Just Some More Short Stories

 

Lots of interesting subjects that I have looked at over the past few days that I thought that I should mention to you. 

Gee, some of the stories should make us all feel a bit happier as well. It's about time isn't it! 

LOTS MORE JOBS COMING HERE SOON

 

I sure hope  so!

 

The reality for our area has to be that the automobile industry is still of prime importance. 

According to what I have seen recently, some good news is going to happen. It must be that unemployment will drop considerably in our area. Of course, this will happen because of private business and has nothing to do with Government action it would seem at any level, especially because of any significant action by the City of Windsor Government for which the Members of Council can accept any credit: 

"But believe it or not, there’s an even better story bubbling just below the surface of the local economy in the machine, tool and die and mould industry. 

As reported in this space a few times in recent years, the MTDM [machine, tool and die and mould] sector is Windsor’s other big automotive employer with some 100-odd local companies. These expert metal-cutters produce billions of dollars worth of high-tech devices every year used to stamp out all the little pieces that make up a modern vehicle... 

The next peak in 2019, 2020 and 2021 is likely to produce work worth $19 billion, $18.5 billion and $19 billion, Wiggins says. “A lot of it will be built here.” How much? “I don’t know. A third?” 

Add up the billions: A third of that is gigantic. And it explains the help wanted signs on the front lawns of local tool, die and mould shops and the ads in the Star’s classified pages. 

“It means that good toolers are going to be in very high demand for the next few years,” Wiggins says. “I can’t even imagine what the labour shortage is going to look by next year.”  (Chris Vander Doelen, Windsor Star, May 18, 2016)   

By the way, the title of this article is: "Windsor's biggest auto story."  That certainly should make people happy, if it really happens, that our regional future is starting to look a lot better! 

WATER DAMAGE 

I remember when I moved down to the Windsor area almost 30 years ago that I decided NOT to buy a house that was right on the river. I was afraid of being washed out because of flooding that was supposed to take place here all the time. Or so I was warned by some people that I had talked with at the time. 

We haven't seen very much of that happening have we.  Steps have been taken to prevent that from happening. That means that so far the planning has been pretty good. 

However, I read this story which gives me some concern especially given how hard it has rained in this area over the past few months: 

"High lake levels wiping out Holiday Beach, natural shorelines 

Natural shorelines throughout Essex County have been hit with the “most significant negative impact” in 30 years due to high water levels and strong winds, according to the Essex Region Conservation Authority. 

Holiday Beach Conservation on Lake Erie is among the most affected with much of the sandy beach areas washed away and the lake’s water reaching the inland clay soil and tree areas, Tim Byrne, ERCA’s director of watershed management, said Wednesday. 

Waterfront residents across the county, despite seeing high lake levels, have so far remained unaffected because of manmade barriers on the shore which have protected them from the changed conditions and erosion, he said. 

But natural areas have lost “significant volumes of sand” with the lake tides in many areas sweeping it away, reaching trees and exposing roots. 

“Anywhere that is not protected by rock, steel or concrete, you are losing soil and trees in those areas,” Byrne said." (Dave Battagello, Windsor Star, May 18, 2016)

Let's just hope that we don't see any extensive damage. Notwithstanding what people may think, who knows what the real weather conditions in this area will be over the next few months. 

CANCER 

There have been some very interesting stories about cancer that I have read over the past few days. One, which is local, is quite scary and, frankly, horrific. The other, in the US, is totally different and may be a very positive one if it turns out to be true. 

Here's the first one: 

"Windsor and Essex County region has higher rates for 3 of 4 most prominent cancers  

(Brian Cross, Windsor Star, May 18, 2016) 

 

"Higher-than-average cancer rates coupled with lower-than-average survival rates in this region are concerning statistics that should serve as a wake-up call for everyone to do a better job preventing cancer, a leading family doctor said Wednesday. 

The just-released Cancer System Quality Index had some sobering statistics for the Erie St. Clair Region:

•Higher-than-average incidences of lung, breast and prostate cancers. Our prostate cancer rate is highest in the province.

•Lower survival rates for all four of the major cancers — breast, lung, colorectal and prostate.

•And poorer-than-average participation in most cancer screening programs. For example, just 31.5 per cent of screen-eligible women, ages 50 to 69, are up to date with all their tests, which is down from 32.4 per cent the year before and below the Ontario rate of 34.3. 

Dr. Ken Schneider, the chief oncologist for the Erie St. Clair Regional Cancer Program, said the report shows some “dramatic” local results compared to the Ontario averages..." 

We know that up to 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented, Day said, by doing things like exercising, eating well and not smoking." 

Here is the other story that I just read in the New York Times the other day. The problem is that it may be good news except it is relatively new and can it be as accurate as it seems: 

"More Men With Early Prostate Cancer Are Choosing to Avoid Treatment

(Gine Kolata New York Times, May 24, 2016)

 Seemingly overnight, treatment of men with early-stage prostate cancer has undergone a sea change. Five years ago, nearly all opted for surgery or radiation; now, nearly half are choosing no treatment at all. 

The approach is called active surveillance. It means their cancers are left alone but regularly monitored to be sure they are not growing. Just 10 percent to 15 percent of early-stage prostate cancer patients were being treated by active surveillance several years ago. Now, national data from three independent sources consistently finds that 40 percent to 50 percent of them are making that choice. 

In recent years, major research organizations have begun to recommend active surveillance, which for years had been promoted mostly by academic urologists in major medical centers, but not by urologists in private practice, who treat most men. In 2011, the National Institutes of Health held a consensus conference that concluded that it should be the preferred course for men with small and innocuous-looking tumors. Last year, the American Society of Clinical Oncology issued guidelines with the same advice... 

Half of all men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer have low-risk tumors, which pathologists, using a scoring system that looks at the appearance of cells under a microscope, rate as Gleason 6 or less on a commonly used scale. Their risk of dying from prostate cancer in the next 10 years is less than 1 percent, whether they have aggressive treatment or whether they choose active surveillance, research shows. 

Nothing, though, is straightforward in the cancer world. Is everyone with a cancer scored as Gleason 6 or lower a candidate for active surveillance? It is not clear."