GREAT DAY TO BE FRENCH By Joe Ingino

By Joe Ingino b.a.
Editor/Publisher

“I live a dream in a nightmare world”
  
GREAT DAY TO BE FRENCH
   What an election it has been.   Ford is now the new Premier of Ontario.  The PC have cometh like the black plague.
   Across Durham it appears that it has once again been painted blue.   With the exception of Oshawa.
Now  you got to wonder what happened in Oshawa?
Well, two things happened.  The first Jennifer French has a very sophisticated group of people that are supporting her.  They work behind the scenes and have strong influence with many of the powerful unions.   French practically had very little to do in this election as the NDP machine behind the candidate was working full throttle.
The PC were left in the dirt.  One  because the candidate they put forth was weak and has a bad history in Oshawa.   Bob Chapman has sat in municipal office for at least two terms and has accomplished little or nothing.  He in part with the rest of council is responsible for increasing the debt in 2014 from $200million dollar to today $500million.
To boot during the election many hard core PC supporters felt betrayed by Bob Chapman as he ignored them and or avoided contact with.   Chapman is your typical ‘YES MAN’.  He follows the ‘OLD BOYS’ club group made up of the Real Estate Board the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce and in part Oshawa Golf Club.
This trio go around pretending they have some sort of influence in the community.  In reality they do not.  They are in part the reason why nothing happens in this city and we keep enduring debt.   A prominent member of the Real Estate Board and former councillor was at one point during his term at the center of a scheme that was never proven in law.. to over pay with tax payers dollar the infamous city depot.   The million dollars according to sources was to be split three ways.   It never happened as someone in council blew the whistle and the deal fell through.  The City of Oshawa has had one scandal after the other.  From members of the public assaulted by Durham Regional police under the instructions of Oshawa legal team/council to the many money waste schemes.   The hiring of consultants to investigate the friend of the investigator... and so on and so on...  Thank God that French won.  At the least she sat for a term really did nothing but did not cost the people of Oshawa a dime, except her pay.

Stranger In A Strange Land

Stranger In A Strange Land
  Our marriage, I thought, was a great one. So did everyone else. Then after 15 years my husband suddenly announced he wanted a divorce. Now, he says, everyone “bought into the big lie.” But I know he loved me, and I believe he still does.
When we separated he was 36. Two weeks later I found out he was involved with a woman he met online. He swears it wasn’t physical until he moved out, but he’d been talking to her for a while. He claims not to know me anymore, and I am the source of his problems. I have OCD and was a trial to live with, but he knows how hard I struggled with it. Now he says it was an act, and I wasn’t really trying. He was always the best husband any woman could have—understanding, thoughtful and supportive.
He never dated anyone before we met, thus he had never “been” with anyone else before. A few months before he left, he started saying things about getting old. He started working out. We both got contacts, and he seemed to be bothered that his hair was falling out.
The divorce went through six months ago, and he is still seeing the other woman. She is older than either of us. We weren’t able to have children, and she has two teenagers. I thought maybe that was part of it, but I don’t know. He acts so different. During our separation he said the most hurtful things, like he was trying to push me away. He moved in with his folks and bought new clothes. I truly love him, and I know he isn’t as happy as he acts. I lived with him long enough, I can tell in his eyes when I see him.
Does this sound like a midlife crisis?
Gretchen

Gretchen, science fiction drops us into new worlds. In old science fiction stories, one character might explain things to the reader by saying something like, “As you know, Tom, here on planet Merganser computers select husbands for the women and only women can hold elected office.”
These days science fiction writers are more sophisticated. They drop us in the middle of the new world, then let us figure out how things work as the story unfolds.
That’s what’s happened to you. You were dropped into a new world, and you don’t yet understand the rules.
You’d like to believe your husband left because he had a midlife crisis or sought a woman with children. You’d like to believe you can read unhappiness in his eyes, though you couldn’t read it in his eyes while he made plans to leave. You write as if you can get him back. If it’s a midlife crisis, then the two of you simply need to get past it. But your divorce was final six months ago. He came to terms with what he wanted, and that’s a new life with someone else. We are not going to comment on your OCD except to make one observation. Though you struggled with it, so did he. He didn’t have OCD, but he suffered under the effects of a condition he didn’t have, like having a cast on a leg that wasn’t broken.
Perhaps he faked being okay with it.  Perhaps he felt everyone’s got their troubles. Perhaps he feels he never truly loved you. Or perhaps he just wanted out.
Like the reader of a science fiction novel, you were dropped into an unfamiliar world. There is no author here to explain the rules to you. If you can’t figure them out on your own, enlist the aid of those who help you manage your illness. The only choice you have is to adapt to this new reality, no matter how hard it is.
.Wayne & Tamara

The 2018 Drunken Debate By Joe Ingino

The 2018 Drunken Debate
   Has anyone but me seen the recent Rogers cable transmission of the Durham College all Oshawa MPP candidates debate?   In my opinion it was a clear example of all that is wrong with Oshawa and Canadian politics.   We might have had a debate between Curly, Larry and Moe.   Instead it was Jennifer French,  Makini Smith and Bob Chapman. The questions asked by the moderator were as out of left field as they came...  Chapman could not even pronounce the word ‘MODERNIZATION’, never mind knowing its meaning.  Here is a guy that has sat on council for two terms and what has he accomplished?  He in part is responsible for Oshawa’s debt of $548 million.  When asked about the Provincial debt he gave pie in the sky answer failing to acknowledge he has sat for 8 years on city council and done nothing to reduce Oshawa’s debt.  Why should he be paid more at the province to do nothing...Chapman has a proven record to do nothing for the city of Oshawa.  He is arrogant and exclusive to his buddies in the real estate industry.   The Chapman old boys club includes Mayoral candidate Dan Carter and the chamber of Commerce.   A well known good old boys club that goes around with their noses up in the air, thinking about no one but themselves.
What has the chamber done for the city of Oshawa in the last 5  years?   During the last election they clearly showed bias and prejudice towards hand pick ‘YES MEN’ the picked.
When questions were put forth to the Liberal Candidate Makini Smith, her resemblance to deer caught in front of car lights was precious.  Did this woman not prepare.  She had no real information. No real direction and looked confused when asked simple questions.  
Jennifer French, in her usual manner.  Answered questions with the usual orange overtones as expected.  At times she kept going off topic and also appeared loosing her train of thought.
Over all this was the worst debate I have ever seen.  I feel for the people of Oshawa that we lack leadership and direction.  On the one hand Chapman attempting to give himself a pay raise to continue to do nothing for Oshawa.  It would  be a political/social crime to see him win.  The Liberals really scraped the bottom of the barrel with Smith as she has no substance and or idea  what the Liberals stand for.  Out of all the evils my money is on French.  I say this because, we have no choice.  Any other candidate would be a step backward.  So, let’s let French continue to sit in her trench for another term until the next election and hope for better candidates.
Oshawa politics is putrid with incompetency as clearly shown in this debate... and without doubt Oshawa politics is putrid by bias, discrimination and the ‘GOOD OLD BOYS’ club.   Don’t believe me... Where was the  Libertarian Party candidate Brett Van Ginkel.  Was the candidate  not invited or available?    Case in point.

Old-school Bully

Old-school Bully
   I am from another country. I have a mother-in-law I believed accepted and liked me. My father-in-law is condescending and just plain rude. Over the years he made numerous comments I ignored. My mother-in-law was aware of the problem and always told him to stop. I believed she was supportive in her own way.
After 10 years it became too much.
I told my father-in-law to speak to me with respect. My husband got involved and explained to his parents how his father’s behavior affected him over the years. He also said, though his father has people in his life who accept this behavior or brush it off, he needs to be aware of his mouth.
Days later, my mother-in-law turned on me and said, if I am not willing to “try,” there is no point in continuing our relationship. This surprised me. We have children who love her and whom she supposedly loves, and I have been nothing but kind to her.
In the last few days she’s been cold to my husband, her son, acting as though she does not care to know us. Today, when my husband called her, she was all sweet and nice, asking him how I am and acting as though nothing is wrong.
How do I deal with this woman? In two weeks she is giving a party for my youngest. I am expected to go there and be sweet and nice knowing she once said to my husband there were no issues in their family prior to the two of us getting married.
Lucia

Lucia, an old sailing expression reminds us we can’t change the wind, but we can adjust our sails. That’s what your mother-in-law did. After you and your husband stood up for yourselves, she adjusted her sails based on the hot breeze blowing in her face.
She had a couple of bad days because of her husband. Then she readjusted her sails to get back in your good graces. When she said there were no issues in the family prior to your marriage, she made an unconscious admission. What she confessed was that everyone in the family has always kowtowed to the man with an unfiltered mouth.
Some people think they get to live by radical honesty while others need to hold their tongue. Your father-in-law can’t believe you would stand up for yourself. He can dish it out but he can’t take it.
Why people like him think they should be treated nice by those they treat nasty is a mystery. But it gives a clue to their primitive interior world. You’re either for me or you’re against me.
Grandpa thinks he can say mean things and get away with it. But he’s not stupid. He’s not senile. He can learn a new piece of technology. If he wanted, he could stop doing what he is doing. But he gets pleasure out of it, and when he gets away with it, his chest swells.
What’s missing from your letter is the talk with your husband. The two of you need to make a plan. What do we do when grandpa says nasty things? How will we explain this to our children?
After you and your husband decide on a course of action, he needs to tell his mother what you intend to do. If you have qualms about acting, think about the impact your father-in-law’s spite may have on your children. They can love their grandfather and at the same time not respect his bad behavior.
Wayne & Tamara

The gut-skin connection from Marissa Liana

The gut-skin connection

There is a major connection between gut health and skin health. Research has shown that people who suffer from digestive related issues such as bloating, gas and constipation are much more likely to suffer from acne than those who do not.

Why? Imbalances in gut flora, particularly in individuals who have more bad bacteria than good bacteria, increase their risk of digestive issues, illness, altered immune function and skin issues.
Having a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria and having a well established *diversity* of good bacteria is so important for many reasons. Some of these include:

a) Good bacteria help to reduce markers of inflammation in the body. Acne, eczema and rosacea are inflammatory conditions.?

b) Good bacteria help to metabolize our food and regulate healthy bowel movements, preventing diarrhea and/or constipation. Properly formed bowel movements are crucial because this is a method for eliminating hormones. (After the liver has broken down and packed hormones for removal, they are sent to the bowels to be removed in our feces).

 If we are not eliminating feces properly from the bowels and our stools are poorly formed, hormones stick around too long in the intestines/colon and can be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. This is not good and results in hormonal acne and imbalances.

If you’d like to learn more about the connection between inner health and skin health, I’d highly recommend my Healthy Skin From Within Ebook at www.marissaliana.com under the SHOP tab.

Until next time, stay well.
Marissa

What Women (and Men) Should Know About HRT By W. Gifford-Jones M.D.

By W. Gifford-Jones M.D.
What Women (and Men) Should Know About HRT
          The year 2002 was a worrying year for women who were taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to combat troublesome menopausal symptoms.  Bold newspaper headlines reported that a study called The Women’s Health Initiative, conducted by the National Institute of Health, showed an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, gall bladder disease and blood clots in the legs and lungs of those taking HRT for longer than five years. It was hardly prime time to be prescribed estrogen. But what are the facts in 2018?

          The passage of time often changes opinions in many areas. Treatment of   menopause is no exception. Now, after 18 years, the Women’s Health Initiative says the potential harm of HRT was overstated for healthy women younger than 60. And that the benefits of HRT outweigh the risk.

          Some women require speedy help when menopause begins. One patient of mine, a high school principal, not an easy job, was always upbeat during her annual examinations. But one year she immediately burst out crying, complaining she had lost complete control. But when prescribed HRT, she was back to her normal self in a couple of weeks.

          Some women suffering from troublesome night sweats, insomnia, emotional instability, or sexual problems, may experience milder symptoms. But whether mild or severe, the question of safety of HRT always arises. Women must then   seek their own doctor’s opinion.

          The good news is that HRT cures the majority of patients who complain of hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia. But often overlooked is that HRT also   alleviates vaginal dryness, a cause of painful sex, and may reduce urinary frequency, incontinence, joint pain, and bone loss.

          So who should then use HRT? Most authorities now say the benefit of HRT outweighs the risk if the patient is younger than 60, has no history of, or not at high risk of, breast or uterine cancer, stroke, blood clots, and does not have liver or cardiovascular disease.

          But suppose the patient is over 60 and has had hot flashes lasting several years? The North American Menopausal Society issued a statement that women over 65 who suffer from moderate to severe symptoms can take HRT as long as benefits outweigh the risk.

          Here is a cardinal rule of medicine. There is always risk with HRT, hip replacement or any other medical treatment. But with HRT the risk can be decreased by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. It’s also important to get regular medical checkups.

          The next question is the best type of HRT. If there’s not been a hysterectomy, doctors usually prescribe a combination of estrogen and progestin. Estrogen eases symptoms, but may stimulate the uterine lining, resulting in malignancy. Progestin decreases this possibility. After five years of use there can be a slight risk of breast cancer.

          After hysterectomy, there’s no need to worry about uterine malignancy, so only estrogen is required. Estrogen alone also carries decreased risk of breast cancer.
          There’s another important point. Lack of estrogen often results in thinning of the vaginal lining, known as atrophic vaginitis. In severe cases this can result in tiny vaginal ulcers. Left untreated, it may eventually narrow the vagina making sexual relations impossible. It’s tragic that some women have lived with this condition for ten or more years, when it could be cured by local estrogen in a few weeks.
          Atrophic vaginitis is one of the most overlooked gynecological problems. It happens because women are often reluctant to discuss this matter with their doctor. Or, the doctor does not do a pelvic examination. I once advised readers to remember that Engelbert Humperdink can’t sing with a sore throat, and women cannot have sex with an inflamed vagina!

          Patients who still have a uterus and are taking HRT must immediately report any bleeding to their doctor. This may be due to a benign uterine polyp that can easily be removed in the office. But it can be due to early malignancy even when   not taking HRT.
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THE DEBT GAME By John Mutton

By John Mutton      
THE DEBT GAME
  We hear a lot of talk about municipal debt and other such topics that the public are being lead down a garden path that all is great, all is fine.

  The BMA study is a study that comes out that measures municipal finance health on debt per capita and other areas that ensure the factual to numbers are in the public domain.

So how is your municipality doing?

Well the average municipal debt per person in Ontario is $198 (remember per person), so in Durham Region, reportable debt is as follows:

Brock $104
Clarington  $196
Pickering $234
Oshawa $548 (nearly 3 times the Ontario avg)

While debt is an inevitable part of government with crumbling assets, we must be very careful with the issuance of debt. For example, Durham Regions excellent triple A credit rating could very well be impacted by rogue debt spending and that would effect the interest rates paid for every city and the region itself.

We must be even more stringent at the Region as the Region is in charge of debenture (debt) issuance and poor financial health and budgeting in once city could effect every taxpayer in Durham. This will NOT happen on my watch.

Till next week

Marihuana Snacks... REALLY? By Joe Ingino b.a.

By Joe Ingino b.a.
Editor/Publisher

“I live a dream in a nightmare world”
  
Marihuana Snacks... REALLY?
   How lower can our standards get?   In order not to be labeled a ‘PHOBIC’ we are forced to accept insanity, cultures and customs that by their practice are insulting to the norms and laws of the land.  Yet, we must live our lives with that heavy social hammer over our heads...  to the point that if we comment and or make any personal observation we are labeled. Is that right or fair.  Is that not prejudice in itself?   Are we not giving up our freedoms and rights by being forced to accept and alternate our ways of life to accommodate?  Life is a strange bag of nuts.
Look at this week what came over the news wire and I kid you not... this is an actual police news release:
Marihuana Snacks Taken to School
Officers in Oshawa are trying to educate parents and children after snacks containing marihuana were brought into the same elementary school on two occasions.
On Monday, May 14, 2018 a Grade 6 student brought home-baked cookies into the Oshawa school as a treat. After consuming the cookies, four students (three were 11 years old, one was 12 years old) reported feeling dizzy and euphoric. On Wednesday, May 16, the DRPS was called in to investigate by school officials from the Durham District School Board.
Investigation revealed that one parent had made the cookies for a spouse with a medical marihuana license. Some of the batch had been taken from the home without consent by an older sibling (high school age), but somehow ended up in the Grade 6’s backpack. As part of this investigation, the Children’s Aid Society was called in to conduct a review.
In a completely separate incident involving other kids the week before, THC-infused gummy bears had been consumed in the same elementary school. In that incident, four children in Grade 7 and 8 (ages 12 and 13) reported feeling dizzy and euphoric after consuming a gummy bear brought in by one of the students. It is unknown how the child came into possession of the gummy bears, as they were not made at home.
Officers have also taken the time to educate students, parents and teachers in both the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board about the dangers and risks of consuming psychoactive chemicals at such an early age. Images of the pre-packaged gummy bears have been circulated to staff members so they are familiar with what the product looks like.
So much for the peanut allergy?  My kid can’t enjoy a jelly and peanut butter sandwich.  A delight that has fed most of us during our childhood.   But some pot head sends dope laced cookies for their kids... and the police is attempting to educate parents!!!!   Like really... education is needed to use common sense.   WHO SENDS POT LACED COOKIES TO AN UNDER AGED KID?  
I have an educational question for the police.... WHO THE HELL IS MAKING POT LACED GUMMY BEARS...    Like really?   We the public need the education.  I say the police need to stop educating and start slamming some cuffs on these assholes that make cookie/gummy bears and similar things that end up in our schools.
Medicinal bullshit.  Medicinal gummy bears.. Like fucking really?    Medicinal cookies... When was the last time someone made a viagara gummy bear?   Or and all chemo therapy cookie?
This medicinal pot movement is yet another nail in our social coffin.
If there is any truth to this wonder plant...  Then distribute it in a pill for or oil/syrup.   Why should I be forced to accept a pot head pretending it’s for medicinal purpose?
Is it not bad enough that I have to be exposed to idiots that are attempting to stop smoking by vaping and polluting my air.
Now I have to deal with the stench of pot in my face?   
What are we becoming?  The police instead of policing are educators.   Our politician are nothing but flags in the wind.  Moving from one social pleasure to another in order to attract votes.
Look at the recent PC press release where Ford is promising to go back to convenience store wine sales.  To go back to one dollar beer.
Like really.  Are we the voters that ignorant that we fall for the shinny mirror trick?   Have we not learned anything from the natives?   Come on folks wake up.  Pot in our schools is wrong. Get the cops in there and clean house.  Stop the teaching.    Legalization of pot for recreational us is like legalizing public nudity to overcome shyness.  It just does not make any sense.
The bottom line is tax dollars and billions in revenues.   As you read this the government has hand picked its growers and distributors...  yet we are  banned from sending peanut butter into our schools... Where is the social justice?

KEEPING YOU INFORMED By John Mutton

By John Mutton      
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
One of the great memories I have from my childhood is all the carnivals and fairs that happened in our community. Indeed the Kinsmen Fair at Memorial Park was one of the highlights of the year. The Durham Central Fair, Brooklyn Fair, Fiesta and many others come to mind.
As Durham grows so fast and we become more diverse, we can see the great additions from our cultural diversity from things like the Caribbean Festival to Ramadan events and so on.

Many people move to Durham for our unique downtowns, for our small towns and that great feeling of participation. I now look at the evolution of our fairs into Ribfests that attract thousands, Food Truck Festivals which are so unique and outstanding and I see the pride and sense of community from all folks calling Durham home.

Our future in Durham is our residents, their skill sets, their sense of community, their cultural diversity and everyone sharing our great Region and making it a better place to live. Indeed it is the residents of Durham that will continue to make us thrive and proud of the seeds we have sewn today.

Till Next Week

Under Attack from Wayne & Tamara

from Wayne & Tamara
 Under Attack
   My husband works for a demanding computer company which takes up most of his time, even on weekends. He is having an emotional affair with his boss at work.
Over the past year, he struck up a close friendship with this female boss that includes drinks after work while I am at home alone, buying her gifts and sending email on the weekend which doesn’t involve work.
I never suspected anything until they went on a business trip in Europe together. When he got home, he had lots of pictures. Over two-thirds of them had just her in them.
He admits being sexually attracted to her and says they share a special bond. He tells me he loves his friendship with her but is in love with me. Since there is no physical contact, he says, there is no threat to our marriage.
He claims she speaks highly of me, and if she thought she was hurting our marriage, she would be devastated. But when I see her, she directs the conversation to him, not to me, and she is in a bad marriage herself. I am being placed in increasingly uncomfortable situations. My husband ignored my request to join me at our daughter’s sports event, preferring to have drinks with her and take her out for her birthday at our special restaurant.
We are in our second marriage counseling session. My husband is in denial and arrogant about his involvement in an emotional affair.  How do I trust him again, or was I a fool to ever completely trust anyone this much?
Carole
Carole, in December 1941 one of the warships at Pearl Harbor was without electrical power as Japanese planes attacked. To resupply their gun turret, sailors had to form a human chain, passing the heavy shells from one to another. As the men tired, a navy chaplain rallied them by saying, “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.”
It’s good to be hopeful, but it’s even better to be realistic.
Your husband is dating another woman, and you haven’t been able to stop it. What is the compromise between “I don’t want you dating her” and “I’m dating her and don’t care what you say”? That’s what you would like counseling to resolve, but those two positions have no middle ground.
Calling something an emotional affair provides easy cover for a physical affair, and your husband and this woman have ample opportunity. But even more than that, emotional involvement is at the center of all our relationships. Admitting to emotional involvement makes this even worse.
We surmise your husband is the financial support of the family. Are you holding on because you don’t think you can support yourself? If that is correct and your husband knows it, he wins. It will be as he wants it.
But you can’t be the wallflower at the dance.
Privately see an attorney to learn where you would stand in a divorce. Check your own credit rating outside the marriage. Investigate how much money you will need to live on. Build a work wardrobe. If you can’t support yourself, invest in acquiring a marketable skill. Consider turning marriage counseling into individual counseling. If your husband sees you as weak and unwilling to act, he won’t suspect you are figuring out how to strengthen your financial position.
We understand how wrenching this is. Infidelity is overwhelming. It fills people with thoughts they cannot get rid of and it shreds their social position.
It’s good to be hopeful, but it’s even better to pass the ammunition.
Wayne & Tamara
Send letters to: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com
         Send letters to: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Protecting your child’s health at a young age from Marissa Liana

Protecting your child’s health at a young age
Weather you already have babies or not, If you’re anything like me or planning to have
children in the future, you llikely want to protect your child from allergies, autoimmune conditions, eczema, obesity, depression, learning disabilities and autism in the best ways possible. So I wanted to share one of the foundational ways you can do so.
Ensuring the health of your child’s gut microbiome is critical.
Our microbiome is composed of all of our microorganisms/bacteria in and on our body. They are considered a counterpart to our human genome. Our genes and biology are greatly influenced by our environment, lifestyle, and the foods we eat. Genes can be turned on or off based on these factors which means we are never prisoners to our genes.
Studies have shown the importance of establishing this microbial diversity in infancy. The critical period / window of opportunity seems to be within the first 100 days of life to decrease the child’s risk of developing conditions such as eczema and allergies.
How do you protect your child’s microbiome / gut bacteria?
It starts in the womb.
1)Nutrition plays a huge role of course during pregnancy, as a mothers internal microbiome affects baby. Mother should be eating a diet rich in prebiotic foods daily, such as fruits and vegetables. Probiotics are the fibrous components of plants that act as food for our probiotics (healthy bacteria). These foods keep the bacteria healthy and diverse.
2) Vaginal Delivery is also extremely important to pass those supporting bacteria onto the baby. C-section babies lose out on this.
3) Breast feeding is another great way to pass our immune boosting microbes to baby.
4) Infant probiotics  5) Avoiding antibiotics at all costs.
If you are interested in learning more, I have written an entire Ebook - Holistic Pregnancy Guide, which provides 2 meal plans - pre and post natal to nourish yourself and your growing baby, as well as a complete supplement guide, lifestyle guide, and all the facts you need to know for a healthy, holistic pregnancy. Www.marissaliana.com for more info--  Marissa Liana, CNP, BHSC Kin    Until next week, Stay well.  Marissa.   www.marissaliana.com

Heart Failure, What You Should Know About Mitochondria By W. Gifford-Jones M.D.

By W. Gifford-Jones M.D.
  Heart Failure, What You Should Know About Mitochondria
          Ask anyone what is the nation’s number one killer and most people will say heart attack. But how many know that congestive heart failure (CHF) is the fastest growing cause of heart disease in North America? Why is this happening? And why are mitochondria of vital importance, particularly as we all grow older?
          Congestive Heart Failure occurs for several reasons. A coronary attack may have destroyed cardiac muscle. Or hypertension over a period of years has weakened it. Or obesity and diabetes has resulted in hardening of coronary arteries, decreasing blood flow to the heart. So, in addition to aging, a series of events may injure the heart. As the “Gifford-Jones Law” states, one problem leads to another and another.
          In the end, it’s mitochondria that determine how long the heart will beat. And when the heart says enough is enough, death occurs.
          Mitochondria are tiny power plants present in almost all living cells that constantly produce energy. These allow cardiac muscles to beat 100,000 times every 24 hours. Or 2.7 billion times by age 70, without stopping!
          I’m sure most readers have experienced “brownouts” when electricity fails, and civilization as we know it, momentarily ends. It’s the power plant that keeps cities functioning. Can you imagine the chaos if toilets failed to flush for a few days!
          But humans can also have brownouts due to malfunctioning mitochondria. These cause days when we lack energy, feel exhausted, have muscle weakness, difficulty remembering things, or become seriously ill. For instance, researchers have linked Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease to ineffectual mitochondria.  
          Experts on CHF say that much can be done to maintain healthy mitochondria and increase cardiac longevity. A workout of 30 to 60 minutes is ideal and the more intensive the better, but there appears to be little benefit beyond 60 minutes.
          Limited consumption of food. This allows mitochondria more time to remove free radicals, the metabolic ash that’s left after energy has been consumed and which is linked to aging. Intermittent fasting is advised which allows time for mitochondria to remove unwanted cellular debris such as old mitochondria. This may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. A diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates also has a beneficial effect on mitochondria.
          Researchers at Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University report that a healthy blood level of vitamin C protects and restores enzyme activity in aging mitochondria which provide energy for the proper function of cardiac muscle. The report does not say how much vitamin C. But I’d suggest one scoop of Medi-C Plus which contains 2,000 milligrams of powdered vitamin C, after breakfast and the evening meal.
          A report in the medical publication, LifeExtension, says, “A deficiency of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deprives the heart of a critical factor of energy supply and can be a key contributor to an impaired pumping of the heart.” This is because  mitochrondria cannot make energy without an adequate supply of CoQ10.       
          Researchers add that a group of international cardiologists enrolled 420 people with moderate to severe heart failure in a double blind study. They were prescribed either a placebo or 100 mg. of CoQ10 three times a day for two years, in addition to standard drug therapy.
     At the end of the study those taking CoQ10 had a 50 percent reduction in the risk of heart failure and stroke. They also had a lower death rate from both cardiovascular and other causes. The study also revealed that the heart’s muscle had become more efficient, reducing the risk of auricular fibrillation, an irregular rhythm of the heart. Medi-C Plus and other brands of powdered vitamin C along with CoQ10 are available in Health Food Stores.
          Finally, a deep massage removes toxins, improves blood and oxygen circulation and growth of mitochondria.
          It’s never too early to start being kind to your heart. Dr. Michael McDonald, an expert on heart failure at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the University of Toronto, says, “This diagnosis of failure usually means life-expectancy of from 2 to 5 years. And today, if you’re over the age of 65, it’s the most common reason for being admitted to hospital.”
             Online docgiff.com Comments info@docgiff.com

H1 IS A NATIONAL SCANDAL By Joe Ingino b.a.

By Joe Ingino b.a.
Editor/Publisher

“I live a dream in a nightmare world”
  
H1 IS A NATIONAL SCANDAL
   Please someone explain this tome.  I been told I am not the brightest star in the galaxy...  but how can our elected officials let this out right rip-off go on.
  This week Hyrdo One proudly boasted that on the first quarter it sported a 33 percent profit from last year....  PROOOOFFIIITT?
According to public record.  Hydro One is owned:  In January 2018 the Ontario government announced they had sold over 14 million shares of Hydro One to OFN Power Holdings, a partnership controlled by 129 First Nations around the province. The shares represent 2.4% of outstanding common shares, reducing the government's stake in the company to approximately 47.4%. Area served: Ontario.  Owners: Government of Ontario (47.4%)
Total assets: CA$ 25.701 Billion (2017)
Revenue: CA$ 5.990 Billion (2017)
Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. OPG is responsible for approximately half of the electricity generation in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Sources of electricity include nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, gas and biomass. Although Ontario has an open electricity market, the provincial government, as OPG's sole shareholder, regulates the price the company receives for its electricity to be less than the market average, in an attempt to stabilize prices. Since 1 April 2008, the company's rates have been regulated by the Ontario Energy Board.
OPG was established in April 1999 under the Ontario Progressive Conservative government of premier Mike Harris as a precursor to deregulation of the province's electricity market. As part of government plans to privatize the assets of Ontario Hydro, the utility was split into five separate corporations. OPG was created as the owner and operator of all of Ontario Hydro's electricity generating stations.
If this stand true... these so called profits.  Where do they end up?  How is the government not using these profits to lower the rates?
One would think that if the corporation is profiting that the rates may be to high.  I know the corporation has investments.  Either way.  Why is the government not using those profits to lower the common consumers rates.
Instead they go up.  On the same breath.  The Chair of the corporation makes 6 million dollars a year.  How can any elected official with any integrity allow this rip off to take place?
Are we to assume that these Hydro One executives are some sort of super humans?  That they are worth 6 million a year.
Yet, if you look at your Hydro bill you are paying in many cases utilities retired debts... like really.  How about using those millions in profits to forget outstanding debts by consumers.  People that can’t afford to pay their hydro.
No instead the board members give each other $25,000 bonuses for their great work.  I shame the conservatives that started this orgy of incorporating a public company.  I shame the Liberals for not putting a stop to it.  I shame the NDP for not picking up and making it a priority in the upcoming election.  Then again.  It is a legal way to extort money from the masses.  YOU PAY OR WE CUT YOU OFF... this is nothing short of legal organized crime.

KEEPING YOU INFORMED By John Mutton

By John Mutton      
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
    As the Provincial election gets into its final weeks, it seems to get more interesting daily. More than ever, I think the public will be voting candidate based in the respective ridings.

The unpopularity of Wynne, the internal turmoil in the PCs and the rise in polling of the NDP says a 1990 NDP rise to power could happen again.
Patrick Brown's Peoples Guarantee had the PC's taking the centre right with the public appeal that would have created a possible dynasty in Ontario, not so much now since the internal coup.

In our Region that has five ridings the latest polls I have seen is PC's winning in Durham Riding, Ajax and Pickering and the NDP winning huge in Oshawa and pulling out a win in Whitby. Whether this holds true is totally up to the leaders, party position and the sincerity and credibility of the candidates.
Let's remember that anything can happen over the final weeks and anything and everything likely will happen.

With the municipal election on the heals of the provincial election, we will have confusion and a long drawn out process. Don't be afraid to ask the candidate's candidates daily.

Till Next Week

The Trump Factor By Joe Ingino b.a.

By Joe Ingino b.a.
Editor/Publisher

“I live a dream in a nightmare world”
The Trump Factor
  It appears that no matter who wins.  The people always seem to  have something to bitch about.   When Obama was in office.  Those dam Democrats.   Now the Republicans are in the drivers seat... and it’s those dame Republicans.
The bottom line and in keeping with the spirit of democracy.  We must park our indifference and warrant merit where it is due.
Obama was a humanitarian, a passive/aggressive leader that cared for his people but failed to deal with the many road blocks he faced during his Presidency.
Trump on the other hand appears to be driving a bulldozer and stops for no one or anything.  So far, one has to give him credit, that his bullish approach has the dollar at the highest it has been in a long time.  The U.S. economy is booming and he is finally taking control of the world as the leader of the strongest country in the world.
Look at his work with the North/South Korea.  Look at his initiatives with Israel.   Look at his work with eradicating the ‘YES MEN’ in politics.
I wish he go further and pass a bill that would include everyone in politics.   As it stands if you are not wealthy.  Your only contribution to the institution of democracy is a cheap vote.
It appears that in order to run a political campaign in the United States you best to have a minimum of five hundred thousand or good luck.
For President you best have millions... what does this say for the rest of us?  Politics is not for the average person.  Yet, these politicians go out of their way to identify with the common folk.
We have fallen into a false sense of acceptance when it comes to politics.  We are led to believe that democracy is democratic.   By it’s own inner structure.  It is clear that there is nothing democratic about forcing influence and extracting votes.   Trump brings this to life... as those that oppose him point it out and those that support it take it as the status quo in politics.

THE CHRISTIAN PATRIOTIC FRONT H. J. Rogers Harvard Law School '66

Harvard Law School '66  

THE CHRISTIAN PATRIOTIC FRONT
      THE CHRISTIAN PATRIOTIC FRONT is a secular institute organized after    Vatican II under the aegis of the Roman Catholic church but not under its authority.    
  If you want an analogy, think of the Third Order Franciscans, think Opus Dei.  You will still be off the mark but you will be getting closer.  Think of the knights-errant of the early Middle Ages.  Think of John Brown at Harper's Ferry.  Now you are very close.
        Brother Scott Speedy, a native Pennsylvanian, took his first vows while a student at West Virginia University.  [Despite his early profession, Br. Scott was no saint, concentrating on the distribution of wild oats and chugging steins of beer at a sh-t hole called the Underground Railroad.  His cohorts included such future W.Va. luminaries as The Hon. John Perdue, the long term State Treasurer---and the last Democrat left standing in the RED SEA of Republicanism---and The Rev. Dr. Daniel Bryan, one of the most respected elders of the United Methodist church.]
       The unofficial motto of the Front (voiced most frequently by its detractors) is that ''ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES ONE A VERY DULL BOY" and, to be honest, Br. Scott's progress within the Front was rather checkered (although like Perdue and Bryan, he was a worldly success) until what is known to the cognoscenti as THE SECOND BATTLE OF BLAIR MOUNTAIN.  As every Mother's Son in West Virginia knows, Blair Mountain is situate in southern West between Boone and Logan counties, the place where 10,000 marching coal miners fought a pitched battle against 2500 Logan County Deputy Sheriffs (officially, but actually paid employees of the coal operators.)   The battle ended only when the President send in federal troops and for the first time in history America--your country and mine--bombed a civilian population in time of peace.  This is to the Mountain State what THE BATTLE OF HOMESTEAD is to the Quaker State.
        It was in the second battle of Blair Mountain that Br. Speedy "made his bones", as it were.  Here, the capitalistic exploiters had set out to strip mine Blair Mountian and then turn this sacred spot into a garbage dump for the eastern seaboard as these fast-buck-fellows have done all over the Mountain State (including my own beloved Wetzel County which has long accepted garbage from New York City.)  Br. Speedy entered late into the ranks but it was his fervant testimony that turned the tide.  I know, I was there. I drove him to the hearing.  I cheered him on.  The strip mining permit was denied.  PTL !.
        Br. Speedy was taking a well-deserved rest at the Front's training complex at the headwaters of Reader Creek in the outback of Wetzel County when a damsel in distress (if members of the Front have a collective flaw, it is that they are unable to resist a sad story coming from a pretty face) approached him as he was unwinding from a tough day of introspection over a bourbon and branch water.   She was from Homestead  and her dear, dear grandmother was at THE ST. THERESE PLAZA, in Munhall.  And her grandmother was miserable.
        Grandma had been a parishioner at St. Maximilian Kolbe in Homestead.  The ingrates (her children) had packed her off to the PLAZA, sort of a long stone throw away from the place where she had lived for 70 years.  For grandma this was both a train of tears and one of broken promises; the tears because the family had dumped her and because the PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR CARE (which by some theological perversion) manages a home adjacent to another Roman Catholic church, a place that I am told was once a convent.
        "My grandmother was told: 'YOU'LL ENJOY A WELL-DESIGNED HOME WITH AN EQUIPPED KITCHEN, WALL-TO-WALL AND INDIVIDUALLY-CONTROLLED HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING.'  It's a pack of lies, Brother Scott, it's a bunch of half-truths.  The heating and air  conditioning are not individually controlled.  They are at best a hodge-poge forcing my grandmother and her friends to supply their own fans, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners in the summer and humidifiers in the winter."
        But this was only the beginning of the damsel's tale of the woes of her beloved grandmother.  "What's even worse, Brother Speedy is that they run the place like the Capital Unit at S.C.I. Greene is Waynesburg, which as you know is the Commonwealth's 'SUPERMAX' prison, housing in solitary confinement 100 plus of the Quaker State's "worst of the worst".  They promised 'COMMMUNITY', and it existed for a short period, but the new adminstration wants to keep all of these elderly ladies confined to their rooms 24/7.  They positively discourage them from meeting in what used to be the common room.  They removed the benches that were outside so that the women couldn't go outside.  There's a lot more, Brother Speedy, and I want you, I beg you to go take a look for yourself.
        FROM THE DAMSEL'S LIPS TO G-D'S EAR.       
       The elders of the CHRISTIAN PATRIOTIC FRONT heard the damsel's plaint about her beloved grandmother and immediately dispatched Brother Speedy to the scene.  He went "down low" and quickly made application to be a tenant in ST. THERESE PLAZA and after his references were checked took his beggar's cup and prayer shawl and moved in.  There he found that things were worse than he had been told.  Clearly, the SENIOR CARE NETWORK (an affiliate of Presbyterian Senior Care) was long on promises and short of performance.
       To his chagrin Brother Speedy learned that THE PRESBYTERIANS RUNNING A RESIDENCE HALL OWNED BY AND FILLED LARGELY WITH ROMAN CATHOLICS (a most ungodly concatenation to be sure) were apparently talking their cues in how to operate the place from a book put out in California entitled "23/7: The Story of Solitary Confinement in Soledad Prison."  The thesis of this book was that the most effective way to handle large numbers of people was to isolate them in individual cells and keep them locked up as much as possible.
        After investigating further, Brother Speedy reported back to Brother Umberto that matters were getting worse.  The common room was effectively closed down, the computers there were frequently broken and not repaired.  In his opinion, the paid staff was becaming more surly and disrespectful to the elderly.  The few men that were there decamped.  "I can't take this ELEPHANT SH-T anymore from these Neo-Nazi idiots that run this place.  They get some sadistic thrill about shoving these old ladies around.  Well, I've had it.  If I'd known that this place would be a mini-Auschwitz,  I would have gone to Florida with my friends.  But I always liked me women, you know Brother Speedy, and the thought of being surrounded by 100 of what were once Pittsburgh's most beautiful and devout women seemed too good a deal to turn down," the man said with a wink.
       ELEPHANT SH-T?
       "Oh, that's from Fritz Perls, the great psychologist.  Taught at San Diego State for a while, as I recall.  Like Christianity, Caesar's Gaul, and Freud's psyche, he divided things into three parts.  You know--but these people that run this place are obviously unaware--the Father, Son & Hold Ghost.  This Colleen, do you think that if she were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict her?  But Perls said, you got CHICKEN SH-T.  Then you got BULL SH-T.  But here at St. Therese's you got ELEPHANT SH-T.   I'm too old to fight any more, but I ask you, Brother Speedy, to avenge all of these poor women against these NEO-NAZIS WHO WHAT TO SEE THEM LOCKED IN THEIR CELLS 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK JUST LIKE THOSE POOR WRETCHES DOWN AT S.C.I. GREENE IN WAYNESBURG !!!"
       And it got worse and then worse.  Brother Speedy quietly organizated FREE RANGE SENIORS under the watchful eyes of the Storm Troopers.  Slowly, surely he was building a tenant's union.  He make inquiries of SEIU, the one union in Pittsburgh that would assist in the formation of a tenants union.  And he kept up his argument with management as they went through the THREE STAGES OF FRITZ PERLS' cosmology.
       AND THE MANAGEMENT FILED TO EVICT BROTHER SPEEDY!!!   And their lawyer SEAN J. CARMODY OF DEUTCHTOWN CENTER (I did not make this address up) threatened to have have him blacklisted "in other HUD housing properties."   And this threat was made within a stone's through of the cemetery that contains THE BODIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE HOMESTEAD MASSACRE.  The spirit of Andrew Carnegie and his gun thugs is obviously alive and well in Allegheny County.  But BROTHER SPEEDY  WILL  "GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT."   Over half of the tenants have signed petitions opposed to his eviction.  Five of these women have vowed to join him on the streets.  Just think of the courage it's taken for these quiet Catholic ladies to rise up in the face of potential eviction and support the only human being in the building who has helped them over the past few years.
       LETTERS OF SUPPORT (and filthy lucre) SHOULD BE SENT TO ''FREE RANGE SENIORS'' c/o BROTHER UMBERTO, CHRISTIAN PATRIOT FRONT, 317 FOUNDRY STREET, NEW MARTINSVILLE, W.VA. 26155.
       Free Range Seniors are Happy Senior.
H. J. Rogers

Here's how to get rid of Robert Mueller By Larry Klayman

Here's how to get rid of Robert Mueller
By Larry Klayman
Go to www.FreedomWatchUSA.org to Sign Petition and Support Our Lawsuit to Remove Mueller.
I like Rudy Giuliani and have met and spoken to him on several occasions. But this week's appearance on "Hannity" did not do any justice – pun intended – to the president of the United States! As the president acknowledged Friday morning in passing as he was on his way to the NRA convention in Dallas, his new lead criminal defense counsel needs to get his facts straight, having created a mess in his bizarre and most likely factually inaccurate explanation of the Stormy Daniels payout by Trump attorney Michael Cohen.

Giuliani also made statements this week that "he" would consider having the president be interviewed by Robert Mueller for two hours and that the chances were 50/50 that this could happen. As any experienced criminal defense attorney, and even one wet behind the ears and just out of law school, would tell you, allowing an interview of The Donald would not just be legal malpractice, but one of the most stupid acts in the history of legal representation in this nation. Mueller would juxtapose anything the president said – and all interviews with the government are in effect under oath – with the so-called testimony of others who this corrupt establishment special counsel has obtained through plea bargaining and otherwise, persons who may have turned on Trump. In this way, finding the inconsistencies, Mueller would either charge The Donald with perjury and/or include this in the special counsel's inevitable impeachment report to Congress. Stupid is as stupid does, in the words of the mother of Forrest Gump!

I am glad that President Trump now recognizes that he needs other criminal defense counsel, having dispensed with two of his previous inert clowns, John Dowd and Ty Cobb. And, while it is good for Rudy to speak clearly about the "witch hunt" that is the Mueller investigation, he needs to step back and realize that he is not the be all and end all of the president's fate and should not spew forth anything that may sound good on a propagandist's cable show, like "Hannity." Instead, Giuliani, after being properly briefed on the facts, can hold serious press conferences, because in essence his take on the runaway and patently illegal Russian collusion and obstruction of justice investigation is correct. Rudy just needs to get serious in a respected forum.

Last Thursday, I called Rudy and left a message with his secretary to call me back. At the time, he undoubtedly was "preoccupied" with the fallout of his "Hannity" appearance. What I wanted to advise Giuliani was that the fastest way to end the Mueller "witch hunt" was to have the president support our lawsuit seeking to uncover the illegal and criminal grand jury leaks to the media by the special counsel and his frankly evil leftist staff. These leaks, which have been occurring with daily regularity since the inception of Mueller's investigation, are calculated to harm the presidency and damage the Trump agenda to "Make America Great Again," regardless of any later indictment or impeachment report.
Mueller is a product and tool of the establishments of both political parties, and the Washington, D.C., so-called elite wants to see The Donald dead and buried. The meme below tells the tale of this desire to end the reign of King Trump, as he threatens the never-ending gravy train of the beautiful people of Washington, D.C., and not just the self- anointed nobility status of the Clintons, Bushes and Obamas. If Mueller succeeds – and unless something is done quickly he will – he and his slimy prosecutorial staff will be rewarded in far greater ways than, ironically, porn star Stormy Daniels and her bottom-feeding lawyer, Michael Avenatti – who has come out of guttural obscurity with great glee to try to make a "name for himself."
In addition to supporting my cases (see www.freedomwatchusa.org) to pry the communications of Mueller and his prosecutors with the media out of Justice Department files, which once exposed would create a groundswell forcing Jeff Sessions to fire him, taking the heat off of President Trump, is the urgent need to have me appointed special counsel. You can rest assured that I would bring the Muellers, Clintons, Comeys, Rosensteins and corrupt Obama Deep State intelligence chiefs like the lying James Clapper and John Brennan to justice. Go to www.freedomwatchusa.org to sign the petition to have me so appointed.

In addition to this, I also need your support in commissioning citizens grand juries so We the People can take legal matters into our own hands and empanel a grand jury, indict and later through public trials before a petit jury of one's peers, selected randomly from voter rolls, convict the criminals. We would do this before a neutral retired judge and then seek to have the criminals sentenced and then arrested and imprisoned. This plan is not far-fetched. Justice Scalia recognized in a majority Supreme Court opinion in 1992 that grand juries belong to the citizenry not to the three branches of government.

In short, Giuliani and the president should urgently "sit down" and hear me out. Time is short before President Trump, his White House and the republic as a whole goes under for the count, thanks to an evil establishment-supported special counsel who has assumed the roll of an out-of-control Justice Department attorney general. Mueller presently has carte blanche to do as he pleases.
While our current actual attorney general, Jeff Sessions, is a worthless coward, and his corrupt deputy, Rod Rosenstein, even worse, it is time for President Trump to take bold action by appointing me a second special counsel, supporting our lawsuits to expose Mueller for the criminal he is and supporting our citizens grand juries. The president should instruct his new lawyer to put The Donald's interests before Rudy's ego and simply cooperate with Freedom Watch to get the job done!

IS THERE AN ELECTION!!! WHO IS RUNNING? By Joe Ingino b.a. Editor/Publisher

By Joe Ingino b.a.
Editor/Publisher

“I live a dream in a nightmare world”
   IS THERE AN ELECTION!!!
WHO IS RUNNING?
   For those that read my column on a regular basis will understand my position when it comes to Canadian politics.   It appears that Canada has lost it’s way when it comes to leadership.  Look at the fiasco here in Oshawa alone.   We have as our MPP, Jennifer French.  An outsider that had toppled PC., MPP Jerry Ouellette.   An amazing feat for French.   Now we are again at the footsteps of another election it appears she has no real challengers.
Like really, Bob Chapman?   How blinded must you be by ignorance to think for a moment that this careered ‘YES MAN’ would lead us any place.   I have a better question.   What has he accomplished and what has he done for the people of Oshawa in his terms as city and regional councillor?
Ok. by now you are thinking. I’m an NDPr.   Wrong.  Personally I think Jennifer French has done even less for the people of Oshawa.   I pose the same question to her?  What benefits and or prosperity has she brought to Oshawa?
Ok.  Now I can see the thought process in your head.  Ah, hum, Mr. Ingino you are a Liberal.
NO.  The Liberal party in Oshawa has had no vision.  JUST OUT OF THE BLUE... WHO IS RUNNING IN OSHAWA FOR THE LIBERALS?   I ask that tungue and cheek of course.   One would think that if you are running in a toilet for top turd that you would stir things up.  Get your name out.  At the least do the media rounds and get your name in the public eye.    I have yet to receive any communique from the Liberals.   Chapman to my knowledge is attempting to ride off the coat tail pipe dreams of Ford.  French is using the old mentality. ‘DON’T ROCK THE BOAT AND IT IS A SURE RE-ELECTION’.   Canadian politics is dead.  Sadly it appears no one cares...  OH CANADA, MY HOME AND NATIVE LAND...   We are doomed.

From Marissa Liana

from Marissa Liana
 Certified Nutritional Practitioner/Health Coach
Specialized in Applied Holistic Nutrition from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition.  b.a. (Honours) in Kinesiology from UOIT.

The Birth Control Pill:
What You Should Know
So you have been told you should go on the birth control pill as a method to control your acne, manage your heavy period, or regulate your cycle. Did you know that this is actually just masking an underlying hormonal imbalance, without addressing the root cause of the imbalance?  The reason why I wanted to write this column is that the birth control pill is a topic I am finding I am discussing with my clients on a regular basis. I feel women should feel empowered and be informed when it comes to their own bodies.
The Facts:
Approximately 100,000,000 women worldwide are on the birth control pill.
Birth control pills first became popular in the early 1960’s and contained much higher doses of hormones than today’s birth control pills. Although the birth control options today contain much 'smaller' doses of synthetic estrogen, many negative side effects still exist. Anything that disrupts the body’s natural hormones and hormone balance can be sure to come with side effects.
How the pill works:
The birth control pill works to inhibit pregnancy in 3 ways:
1) It contains synthetic forms of estrogen and progestin which work to inhibit the body’s natural hormones preventing ovulation and pregnancy.  Ovulation is when the ovarian follicle releases an egg once it has reached maturity, which then travels down the fallopian tube where it may be met by a sperm to become fertilized. Ovulation occurs about 2 weeks before a woman's expected period and lasts only 1-2 days. This leaves a very small window for pregnancy to occur*, as the egg can only survive for about 24 hours before becoming fertilized by sperm.
2) Alters and thins a woman’s lining in her uterus so pregnancy is unlikely.
3) Alters a woman's mucus secretions so pregnancy is unlikely.
"Getting your period" on the pill.
Many women believe that the pill is regulating their period, but this is not the case. The bleeding you get when you're on the pill is not the same as a menstrual period. When you're taking the pill, your period is technically called withdrawal bleeding, referring to the withdrawal of hormones in your pill. The drop in hormones levels causes the lining of your uterus (the endometrium) to shed, creating bleeding and period-like symptoms.
The downsides to taking the pill:
Not only are you not addressing the root cause of any imbalances in the body by going on the pill, you also increase the risk of many serious side effects.
Side effects can include:
    Blood clots. This one hits home for me. 'YASMIN' was the birth control pill I was taking when I saw a news report of healthy, young, adolescent women dying from serious strokes from blood clots that were also taking YASMIN. This was strike 1 for me personally.     Increased blood pressure and increased cholesterol levels.
    Impaired thyroid function. The pill increases 'thyroid binding globulin' which binds to your free thyroid hormones, preventing your body from using them. Since thyroid hormones are responsible for regulating your metabolism, this can lead to weight gain and serious side effects.
    Depression and emotional changes. Since the birth control pill depletes B vitamins, depression and emotional changes relating to the pill are often due to its effects on depleting vitamin B6, an important vitamin which helps regulate mood.    Fertility problems and hormonal imbalance when coming off the pill. I developed severe acne problems after coming off the pill and I never had acne before going on the pill. I also had INTENSE PMS pains like never before.
    Chronic yeast infections. Research shows oral contraceptives negatively impact our gut flora, vaginal bacteria and estrogen metabolism. This leads to the development of yeasts and bad bacteria which can cause yeast infections.     Increased risk of cancer. The birth control pill was deemed a ‘Group One carcinogen’ by the World Health Organization in 2005, which places it in the same class as radium and asbestos.
    Negative impacts on our environment. Amongst the problems it causes women, it is also causing widespread problems in the environment due to the high resistance to chemical breakdown and its tendency to absorb into organic matter. It is released into the environment from urine and feces of women taking the birth control pill, entering our drinking water and has negative implications on our aquatic system. This has been linked to feminization of aquatic organisms, interfering with their endocrine system and affecting reproduction and fish populations.
What can you do/how can you balance your hormones naturally?
So your hormones are a mess, you suffer from acne, heavy periods, endometriosis, Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, and you don't want to take the pill. How can you balance your hormones naturally without the use of synthetic drugs?
There are 4 main reasons why we experience hormonal imbalances.
    Sluggish, overburdened liver -  Adrenal issues and increased stress - Gut issues/gut flora imbalances
    Blood sugar imbalances
Taking a look at each of these areas with a Nutritionist, Naturopathic Doctor or Hormone specialist is extremely helpful for determining the root cause of your imbalances. I go more in-depth on these factors in my ebook Healthy Skin From Within. at www.marissaliana.com - under SHOP
Alternative birth control methods:
    Practice fertility awareness based on your monthly cycle and body signals. There are amazing apps out there now such as 'LIFE CYCLE' that helps to track your ovulation, fertility and periods.
    Condoms.
    IUDs. (Downside - women often report crams are worse, and if you choose a copper IUD this can deplete zinc levels which can actually worsen acne, wound healing and hormone balance).
    Pulling out. (Downside - this method does not protect against STDs).  
Final thoughts:
It is of course in our best interest to treat our bodies how nature intended. Including the use of synthetic drugs, especially synthetic hormones can have many rebounding effects on the body. Knowing the risks and side effects of taking such drugs are important for people to feel empowered and informed, and as a practitioner, it improves our ability to help clients achieve their most optimal health. If you are suffering from intense PMS symptoms, hormonal acne, thinking about going off the birth control pill, or are interested in improving your health and vitality by any means, book a free consult with me today to see if working with me is something that would benefit you.
Lastly, I have created an ebook 'Healthy Skin From Within' launching May 31st which includes a complete guide to hormonal balancing, gut healing with meal plans, recipes. supplements and tons more!
*USE COUPON: healthyskin FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING: save 10% on all pre-orders now!
Until next week, Stay well.  Marissa.   www.marissaliana.com

Our Belly proves we’re not Gods this Holiday Season By W. Gifford-Jones M.D.

By W. Gifford-Jones M.D.
Our Belly proves we’re not Gods this Holiday Season       

          This is the season to be jolly, and the last thing I want to do is spoil the holiday festivities. But, unfortunately, the office parties, family dinners, excess wine and fellowship of singing “Auld Lang Syne, all take a toll on one’s stomach. So, can you lessen the damage of hot fire beneath the breastbone? And what are the pitfalls in the treatment of this common discomfort?

          Heartburn is triggered by several factors. The lower esophageal muscle   (LEM) at the end of the food pipe can become weak and inefficient at times.  So if you “eat the whole thing”, excess gas is created in the stomach and the laws of physics say something has to give. This results in the LEM opening, and gas, along with the stomach’s acidic juice, flows into the esophagus causing inflammation.

          The Gifford-Jones Law states “one bad problem leads to another and another.” So if this scenario is repeated over and over, chronic inflammation can end in a condition called Barrett’s Esophagus. This can turn into esophageal cancer in one of every 200 cases. A big price to pay for gluttony.

          So what is the best way to treat common garden variety heartburn at any time of the year? The best way is to get smart. This means giving your stomach a rest. After all, other muscles need a holiday at times and so does the esophageal muscle. So, limit portion size, alcohol, avoid hot spices, raw onions, garlic, excess coffee, and stop smoking. Chemicals in smoke relax the esophageal muscle.

          But if you find it impossible to refuse a second helping, don’t immediately lie down after overindulging. Rather, loosen the tight belt around your stomach which will ease pressure on the muscle. It’s also good to make a New Year’s resolution to shed pounds, as this also creates les strain of the muscle. Tincture of time is the great healer for those who are smart.

          For quicker relief you don’t need an elephant gun to shoot a mouse. So it’s prudent to first use safe, simple drugs such as Rolaids, Maalox, Mylanta or Tums. These may help to tame the burning fire by neutralizing the acidity in the esophagus. But if you find no relief, get medical attention.

          Your doctor may suggest the use of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec. These drugs shut down the production of stomach acid. They are used to heal stomach and duodenal ulcers resulting from long-term use of painkillers such as Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.    

          Remember, I’ve often stressed that you rarely, if ever, get something for nothing. Studies show that long term use of PPIs can lead to other unintended consequences. For instance, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration warns consumers that taking PPIs with the blood thinner Plavix hinders their ability to prevent clotting.

          Another report in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that men who took PPIs and Plavix following a coronary attack were 64 percent more likely to have a second heart attack. This same journal also reported that PPIs increase the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women.

          Decreasing the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach can also impair calcium absorption. Calcium is needed to maintain strong bones. It can also upset the normal balance of intestinal bacteria. In extreme cases, patients can have as many as 40 bowel movements daily and it can be life-threatening.

          Today, the dietary excesses of North Americans have made PPI’s one of the best selling drugs. It’s a sad commentary on our way of life that so many people are living a questionable lifestyle and reaching for drugs rather than mending their ways. Nietzsche, the German philosopher, was right when he wrote. “The belly is the main reason man does not mistake himself for a god.”

          Remember, diagnosing whether it’s heartburn or a coronary attack can be difficult at times. If there’s any doubt, go immediately to the emergency. 
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HELLO CHAPMAN ARE YOU OUT THERE? By Joe Ingino b.a.

By Joe Ingino b.a.
Editor/Publisher

“I live a dream in a nightmare world”
  
HELLO CHAPMAN ARE YOU OUT THERE?
   You have to wonder... How busy is busy?  I operate various businesses that include two newspapers and always have time for all kind of folk.  Some supporters some not to supportive.
  I make time.   I guess I must come out of the political closet. I have supported the Conservative party for years.   From Jim Flaherty to Jerry Ouellette and everyone in between.
It appears that the conservative party has gone so some major transformation.  Candidates are not what they use to be.
Take for example Bob Chapman.   I placed a call into his office three weeks ago.  Then subsequent follow ups... Not even a courtesy call.  This is the first time this has happened to me.  Normally, most reputable politician call within a couple of day.   That is acceptable and reasonable.
But this Chapman character, three weeks later and not even a courtesy call.   Why is this man running?   That should be the big question.
A careered politician a renown ‘YES MAN’.  He has sat on council as a City and Regional councillor and what has he achieved.   What has he done for the people that pay his wages?
Does anyone even know who Bob Chapman is?  I guess some of you do know... as he has been nominated party queen for Oshawa. 
For those that read my column on a regular basis... I have a huge problem with ‘YES MEN’. I have an even bigger problems with politicians that have sat on council for term after term and accomplished nothing.
It appears that the rule of thumb is.  Do little or nothing...and you are guaranteed re-election.
Your daddy has or had a popular name.  Your offspring will get voted in.... Remember the Aker fiasco.    The old man did not run but the daughter did...and most of the dumb ass voters in Oshawa voted Aker and the daughter won.. What a disgrace.
After doing a bit of digging into Chapman and his conservative status.  I found much to my surprise... that many jumped on his band wagon at the beginning in opposition to the liberal party agenda.   Unfortunately, many of those that jumped on are jumping off in disgust.
I talked to one very well Oshawa activist and he said in confidence, “Chapman is all about himself and he will screw over anyone in his path.   Him and the Mayor have screwed many and achieved nothing.  They are nothing but out for themselves.”
Another person that use to be very close to Bob Chapman said, “Bob is a nice guy don’t get me wrong.   But that is about it.   In my opinion he lacks true leadership and direction.  He follows beacons of opportunity.  Case in point.  Him being nominated candidate for the conservatives is proof that he is just out for himself.  Much like the mayor.   Has anyone told Chapman that there is no pension for the position that he is running for?”
My personal experience is one that I always found him very approachable.   A bit arrogant for my taste and your typical “YES SIR” type.  I remember when he first got in politics, how Nancy Diamond would manipulate him.   How he became her personal lap dog.
I question him as a candidate as if he does not return call from his local media.  Will he ever return a call from a constituent?  So he is out campaigning making empty promises only to assure himself a golden government seat.   So that he may sit for another four years and further cushion the pensions he is already getting.
Sad, Bob.  Truly sad.
You have an opportunity to do go.   Why blow it before you get a chance at it.   The conservatives must choose solid leaders not pipe dreamer and cloud fluffer....

Understanding The Root Cause of your Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

Understanding The Root Cause of your Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

Have you been told you have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) by your general practitioner? I was there, and it was HELLA frustrating because GPs diagnose you with this only when they actually have no clue what’s going on -(basically once they’ve ruled out

So I wanted to share with you what worked for me, and what common triggers (root causes) of irritable bowel are:
1. you have an underlying food SENSITIVITY. It is important to know there is a difference between a true allergy (IgE immune mediated) vs a sensitivity IgG immune mediated). Both cause inflammation and damage in the body, but a sensitivity IgG response is DELAYED vs. Immediate, such as in a true allergy or an Anaphylaxis response. For me, I removed gluten and it was LIFE CHANGING. See a Naturopathic doctor for a food sensitivity test, not a GP.
2. Imbalance of gut flora. You have an overgrowth of bad bacteria and yeast (Candida) and lack beneficial bacteria. This is a HUGE culprit. Excess bad bacteria  worsen cramps, pain, diarrhea and bloating. Get yourself on a high quality probiotic, avoid antibiotics, BC pill and eat the rainbow! (No processed Sh*t)

3. STRESS- don’t underestimate the impact of stress in relation to your gut. There are more nerve cells in your gut than almost anywhere else in the body.  The gut is actually now referred to by scientists as “the second brain”. Try to meditate, exercise, or find lifestyle changes you can make to reduce stress in your life 

Until next week, Stay well.  Marissa.   www.marissaliana.com
that you don’t have celiac disease). Sad but true. This can be extremely frustrating when you're looking for answers and treatment to this inconvenient and often debilitating problem, which I should be clear, is NOT a ‘normal’ part of life. Understanding the ROOT CAUSE of WHY your bowel is so irritated is the only way to find relief.

Politicians Take Note Readers Damn Opioid Summit By W. Gifford-Jones M.D.

By W. Gifford-Jones M.D.
Politicians Take Note
Readers Damn Opioid Summit
          This week my e-mail nearly developed “Rigor Mortis” from the volume of responses to my column about an opioid summit. I recently told readers the government’s proposed opioid summit was a waste of money. I asked for their opinion. The majority agreed with me. But some labelled me barbaric, cruel and Godless for praising Singapore’s system of justice.
          M.P.  writes, “I also saw the warning signs when entering Singapore airport. A poster showed a drug dealer hanging by a rope!”
          Another reader adds, “I’m glad someone has the balls to discuss the consequences of this drug problem.”
From A.W., “My wife would swear I wrote your column. The only way to deal with drug dealers is death. Put them in jail and these serial killers are back selling death.”
From G.T., “I have morning coffee with 9 others and they all agree western society is too lenient with drug dealers. Bleeding hearts will ruin this great country.”  One also warned me they might also try to end my column, Parents responded that their worst nightmare occurred when a child died from a drug overdose. They suggested evil pushers be injected with the same drug that killed their children.  R.L. writes, “Every dealer executed saves our prison system $80,000. This   would decrease the demand on our police, and emergency health services.” From Brampton, “I’ve visited Singapore many times and it’s one of the few places I would emigrate to, thanks to Lee Kuan Yew and his tough stand on crime.”
 From Victoria, “I look forward to your column every Sunday. You are spot on, say it like it is, which is a breath of fresh air in a crazy world.”  Another added, “Great stuff, you should run for Prime Minister of Canada.” H.T. “I don’t normally reply to articles, but yours hit a nerve. Pampering drug addicts is a waste of health resources.”
From Calgary, “This is the most commonsense article I’ve read as we just slap the wrist of drug dealers. An opioid summit is the classic stalling tactic of governments. This column is a joy to read and should have been on the front page.” K.S. says, “We have to stop saving people who overdose. Let them die.” Another reader, “Why are we handwringing over a few witless souls who have no regard for their continued existence.” Another just said, “Hang the scumbags.”
But five percent of readers took me to task. J.K. says, “Your proposal that dealers should be hanged is cruelty over the top.” Other readers suggested I visit Portugal to learn about rehabilitation programs. Still others said they had always considered me a compassionate physician, but now were appalled by my views.
Several readers addressed the death penalty saying that it was barbaric. But added it’s equally barbaric to sell death, so punishment fits the crime. Others deplored how the court system allowed lawyers to defer justice on drug cases for years.
A Crisis Centre worker writes, “As a Christian I try to model the love God has for mankind. But my God is no pushover. In the Bible punishment for crime is swift and definite. And yes, it includes the death penalty.”
 Addicts did not get much sympathy from readers. Some blamed doctors for the indiscriminate use of opioids. But the majority did not buy this view. Rather, they believed responsibility rested solely on those who decided to become involved in drugs. Moreover, we should not dignify addicts by calling them victims when they’re willing to become participants in their own addictions.
Most readers had a pessimistic view of the future and believe that chicken-hearted politicians would continue to be “irresponsibly permissive” in dealing with drug dealers. Many also decried the use of safe injection sites and naloxone injections of just abetting drug addiction.
The overwhelming message is that people are fed up with politicians and their lack of sense when dealing with the drug epidemic. None of the respondents could see Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew’s hard stand on drugs ever happening in this country. But they suggest any politician with the intestinal fortitude to take this stand would get elected. So, is any politician listening?
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