Gardening fun

Everything seems to be early this year. The weather is warm and the danger of frost at night is nearly over. I started my garden early this year because of the good weather. The only problem is the constant threat of rain. I managed to put all of my seeds in before it rained yesterday and I was hoping to transplant my onions today, but we were busy this morning and it is raining now. The weather people promised us sunshine for Thursday, maybe I'll get a chance to do my planting. I'm not going to plant my peppers and tomatoes yet, not until next week. We need warmer daytime temperatures and there has to be no chance of frost. Peppers and tomatoes are sensitive to cold.

Of course, there are other dangers once the plants are in the ground. Last year I just finished planting my peppers when we got a thunderstorm with hail. I ran out into the garden as the ice-pellets bombarded me, dragging a huge tarp with me, and I managed to cover up the peppers. A few did get damaged, but I saved most of them. That is the fun of gardening. It is not for the faint-at-heart. It also provides plenty of exercise.

I mixed quite a bit of sheep manure into some of the garden areas, especially the parts where I seeded the red beets and the zucchini. I'll do the same with the onions. Last fall I tilled a thick carpet of leaves into the soil and I always till under the lettuce and the beans when they are finished. This year, in April, I added a couple of large bags of Alfalfa pellets and a bag of clay-buster to the soil. I should have a good crop if everything goes well. Once the plants are growing, I use liquid fertilizer to feed the plants. Miracle Grow is a good product which I use.

Before I stake out the beds, I make myself a plan where I want everything. I never plant the same vegetables in the same beds from one year to another. The reason for that is the possible transfer of diseases. It is especially important with tomatoes and peppers. Once I have my plan ready I begin to work. This year I seeded everything and left the areas where the plants go open. Of course, I put labels wherever I seeded so I won't get confused. I also mark everything on my plan. Once I am completely finished with the planting and seeding, I update the plan on my computer and save it in a file. When next year comes around, I print out the plan from the previous year for reference. I have a template of the plan without anything marked on it. I save that in a new file and the process of planning where to plant what begins again. It is important to be organized. That way I don't run out of planting space once I begin seeding and planting for real in the garden.

Triclosan...should it be banned?

Yesterday we saw in the news that scientists have concluded that Triclosan can cause cancer. Here is part of an article I copied from the David Zuzuki Foundation site. 

Triclosan is used mainly in antiperspirants/deodorants, cleansers, and hand sanitizers as a preservative and an anti-bacterial agent. In addition to cosmetics, triclosan is also used as an antibacterial agent in laundry detergent, facial tissues, and antiseptics for wounds, as well as a preservative to resist bacteria, fungus, mildew and odors in other household products that are sometimes advertized as "anti-bacterial." These products include garbage bags, toys, linens, mattresses, toilet fixtures, clothing, furniture fabric, and paints. Triclosan also has medical applications.

I found triclosan in the toothpaste we've been using: Colgate - Total.
The other toothpaste we are using is Crest - Complete. It doesn't contain any triclosan. So, from now on, only Crest. Colgate is off the list until they take out triclosan.

It is scary, because triclosan ends up in the water and in the soil. It doesn't break down and will cause much damage to the environment and future generations.

Substances like that should be banned immediately, not ten or twenty years down the road.

About gluttons and idiots

Sometimes I can't believe how many idiots share this planet with me. I know to use the word 'idiot' is not politically correct in these crazy times we live, but I'm not politically correct. Yesterday I heard about this 300 plus pound guy who went into an 'All-you-can-eat fish-fry' restaurant. He ate so much the restaurant finally ran out of fish, or nearly ran out. When he demanded more, they brought him ten filets and told him that was it. They were running out. Let's not forget, he wasn't the only customer in the place. Just think about this...ten filets in addition to the ones he already ate, which must have been an enormous amount. No wonder this guy is so fat. He doesn't know when to stop eating. We ate fish today (like we do most Fridays). My wife and I, we usually eat between 375 to 450 grams, nearly a pound, that's usually three filets each. And we have enough.

To come back to this 300 plus pound guy. He made a big fuss and accused the restaurant of false advertising. He started picketing the place and said he'd be back every day to eat his fill. He was doing it not for himself but for every customer who comes to an 'all-you-can-eat' place.

Give me a break here. This guy is a glutton and selfish. The only thing he will achieve is to kill the 'all-you-can-eat' restaurant business. They'll be putting limits on what you can eat. Instead of fighting for the rights of restaurant-goers he will spoil it for everyone. I can only shake my head.

We've been targeted by vandals

Anyone reading my blog probably read about the incident that happened in the night of March 28/29. Some punks busted our driveway lights. I wrote a letter to our local newspaper and they printed it. With my name as the author. Well, last night the same punks came back. They taped a copy of the letter to our door. They had circled a few of the quotes in my letter. I guess they didn't like it that I called them losers and stupid. I also suggested that parents should be made responsible for their children and pay for any damage they cause. They even circled that. On top of that they drew a couple of what looked like smiling faces on the paper. I perceive that as some kind of warning or threat. I've never liked being threatened by anyone.

To add insult to injury, they threw a number of eggs against one of our windows and on the bricks in front of the house. A couple of eggs even landed on the roof. Then they came into our yard and pulled out a fancy solar light and a decorative cloth windmill. We found both not far away in our neighbor's yard. At least they didn't steal or destroy them. Now we'll have the fun of scrubbing egg from the front of our house. I also found footprints. They are smallish, which means kids, most likely young teenagers. Most likely they live in the neighborhood.

I reported the incident to the RCMP. They sent out an officer and I made a verbal report. He took pictures and took the letter with him to scan it for fingerprints, which they found. Tomorrow we'll have to go and get fingerprinted so they can eliminate our prints from the letter. Unfortunately, we touched it. I'm not sure if I like that, but it is necessary. Now my fingerprints will be in the police records. I hope that won't create any trouble when we're traveling. What if I get asked if I've ever been fingerprinted? Should I say yes or no. If I say no I'm lying, if I say yes I may arouse suspicion of being a criminal. It could cause us delays at the border.

I wish I had never written that letter, but then again I can't just lie back and pretend everything is fine. That is not me. If I'm wronged I can't keep silent. I want the guilty ones to be punished.

Actually, the RCMP is treating this quite seriously, because it is not a random act anymore, but we've been targeted. Targeted by a bunch of young hoodlums. We'll see what happens. This second act may be just their undoing, because now they left fingerprints behind and are attracting more attention to their deed. People will be watching more closely now. I'll probably install a camera or two somewhere.

Gift or Bribe?

Every day lately we hear about another government official having received gifts from corporations, like free tickets to the Jets games and other functions. We are not so naïve to believe that companies give away thousands of dollars in gifts to influential government officials without expecting something in return. There is no such thing as ‘Free’, not when it comes to businesses, or even certain individuals.

Should Ministers of Parliament or any government official acting in a position where they can make certain decisions allowed to accept a gift from individuals or private companies?

Let’s not play games here. These so-called gifts are just another word for bribe. Are bribes ethical, a necessary evil, or even legal? The Oxford Dictionary defines a bribe this way: persuade to act improperly in one’s favor by a gift of money, services, etc. To act improperly. Doesn’t that say it all? Shouldn’t that be a crime punishable by a fine or even imprisonment if the bribe is substantial? Both parties should be made responsible for this illegal act…the giver and the recipient who accepts the ‘free gift’. This is like bribing a policeman in Mexico or any of those third world countries.

Bribing isn’t just limited to high government officials. It goes way down to the lowliest position in government. I remember years ago when I started my business I had to deal with inspectors. I used to get many red stickers just because I wasn’t on the jobsite when the inspector came by. When I mentioned this to another contractor, he said, “Maybe you’re not giving away enough bottles.” I asked him to explain and he told me it is customary to give the inspectors a bottle for Christmas. Well, I did that and from then on I got only a red sticker when it was actually warranted. It was an accepted practice to give bottles…bribes really. Part of doing business. We’re not talking big money here, but nobody questioned the ethics or legality of that practice. By the way, this happened so many years ago, I’m sure none of the inspectors is alive anymore. They retired and died of old age. No need to fret over it…I don’t.

But this thing with giving away expensive Jets tickets to people who can afford to pay for them when there are many fans who would like to buy tickets but can’t get any goes way beyond a simple bribe. They should either pay for them or give them back.

We hear just too much these days about how Government Servants in high places are taking advantage of their position by commandeering private jet planes, helicopters, going on expensive vacations, staying in luxurious hotels, hiring high-priced private chauffeurs, dining on prohibitively expensive foods, and take part in other extravagant activities, all paid for by the taxpayer. It is outrageous and should be stopped.

Just my humble opinion.

Criminals and Victims

Sometimes what we see and hear from the media is not always black and white. We are only shown what the media wants us to see, and sometimes it is blown out of proportion just to create a buzz. I haven’t seen anything these last few days on the news about the taxi driver who drove over this guy a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, it’s been all over the world on Utube. I haven’t seen it on Utube, only on TV. Many people apparently found it upsetting and are calling for the taxi driver’s head. They want him punished for doing such a terrible thing. This is again one of those incidents that make victims out of hoodlums and criminals out of victims. The man only acted in self-defense. Don’t people see what is happening when they watch the clip? I see guys kicking the taxi; one guy is stomping his feet on the roof of the taxi. What would have happened had they managed to pull him out of his vehicle? Probably beat him up, possibly injured him badly, perhaps even killed him. But no, the only thing people seem to see is the taxi driving over one of those hoodlums.

When an animal is cornered, it will lash out and try to escape by all means necessary, and that’s what the driver did. The only thing in his mind was to get away from his attackers. He did what he had to do…drive. If one of his attackers fell under the wheel it was not his fault. I hope the driver gets a fair trial.

A few weeks ago we had our driveway lights smashed by some punks. Had I caught them in the act and beat them up, I probably would have been charged with assault.

This reminds me of what happened to an acquaintance of mine many years ago. He is not a big man, quite small, actually, but he is trained in martial arts. One evening while walking around in his yard looking at the stars, he noticed a couple of guys trying to break into his neighbor’s house. His neighbor was on holidays. So he walked over and asked the two guys what they were up to. One of them, I big guy, attacked my acquaintance with a piece of lumber. He ended up with a broken arm and other injuries. He had the audacity to sue my acquaintance for assault. Fortunately, the judge threw out the case. One look at the big guy with his arm in a sling and another look at my acquaintance, who is not very big, caused the judge to shake his head and say, “Let me get this straight: This guy beat up this guy? Case dismissed!”

It worked out well this time. Justice was done, but it could have gone otherwise. It seems the perpetrators and criminals are more protected by our laws than the victims.

Right now I’m watching something that has happened to a young man I know quite well. He drove his bike to work in the morning and, trying to avoid a pothole full of water, came over a bit too far toward the next lane on the road. The driver of the car near him yelled at him and, after a short exchange of words, the driver punched this young man in the face and sped off. The injured young man called the police. He reported the incident and asked them to locate the driver (he had the license number of the car) and wanted the driver charged.  Hours later the police arrested this young man, charged him with assault (according to the driver the young man spat at him—untrue--), fingerprinted him and took his picture. He’ll have to go to court. They told him if he loses the case he’ll have a criminal record which would affect his future, like travel restrictions and whatever.All this for, allegedly, spitting another man in the face. We are wondering now if the driver was a cop, a lawyer, or some other ‘important’ person. Sounds like a made-up story by a writer with a fertile imagination. It isn’t. This is real life.

Freedom of speech...an illusion in the free countries?

This young soldier was muzzled today by the military. He could face  $800.00 in fines and/or two years in prison. What did he do that was such a terrible crime? He disobeyed orders. Wow! What orders? All he did was show the injuries he suffered while fighting in Afghanistan and talked about the problems many soldiers face after coming back home. The government is cutting many positions in the military, including many of the psychologist the soldiers can talk to about their problems. He spoke out against it. Terrible crime, isn't it? Here are our young men and women putting their lives on the line fighting a war that should never have happened, in a country that doesn't even want us there. They lose limbs and suffer other injuries and when they come back home they aren't allowed to talk about it? And that in a free country? What is happening over there that the military and the government doesn't want the taxpayers who fund that war to know? Makes me wonder. Things like that bug the hell out of me.

White-crowned sparrow

We feed the birds all year long, winter and summer, that  way we can enjoy watching them from our sun-room. In the winter most of the birds go south. The only ones that are loyal to us are the sparrows. Most people don't appreciate the sparrows, but they are quite beautiful in their own rights. We still have some Slate-colored Juncos and a few different varieties of sparrows at our 2 feeders. There are so many different species and they are difficult to identify. One small family of White-crowned sparrows have arrived at our feeders these past days. There is also one lonely Purple Finch who comes to feed. There might be a female in the crowd. They are harder to distinguish from sparrows as are the female American Finches. We've also had 4 Chickadees visit us all winter, and a few Blue Jays. They sure clean up the sunflower seeds. Here is a picture of the White-crowned sparrow. I got it from Wikipedia.