'I LIVE A DREAM IN A NIGHTMARE WORLD' SERIES

Friday, August 5, 2022

A Bride's Worst Nightmare

I need some serious advice. My boyfriend Jack and I met our senior year in college. After graduation we continued our relationship even though we live an hour apart. Last Christmas Jack surprised me with an engagement ring. Jack's family and I are very close. In fact, I am the godmother of his sister's first child. Every weekend we have all been working together to get things ready for our wedding. Jack and I talk about how lucky we are to have each other. Last week I received a phone call around 10 in the morning. Jack told me he was feeling scared and didn't think he could see himself with me three years from now. Later that night Jack called back to say he was sorry, he couldn't go through with the wedding. As you can imagine, I freaked out. When I asked him why, he responded with, "I don't know." The next day we took off work and met at a hotel to talk. The first few hours we sat at a table and talked about all the positive things in our relationship. I kept waiting to hear something bad, but nothing was ever said. As the night progressed, we wound up in bed and he held me tighter than ever before. Over and over, he told me how much he loved me. After we made love, he wouldn't let go of me. He kept telling me how beautiful I am, and how much he loved me. Next morning, I woke to him putting his clothes on. He told me he loved me once again, but he needed to be by himself. After a few days without hearing from him, I got an email from Jack saying all the wedding plans needed to be canceled. I was so confused and upset. Many angry phone conversations took place after that email. He doesn't want to see me or work on our relationship. He wants to be phone friends, and I am sick over this. I don't understand what happened. His family is upset but naturally they have to stand behind their son. I lost my best friend, a family, and the love of my life. What do I do at this point? Do you think he just got scared and will come back around? How do I deal with this? Ann Ann, people act as if there is a single thing called "wedding day jitters." Everyone nervous about getting married is lumped into one category. Actually, there are two groups of people. The first group feels the excitement of something they have never done before, something which is a major permanent change in life. It is like the butterflies actors feel before a performance. The last thing they want to do is cancel the event. The second group of people doubts marriage is a good idea for them. Many of them know they are making a mistake, but they lack the strength to stop things. Jack knew how much turmoil this would cause, yet he still put on the brakes. If this crash had come later, after you married, the consequences would have been much worse. The way to handle this is by facing it directly. Don't apologize or act embarrassed. Contact the people you need to contact. Make your phone calls, write your letters, cancel reservations, and take things back. Facing things and making a clean break helps you move forward. You had a picture of yourself as a bride, living somewhere else, doing other things. Now you have a new future to build. You have a right to feel angry and hurt, but in time, like many events in life, this will fade to insignificance. This event doesn't define you. Avoiding a disaster doesn't have a negative impact on your life. It has a positive impact on your life. Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Know and Love a Woman? Protect Her Heart

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones How many people realize women’s coronary arteries are understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated? The Cleveland Clinic, a leading cardiology centre, says heart disease is seven times deadlier for women than breast cancer. Build up of plaque in the heart’s arteries contributes to the death of one in every three women, more than all cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and accidents combined. But heart disease kills even more men. This fact and the historical focus on heart disease in men means most people are unaware of the risk factors for heart disease in women. A report from the American Heart Association (AHA) says there have been stunning improvements in death rates of both sexes from coronary heart disease (CHD) since 1980. But women have not shared the benefits equally. Maurice Chevalier, the French actor-singer, was not thinking about coronary arteries when he remarked, “vive la différence”. But the difference makes heart attack the number one killer of women. Heart attack has been considered a male disease as it occurs in men earlier in life. But after menopause the gender gap disappears. But many remain unaware that CHD is on the attack in women. Can CHD risk be spotted in women by their loved ones? Chest pain is the most common symptom in both sexes. But at least one-third of women do not show this classic symptom during coronary attack. Rather, they complain of shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, palpitations, dizziness, intense anxiety or pain in the jaw, neck, upper back or arm. These problems may be mistaken for a panic attack with fatal delay in diagnosis. Suppose a family member or friend is good diagnostician and immediately calls 911. Even then, studies show that an immediate electrocardiogram or stress test is less likely to reveal the typical indicators of heart attack. Even if a woman has an early diagnosis of coronary attack and survives, a bypass operation may be required. But she has twice the risk of dying during the surgery or shortly thereafter. Heart surgeons can explain why. Coronary arteries are smaller in females. This makes the surgery technically more challenging when vessels the diameter of a piece of spaghetti are joined together. What should we do to decrease the risk of CHD? First, a woman should see a psychiatrist if she smokes, as the risk of heart attack is seven times greater among women who smoke. Know your family history. If your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55, or your mother or sister before age 65, this substantially increases your risk. It’s a red flag that warns “start taking preventive measures”. If there is a history of cardiovascular disease, a daily 81 milligram dose of aspirin may help. But since aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, always discuss this medication with your doctor. Remember that obesity leads to type 2 diabetes which in turn increases the risk of heart attack. Gaining weight alone is easy; losing weight alone is hard. But if obese, losing weight will improve health. Good strategies and support groups help. Sheer will is probably not enough. Family and friends need to work on weight reduction together. Have your blood pressure checked. One-third of heart attacks in women could be prevented by controlling blood pressure. If blood cholesterol is elevated, most cardiologists will recommend cholesterol-lowering drugs. But discuss this with your physician, as there are effective and safer natural options. If you have read this column for years, you’ll know that high dose vitamin C with lysine has kept this doctor alive for 25 years after severe heart attack. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

Monday, August 1, 2022

THANK YOU AND YOUR WELCOME

By Ahmad Formuly Ward 1 City Councillor Candidate for Oshawa I like to begin this column by thanking The Central for inviting me to write a weekly column to all readers. This I believe is a great service to the community at large. Most voters when faced with an election know very little about those running. Specially the new candidates. From now until the election I hope to take advantage of this feature and address many of the issues that matter to Oshawa and the ward I will be representing. Municipal elections are upon us. As such we must weight our choices wisely. The future of our city is on the line. As a young man in Oshawa living in Ward 1. I have first hand recollection on what matters to those living in our ward. It appears that election after election the same faces sit in council. Taxes keep going up and quality of life appears to slowly slipping. For these and many other reasons I decided to put my name in and with your help make a difference. My name is Ahmad Formuly and I am running as a Ward 1 City Councillor Candidate for Oshawa. I studied Political Science at Ontario Tech University and always found it very interesting on the importance of government and society. How it suppose facilitate taxpayers life. We entrust those elected to act on our best interest. Unfortunately and much to my surprise. I have learned the hard way that in many cases this is not so. I have heard from people living in ward one many alarming issues. Such as not being able to get a hold of their council person. When dealing with Council having to deal with a lot of red tape. I believe that I will bring new fresh ideas that matter to the youth of today and tomorrow. I believe in preserving culture and tradition as well as being open minded to changes for the betterment of all in ward 1. I believe in respect, honor and valor. My candidacy will represent all of us. I feel that it is my duty to step up and work with constituents to improve life in general. my campaign platform: 1. Easy and respectable access to the City and their Councilor 2. Improving the quality of life in Oshawa by working with council to get tough on crime. 3. Putting money back into the pocket of the citizens of Oshawa by cutting down the unnecessary spending. 4. Look for ways to accommodate the affordable housing issue. Finding solutions to our homeless. 5. Protecting and creating more employment opportunities in Oshawa through working with council on finding corporate sponsorship and partnerships in order to create opportunity for industry/commerce/trade. 6. Work hard to assure that development does not keep exploding north. That our quality of life remains and does not become a highly density area. 7. Ward 1 needs protection from over building. Social housing abuse and the never ending threat of over developing. Oshawa is a great place to live. A great place to raise a family. Unfortunately for the past four years the quality of life has slowly slipped. The same old councillors are just not making the grade according to my observation. We need new blood in council. New fresh minds with fresh ideas. I believe that Oshawa with younger councillors can make the changes needed for future generations to grow and prosper. We may not have all the answers. But we sure will work hard to find them. Your vote and support is appreciated as together we need to make a difference. Thank You.

It’s To Hot - It’s To Cold

It’s To Hot - It’s To Cold By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central 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. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. 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. What is it with society today. It seems we are a bunch of over-opinionated complainers. You turn on the television and boom... more complainer. What is wrong with this world. We got to stop complaining and start appreciating life. I remember when I was growing up. Even a piece of bread was celebrated as much as sunday banquet. Today nothing seems to be good enough. Nothing seems to make the grade. I am disgusted. I remember how hard it was for me when I was coming up the ranks of society. I had to work hard for everything I had. Sometimes, I had to go without. While others enjoyed the many staples of life. I drive downtown and can’t help to see the homeless on our streets. People shooting up and smoking dope. I must admit. In my youth I use to see at times a poor soul that had to much to drink and happen to fall asleep on a park bench. Only to awaken and go back to his family. Today, the rise from their overdose and turn into zombies. They appear to not be human. Their only goal is to score more money for the next load. If there is a God above why does he let this type of thing happen in our society? It has not logic. I feel for all those that sacrificed during the many wars to give us the freedoms we enjoy. Even though our freedom is highly determined by our wealth and access. To cry over spilled milk is pointless. But to do nothing about it in my eyes is a sin. We need to come together as a society and re-instate basic human decency. Forget the teaching of popular social etiquette. Teach people how to be people with one another. How to cope with stressors and how to go beyond the fears and uncertainties that we all experience in life. Drugs, booze are only a sign of the times. A time when we need action before many more of us end up the same. Life is to short. Appreciate it while you can and help where you can. I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO

As much as possible, provide relevant numbers.

A Job Seeker's Mindset Needs to Be That of a Marketer By Nick Kossovan A job search boils down to four words: Marketing yourself to employers. As a job seeker you're marketing to employers your skills, experience, and track record (measurable results you've achieved for previous employers). In essence, you're looking for a client. Therefore, when searching for an employer (client), to hire you it's a good idea to use marketing principles. I think the most legendary marketer of all time was the founder of Ogilvy & Mather, British advertising giant David Ogilvy (1911-1999). According to Ogilvy advertising's primary purpose is to sell, and successful advertising requires consumer knowledge. Similarly, successful job searching is selling yourself, and requires knowledge of the employer. I'd like to note that Ogilvy believed that the best way to get new clients was to do notable work for his existing clients. The results you achieve for your current employer will propel you forward to the next employer and so on. Employers are a sucker for candidates with a strong, undeniable track record! Your job search should take advantage of some of Ogilvy's marketing tips: - Nail the headline. "On average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy." Your email subject line, resume header, LinkedIn headline, and the first sentence of your cover letter are all headlines. Keep your headlines short and crisp, ensuring you communicate your value proposition. "Coke: We make soda." "Air Canada: We fly airplanes." "Nike: We make sports stuff." As headlines, they'd be forgettable. Don't write forgettable headlines! For example, your LinkedIn headline. (You have 120 characters.) Forgettable headline: "Security Advisor." Great headline: "I can explain high-tech to my mom. Technical Writer for humans." - Give plenty of facts. The more, the better "The more facts you tell, the more you sell. An advertisement's chance for success invariably increases as the number of pertinent merchandise facts included in the advertisement increases." The majority of resumes and LinkedIn profiles are just lists of opinions. "I'm a team player." "I'm great with Excel." "I can sell." Where's the proof (facts) that you're a team player, great with Excel, or can sell?

- "For seven years, I worked in Teldar's accounting department with 18 accountants." - "Every week, I compiled the sales statistics of all 22 Debbie's Boutique stores into a master Excel file, which I forwarded to the President and five VPs." - "During my six years working for Ajax Inc., selling medical equipment, I consistently met and exceeded my annual sales target of $1.85 million." Do your research "Advertisers who ignore research are as dangerous as generals who ignore the signs of the enemy." Having in-depth knowledge of the employer and the person interviewing you will help you sell your skills and experience as solutions to the pain points the position exists to solve. Most candidates lack a basic knowledge of the employer they're seeking employment with. It's impressive when a candidate shows they have a thorough understanding of what the employer does, what market space they occupy, and how they can contribute to the employer's success. You want to be impressive. - Sales are the key metric, not your creativity. "In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create." All businesses exist for one reason; to make a profit. You may believe you're "creative" and an "out of the box" thinker. However, if you can't show how your creativity impacts an employer's bottom line, your creativity has no value. Throughout your job search, speak to employers about how you've added value to your previous employers. So much the better if you added value with your creativity! Put together a concise story that shows how your creativity increased revenue for your employer, and you'll have a story employers want to hear. - Refrain from using technical jargon. "Write your copy in the colloquial language which your customers use in everyday conversation." In most cases, especially at the beginning of the hiring process, the person interviewing you is a recruiter or HR manager. Chances are they have no idea what the day-to-day job of, for example, a chemical engineer looks like, much less the language they use. You'll lose your interviewer if they can't understand you, or worse, you'll come across as trying to appear superior. Save the usage of jargon for the interview with the person you'll be reporting to, giving you credibility, and showing you belong. Your job search and career maintenance can benefit from applying marketing techniques. I recommend you read David Ogilvy's book Confessions of an Advertising Man. Even though the book was written in 1963, the marketing principles and how to write advertising copy that sells mentioned throughout the book, if applied, will greatly increase your job search success. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

When Is the Right Time to Hang Up the Car Keys?

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones Helen Keller, the disability rights advocate who lost her sight and hearing at 19 months of age, famously warned of “having sight but no vision”. Hers was a metaphor on living. But what happens to our eyesight as we age? And how common is it to have sight, but poor vision? More specifically, how do we know when we need to make changes in our lives because we are not seeing as well as we used to? Driving, for example, is an intensive visual undertaking. But glare sensitivity and reductions in visual field are significant predictors of involvement in a crash. No amount of wisdom will help in the seconds before an accident you did not see coming. Macular degeneration is a leading cause of driving accidents involving seniors. It’s also the main reason for being classified as legally blind for those over 55 years of age. The macula is a pin-sized area in the retina at the back of the eye that transmits images to the brain. Like a rifle bullet, it can zero in on small-sized distant objects. When the macula develops degenerative changes, nighttime driving becomes especially hazardous. Other changes occur in the eye as we age. Like other parts of the body, the eyelids begin to droop providing less peripheral vision. The pigmented iris that makes us brown or blue-eyed involve tiny muscles that fail to increase the size of the pupil to let more light strike the retina. This loss of vision is not detectable during the day. But driving a car with droopy eyelids and small pupils has the same effect as wearing sunglasses while driving at night. Older drivers are also unable to adapt as quickly to changes in intensity of light. On occasion we’ve all complained, "Why didn’t that idiot turn off the high beams?" In this situation an aging iris contracts more slowly to the blazing light. But once the car has passed, it’s also slow in dilating to provide more light for the dark road ahead. A light pigment called rhodopsin, that helps adjust to night vision, also decreases as we age. Today, most people are aware of the risk of developing cataracts in the lens in later years. The less transparent lens decreases the amount of light striking the retina and worsens night driving. The final problem for the aging eye is photoreceptors in the retina. These cells transmit the image of an upcoming car to the brain. Older adults have lost one-third of these cells. What can you do to decrease the hazards of driving at night? Mother urged us to eat our carrots to maintain good vision and she was partly right. Carrots are rich in vitamin A needed to regenerate rhodopsin. There’s no sure way to stop macular degeneration. Some authorities advise people to take a daily supplement containing lutein, a macular pigment based on research showing that this antioxidant helps to slow down this disease. Others say eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables makes more sense. Cataract surgery can improve night vision. A sure way to survive night driving is to be realistic about your ability to see well in the dark. Good sense dictates that as visual acuity decreases, it’s prudent not to drive after sunset. Helen Keller embodied the triumph of perseverance over tragedy. She had youth and a good teacher on her side. There is honour, too, in accepting when you have sight but poor vision, and don’t get behind the wheel.

Her Terms

I am in what I guess you would call an 85 percent marriage. We have a lot of small talk but little serious conversation. I always thought there could or would be more for me. The biggest symptom of our questionable marriage is we have very little sex. Twice a year is the norm. We have been married ten years, are in our mid-thirties, and have no children. Before I was married, I had an active and successful sex life. I would like to have children but can't imagine sharing that with my wife. I go for months when I am okay, but the pressure of no intimacy, on all levels, gets to me and I am miserable. She keeps giving me different reasons and conditions. Heck, I even ended up cleaning the house more, which makes me laugh thinking about it. When we first met, the spark was not overwhelming. Why is it we throw out those relationships for "sensible" ones? Then we spend our whole existence thinking about sparks. All this being said, we have fun together and I cannot imagine leaving her at this time. She loves me and has based her whole life on our being together. It is perplexing. Farley Farley, some people might tell you sex isn't everything, but that's like saying "Money isn't everything." When you can't pay the rent, when you can't put food on the table, then money is everything. When you don't have the minimum requirements, your focus is drawn to what is lacking. Is it too much to say you can't imagine having children because you know that would be the trap you couldn't escape? Excuses and conditions freeze you in hopefulness. If she stalls long enough, you will feel it is too late to begin again. Everyone agrees the one relationship in which physical intimacy is permitted and inherent, is between husband and wife. You jumped through hoops to improve the chances for intimacy. Now you know firsthand you can't trade household chores for lovemaking. Bargaining for sex has another name. Why can't your wife pinpoint what is wrong? Because an honest answer is going to put her somewhere she doesn't want to be. Single. Evading the problem allows her to have her marriage on her terms. She has decided you will not have sex for the rest of your life. The issue is black and white. Can you accept a marriage of small talk and no sex, or not? Many, maybe most, of the letters we receive boil down to this. You can't change anyone else. The only power you have is over yourself. Tamara All That Matters Just read your answer to "Judged By Appearance." I totally agree. I went on my first date with my husband. He was short and had a beard. When I told my very conservative father who I was going out with, he said, "The guy with the beard, be home at midnight." Well, on our first date, I got sick, and he had to stop the car every five minutes so I could throw up. No, we weren't drinking. Upon arriving home I ran in the house determined never to see him again. I was so embarrassed. An hour later he came back with a beautiful bouquet of roses. My parents were hooked. We have been happily married for 30 years. My family adores him and so do I. Under that beard, inside this not too tall guy, beats a heart of gold. He values family, honesty, and integrity before all else. Any parent who truly wants the best for their child should get to know the person. I know many women married to handsome men with a big wallet. They don't always end up happy. The only thing that is important is what's on the inside. Marian Marian, thank you for sharing your story. Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

BY-LAW

BY-LAW By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. By now most people that read this newspaper will note that In my efforts to contribute back to the community. I have at my expense and my time made available for all candidates incumbents and newbies the opportunity to meet constituents at the local Oshawa flea market every weekend. I have found that voters in many cases have given up on voting. This is reflective on the turn outs at election time. For this reason, I have made it a public forum where taxpayers can come out to a centralized place ask questions and bring concerns right to the participating candidates running. So far in my opinion the program has been a great success. People come out and ask all kinds of questions and express all kind of concerns. Nothing is more important in society than to have proper and adequate representation by community leaders selected based on credentials and accomplishments and not on name recognition. Personally one of the biggest complaints by taxpayers is the obvious deteriorating situation of the homeless. It has hit a fever pitch. Secondly, safety and quality of life in Oshawa. Followed by lack of representation by the current council and Mayor. Many also complain at the way By-law is a run away train that ideally was establish to settle dispute between citizens. By-laws are normally set to give taxpayers direction on things that can and can’t be done in a municipality in the best interest of the population at large. Oshawa, is known for having by-laws on the books that are antiquated, restrictive, outdated and wrongly filed to protect the city and not it’s citizens. By-law has gone from being a tool to settle disputes to a semi-para-military group that lack understanding and knowledge of the by-laws they enforce. Even the department heads lack the intellect to carefully read by-laws and only push them down the ranks based on interpretation without analysis. This leaving taxpayers frustrated and feeling oppressed. This under our new administration will come to an end. I will assure you that I will personally review the many city by-laws and assist in the re-writing. I will also assure you that I will turn by-law from a semi-para-military group to one of service to the community. No more threats, No more strong arming taxpayers. Let’s bring common sense to by-law. Let’s bring common sense to enforcement. Letter of the by-law as written now has many challenges with no real recourse to be taken by taxpayers. No way to fight so called bogus ‘ORDERS’. No real legal entitlement other than that by-law gives itself. No real municipal court to fight outdated by-laws. We nee to bring government back to people. By-laws are there to help us not hinder us. Taxpayers pay municipal wages and they need to be treated with dignity and respect.

Canada's Conservative Party Leadership Campaign

Canada's Conservative Party Leadership Campaign by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East Besides the internal and international crises unfolding in the Canadian summer heat, it is interesting to follow the leadership campaign of the Conservative Party of Canada as it heats up. This is the third leadership race since their electoral defeat in 2015, and hopefully will end with the selection of a worthy leader by September 10, 2022. After the loss of the election in 2015 and the resignation of then Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party has chosen two leaders, Andrew Sheer and Erin O'Toole in succession, who were less than stellar. Each of them was asked to resign after losing the elections in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Following O'Toole's resignation a new leadership campaign was called in early 2022 by the Conservative Party in order to select a leader to face PM Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party in the next federal election. The campaign rules were established by the Conservative Party, which by now, has significant expertise in running these events. So the campaign proceeded with 6 candidates innitially approved: Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis, Patrick Brown, Jean Charest, Roman Baber and Scott Aitchison. After encountering some problems related to campaign financing rules, candidate Patrick Brown was eliminated from the race. So let us see where we stand now. The perceived front runner is Pierre Poilievre, a seven time elected MP, who has fulfilled junior ministerial duties in the last Harper Government. Poilievre served in two cabinet roles under Harper, first as the minister of state for democratic reform from 2013 to 2015, then as minister of employment and social development, until the Conservatives lost the federal election in October 2015. Then we have Jean Charest who has extensive political experience having served as a junior Minister in the Mulroney government and as Premier of the Province of Quebec for several years. Leslyn Lewis is an elected MP in the province of Ontario and an accomplished professional lawyer who ran in the previous leadership campaign and performed well. Scott Aitchisson is an elected MP in the province of Ontario, an accoplished real estate professional, and a municipal politician with good ideas for the country. Roman Baber is a former Ontario MPP who is a lawyer and is very vocal and dedicated in the area of human rights and freedoms. With all these accomplished people runing for the leadership of the Conservative Party and campaigning hard, it seems that the Conservative Party might finnally be able to win the next election. Hopefully we will see consequences in their policies and with the right leader chosen, a real challenge will be made in order to defeat the Liberal government. With the voting of members now in progress, the campaigns are concentrated on persuading voters. Looking at current polls, it seems that Pierre Poilievre has a good chance of securing the leadership. Recently he has also received an important endorsment from former PM Stephen Harper. Former PM Stephen Harper says Pierre Poilievre is the Conservative leadership candidate with the best shot at leading the party to victory in the next federal election. He made his declaration in a recent evening video posted to Facebook and Twitter, in which he described Poilievre's ability to galvanize support from new members as a critical ingredient for success. "That's how we win the next federal election, and in my opinion, Pierre has made by far the strongest case," Harper said. Harper also praised Poilievre, a long time MP serving the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton, as a powerful communicator who has identified the most pressing issues facing Canada. "He's been talking about the issues, especially the economic issues, that matter," Harper said, listing Canada's debt, inflation and housing troubles among the problems Poilievre is prepared to address. Harper also said Poilievre recognizes "the need to fix the institutions that are failing Canadian families." A central theme of Poilievre's leadership campaign is a promise to wipe out "gatekeepers" that he says are standing in the way of economic growth and sensible governance. Poilievre also said during a leadership debate in May that he would fire Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem. He's blamed the central bank and Liberal government for overseeing what he says is reckless monetary policy that has pushed inflation to levels not seen in decades. Harper's comments mark the first time the former prime minister has weighed in during a leadership race for the party he helped to form. He did not make any similar public declarations of support in the 2017 or 2020 leadership contests. Nonetheless we need to see how Lesly Lewis continues to work on her leadership campaign. It seems that she is a strong conservative who will have a strong voice in the future. Having said this, I wish good luck to all candidates in the leadership race and the best of luck in finally being able to dethrone the Liberal government in the next election. Canada needs a change for the better! Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Saturday, July 23, 2022

QUESTION ‘Q’

Canada and the inflation race

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East Summer is here and the hot days finally came together with some hot news from the Bank of Canada, which raised the prime rate by one entire point, using the excuse of dealing with inflation. Currently the prime rate is at 2.5%. The latest prime rate hike made by the Bank of Canada on 13th of July was the largest single increase in more than 20 years. No wonder the rate of inflation in June reached a 39 year high of 8.1%, boosted by soaring gas prices, which rose more than 50 % compared with a year ago, Statistics Canada said last week. Inflation is expected to increase further in July. As the cost of living has continued to rise, wages in Canada continue to lag, rising 5.2% in June on a year over year basis. In a common sense approach there are very few people in Canada who aren't feeling the pressures of bonkers inflation right now, with the cost of just about everything hitting sky-high levels and continuing to rise. The prices of food and gas have been hurting people's wallets the most as we hit a 40-year inflation high in June and wages are certainly not keeping pace. The crisis is only bound to get worse now that food suppliers have said that even more price increases are coming. Excluding gasoline, the inflation rate was 6.5 % in June compared with 6.3 % in May. With public health restrictions easing and more people looking to travel in June, the cost of travel-related services surged. Prices for accommodation rose by about 50 % across the country compared with a year ago. "The return of sporting events, festivals and other large in-person gatherings has resulted in higher demand for accommodation, particularly in major urban centres," Statistics Canada reports. On a month-over-month basis, the consumer price index edged higher by 0.7%, largely due to rising prices for gasoline and travel accommodations. After declining slightly in May, air transportation costs rose 6.4% month-over-month. Canadians also continued to see higher food prices, with the cost of food up 8.8% compared with June last year. Among food items, the largest increase in prices was for edible fats and oils, which rose by 28.8 % year-over-year. So let us look at who benefits most from inflation. The answer is, that governments benefit from inflation in two significant ways. First, because inflation increases the price of goods and services, the value of money effectively declines-as does the value of debt. When the value of debt declines, the cost of debt interest payments also essentially declines. Second, inflation tends to increase the nominal value of assets such as real estate, which increases the capital gains tax liabilities of Canadians who sell those assets, thereby pushing some Canadians into higher tax brackets. Consequently, government tax revenues will increase even though the "real" incomes and wealth of most Canadians may remain constant or even decrease. So in Canada our liberal government is ready to benefit from the rise of inflation. No wonder they are spending money left, right and center, on illusory projects, especially squandering it outside the country, instead of looking to the welfare of their own citizens. There is also a known link between the rise of inflation and a potential for an economic downturn. Despite reassurances from the Trudeau government that the Canadian economy is on the road to recovery, there are signs that a recession is fast approaching in Canada. A culmination of fast rising inflation, increased interest rates on mortgages, international events such as worsening relations with China and sanctions on Russian energy and a contracting US economy all point to a Canadian economy that is on the brink of recession. As the Bank of Canada continues to hike rates, the sale of homes in May 2022 fell by 9%, contributing to a 0.1% contraction of GDP. The effect of a slowing housing market is likely to take a bigger toll on the Canadian economy than on the American economy, as Canada is more than twice as reliant on the housing market for economic growth as the US. The housing market dragging Canada's GDP down could lead to a much more severe recession, causing increased unemployment and the recession to drag on longer. China's recent economic contraction is also stunting economic growth worldwide. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, and therefore supply chain issues occurring in China have ripple effects, especially with regard to Canadian imports. Despite reassurances from Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland that the government is focused on "fiscal restraint," the Trudeau government continues to spend at an astronomical rate, causing the economy to overheat. Keeping all this in mind, be prepared for more restrains and tightening of the belt. Hopefully there are no new pandemics on the horizon. Enjoy the summer while it lasts!

Taking A Carp At The Park

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central 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. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. 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 know you read the title and thought it was a spelling mistake... You must have wondered, has he gone insane? C.A.R.P., formally incorporated as the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, is a national, nonpartisan, not for profit association that advocates on behalf of Canadians as they age. Ok. Now that we got that out of the way. Let’s talk about taking a crap at Lakeview. Is there a by-law against that? It seems that in the City of Oshawa there is a by-law for just about everything. One day they are going to demand we all wear a methane meter up our arses so they can tax us for polluting the environment... You can’t park your own paid car in front of your own paid house... or here comes these I think I can wonna be cops and harass you...Or worst give you a ticket. Now to read all that you can’t do at Lakeview Park. It disgust me. Yet on any given day you can drive down our downtown and watch people take a CRAP right in the open. Where are the by-law Gestapo? I am embarrassed at bringing family from Europe through Oshawa. Then again from what I hear. Some museum and attraction guide their guest through Whitby down Hwy 2. What is wrong with this city. Where are our elected officials. This is why I support Joe Ingino for Mayor. Here is a guy that is honest and genuine. He has vast knowledge of the downtown core and Oshawa in general. He out of his pocket funds Oshawa’s most successful ‘SHOP LOCAL’ initiative I have ever known. You can see his name in every other store... and for those store that do not have his initiative name in their front window. I will never visit. Other people should do the same. We need to support those who support our city. Joe Ingino will be a good change for this City. He is a proven successful businessman. He does not play around. When he says something he follows through. Sometimes to much. One time I remember jokingly he made a remark. I asked him. Is that a threat. He looked at me and smiled. “No my friend, there is not place in society for threats. I am just telling you what is about to happen and giving you the option of choosing the outcome.” Mr. Ingino, I believe will put a stop to crime in our downtown. He will run out the drug dealers, the pimps and all that comes with that. No more petty crime. Mr. Ingino has a solid economic plan that will put downtown merchants back in the limelight they deserve. He will bring great opportunity as he is a master negotiator and an experience business person. His intellect is unmatched. I truly believe that he will bring industry/commerce/trade to Oshawa like it has never been seen before. His leadership qualities are one that people can entrust to work in their best interest. As it stands I can’t even take a CARP to memorial park or Lakeview in fear of being at the one mugged at the other harassed by bylaw. Come on people vote Ingino in 2022. I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO

For Your Cover Letter to Do Its Job Don't Commit These Faux Pas

For Your Cover Letter to Do Its Job Don't Commit These Faux Pas By Nick Kossovan Not including a cover letter is lazy-employers don't hire lazy. (I certainly don't.) Regardless of how you apply for a job, whether through a referral or online, you must show how your skills, experiences, and personality set you apart from other applicants. It's for this reason, you should always include a cover letter. Including a well-written cover letter tailored to the job, and addressed to the hiring manager, offers several competitive advantages: - It shows your enthusiasm and that you researched the job requirements and the company. (You're not lazy.) - You're addressing the hiring manager directly and therefore bringing your relevant skills and experiences directly to their attention. - You're selling how you can add value to the company. - Your personality is conveyed to the hiring manager. - Your cover letter shows off your writing skills. (Employers value above-average writing skills.) Your cover letter has one job; to get the reader to read your resume. (It's your resume's job to get you an interview.) Imagine how much more likely you'd get an interview invite if you applied for jobs with a great cover letter and a resume that WOWs. Therefore, you don't want to make the following mistakes that'll hinder your cover letter from doing its job. 1. Attaching your cover letter to your email. To ensure your cover letter is read, don't send it as an attachment. Instead, write it within the email body. When the recipient opens your email, your cover letter will be immediately visible, increasing the likelihood that they'll read it. 2. Providing irrelevant information. Cover letters should be concise. Only offer details directly relevant to the job or that illustrates you have the skills and experience the employer is looking for. When I'm looking for a sales-oriented call center agent, I'm not looking for someone who's been providing "world-class" customer service or who's, in their opinion, "detail-oriented." These things don't matter in terms of reaching sales goals. A person who knows how to ask a prospect discovery questions to uncover their wants and needs and then offer them the appropriate product or service is whom I'm looking for. I'll lose interest if someone goes on and on about their customer service skills. I want them to tell me about the biggest sale they ever made, along with their passion and methodology (e.g., discovery questions they usually ask) for making sales. Hiring managers aren't responsible for connecting the dots regarding why you're a great fit for the position or how your skills are transferrable. Connect the dots in your cover letter. "Having sold life insurance for the past 15 years, I'm comfortable selling an intangible product, and therefore, I don't anticipate not being successful selling registered RESPs." (Registered Education Savings Plan) Think about what the reader of your cover letter would like to see and what'll convince them you're worth interviewing. Sentences like, "I see you need someone who's available to work nights and weekends. I enjoy working these hours and I'm available to do so," or, "Along with my resume, I've attached several samples of my writing." goes a long way. 3. Not including requested information. The most common application mistake I see is not following instructions. Based on my experience I'd estimate 7 out of 10 applicants fail to address every stipulation listed in a job posting, which indicates an inability, or unwillingness, to follow instructions. Name an employer who'd hire someone who can't follow instructions. Be sure to read the job posting in its entirety! It's common for employers to ask candidates to submit examples of their work or portfolio, link to their LinkedIn profile, their availability, a video, or their salary requirements. In your cover letter, include anything you've been asked to include or mention that it's attached (e.g., portfolio, writing sample, video, certificates). Failure to follow instructions is a sure way to get rejected. 4. Closing with a cliche statement. "Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. I look forward to hearing from you," shows a lack of creativity and hustle. (Name an employer who dislikes employees who hustle.) Conclude your cover letter with something like, "I look forward to discussing what I can bring to the Social Media Manager role at Pendant Publishing. I'll call you Thursday morning to schedule a time/date for us to meet." This shows initiative, that you want the job and aren't afraid to go after what you want. (Be sure to make the call.) I once received a cover letter that closed with, "Call today, don't delay." The closing was aggressive, which I tend to gravitate towards. It grabbed my attention. Additionally, her cover letter outlined everything she could bring to the table as an employee. Her boldness impressed me, so I called her. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Friday, July 15, 2022

OSHAWA DURHAM BEST KEPT SECRET

Canada - the NEW Army

Canada - the NEW Army by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East Starting this fall, members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will be able to carry purses, wear skirts and stockings, grow their hair as long as they choose and polish their finger and toenails whatever color pleases them; both males and females. In a historic reform to this nation's military dress code, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will permit service members to have facial tattoos, dye their hair, allowed women to keep long nails and wear skirts in an attempt to make military service more inclusive. In a statement, Ottawa's Department of National Defence said that these new military dress and personal grooming regulations were aimed "to support respect, diversity and inclusiveness" and to encourage youth to join the armed forces. Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel will be allowed these freedoms effective September, 2022, according to the Ministry of National Defense's press release. "The bottom line is, the Canadian Forces Dress Instructions are about fifty years old and so the policy as a whole was overdue for revision," said Department of National Defence (DND). "The appearance of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has not kept pace with the Canadian society which it serves." Maj.-Gen. Lise Bourgon said the Canadian Armed Forces will adopt a gender-neutral dress code and relax rules banning long or colorful hair. (OP Impact/DND) Bourgon said 71 per cent of the military's workforce is made up of "white males." It seems that this new dress code will be the most-relaxed, most gender-neutral dress code of any military in the world. Frankly, this 'great accomplishment', of the general staff of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) led by the fearless new Chief of Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, makes me sick and ashamed at the same time. This is nothing more than another example of "woke" virtue signalling by the Trudeau government. As a former member of the Canadian Forces Engineers, who served in overseas missions in Bosnia Herzegovina and Afghanistan I am saddened to see the degrading of one of the best armies in the world. The official excuse of Canadian military leaders is bringing military culture into the 21st Century and making careers in the service more appealing to a younger generation. This again demonstrates how the general staff, preoccupied mostly with their own carriers, lives in an ivory tower. They are going about recruiting more soldiers, sailors and airmen (our armed forces are currently just about 20% understaffed) in absolutely the wrong way. It seems to me that this new approach to recruiting will have the exact opposite effect. The kin of young men and women who have traditionally been drawn to military careers will likely be put off by the weirdness of it all. It is astonishing that instead on dealing with seriously preparing our young soldiers for the realities of a new and dangerous world, the CAF leaders are focusing on a new dress code, rather than concentrating on correcting their failing recruiting process. I personally witnessed the failures of the recruiting process and mentioned it several time when I was a member of the House of Commons, being the only veteran from Afghanistan. To no avail. It seems to me that the CAF did not learn anything from similar attempts made earlier by other NATO armies, such as the German and the Dutch, which ultimately failed. In both cases, the biggest problem produced by these "modernizations" was the undermining of unit cohesion and deterioration of operational effectiveness. In other words, discipline went all to hell and those armed forces lost some of their ability to fight. Servicemen and women who don't have to wear a standard uniform or hair length, soon will begin to think it might be OK to buck other rules, too, like marching in the sun or following commanders' orders. There may be a few weird recruits attracted by this shift in DND policy, but plenty of other recruits come to the forces looking for adventure, service to country or regimentation, to make sense of their lives. These new loosey-goosey, less-effective armed forces - face tattoos, hoop earrings, ear spacers and "unnatural" hair colors - will be considerably less appealing to many more recruits than are attracted. In a quickly developing East-West confrontation, we should be more aware, and looking to increase preparedness of our servicemen instead of looking to please political masters. It is time to become serious and not bufooning around. With this new policy the DND and CAF are well on way to remaking the modern version of the "The Good Soldier Švejk". What about the leadership of the army leading by example and appearing with a ring in their nose? So in conclusion, we are looking to the new future in the Canadian Armed Forces; tattooed color locks and kitten heels. Welcome to Disney World.

An Internship Can Lay the Foundation for a Great Career

An Internship Can Lay the Foundation for a Great Career By Nick Kossovan With 2022 "graduation season" behind us, I'd be remiss if I didn't offer some advice on how an internship ("co-op" back in the day) provides an opportunity to gain transferrable skills and experience, start building your professional network and kickstart your career. An internship is so much more than memorizing coffee orders. Your internship experiences-I recommend doing several-can be immensely valuable, offering you a chance to build skills to showcase on your resume and LinkedIn profile and, most importantly, establish professional relationships with professionals in the industry you aspire to become a part of. As an intern, your goals are: 1. Learn what you want and need to know. (TIP: Create a list of what you want to gain from your internship. On your first day, share your list with the person coaching you.) 2. Make a positive impression. (Make a strong enough impression, and-fingers-crossed-you'll likely receive a job offer.) 3. Begin building your professional network. Creating a great impression starts with being relentlessly punctual. Woody Allen said it best, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." Show up on time, or better yet early. Arrive for meetings before they begin. Complete tasks by their deadlines. Employers value reliable employees. Internships are usually 3 - 4 months long, so give your internship no less than 100%. "Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence." - Ted Key, American cartoonist Take on every task and assignment you're given with an unwavering commitment to excellence. It's never beneath you to do what's asked of you. If you're asked to make coffee, make the best coffee your colleagues have ever tasted. If asked to create an Excel template, put extra effort into ensuring it's accurate, aesthetically pleasing, and comprehensive. Continually delivering exceptional results is how you create a reputation (READ: Personal brand) that advances your career forward. Act when you see a need. (e.g., sign for a package and deliver it directly to the recipient, offer to cover reception during lunch) Don't wait to be told. Checking your Instagram account while waiting to be given something to do is never a good look. Interns who never sat idle and proactively sought out where they could be of help, or pitched in without being asked, are the ones I remember. Deliver more than expected, do what no one else is willing to do, and you'll be appreciated and remembered. As an intern, it's expected you'll ask questions... lots of questions. Asking good questions is the sign of an intellectually curious, diligent person, which is a turn-on. Think-in advance-of questions to ask. Spend time formulating your questions. When meeting with a peer or superior, think of thoughtful questions you can ask to demonstrate you have prepared for the meeting. If you're in a meeting with management, don't focus on your answers but on what's missing. With me, asking the questions no one else is asking (e.g., "How does A relate to B?", "How has the company dealt with these issues in the past?") earns lots of points. Elephant-in-the-room questions often steer a group's thinking and conversation in a more productive direction-this is how you become an influencer. TIP: When you hear someone ask a great, conversation-altering question, write it down and reflect on what made it great. Ask at least one authentic question in every meeting you attend. By following this advice, you'll become comfortable asking questions in a group setting, hone your ability to ask questions that lead to real insight and reveal your intellectual curiosity. The most valuable benefit of an internship is it offers the ideal setting to establish professional relationships you can leverage throughout your career, whether job hunting or seeking advice. Since internships don't last long, interns tend to focus solely on their work and only form connections with their immediate colleagues and fellow interns. Don't be that intern! Cultivate as many professional relationships throughout the company as possible. Don't be shy to introduce yourself to Senior Managers, Directors and VPs-they were once in your shoes. Invite colleagues whom you notice management hold in high regard to lunch. Ask them questions. (Who doesn't like to talk about themselves and their successes?) Offer to help where you can. TIP: Observe great relationship-builders and learn from them. I recommend reading The Connector's Way: A Story About Building Business One Relationship at a Time, by Patrick Galvin. An internship is hard work that'll pay off. Only doing what's expected of you won't get you noticed; you'll be just another intern. Go above and beyond, from arriving on time to doing exemplary work (Yes, that includes getting coffee orders right.) and maximizing your internship opportunities. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Monday, July 11, 2022

RUNNING ON EMPTY CAN’T RACE

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. This is a recent message released by the mayor of Oshawa in a desperate attempt to make it look like he is and has done something for the people of Oshawa. The release read: (in dark letters). Message from His Worship Mayor Dan Carter to Business Community Stakeholders, July 2022. As we enter the summer months in the great city of Oshawa, we’re seeing many residents and visitors exploring our community. Whether you’re seeking new parks, splash pads, cycling paths, walking trails, events or patios to spend time with friends and family, you will find many ways to enjoy the outdoors in our community. I would like to make the business community aware of great initiatives recently approved by Council and provide an update on events that have recently occurred. I believe these new programs and enhancements will have a positive and sustainable impact on our city. Does our Mayor know where our downtown is? “We’re seeing many residents and visitors exploring our community.” He claims. Where? People are staying away from Oshawa due to the problem with the homeless in our downtown. With the drugs and crime on our streets. You have to wonder in what dimension Carter lives in. Our parks!!! riddled with needles from his ‘Safe’ injection sites and free needle exchange program he allowed to operate downtown. Splash pads!!! yet Rotary pool sits closed. Really ‘Splash pads’... Then he goes to Cycling paths, where most of the homeless take refuge in make shift card boxes. Or in tents. People are afraid to ride their bikes in fear of being mugged. Could it be that Carter is talking about another municipality. Someone wake him up and tell him he is the Mayor of Oshawa for a little more time. Walking trails, come on... if you don’t dare ride a bike. Your going to walk it. Well, I guess the boys from Peterborough and Toronto probably would walk our trails as from police records prostitution is widely available. Carter continues in his release: Plan20Thirty Action Plan for Downtown Oshawa - Oshawa City Council has approved Plan20Thirty, a new downtown revitalization action plan. Plan20Thirty builds upon Oshawa’s previous downtown plan, Plan 20Twenty, and its successes to date, while addressing new challenges and opportunities. Plan20Thirty’s vision statement is: a lively and modern urban centre where all thrive. In other words 2030 plans more of what 2020 delivered. More homelessness, more crime, more drugs, more prostitution and higher taxes while the quality of life keeps slipping. Great forecast by Carter and his council. In other words nothing will change. Carter continues in his release: New Downtown Visual Brand Identity – DTO To better communicate the qualities that attract residents, businesses, students and visitors to our urban core, the City of Oshawa has developed a new visual brand identity for Downtown Oshawa: WHO SEES IT. HOW DO THEY MARKET IT? DTO. DTO represents the strength of the people who have built and continue to evolve Oshawa’s downtown core. The DTO shapes, inspired by the area's bold and iconic architecture, provide a flexible and adaptable canvas to showcase the creativity, innovation and humanity of our downtown. Talk about political BLAH BLAH BLAH. Can anyone translate to what that means? ‘Humanity of our downtown’....Carter wake up. People are sleeping in doorways. People are shooting drugs on our sidewalks. People die every night of overdose. He dare talks about humanity. Where is Carter’s conscious. Where are his moral value and commitment to the betterment of all citizens. The brand emphasizes photography of the people of downtown Oshawa – entrepreneurs, business leaders, residents, students, artists, and community-builders. Carter clearly has no clue where downtown Oshawa is on the map. It is like being in a sinking ship and the captain claiming we are not sinking. Look at the other end it is well out of the water and claiming we are on course. Is Carter for real? The brand is the product of a rigorous discovery phase and was developed with input from the voices and perspectives of those within and around downtown Oshawa. Like Downtown Oshawa, this brand is alive – always evolving and growing. We’re excited to share this brand with you; keep your eyes peeled in the coming months. Did he consult the this local paper that sits downtown Oshawa? The same paper that actually has been running a successful ‘SHOP LOCAL INGINO SHOP DOWNTOWN INITIATIVE’ since 2018. Did he consult all the downtown merchants. As a matter of fact did he consult any? When was the last time Carter has been seen visited any local merchant. Yet, he fills his mouth with a made up brand that is promoted no place with no one’s input. How is it he has yet to visit his local newspaper. He ends his pathetic attempt to make himself as if he has done something by bragging on how he wants to take credit for the downtown sidewalk cleaning program. A program that should have been implemented as a common sense project. He goes as far as attempt to take credit for ‘Convocation ceremonies’, a scheme design for him to use our tax dollars to campaign for the 2022 municipal election. More of the same. Is that what we want for Oshawa. By Carter’s own words. They did nothing in 2020. Now they are promising more nothing until 2030. Is this leadership? But wait. Be assure our taxes will keep going up to pay for their lack of vision or direction.WE NEED CHANGE IN 2022. I need your vote in order to bring Oshawa back to you. To stop the BLAH, BLAH politics.

My Side of the Hiring Desk

There are two sides to every interview: Yours and the interviewer's. Here’s a pleasant truth: You and your interviewer have the same agenda: To determine if the job opportunity is right for you. Your interviewer isn't your enemy. They want to hire the right person. Job seekers never consider that their interviewer's hiring decisions are judged by their boss and their boss's boss, the team the new hire will join—essentially everyone at the company. I never want to hear: "Who hired Bob? He always comes in late, is rude, has yet to complete his assignments on time and has below-average Excel skills for a junior accountant. What was Nick thinking hiring Bob?" A hiring manager's ability to hire-their judgment skills-will be called into question if he or she makes "a few" bad hires. The same holds true if a recruiter presents unsuitable candidates to their client. It's good to be sympathetic to your interviewer's need to make a good hire; it'll help you bond with your interviewer. This is why there’s a great deal of vetting during the hiring process to minimize the possibility of hiring a liability. Your interviewer wants to know three things: 1. Can you do the job? 2. Will you like the job? 3. Will you be a good fit with the team and the company? I'm often asked how I hire. What do I look for in a candidate? I remind people there is no universal hiring process. I evaluate candidates differently than other hiring managers and vice versa. I know of candidates who weren't hired by me and went on to find a suitable employer. Truth: Human bias and gut feelings play a critical role in the hiring process, which is why a universal hiring method doesn't exist. Although you weren't hired by ABC employer, that doesn't mean that XYZ employer won't hire you. As there isn't a universal hiring method, there isn't a universal "must hire" employee either. Your interviewer doesn't owe you, a stranger, anything. Hence why networking, which many shy away from, and maintaining an extensive professional network is beneficial to your job search and career development; you become "familiar." We all gravitate towards what’s familiar. On the other hand, your interviewer is responsible to their employer, current employees and the business's customers. If you're speaking with a recruiter, they're accountable to their client. Your interviewer's objective is to judge whether you'll fit into the team, the culture (READ: Be accepted.) and contribute to the company/department's goals. With the above said, here's a holistic overview of how I evaluate a candidate, bearing in mind that I'm speaking for myself. (Remember, there's no universal hiring methodology.) • Above-average communication skills, both spoken and written, are a non-negotiable requirement. • I like—really like—candidates who have confidence in their abilities and are comfortable with themselves. • If you come across as having a sense of entitlement, our conversation will be short. • The more interest you show in the job and company, the more points you'll receive. Being interested is a powerful gesture. • If you seem burnt out or outdated (past your expiration date), I'll pass on you. Be relevant! • My focus isn't on your accomplishments or experience. My focus is on what you can do now and in the future for the company. • Show me you're listening. Refer to something I said earlier. "When you mentioned Genom Corporation was launching a new line of granola bars in mid-July to coincide with back-to-school sales, I was impressed with the strategic timing. You mentioned the company wants to capture 25% of Canada’s granola bar market by the end of 2023. How does the second half of 2022 look in terms of being on track to achieve this goal?" • Don't tell me what you want me to think of you. (e.g., "I'm a team player," "I'm detail-oriented," "I can sell.") Show me! Prove it! (e.g., "I'm part of a 20-person Inside Sales team. Daily I handle 60 - 80 calls. Last year I exceeded my quota of $1.5 million by $350,000.") • Your questions should demonstrate that you are evaluating the job opportunity, me, the company, and your fit. Connecting with their interviewer is a job seeker's foremost goal. Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Before you walk into an interview, ask yourself, What do I want my interviewer to feel about me? ______________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send Nick your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com.

Canada gas prices and inflation

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As we celebrated the 155th anniversary of the country still called Canada a lot of new, increasingly worrying trends are occurring in our country, led by a liberal government seemingly unaware or unconcerned about the meltdown of our economy. Soaring gas prices pushed the annual inflation rate in May to its highest level in nearly 40 years, as the rising cost of living increasingly squeezed Canadian household budgets and bolstered trepidations that the Bank of Canada will opt for a supersized interest rate hike soon. Credible sources say that the next interest rate hike, which is scheduled to take place on July 13, will involve an increase of 75 basis points. By the Fall, however, it should be clear whether or not the central bank's interest rate hikes have the desired effect on reducing inflation. If the annual inflation rate remains elevated, the bank will likely reconsider its target interest rate of between two and three per cent, and could aim for more aggressive interest rate hikes in the future. If interest rates increase quickly enough, they could very well result in an engineered recession. Statistics Canada reported last week that its consumer price index in May rose 7.7 per cent compared with a year ago, the fastest pace since January 1983 when it gained 8.2 per cent. That's up almost a percentage point from April's 6.8 per cent gain. The May reading came as energy prices rose 34.8 per cent compared with a year ago with gasoline prices up 48.0 per cent compared with a year ago. Excluding gasoline, the annual inflation rate in May rose to 6.3 per cent compared with 5.8 per cent in April. In the face of this staggeringly concerning data, the question is what the government is going to do to proactively deal with the galloping recession coming into full view. With the Prime Minister touring Europe on various summits and handing out tax payers' money left and right for causes far from the everyday worries of Canadians, for the moment it seems that the governing elite do not care about this very real threat. Bank of Canada senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers said last week that inflation is hurting Canadians and making things unaffordable. "We know inflation is keeping Canadians up at night, it's keeping us up at night, and we will not rest easy until we get it back to target," Rogers said at an event in Toronto. "We've been clear all along, the economy's in excess demand, inflation's too high, rates need to go up." Once again, an official is blatantly stating that interest rates must go high, not even considering that high interest rates are an equally big worry in the lives of everyday Canadians. It must be nice to live in the Ottawa bubble. In May, Statistics Canada said the price for food bought at stores rose 9.7 per cent compared with a year ago, matching the April increase, as the cost of nearly everything in the grocery cart increased by leaps and bounds. The cost of edible fats and oils gained 30.0 per cent compared with a year ago, its largest increase on record, mainly driven by the increased prices of cooking oils. Fresh vegetable prices rose 10.3 per cent. The cost of services in May also rose 5.2 per cent compared with a year ago, up from a gain of 4.6 per cent in April, as Canadians travelled and ate in restaurants more often. Prices for traveler accommodation gained 40.2 per cent compared with a year ago, while the price of food purchased from restaurants gained 6.8 per cent. It is clear by now that the energy crisis will be a major factor in increasing inflation on a worldwide scale, especially effecting the economies of countries who rely heavily on fossil fuels, but lack their own energy resources. So what does that say about the resource management of our country? Canada is a country rich in energy resources such as gas and oil, yet still imports oil from Saudi Arabia. One has to wonder why in a country like Canada, the population has to contend with such high prices at the pump. The answer is that we lack pipelines, have a narrow minded policy perpetuated by a government that wastes taxpayers' money on futuristic, pipe-dream projects. Justifications given in an attempt to explain high prices at the pump and inflation abound, especially those blaming everything that goes wrong on the war in Ukraine. But let's be clear. We need a real plan for helping our citizens face the upcoming economic challenge, and we need it soon. Is our government ready to face and cope with this challenge? I will let you to decide.

Friday, July 1, 2022

HOW MANY MUST DIE? BEFORE CARTER WAKES UP? CRIME - OVERDOSE DO YOU FEEL SAFE?

HOW MANY MUST DIE? BEFORE CARTER WAKES UP? C