As reported on November 15 of last year by Environment News Service (http://www.ens-newswire.com/), a 2005 study conducted by Environmental Defence found 60 different toxic chemicals in the bloodstreams of average people living in various places across Canada. The chemicals they found include “stain repellents, flame retardants, mercury and lead, DDT, and PCBs.” The executive director… Read more »
A good friend of mine has a son who is now in grade five. By the time he was part way through grade three, his mother had been advised by three different teachers. They each advised her that, in their opinion, her son suffered from some form of attention deficit disorder. Each of the teachers… Read more »
There are few things that go more thoroughly against the grain of our society than doing nothing. Perhaps it is a holdover from the Puritan work ethic upon which our busy producer/consumer society is based upon. Whatever the roots of this phenomenon are, they are deeply embedded in our consciousness. From the time our children… Read more »
Summertime is (nearly) here, and the livin’ is easy. Or at least it should be as easy as possible. As we all know, enjoying good, satisfying food out of doors is a vital element of any successful summer. If you’re like me and enjoy spending time in the kitchen (just so long as it involves… Read more »
As any Scottish person worth his or her salted porridge would happily tell you, there is a world of difference between being cheap and being frugal. We have all encountered cheapskates. They are of the sort to not leave enough money when contributing to a shared restaurant bill. They may leave an inadequate tip or… Read more »
A couple of nights ago, I went to a movie with a friend whom I hadn’t seen for several years. She drove downtown, and I offered to pay for the parking. However, when we got to the parkade, we discovered that the terms of payment were cash only. I hadn’t brought any non-plastic money with… Read more »
My friend Handriga’s Aunt Jackie is one of those stereotypical sweet-tempered, rosy-cheeked older ladies that you usually associate with hand-knit shawls and recipes for the perfect gingersnap cookies. If you were to see her shopping for plants and fresh vegetables at the weekly farmer’s market, it is very likely that you would immediately, if affectionately,… Read more »
Perhaps inspired by the sense of rebirth that is tied up with Easter, my partner and I, both in our forties, were talking the other night about what exactly it is about the process of growing older that seems so pleasurable to us. I know that for many people, aging is filled with trauma and… Read more »
It seems basic and perhaps overly obvious to suggest that keeping a sense of balance and moderation is vital to our wellness, both as individuals and as a society. Few people would disagree that it is nice to enjoy the benefits of the wealth that we are fortunate enough to experience. Buying a new dress… Read more »
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if we changed our perceptions of the world just a little bit – specifically, the commonly held perception that life equates to struggle. How many times have we heard or said things like “Life is tough,” or “You really have to fight to survive out there”? If… Read more »