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!