Write a LinkedIn Connection Request That'll Get Accepted

 The Art of Finding Work
By Nick Kossovan

Write a LinkedIn Connection Request That'll Get Accepted
   Last Thursday, when I logged into LinkedIn, I had nine connection requests (on average, I get around 35 - 55 per week). Three were from recruiters, five from complete strangers, and one from a past co-worker. They all said the exact same thing, which is LinkedIn's default connection message:
"I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn."
I'm no longer surprised when an invitation isn't customized - I'm surprised when it is. Nothing announces, "I'm lazy," more than an uncustomized request.
In last week's column, I mentioned the importance of having LinkedIn connections to increase your profile's visibility, reach, presence, and influence. The more connections you have, the more likely you'll appear in search results and have a higher search ranking.
Richard Branson once said: "Succeeding in business is all about making connections." In 2021 there are no truer words. Your first step towards increasing your LinkedIn connections is to connect with your low hanging fruits; people you already know. With pen and paper, list everyone you currently know and have known but lost touch with. Think of current and former colleagues, bosses, customers, suppliers, friends, relatives, neighbors, etc. Search for them on LinkedIn.
TIP: Use LinkedIn's search feature to search past companies you worked at and then click on 'See all XXX employees on LinkedIn'
Connecting with people on this list should be as easy as clicking on the 'connect' button, adding a simple note, something along the lines of "Hi Bob, great to have found you here. Let us connect." (In some cases, you may want to give some details to refresh the person's memory of how you know each other.), and then click the send button.    
Now create lists of, for lack of a better word, strangers you'd like to connect with. Start by listing the companies you'd like to work for. Using LinkedIn's search features and Google, find hiring managers, department heads, leadership team members, and those holding a human resource title at the companies you want to work for. Your next lists will be professionals in your field (focus on those in your region) and recruiters who work with your industry.
The key to getting strangers to connect with you is your introduction. You must customize each connection request (you have 300 characters to do so).
I like to open with, "We've never met," and then why I'd like to connect. I have found being truthful about not knowing the person gets their attention.
Here are a few simple examples:
1. Professional in your field (295 characters with spaces): Hi Arlene,
We've never met. I came across a comment you left in the LI group Electrical Engineers Networking in Canada. I particularly liked your insights regarding using our industry jargon when interviewing, which I found thought-provoking. I'd like to connect and stay in touch.
- Nick Kossovan
2. Hiring Manager (283 characters with spaces): Hi Karam,
We've never met. I'm currently searching for my next opportunity. For the last 15 years, I was at Telus, where I moved up to VP of Sales. I believe I'd be an asset to Rogers and would love to chat about how my background might fit any openings you may have. Can we connect?
- Nick Kossovan
3. Recruiter (299 characters with spaces): Hi Eric,
We've never met. I came across your profile and want to reach out to discuss potentially working together. I'm a social media strategist with 6 years of experience seeking new opportunities. I'd love to chat about whether my background might be a fit for any of your openings.
- Nick Kossovan
The time you spend crafting your invitations will be time well spent. A customized invitation to connect will be a pleasant surprise for the recipient and significantly increases your chances of being accepted. As we all know, LinkedIn offers a huge opportunity to connect people who can assist you in your job search and career. Spend a few thoughtful moments writing irresistible LinkedIn connection requests, and you'll start quickly building up your network!
Next week I'll begin discussing how to create the hardest working document in business today, your resume. I'll be guiding you on how to create a resume that WOWs!
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.

All That’s Left Is Goodbye

 All That’s Left Is Goodbye
   Q My boyfriend was married to a psycho for 30 years. She stole over $100,000 from his company accounts and didn’t file personal or business taxes for five years! She wrote herself checks and kept no receipts.
     When they separated six years ago, their children were grown, and I was in the picture. She vandalized my Jeep and followed me. She found out where I worked and phoned me 30 times a day. Over a three-year period, I filed five police reports and got a restraining order. Even the police were getting exasperated. All the while my boyfriend was still talking to her! He told me many times he would stop because there was huge drama with her and I couldn’t deal with it.
     A couple of years ago, he changed his number because I said I couldn’t handle them talking. He promised, if she discovered his phone number, he would change it as many times as needed for my sake.

     Eight months ago, we bought a beautiful house and she is still calling. He says he can’t be mean to her, and he now refuses to change his phone number.
     I am starting to hate him. Before we bought the house, I told him the only thing important to me is keeping her as far away as possible. Now he thinks I’m overreacting.
     The other day, when he told me he wasn’t going to change his number, I heard her voice and I lost it. I was livid! I don’t know what else I can say to him. I don’t know how long I can live there, yet I would hate to lose it all! My mind won’t let me calm down about her. I was honest with him from the beginning and said I would never be okay with it. It seems like it doesn’t matter to him.
Misty

A Misty, the author Simon Sinek became well known by encouraging people to ask themselves a simple question: what is your why? Why do you get up in the morning? Why do you do what you do? Why are you living the life you live?
     In the same spirit, we ask you two things. What is his why? What is your why?
     Perhaps your boyfriend is one of those men who are attracted to crazy. He has a toleration for her after all those years together. It must seem like a radical change not to live in the same house with this woman. His life went from 100% crazy to 50% crazy.
     But every year you stayed with him made it harder for you to go. Each year proved to him that you could deal with things as they were. When people don’t get consequences, they know they don’t have to change. That’s why, when errors persist in our life, we have to eat the blame and take responsibility for what happened.
     If there is no consequence for not paying your bills, then why pay them? If your kids have a 9 p.m. curfew and don’t come home until 10—and you do nothing—you just gave them a new curfew time.
     So the question becomes, what is your why? Why have you stayed? The answer cannot be love because he is actively involved with someone who harms you.
     One police report might not have been enough for you to leave. But five? The police got sick of both sides of this, and the man you live with still isn’t protecting you.
     Buying a house with him was self-punishment, it became one more reason not to leave, and you proved to him that he need not change. He knows you won’t leave. He probably knows why you won’t leave, whether it is money, lifestyle, or something else.
     Ask yourself, what is my why? And if you can’t come up with an answer, then ask him.
 Wayne & Tamara  
write:  Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Bridging generations online for health

 Bridging generations online for health
 W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones
   Everywhere, people are fed up with enforced isolation. While adhering to stay-at-home orders at the urging of public health officials and in empathy with frontline health care workers, the restrictions are taking a toll on the physical and mental wellbeing of all. While senior citizens can be especially impacted, it is less commonly acknowledged that younger people, particularly teens, struggle with isolation too.
For older adults, enduring long periods cut off from family and friends is known to cause depression, generalized anxiety disorders, decreased sleep, and functional impairment. Research published in Lancet Public Health warns that social isolation can also accelerate cardiovascular and brain aging, exacerbating dementia.
Likewise, students of all ages are suffering from lockdowns. They are not getting the exercise and outdoor time they need. Schooling has been repeatedly disrupted. The entire cohort of first-year university students in 2020-21 has missed a formative experience. Many in this highly social generation have shifted to virtual friendship circles and online entertainment. Others exist in boredom and loneliness, absent engagement with anyone.
Dr. David Nabarro, a Special Envoy on COVID-19 for the World Heath Organization, made headlines last October when he articulated the WHO’s position that "The only time we believe a lockdown is justified is to buy you time to reorganise, regroup, rebalance your resources, [and] protect your health workers who are exhausted."
Yet, despite repeated regrouping, the virus is easily out maneuvering the experts. And the lockdowns and movement restrictions continue.
So what can be done? A prescription for patience is the order. But there is ample opportunity to harness this awful pandemic to connect isolated people – young and old – in innovative, health-inducing ways using online platforms.
Research shows that matching up young people with older people on digital platforms has a remarkably positive impact on both generations.
This is not a new idea. The aging of the “baby boomers” has had many researchers advocating for policymakers to leverage this generation as a massive learning resource. There is ample evidence of benefits to the boomers. One study showed that older adults providing internet-based tutoring to fifth-grade students became comfortable using computers, had improvements in mood, and had an enhanced quality of life from the interactions.
In a Canadian program, older adults provided second-language coaching to young people through video conferencing. An evaluation determined that participants of all ages valued the program with youth reporting benefits from the language immersion. Older adults demonstrated high levels of motivation to participate.
The pandemic has many more programs underway. Dr. Li Feng Tan, a researcher at Alexandra Hospital in Singapore, runs intergeneration programs that bring older and younger people together for exercise, dance, charades, bingo, Pictionary, music classes, performances, and virtual tours. A comparison of in-person programs with virtual programs found that online platforms have engage more participants within the hospital, enabled engagement by patients in different wards, and eliminated the risk of cross-infection, a major concern during the current pandemic.
In addition to the health benefits, the basic skills with phones and computers that teenagers and even young children can teach to seniors enables older people to connect themselves with other online platforms they enjoy, including resources for health promotion.
The programs are low-cost, easy to scale up, and do not require expensive health care professionals, therapists, or technicians.
Generations United, a clearinghouse for information on different types of intergenerational programs, has a publication in its resource library called Staying Connected While Staying Apart. The report lists dozens of engaging programs around the world and step-by-step guidance on how to get involved or set up new virtual intergenerational programs. See www.gu.org.
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

Hello Mr. Joe

 SCAM ALERT

By Joe Ingino
Editor/Publisher

“I live a dream in a nightmare world”

    Not to sound prejudice.... but am i the only asshole that is tired of getting some uneducated thirds world criminal calling me by using the wrong syntax when addressing me.   Mr. Joe....  I got a deal for you.
A message to you fucker... Go to school to at the least address people in  proper syntax...   You never use Mr. after a person’s first name.
GOOGLE IT.  
Ok.  Now that my blood pressure has lowered a bit... Here is the number one reason WE THE WEST.  Must stop outsourcing to these third world ‘SHIT HOLES’.  (not my words that of former President Trump).
  99.9% of today's scams come from over seas.  Scams that have obtained our personal information illegally from these so called corporation such as Bell, Rogers and others.   
These giants instead of keeping the jobs at home they farm it out to people they pay a bag of rice and a coke a month.
Now these fuckers in their desperation to make an extra buck.  They steal our personal information and sell it to scammers.... as in most of these countries... ..SCAMS are as rampant as the poverty.
  We from the WEST are so ignorant of the fact that lurk around the world.   How the rest of the world see us and how they in a heart beat kill each one of us and take our place only to turn it into another shit hole.    It is a well documented theory amongst sociologist that if you give a cave dweller a pent house.  He will treat it like a cave.   If you give a penthouse dweller a cave. He will treat it like a penthouse.
DON’T BITCH AT ME I AM NOT GOD.   Life is what it is.  If it offends you FUCK OFF....now you have a reason to be offended.
 It appears that more and more fraud is being reported.   The latest comes from Sri Lanka.   The way this scam works is as follows.  Victims get an email as follows:
Thank You for processing the payment.
Renewal charges of $347.26 is processed VIA  CHECKiNG ACC0UNT
Your confirmation number is NJSM-5S85678
RENEWAl  DATE           :         04/29/2021
RENEWAl AM0UNT      :          $347.26
PR0DUCT                       :         #N0RT0N# firewaII
lssue with the transaction
call us @ +1(855) 528-2639
Thanks & Regards,
  Victims call to inquire as they never ordered anything from NORTON.  Upon calling you get someone with a very heavy Sri Lanka accent.   They inform you that the call is being recorded and it is not.   They then proceed to identify you.... they will ask you for your banking information to confirm that it is you.... DO NOT GIVE THEM ANYTHING.   Then they proceed to tell you that in order to refund you the $347.26 that they will have to take out a dollar first.    What they are doing is verifying your account.   Here is where it gets interesting.  If you give them the right info.  They will take every penny in that account.   THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO.  YOU REPORT IT TO THE POLICE.... They can’t do nothing.  You report it to the mounties they can’t do a thing.   You just lost all your money.  The bank will investigate but their hands are tied as it was a legal transaction from their end.
This is not the only scam... Another very notable one is the GOOGLE registration scam.  You will either get a very formal email and or call informing you that if you do not update your GOOGLE account right away that GOOGLE will delete all your online information.  DO NOT DO IT.   These scammers will also ask you for $350.  to update your account.   It is a fraud.   This fraud comes from the U.S.   Cops in Canada can’t do a thing about it.   These companies what will sell you is an optimization package...under the disguise of GOOGLE.   These companies have nothing to do with GOOGLE.  These companies take advantage of small businesses.  People ignorant of technology and desperate for some results.
At the paper those that claim to only be advertising through GOOGLE, we deemed them third class as they are normally small businesses with little or no budget and have very limited knowledge of advertising and promotions.
GOOGLE ranking in itself is a kind of a scam.    GOOGLE ranks your business in accordance to a parameter.  Outside of the parameter you are just another ranking.    People pay because it gives them a false sense of worth.    They get some response as GOOGLE is notorious for flooding local markets with spam type advertising including some of the local.    I always tell people.  If you are getting any results from GOOGLE.  This is a huge indicator that you are missing a large number of possible clients that GOOGLE will never reach.  The key is to use GOOGLE as a ruler or indicator of where your customers come from.
Speaking of GOOGLE.   Another GOOGLE oriented based scam includes.  People showing up to your door and claiming that they must check your internet connection.  That according to GOOGLE, your system has been compromised.  Once inside they attempt to charge you $400 for something that they never repaired and or touched.
Consumers be aware that there are all kinds of scams out there.    Rule of thumb.  Let no on in your house.  Do not accept offers of any kind.  No matter how good they may be.  Never ever give out your personal information and or contact.
We live in an age of information.   Our beloved companies like Rogers, Bell and others that outsource to third world countries put all of us in Canada in great risk of our personal information ending up in the wrong hands.
The Rogers and Bells of the world will promise to no end that they have the outmost secure system to protect consumers from their personal information from being sold.   What they do not tell you is that the main vein of information leak is by employees.   Something that can’t be prevented and or stopped.   These corporation hire people and pay them a fraction of what they would have to pay someone in Canada.  The people they hire are not stupid and see by the amounts they are being asked to collect on the corporation behalf is 100x what they would  make a year.
People are people, so they look for ways to increase their wealth.   Easy money.  Sell information to the highest bidder.   Make extra money on the side.  A victimless crime.   An untraceable crime.
What has become of Canada.  What has become of our standards.   We through our generosity have become those that we have so generously welcomed.    Corporations are taking advantage of our confusion and make claims that in order to stay competitive and lower costs they must go off shore.
In reality... these corporations are ripping us off.  Take Rogers.   Their biggest cost is employees. Followed by equipment.   Cellular technology is FREE.   Once you have the equipment set up and running.  All you have to worry is maintenance, upkeep.    In other word it is a legal golden goose that keep laying that golden egg every month.  Look at how much the CEO and top brass make.   Look at how they push convenience.   Just recently, I signed up for their 1G net service.  Once they install it. They tell you that in fact is not 1G service, but instead up to 1G service.   Your system on the best of day may push 550mgbts.
Is this not false advertising?   How about their TV service?  Half of the channels are duplicates, not to mention to the 100’s of music, off the air and the like.  The question is why do we let these companies treat us this way?  I guess for the same reason our gas prices have gone from .70 cents a litre to now almost 2.00 dollars.  Are we the Canadian consumer that ignorant?  Hey maybe that is why scammer target it us.

BILL C-10

 

BILL C-10

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC,
FEC, CET, P. Eng.
Former Member of Parliament
Pickering-Scarborough East
BILL C-10 An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act, leading to censorship and further limiting our freedom of speech.
As the third wave of the pandemic precipitates a real healthcare crisis in Canada, the Trudeau government is again meddling with our freedoms, instead of concentrating on handling the crisis at hand.  They are proposing to regulate the internet and censor social media, despite an apparently clear constitutional problem with doing so.
Parliament's authority over broadcasting derives from paragraph 92(10)(a) of the Constitution Act and is factually based on the use of radio waves to carry broadcast programming to listeners and viewers. The courts determined that cable television is an extension of over-the-air broadcasting. All of which was based on the notion that radio waves crossed provincial and international boundaries.
Streaming services do not use assigned radio frequencies to reach their audience. Hence, they are not, themselves, interprovincial undertakings. For the delivery of content, online streaming services depend on telecommunications carriers to transport programming across provincial and international boundaries.
The mere fact of relying on telecommunications to conduct one's business is not enough to bring an enterprise within federal legislative authority. Netflix and Spotify are not broadcasters: they are, respectively, a digital video store and digital jukebox. Federal legislation has never reached to the regulation of video stores or jukeboxes - or cinemas for that matter.
How can the mere fact of digital transmission change the fundamental nature of the underlying undertaking?
The implications of this argument are very significant.  It suggests that even if Bill C-10 makes it through the Parliamentary process, a constitutional challenge is a distinct possibility.
By proposing Bill C-10 the government is treading on dangerous ground, making a covert move in the style well known in the legislation regarding media, in former communist countries.
This Bill is definitively a covert one. Under big ideas and a pretense to help the public and tax big international entertainment corporations for the benefit of taxpayers and local entertainment and media the Bill is introducing limitations on the use of the internet and social media by individuals.
This government imposed limitations are, in plain language, called censorship. All Canadians should be aware of this alarming piece of legislation, moving forward under the radar, in which the government calls for state regulation of the internet and social media.
At the outset of the clause by-clause revisions of Bill C-10 on April 19, Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage Chair Liberal MP, Scott Simms set the tone: "Buckle up, folks. This is the fundamental core of parliamentary democracy at its best. It's going to be an exciting time-so exciting that we'll probably sell the story rights to Netflix."
Of course, such a declaration should alert us to be circumspect.  Just what will we find buried under the covers if we buy into this option?…
As the discussions on the proposed bill moved forward at the parliamentary committee, with amendments introduced by parties, the government, through the voice of MP Julie Dabrusin, parliamentary secretary of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, decided to remove Bill C-10's section 4.1, which reads:
"This Act does not apply in respect of (a) programs that are uploaded to an online undertaking that provides a social media service by a user of the service - who is not the provider of the service or the provider's affiliate, or the agent or mandatary of either of them - for transmission over the Internet and reception by other users of the service; and (b) online undertakings whose broadcasting consists only of such programs."
This section "seemed to have created some confusion for people as to whether or not social media is excluded or included, so we recommend actually voting against 4.1. The reason I should be recommending that is we would be making clear that social media is included if they're acting like a broadcaster," said Dabrusin.
The official line on bill C-10 is a strong attempt to dissemble. They claim that censorship was not the intent, that the government is not regulating the use of the internet and social media by individuals, and the committee has adopted clause (2.1) in C-10 on April 19 which says:
"A person who uses a social media service to upload programs for transmission over the Internet and reception by other users of the service - and who is not the provider of the service or the provider's affiliate, or the agent or mandatary of either of them - does not, by the fact of that use, carry on a broadcasting undertaking for the purposes of this Act."
However, the devil is in the details. By the verbiage and wordsmithing of the legislation and the cloudy interpretations of it, the Bill tries to give assurance that in fact the best intention of the government is not censorship.
However, these types of actions are well known for being inspired by fascist and communist type thinking; limiting democratic rights of communications by individuals and only channelling information to the public that is in line with government agenda and talking points.
If you look closely at the Bill as it has been amended by the committee, it would appear to exempt individual users from being considered broadcasters.  The catch is, that anybody can be categorized as a broadcaster at the pleasure to the government regulator….Great…
There are many other aspects of the Bill debated at the committee and soon it will come to a vote.
If the Bill is voted into legislation, there are serious questions about what it will mean for our freedom of speech.
Wake up Canada!

HOW TO BE A SERVANT LEADER IN YOUR COMMUNITY

 HOW TO BE A SERVANT LEADER
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
 Written by,  Jessica Williams
   My name is Jessica Williams, I am 26 years old, born and raised in Pickering , Ontario.   I am a philanthropist, behaviour specialist, business owner, and coach. Today I want  to share some of  my story with you. Ever since I can remember, giving back and volunteering has been instilled in my blood. I'm not sure how young I was when it began, but one specific memory I can pin-point is when I was in grade 8 when my class was required to have a certain amount of hours done in the community in order to graduate.  
     It was from there that I found a passion in giving back and being a good influence, and servant leader in the community. It started with a snack bar once in a while, then volunteering for a special needs soccer team weekly, raising money for walk-a-thons, to feeding the homeless with my church group . This was all throughout highschool, where of course, everyone was required to have their 40 hours of community service work. In those years I documented more than 100 hours of community service. Upon graduating, community service was no longer a requirement for anything. However, the passion for giving back still burned bright in my soul.
    Over the past 5 years I have been involved in many community events. My friends and I got extremely passionate about helping Toronto's homeless, and low income population. Over the past 5 years we have collectively raised over $60,000 to help this community, and have also executed 6 different events to give back over this time span as well. We have blossomed so much that we have applied to become a registered charity and will be diving into as many fundraising events possible when the time comes.
    Although, lately I have found that my passion for giving back goes beyond just our Canadian borders. My heart has recently been called to help out a nonprofit orphanage in Jinja, Uganda by the name of Mercy Orphanage Care. I was called to this cause by one of my independent contractors whilst carrying out a promotions and marketing event. She shared with me the dire needs of this orphanage.  
    The orphanage was founded and is funded by a young man named Derrickson Mercy and his aunt. They funded the orphanage out of pocket prior to COVID-19, not requesting help from anyone. Merely through hard work and dedication, Derrickson had been working two jobs at local gyms, and dancing in the streets to raise money. Due to the lockdowns and restrictions Derrickson is unable to receive those streams of income right now. These lockdowns have placed this orphanage in a position of intense need. Both Derrickson and his aunt have been forced to spend their savings on bulk food and mosquito nets. Due to the lack of work available, they have been left without the resources to provide for these children. Sometimes causing them to go days without food. Due to a shortage of funds they are also unable to provide mosquito nets for the children, resulting in many of them catching Malaria. Which then means that they need medical attention, which is another cost they have to endure. These things alone are causing a huge impact in their ability to properly run the orphanage. Along with many other things like a need for a water filter, in order to filter the water from harmful contaminants. A need for materials to fix the toilet hut that is currently falling apart which acts as a huge hazard to the children using it.  This need screamed to me , being as privileged as I am to live here in Canada and have been given the opportunities I have worked so hard for along the way, I knew I had to do something. So, I did what I knew how to do best, I reached out to my closest fundraising friend and asked her what I should do. She jumped right on board with me and told me to do it, about a week later the fundraiser "MIRACLES FOR MERCY"  was born. We have set out a goal to raise enough money to provide Mercy Orphanage Care with 40 mosquito nets, a water filter, materials to fix the toilet shelter, and enough to supply them with bulk food for a few months.
The needs of these children are greater than many of us would endure here in Canada. From my experience, a little bit goes a very long way when people come together. Can you imagine if just 200 of us came together and donated $10 to a cause we are passionate about, that is $2000 right there ! In this case, that reaches our goal and changes the lives of so many young souls. These children are able to live on so little, it humbles you to reflect on the abundance we have available to us on a daily basis here in Canada. I have seen these children happy with just a lollipop, it is something that has humbled my soul to a different degree.
In addition to the fundraiser, we have also set up a clothing/toy drive to collect childrens clothes of all sizes for these children. As well as any gently used or new toys that you may have laying around would be greatly appreciated.
I encourage anyone looking to give back or start something to tap into your inner leader. Start today, right now, with baby steps you can accomplish anything. I am just a young woman who had an idea, with passion behind it. I took action, and took the baby steps required to do it. Now I am here to tell you that you can do it too, just take your first leap of faith.  
If you are interested in donating to the fundraiser you can check out our link on facebook : https://www.facebook.com/donate/190257249594942/?fundraiser_source=external_url
Or you can contact me at jessicanicolewilliams@outlook.com to learn how to get involved or donate toys or clothing.
EDITORS DISCLOSURE:  The Oshawa Central Newspaper cannot verify the validity of the above organization/group.  The opinions are that of the author registered above.

The Chestermere

 The Art of Finding Work
By Nick Kossovan

The Chestermere
Last week I provided 5 suggestions on how you can make your LinkedIn profile, which in 2021 is a non-negotiable must-have for job seekers, to stand out. The suggestions were:
1. Add a headshot
2. Create an eye-catching headline
3. Craft an interesting summary
4. Highlight your experience
5. Use visual media
I'll continue with my next 5 suggestions:
6. Customize your URL
Your LinkedIn URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address for your profile. The default URL will have your name and some random numbers and letters (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-kossovan-647e3b49). Customizing your profile URL (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickkossovan/) makes your profile search engine friendly; therefore, you're easier to find. As well a customized URL invites the person searching to make some positive assumptions about you:
- You're detail oriented.
- You're technologically savvy.
- You understand the power of perception (Image is everything!).
 James Wooden, one of the most revered coaches in the history of sports, is to have said, "It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."
 To change your profile URL, go to the right side of your profile. There you'll find an option to edit your URL. Use this option to make your URL concise and neat.
7. Make connections
The more connections you have increases the likelihood of being found when hiring managers and recruiters, looking for potential candidates with your background, search on LinkedIn. Envision your number of connections as 'the amount of gas in your tank.'
At the very least, you should aim to get over 500 connections. Anything below 500 LinkedIn will indicate your number of connections as an exact number (ex. 368). Above 500 connections, LinkedIn simply shows you have 500+ connections. Getting to 500 implies you're a player on LinkedIn.  
As much as possible, connect with individuals you know personally, have worked with, met in a professional capacity (tradeshow, conference), is in your city/region and industry/profession. If you'd like to connect with someone you haven't met, send a note with your request explaining who you are and why you'd like to connect. (This'll be my topic in next week's column.)
8. Ask for recommendations and skill endorsements
This is vital to making your profile stand out! Employers want to know that others think of your work.
When asking for a recommendation, or skill endorsements, think of all the people you've worked the past. Don't just think of your past bosses; also think of colleagues, vendors, customers - anyone who can vouch for your work and professionalism.
Instructions on how to ask for, and give, a recommendation, can be found by going to the LinkedIn 'Help' field (Located by clicking on the drop-down arrow below the 'Me' icon in the upper right-hand corner.) and typing 'Requesting a recommendation.' Do the same for skill endorsements.
TIP: It's good karma to write recommendations, and endorse skills, in return and to give unsolicited.
9. Keep your profile active
LinkedIn is not simply an online resume - it's a networking social media site. To get the most out of LinkedIn, you need to be constantly active (at least 3 times per week). Write posts and articles. Check out what is being posted, especially by your connections. Like and share posts that resonate with you. Engage with thoughtful comments that'll put forward your expertise.
Join groups that align with your industry and professional interests. Groups are an excellent way to meet like-minded professionals with whom to network and share ideas and best practices.
10. Check your LinkedIn profile strength
It's in LinkedIn's interest that you're successful using their platform. Therefore, they've created a 'Profile Strength Meter' to gauge how robust your profile is. Basically, this gauge tells you completion level of your profile. Using the tips, you'll be given, keep adding to your profile until your gauge rates you "All-Star." For instructions on how to access your 'Profile Strength Meter,' use the LinkedIn' Help' field.
The 10 tips I offered is a starting point for building a LinkedIn profile that WOWs! Jobseekers need to make the most of their profile to stand out in a sea of candidates, sell their skills, and validate their accomplishments. Make it easy for the reader to get a feel for who you are professionally. 

IT HAS BEEN 30 YEARS

 IT HAS BEEN 30 YEARS

By Lisa Freeman
  It has been 30 years since the murder of my father on a cold winter evening in February of 1991. John 'Terry' Porter was on parole for another crime when he axed my father, Roland Slingerland, to death in Oshawa- my Dad was the maintenance man for some rooming houses when Porter came looking for a former girlfriend. The woman had been moved to another location for her own protection, my father knew where she was, but refused to tell him. Terry Porter took an axe, roofer's hatchet and hammer and mercilessly attacked my father, hacking him to death. I was 21 years old at the time, and I identified my father a few hours later. Terry Porter was charged with first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, no eligibility for parole for 25 years.
There is nothing I can utilize that could accurately measure the impact that my father's murder has had on me- not only did Terry Porter leave his finger prints at the crime scene but all over my life as well.  For the first two decades I would rarely speak of this crime to anyone- Terry Porter was incarcerated, there were no support services for crime victims as there is now, so I moved on with my life as best I could, trying to look ahead of me rather than behind.  In 2012, at the 21-year point of his sentence, the parole process for Terry Porter began to unfold with his application for escorted temporary absences from the penitentiary in Kingston. Despite it widely being reported that a life sentence carries an automatic no eligibility period for 25 years, this is untrue- parole begins at the 21-year mark.
For the first time in two decades, I would see my father's killer again, this time in board room at a prison in Kingston, when I would stand in front of him and read my victim impact statement. There was nothing to guide me on how to best write an impact statement except guidelines from the Parole Board- and I was shocked that they instructed me to 'keep my statement short- about 10 minutes when read aloud.' No, I told them, my statement will be as long as it needs to be, because I am more than a 'ten-minute victim'. I was told that I would deliver my statement whilst seated, and at the beginning of the hearing; and I said no, pushed for and was allowed to stand to read my statement at the end of the hearing. I wanted to make sure my voice, not the offender's, was the last they heard before they made any decisions. Even though I did my best to prepare myself before I got to the hearing, nothing could ever prepare me for what happened inside the room that day when one of the panelists introduced me twice, by full name, to the room, and in front of my father's killer. Not one person at the parole board told me that they would say my name in front of Terry Porter that day, no one had thought to ask me if I wanted to be identified, or how I would like to be introduce, if at all. I received an apology letter from the head of the Parole Board of Canada for the distress they caused me that day, but that wasn't enough, I wanted change, and I wanted to make sure no one would ever have to go through what I experienced.
That person who rarely spoke of the murder of her father for two decades was long gone -I took my story to the media and it marked the first of four times I would be on the front page of the Toronto Sun. In 2014 a bill was passed in Parliament to change the policies and procedures of the Parole Board of Canada to better reflect the needs of victims of crime, specifically how they want to be addressed, or not addressed at all at Parole hearings.
When the Covid 19 pandemic affected parole hearings and stripped victims of crime of their right to attend hearings to present statements, but at the same time allowed offenders to participate by video link , I, along with Oshawa MP Colin Carrie and Quebecois Senate Pierre Hughes Boisvenu pushed back hard in parliament and the media for the Parole Board to include Canada's crime victims in this important process. After a lot of hard work and pressure, the Parole Board finally relented and included us. When the Parole Board moved Terry Porter to a prison less than 10 kms away from my sister's house and didn't inform me until 24 hours later, that was the precursor to my Bill (S-219) that was tabled in the Senate in December of 2020 by Senateur Pierre Boisvenu and Justice Critic Shannon Stubbs and MP Carrie, that would make amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to better inform victims of crime of the critical information they are due.
There is still a lack of support for those bereaved by homicide, and a lack of resources for crime victims outside of those published by the Parole Board. I am proud to say that I am doing my part to change that, by facilitating a Homicide Bereavement Support Group through York Victim Services, the first of its kind in Ontario. I am a return guest speaker in Criminology & Victimology class rooms and I have published a book; She Won't Be Silenced and a Work Book designed to help people write stronger victim impact statements. I am a national voice for Canada's crime victims but I am only in that role by standing on the shoulders of those who support me.
My father's murder has become two separate issues for me- to continue to keep a dangerous man in prison- Terry Porter is still incarcerated and was denied full parole in October 2020- and secondarily as the catalyst to help re-balance the system- beginning with greater transparency and greater respect for the needs of Canada's crime victims. I refuse to stand still in a system that continues to re-victimize and re-traumatize those who already carry so much. For this my father would be proud, even more so than I've kept his killer incarcerated for more than 3 decades, but that I have brought change and, in his memory, have made the path a little easier for those who follow me.

  Canadians, the Budget, and COVID in Ontario
(The good, the bad and the ugly)
by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC,
FEC, CET, P. Eng.
Former Member of Parliament
Pickering-Scarborough East
As we face more and more limitations on our civil liberties most Canadian politicians from left leaning to right leaning, are more concerned with protecting their privileges than serving the people. Wake up Canada!
The recently presented Federal budget with its undertone of political ambitions, just like the Ontario provincial budget, seems to be bent on drowning the next generations in immense debt.  The political class does not seem to care about the future of Canada. Can we blame them?... they were elected……
Let's start by evaluating the federal budget just submitted. To do this, we need to ask a very simple question: what immediate problems need to be resolved and what is the vision for the future?
This budget, set out in 700+ pages of (red) ink, trumpeting concern for the people, says a lot about government motivations.
As a humble citizen I can only try to answer, what to me, is the most pressing question at this particular moment: where will economic growth come from over the long term once the pandemic is over?
To start, it is clear that the government's decision to spend more than $100 billion in so-called short-term stimulus is a foggy political solution for a fast brewing economic problem.
If you look more closely, you'll find that the budget arithmetic doesn't match the current economic data, but what can you expect from the parliamentary elite.
The budget document is clear on that front: "Private sector economists expect real gross domestic product (GDP) to rebound from a 5.4 per cent contraction in 2020 to a growth of 5.8 per cent in 2021 and 4 per cent in 2022, a faster recovery than the growth rates of, respectively, 4.8?per cent and 3.2 per cent projected in the November 2020 Fall Economic Statement (FES 2020)."
Try to find a clear plan and path to make Canada more productive and competitive in the 739 pages that follow.
Although some of the objectives and proposed measures such as investments in child care, skills, life bio sciences and clean tech, should be applauded, it is hard to find a coherent growth plan for the future.

Real governing is about making choices, but if this budget can be defined as anything, it is everything and nothing. Does it define and focus on sectors of the economy in which Canadians might be competitive on the global stage?  Like nuclear energy for example? In the 270 measures this budget proposes there is not a single reference to anything like that.
Our labour force is aging and our low levels of business investment reflect a lack of large and technologically leading Canadian firms operating in our economy. We need to encourage more innovation to grow more firms.
The government's response in this budget? Essentially, it has not addressed our innovation shortcomings (vaccine manufacturing) and has been silent to date on this front.
The Strategic Innovation Fund, which gets a boost of $7.2 billion over the next seven years, is not the best of what industrial policy has to offer: instead of building sectoral capabilities in investing in applied R&D, which is what global leaders like the Germans, Americans and South Koreans do, it provides subsidies and repayable loans to firms.
Does it drive more business investments and make our firms more competitive on the global stage? In the last three decades, nobody has ever tried to answer this question seriously in Ottawa, whichever government was in power.
What about the need to concentrate on applied research??What about aggressively commercializing our publicly-funded research? What about funding our National Research Council better? As an engineer, I was one of the few politicians in Ottawa who took the trouble to visit their facilities and understand the outstanding work they do. Unfortunately, engineers are an endangered species in the Canadian House of Commons.
Other countries in the western world, and China, act more boldly in their budgets, creating mission-driven institutions that are unconstrained by the pitfalls of an antiquated public service bureaucracy.

What does this budget say about our level of ambition, and our resolve for steadfast execution and implementation? How fast will we move to assert ourselves economically in this new geopolitical environment?
On the same day that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled the budget, NASA flew a helicopter on Mars and charted an unprecedented new partnership with the private sector on space exploration. Back in Ottawa, our budget allocated $90 million for incubators and accelerators "to give enrolled start-ups access to advice."?
It seems we are often the last to realize that the world is moving faster than we are. Just look at our record on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
While China and the United States are moving fast to build their Electric Vehicles (EV) supply chains, bureaucrats at Natural Resources and the Treasury Board Secretariat will be busy in the coming year working on a new Treasury Board submission to fund a new "Critical Battery Minerals Centre of Excellence."?which, as usual, will be well behind the times.
This budget in essence adds many more layers of duplication and bureaucratic complexity to a system that was never known for its nimbleness and agility. A more focused public-private partnership in key areas to drive growth which would achieve better results is substantially missing in this budget.

After doubling our federal debt in only six years, and spending close to a trillion dollars, not having a concept on long-term development is the worst possible legacy of this budget and really bad for the future of Canada.
Most of the problems with the federal budget are also true of the last Province of Ontario Budget. However, in Ontario we have more serious problems.  Let's take a look at the disastrous handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is really ugly.
A complete breakdown of intelligent communications between the Government of Ontario and their advisory body, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Table, has resulted in an unprecedented number of bad decisions made by the Government of Ontario.
The "Table", composed of some 100 doctors, researchers and specialists, is the independent body that furnishes advice to Premier Doug Ford and his cabinet on how best to beat the deadly pandemic. It is their modelling that shows Ontario careening towards 30,000 news cases per day.

How can such an immense body produce valuable real time information? Quantity doesn't mean quality.
Were they as useful as they pretend to be, they would have arrived at better conclusions at the earlier stages of the pandemic. Pointing fingers and blaming only the government is unprofessional. They should take their share of the responsibility, not a Pontius Pilate attitude.

The lack of understanding and lack of communication between these entities has generated actions such as dispatching police officers to police the pandemic in an unprecedented limitations of civil liberties. Though later withdrawn, this measure generated elements of civil disobedience, and compromised the people's trust in the government's ability to deal with the health crisis.

As a result we're in a complete mess, and the headless chicken syndrome has become the new pandemic and order of the day in Ontario.
What do you think?

10 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out in 2021 - Part 1

 The Art of Finding Work
By Nick Kossovan
10 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out in 2021 - Part 1
    In 2021 successful job hunting requires having a LinkedIn profile that's current and optimized. It's not enough to simply exist on LinkedIn. In this column and the next, I'll provide ways to create a profile that'll attract employers and hiring managers.  
  Your goal is to create a profile that attracts attention, says the right things, and is a catalyst to connecting you with people who can help you. LinkedIn can literally get your name in front of thousands of professionals in your industry. If you're looking for a job, that's huge!
Something to keep in mind: Employers will read through your profile before deciding to schedule an interview with you.
Here are the first 5 ways you can make your LinkedIn profile stand out:
1. Add a headshot
It's mind-boggling how many LinkedIn profiles don't have a headshot, which is the equivalent of wearing a paper bag on your head at an industry tradeshow. Put a face to your name and add a profile picture, a good one. Your profile picture is the first impression people will get of you.
2. Create an eye-catching headline
Your headline is right below your name and therefore the first thing your profile visitors will read. It's your profile most valuable real estate. LinkedIn's default settings will create your headline with your current position, but you can edit it to whatever you want. You have 120 characters to work with, so write something that will resonate. Envision the text of a billboard advertisement for you and what you do. Instead of just listing your job title, mention your specialty and how you benefited your company or customers. Write for your target audience. Are you speaking to industry peers, customers, or hiring managers?
Example:
Inside Sales Representative · SaaS · $68.8 M in Software Sales Generated Since 2016
This tells the reader your job, what you bring to the table, and enhances your credibility.
3. Craft an interesting summary
Your LinkedIn summary is your opportunity to tell your career story with up to 2,000 characters. Spend some time crafting your story in a way that makes the reader say to themselves, I got to meet this person! Keep in mind attention spans are short; I don't recommend you use all 2,000 characters. Keep your summary in the 1,000 - 1,250 characters range.
Your summary shouldn't be rehashing your experience. Mention what you do well, where you're a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in and what you're able to bring to an employer. Keywords here is crucial! Use words strongly connected to your industry, while painting a picture of who you are as a professional.
Example:
As an information security analyst at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, I manage the day-to-day flow of information into and out of the hospital. With a focus on database management, my job ensures critical computer systems, medical files, and patient history remain active and never fail. My team and I stay updated on the latest trends in information security to not only keep Rockyview General Hospital safe but also on the cutting edge.
4. Highlight your experience
You can do much better than merely cutting and pasting your resume onto your LinkedIn profile. Include past jobs you deem relevant to where you want your career to go and use three to five exciting and impressive bullet points for each job
Use action words to show your responsibilities and what you accomplished (results) for your employer. Using numbers as much as possible, communicate the impact you've made, the initiatives you led, and the revenue influence you had (most important).
Example:
Directed launch of 12 new product lines, with total annual revenue of $1.3B.
5. Use visual media
Like on Twitter and Facebook, you can add a background banner photo on LinkedIn. Your LinkedIn background banner photo should reinforce who you are and visually support your profile's written portions.  
LinkedIn allows you to connect other media to your profile such as YouTube videos, infographics, PowerPoints. Don't be shy to be creative with relevant media to make your page jump off the screen and demand attention.
Next week I'll provide 5 more suggestions to make your LinkedIn profile job hunt ready.

Unsung Heros

 Unsung Heros
 Written by,  Sharleen Cainer, BSW RSW
We often complain about the multitudes of “things” that could be done and still till this day have not been accomplished and while we are at it, we complain about the people in charge who should have made it all happen.  The one thing that none of us do enough of is celebrate the hero of the day who did make the effort to get it done.

Welcome Home For Less made and continues to make significant contributions fighting for the cause. Were we successful in swaying Durham Council into providing for the homeless? Well not really. We responded to all that was required and attended all meetings to which we were invited.  We were very politely told that there were other players that had come to the table with similar ideas. Of course, those similar ideas were twice the cost so therefore could house half of what Welcome Home For Less could do. Without belaboring the point the unidentified players also have long standing relationships with the council.  So Welcome Home For Less has not brought it home yet and neither has anyone else. Then of course there was the fabulous Beaverton project that was finally set to house 40 people of undefined social requirements, and personal needs but later defined as NOT homeless, while being introduced as an initiative to address the homeless issue and to be accommodated at the estimated cost of 14 million.  The people of Beaverton remain concerned but the rest of the people in the region remain confused after everyone received a dressing down from the Speaker of the House regarding their reluctance to accept what is now known as the Beaverton Project. So, suffice it to say without attitude that York Region Council has not hit a home run on this either.

We have seen many academics come to the table heavy with smarts attempting to solve this problem, but they too have not been able to “cut the mustard” with anything more than insurmountable bureaucratic gestures which have amounted to spectacular barriers to access for those who have that one challenge. The challenge of access.  Access to services, access to rental units, access to food security, access to home stability, access to treatment and so on.

Taylor Bailey is a young man who has taken the plight of the homeless very seriously.  He has a caring and ingenuous attitude. His academic career is not stellar, which he is quick to point out, but we have learned that academia, the pursuit of knowledge has not brought a resolution for the plight of the homeless.  I interviewed Mr. Bailey because of his interest on this matter and his undying compassion to help less fortunate people come to a place in their lives where they can feel confident and can move forward.  He describes himself as being unable to read, but still he has managed, with support from good friends, and family to own his own home.  He then provides affordable rental accommodation to others. He has made agreements with bureaucracies on behalf of his renters to ensure the renters stay on their feet, until they can get on their feet.  He doesn’t have a social work degree, nor a diploma in community development and so therefore Mr. Bailey’s access to an employed position within the region is barred. He attends to the less fortunate out of his own volition.

Although it sounds to be a very easy thing to accomplish, there are very few people doing it. At Welcome Home For Less we look at Taylor Bailey and others who, from the goodness of their spirit provide for others, often when they can barely provide for themselves as, Unsung Heros.

Mr. Bailey is formulating a plan to purchase city owned land, which has recently come up for sale.   I would like to take a moment to point out that there are four parcels of city owned land in the region.  Welcome Home For Less attempted to access these lands for the purposes of erecting mobile units. The council indicated there were other companies at the table who were scheduled to apply for those properties.  It appears that those preferred companies never able to make their plans happen and maybe it never happened because the cost of property has now skyrocketed. The council can now sell these parcels of land at an over inflated price so as to be sitting pretty while the ranks of the homeless and needy grow exponentially.  While we ponder this, where is the RHI (rapid housing initiative) money? The federal government gave all municipalities large budgets to address the issues of homelessness in each region. Where’s our RHI money? Its somewhere in the Koffers of Durham Region gathering dust and interest. Lots of interest. We are all interested in knowing why this money isn’t being visibly spent for that on those for whom it was intended.

Through all the disappointments, posturing, denial, and a turned blind eye, there is a faint light at the end of a long tunnel. Along comes Mr. Taylor Bailey who is just doing his own thing not because he is going to be rewarded or recognized in any kind of way, but because it is just the right thing to do right now. We need folks like this. We need to celebrate Mr. Bailey for his initiative and his vision. 

Coming of Age

 Coming of Age
Q I am female and a triplet. Unfortunately, my relationship with my parents is almost nonexistent due to the anger I have felt toward them. Throughout high school my parents treated one daughter like gold, and the other two were left hanging.

     Both of my siblings have their drivers license. I do not, in fact, even have a permit. My parents forbade it because they think I have anger issues and will end up hurting someone. Sadly, the only people I feel anger toward are my parents.

     I want them to understand how I feel. I want to prove to them I can act mature and safe behind the wheel and get along like any other civil adult. However, whenever I broach the question to them, they brush it off, which usually makes us end up in a screaming fight.
     I will soon leave for college, and I don’t know how to fix the relationship with my parents. I feel horrible about everything, and since I will be away at college, I want two things. Please tell me what to do to fix this strained and difficult relationship and how to stop blowing up at them?
Cecilia

A Cecilia, your letter sounds as if you are trying to win approval from your parents, or trying to disprove their erroneous beliefs. Your letter does not sound like a letter from an angry person.
     You don’t say your parents had you clinically assessed for anger, that you received a diagnosis, or that you have been counseled for anger management.
     The reality is you got stuck with a label and labels are hard to pull off. It’s not that all labels are bad. When the label is positive, a child might try to live up to the label. But the label you received is damaging.
     Perhaps you were a fussy baby; perhaps your parents’ favored child resembled someone your parents wanted to curry favor with; or perhaps, as a child, you put your parents on their back foot when you caught them in a lie and they used this label to control you. We don’t know.
     But something here does not fit. You express yourself like an innocent person, a person misjudged. And if you were unjustly labeled, why wouldn’t you be angry? Furthermore, how is it you are grown up enough to go off to college but are not grown up enough to drive?
     Your parents don’t get to have it both ways.
     You sound to us like a young woman who is self-aware. You’re off to college. You are of age. Once you leave home, you can solve the license issue for yourself. What’s more, in college you are free to pull off that label once and for all.
     Not all parents are fair. Some parents create rivalry among their children. Some parents mis-parent. Some parents act as if their child should be infallible when they themselves are highly fallible.
     There is no reason to think your parents will outgrow their behavior. But there is reason to believe you can take the steps necessary to improve your life. Not to show them up, but to step into the adult world.
     Near the end of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet, the main character, says something wise. “Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” That’s the soundest advice we can give you.
 Wayne & Tamara  
write:  Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Gout: No Longer the Blue-Blooded Disease

 Gout: No Longer the Blue-Blooded Disease
 W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones
          King Henry VIII of England offers an excellent example of how too much wine, rich food and obesity trigger the agony of gout. But why did Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Isaac Newton, and Benjamin Franklin, to name a few, develop this excruciating disease? And how can you decrease the risk?

          More than nine million North Americans suffer from gout, a type of inflammatory arthritis in which the body produces too much uric acid, or the kidneys fail to excrete enough.

          Genes play an important role. Gout and diseases such as diabetes are more likely to occur if there is a family history. But given the rise from only 3 million cases just over a decade ago, more than genetics is driving the problem.

          Uric acid is not friendly to joints. Dr. Larry Edwards, professor of medicine at the University of Florida, says, “People with high levels of uric acid can be accumulating crystals and damaging joints for years before they have their first gout attack.”

          Dr. John Fitzgerald, professor of medicine at the University of California and co-author of the American College of Rheumatology’s latest clinical practice guidelines for gout, says, “Gout is part of the metabolic syndrome,” and that people diagnosed with gout suffer first from the early stages of Type 2 diabetes and obesity, which increase the risk of gout.  It is a classic example of the Gifford-Jones Law that states one disease often leads to another and another.

The first attack of gout is a huge wake-up call. Dr. Thomas Sydenham, “The English Hippocrates”, died of gout in 1698. He wrote, “The victim goes to bed and sleeps in good health. About 2 o’clock in the morning, he is awakened by a severe pain in the great toe; more rarely in the heel, ankle or instep… Now it is a violent stretching and tearing of the ligaments – now it is a gnawing pain and now a pressure and tightening. So exquisite and lively meanwhile is the feeling of the part affected, that it cannot bear the weight of bedclothes nor the jar of a person walking in the room.”
Will one attack inevitably mean another? If you do not have high levels of uric acid in the blood, kidney disease, and are fortunate to have the luck of the Irish, there is a possibility that years may pass without another attack.
On this premise, your doctor may decide to “wait and see” alongside regular checks of uric acid levels.
But as another attack may occur at any moment with increased risk of injury to kidneys, your doctor may decide it is prudent to start urate-lowering therapy (ULT). There are several drugs that taken daily will lower uric acid and help stop crystals from forming in kidneys.
Studies from the University of California show about one-third of gout patients now receive URT. This treatment may take as long as six months to control the blood level of uric acid. Until lowered, there may be more attacks.

          Other studies in the U.S. and the Netherlands have identified genes associated higher levels of uric acid in the blood, including up to a 40-fold increase in the risk of gout.
          Diet can play a role in treating gout. Some doctors suggest cutting down on foods that increase uric acid such as red meat, shellfish, alcohol, and sugar. But results are limited.
          Genetic testing holds promise in identifying cases before symptoms appear. For now, prevention is the best course. Adopt a healthy lifestyle to keep gout from suddenly causing a painful wakeup call during the night.

   SoSign-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

Keep Looking for Sunshine You Will Find It

 Keep Looking for Sunshine
You Will Find It
By Paul Skuza
I recently discovered the musical "Hamilton'' and have been immersed in the soundtrack over the past month. One lyric that reoccurs in the production is, "Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now." Although the story takes over 200 years ago, hearing those words over and over, I cannot help but think how that outlook is as true today as it was back then. Ultimately, a lot of it is about perspective. Whether it be a battle with a global superpower for a nation's independence or surviving a pandemic, you can make an argument that  this is a recurring theme in life. With all of life's challenges ,we can live in gratitude. The question is, which do we want to focus our energy on?
Before I go any further I want to  clear that I have  also been frustrated with all things related to this pandemic. I am  saddened to see or hear about people getting sick and dying here and all over the world. I truly miss seeing family and friends due to isolation and this pandemic. My professional world has been turned upside down.. I am  in the health and wellness industry and pandemic has had an impact. I have been disappointed with inconsistencies and ever-changing restrictions. It has been a very difficult year to say the least.
 I can have an "all or nothing" mentality, but also believe  that it is possible to struggle and still find  good in whatever situation I am in. Throughout my career as a health and fitness professional, I have enjoyed going to work every day and making positive connections with people,hoping to influence the environment for the better. Covid-19 restrictions have made that much more challenging. For the past six months, our facilities have been closed to the pandemic. There were some extremely difficult decisions to be made and challenges to overcome. Reflecting on the past year, I admit that there have been many lows. At the same time, there was a ton of positive work done. For that I am grateful.  
I want to share some of the amazing projects and accomplishments our organzation has done to help fulfill the mission of building healthy communities. Some of which I have been fortunate to be involved in directly. Not having direct interaction,  contact with our members or connecting with people in our centres, we took to the virtual platform to connect and help address a need for home fitness and social interaction. There are now multiple live classes daily available to members, dozens of prerecorded workouts, online coaching, and more. These programs have all been accessible to everyone free of charge in an effort to help keep our members engaged and motivated to a path of physical health. I have been grateful to lead some virtual workouts through facebook live, zoom, and youtube. Online platforms may not feel the same  as the real deal in person experience. It is definitely the next best thing and has been a ton of fun . We are  staying connected with our members. Staying connected is important. As the weather changes  and restrictions loosen, we hope to return  to outdoor classes and workouts, as we did last year. It was  very well received and our members enjoy it. Teaching classes to smiling faces on green grass with the sun and sky in the background is actually a fitness experience hard to beat in my opinion.
 You might be able to tell by now, I am a fitness Coach.  I have always incorporated exercise as a part of my lifestyle and have  a passion for wellness. I have a strong background in sports and football. I am aware and always want to share with others the positive benefits  that exercise can have  on mental and emotional health.  I know it is not the only component to wellness, but an effective way to assist in managing mental and emotional health and stress.  The YMCA believes in this principle as well. We are more  than just a gym. We are a wellness community.
 My  colleagues started a program to deliver food and essential supplies to families in low-income neighbourhoods. We are talking about hundreds of packages delivered weekly during this pandemic and  lockdown to those who need it most. This was at no charge to families. We delivered complimentary flowers and exercise bands to hundreds of older adults in our communities. Our goal was to engage with the older population and attempt to brighten their day. We recognize that Senoirs are impacted by this pandemic and wanted to serve this part of our community. Other health and fitness centres around the association came up with new ways to support the community by offering  the use of our showers to medical professionals and front line workers  after their shift before returning home. We also have had many food and clothing drives, and offer the gymnasium as overnight shelter to the homeless population every night during extreme cold temperatures this past winter. Child care centres, before and after school programs have also been putting in great  effort to make sure children in our day care centres are in a safe environment. Summer camp programs were modified but still took place and gave kids a chance to experience a lot of the same wonderful opportunities that help campers develop social skills. Our charity work continued at every level and significant money was raised through generous donations from members and sponsors. I was honoured to help lead a virtual "SWEAT for strong kids'' event that raised over $100,000, and that was just one event! Hundreds of thousands more were raised to help more people access programs that can help them on their health and wellness journey. Grants were secured to make significant (and much needed) building improvements at several locations.
The list honestly goes on and continues to do so as I write this. Being directly involved in some of the work has been a privilege. Thinking about some of the great things that are being done throughout our communities by great people  including the YMCA is inspiring. I truly believe that it is okay to feel frustrated at this time and it is causing  stress but it is important to be  grateful. Having a positive outlook can take us a long way. Throughout human history you can make a strong argument that there is a constant.  Life  will be tough! We need to finish STRONG! In the words from the play Hamilton, "Dying is easy young man, living is harder"

The rise of China and the dangers ahead

 The rise of China and the dangers ahead
by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC,
FEC, CET, P. Eng.
Former Member of Parliament
Pickering-Scarborough East
It seems to me that a new danger is rising over the horizon and the Western world, including Canada, is ignoring it. Countries once united against the Soviet Union in the cold war era, now seem disunited in dealing with Communist China.

The risk of Chinese "adventurism" is rising, while great power rivalry that used to characterize Central Europe during the Cold War, has shifted to the Pacific region. Yes, today it is China that represents the bigger menace over the long term to Western values and interests. At present, China is primarily an economic and political threat. Not an immediate military threat yet, but heading in that direction at high speed.
China's primary ambition is to supplant the United States at all cost, as the world's largest economy and the region's dominant power. It also learned from the relatively mild world reaction to Russia's annexation of Crimea, that the annexation of Taiwan might be feasible in the very near future.
Steered by a clever and highly educated leadership, modelled on a modified communist doctrine that has been transplanted into a contained capitalistic economical environment, China is now a real and a dangerous addition on the world's political scene.  With lessons learned from the failures of previous communist regimes, it represents a formidable force.

The People's Republic of China had outlived its one-time ally and patron, the Soviet Union. After all, it has cracked down on Hong Kong, clashed with India in the Himalayas, levied tariffs on Australia after officials criticized its handling of the coronavirus, and said Britain would "bear the consequences" for excluding telecom firm Huawei from its 5G network. Neither has Canada escaped Chinese retribution. The arrest of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig was in retaliation for Canada's arrest of Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou.  Chinese spokesmen have also used derogatory words lately, in referring to Canadian leadership, and have listed Canadian MPs as persona non grata who dared to challenge them on human rights issues.

China has been steadily investing all over the world, with a shrewd interest in European infrastructure: State-run shipping companies own significant stakes in 13 European ports, for instance, and the telecom equipment company ZTE has a large presence in southeastern Europe.

When countries cede control of their infrastructure, their manufacturing
of strategic items, their resilience or ability to recover from the shock of a natural disaster or armed attack, suffers immensely. Such developments also make it easier for Beijing to impose its will.
China has already proved itself adept at using other tools in its arsenal - such as economic influence - to intimidate and coerce states, as when Beijing imposed an eight-year ban on Norwegian salmon in retaliation for the awarding of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident.
It used the same tools on Canadian exports of canola following the arrest of Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou. They also restricted PPE exports just as Canada's supplies reached critical stage in the COVID-19 fight.  Being the producers of 50% of the world supply, they can wield a heavy hand there.
 
To safeguard against a future when China decides to wield its growing military power in a similar fashion, it is important to reorient military alliances towards South East Asia.  NATO should refocus today, and invest more in military assets and planning in that region. The entire Western world needs to focus more on China than pay such disproportionate attention to Russia. We must be careful not to force Russia to gravitate towards an alliance with China.  That would be extremely dangerous. Strategically it is extremely important to avoid the formation of a Moscow -Beijing axis.

China has already begun to encroach on the North Atlantic region as well. In the Arctic, for example, Beijing is working on liquid-natural-gas drilling projects with Russia; it is also sending icebreakers to the Norwegian Sea. Not to mention that sooner or later China will encroach on Canadian interests in the Arctic.  There has already been an attempt to buy a mining operation, which, for the moment, has not succeeded.
To address these developments, Canada cannot stay idle.  We must start by formally and seriously including the "High North" in strategic documents for the first time.  We must increase Canadian presence in the region by all possible means, including a robust military. This issue pertains to North American security, and therefore Canada must work closely with the United States on it.

For the western allies a rapid refocusing on South East Asia and curtailing Chinese ambitions in the region is a must. It is necessary to deepen and broaden the relationships with partners in the Indo-Pacific region and Canada must play an important role.

By necessity, refocusing on China would involve a change in the mind-set of existing traditional military alliances such as NATO. Beyond ending the training and advising missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, pausing NATO expansion for the moment would make sense, since it would be inadvisable to add new members - such as Ukraine and Georgia, thereby provoking Russia - as it works out its identity crisis.
Russia is already pretty much contained; admitting Ukraine and Georgia now, a move for which many Europeans have little appetite, would doom arms-control and other negotiations with Moscow. Regrettably, as with Russia, Europe is divided over how to deal with China. Many European allies are wary of picking sides in the struggle for influence between the United States and its Asian rival.

Some, like Germany, even appear outright resentful at the suggestion that they must choose. German Chancellor Angela Merkel rushed last year to conclude the E.U.-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment
China's rise is indisputably the most significant geopolitical development of the 21st century. It would be strange for the Western world including Canada to ignore the challenge and to downplay the danger posed by China's growing influence in the world.

The 2020s are shaping up as the dangerous decade and hopefully China does not do something rash.

Hope for the best!

VACCINES AND NANOBOTS

 VACCINES AND NANOBOTS

By Joe Ingino
Editor/Publisher

“I live a dream in a nightmare world”
   The question in everyone’s mind is.  Should I or Should I not take the vaccine?  Those that took it may be re-thinking their choice as more and more information is being released by so called science.   Government is all for it as without to much thought a vaccine technically means that the virus will go away and the economic damage can begin healing.
I am constantly receiving information and have in the past had the advantage of reading and seeing things that most never get to know about.   I see the world not just a country.  I see the desperation and hear the conspiracy theorist hype up fear.  Fear of catching the virus and fear of getting inoculated. The real question is what are we up to.   Is the cure real and or just another double edged sword that governments of the world are being forced to use without knowledge of what they are doing to their own people.
My first degree from York University in Canada was in the field of psychology.  I first came to know about nanobots in the early 80’.   In the 80’s, nanobots as we know it today were used primarily for industrial applications.   It was thought that nano technology behind the scenes was becoming another cold war race of sorts as governments and many in academia became entangled in projects directed to using these particles to influence the thought and moods of the masses.   One application the Russians has mastered was the ability to use nano particles to track people moves almost like a form of pre-GPS technology as we know it.   I personally worked on a program through the University that was specific to cognitive and bio-psychological applications were nano technology at least in theory could be used to indirectly and even remotely produce a reaction that was that similar to mood or a feeling in a living human being.   My work was very theoretical and very limited.  Now you may be asking.  What is Nano technology or nanobots as we know them today.
Nanobots are robots that carry out a very specific function and are ~50–100 nm wide. They can be used very effectively for drug delivery. Normally, drugs work through the entire body before they reach the disease-affected area.  They can be used very effectively for drug delivery.
The field of nanotechnologies, which studies phenomena at the nanometer scale, 1 to 100 nanometers, is today in full expansion and finds applications in medicine, electronics and the development of new materials.
Richard Adolf Zsigmondy made the  first observations and size measurements of nanoparticles had been made during the first decade of the 20th century by Richard Adolf Zsigmondy, winner of the 1925 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, who made a detailed study of gold sols and other nanomaterials with sizes down to 10 nm using an ultramicroscope.
Adriano Cavalcanti is known as nanorobot pioneer, Cavalcanti is the medical nanorobotics inventor for the practical hardware architecture of nanorobots, which was integrated as a model based on nanobioelectronics for applications in environmental monitoring, brain aneurysm, diabetes, cancer and cardiology.
These tiny, autonomous robots don't need computer programs to repair circuits. ... By exploiting such quirks of nature, scientists have now built nanobots that can repair broken circuits that are too small for a human eye to see.   The most commonly-cited danger of nanobots is their purported ability to self-replicate. Nanobots aren't all that useful if you have to manufacture them yourself. If you can make a few and then have them reproduce to make copies of themselves, that's a far more efficient way of getting enough of them for useful work.
In today high tech world  a remarkable combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and biology has produced the world's first "living robots". Research team of roboticists and scientists published their recipe for making a new lifeform called xenobots from stem cells. ... Using their own cellular energy, they can live up to 10 days.   This technology is one of the primary agents in the many vaccines introduced to the world.   Little real research on the impact on human biology.   The thing about this type of technology.  Once introduced to the human body it can’t be removed.   Although the nanobots can't be removed, there might be a solution to this problem. Nanobots are technology on a quantum level, and in order to solve this problem, we need to address this situation on a subquantum or soul level.   In other words impossible.   In my study at the University one of the inclines of the relationship between psychology and nonotechnology was the future implications for governments to utilize this in order to create a new world order based on stimulants in the air much like the 5G+ technologies, microwaves, x-ray, and many more.    
The “G” associated with cellular networks stands for generation. 5G is the fifth and newest generation of cellular network technology and it should expand the capacity for mobile networks, allowing more devices to use the network than ever before.  This technically, some are seeing as the vehicle to manipulate nanobots in human bodies.
Can nanobots control you?  Mind control is real, it could be developed with invasive neurotechnology as brain nanobots that can control directly the activity of victim neurons and thus, control different body's functions like the motor functions.  This can be proven/verified by science.
Can nanobots make you immortal?   Yes. nanorobots could be programmed to rebuild older cells into younger copies on a regular basis thereby the human body could become immortal. You could live a disease-free youthful life, forever.
Can nanoparticles change your DNA? New research by scientists shows that when cellular barriers are exposed to metal nanoparticles, cellular messengers are released that may cause damage to the DNA of developing brain cells. ... During their interactions with cell membranes and internalisation into cells, key signalling pathways and processes are altered.  So yes.
So far nanoparticle-based vaccines  obtained  approval by the US Food and Drug Administration could represent a giant step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 18 November 2020, BioNtech and Pfizer announced the final results of their COVID-19 vaccine phase 3 clinical trial1. Only a couple of days earlier, Moderna had also revealed the preliminary outcome of their phase 3 study2. With a claimed efficacy in preventing infection of 95% and 94.5%, respectively, BNT162b2 — the vaccine developed by the small German start-up and the giant American pharma — and mRNA-1273 — developed by the Cambridge-based biotech company in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health — are on route to becoming the first prophylactic measures against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Two COVID-19 vaccines that use nanoparticles are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. These vaccines contain a strand of genetic code that provides instructions for building a protein that’s found on the coronavirus. When cells take in this genetic code, they build the protein.
When the immune system sees the protein, it begins building antibodies against it that help the immune system fight the coronavirus. After the body has built up an army of antibodies, it can fight off a COVID-19 infection before it causes disease.
This new class of DNA- and RNA-based vaccines deliver the genetic sequence of specific viral proteins to the host cells using nanotechnology platforms. Traditional vaccines instead trigger immune responses upon injection of entire viruses, either as attenuated live viruses, inactivated viruses or engineered viruses, into the body.   Then the question remains.   Do we surrender to government pressure to vaccinate?  Do we trust science?   They said that when they found th e
 ‘God’ particle that they had all the answers to creation.  Now we are faced with the possibility of extinction by submission.   Can we play God and survive the possible extinction of yet another civilization.  My two cents.   Wait it out a bit more until we start seeing the true essence of  science.  Once proven then make a conscious decision on what you are injecting into your soul.