat is applied. A vacuum hood is placed over the surface and a vacuum is applied to help in drying the leather. High frequency drying involves the use of a high frequency electromagnetic field to dry the leather.

Quote of the Day:

"Opportunities always look bigger going than coming."

Tanning Leather for Moccasins - Part 2

From pre-tanning to finishing, conventional leather tanning requires about 15 steps, which produces enormous amounts of waste water and pollutants. The first steps of leather tanning is referred to as the beamhouse operation which includes trimming, soaking, fleshing, and taking the hair off the hide. The next step is the tanyard process which includes bating, pickling, tanning, wringing and splitting. The final steps includes staking, dry milling, buffing, spraying finishing, and plating. Environmental rules are strictly enforced due to chemicals used and other pollutants.

Today, most animal hides are shipped from slaughter houses to tanneries, and so they must almost always be cured after slaughtering to stop the hide from putrefying. Usually the hides are coated with salt and other chemicals. When the hides reach the tanners, they are stiff, hard and rough. At the tannery, soaking the hide in water for up to two days starts the process of cleaning the hide, to remove all impurities such as flesh and fat, and, if necessary, the last remnants of curing agents, such as salt. It also makes handling the hide easier. After soaking, to avoid errors, modern tanneries use machines with blunt blades to scrape away the hair and flesh/fat/inside skin. This is called "fleshing".

While the hides are still wet, tanning factories shave the hides by pushing them against an ever-revolving band knife. The hide can be split by this process into two useful sheets which gives the correct thickness for tanning. This is called "skiving". Softening compounds are chemical rather than natural ( urine), and the last bath of sulfuric acid and common salt, is designed to remove the any traces of chemicals which is helpful in the tanning process to follow.

Quote for the Day:

"No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes."

Tanning Leather for Moccasins- Part 1

Before you can make a pair of moccasins, you need tanned leather. What is invoved in this process? What is the difference between a dried animal skin and a piece of leather?

In reference to the latter question, skins refers specifically to the skin of a smaller animal, such as a calf, while the term hide refers to the skin of a larger animal, such as a cow. The process for both skins and hides are similar. Raw hides or skins, when not tanned, are rough, dry and hard due to tightly compacted collagen, the natural moisturizer of skin. When exposed to water, dry hide/skin usually begins to putrefy and rot. Yet, when exposed to hot water, glue or sizing can be made from it. However, hides/skins have the ability to absorb tannic acid and other chemical substances that prevent them from decaying, make them resistance to water and keeping them soft and supple. The 3 types of hides and skins most often used in leather manufacturing are cattle, sheep and pig. Other hides can be used from horses, moose, deer, elk, bison, seals and walruses. The process of turning skins/hides into leather is called tanning. The process for skins and hides are similar. For our purposes, we will use the term "hide" in the rest of the article.

Quote of the Day:

"Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques."

Tips for making moccasins

After you have selected a moccasin pattern, there are a few tips to make the process easier.

1. The working surface must be flat and secure. Placing a cutting board or a rubber mat under the pattern will prevent tools becoming dull as well as protecting the working surface.
2. Use metal measuring tools which can also be used as a straight edge when cutting leather.
3. Mark the pattern on the leather using a felt tip pen or dark lead pencil.
4. Choose a leather that is free of oil, dirt and other residues. This will keep your pattern clean as well making the leather easier to work.
5. When cutting the leather , use a leather shears or a sharp razor knife. Think safety when cutting.
6. For sewing pieces together, use leather craft sewing needles. For thread, a waxed linen thread or artificial sinew(will not stretch) is perhaps the best for holding the leather together.
7. When punching holes in the moccasin leather, use a stitching awl. Remember safety first.

Hopefully these few tips will make your chore easier. Good luck.

Quote of the day:

"No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversations as a dog does."--Christopher Morley

Going Bananas

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

Quote of the Day:

* My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance .

One Hundred Years Ago!

?? THE YEAR 1907??
This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine! The year is 1907. One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics for the Year 1907 :
************************************
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles
Of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1907 was 22 cents per hour.
The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .
Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
Were condemned in the press AND the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas , Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea
Hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."
Eighteen percent of households had at least
One full-time servant or domestic help.
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A. !

Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
IT STAGGERS THE MIND!

Quote of the Day:

"Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a
mistake when you make it again."

How Big is Wal-Mart?

1. At Wal-Mart, Americans spend $36,000,000 every hour of every day.

2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!

3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year.

4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target +Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined.

5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people and is the largest private employer.

6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the World.

7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger & Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only 15 years.

8. During this same period, 31 Supermarket chains sought bankruptcy (including Winn-Dixie).

9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world.

10. Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906 are SuperCenters; this is 1,000 more than it had 5 years ago.

11. This year, 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur at a Wal-Mart store. (Earth's population is approximately 6.5 billion).

Quote of the Day:

"If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried
before."

Controlling Blood Pressure

If you have a checkup at your doctor's office, no doubt he/she will take your blood pressure. Ideally your blood pressure goal should be below 140/90. If it isn't, here are a few tips in leveling it off.

1. Get Going: Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity of physical activity each day of the week.
2. Happy hour: Limit your intake of alcohol. Three or more drinks raises the blood pressure.
3. Earn your salt: Limit your intake of salt. Health professionals state people, particularly in N.America, take more salt than is recommended.
4. Starbucks: Limit your intake of any beverage(coffee,tea,coke) containing caffeine. Drink more water.
5. Eat smart : Eat a diet rich in fibre, fruits, and vegetables, and low fat or nonfat dairy products. Your body will thank you for it.
6. Work as a team: If your doctor prescribes medication, take as directed and do not stop unless you consult with your doctor.
7. Latest Research: Keep up with the latest news. For example, the latest is abdominal obesity not only increases chances of developing high blood pressure but heart diseases and diabetes.
8. Get checked: Know your numbers for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose. You will find that your doctor is more than willing to share these numbers with you. Take your doctor's advice to lower "high " numbers.

Good Luck with your journey .

Quote of the Day:

"A day without sunshine is like night."

Dinosaur Find

An exciting dinosaur find was displayed this week in Australia- a place where dinosaur bones are hard to find.

The dinosaur find was in the state of Queensland and is the largest complete skeleton ever found . Only partial skeletons have been found until this time.

The bones belong to the TITANOSAURUS which is gigantic in size. When living, it measured 12-18m (40-60ft) long, 3m(10ft) at the hip and weighed 14,700kg (about 31/2 elephants.) . The Titanosaurus lived in the Cretaceous period which is about 65-83 million years ago.

The several bones are on displayed at the Queensland Museum and were found on the farm of the Mackenzie family. The largest of the bones measures 1.5 metres long and weighs 100kg.

Quote of the Day:

"Don't think that the way you are today is the way you'll always be."
Vince Dooley
College football coach

MILEAGE

A 2006 study found that the average Canadian walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study found that Canadians drink an average of 22 gallons of beer a year.
That means, on average, Canadians get about 41 miles per gallon."
Not bad and much better than a truck.

Quote for the day:
"Every new opinion, at its starting, is precisely in a minority of one." -- Thomas Carlyle

A Senior Moment!

The following appeared on my email. I thought it might be of interest since it supposedly happened in Florida.

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her bags and drew her handgun from her bag, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car! The four men didn't wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.

Then the lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she couldn't get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried and then realized why. It was for the same reason why there was a football, a Frisbee, and two 12 packs of beer in the front seat.

A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down.

She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.

The sergeant to whom she story couldn't stop laughing.
He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad elderly women described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.

No charges were filed.

Moral of the story?
If you are going to have a senior moment...make it memorable.

Quote of the Day:
"There is nothing wrong with making mistakes. Just don't respond with encores."--Anonymous

Earth Day

What can you do to make our Earth a better place to live?

In general, recycle things instead of throwing them out, for example, clothes. Here are some other tips:

1. Use cloth bags when shopping. Avoid using plastic bags.
2. Take advantage of recycled depots. Recycling a tonne of newspapers saves 19 trees.
3. If you can afford it, buy in bulk or partner with a friend to buy in bulk.
4. Try to carpool at least once a week.
5. Even better, use public transit rather than your vehicle.
6. Of course, you can walk or ride a bike which is even healthier.
7. Invest in underground sprinklers to water your yard.
8. If that is not possible, use devices such as timers or water gauges to water lawns and gardens.
9. A mulching mower should be your next purchase when the old mower gives up.
10. When lawn mowning, keep grass about 2 inches high. This saves moisture and stops weeds from growing.
11. Try Xeriscaping in some area of your yard. Even better convert your yard to Xeriscaping.
12. In honor of Earth Day, plant a tree for future generations!

FACTS:

The average car emits 5 tonnes of pollution into the air. That is equivalent to the weight of one elephant.

A person can reduce emissions by 20% if they use an alternative form of transportation once a week.

The average Canadian uses about 326 liters (88 gallons) of water PER DAY.

Quote of the Day:

"Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible."

George Lorimer

Caring for your Moccasins

Caring for moccasins is different than caring for footwear such as shoes. To keep your moccasins lasting as long as possible, and looking their best, follow the tips below to learn more about caring for your moccasins:

1. If you store your moccasins , do not use mothballs. The smell invades the leather and you cannot get it out.
2. Avoid getting them soaking wet. If you do, stuff them with newspaper and let them air dry. Make sure soil is scraped off.
3. In general, keep moccasins away from direct heat. Do not place them close to a camp fire or a heater since the heat dries the leather.
4. Use a good waterproof spray or oil to keep the leather soft and supple. Follow the directions carefully.
5. Avoid storing moccasins in plastic. They need access to the air to breathe and where it is cool and dry. Your nose will thank you for your care.
   
   By following the above guidelines, you will be caring for your moccasins properly, and you will be able to achieve maximum beauty and wear from them, which is something every wearer wants!

Quote for the Day:

"Nodding the head does not row the boat."--Irish Proverb

No More Windows XP

It is a fact that Microsoft is having a difficult time enticing buyers to purchase Windows Vista. So they have told manufactures that starting January 2008, they will not be allowed to place XP on their computers. Nothing like placing pressure on the buyers.

"The OEM version of XP Professional goes next January," said Frank Luburic, senior ThinkPad product manager for Lenovo. "At that point, they'll have no choice."

"Dell recognizes the needs of small business customers and understands that more time is needed to transition to a new operating system," Dell said on its Direct2Dellblog. Dell plans to continue offering Windows XP on select Dimension and Inspiron systems until later this summer.

Microsoft's support for Windows XP Professional under their SupportLifecycle Policy ends on 04/14/09. No updates will be issued after that date unless you pay for "extended support" which is available until 04/08/14.

It appears that in the future we will be stuck with Windows Vista. Remember good old reliable Windows 98? Perhaps it is time to switch to a Mac just like the TV commercial urges us to do.

Quote of the Day

"The thing about bandwagons is they never take you where you want to go."

April - Cancer Awareness Month

April is the month that is set aside to raise awareness of cancer
as well as raising funds to fight this dreaded disease. Based on current
incidence rates, 38 % of Canadian women will develop cancer during
their lifetimes. Among men, 44% will develop cancer during their lifetimes.

There are a few things we can do to help reduce
the risk of cancer.

1. Eat better. Include food groups such as carrots, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.
2. Be more active. Take the stairs rather than the elevator.
3. Protect yourself from the sun. 15 + sunscreen.
4. Don't smoke.
5. Avoid second hand smoke.
6. Tell your doctor when your health changes.
7. Screen for cancer. Get regular checkups.
8. Handle hazardous materials carefully.

Please remember that funds raised go to support the Cancer Society

whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life

for those living with cancer.

Quote of the Day:

A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.-- Chinese Proverb

How Businesses Got Their Names

Ever wonder how certain businesses chose their names?
Behind every name there is a story.

Apple Computers
It was the favourite fruit of founder Steve Jobs. He was three months
late in filing a name for the business, and he threatened to call
his company Apple Computers if the other colleagues didn't
suggest a better name by 5 O'clock.

CISCO
It is not an acronym as popularly believed. It is short for San Francisco.

Compaq
This name was formed by using COMp, for computer, and
PAQ to denote a small integral object.

Corel
The name was derived from the founder's name Dr.Michael Cowpland.
It stands for COwpland REsearch Laboratory.

Google
The name started as a joke boasting about the amount of information
the search-engine would be able to search. It was originally
named 'Googol', a word for the number represented by
1 followed by 100 zeros.After founders - Stanford graduate
students Sergey Brin and Larry Page presented their project
to an angel investor, they received a cheque made out to 'Google'

Hotmail
Founder Jack Smith got the idea of accessing e-mail via
the web from a computer anywhere in the world.
When Sabeer Bhatia came up with the business plan
for the mail service, he tried all kinds of names ending
in 'mail' and finally settled for hotmail as it included the
letters "html" - the programming language used to write
web pages. It was initially referred to as HoTMaiL with selective uppercasing.

Hewlett Packard
Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide
whether the company they founded would be called
Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett.

Intel
Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore wanted to name their new
company 'Moore Noyce' but that was already trademarked
by a hotel chain so they had to settle for an acronym of INTegrated ELectronics.

Microsoft
Coined by Bill Gates to represent the company that was devoted to MICROcomputer SOFTware. Originally christened Micro-Soft, the '-' was removed later on.

Motorola
Founder Paul Galvin came up with this name when his
company started manufacturing radios for cars.
The popular radio company at the time was called Victrola.

ORACLE
Larry Ellison and Bob Oats were working on a consulting
project for the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency).
The code name for the project was called
Oracle (the CIA saw this as the system to
give answers to all questions or something such).
The project was designed to help use the newly written
SQL code by IBM. The project eventually was terminated
but Larry and Bob decided to finish what they started and
bring it to the world. They kept the name Oracle and
created the RDBMS engine. Later they kept the same name for the company.

Sony
It originated from the Latin word 'sonus'
meaning sound, and 'sonny' a slang used by
Americans to refer to a bright youngster.

SUN
Founded by 4 Stanford University buddies, SUN
is the acronym for Stanford University Network.
Andreas Bechtolsheim built a microcomputer;
Vinod Khosla recruited him and Scott McNealy
to manufacture computers based on it, and
Bill Joy to develop a UNIX-based OS for the computer.

Yahoo!
The word was invented by Jonathan Swift and
used in his book 'Gulliver's Travels'. It represents a
person who is repulsive in appearance and action and
is barely human. Yahoo! Founders Jerry Yang and
David Filo selected the name because they considered
themselves yahoos.

Source : www.berro.com

Quote of the Day:

"Success is not counted by how high you have climbed
but by how many you brought with you." - Wil Rose

Scary Emails

I recently came across an email that certainly got my heart rate rising.
Basically, it wanted to extort money from me. How? Simply by stating
they have a "contract" on me and will kill me if I did not send X amount
of dollars to them.

I did some research on this type of email which is called HITMAN .
They apparently have become quite popular over the last while.
Of course, this type of email is a SCAM or bogus.
The perpetrators send thousands of emails out, hoping just one or two
unsuspecting individuals will believe the message.

Recently, the scammers have added a twist - they are requesting personal information
from you to be sent to the FBI in London, England to assist in their investigation.
The scammers want your personal information so they can commit identity theft.

Unfortunately, all of these emails can be very scary, and it
isn't hard to imagine people getting conned.

If you receive one of these emails, please do not send money, financial,
or personal information. If you wish, you can report such emails
to the police. However, the easiest solution is simply reach for the delete button.

Quote of the day:

"Horse sense is what keeps horses from betting on what people will do."

THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOUR CELL PHONE COULD DO !!!

There are a few things that can be done in times of
grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be
a life saver or an emergency tool for survival.
Check out the things that you can do with it:

FIRST:
The Emergency Number worldwide for
Mobile is 112.If you find yourself out of the coverage
area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency,
dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network
to establish the emergency number for you, and
interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if
the keypad is locked. Try it out.

SECOND:
Have you locked your keys in the car? Does your car
have remote key less entry? This may come in handy someday.
Good reason to own a cell phone:
If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys
are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone
from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot(30 cm)
from your car door and have the person at your home
press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone
on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from
having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object.
You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who
has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).
Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!'

THIRD:
Hidden Battery Power. Imagine your cell battery is very low.
To activate, press the keys *3370#.battery power stolen cell phone Your cell will restart with
this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery.
This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.

FOURTH:
How to disable a STOLEN cell phone?
To check your Mobile phone's serial number,
key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # . A 15 digit code
will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset.
Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone gets stolen,
you can phone your service provider and give them this code.
They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief
changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.
You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know
that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this,
there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
And finally....

FIFTH:
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more
for 411 information calls when they don't have to.
Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle,
which makes this situation even more of a problem.
When you need to use the 411 information option, simply
dial: (800) FREE 411, or (800) 373-3411 without incurring
any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.

This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving,
so pass it on to your family and friends.

Quote for the Day:

"Everything changes, nothing remains without change." -- Buddha

Truth is stranger than You would Guess - Part 3

Continuing on ....................

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would
sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days.
Someone walking along the road would take them for dead
and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the
kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather
around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up.
Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running
out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and
would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave.
When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found
to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they
had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string
on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up
through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have
to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to
listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell
or was considered a ...dead ringer.

And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring ! ! !
Educate someone. Please share these facts with a friend.

Quote for the Day:

"Almost anything is easier to get into than out of."

Truth is stranger than You would Guess - Part 2

Continuing with some amazing facts and sayings....

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle
that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and
added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and
did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner,
leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and
then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that
had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme,
Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge
in the pot nine days old..

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.
When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off.
It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon.
They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around
and chew the fat..

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content
caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death.
This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so,
tomatoes were considered poisonous. Bread was divided according to status.
Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle,
and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Quote for the Day:

“The past makes us who we are. Don’t make it a burden.”

Truth is stranger than You would Guess - Part 1

The next time you are washing your hands and complain
because the water temperature isn't just how you like it,
think about how things used to be.
Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their
yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June.
However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a
bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom
today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.
The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water,
then all the other sons and men, then the women
and finally the children. Last of all the babies.
By then the water was so dirty you could actually
lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the
baby out with the bath water.

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath.
It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all
the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof.
When it rained it became slippery and sometimes
the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying .
It's raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.
This posed a real problem in the bedroom
where bugs and other droppings could mess up
your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a
sheet hung over the top afforded some protection.
That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt.
Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that
would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw)
on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on,
they added more thresh until, when you opened the door,
it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway.
Hence the saying a thresh hold.

Quote for the Day :

"Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first, the lessons afterward."

Baby Boomers Realism

Awhile ago, one of our friends was faced with a realism that most baby boomers will have to face sometime in their life - caregiver to aging parents.
There are some things a person can do to make the "new" role easier.
Perhaps one of the important things is gaining access to personal, medical, legal, and financial information. The following tips can be used as a guideline to relieve some of the stress tthat comes with the territory:

1. Gather personal, medical, legal and financial information and keep it in one location.
2. Give copies to all individuals who may participate as a caregiver.
3. For confidential information, simply write in the contact person and phone number who has the information, such as will/last testament or banking information.
4. Inform your parents how you will safe guard their confidential information to protect them from identity theft.
5. Explain to your aging parent that participation in gathering this vital information while they are healthy is a gift to you (as the adult child) since you will be the one to handle an emergency when it arrives.

If you can begin on some of the things above, sooner rather than later your "new" role will that much easier. Good Luck.

Quote of the Day:

"If you don't look out for others, who's gonna look out for you?"

Whoopi Goldberg

Victim of Idenity Theft

First of all, you should report to the police that you are a victim of identity theft.
Second, take action to undo the damage. Remember to take notes of all you do to clear your name.
Third, remember to cancel all your credit cards. If you wish, you can get new ones as well.
Fourth, if necessary, close all your bank accounts. Your bank manger can assist you at this stage.
Fifth, contact utilities such as your telephone and cable companies that you are a victim of identity theft.
Last, contact your postal service that you are a victim of identity theft.
Hopefully you will never have to do the above. However to be forewarn is to be prepared.
Good luck!

Quote of the Day:

"There is nothing wrong with making mistakes. Just don't respond with encores."--Anonymous

Identity Theft - Part 3

How to Avoid Identity Theft

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have the following suggestions:

1. Be very careful of sharing personal information.
2. When asked about personal information, ask how it will be used,
why it is being collected,and how it will be shared. You will be
surprised at the answers you get in return.
3. Give out no more information than is required and carry minimal ID with you.
4. Be careful of your Social Security Number (SIN) . Companies use this in
their credit reports.
5. Never keep important ID such as PIN numbers, SIN, and passwords for your
computer on your person.
6. Avoid at all cost giving your credit card etc. information over the phone
or computer unless you have initated the communication.
7. Insure your computer is protected when you use the Internet. All computers
should have a Firewall and a virus protector on their computer.
8. Be careful what you throw in the garbage. Shred or burn personal papers
and financial information.
9. As best you can, hide you personal PIN when using terminals.
10. Access your credit report from a credit reporting agency once a year
to ensure it's accurate.

Quote for the Day:

"Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped. " --African Proverb

Identity Theft - Part 2

Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC-March, 2007) had the following to say about Identity Theft:

A poll, conducted in 2006 by the Strategic Counsel for the Competition Bureau of Canada, suggests that 17 per cent of Canadians aged 18 or older have either been victimized themselves or had an incident affect someone in their homes.
Even more people have been hit by marketing fraud, according to the survey: 31 per cent or about one in three adults.

Yet Canadians are not likely to complain to the authorities when they are victimized in marketing frauds, according to the survey.
"It remains the case that few people make a significant effort to report or resolve an incident of marketing fraud," the report said, with 43 per cent saying that they "did nothing."

Only eight per cent went to the local police, and even smaller numbers to the Competition Bureau, business groups or the fraud hotline PhoneBusters. For example, PhoneBusters got calls from about 7,800 people complaining of identity theft in 2006, with losses amounting to more than $16 million.

Many respondents said it would be just too much trouble to report the incident, or not worth it.
More often, people took matters into their own hands, contacting the company involved, stopping payment, changing their banking information or trying to get a refund.

Quote of the Day:

"No experiment is ever a complete failure. It can always be used as a bad example."

Identity Theft - Part 1

Identity theft has become an increasingly popular crime in Canada as well as in the rest of the world. It has been estimated that identity theft has hit one out of every six adult Canadians - more than 4.2 million people - either directly or within their immediate households, a survey suggests.
Identity theft involves stealing or misrepresenting the identity of another person or business.
Information such as your name, address, date of birth, social insurance number(social security number in the USA) and mother's maiden name need to be acquired in order to complete the impersonation.
Once the thief has this information, they can open new bank accounts, transfer bank balances, apply for loans, credit cards and other services, purchase vehicles, take vacations .......

"Contrary to popular belief, fraud does not affect only the vulnerable in our society. Everyone is at risk of becoming a victim, regardless of age, education or income," Competition Bureau commissioner Sheridan Scott said.

Quote of the Day:

"Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first, the lessons afterward."

Dialing " 9 "

Better Business Bureaus and police are warning people about a telephone scam where an automated caller promises the recipient a free vacation if they dial "9".

When the resident picks up the phone, a recorded message claims they have won a trip and asks them to dial"9" to claim it or "8" to be removed from the market list. By pressing "9" someone comes on the line and attempts to obtain personal information from them, likely for the use in IDENTITY THEFT.

Even pressing "8", which the recorded message says will remove you from their distribution list, confirms your phone number and that you are susceptible to this type of marketing, resulting in your name being added to other marketing lists.
If the call comes into a business with a commercial switchboard requiring employees to dial "9" to get an outside line, going along with the request would give the caller an outside line they can use to make expensive overseas phone calls.

Calls like this come from outside the country, using an automatic dialer to push out thousands of calls a day.
The simple solution to all this is to HANG UP the phone. Good Luck.

Quote of the Day:

"The fish does not go after the hook, but after the bait." --Czech Proverb

The "G" Word

As humans we seem to want to know what the next person is doing. I am sure that was the case from early caveman to the present. Facts verus fiction have made many a newspaper, magazine, or TV station quite popular and in some cases, individuals rich. Whether the facts are true appears irrelevant. All one has to do is click on the television and see the latest "reality TV" programs that seem to flourished over the last few years or talk to that nosy neighbour who seems to know what everyone is doing on the block. Yes, I am talking about the "G" word - gossip. Where did the term originate?

Well, early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. "You go sip here" and "You go sip there." The two words "go sip" were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term "gossip."

Hmmm. Did you hear about.........

Quote of the Day

"By the time we get old enough not to care what anybody says about us, nobody says anything."

An Arm and A Leg

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are "limbs," therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."

Quote for the Day

"It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference".

Did You Know?

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations.
However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." (All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you.)

Quote of the Day

"There is nothing wrong with making mistakes. Just don't respond with encores."

Cna raed tihs?

Amazing what the human mind can decipher. Can you read it?

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid tooCna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe cani cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Quote of the Day

The first rule of tinkering is to save all the parts.

Becoming Wealthy

I came across the following article which I thought was very worthwhile to share it with you.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME WEALTHY? by Loral Langemeier

Imagine never worrying about money ever again. Allow yourself to get lost in this fantasy for a moment: your bills are always paid with ease, you own several beautiful homes, your kids are attending the top colleges, and the money just keeps rolling in quicker than you can spend it…

Did you get a clear image? Or did you starting thinking things like, "It's silly to get lost in a fantasy," or "That's nice for someone else, but it won't happen to me," or even, "Who am I to think I could have that?" Some of us can more easily visualize our dreams than others, and when it comes to being wealthy, your ability to do this is a key factor in your success.

Absolutely anyone can become a millionaire.

Yes, I mean anyone, including you. I don't care how much debt you're in, or your line of work. And, not just wealthy, but a millionaire. I know because I'm a wealth coach who specializes in doing just that: making people millionaires.

If you think you can't become a millionaire, you won't. But if you want to become wealthy, you'll have to change your attitude and behavior when it comes to wealthy.

I cover the many aspects of this process in my book, The Millionaire Maker, but for now let's just focus on the mental aspect. As essential first step in becoming a millionaire is the ability to open up your mind to the very real possibility that you can have whatever it is you dream of.

What would you do differently if you knew that you couldn't fail?

Every circumstance you have in your life is the result of your thoughts, from which you base your behavior. When you believe you can succeed, you end up doing things differently.

Right now you probably have a lot of beliefs around why you can't be wealthy. A large part of my work with my clients involves reconditioning their minds so that they can clearly see the abundance and wealth possibilities that constantly surround them.

The next step on the road to millions is creating a vision of wealth. This is where you write out specific financial goals you want in your life. I usually have my clients write out what they want by the end of a year's time, so that their goals are measurable.

Your vision of wealth may include quitting your full-time job to start a new business, lowering your debt by half, or making $500 extra a month in passive income. It's really up to you.

When you create this vision, you need to use what I call "unlimited thinking." However, you also need to set goals that are realistic and do-able. This is where the help of a mentor or wealth coach is key. Such professionals will have a realistic sense of how far you can stretch your mind and still be able to achieve your yearly goals.

Lastly, you need to be patient. Becoming a millionaire does not happen overnight, it takes time. It also requires work and commitment. Millionaires are active creators of their futures, and they always have a plan. And although they ultimately expect to succeed, they don't let failure (an inevitable challenge on the path to success) hold them back.

Your wealth is your choice. And the question is, would you rather dwell on what you don't have and why you can't have it, or spend your time creating what you do want?

Loral Langemeier, author, speaker and founder of Live Out Loud is a pioneer in financial coaching who empowers people to build wealth and achieve financial success.

Interesting Facts:Part 3

SPAIN Spain literally means 'the land of rabbits.'

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA St. Paul, Minnesota, was originally called Pig's Eye after a man named Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant who set up the first business there.

ROADS Chances that a road is unpaved in the U.S.A.: 1%, in Canada: 75%.

TEXAS The deepest hole ever made in the world is in Texas. It is as deep as 20 empire state buildings but only 3 inches wide.

UNITED STATES The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one-mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

WATERFALLS The water of Angel Falls (the World's highest ) in Venezuela drops 3,212 feet (979 meters).
They are 15 times higher than Niagara Falls.

So, didn't it feel good to learn something new ??

I have always said you should learn something new every day. Unfortunately, most of us are at that age where what we learn today, we forget tomorrow. But, give it a shot anyway!

Interesting facts- Part 2

LOS ANGELES Los Angeles's full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula -- and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its size: ** L.A. **

NEW YORK CITY The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians of the 1930's who used the slang expression "apple" for any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - The Big Apple. There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland; more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy; and more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.

OHIO There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio, every one is manmade.

PITCAIRN ISLAND The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn in Polynesia, at just 1.75 sq. Miles/4,53 sq. Km.

ROME The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy in 133 B.C.
There is a city called Rome on every continent.

Quote for the Day

"There is nothing wrong with making mistakes. Just don't respond with encores."

Interesting Facts:Part 1

Happy Valentines Day!
I received the following from a friend and thought I might share them with you.


ALASKA More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska.

AMAZON The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% the world's oxygen supply. The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one hundred miles at sea off the mouth of the river, one can dip fresh water out of the ocean. The volume of water in the Amazon river is greater than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined and three times the flow of all rivers in the United States.

ANTARCTICA Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country. Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica. This ice also represents seventy percent of all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica is essentially a desert. The average yearly total precipitation is about two inches. Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, i.e.), Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.

BRAZIL Brazil got its name from the nut, not the other way around.

CANADA Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined.
Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village."

CHICAGO Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population in the world.

DETROIT Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, carries the designation M-1, so named because it was the first paved road anywhere.

DAMASCUS, SYRIA Damascus, Syria, was flourishing a couple of thousand years before Rome was founded in 753 BC, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in existence.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world located on two continents.