Quinte Woodcarving Show

Woodcarving is more popular than ever as artists showed off their hard work at Loyalist College last weekend. Organized by the Quinte Woodcarving Association, this was their 23^rd year celebrating and showing off brilliant creations done by participants throughout Ontario.

While some participants are competing for first, second and third, other`s are here to have a good time. Though the event is focussed primarily on different species of birds, several have uniquely designed different pieces of art.

One participant, Jan Oegema from Bowmanville, Ontario, created an outstanding piece which symbolizes the hard work and dedication the Canadian troops who are, and have fought for their country.  He discusses the process he took to design and carve his master piece. The first eight weeks he had the entire wood ready, then gradually built them into larger pieces. Oegema travelled to Saskatoon and met with a man by the name of Bill Judt whom he showed his designs. Judt drew the inside of Oegema’s four foot, by three-foot display.

Oegema has been craving for approximately 18 years, by only using a knife.  Later, he has been contacted from the War Museum in Ottawa Ontario, and he hopes to have his pieces in the Trenton museum.

Among the crowd of approximately 279 people, participants are gearing up for the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition in Ocean City, Maryland. This event provides a forum for judging of contemproary wildfowl art, and an opportunity to compare techniques, and exchange ideas and information. Exihibits consist of contemporary bird carvings, antique decoys, interpretations of history and development of decoy carving.

The competition is divided into levels, divisions, categories and species, and entries are displayed according to these breakdowns. Levels refer to as general artistic and technical skill of the carver, and to insure that carvers of like ability compete against each other. There are three basic levels, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced at the Ward World Championship.

Grant Parks is a participant in the Ward World Championship, and he is preparing himself for this year’s contest. He has carved for 10 years and his expertise is ducks. Along with him is Bob Solloman. He has carved for six to seven years, and carves birds. Solloman says, “Win lose or draw, your bird gets critiqued.” This is a very important part when attending this kind of Championship. No matter how well these contestants do, receiving advice from expert will help carvers understand what they can do differently next year.

Another outstanding participant is Doug Masen. He advanced to Masters in the Ward World Championship. Masen started to compete in 1989 where he received his first honourable mention out of 38 competitors. When asked, what advice he would give to a participant who was attending the Ward World Championship, he says “study your reference, more reference the better.” Reference is crucial when entering this completion. If you are unfamiliar with what you are entering, it could impact your ability to win.

When asked what it is like attending the Ward World Championship; Ron Taylor answers, “There is no other show like it. There are people all over the world, and you learn from your mistakes.” Taylor also suggests, “Study your reference. It doesn’t work off a picture; you need the actual feather lengths and colours to do well.”

Wishing these men and women luck as they travel to attend one of the biggest events in woodcarving, some will continue to compete provincially and continue to perfect what has become a lifelong hobby.

Lawrence Whytock has shown a new way to carve by taking his hobby to the next level, soap stone and bone. He has competed in Ottawa, Brockville and Quebec; he has carved for almost 60 years. Carving has become a hobby, and he says, “I would hate to try to make a living. If ooo’s and awww’s were money in the bank, I would be driving a Cadillac.”

Woodcarving attracts people of all ages, and you don’t have to be artistic to enjoy a fine piece of work.

Eight years is not enough for a sex offender

Rape is not something that people should brush off lightly. It is also not the word a parent wants to hear about what has happened to their child.

Daniel Katsnelson, 27 years old had raped two young women while roaming the corridors of York University residence. Only receiving eight years in prison as a punishment for what he had done, has left everyone worried.

Katnelson admitted he raped two women under the age of 18, on a night he was drinking with Justin Connort near campus. This was an act done on purpose for pleasure. Whether Katnelson was drinking, or not, he knew what he wanted, and knew where we was going.

Connort is receiving a three-year sentence, while Katnelson is receiving eight years.

These men deserve a stronger sentence. Anyone who thinks and acts on wanting to hurt another person whether it’s mentally or physically not only has a problem, but needs to be locked up for a long time. This isn’t okay, and nor should it be treated like it is.

These women will remember this forever. When they wish they wouldn’t, they will. This will affect how they perform in school.

Both men don’t deserve the privilege to live outside a jail cell. They deserve to eat and sleep. It’s people like them, where people wish for the death penalty, because no one can make these girls forget, and no one should ever be allowed to hurt another human being; no matter the circumstance.

It’s only in our fantasies where we think sex offenders can be rehabilitated. There is a reason why fantasies are called fantasies, they don’t exist.

Cheap prescriptions causes conflict for local businesses

Last week, Ontario announced the end of a subsidy program that put $750 million per year into pharmacists’ coffers.  This was a subsidy where funds were given to pharmacists by the generic drug manufacturers as a sales incentive.

In effort to lower costs, Ontario thought it was a good idea to end this program. Instead, this is creating hardship for locally owned businesses. This will put a strain on local pharmacies by shortening hours, longer wait times due to longer line-ups. Pharmacists will have less time working with prescription conflicts, seniors, and medical consultations.  This is an important for a pharmacist. They work hard in providing outstanding service for their customers.

The government isn’t caring about what this will do for independent pharmacies that are relying on these sales. These stores will have to charge more for dispensing fees, cut workers and may lose their business.  Westmount Pharmacy in Peterborough is one of the friendliest and quickest pharmacies. It would be terrible if they had to close.

Peterborough has four Shoppers Drug Mart locations.  There is no reason a city with a population of 70,000 people would need four stores.

Its business’s like Westmount, who deserves a fighting chance in today’s economy. Everyone relies on pharmacists to help us on a regular basis, and yet they are getting the short end of the stick by unions, and the government.

If the government could balance their budget, fix their deficit problem, but not at the price of Ontario’s healthcare professionals, and local businesses, these companies wouldn’t have to fight for their business.

"Cheap" isn' always a good thing

Union tries to privatize Canada’s postal service

The postal service has delivered mail in Canada since 1693.The first Canadian stamp was designed by Sir Sanford Fleming, in 1851.

Canada’s postal system evolved into Canada Post

Canadian Stamps

, and now delivers more than 10 billion letters and parcels to more than 31 million Canadians as well as businesses and public institutions.

Now, today, Canada Post’s union, The Crown corporation is trying to fight to have part of their operation privatized. By doing so, this would cut more than 300 jobs across the country.

How will this affect Canada’s postal service?

The Public Service Alliance of Canada,  has 2,000 members at Canada Post say this decision will badly damage the postal service, and the communities they serve.

Affected locations will include: Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Fredericton, and Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

Richard Deslauriers, national president of the Union of Postal and Communications Employees argues, “The privatization of Canada Post has always been an objective of the current management and the conservative federal government.”

By privatizing a service that Canadians have used for decades, will deprive people of a service they have relied on.

It’s no wonder why people have resorted into using other companies to send and receive mail. It’s a shame that Canadians can’t rely on their own postal service. Eventually with enough people shutting out Canada Post all together, they will have no choice except using American postal services such as, Fed EX, UPS etc.

Additionally, Canada is still recovering from a recession, and yet another 300 workers will be laid off in their own country? There isn’t any logic in this. The Crown Corporation is deciding to outsource, which everyone knows is frustrating. Why? Because in order to get a simple question answered always ends up taking several minutes which feels like hours. Call centers located internationally is extremely hard to do business with and when you are the customer looking for a simple solution, to a simple question.

Companies see this as an easy and cost efficient way to run a business. But they fail to understand that it is also hard to train a person in an international country, who is unfamiliar with our country, not to mention our postal service. So now, there will be frustrated workers located in another country as well as frustrated customers in Canada trying to mail.

If Canadians think it’s frustrating to call into Bell, just wait until there is postal question.

Deepest underwater volcanic vent discovered

"A New Discovery"

Scientists have used a remote -controlled submarine to discover the deepest volcanic vent. Some say, with the superheated waters, there is a possibility of undiscovered marine species. This could trace clues in discovering the origin of life on Earth.

Volcanic vents are networks of small cracks which penetrate into the Earth’s crust. Temperatures can reach as hot as 400 degrees Celsius. The pressure can be 500 times stronger than the Earth’s atmosphere.

James Cook, expert abroad the RRS said the vent was found more than five kilometres beneath the surface of the Caribbean known as the Cayman Trough. This is a deep-sea canyon.  You might have seen this when watching the underwater thriller movie “The Abyss,” by James Cameron.

There have been scientists who have explored other volcanic vents who have discovered exotic species such as, hairy worms, blind shrimp and giant white crabs.

“Like wandering across the surface of another world,” says Bramley Murton, Geologist and submarine pilot.

Through more research and discoveries, scientists are intrigued with what they have found thus far, and some believe this could have been part of the creation of life. Jon Copley says that the microorganisms found in deep-sea vents are appearing to be quite similar to some of Earth’s most ancient organisms.

71 percent of Earth is covered by ocean, which has made it difficult for scientists and researchers to explore. Now that technology has improved and they have discovered this volcanic vent, could this be the be the answer scientists have about the origins of life?

It’s hard to tell, but with more discoveries, and research scientists will be able to answer the questions they have been questioning for decades.

This  could definitely affect science,. The more discoveries, the more answers we have about what is hiding in front of us. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see an underwater hairy worm?

Running without injuries

Exercising regularly decreases the chances of obesity which can lead to serious health problems. The most common form of exercise is running. Running looks easy, feels great, but can hurt your joints and muscles.

From your first time attending a fitness center, or exercising outdoors, there are many ways you can injure yourself. This can happen by not wearing the proper footwear, not properly trained or just simply pushing yourself too hard. The most common form of exercise is running.

How do you avoid common injuries?

Cory-Ann Freeman, a certified athletic therapist and a former marathon runner answered an online Q&A discussion, today.

A common injury when running is shin splint. Freeman suggests “Immediately rest and ice (20 mins on, 20 off repeat) following the injury, find out what caused it. Was it your shoes? Was it doing repeats of hills (a frequent factor is the impact from going downhill) Stretch the front of your calves often and make sure you do a proper warm up.”

Runners tend to have IT an issue which is a layer of connective tissue extending from the iliac crest to the knee and links the gluteus maximus to the tibia. This is caused when excessive friction between the Iliotibial Band and knee (or hip) bone.

Freeman comments, “Most surfaces have some sort of curve to them to allow for runoff and we tend to always run in the same direction thus resulting in stress on the outside of our “inside” leg (the one closest to the curb). Stretch your entire lower body, but really focus on stretching the IT band post-run and piriformis.”

When running, should you stretch before or after or both?

Freeman suggests that you it might be a good idea to start with a slow run to build your heart rate and then do a stand up stretch afterwards. However some people could disagree.  There are benefits to doing this, but it’s ultimately up to the runner.

To decrease some of your chances of possible injuries, replace your shoes often. Freeman suggests every 800 to 850km. With that being said she suggests that you look at your shoes for wear and tear.  Some runners are hard on their shoes and they may need to replace sooner.

Running is a great way to build strength, endurance, and maintaining a healthy body, but there is more to being healthy. Eating right, exercising, and lifting weights will help carry out a healthy lifestyle. If there is any advice to give, it’s listening to your body, and use proper footwear.

Is Sandra Bullock’s career at stake?

The sex scandal between Jesse James and Sandra Bullock continues. An alleged sex tape that could show “kinky practices.”

While James who has recently finished his time in a sex rehab clinic, Bullock was filling out divorce papers. If James has this sex tape, it is presumed that he could in fact use it at the bargaining table when discussing their broken marriage.

There are concerns of Bullock’s career if this were to take place. The “girl-next-door” actress might have to fight for her career, while fighting this outrageous humiliation.

Like other broken relationships in the celebrity world, there is always a light that sits at the end of the tunnel. Relationship scandals should be kept private. It’s not bad enough that person has to go through such devastating news, but to see it on every magazine cover, newspaper or hear it on the radio makes it so much harder to overcome.

A career can only be broken if you let it.  A person’s skill to produce great work should not be reflected by private, personal issues. If you’re talented, you are in deed talented, and not because you have a perfect relationship, but because you have the skill to perform.

Sex tapes get leaked out all the time, and it has yet to damage a long-lasting career. It doesn’t matter if Bullock is wearing the most scandalous outfit crawling on all fours; she still remains an outstanding actress. What her and spouse do privately in closed corridors should remain in closed corridors.  If James decides leak this alleged sex tape, his revenging attitude will only lead him with humiliation of trying to fight for his career.

The thought of judging someone over his or her relationship status, or relationship problems is crazy.  An actor or actress, who don’t allow personal issues reflect their performance on set, is what makes them admirable.

Should tasers be allowed?

Changes for Ontario police are underway. Ontario is considering revamping its guidelines on the use of stun guns by police officers. According to The Canadian Press, changes will be made March 30^th. This has been two years after the government reviewed tasers.

The government is being urged to make tasers available to all front-line police officers not just tactical officers and supervisors. It has been said by many officers that tasers are less dangerous than guns. With tasers, you are able to save lives.

In 2007, Ontario reviewed tasers after an incident occurred in the Vancouver Airport. Polish immigrant, Robert Dziekanski had died after he was hit with a RCMP taser. A video recorded by a passenger had streamed through the public which caused a public outrage.

What are tasers?

Tasers are hand-held weapons that deliver a jolt of electricity through a pair of wires propelled by compressed air from up to 10.6 metres away.

Tasers are used on the target by causing an uncontrollable contraction of the muscle tissue. The target is immobilized and will fall usually fall to the ground. Tasers use up 50,000 volts, the electricity is delivered at a high voltage but low amperage

Why are they used?

Tasers are supposed to allow police officers to restrain violent people without killing them. A police officer can “take down” a threatening suspect without worrying that a bullet might kill or injure an innocent bystander.

Can tasers cause serious harm?

Some experts say “prolonged deployment of the stun gun could increase the risk of cardiac arrest.”

When a person is tasered, the brain becomes incapable of interpreting the nerve impulses it’s receiving and is unable to send out meaningful instructions to the body. This is partly why the person falls.

Tasers can be very dangerous for:

• people with pacemakers
• And some people with neurological issues.

• people with heart conditions
• drug abusers
• those who fall as a result of the loss of muscle control

Reviewing what happened, on Oct. 14, 2007, Polish immigrant, Robert Dziekanski, 40, died at Vancouver International Airport after being shocked five times with a Taser by RCMP officers.  In North America

Across Canada, 73 law enforcement agencies were using CEWs by the end of 2008.

In 2008, the RCMP, which introduced Tasers into its arsenal in 2001, had 2,800 Tasers and 9,100 officers who were trained to use them.

Tasers are a very bad idea. Based on these findings it is very clear that they shouldn’t be used. Police will not have any record of anyone who would have a heart condition, or other severe health risks. This can cause serious problems for a lot of people. Shocking your body with any electric current unless used for health reasons is dangerous. Anyone who says it isn’t is unfamiliar with electricity and the human body.

Going solar

One of Canada’s largest supermarket chain stores are looking for a greener way to do business. Installing rooftop solar panels, Loblaws is getting a head start on the province’s new renewable-energy program.

Energy Minister, Brad Duguid has announced in Toronto that the province will be awarding its first contracts under the (FIT) Feed-in-Tariff program. This will pay premium prices for renewable energy.

The program is the first of its kind in North America is a part of the McGuinty government’s Green Energy Act.

Loblaw is planning to use solar panels on some of their stores as a renewable source of electricity.

The number of companies who’ve applied to the FIT Program has exceeded the expectations at Ontario Power Authority. The government is promising long-term contracts at a great cost. Contract holders will receive a fixed price over 20 years at 13.5 cents/kilowatt per hour for on-shore wind farms and 80 cents for solar power.

The FIT program is part of a group led by a South Korean industrial Samsung Group. They plan to invest enough wind and solar electricity projects for more than 580,000 homes in Ontario.

Is this a positive approach for Canadian businesses?

Solar energy is definitely positive for maintaining a greener environment. However, doing so is extremely costly. Hiring international companies to run and operate new projects is cost efficient, but it`s taking these jobs away from the people in our own country,  Additionally, since solar is far more expensive than other forms of electricity, what happens when companies can no longer afford it? Locking into a contract for up to 20 years is a long time, especially at 80 cents per kilowatt per hour.

Becoming environmentally cautious definitely becomes costly. It’s great to see companies become more energy efficient, but it’s sad to see the Ontario government seek this work internationally.

Why complain?

Comparing the complications between Google Buzz, and Facebook, columnist Lisan Jutras expresses her view on both. Just like most social networking sites, there are glitches. Some sites have them more than others, but everyone who uses them will know. Becoming a new member can often be tedious and annoying.

Hundreds of thousands of people are a member of Facebook. As a user, you suddenly get hooked on chatting, searching and reviewing people and profiles. The capability of being able to search for old friends, teachers and extended family are just a few of the many things a user is able to do on Facebook.

Google Buzz, another social networking site, allows you to share photos, chat with friends, and review your email with just a click of a button. This site is through Gmail, which shares similarities as MSN Messenger.

Since most people use social networking in their daily routine, users rely on these sites to work all the time. What users often forget is the maintenance required. But are these sites undergoing “maintenance” to make the site better for their users, or to compete with their competitors?

Facebook is commonly known for changing their site consistently. From the constant change to their layout, internal settings, or their features, this has led some users demanding for the “old Facebook.”  Although Facebook has several features compared to most sites, there have been far less glitches with Twitter.

Twitter is a site that allows you to follow your people and post updates; it has far less features compared to Facebook.

While society is constantly changing, so is technology. Social networking sites will always change. Developers are always going to research new ways to make their site number one.  This creates problems for users who are used to the original settings and layouts.

How do you please everyone?

It is impossible to please everyone.  There will be users who complain about the original settings, and users who complain about the new settings. However, most of these sites are free and can convenient.  Complaining about a free site is silly.

People get so used to how something is, and when something changes, it’s as though the world is crashing. If something doesn’t work, simply don’t use it. If people are unhappy, research a new site that is free to use. Rather than complain, be thankful you didn’t pay money for this service. Developers behind these sites will eventually learn the hard way when a new creation or change doesn’t work in their favour. Ultimately out of hundreds of thousands of people, a couple thousand people who close their account wouldn’t affect the site, or the company.