What Should I Say Now

My writing on this Blog is a lot different compared with the way I wrote before.

I do try to write properly after all. As I am sure that you have figured out by now, I write about a lot more stories on a lot more different subjects than I did previously. I am doing that because I write about very personal matters quite often when I start out my Blog for the day. Just as I am doing now.

I hope that I don't tire you out if you read my introduction. I just have the need to write on subjects that I find very important to me and hope that you are interested in what I have to say. That is why this website is so valuable to me. I do want to let you know what is taking place in my life since my illness. As you get older, it would not surprise me if you are impacted in some of the ways that I have been. Hopefully, you may learn how to deal with some of these strange events.

As I have said previously, I do have a different way of looking at things now. It's funny but my past just doesn't take up so much of my time is it did did before. Why would it? After all, it is my "past." It is all finished. It seems I just have to worry about "today." Again, as I have said, today, I just don't think about my future as much anymore. After all, I don't have much control over what may come so why waste time on it.

No more about this. I did have to mention it one more time. Who knows, I may do so again in the future. Whether I like it or not, it is now part of me and there just seems to be a need for me to talk about it again when I feel a certain way.

By the way, just consider what I have discussed. It just may impact you in the same way one day in your future.

Enough of this personal stuff. I better start writing some more interesting news stories instead. There, that just made me feel a lot better. Thanks for coming to the website.

JOB PROBLEMS

Oh my goodness, unemployment rates have increased again in our area. These numbers are not very attractive:

“Statistics Canada says the jobless rate in Windsor climbed to 7.5 per cent in August.

The rate, not adjusted for seasonal changes, is a 0.8 per cent increase from July. The seasonally adjusted rate rose from 6 per cent in July to 6.6 per cent last month.” (Adelle Loiselle, Blackburn News, September 7, 2018) 

I am not going to talk very much about this in this article. Clearly though our optimism about employment improvement that seemed so positive that it was going to happen now has to be questionable. After all, the difficulties that we are having with the US President mean that there could be problems with cars being produced in the plant in Windsor. It can also mean that there could be a significant decline in jobs in the automobile industry and elsewhere.

Just so that you understand what may be considered now by the Federal Government, especially if the NAFTA Agreement collapses, take a look at this. It could result in significant changes about events that take place in this country:

“Early federal election rumours build

Liberal hawks, like those of a generation earlier, are heatedly debating a snap election call. Not entirely surprising, since have not seen a decade since the ’50s when a government has not been forced by events, or decided to seize a strategic advantage, and called an early election.

The Liberal hawks’ arguments are getting stronger. Neither of their opponents is ready, and each will likely be stronger a year from now. The Federal Court and Donald Trump have both just stuck a finger in the Prime Minister’s eye. This is an opportunity to return the favour with a much harder counterpunch, a strong new political mandate.” (Robin Sears, Toronto Star, September 9, 2018) 

Just keep watching and see what might be happening fairly soon.

WEBSITES

I am curious, dear reader. Are you having problems with the various websites that you visit regularly on the Internet? For some reason, I seem to have a significant number of them these days. I have to admit I don't know why.

Here are some of the things that seem to be going wrong these days on a number of these websites:

--I have a website where funds are deposited to my Internet "deposit" account after one of my tasks is completed. I usually then send the received money to my usual bank account. I completed one of these functions the other day and have not been able to send the money I received at my "deposit account" directly to my bank no matter how many times I have tried. It just cannot be deposited. Oh, I tried but failed every time even after talking to the Website's Customer Service representative. I eventually figured out a different way to do it but it bugs me that I have a problem which for some reason I do not seem able to solve.

--A "fun chat" was set up for a specific time on a website. As a member on the website, I was given a reason to participate: a "money" gift card. Naturally, I applied to join that chat but unfortunately the date set out and the day of the week were in conflict. I had to write to the website to get the correct information substituted. I think I was the first member to do so because the article was changed right after I sent my note and I was thanked for doing so.

--A website invites me all the time to click on one of their links and complete a survey for quite a number of points that would help me get a nice financial reward more quickly. Never mind that I have gone to that site quite often but never have received a single point because no survey has ever been set up. So, when a different event happened, I got quite annoyed and sent a note and thought I received a friendly response:

ME----"This kept on failing for hours today. Why? When will it be fixed?

THEM----"Thank you for participating; as soon as our partner confirms your activity your points will post immediately to your account.’

Of course, this was fixed up but naturally back to what I had before: nothing ever happened! Oh, and no points ever received.

Just Some New Stories

No big, long introduction today in this column. I thought that I would start giving my comments right away about the news stories I have seen recently

VOTE FOR JOE BACHETTI

I live in Tecumseh and this is my first time when I am experiencing a municipal election here.

It's an interesting one for me because both the Mayor here, Gary McNamara, and the Councillor in my Ward, Bill Altenhof, are not running for re-election.  They both have been acclaimed! I cannot ever remember that happening where I lived before. They must be very powerful political people because no one has the nerve to run against them it seems.

That is very good for me because they are people for whom I would have voted as MY representatives!

However, the exciting part for me now is that three people are running to be the Deputy Mayor in Tecumseh. This is a new political position for me because both in Toronto where I was born and in Windsor where I moved, I was not used to such a political office. Who gets elected then will be of interest to me.

To be direct, I have my favourite candidate for whom I am going to vote. He is the present Deputy Mayor, Joe Bachetti. I trust that you do as well so he will be re-elected.

I have met him a number of times since I have moved to Tecumseh and he has helped me with several matters that arose after I came here with which I had to deal. For that, I am very grateful. Moreover, I expect that he has helped a number of other citizens in this Town handle their concerns.

I was going to give you a bunch of reasons why I think you ought to vote for him. My view is that he will be a very excellent person to be in the Deputy Mayor position based on what I  have seen. However, I don't have to do it now. 

I am terrifically excited about what has happened to him that tells me that everyone should vote for him to be the Deputy Mayor here. Take a look at this Facebook page that I just saw a few days ago:

That absolutely gives you the evidence that you need that you ought to be voting for Joe Bachetti to be the Deputy Mayor. If our Mayor, Gary McNamara, wants Joe there helping him out and is prepared to tell people about that, then we better vote for him as well!

IS HE A WINDSOR MAYOR RE-ELECTION SUPPORTER

I have no idea

However, go and take a look at a very interesting photograph that I saw on the Facebook page that was provided online by Edy Haddad on September 15, 2018. It was quite a surprise because I have never seen anything like that before.

I'll let you go to his Facebook page if you want to see it for yourself. It is a photograph of Edy and former Mayor of Windsor and now WFCU Credit Union President and CEO Eddie Francis standing together and posing for the photograph. Eddie is also the brother of Fred Francis who is a Ward Councillor in Windsor and who is also running for re-election.

I have no idea exactly where that photograph was taken but given all the election posters with the name "Dilkens" on it, I assume that it may have taken place somewhere which is one of Dilkens' offices where he has his operation for him running for Mayor.

I also don't know why Eddie was there. I'll let you decide that for yourself, dear reader. I just thought it was an interesting photograph to tell you about in case you have not seen it.

Oh by the way, I happened to see this in another recent Windsor Star story. It is all about a different subject---Mayoral candidate Marchand looking for an Enwin audit. In the story's last paragraph, right at the bottom of it, I saw this:

“Former mayor Eddie Francis sits on one of the boards [Enwin Energy Ltd.], as does Dilkens’ campaign manager Abe Taqtaq [Enwin Utilities Ltd.]. (Brian Cross, Windsor Star, September 13, 2018) 

I'm not sure why it was added by the reporter in this story since it has very little to do with it but there it is.

DILKENS' PROMISES

Here is an easy task for you to perform to help make you a decision about whom you should vote for Mayor of Windsor.

You should make your own decision, if you live in Windsor, whether you should vote to re-elect Drew Dilkens as Mayor.

If you want a way that this could be done, let me make a suggestion for you. Here is a link to the first major speech that Mayor Dilkens made after he was elected Mayor back in 2014. It is his City of Windsor Inaugural Address. Just go to this web address and you can read it: Dilkens Inaugural Address 2014 

After all, the Mayor made this statement recently when he announced he was running again:

“In 2014, we made campaign promises and we delivered on most of those promises,” he said.

"People know what they get with me. I have spent four years as mayor and eight years on council. People know when I say I am going to do something, we get it done.” (Dave Battagello, Windsor Star, September 16, 2018) 

You decide how well he delivered what he promised four years ago!  That should help you decide who gets your vote in the election.

My Newest Blog

Labour Day was here and that means that the summer will just be about over. The children will be back to school and most people will be back at work full-time now after their holidays have been completed.

I have to admit that my life is a lot different now. Even though I did not work for an employer for a number of years, nevertheless I was literally working full-time and more on some of the projects in which I participated. As an example, I provided assistance to a US computer firm which was a subsidiary of a major Asian computer company. I reviewed their products and commented on them and even helped them look for new products in which to build their business. Of course, I am sure that you remember all of my website writing that I did for so many years.

As you know, dear reader, I don't "work" anymore. That ended several years ago when I was hit by that weird and virtually unknown disease that has changed the way I live today. I no longer have the obligations that I had before to meet the objectives that I was given and which I accepted. That produced a number of duties on me I had to fulfill. Fortunately, I really did enjoy "working" at the tasks in which I participated.

Even though my life has changed dramatically now, I still do a lot that fills up my day, every day. Sure, I don't have an obligation to work five days a week from 9 to 5 for an employer, but I still have duties that I must carry on every day to help out at home.

It may surprise you but I still kept the obligation on myself to write articles on here for you to read. To be honest, I do it primarily to keep my "brain" operating as best as it can after the changes that were made to it because of my illness. Yet, I loved doing it before and still am so keen to do it now. I want to attract attention to give people my views as to what is happening these days. I still put the duty on myself to write as good a story as I possibly can and then require that it be reviewed before it is posted on my website.

I still look for tasks that I can perform to assist others. I still think about initiatives that others should consider and offer of my ideas as to how they can be done. I want to do so many things that keep my brain working but my approach is so much different now than it was before.

I don't have the faintest idea of what I will be doing in the future. I really only look at what may happen to me "today" because I do have some control over this. At last, I have learned that what may happen "tomorrow" is something that I know very little about now so I have changed my way of approaching matters.

Now here is something that I must do "now." It is my latest article for your reading enjoyment.

FIREFIGHTERS EN ROUTE

I live in Tecumseh and just saw this story today. I had never heard of it before and was not aware of it:

"in Tecumseh, the fire department is reminding motorists to pull over or yield if they see flashing green lights.

In Ontario, volunteer firefighters can place flashing green lights in their vehicles if they are responding to an emergency call. The lights are meant to signal to other motorists that they are travelling to an emergency.” (Rob Heydari, CBC, April 28, 2017) 

There is no legal requirement for people to pull over if such a vehicle is behind them. Moreover, it does not appear from the story that a siren is involved probably because this is not an "official" fire department vehicle.

While I appreciate why this is being done, I am strongly opposed to it. At least at this stage!

After all, until now, I've never heard of this before. In my opinion, it does nothing to help people who are rushing to go to the fire department. Unfortunately, I also believe that it may cause problems if the driver of the vehicle assumes that others understand what is going on. That person might take steps that could result in an accident if the other drivers do not respond as expected.

In my opinion, if this is supposed to carry on, then significant steps have to be taken to educate the public in Tecumseh about what is going on so that they can act properly. However, my concern is that this action will not help very much. Too many of the drivers who are driving in the roads here are not necessarily residents of Tecumseh. They probably would have no real idea about what the green light on the vehicle means. Accordingly, they may not react as the volunteer fire department driver believes. There could be a significant problem that arises because of this giving rise to a traffic accident.

Over a year has gone by it would appear. It would be interesting to know how well this process has worked, whether there have been any problems, and if so, what were they and how they have been overcome.

STARBUCKS CHINA

Seriously, who would believe that the largest Starbucks outlet is not in the United States but rather is set up in China. I saw a story about it but it did not give the reason why it is located there.

Take a look at this comment about its size:

"... the largest Starbucks in the world, which offers a high-end experience in a flashy building spanning nearly 30,000 square feet…

There are only two Starbucks Reserve Roastery outlets in the world: one in Shanghai and the other in Seattle where the company is headquartered.” (Uptin Saiidi, CNBC, August 23, 2018) 

I assume that it is so large there because of the population in China and so that it can attract people who will purchase from Starbucks at its usual facilities in other areas afterwards.

Who knows, we may see similar operations in other countries one day although I did not see Canada mentioned:

"The coffee giant already has plans to open more outlets globally in locations such as Milan, Tokyo, New York and Chicago.”

Creating Another News Webpage

I try very hard to create stories for you to read, dear reader, concerning matters that I find interesting and which I hope you will enjoy reading. In doing so, I try not to write a whole bunch of articles on just one subject matter but I look for interesting ones dealing with a lot of different items to discuss.

I must admit that my approach is not the same as before. Some of the stories are not all that important considering the way I used to write before but I deal with them because they are of interest to me these days. And I hope to you too as well.

I am not really sure why this is my new way of writing articles. I do make sure that the article I produce has some value. But this "value" can well be a lot different from the approach I took before. I believe that what I try to do is to bring to your attention matters that I find worthwhile for all of us to read. It does not have to be about all those big, important subjects that make all the headlines in the media but it just has to be something to write about that I believe has some value.

I hope that you still enjoy coming to my website and taking a look at what I am writing. Here is another example of the approach I am taking today and providing stories which I hope will interest you.

ONLINE CONTESTS

I have to admit that finding and then entering contests to win a prize is one of the important tasks that I carry out every day by going online! I expect that the Company that sponsors the contest expects to win a big prize as well IE. having lots of people be happy about the contest and the prize and then come to its website in the future as a customer to generate income for it.

Why not? Why shouldn't I enter a contest that provides a nice prize like a trip somewhere, a sum of money, an electrical appliance whether a TV set or computer device, clothing or attendances at wonderful restaurants. There are so many different contests with so many different prizes that are so much fun to enter and hope for the best.

Of course, many online contests provide an advantage that other contests do not provide. By this I mean contests that are set up on Facebook by the person or group running the particular contest.

The big advantage that one is provided, dear reader, is that one can discover how many other people have entered into the contest. In other words, one can find out what one's chances are to be the winner. Here is just one example:

Going to the website for a contest with such a nice prize gives you an idea about how many competitors you have. Accordingly, it makes it easier for you to decide whether you should even bother to complete the entry form given the number of people who also want to win. Even if the number is rather large, one might well want to take a chance given the size of the prize.

Both my wife and I have entered contests online and have won prizes. Most of them are not all that big but they give us a chance to take advantage of the prize that was offered. As an example, recently my wife won a prize that gave her, and me, a bit of money to be used to buy different ice cream treats at a special store. That is a super–duper prizewinning offering especially when it is so hot out. Years ago, I actually won a big prize of electronic equipment that I was able to use. It made me happy to win such a nice gift.

Of course, I expect to win all the time by entering these contests. Even if it does not happen. It doesn't really matter though. It is just something that I enjoy doing now.

FLOODING

Will this be a success finally?

I'm sure everybody is so excited now that the various Local Governments are going to do so much work, and spend so much money, to make sure that the risk of the local properties being flooded in the future will be reduced significantly. As you know, from what I have written before, our new property in Tecumseh that my wife and I purchased several years ago gave us our household flooding for the first time ever. And then, we were hit the next year as well.

I wonder if anyone remembers this story that today makes one shake one's head:

“Sewer flooding insurance claims in Windsor at 5-year low

As thunderstorm season approaches the city officials of Windsor, Ontario say that the number of residents making claims against the city for flooding damage is at its lowest for the past 5 years…

Several Windsor neighbourhoods were very flood-prone, especially during big storms. According to the city government, the reduced number of emergency calls and insurance claims signify that the city’s anti-flood strategy is effective.

The success was credited to downspout disconnect programs, flow monitoring, closed-circuit television monitoring as well as better sewer maintenance and repairs.” (Gabriel Olano, Insurance Business Canada June 1, 2016) 

Do you remember what happened a few months after publication at the end of August? And what took place in the next year? So much for that story with the successes attributed!

I thought I would post as well the last line of that story. I will make you draw your own conclusion from what was said:

"Sometimes we see a bit of a blip, an unusual weather event or a really hard winter, those types of things usually give rise to a little spurt of claims."

Given what happened with the "little spurts" we had, are you very pleased with what is being proposed now especially if you live in the City of Windsor:

“The rush of water through Windsor area streets and into basements during heavy rainstorms in August 2017 and September 2016 has local municipalities pouring millions of dollars into improving sewer systems and overland water flows.

There are over $120 million in construction projects underway or in the planning stages. Also in the works are plans to harmonize regulations and standards, and better co-ordinate approaches to battling the threat of flooding.” (Dave Waddell, Windsor Star, August 30, 2018)

Pretty impressive isn't it! Well, perhaps not as exciting if one lives in the City of Windsor and understand that it will take 10 years:

“2016 was terrible, but after 2017 we felt (flooding) was out of our control,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “We came up with an eight-point plan to try and do something. It’s going to take 10 years, but this plan is going to get done.”

Moreover, here is a different view of what our situation is like today:

“The lakes are near record levels and we’re concerned one good rain with the wind coming from the right direction and it could be really bad,” said City of Windsor engineer Mark Winterton. “We’re flat, surrounded by water and have 100-year-old sewers. I have a lot to worry about.”

It seems now that we had better be worried that our weather situation is going to change dramatically to our possible detriment. Yet, I just don't see our local governments acting as quickly as it seems they should be doing to prevent even more damage being done.

Perhaps that is something that should be put to the local people who are running for municipal offices these days. Let's see what they have to say to decide who should be elected. Or not!

A New Strange Matter To Discuss

I don't have a "personal" matter to discuss today to start off this Website article. I know you may find that surprising considering what I usually do but that's just how it is this time around.

Accordingly, let me start telling you about a new issue that certainly captured my interest quickly when it was published. It was just so strange to see it.

WHY HAS THE US VICE PRESIDENT SUDDENLY APPEARED

To be honest, I really could not remember the name of the Vice President of the United States who was elected a short time ago. I may have known it at some point but it has completely escaped my memory. When I think of the Executive of the US Government, only the name of the President, Donald Trump, comes to mind.

Just so everyone knows, the US VP is Mike Pence. Please remember him in the future. There may well be an important reason to do so.

Why am I mentioning that today? I just thought that I should let you know that, for whatever reason, the VP's name suddenly appeared in the news section of the MSN Canada Main Page on Sunday, September 9, 2018. There were a number of reported stories about him all of a sudden set out. Not one, not two but three of them! Here is a photograph to let you know what I mean:

I must admit that I did not read any of the stories. They really did not interest me all that much. What did interest me is that, out of the blue, so many stories involving him appeared at the same time and in the same place. It certainly was designed to capture people's attention for some reason.

I have to tell you, dear reader, that I do not have the faintest idea why that happened in such a manner. But it did! He suddenly became better known.

Let me give you some outrageous ideas about what might be going on. Could it be that the President might be charged with some serious crimes soon? And even convicted! Could it be that the President might be resigning from his job in the near future for some reason? Perhaps the President is ill and must leave office around election time. Who knows what is really happening?

All that this tells me is that something strange has suddenly started. What it means is that one must now start learning more about the man who may become the new US President!

I Like To Blog

It really is a lot of fun to write these Blogs, not just for myself, but to create some stories for other people to read. Hopefully, whether they agree with what I say or not, I am very pleased that so many people come and read my comments.

I have to admit that it still surprises me about how long it takes for me to complete one of these websites and then post it. As I am sure that you know, I do not create as many articles as I used to do but I still write quite a number of them. It takes me several hours generally to complete these postings with all of the different articles that I have in them. Of course, I'm not even talking about the time it takes to do the research necessary before I even start to write a story.

Naturally, I do this because of my background. I have written stories on the Internet for a good many years. It's a nice task being able to continue doing it. However, there is also the obvious reason why I'm doing it. I want to keep my mind operating as best as it can given my age and the illness I lived through. I really do want to keep my "brain" working. I cannot have it "relaxed" so that I lose some of my mental abilities. 

As I believe I mentioned before, I try to write about a lot of topics these days. I just don't write about the relatively few subjects as I did in my previous postings. But then again, I don't have the same responsibility that I had before. This Blogsite is a personal one for me that allows me to post what I think is important around the time that I do so. Moreover, it allows me to write about less important subjects but nevertheless subjects that are of interest to me.

I often wonder if you, dear reader, have ever wanted to do something similar to what I am doing now. If so, it's easy to do it. Just go and search out for different places where one can go to start writing articles that go online to let your friends read what your position is. The good part about it as well is that it does not have to cost you, dear reader, any money to do so. Who knows, if you are as good as you can be and you can attract lots of readers, there are all kinds of opportunities that you can gain. Including financial ones!

So while I want to do what it takes to continue to have you come to my website to look at what I have just written, perhaps I can ask you to let me know where you are posting your thoughts so that I may read them as well.

Now let me show you what I do that takes up the space in the rest of the typical posting that I invite you to read.

HOSPITAL EMERGENCIES

Although this is not what I am writing about in this article, just remember that it really won't be necessary to have something similar here when we only have one hospital in our region. It won't matter at all how long it takes you to see a doctor in an emergency in the future because there will only be one hospital in this region. You will have to wait as long as it takes whether you like it or not!

Oh I know that there is supposed to be an Urgent Care Centre/Main Satellite Facility at the former Grace Hospital Site but it is limited in scope: “An alternate site for patients with less serious issues, who do not require all the resources available in an emergency department.”

Just so you know as well, this Site: “is not meant for patients with life-threatening issues. [It] will not accept patients by ambulance.”

Today, just go to this website https://www.wrh.on.ca to find out which hospital has a better time to wait for examination before you go. You will find out about how long you will have to wait so that you can make a decision as to which hospital you think you should attend depending on your condition. It may be that both hospitals are equal in treating what is wrong with you. In such a situation, it can be better for you to go to the place where it takes less time for a doctor to see you and start treating you. After all, why go to the place that has a lot more patients at that particular time. Here is what I mean:

FOREST FIRES

If you want to read something about forest fires, may I suggest you take a look at this New York Times article published on August 25, 2018: "Canada Letter, When Extreme Fires Become Routine By Ian Austen” 

Here is just one part I read that I think you will find very interesting and should convince you to read the rest of what was published:

“How exceptional have the recent fire seasons been in the West?

What we’re seeing now is something that we haven’t seen in the last 100 years. Fire is behaving in ways that are unpredictable and pretty frightening. There are a lot of reasons for it. We live in a part of the continent from California right up to Alaska that has really experienced most of what climate change offers: a lot of dry, hot weather, which produces very dry forests, and the hotter it gets, the more lightning you get.” 

RESIDENCE OF THE FUTURE

Nevermind everything that you are reading about the new homes which are going to be built in our area. Oh sure, they are going to have all kinds of features that seem so amazing these days. I can just imagine how quickly so many people are going to try and see the latest new types of homes in an "open house."

Pshaw... What a waste of time that is!

One ought not to consider buying one of these homes when there are better homes to buy. However, the number of these particular residences may not be that huge so one has to prepare in advance for when they come on the market. Moreover, one must save a lot of money and get a lot of it as well in order to pay for these new units. They are not going to be cheap at all to purchase.

Here is the story about that new residence:

“This 15-story underground doomsday shelter for the 1% has luxury homes, guns, and armored trucks”

Given what may happen in our world today, this might be the perfect protection home to buy as a second home if there are any concerns that arise in your mind:

“Fortified shelters, built to withstand catastrophic events from viral epidemic to nuclear war, seem to be experiencing a wave of interest in general.”

Get out there now and consider whether you should put a deposit down if you want to buy one and can afford to do so!