Achtung

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chtung By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” achtung have we not gone through this before? The idiots amongst us have that look and wonder what is he talking about now? The educated will realize that those in the day of the rise of the NAZI regime had very little idea of what was really going on. Even after the war many speculated but had no idea on the real happening behind the NAZI doings. The world vowed that the atrocities that took place during the world wars will never be repeated. That a people will never be segregated, persecuted and terminated as history has shown. Yet across the world. Segregation is widely practiced. Even within closed borders. The world vowed to strive for racial equality. Unfortunately the more we push for acceptance, equality and peace. The further we get to achieving it. During the world wars. Government pushed on the ideology that they were fighting evil. In reality this so called evil was not that much different than the Good we pushed. Only that in the eyes of God we were more civilized and kept the secret of our atrocities much better hidden. The death of masses is still happening across the planet in many underdevelopled countries... So what has changed, except this new world order/world dominance scheme being played out by China against the planet. We the people are being forced to vaccinate against a foreign enemy. A silent killer that has disrupted our economies. Has turned one against the other in the ‘TO VACCINATE OR NOT TO VACCINATE’ debate. We the people are constantly being misinformed with state sanctioned propaganda of sort. The bottom line those that are supposed to lead us are throwing their arms up and relying on multi billion dollar pharmaceutical companies to combat an enemy of the state. ACHTUNG people, ACHTUNG. Before it is to late. Just this week I received the following news release: Of the 748 new cases recorded, 356 were unvaccinated people, 19 were partially vaccinated, 329 were fully vaccinated and for 44 people the vaccination status was unknown. On any given day. The numbers appear to be same when it comes to COVID infections across Ontario. My concern is over the split. If vaccination is so crucial to transmission and infection. Then why are the number so close between those infected with the vaccine and those not? I can appreciate the argument that those vaccinated may not have such an extreme reaction to the infection. Nonetheless, it brings to question the validity of the vaccine as a vaccine in the prevention of the infection. I know many of those that are anti vaccination are labeled as conspiracy theorist and believe that the vaccine is nothing short of some ploy by world powers to poison the population in order to gain some sort of population control. That the pharmaceutical companies in their billion dollar coffers really have no interest in finding the real magic bullet that could eradicate COVID once in for all. No instead we are now are being asked to boost up every six months. The question remains. Is the vaccine the way to go in the quest to eradication of Covid. Or is it just a band aid on a bigger problem that we are being kept in the shadows as pharmaceuticals make billions. We must look back to history. We must analyze our future and look at the real players behind this war on Covid. Then identify the real enemy and utilize it’s tactics to win retribution by their action and that of their people. Covid vaccines are proving to be a band aid. Let’s tackle the real problem. Remember this time no one will come to liberate us.

Finally Parliament begins to work

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East After elections held on September 20, 2021 Parliament finally returns to work on November 22, 2021 for almost a month, until 17th of December. Members of Parliament will return to the floor of the House of Commons Monday for the first time since June, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's re-elected minority government is aiming to pass some of its campaign pledges during a brief, four-week sitting. In the platform it released ahead of the September election, the Liberal Party listed several measures - including a tax hike on large banks and insurance companies - that it promised would take effect as of Jan. 1, 2022. That means the government will need to obtain Parliamentary approval in the coming weeks to put those measures in place. One of the Liberals' top legislative priorities is to obtain approval for an October government announcement that scaled back pandemic wage and rent supports for businesses while extending the duration of the benefits for the hardest hit companies. At the time the government also announced that it was ending the Canada Recovery Benefit pandemic-relief program. Once again leading a minority government, the Liberals will need to engage in some fancy footwork and crafty maneuvers to pass their agenda. They seem to have the support of the NDP; if not openly, at least behind the scenes. It will be interesting to hear the Throne Speech to get more of an indication about where this government is heading. The Throne Speech, which provides a high-level overview of the government's policy agenda, will likely restate some of the pledges found in the September 2020 speech, while incorporating new items promised by the Liberals during this year's election campaign. In fact, we will surely see more spending on nebulous projects. As the Liberals move forward on their agenda of high spending, inflation is galloping at alarming rates, and will hit taxpayers hard in their pockets, very soon. If things are not handled with professionalism, we will witness the recession taking its victims more voraciously than the actual virus of the Covid 19 pandemic, its mutant forms rapidly gobbling up even the Greek alphabet. With the Conservatives a weak opposition, and embroiled in internal strife, the Liberals are free to make more slap-dash legislation that might roll back the country for decades. The Conservatives as an opposition are talking big, condemning the Liberals' policies, but without putting forward any ideas on how they would lead Canadians to a better world. They seem to have forgotten basic conservative principles, flaunting liberal slogans, flip-flopping on issues, apparently quite out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Canadians. Their wavering declarations on various important issues make them look less palatable to Canadians, and certainly do not engender their trust for placing the leadership of the country in Conservative hands. It might be wise for them to conduct a leadership review and return to a time when they could be taken into serious consideration for forming the government. Unfortunately, with an ineffective leader clinging to power, this issue will be difficult to settle in time to prepare for the next election; an election that can be called at any time in a minority government. In the meantime, everything new will be old again. The Liberals will continue to enforce their will on the people, controlling them first with the vaccine and then with their climate change agenda. These two items are the cornerstone of more restrictive measures to come, in imposing even more limits on your personal freedom. "Show your documents" will soon be embedded in our everyday vocabulary with no reaction from the people feeding daily, on government propaganda. As for your social life, be prepared to see more censorship on the media in general, and social media in particular. You will no longer be able to communicate your ideas freely. Big Brother will be watching you carefully, making sure that you do not cross the line. Paving the way for such controls, legislation that will see continued spending on COVID-19 economic supports will be key. So too will be a promised bill to ban protests outside of hospitals in the wake of multiple such protests over recent months. Protests by freedom fighting citizens opposed to measures like mandatory vaccine policies will also be severely curtailed. Mandating a 10-day sick leave for all workers in federally regulated workplaces will also be among the four key focuses for the government, along with a bill banning conversion therapy. Just forget the private business. Taxpayers' money is free for the spending in the public service they are vote rich…… These are the quick fixes for now, but more will come when Parliament is back in session at the end of January 2022. For the moment however, it is the issue of the vaccination of members of parliament that seems to have taken center stage in the Ottawa bubble. The official media likes the controversies around this issue, especially pointing out that conservatives do not have a clear statement on their position. Although there are more important issues to deal with, our seasoned journalists pay little attention to what is going on around the world. You know, the fiddle of Nero might be the new pandemic… With these thoughts whirling in my head, much like the snow flurries descending upon us, am I ready to face the winter blues with the new moon, sorry… the new government? Are you?

Old Habits

My boyfriend of one year and I moved in together. We are both 34. I am single, and he is divorced with a 7-year-old son (split custody). The relationship between the three of us is fine, but now I’m worried about my relationship with my boyfriend. We’re having a terrible time communicating. Since I moved into his home, my boyfriend has stopped cleaning up the way he used to. Before I moved in we discussed finances and sharing responsibilities around the house. Now it’s like he has completely forgotten those talks. If I buy groceries, he eats half of everything within two days. There are soda cans lying around our bedroom, which will continue to sit there because I am not a maid. He likes a clean towel every day, so now I have seven to wash this week. Two days ago his truck broke down and he rented one. I usually wake up at 6 a.m., but at 5:15 he flicked on the lights. He said he wanted me to drive him to the rental agency to drop off the truck. I asked why he didn’t ask the night before. He said he was too tired. I don’t mind doing favors for people, but this rude awakening got us off to a bad start. Now I’m the bad guy. He says he won’t lift a finger next time I ask him for a favor. I have been known in the past for spoiling boyfriends, so this time around I made sure I wouldn’t do it. I do my fair share, but I’m also allowing him to make his own mistakes. I think he is resentful of this. His ex-wife waited on him hand and foot. His mom does the same. I feel like I’m in a constant battle with him and it’s tiring. When I moved in, we discussed how we would share. Now it looks like he is reneging. Just how many more talks do I need to have with him? I thought we had settled this already! He took me shopping for wedding rings two months ago and discussed his intentions with my parents. He introduces me to everyone as his fiancée. He told his ex-wife, who is getting remarried this year, we will be getting hitched next year. I don’t think it’s an example of shacking up or “why buy the cow.” Or maybe now that I’m moved in, it is. You know what? With the way he’s acting, I don’t know if our wedding day will ever come because I’m sick and tired already! Yvette Yvette, your boyfriend’s behavior is practically in his genes. He was born to a woman who catered to him and showed him what to expect. He married a woman who filled the same role, at least for a while. He spotted you, a woman with a tendency to spoil boyfriends. He can take care of himself. He was cleaning house before you moved in. Why has he stopped? Because the maid has arrived. He has done just enough to get things back to his old familiar pattern. Why should he change? He likes things this way, and it works for him. He doesn’t have a problem, you do. Why don’t you have an engagement ring yet? He is waiting to see if you accept the role he has carved out for you. He is waiting to see if you accept the apron, like a horse trainer waiting to see if the horse will accept the bit. He is not going to argue with you, he will just wait to see if you fill the bill. You’ve seen the future—years of arguing and struggle wasted on this issue. Before the wedding people are on their best behavior. If you accept a ring from this man, you won’t just be signing a marriage license. You’ll be signing a job contract. Wayne & Tamara Wayne & Tamara are also the authors of Cheating in a Nutshell, What Infidelity Does to the Victim, available from Amazon, Apple and most booksellers. Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Goodnight Moon and Goodnight Doctor, Whispering “Stop it!”

This column, over 45 years, has begged people to make the lifestyle changes that will help them avoid the development of type 2 diabetes. Failing that, there’s mounting scientific evidence that natural supplements supporting glycemic control can help mitigate dietary obstinance and lack of exercise. And in the event diabetes takes hold, then give thanks to Banting and Best for their discovery of insulin 100 years ago. But is there one more opportunity for Gifford-Jones to get the “prevention, prevention, prevention” message out? How about the publication of a Gifford-Jones timeless classic for children? A book as good as Goodnight Moon. A story as meaningful as Ferdinand the Bull. Perhaps, a variation on The Very Hungry Caterpillar? A story of “moderation in all things”. How many grandparents would give the gift of a lifetime of health to their grandchildren by reading over and over and over again a story in which the doctor whispers, “Good night, …and stop it!” Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease. It occurs when blood sugar (glucose), required to supply energy to cells, becomes elevated. Diabetics having a genetic defect experience a failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes). For others, the high sugar consumption associated with obesity results in elevated blood sugar that exhausts the ability of the pancreas to produce enough insulin (type 2 diabetes). There have been other delightful Gifford-Jones ideas to help people think through the behavioural changes they need to make. The “Gifford-Jones Stopper-Bopper” was one of them – a small hammer that could be used to knock sense into the head at the moment of an indulgent meal. The “Gifford-Jones Talking Scale” is another example of a product we think would yield results. How many times have you read in this column, “Make your bathroom scale your best friend.” Or, “The best advice is to step on the scale at least once a day. Doing so means you are never faced with surprises.” How much more effective might the scale be if you heard the admonishing voice of Gifford-Jones, “You’ve gained three pounds. Stop it!” Readers may have other ideas about what might work to convince people, young people in particular, to commit to a healthy lifestyle. We’d love to hear them. But this week, let’s play tribute to the remarkable research of Banting and Best. It was 100 years ago this week, on November 23, 1921, that Banting injected himself with an extract from a foetal calf pancreas, obtained from abattoirs in Toronto. What an ethics committee would do to halt such approaches today! But millions of people owe their lives to these intrepid researchers. The University of Toronto established the Banting Chair of Medical Research and the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, housed from 1930 in a medical building named the Banting Institute. That location is being transformed into the currently rising Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, a research complex for artificial intelligence scientists and biomedical experts and home to an entrepreneurship network supporting student- and faculty-led startups. But who will champion the simple things, like the nightly reading of a good children’s book with a short, clear message? “Don’t put too much sugar in your mush.” And when the scale talks back, don’t whisper “hush”. Listen to the doctor’s good advice and instill your grandchildren with words of wisdom. Start early in establishing healthy habits, and never stop. Anyone have a storyline to contribute to a Gifford-Jones children’s series of no nonsense bedtime reading? Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter.

As an Employee Will You Be High Maintenance?

As an Employee Will You Be High Maintenance? By Nick Kossovan There are two types of interviews I conduct: 1. Interv

iews where I'm post-vetting, and giving my approval, a candidate a member of my team has interviewed and would like to hire. I'm part of the check and balance aspect of the hiring process. 2. Interviews where the candidate will be reporting directly to me. When conducting such interviews, my goal is to determine whether the candidate fits me, my team and will be viewed by my boss as a good hire. Whichever interview I'm conducting I have a question in the back of my head: Will this person be high maintenance? Regarding job hunting and your career trajectory, here's something to keep in mind: Being likeable supersedes your skills and experience. Equally important is coming across as someone who's not difficult to work with, who won't upset the current team dynamics and who won't take up too much of management's time. Reflect on the interviews you thought you "nailed" yet didn't get hired. While there are infinite possible reasons why you didn't get hired, the two most likely are (a) you weren't deemed a fit, or (b) you were seen as someone who'd be high maintenance-you were judged to be someone who'd bring issues, such as absenteeism, lateness, drama, into the workplace. Besides selling your skills and experience during an interview pay attention to presenting yourself as someone your interviewer can see themselves working with, with as few issues as possible. Candidates will tell me all kinds of things, which I assume is their attempt at being personable. Unfortunately, many times, even though they have the skills and experience I'm looking for and would be a good fit, they tell me things that make me think they'll be high maintenance, the most common being: 1. "I hate my job," or "I dislike my boss." An interview is not a venting session! Bad-mouthing your ex-employer, or current, makes you come across as being immature. In several instances, after some probing, I determined it was a sense of entitlement (The biggest turn-off of all.) that was skewing the candidate's judgement of their job and/or boss. You know you'll be asked why you're looking for a new job or why you applied job, therefore have a brief answer ready. "Now that I have my CPA, I'm ready to take on more accounting responsibilities with a larger company such as MomCorp," or "The pandemic hit the hospitality industry extremely hard. Understandably Kellerman's Resort had to lay off over 80% of its staff, which I was part of." 2. "What's the salary?" or "'What do your perks and benefits look like?" When you ask questions regarding salary, perks ("Will I get a discount in Leftorium's stores?), benefits or how many paid sick days, and vacation days you'll get, your interviewer will rightfully assume your priority is what you can get from the company, not what you can contribute to the company's success, and you'll max out your sick days. Focus on selling yourself and the skills you'd bring to the role. Let your interviewer bring up compensation. 3. Offering unnecessary personal details. It never ceases to amaze me the unsolicited personal details candidates will tell me. It's my experience such candidates tend to cause drama. Once I conducted a "formality vetting" interview, in which my team leader sat in. On the candidate's resume, I noticed they lived in a part of Toronto I was familiar with and asked, "Do you ever go to Sneaky Dees?" It turned out the candidate was a musician who often played Sneaky Dees upstairs venue. For 20 minutes, he told me his "Sneaky Dees" stories, offering TMI (Too Much Information), which was to his detriment. Afterwards, I turned to my team leader, who'd interviewed this candidate for 45 minutes. I said, "You'd be surprised at what people will say to an interested stranger." Never offer personal details that are irrelevant to your ability to perform the job you're interviewing for. I don't need to know about your messy divorce or financial struggles, or medical history. (Unless you need medical accommodation.) Likewise, avoid sharing your personal views on politics or religion. Getting hired today requires more than selling your skills, experience and being judged you'll be a fit. You need to show that you're easy to work with and will not upset the current work environment. You'll not be doing your job search any favours if you appear to be someone who'll be high maintenance.

REAL PROBLEM OR PERCEIVED

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” I have a very serious concern. News reports have been hitting the airwaves with intensity over the problems ports in North America are experiencing. It appears that we have a shortage of drivers to get goods from point A to B. That somehow after almost two years. Truckers are in short supply. Really? To boot the government blames it on COVID of course. Just last month I had an interesting running with the trucking industry. I cross the border every month as an essential service provider. I use the trucking lanes. As I was approaching the border. The line up was five miles out of trucks waiting. I thought, “Oh my it will take hours to cross”. I decided to use the non commercial lane to see what the hold up was. Well, I was shocked to see that trucks space themselves out five truck lengths and at times 10 truck lengths crossing over the Peace bridge. I thought why are they doing that. These trucker are slowing down the flow. After crossing I stopped at a local truck stop and began a conversation with some truckers and they explained that it was part of a national protest. That the trucking industry was under direction to slow down the flow of goods in and across North America. I was floored. Just recently The Regional Municipality of Durham announced yard waste collection delays in the Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog and Uxbridge. Collection delays are expected to continue on a weekly basis until the last seasonal collection date on Friday, December 17. Why: There is an industry-wide labour shortage of truck drivers across Canada, which has impacted the region’s contractors who provide waste collection. This is in addition to other factors causing delays, such as the seasonal increase in yard waste materials set-out in the fall. Really!!!! The trucking industry is purposely crippeling the supply chain. WOW. For what gain? Could it be to force the government to invest in that particular industry? It is beyond words on how we are impacted. Did we not have garbage pick up last month? The month before that? Then why is it that now we experiencing contractors driver issues? DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? Will they attempt to rationalize that all of a sudden garbage truck drivers have contracted COVID? That for some unexplained reason they are not showing up for work. How is it that the Region and it’s contractors not prepare of such unexpected situation? Then you begin to look at the bigger picture. As it stands we are holding strong in Ontario to 500 cases per day. The so called experts predict another surge to over 1,000 per day. They are pushing people to get vaccinated in order to offset the burden from ICU’s. People should we not be getting ready now by opening more ICU’s? Why is it that we as human are so slow at the draw? Why must humanity suffer before we get it right and put forth all the safeguards to prevent suffering. Personally I think this trucking shortage is nothing short than a political message to government to invest taxpayers money in an industry that is widely used. Political, organized crime based, Covid related. We the people will never know. In a society that prides itself on freedoms and rights. We sure dropped the ball on the truth. How are we to have world peace when we still employ modern day slavery. We the slaves are kept ignorant and only attended to when our services to society are compromised.

The Green, the Red and You and Me

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As the psychopathic obsession with green energy continues relentlessly, pursued both in the media and in politics at all costs, the country is sinking further and further into the red and be assured that you and I, 'Joe public', will have to pay for it. Prime Minister Trudeau and his Liberal government took pride in recently announcing hard caps on emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) for Canada's oil and gas sector. In his wisdom he thinks that this will help to achieve Ottawa's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. As is so often the case with the current government, there are serious questions that have not been asked-let alone answered-about this new policy and its consequences for Canadians. But never mind, the leading politicians are all aces and current in their scientific knowledge as well as being advised by the most science loving and practising public servants. In the hands of such luminaries we are bound to do well in the near future. It is important to understand however, that the design of the cap on emissions, at least given current information, is to restrain current levels of production and gradually reduce them over time. In other words, they're designed to limit increased production and expansion of the oil and gas sector in Canada. This is a serious threat to the livelihood of Canadians living in the of western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. It seems, though, that the savants in Ottawa will have a solution for them. Based on the latest data from Statistics Canada, and this is not fake news, the oil and gas sector represents 26.2 per cent of Canada's total GHG emissions. The remaining emission sources are exempt from the cap. It's not clear why the production of GHGs in the oil and gas sector are more harmful or damaging to the environment or the economy than GHGs produced in other sectors. It is clear however, that somewhere, someone has the intention to cripple the exploration of Canada's natural resources, especially the oil and gas sector, in order to implement a globalist agenda and a new world order. Common sense is telling us that given population growth and increases in income, the demand for goods and services that generate GHGs across all sectors, including oil and gas will increase. So unless there are breakthrough technologies, which the government is counting on but which only exist in some nebula at the moment, emissions will also increase. In other words, it's not clear how constraining one-quarter of GHG sources (the oil and gas sector) can help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 if emission levels from the other three-quarters are growing. This logic amounts to a cancel culture approach taken by the current government. There are certainly unanswered question regarding home energy consumption, which includes heating and cooling homes, preparing meals and providing energy for the comforts of life. According to the latest available data from Statistics Canada, in 2015, 51.0 per cent of home energy consumption was provided by natural gas, 45.2 per cent by electricity and 3.8 per cent by heating oil. If the government constrains oil and gas production, and the population continues to grow, a marked shift to electricity must occur, particularly with respect to heating homes. However, the government is silent on nuclear energy, because it is taboo and not politically correct to speak about reducing GHGs by any means other than solar and wind power. Moreover, in its professional enthusiasm the government has provided no information about who will pay these enormous costs or where all the new electricity will be produced. There's a real possibility that Canadian families will have to pay to remove natural gas and oil-fired furnaces and replace them with electric heating systems, and that the cost of electricity will increase dramatically. Indeed, who else but the Canadian public will likely bear these significant costs in the near future? So why have there been no disclosures or information on this subject? Ottawa continues to present these 'green' decisions as if they're costless. Oh yes… the budget will balance itself - by reaching into your pocket. Let us also consider the question of GHG reductions in the transport sector, which is the second-largest source of GHGs in Canada at 25.4 per cent (2019). By the way - we live in a big country and we really need our transportation. The vast majority of Canadians are not living in the Ottawa bubble. The Liberal campaign platform in 2021 called for half of all "passenger" vehicles sold in Canada to be zero-emissions by 2030 and all must be zero by 2035 - and they formed government. According to Statistics Canada, in 2020, there were 1.5 million new vehicle registrations and 39,036 (or 2.5 per cent of the total) were electric-battery vehicles (the percentage increases if hybrids are included but they are also potentially emitting vehicles). When we only look at "passenger" vehicles, aka yours to drive, the numbers drop to 498,031 total registrations and 28,007 electric-battery vehicles (or 5.6 per cent of the total). In my humble opinion it is not clear how Canada moves from 1-in-20 vehicles being zero-emissions in 2020 to 1-in-2 within 10 years and 1-in-1 in 15 years. And again, it's entirely unclear how all the new electricity and infrastructure to power these vehicles will be generated. Maybe the government's next step will be a call to some shamans to ask the gods to intervene for a miracle. With the COP16 climate conference over in Glasgow, and Prime Minister Trudeau home again but preparing to take his fearless team to Washington DC soon for the meeting of the new Tre Amigos, what can Canadians expect? The meeting will likely achieve nothing except more GHGs, and Canadians should get ready to pay the costs of more unrealistic globalist promises. In conclusion, the more these clowns pursue green, the more red they create, and they leave ordinary citizens like you and me holding the bag; to pay for generations to come. Maybe the time has come to make some changes in Ottawa. What do you think?

The Swimming Pool

My wife and I separated, and she has found her happiness away from the marriage. I was happy in the marriage. Last conversation, she admitted she was never happy during our 12 years together. She won’t discuss why she stuck it out other than to say, “I’m a bitch. What can I say?” I have both good and bad memories from those 12 years, and now I feel I don’t know how to cope with them. If I thought it was good and she thought it was bad, how do I remember our time together? How do I get rid of those memories? I am in the second month of a yearlong wait for a divorce, and I am struggling with being alone. I feel like a fool for being tricked all these years. At this point I don’t see myself ever trying another relationship, but I am so lonely each day is 100 hours long. I haven’t found a way to reinvent myself into a social creature who makes friends. Do you have any suggestions? Luke Luke, your wife married you with a list of reasons she thought added up to love. It was only a matter of time before her list failed her, and she told you the truth. Don’t bash yourself over this. Her secrets don’t change your memories. When you leave a child’s plastic swimming pool in one place too long, it squashes the grass. When you finally move the pool, the grass below is yellow, damp, and sparse. But once the pool is moved, the sun shines on the grass, the air flows over the grass, and the rain waters the grass. In time the grass lifts toward the sun and becomes lush and green. You are like the grass under the pool. In time you will grow once again. Start with the basics. If you can’t remember or figure out what makes you feel good, what you are interested in, then you need to reconnect with yourself. Perhaps for now, all you can see is that one thing feels a little better (or maybe not quite as bad) as something else. Always pick the better over the worse. Choose what seems like the better course for yourself. Eventually following the path of greater awareness will get you where you want to go and give you the happiness you deserve. Tamara Night And Day How do you know when you’ve crossed the boundary between liking and loving someone? What is the difference? Kirby Kirby, it’s hard to talk about this boundary without using example and comparison. They don’t give an exact picture, but they suggest and give you a sense of the reality. If you say, “I love my dog,” but look at an apartment that doesn’t allow pets, you only liked the dog. Whoever said, “You can fall in love with a rich man as easily as a poor man,” never loved. Whoever thinks love can be measured by a bathroom scale or diminished by age, never loved. Love is like the answer to a riddle. Other answers may seem good or clever, but only this one answer is perfect. Love is like the right job. The job inspires you and feels like play. You crave the work, you are passionate about it. It lifts you up and drives you to new levels. Love is the color which connects with the deepest level of your being. It is the music which speaks to you. When you love someone, you are totally yourself with them. Nothing can drive a wedge between you. Whatever life throws at you, you deal with together. When you reach the boundary between like and love, you know you are entering another country. You are beyond newness and infatuation. You know what Shakespeare meant when he called love “an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.” Wayne Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

You’ve Discovered a Thyroid Lump, What Does It Mean?

Waking in the morning, the last thing you want is a health shock before you begin the day. If you are like most people, feeling a lump for the first time at the Adam’s apple, the thyroid gland, you will immediately jump to one conclusion, “I have a cancer.” But is this the right conclusion? So, let’s report some good news that will decrease anxiety while you have your morning coffee. Fortunately, the majority of thyroid nodules are not cancers. Besides, the majority don’t even require removal. Thyroid nodules are common in elderly people. In fact, a report from the University of California states that if you’re over the age of 60, there’s a 25-to-50 percent chance of developing a thyroid lump. The older you are, whichever sex, the more likely that a nodule will develop in the thyroid. And the more likely the doctor is also going to tell you, “It’s not a cancer.” You should also know these lumps are three times more common in women. But there’s a good possibility that neither women nor men will ever know that one or more nodules are present. This is because thyroid nodules do not always cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, patients may notice hoarseness, difficulty breathing, a voice change, the feeling there’s a lump in the throat, and sometimes discomfort in the throat. The thyroid is a busy organ. It secretes the hormone that regulates metabolism. But its also responsible for heart rate, cardiovascular function, the central nervous system and bone remodelling. If finding a nodule, the doctor will order thyroid tests of the blood to evaluate thyroid function. Usually, the test will show nothing wrong. The doctor will also order an ultrasound to obtain a general look at the gland. The important test is what’s called a fine needle aspiration. A small needle is inserted into the thyroid gland to obtain tissue or fluid from inside the gland. This can be done in the doctor’s office. Usually, the doctor applies an anesthetic to the skin, then inserts the needle into the nodule. This takes only a few minutes. Thyroid nodules are 90 percent benign non-cancers. In general, if a nodule is under two centimeters (a little less than one inch), it’s less likely to be a malignancy. If a cancer is found, surgical removal is done. This means hormone replacement medication may be required for the rest of the patient’s life. Fortunately, the 30-year survival rate for the most common type of thyroid cancer is 95 percent. As we age, the thyroid gets smaller. Or it starts producing less of the hormone, an immune condition that damages the thyroid. Or, it may become more active with increased levels of hormone, a condition called Graves disease. This is why doctors are always feeling the neck for lumps. Since prevention is always better than cure, there are tips to decrease the risk of a thyroid nodule. Researchers at the University of California report you are more likely to develop a thyroid nodule if you have a history of some type of cancer, such as a lymphoma, breast or kidney malignancy. Your risk also increases if you are obese, have had radiation to the neck or head during childhood, or have been exposed to nuclear radiation. Finally, why do we have to keep saying it? Do not smoke. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter.

Influence What Your Interviewer Thinks of You

By Nick Kossovan There's a good chance you've read Dale Carnegie's best-selling book How to Win Friends and Influence People. Carnegie's book details how to leverage human psychology to influence people, which is gold when your goal is to get your interviewer to green light hiring you. The sections 'Six Ways to Make People Like You' and 'Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking' offer suggestions that can be incredibly potent to your job search success, as well as career success. Everyone has felt anxious and powerless talking to a hiring manager. I know I have when I was first interviewing, especially if my interviewer was the gatekeeper, between me and what I thought was my dream job. I finally realized my nervousness was because I wasn't setting the stage for the discussion I wanted to have. I wasn't controlling the "conversation frame." Only one person controls the conversation frame: Either I or the other person. (e.g., my interviewer) When my interviewer does, they're calling the shots. They're expecting me to chase them, demonstrate my value as an employee, impress them with my background, show how much I want to work for them, etc. Sound familiar? When I allowed my interviewer to control the frame, I had no control over the outcome-I was hoping to "get lucky." Years ago, after walking out of an interview, I knew I could have done better; I asked myself, what if I had controlled the frame of the conversation? How would my interviewer have reacted differently? I'll tell you how. There's a good chance (There's no guarantee, humans are unpredictable.) they'd have said to themselves, "Wow! Who is this person?" and think, "This person knows who they are and what they want." Of all the personality traits you can project, having confidence is by far the most attractive. All of us are attracted to those who exude confidence. Think what makes Brad Pitt "BRAD PITT!"; it's how he exudes confidence. When you control the frame of the conversation, your interviewer will seek your approval. (Yes, I've experienced this.) They'll start talking to you more. They'll care more about what you think of them and their company. They'll want you to like them. Now, you're the one calling the shots, and your interviewer is the one responding, reacting, and chasing. When you own "the frame," you have the power to control what your interviewer thinks of you. So how do you control the frame? You start by not treating job interviews as a delicate ego dance in which you're bending over backwards trying to present your best self while hoping to not cross the line between enthusiasm and groveling. The notion of a job interview as an audition is antiquated. Such a mindset doesn't do you any favours. When you overly focus on impressing your interviewer(s), you lose sight of whether they're making an effort to impress you. Flip your thinking. Stop thinking you're in the hot seat! Instead, ask yourself how an in-demand candidate (Envision yourself as being such a candidate.), one who's constantly head-hunted, would treat a meeting with a potential employer. They'd use their face time to ask questions to evaluate the employer and gauge whether the opportunity fits their career plan. Candidates I gravitate to ask me straightforward questions (Being unambiguous is a huge plus with me.) that show they're curious and serious about a mutual fit. Such candidates get me talking. Ask questions to fully understand the job opportunity, which'll shed light on the company's operations and your future boss's management style. "How will you manage me?" (Presuming you're speaking with the person you'll be reporting to.) Don't waste your questions on softballs. If you're interviewing at a company that's undergone a round of layoffs, address it head-on. "In August Burns Industries laid off over 250 employees in its Alberta manufacturing plant. How do you see the next 2 years looking like for Burns Industries?" If the role is new, ask why it was created and why no one internally was promoted? You want to get a semblance of what you may be walking into. Because interviews involve human bias, which you can't control, they're unpredictable. However, there's one thing you'll always be able to control, the "conversation frame," which'll greatly influence how your interviewer thinks of you. On an end note, if you haven't read How to Win Friends and Influence People, I recommend you do; it'll significantly impact your job search and career.

Hey where are we going with this!

By Rosaldo Russo OUR RIGHTS IN CANADA ARE BEING VIOLATED Allow me to begin this column by thanking the newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. The other day, I went to one of my buildings tenant. A restaurant. As I was about to order from him. He tells me he can’t serve me unless I showed him my vaccination papers. I told him I was not vaccinated. He threw me out. Funny to get thrown out of your own building by your tenant. WHERE ARE WE GOING WITH THIS PEOPLE. Come on. The government has over stepped it’s authority. They have us fighting one against the other. People are confused. I am not more of a virus spreader than the guy that has been vaccinated. I am old and it should be my choice if I want to die sooner by vaccinating or later by taking a chance. All the vaccine does is lessen the severity of the infection. So then why do we have to utilize Gestapo tactics when it comes to order a meal. Hell, when I got thrown out of my own building I could not even retaliate and throw him out as he is protected by law. How do you like them potatoes. I own the building and I have no rights. Not even if he chooses not to pay his rent. What kind of world do we live in. People are starving in our cities. People are living on the street and our government donates 14 million dollars worth of vaccines to Uganda. Really, are we that wealthy or are we that hypocritical? The world is in the brink of disaster. At least during war. The intent is clear. They want to kill you. During this modern war. We do not see the enemy. We only know that they are trying to kill us by turning one person against another and inject us with an unproven agent that will expediate illness and death. Come people Wake Up.

THANKING EVERYONE...

A King f

or the People by Alex King When most of us consider this time of year, we imagine family gatherings, robust meals, carbohydrate-induced naps, songs of carolers echoing down our streets, familiar TV programs paying tribute to the season, and of course the exchanging of presents. Then, there's the gift that keeps on giving: leftovers. I appreciate those annual customs as much as anyone else, but I feel the need to suggest a new tradition. As we're surrounded by the people we love and care about the most, perhaps we should etch out a little time to discuss politics. Sure, it apparently goes against the rules. We're not supposed to broach certain topics when we come together for the holidays. The idea of doing so may fill you with dread, causing you to imagine arguments, food fights, and other calamitous scenarios. You may even worry that bringing up a particular subject will result in less people around the table during next year's banquet. I must ask several questions, however. When did it become the norm to think we can't share our opinions without arguments breaking out? How do we challenge, communicate, and shape our own values if we aren't taking the opportunity to do so with the people who are most important to us? And finally, if we are willing to do the work, could such discussions serve to strengthen our bonds rather than weaken them? Please don't get me wrong. My goal is not to distract from the true meaning of the holidays. What I'm hoping to accomplish, as we join together in celebration of shared beliefs, is a renewed infusion of those core principles into this country's political discourse. I'm not some bleeding heart or phony intellectual who prescribes that the woes of the United States, or the world for that matter, can be solved with conversation alone. It all takes work, but that work begins by challenging our own views in a legitimate attempt to find common ground with the views of others. It is important to listen deeply, ask sincere questions, and practice your own discretion. So, instead of arguing with the in-laws about which election was stolen, maybe address how both Republicans and Democrats are waking up to how easily compromised a president might be and why that is terrifying. And, rather than debating your cousin about where tax dollars should be spent, focus on the need for a tax system that doesn't compel any citizen to finance programs that go against their morals. Those are just a few ideas. Most importantly, try to appreciate the special people in your life… regardless of how your opinions may differ. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

CHINA GIVES THE FINGER TO THE WORLD - AGAIN

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” It appears that in the never ending quest for politicians to find new ways to tax us they hit the mother load with this so called “GLOBAL WARMING”. Common sense will tell you the more people in the world. The more need for resources. The more pollution of all kinds will be produced. The modern day trend for most politicians is to make it look like they one understand the theory of Global Warming and the other that they care about the environment. In reality their care and perspective comes from interest on how this new golden goose that will lay hefty golden eggs can be implemented without much opposition. After all one ignorant pill for the politicians to push the cause. Another ignorant pill for the population at large based on the fear that the end of time is around the corner if we do not do something about it today. What better way to tackle the problem of global warming if not by taxing industry and making costly changes to our communities and societies... Meanwhile not showing the taxpayers the books of where these so called carbon taxes end up. How much kick back do some of these politicians get in supporting billion dollar so called energy efficient and carbon cutting programs. What next they will want to tax you on how much methane you excrete? They will have a formula. Height x Weight x Age, you will be responsible for so much. The same tax formula could be used to tax you for the air you consume yearly. Imagine having to pay all that tax. Income, Sales, Property, Carbon, Methane, Regional, Municipal, Water, Carbon, Oxygen.... the thought is insane. I have a question. Why is it ever since Trump lost the election. Our gas rates at the pump have gone sky high almost to Obama’s administration levels? Trump seen the rip off of saving the planet so he pulled out. He stuck it to the Oil producing nations and he was keeping China on a short leash. China felt threatened. The oil nations, cut throats by nature. Had to take out Trump. Assassination would have been to easy. How about going after the West success. Their economy, their people. COVID in my opinion will go down in human history as the ultimate biological weapon. A weapon that hit the world like no other. A weapon released by a nation that has had world domination on it’s sights for thousand of years. The world should be worried about retribution not a long standing theorem of global warming. Under Trump. He was slowly getting America back to where it should have been. China for the longest time has been chipping away at the west. So much so that our Imports from China are at an all time high. Western jobs have gone to the orient. What better way to destablize the enocomy of the West if not to throw in a shut down virus. Ever since the virus hit our shores. Our economies have fallen. Our people are turning one against the other. Today, our supply lines have been compromised. We in the West have been brought to our knees. Is there any wonder China does not want to hear about global warming? They are one of the major contributors. In China they do not care about their own people. It is do as we say or suffer the consequences. In China people are less than a number. Remember pre-covid. All the pro-democracy demonstration in China. Trump was a moving agent and it had to be brought down. China does not believe in using military force. They rather work at weaknesses and compromise the integrity of their enemy. COVID million more effective than any nuclear weapon. Yet today. We worry about amunization instead of holding those responsible accountable. Global warming... come on people.

Climate change, Mark Carney, Justin Trudeau and the Flintstone Syndrome

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East The climate is changing anyway, as part of the nature of things, yet there are people so bent on controlling climate change that they imagine themselves close to God if not superior. They try their best to control the Universe and be the immortals of the future. Just last week a physician in British Columbia actually diagnosed a patient with climate change disease. That was definitely a first, and one for the Guinness Book of world records. Does this mean we are desperately looking to cure a pandemic just about to happen? Fed by such alarming issues, world attention was focused on COP26, the global conference on climate change attended by close to 30,000 people. Politicians, bankers, movie stars, billionaires, experts, activist and such debated ways and means of stopping the climate from changing. Schwab, Soros, Bezos, Bloomberg, Gates, DiCaprio, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, the host, Boris Johnson, and many other heads of state seemed so alarmed by what is going on with the climate, that they just had to attend the conference in their private jets. Blah, blah, blah were the new wise words of advice from the world expert on climate change, Greta Thunberg, which made the day. In addition to these fruitful meetings ,the Bankers of the World met to put money on the table to stop the climate from changing. Notably our own Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and subsequently of the Bank of England, and now UN Special Envoy for Climate Change, has had a huge impact on getting financial services firms to align their lending and investment activities with the net-zero goals of the Paris agreement. On November 3, brandishing a Midas touch, Carney revealed that the total assets of combined companies committed to achieving net-zero emissions had risen to $130 trillion from $5 trillion at the beginning of the year. A consortium of over 450 financial firms across 45 nations chaired by Carney and known as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero (GFANZ), have committed to align not only their own businesses, but more importantly their lending and investing practises, with net-zero goals, in order to fund the $150 trillion estimated price tag required to blunt the worst impacts of climate change. The importance of the GFANZ commitment is that it leverages the power of large financial institutions to align with the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal of Paris. Guess where the money is coming from. Ironically, and without burning more words or emitting additional green house gases, they said that this is not meant to withdraw funding from carbon-intensive industries altogether. Instead, GFANZ members should engage climate experts, the NGO community, and governments, to develop "sectoral pathways" or road maps to net-zero for key sectors. They are to better advise and support their client companies in their own transition plans. Governments must also do their part by providing policy clarity and coordination for an orderly transition to net-zero. They claim their policies and words are clean and free of green house gases, but isn't it just more hot air? Climate-related disclosure is on a fast-track to becoming mandatory. Following Carney's speech on GFANZ, Erkki Liikanen, Chair of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRS), the international accounting body whose standards are used in 140 jurisdictions around the world (though not the U.S. and China), announced the establishment of a new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Its role will be to develop a globally consistent and auditable sustainability reporting framework for the financial markets, in the same way that it has done for financial accounting standards. Here comes Big Brother, and he's watching… Ashley Alder, Chairman of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the standard-setter for the securities sector, took the stage after Liikanen and said IOSCO would work closely with the ISSB, adding that IOSCO's endorsement would help speed the adoption of mandatory climate-related disclosure. This was a real touch of genius to a Comintern based thought. Lenin would be proud. One of the stars of COP26 was our own Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made it clear that the rest of the world should be following Canada's example in putting a price on carbon. "We know it, leaders know it, scientists know it and the private sector knows it: putting a price on pollution is the most efficient and powerful way to keep 1.5 alive," he stated, referring to the goal set in the 2015 Paris agreement to keep temperature increases limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But we don't need to look to the future to understand the devastation of climate change. The dinosaurs perished and climate change isn't some abstract event of the far-off future. Beware when a new asteroid hits the Earth along with the Paris accord. In a falsely conciliatory way climate change is almost always presented as pitting the environment against the economy. That is why the Trudeau Liberals often tout their talking point about the economy and the environment as going hand in hand. Never mind that our Canadian economy is largely based on exploiting our mineral resources like oil and gas. The wise men in power will print more money to deal with climate change. As long as the population pays their increasing taxes, climate change will be dealt with gracefully. However, in their wisdom, the attendants of COP26 didn't say a word about the role of nuclear and hydro power, neither of which emits greenhouse gases. Natural gas - ironically used in Ontario to back up unreliable wind and solar power - is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. But all three are under relentless attack by environmental protesters and know-nothing politicians. Even the UN (surprise, surprise) says nuclear power is a key component to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. But in Canada, the NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Green party, Greenpeace and other environmental groups, oppose nuclear energy. In Ontario, politicians sitting on 31 municipal councils have irresponsibly called for eliminating the use of natural gas in the province's energy mix by 2030. The province's Independent Electricity System Operator, which manages the provincial power system in real-time, says this would "lead to blackouts and … increase residential electricity bills by 60%." Welcome to the dark ages… In the real world, no form of energy production is without environmental consequences. However, if we cut emissions by abandoning low-emitting practical solutions like nuclear, hydro power and natural gas, while relying on intermittent wind and solar power instead, global blackouts will inevitably follow. So are we planning to freeze in the dark? To live like the Flintstones did? That's the not too distant future being set up. Remember. The calamity of 'climate change' is just starting to be hyped, sucking up your tax dollars. Forget about Covid 19 and prepare for the next major crisis, the pandemic of all pandemics, otherwise known as 'climate change'. Hope you've been saving for that rainy day because the storm clouds are gathering…

Fishing Out Of Season

I am a legally separated man who is going through a divorce. A friend introduced me to his girlfriend about a year ago. We immediately took to each other, but until a month ago, we didn’t realize how the other one felt. I was happily married when we met, but my wife fooled around on me so we split up. Anyway, I started talking to my friend’s girlfriend. While he was away for two weeks of job training, we began seeing each other. We both want to be together but don’t know what to do. She is four months pregnant by him and is happy with him. On the other hand, she wants me and I really want her. Do you have any suggestion on how I, or we, should handle this situation? Ron Ron, the last time I saw anything this tangled, it was opening day of trout season. Fishermen were lined up elbow to elbow on the bank, and there was not enough room to cast. Two guys even caught the same fish, which sounds a lot like your situation. I would think pregnancy would set the hook for this woman, but your lure caught her eye. She doesn’t act like she’s been caught, though. At any moment she could reject both of you and move on to someone else. This woman is not a keeper. You are involved with a woman like your wife. The difference is you are in another role, about to betray a friend. This is not a positive direction for your life. Play out your marriage to its conclusion, and let this woman determine the relationship she will have with the father of her child. There will be another trout season next year. Give yourself a break. Next season when you are free to go fishing, find a quiet stream before you drop a line in the water. Wayne Wayne & Tamara Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Celiac Disease: Has the Diagnosis Been Missed?

Some health problems can be hard to pinpoint. An accurate diagnosis of celiac disease can be easily missed. Among adults in particular, symptoms can be so subtle it can go undetected for years, causing other problems that further complicate a definitive diagnosis. Researchers at Duke University examined a randomized sample of 2,835 people over the age of 55, finding 2.13 percent had this disease but didn’t know it. Today, celiac disease affects one percent of the population in Western countries. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. Sufferers encounter trouble when eating foods containing gluten, found in wheat and other grains. The immune system attacks small, finger-like protrusions, called villi, lining the small intestine, causing inflammation and scarring of the intestinal wall. As the Gifford-Jones Law states, one problem leads to another. The villi in the small bowel become less effective in absorbing nutrients from food. Poor absorption of nutrients leads to problems for bones, muscles, and organs. Research has shown that people recently diagnosed with celiac disease are commonly deficient in fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, folate, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. If celiac disease is not treated, nutritional deficiencies can cause more problems, such as anemia, neuropathy (nerve disorder) causing pain, numbness, tingling in the extremities, and weakening of the bones (osteoporosis), along with fatigue. Classic symptoms are diarrhea, bloating, pain, and weight loss. But since these symptoms may not be severe enough to prompt attention, people may live with it for years before the progression of disease leads to the medical tests required for diagnosis. For example, a study published in Digestive and Liver Disease found that of more than 2,000 adults tested 52 to 74 years of age, two percent were diagnosed with celiac disease. Most of the people had mild or no symptoms. To diagnose celiac disease, physicians look for a family history of type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, or liver problems. Blood testing follows. It’s important the blood tests for celiac disease are done before trying a gluten-free diet. Eliminating gluten from the diet might make the blood test appear normal. A serological test looks for antibodies in the blood. Elevated levels of antibody proteins indicate an immune reaction to gluten. There is also a genetic test to rule out celiac disease. The challenge is that a genetic mutation causes the problem, but unlike some conditions in which positive genetic tests confirm disease, a positive result for a celiac suggests a small likelihood, not certainty, of disease. The next step is endoscopy. A small tube with a tiny camera is passed into the intestines and a biopsy is done to analyze damage to villi. There’s good news from Johns Hopkins University. Older people who have gone undiagnosed for years usually have a milder form of celiac disease. They therefore show less damage to the intestinal villi than those who encounter the disease earlier in life. Although new drug treatments are being explored, at the moment the only treatment is lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. This can be daunting as many foods contain gluten including pastas, breads, and baked goods. And it’s hard to avoid gluten when eating out. Dieticians will advise focusing on “whole” foods that are naturally gluten free, such as brown rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, nuts and lean meats. Monitoring vitamin absorption is key. After adopting a strict gluten-free diet, intestinal villi take about two years to heal. Most people notice symptoms dissipating and enjoy a new feeling of well-being. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter.

Red Flags to Watch Out for When Choosing an Employer

By Nick Kossovan We all create narratives based on what we think is important. We see what we want to see. Just because you're not looking at something doesn't mean it's not there. I'm telling you this, so you know as a job seeker I've been there. Job seekers desperate to get back on a payroll to pay their bills and stop using their savings tend to overlook red flags. With your fingers crossed that the ensuing employer/employee relationship will work out, they want an employer to make them an offer. Employers own their hiring process. They design their hiring process to ensure they hire the best person-the candidate that best serves their self-interest. Your self-interest is not the employer's concern-nor it should be-and therefore is on you to look after. Complaining how employers hire is futile and wasted energy. As a job seeker, you need to be diligent in determining whether a potential employer is right for you and your career. Before accepting a job offer vet the employer to make certain the opportunities and work environment is accurate and will serve "most of" your self-interests. You don't want to find out, after joining, that the company, your job, or your boss isn't a good fit for you. I've been there-not fun. Don't ignore red flags because you want to see an end to your job search. When assessing an employer, look for these red flags: 1. They're too eager to hire you. I'll admit more than once I was taken in by a hiring manager stroking my ego. ("You're just the person we need.", "You have much more experience than the candidates who've applied for this position-Thank you for applying.", "I can see you doing great things around here and moving up fast.") Gushing flattery feels good; however, it usually comes with an agenda, an agenda not always in your favour. There's a big difference between an employer pursuing you versus being too eager to hire you. Be wary of employers who move quickly through the hiring process. Depending on the position, expect at least three interviews (a video teleconferencing "get to know you" interview and two face-to-face interviews, one with the manager you'll be reporting to.) 2. The employer is always hiring. An employer having many job postings can mean they're in a growth phase; it can also mean they're having problems with retention. This may especially be true if the employer is reposting the same roles repeatedly. I always ask my interviewer what's their tenure with the company is. Then I ask what's the tenure of certain key people (Regional Managers, Directors, VPs, the President) and who's the most tenured in the department I'll be joining. 3. You're not comfortable with the work environment. From the moment you start the video call with the interviewer, when you visit the company, or meet employees you'll be working with, if something doesn't sit right with you-something seems off, you're getting a bad vibe-don't ignore your feeling. I believe in feeling negative energy just like I can feel positive energy. If the employees don't seem actively engaged, that's a telling sign. TIP: Since my career revolves around people management, I always ask to meet, ideally over coffee or lunch, with those who'll be reporting to me. A few times, I've been discouraged from doing so (e.g., "Their schedules varies, it'll be hard to arrange.", "Raj is off for the next two weeks, and we'd like to make you an offer today so you can start on the 21st.") and ended the interview then. Being discouraged from visiting what'll be your actual workplace, meeting your potential team members and reports, if applicable, is a huge red flag! 4. Unfavorable reviews. Your employer's reputation has a significant influence on your career. Go on Indeed, Glassdoor, MouthShut, or type in Google the company name and then "reviews." See what employees, current and ex, are saying about the company you're interviewing with. As well, check out the comments on the company's social media channels. I've gone as far as to look up on LinkedIn past employees and reach out to them. In several cases, I was glad I did. Don't dismiss negative reviews as disgruntled employees venting or trying to get back at their employer. As you conduct your job search, pay attention to your instincts-your gut feel. A gut check can save you from ending up in a terrible company or job. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

Hey where are we going with this!

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. I remember when I lived in Europe. The government there was different. They gave you choices. Unfortunately the choices were all the same. So the only freedom you had was to choose.... the outcome was the same no matter what you picked. Is that freedom? Well my friends. I find that the same is starting to happen in Canada. God please don’t let it happen here to. Without choice we are nothing but a number in a roster of modern age slaves. Working for a minimal reward while our masters take home the big pay. In Canada I am seeing this type of mentality. Specially with this so called forced vaccination. Let’s make this wild assumption... Let’s assume that after a period of time... it is found that the vaccine even though helpful in the fight against COVID it operates as a catalyst for other existing medical conditions and people start dying right left and center. As is stands those receiving the vaccine can’t sue the manufacturers. Can’t sue the government. What would happen? Great Question. The government I am sure would get all defensive and give the usual line of vowing to get to the bottom line. They will turn to the manufacturers. The manufacturers would turn to their lawyers and accountants and go bankrupt. Then what? As it stands the World Health Organization is the governing voice acting on the word of United Nations to find a vaccine. In turn world government and related association and regulatory body are under immense pressure to find a solution. In turn. We the people are the victims of desperation and so called experts in taking shots in the dark until they find an answer. Now we are forced to take it or loose privileges and rights. This is wrong and harmful to society and freedom as we know it. I think that as a society we are venturing into dangerous, deep waters that will set a historical precedent like no other. I hope I am wrong.

BEFORE YOU BURN OUR FLAG WALK IN MY SHOES FOR A MILE

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” It has been a long 10 hour trip out to the middle of no place. The closer I get to my destiny the louder the gun fire and artillery shell sounds echo in my ear. With excitement and anticipation I await mile by mile as we reach our point of destination. Tired and under fed. I can hardly wait until this day is over and hopefully return to our bunkers for some sleep. As the truck suddenly stops. The order to move out is given and we fall in line one after the other to position. At first it looked like we were storming into a field. Cold and light rain made it difficult to advance. Suddenly we reach a barrier at the end of the field and one could clearly see the enemy about 40 yards away. My heart raced, my hands shake uncontrollably as my training has left my mind. All I can do is sit there behind this barrier afraid for my life. My mind races to my loved ones back home. To the thought of ‘’what am I doing here”. Only to hear the Sergeant yell. Move out. At first I did not think much of it as a quick prayer to the Lord got me up and running towards the enemy. As shells exploded all around me I lost my footing and ended up in the mud face first. My eyes burning, my equipment and riffle scattered. I tried to get up only to be told to take cover. Wet, scared and partially blind I took cover behind this wall. There was seemed to be one of my fellow soldiers. I asked him, “what do we do now”. As I pushed on him. I could tell he had been shot in the face. Blood gushed from what was left of the back of his head. As I look beyond in total fear. I see another fellow soldier attempt to climb over the wall only to be shot dead on the spot. Death was all around me. I closed my eyes temporarily and prayed for God to take me out of this hell I was facing. As I ended my prayer, something exploded near by and sent me flying once again into another puddle of mud. In that hole there were all kinds of dead soldiers missing all kinds of limbs. Sitting in this watery hole surrounded by death. I could not move. I was so afraid I defecated and urinated in my uniform. I remember what they told us in training. To not let fear get the best of our commitment to the fight for freedom. I volunteered to fight for my country but never in a million years could I be prepared for what I was facing. Complete chaos and death. I could barely hold my weapon as my hands shook so badly. I reached into my pocket and took one last look at my love’s picture and stood up yelling in fear towards the enemy. As I ran into the enemy trenches I came across a lone soldier there standing, I could see in his eyes the fear that I was experiencing only to be first at the shot that killed a man I never met. His lifeless body laid there as I could not bare the damage I had caused another human being... only to look down at his hand and realize he was also holding tight to the picture of the love he left behind. They say you become battle hardened with time... that may be true but you never forget the faces of those you killed. Strangers killing strangers in the name of a cause. In mine freedom and liberation. I volunteered to serve to assure future generation could live free and not have to be faced with the reality that stood before me. In the memory of all those around me that died protecting our rights and freedoms I proudly hold this flag up in memory of their sacrifices. No man or woman shall be so below in human standards as to question the loss of a life in the name of humanity, liberty for all men. This flag is our soul, our being the body of civilization. You burn it, stomp on it and God will deal with your soul as he has with that of our enemies.

This Remembrance Day with our flags at half mast, will be unlike any other and it is time for reflection and action…

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East COVID-19 has cast its influence on Remembrance Day Services for November 11, 2021 together with the residential schools' drama. Regardless of the regulations brought by public health officials and other politicians to prevent the spread of the virus and the issues connected to the indigenous children's unmarked graves, we must take the time to remember our veterans in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month just as we have done every other year before the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic and other politically correct issues. The alterations to this year's Remembrance Day are unhappy ones, yet safety regulations are important to follow as a fourth wave of the virus has appeared in different parts of Canada since the late summer and early fall. The limitations on gatherings, along with social distancing measures, have transformed important annual events across Canada, including the upcoming Remembrance Day. Regardless of the 2021 pandemic, Canadians shouldn't forget to show their respect for our veterans this year on November 11 as in times past, but public safety must be kept in mind too. Wear a poppy with pride. The remembrance must go on as it went on in 1918 despite the deadly Spanish flu which continued to inflict a devastating blow on a nation that had already faced the trials of war. Their endurance and sacrifices in face of the war and pandemic should be an example for our generation and generations to come, in preserving our national unity and identity. November 11th is a day to stand in silent reflection of so many other days that have come before it. It is a day that remembers those brave Canadians who consolidated our nation. At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, more than a century ago when the guns of the Great War at last fell silent, the fury of conflict was replaced by a deafening silence. After more than four years of this intense conflict of country against country, human being against human being, we were faced with all we had done, all we had lost and all we had sacrificed as a nation. Despite detractors and those who would rewrite history today, in an attempt to minimize this important event for our nation, Canadians will stand strong in defending the sacrifices of their ancestors for a better, free and strong Canada for centuries to come. We need to remember the wise words of Nobel peace prize laureate and holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel: "Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future." Remembrance Day isn't just about war and those we've lost. It is also about ideals and what we stand for. It's about respecting our past and looking hopefully forward, and more than anything, thanking those who have served our country, Canada, with pride and dedication. From the trenches of the First World War, to the Second World War and the Korean War, to the deserts of Afghanistan, years and generations have passed defending the beliefs and values that we as Canadians stand for. One hundred and three years ago, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the armistice between Britain, France, and Germany went into effect, bringing an end to the First World War. More than 625,000 Canadian men and women had served, 154,361 had been wounded and 61,082 had lost their lives-a full 10% of those who served our country, lost their lives for our freedom. The year 1918 and the end of the First World War-the origin of Remembrance Day-seem so very long ago in the context of many of our lives here today. But at the same time, the reality of war is only as far away as a veteran, a family member, friend or neighbour who has been touched by that war or those that have followed. Similarly, much of who and what we are as a nation, was defined by war. And so today, we take the time to reflect, remember and honour those who fought for our freedom in the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, Peacekeeping operations and the recent war in Afghanistan. We also remember those who stayed in Canada, and served on home soil in supporting the war efforts. On this day we remember the brave members of our Canadian Armed Forces who left behind what they loved and lived for to carry out their job with purpose and pride. It's a feeling many of us will never have to experience. As husbands and wives, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, and brothers and sisters, these brave citizens are certainly not faceless. They are friends and neighbours. They have dreams and goals. And they have plans for the future. That's why it's important that Remembrance Day has become such a significant part of Canadian culture and will continue to be. Over the course of November 11, communities across our great country will gather this time merely spiritually around cenotaphs and war memorials to honour our men and women in uniform and the sacrifices they have made and will continue to make for this great country. We are not celebrating war; we are celebrating freedom and nationhood thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us and future generations of Canadians. We pause to reflect on those who've, indeed, made the ultimate sacrifice. They put themselves on the line out of a sense of duty, to defend our freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Their unwavering bravery has made all Canadians proud. That these brave citizens would put themselves on the line to defend freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law is most honourable. We owe them a debt of gratitude the rest of us can never repay. Let us also remember in these difficult times the words of John F. Kennedy: " Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." The least we can do is to come together in spirit to show our respect during a moment of silence, to think of them, the risks they took, and their sacrifices. We'll forever remember, never forget. Lest we forget!

The Life Of A Double Agent

from Wayne & Tamara

Okay, I know what I’m about to say sounds bad, but I could really use a nonjudgmental opinion, so please be gentle on me. Here’s the deal: I’m 24 and have been married for a year to a great guy. Problem is, I am having an affair. This is not the first time I have cheated on him. I dated someone seriously while he was working overseas. I thought after we got married my infidelity would cease, but I recently met someone and it started all over again. I love my husband, but I just can’t help thinking if I really loved him, I wouldn’t do such things. The guy I am seeing is a lot like my husband: smart, handsome, ambitious, with a great sense of humor. He tells me he is falling in love with me. I have very strong feelings for him too, although I can’t quite put a label on them yet. My husband doesn’t know about the last affair, and of course he doesn’t know yet about this one. What is wrong with me? Why do I do such relationship-risking things? My husband and I do not have a bad marriage. We get along great and he loves me very much. Somehow, it just isn’t enough. I would sincerely appreciate your advice. I can’t talk to anyone I know about this so I’m turning to you. What should I do? Veronica Veronica, of course you can’t talk to anyone. You’re a double agent. Deception, schemes, subterfuge, and covert action are part of your daily life. No one knows who you really are. To be a successful double agent you can’t be loyal to anyone, not even yourself. How else could you live this life? It’s time to get out of the espionage business and find a country you can love and be loyal to. Your letter is not only a letter of resignation, but a request for help to make the transition to a better life. Two lies are holding you where you are. You say you and your husband don’t have a bad marriage, and you say your husband loves you very much. Your husband doesn’t know who you are. He loves who you pretend to be when you are with him, the lies you tell him, and the secrets you keep. He doesn’t know you married him with only a hope marriage would make you faithful. Without truth, trust, fidelity, and love there is no marriage. Marriage is for two people who bind themselves to each other, excluding all others, for the rest of their lives. How is this possible? Because each knows this is the person I am absolutely myself with, the person who puts all others out of mind. With the right person, you don’t lose yourself, you become fully yourself. With this person you can accomplish miracles. When you feel these feelings for another, when another has these feelings for you, that is love. That is the basis for marriage. Veronica, it doesn’t matter what your parents did, what your childhood was like, or what you are trying to reenact. You can’t change the past but you can let the past ruin your future. You know what you are doing is wrong, and no excuse will overcome that knowledge. This sense of what is right and what is wrong is your beginning. It is what will keep you from making the same mistake again and again. It is your ticket to a new life. To stop living this life of lies, you must take whatever comes from telling the truth. You cannot make excuses, minimize, or try to deflect any of what may come because of what you have done. It sounds like bitter medicine. But continuing the life you are leading now is far more painful. Wayne & Tamara Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com