Ghosting Not Hearing Back is Your Answer

By Nick Kossovan Back in the day, maybe still today, at the end of an audition, Hollywood producers would say, "Don't call us; we'll call you." If you didn't hear back, you didn't get the gig. Not hearing back was your answer. Maybe hiring managers should end their interviews with, "If you don't hear from us by Friday, presume we've moved on to other candidates." I'd prefer to know the interviewer's communication context rather than assuming I'll hear back either way or worse, being told I'll hear back in a few days and not hearing anything. The term ghosting-not hearing back from the company after an interview-was born in the dating world. Recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates are increasingly abruptly ending communication. (Ghosting is happening both ways.) Even though ghosting is considered "unprofessional," I believe it'll eventually be integrated into our social norms, just as many other social norms we accept today were considered unacceptable just a few years ago. Think about all that we accept or tolerate today that weren't accepted or tolerated 20 years ago. I can't recall the last time I wore a tie to an interview, funeral, as a keynote speaker, or meeting with "the powers that be." Visible tattoos aren't frowned upon, and the usage of profanity doesn't raise eyebrows. Today, manners are less pronounced, and people are more prone to being offended, causing everyone to walk around on eggshells, which is why ghosting is increasing. Additionally, a sense of entitlement is prevalent today. Many candidates raised on the idea that "everyone is a winner" react negatively when not chosen. Due to having been verbally bitten several times, it's understandable that employers avoid reaching out to rejected candidates. More than one hiring manager has said to me, "It's easier to not have the conversation than to have it." For better or worse, I'll let you decide. It can't be expected that the downgrading (READ: becoming more casual) of our social mannerisms wouldn't find its way into the workplace. The 20 or 30-something HR manager has an entirely different set of values and definition of what it means to be a professional than the 48-year-old job seeker. Generational clashes are happening. Hiring managers are swamped with applications. Replying to everyone, aside from an automated "We've received your application and will contact you if we feel there's a match," would take more time than they have. Technology one of the reasons recruitment is becoming increasingly discourteous. Here's some straightforward talk: Nobody wants to spend their lifeblood on someone else's business. A person has a job to make a living. For most people, their job is purely transactional. Having a transactional mindset is why movements such as "quiet quitting" and the "F.I.R.E. movement" (Financial Independence, Retire Early), where Gen Z adults extreme save 50% to 75% of their income so they can retire by their 40s or 50s, exist. Therefore, it shouldn't be a surprise that social niceties are being dropped as employers and employees are rapidly moving towards a relationship where each party views the other as a means to an end. Like every job seeker, I've been ghosted. Since I tend to keep my expectations low, sometimes having none, being ghosted has never really bothered me. I'm serious! I don't feel a recruiter or hiring manager owes me a reply after an interview. When I get a follow-up call, which I usually do, it's nice, but it's not something I expect. I attribute my assumption that no one owes me, coupled with my belief that business is never personal, to why I'm motivated to energetically help myself. I believe having the expectation of "I'm owed" is why many job seekers are frustrated with how employers design their hiring process. Most of your job search will involve dealing with strangers who, let's face it, owe you nothing. A fact of life: You can't control someone's behaviour or actions, especially that of a stranger. Acknowledging this fact of life is how you "discipline your disappointment" when someone fails to meet your expectations. Always end your interviews knowing the next step and when to expect to hear back if you're green-lighted to move forward in the hiring process. ("I really enjoyed our conversation. What is the next step, and when can I expect to hear back if I'm selected to move forward?") Once I'm told what to expect, I'll say, "If I don't hear back from you by the end of Friday, I'll presume you've moved on to other candidates." If the get-back-to-you deadline passes, reach out once and then let it go. Some advice I learned in the job search trenches: Always have several pokers in the fire throughout your job search. Don't become dependent on a particular employer offering you a job. Having other job opportunities in your pipeline will help you move on from being ghosted. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

The Wire

By Karrie Lynn Dymond ward 5 City Councillor Hello everyone, my name is Karrie Lynn Dymond. As a new face in municipal politics. I hope to bring you people based type of representation. Representation that matters to you. That impact our daily life in positive and dynamic way. My life experience in the community has given me first hand glimpses at the impact decision have on the daily lives of our citizens. For this reason I am looking forward to becoming your Ward 5 representative. I am really excited as we enter the last 20 days or so of the campaign. My signs are out in full force. Please let me know if you like one. I love to get one out on your front yard. Showing all of Oshawa that you are ready for change. The right kind of change. Change by one of you. A hard working tax payer that knows the value of a dollar earned. I may not have all the answer all the time. But I can assure you that I will work very hard to find them and bring you only results. In the past few years we have had to come to the reality that our country is suffering economically. Normally we would have said. It can never happen here. Canada is one of the richest countries in the world. Well, it appears that we are now facing a very serious problem when it comes to the well being and economics of the average person. More and more are becoming homeless and more and more are going to be hungry every night. I am so excited to start working with council on finding solutions to the homeless and hunger problem. To rid our streets of drugs and assure the safety and happiness of all our citizens. I strongly believe that together we can make great things happen. That if we all do our part we can achieve greatness. For this reason I am humbly asking you to vote. Come out to vote like never before. Your vote has never been more important. Change only come about one vote at a time. I need your vote. The city needs your vote.

Making Headway

A few years ago, I suffered several traumas within the space of a year. My father died, and my mother, out of grief, attempted suicide. The town I live in was hit by severe economic problems, problems so severe most of my friends moved away. I went through a period of extreme neediness without many people around me. The people who were around me, by the way, were also reeling from the loss of many friends. I made an effort to meet new people, but, unfortunately, most of the people who stayed are 15 or 20 years older than me. The only reason I stayed was because I held a good government job, a job I trained many years for and one I was lucky to get. The year all this tumult occurred, I was given a permanent position. I was torn. Personally, I was shattered, while professionally I was flourishing. The last four years have been extremely difficult. The loneliness was unbearable at times, so I took solace in the bottle. I became so concerned about it last spring I called my mom to come and get me. I took leave from work and returned to my hometown. Being around my family and old friends made my desire to seek oblivion disappear. But when I returned here, I again found the loneliness overwhelming. I met a married man, and because he was so kind to me, began an affair. This is the first time I have done anything like this. My ethics have always led me to act with integrity. It's madness, I know, but the pleasure, however stolen, that I get from this man is intense. I'm sure it's driven by loneliness and fantasy. I don't have anyone to confide in, so I guess I'm not asking for advice, just support. I know what I have to do, but I'm scared to be alone again. I'm scared to leave a job I love and return home to look for work. Tess Tess, Gilroy, California bills itself as the "Garlic Capitol of the World." If you drive by the fields during much of the year, the place positively reeks of garlic. If you can't stand the smell of garlic, you can't live in Gilroy. The place where you live is destroying you. Booze, loneliness, and losing your self-esteem threaten the one thing you stayed for. Your job. Your deeper self is sending you a message. You are trying to live in Gilroy, but you are allergic to garlic. Most good things are scary, at least in the beginning. The first day of school, flying for the first time, even simple things like going to a restaurant for the first time, can be scary. But what is the alternative? If there is no opportunity where you are, you need to move. The longer you stay, the harder it will be to start over. Is it scary? Of course, but it's also exhilarating. Will there be difficulties? Of course, but you will move to a place where you have emotional support. The key to a successful, fulfilled life lies in following the impulses from the deepest level of our being. Before we think, before we act, an answer is there. What is it? Before conscious thought intervened, what seemed right? It doesn't matter what the situation is. Intuition listened to and followed makes us strong. You are not asking for advice because you don't need it. You know what to do. When you move your life in the right direction, in time, you get a deep sense of satisfaction. When your life is out of hand, it seems like life is a random collection of events or "one damn thing after another." When you follow what you know is right, in time, it feels like you are being moved by the hand of destiny. Wayne & Tamara Wayne & Tamara are also the authors of Age Difference Relationships, When Is the Gap Insurmountable, available from Amazon, Apple and most booksellers. Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Rake Up the Leaves this Fall

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones What’s the most absurd image of healthy living? It’s a picture of a young woman using a leaf blower to clean up leaves in her yard while wearing ear protection, eye protection, and a mask covering her nose and mouth. The only thing that makes good sense is the mask. It’s the leaf blower that is most offensive. The first offense is the condoning of laziness. A leaf blower nearly eliminates the physical effort needed to clean up the leaves. In the past, we may have looked upon this as a good thing. Less work equals better life. False! Raking up those leaves offers a wonderful cardio workout, in the lovely outdoors, resulting in the satisfaction of a job well done. It’s exercise that can be self-paced. The twisting and bending are nothing but good! The second is environmental. Gas-powered leaf blowers spew pollutants at astounding rates. A remarkable study in 2011 compared a consumer-grade leaf blower to a 6,200-pound Ford F-150. The tests found that a 4-stroke leaf blower emitted “almost seven times more oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 13.5 times more carbon monoxide (CO)" and a 2-stroke leaf blower emitted “23 times CO and nearly 300 times more non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC)” than the pick-up truck. One reporter calculated that the “hydrocarbon emissions from a half-hour of yard work with the two-stroke leaf blower are about the same as a 3,900-mile drive from Texas to Alaska.” Gulp. How about noise pollution? These machines can produce levels between 80-92 decibels (dB), and sometimes over 100 dB for the operators. At a distance of the length of a semi-truck trailer, the noise can still measure over 70 dB. No wonder neighbours get annoyed. Why do dangerously noisy leaf blowers exist? One wisecrack observer noted we allow it “for the same reason that builders made chimneys to be cleaned by starving, frightened orphan boys: it was not yet illegal.” In fact, leaf blowers are banned in some cities and subject to increasing regulation across North America. But the pace of lawmaking is slow. Removing the leaf blower from the scene, what about the mask worn by the woman in the picture? There may be good reason for this. Fallen autumn leaves can be a haven for molds, pollen, and weeds that cause allergies. The plentiful fall pollen of ragweed, for example, travels far and can settle on all those leaves. Leaves dampened by rain or morning dew become a haven for mold. Raking up the leaves can send pollen and mold spores into the air, causing aggravation for asthma sufferers. Dr. Purvi Parikh is an allergist and spokesperson with the Allergy and Asthma Network. “Most people associate allergies with spring, and often fall allergies get mistaken for viruses and other infections due to weather getting cold,” she notes. The distinguishing feature of an allergy is that it does not cause a fever. However, if an allergy leads to a sinus infection, a fever can result. One more thought about those leaves. They are full of nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. These are the ingredients for healthy soil needed by productive gardens, beautiful landscapes, and all the grasses that are home and sources of food to diverse wildlife. To see the picture of good health, look at those falling leaves with anticipation and admiration, not dread. The rake, a pair of gloves, and maybe a mask are the items to use this fall when tidying up the yard. Remember moderation too. Raking leaves can be just as strenuous as shoveling snow. And that’s the next thing! 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

The Reign of Queen Elizabeth The Second

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East The death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8, 2022, marked the beginning of a new era. Her passing at the age of 96 ended the longest reign of a British monarch and what was widely considered to be the second-longest reign of any monarch in world history. In her place, the former heir and Prince of Wales, Charles, has ascended to the throne, taking the title of King Charles III and becoming the fifth royal Head of State of Canada since the Statute of Westminster was enacted in 1931. The Queen's passing set a longstanding plan known as Operation London Bridge into motion, which reportedly saw Buckingham Palace use the cryptic phrase "London Bridge is down" to signal to media and other groups that the inevitable had occurred. Most Canadians have never known a world in which Queen Elizabeth II wasn't their official head of state. News of the longest-serving British monarch's death sent shockwaves of grief across the country. The world in 2022 is unimaginably different from how it was in 1952 in terms of aspirations, standing in the world, sense of identity, and make-up. We're much more cosmopolitan, much more international. And today Canada is a vastly different country from what it was at the beginning of her Majesty's reign. She saw United Kingdom through 70 years of massive change; reduced from a great power to a second-rate power, starting with a great empire, to largely losing that empire. The Queen has seen United Kingdom through a period of stability without revolution or upset on home soil. Personally, she has been a great rallying figure. The Crown is still the point at the centre of the constitution. The death of Queen Elizabeth, the longest reigning monarch in British history, also marks the end of an era for Canada. Queen Elizabeth witnessed the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, the expansion of Canada's social programs in the 1960s, the Quebec referenda in 1980 and 1995, free-trade agreements with the United States and father-and-son prime ministers. In 1982, she signed the proclamation that repatriated the Constitution, ending the role of the British Parliament in Canada's affairs. During her long reign, Canada became dramatically less anglophone and anglophile. Nearly half of Canadians were of British ancestry when she assumed the throne in 1952, but that number had decreased to one-third by 2016 and continues to decline. In the 1950s and early 60s students across English Canada waved the Union Jack, sang the royal anthem ("God Save the Queen"), said the Lord's Prayer and cheered cadet corps dressed in British khaki. Queen Elizabeth saw the replacement of the Union Jack by the Maple Leaf in 1965 when Canada adopted the new flag, and the royal anthem by "O Canada" in 1980. Over seven decades, Elizabeth successfully transitioned from embodying the key traditions and beliefs of many to a warmly regarded, but not particularly significant, figure in the lives of Canadians. She remained personally popular in Canada, although she spent relatively little time (about 200 days) in the country over visits that averaged once every three years. Her dedication to the job as monarch was viewed favourably, as was the absence of scandal in her personal life. She garnered goodwill from Canadians primarily as an individual, not so much as the hereditary head of an institution, while acting as a living link to Canada's days as a colony in the British Empire. Currently, Canada is still a constitutional monarchy. The House of Windsor is our house. Whether people of this country are excited by or supportive of it, this will not change in the short term. The end of the second Elizabethan era will catch us out in moments of unguarded emotion. It will hit us harder than we may expect. It will feel hard to believe. Almost four generations have known no other monarch. On our currency. On the titles of almost everything government-related. In the words of our national anthems. We've watched her grow older and frailer, particularly in the last year. We felt her loss when the Duke of Edinburgh, her husband of 73 years, died last year. We saluted her stoicism in laying him to rest, virtually alone, under strict COVID rules. Many of us marvelled at a lifetime of indefatigable execution of her duties. The Queen's passing will bring about changes affecting the lives of everyday Canadians. Queen Elizabeth II will remain the face of Canada and other Commonwealth nations' currencies in the interim, as mints refrain from pre-emptively designing new coins to depict yet-to-be-crowned monarchs. Those who still use cash can expect to wait at least a couple of years before the newly-crowned monarch appears on Canadian coins. You'll also see new passports issued in the coming years, as countries scramble - and pay generously - to replace the former Queen's royal insignia on all official documents. For now, we remember her. We miss her. The smiles. The hats. The bags. The symbol. The woman. Let us sit with these memories and feel the warmth of them. Then let us think about what comes next.

As a Job Seeker, You Should Have Non-Negotiables

By Nick Kossovan Knowing what you want from your next job, boss, and employer is one of the best ways to boost your job search confidence and earn respect from potential employers. The hiring managers I know don't hire candidates they don't have confidence in or respect. I attribute my having committed myself (READ: created non-negotiables) to only accepting what I want and not accepting what I don't want as the reason I don't chase the wrong jobs and employers. Having non-negotiables is how you know, nearly without hesitation-almost instinctually-what to say "No" to, thus freeing yourself to go after what you do want. An additional benefit of non-negotiables: You know what questions to ask and what clarifications you need. Get what I call determining questions-questions that'll help you decide whether a job is worth pursuing-off the table ASAP. (e.g., during the initial phone screening) Before you begin the recruitment process, make sure the job and employer match your non-negotiables. Within a few minutes of first talking with a recruiter or employer who's contacted me, I'll say something along the lines of, "Before getting into the details of the job, let me ask a few questions to determine if it's a good fit." Then I'll ask questions such as: - What's the budgeted compensation? - What are the benefits, and when do they begin? - Where's the position located, and is there free parking? - What are the expected working hours for this position? - Will I have an office with a door? - What are the call center hours? (I'm in call center management.) Yes, I do ask such questions and several others. Once, a major retailer approached me about managing its call center at its headquarters. Within a few minutes, I asked if the call center manager was expected to work weekends or statutory holidays. The answer was "Yes." After thanking the HR manager for calling, I said I wasn't interested in working weekends or holidays; therefore, the position wouldn't work for me. I saved my time and the HR manager's by asking this question early in the conversation. Other non-negotiables for me include commute distance and free parking. For me, I won't accept an over 15 km commute and/or free parking not being available. Therefore, I get this off the table immediately. If working remotely is one of your non-negotiables, then bring it up ASAP. Continuing to talk with the employer if remote working isn't going to happen is pointless. Obviously, if the job description mentions your non-negotiable will be met, which I presume is why you applied, you don't need to ask, other than maybe to confirm. A shoutout to employers: Writing job postings that answer the most common questions candidates will ask would greatly benefit you. The more details you provide, the better job seekers can self-select-apply or not. Hence, you won't fill your hiring pipeline with candidates who'll walk away halfway through your hiring process because the job doesn't fit their needs. (e.g., compensation isn't as expected) I know the advice I just gave goes against everything you're being told by self-professing job search experts. Having non-negotiables-criteria I decide must exist or must not exist before I will accept an offer-has worked for me during my many job searches, hence my firm belief in having non-negotiables. Without thinking, I walk away when a non-negotiable isn't part of the compensation package, such as dental benefits. Walking away is critical. It's pointless to have non-negotiables if you talk yourself into thinking they're "flexible." If you're non-negotiable is a $75K base salary, don't talk yourself into taking a job with a $68K base because the employer has lunch brought in on Fridays. What makes a person happy in their work life depends heavily on how much time they spend learning what they want and having enough self-respect to pursue it. Many employees are unhappy because they accepted a job, a compensation package, a commute, a boss, or a workplace they didn't really want. I respond to complaints about hours, compensation, benefits, or commute by asking, "Didn't you know this before you took the job?" Unhappy employees are employees who settled. When I meet a candidate for the first time, I can immediately tell if they know what they want from their job and employer. With such candidates, I can cut to the chase and ask, "Other than the obvious, what is it you expect from me?" (Yes, I do ask this question.) We then have an open conversation about whether the company and I can deliver on the candidate's "asks," which is how all interviews should be conducted. Some hard learned advice: Ensure your job offer letter contains all your non-negotiables. Many job seekers tell me of accepting a job and discovering it and/or the workplace was "misrepresented." -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

By Karrie Lynn Dymond ward 5 City Councillor Hello everyone, my name is Karrie Lynn Dymond. As the title reveals I am a ‘Newbie’ to municipal politics. A newbie that is frustrated with watching our city slowly erode while our taxes keep going up. I like you work very hard for my money. I don’t mind spending it and paying my share of taxes. Unfortunately, these sentiments are not being shared by those elected to represent us. It appears that they can spend our tax money on all kinds of things and when their decisions go bad. They do not seem to care and raise taxes. This have become so bad in Oshawa that people are afraid to walk downtown. The homeless issue has hit a fever pitch. It appears at times as that the city is out of control. Look at what is happening to the north of Oshawa. Development has raped prime farm land. Lands that should be preserved and wisely used. This is not leadership. Like the saying goes. “It is not that the plan failed. We just failed to plan”. Case in point in Oshawa. The homeless issue is so bad that we have people living on the street. The drug use is so rampant that the disposal of needles on our streets, parks and ravines have become a serious public health and safety issue. For these and many more issues. I decided to do my part. To step forward and make available my care my passion my love for this great city. I know one thing. I will never waste your tax dollar. I will never support frivolous projects and investments. I am one of you. I care about our city and I am going to work extra hard to make our ward one of the best in Oshawa. We have had the same representation for our ward for way to long. I appreciate the service that the incumbent councillor has extended to the ward. Now it is time to take that lead and make it that much better. To change the image of our ward. To bring developments that will increase property values while consider grandfathering property taxes to alleviate the pinch of property taxes on senior property owners. As your ‘newbie’. I am constantly learning and welcoming suggestions and ideas to better our ward. I may be ‘new’ but I am fully committed to bringing you service and attention that you deserve. I encourage you to contact me at any time. I want to hear from you.

Cutting The Cord

I am of Indian descent and come from a very good family background. A boy from abroad has asked for my hand in marriage, and my parents accepted his offer. We are expected to marry early next year. My parents say I will finally get to love this boy, but in my heart I know I never will. I am madly in love with a boy no one knows about. Our relationship is a secret. I love only him and no one else, and if my parents found out I would be in big, big trouble. If I sat down and talked to my parents, they would explode because they are old-fashioned people. Wayne and Tamara, I love my parents as well as this boy no one knows about. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I don't know who to please. The reason why I write to you is because I think only the two of you could help me. I am 18 years of age, and my parents don't want me to work so I am still a minor. Devi Devi, whether one believes in arranged marriages or not, one thing is clear. Arranged marriage belongs more to the human past than the human future. Slavery was a common feature of the ancient world, but it is an unusual one of the modern world. In the same way, arranged marriage is becoming less common. In marriage, as in other areas, things are moving toward more choice, more freedom, and greater self-determination. Some people argue that arranged marriages are more successful than freely chosen ones, but it is not a fair comparison. Arranged marriage is often enforced by the threat of expulsion from the family, the social group, and the culture. How does a young person stand up against that? To be put in this position in itself means you are now an adult woman, not a minor child. You must make a choice and that choice, though difficult, will give you the solution. But you must be willing and prepared to accept the consequences. The first thing we suggest is don't marry your boyfriend to prevent this forced marriage. He may, or may not, be the right one for you. Then decide whether being pushed into a marriage by your parents is an act of love on their part, or simply the desire to have their own way. Finally, consider what it would mean for a woman to be intimate with a man she does not love. People are more than breeding stock, and going against your parents' wishes doesn't make you a bad child. It is not a reason to disown you, though that may happen. You are simply a woman who needs time, and the freedom, to decide on her own future. Wayne & Tamara Malpractice I am a 32-year-old male, married for five years. My married life has not been happy because I daily regret marrying the woman I married. Even as I said the vows, I knew I was not being honest. Our values and loves are vastly different. Stupid as it sounds, I went through with it. Perhaps as a consequence, I never felt committed and cheated throughout our marriage. I often think we are merely meeting a social expectation by remaining married. I went to a counselor, but ended up having an affair with her. Now I feel I need to find happiness, but have no idea how to end my marriage. Sergio Sergio, you stood at the altar and spoke what you knew to be a lie. You sought counseling as if a counselor could undo this lie. It is poetic justice your counselor proved by her actions she doesn't have one of what she is selling. Both of you need to go back to where you made your first mistake. You to the courthouse. She to her academic advisor. Tamara Wayne & Tamara are also the authors of Age Difference Relationships, When Is the Gap Insurmountable, available from Amazon, Apple and most booksellers. Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Constipation Causes More Trouble Than You Think

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones Now and again, friends confide in friends that they have big problems. Dreaded are the occasions when the problem is a serious medical diagnosis. But when the problem is persistent constipation, it’s better to air the issue and not suffer in silence. Drug store remedies for constipation can fail to have effect. For many sufferers, the ailment involves days without a bowel movement. Ignoring the problem can lead to disturbing complications, to be avoided at all costs. Dr. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, believed we are all living with sub-optimal levels of vitamin C. His primary interest was in studying the effects of high doses of vitamin C in protecting against heart disease. But in an interview with him, he added, “High doses of C also resolve constipation.” It’s a natural remedy for constipation and a sad fact most people, including doctors, are not aware of this A lack of dietary fiber, which holds onto water, sets the stage for constipation. Fiber will change bowel movements from hard rocks to stools as soft as toothpaste. When on a high-fiber diet, if you look in the toilet bowl, you’ll see stools that float. One reader of this my column said it gave her a stiff neck! But she was grateful for the relief provided. So how much vitamin C is required? It depends on bowel tolerance. Vitamin C in high doses will cause diarrhea. So, take 2,000 milligrams (mg) at bedtime. If this doesn’t produce a result take 3,000 mg the following night, and so on. It will eventually have effect. A component of our natural physiology called the gastrocolic reflex also helps to prevent constipation. A high fiber cereal with fruit and a hot tea or coffee stimulates nerves in the stomach to trigger a bowel movement. The great concern with constipation is the possibility of fecal impaction, when a bowel movement becomes impossible. This demands a visit to the hospital emergency room. The solution is an enema and sometimes manual removal of the impacted feces. Having this treatment just once quickly convinces anyone to use high-dose vitamin C and more fiber. Chronic intestinal pressure may cause small hernias to appear in the large bowel. These bowel out-pockets are referred to as diverticulosis and may be present for years without people knowing. For the unlucky, diverticulosis can change to diverticulitis when small particles of food become stuck in one of the hernias. This can cause mild pain and inflammation, usually cured by antibiotics. Or it can be worse and trigger a severe inflammatory reaction causing acute pain and a life-threatening situation requiring an emergency operation and removal of the inflamed bowel. Busy doctors normally don’t spend much time on diagnosis of constipation unless patients complain of this trouble. Circus promoters used to say, “There’s a sucker born every day.” They’re right, as millions of unsuspecting consumers use over-the-counter laxatives which injure the large bowel. So remember, vitamin C is nature’s natural laxative that cannot injure the intestines. It also decreases the risk of overall disease and has a positive effect on cardiovascular problems. Moreover, you cannot overdose with C. It’s a win, win situation. Some worry about kidney stones. The majority of renal stones occur in alkaline urine. But since vitamin C acidifies urine, there’s less chance of this happening. Linus Pauling took 20,000 mg of C daily for years. We take 4,000 mg and 10,000 mg respectively of C daily – and one of us is 98. Are you among those suffering silently from constipation? The natural solution is one of nature’s best kept secrets. 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

RICK KERR DOES NOT SUPPORT LOCAL DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES HE HAS TO GO

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. Nothing irritates me more than an over opinionated, bias, ignorant clown. In case he has admirations to question the defenition of a clown: A clown is a person who wears a unique makeup-face and flamboyant costume, performing comedy and arts in a state of open-mindedness In this case Rick Kerr goes around wearing a unique makeup-face of pretending to be doing something positive for the ward he represents when in reality he has sat on his hands for the past four years. Wearing his flamboyant style costume of saying one thing while doing something else. Performing comedy and arts in a state of open mindeness while pretending to care when in reality he does not care about his ward as he lacks life experience. He has no real active business practice. How is he to relate to the merchants of the core? A downtown ward that has slowly detereorated to a point that people are living on our streets and dieying of overdose almost on a nightly basis. Kerr in my OPINION should not be in office. He had his chance and he failed the people of the core. The people of Oshawa significantly. He failed me as a downtown business owner. He did nothing to combat the homeless situation. The crime. The drug trade. He is so bound by creating a culture hub that he missed the boat on the real issues impacting the core. But he is not alone. His partner in crime. Derek Giberson both sat on their hands and failed the people of the core while collecting our tax dollars as wages. I called him the other day to ask him about an ad I had seen on a third rate magazine that only publishes 1,500 copies and has no real distribution. I was concerned over the fact that the publishers are using the Rotary good name as a commercial tool for profit. My call was out of concern.... as he is always broke and claims he does not self promote. At least not with his own money. In conversation I asked him why would he waste his limited money on a publication that has no readership or distribution. Then he disclosed.... that he did not support the and personally wanted to be alligned with some of the editorial content in this newspaper. So in other words if he personally is bias, prejudice towards a downtown business, a business that has served Oshawa and Durham region for over 27 years. He can practice the bias and prejudice. I then informed him that he is supposed to champion local businesses. I asked him if this is how he made decisions at city hall. If he has such poor judgement and practices such bias and prejudice. Is he fit to spend tax payers dollars? Further more. As a community leader you are not to judge but to assist all local business. Your job is to assure the well being of your community. Not to play judge and jury, pick and choose. Based on bias(prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.), prejudice(preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience wrongful opinion.) Opinion that he has no professional qualification to be passing. He basically decides on personal prejudice. This is why our city is broken. Let’s take it back in 2022 Let’s get rid of the circus these clowns have created out of our great City.

Pierre Poilievre's leadership win and the Conservative Party of Canada

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East The leadership race is over and a new leader is guiding the Conservative Party of Canada. I believe that in Pierre Poilievre, the Party has chosen a winner. A Conservative Party in search of its soul needs a young, energetic person with plenty of political experience, and in Pierre Poilievre they finally have one. With his sixty-eight per cent decisive victory on the first ballot in the federal Conservatives' leadership race, the party now has a generational opportunity to radically reimagine what Conservative policies could be palatable to the Canadian public. "Tonight we begin the journey to replace an old government that costs you more and delivers less with a new government," Pierre Poilievre told hundreds of cheering Conservatives at a downtown Ottawa convention centre on September 10th when the results were announced. To his rivals' supporters, he said "I open my arms to you. Now today, we are one party serving one country." Pierre Poilievre's victory sets the stage for him to take on the Liberal government when the House of Commons reconvenes later this month. He ran a brilliant campaign that included promises to make Canadians the "freest people on Earth," fire the Governor of the Bank of Canada as part of a bid to deal with inflation, cut funding to the CBC and endorse cryptocurrencies. He also challenged what he called "gatekeepers" such as politicians, bureaucrats and agencies he accused of stifling the potential of Canadians. Late in the campaign, he promised that if he became prime minister, he would enact a "plain-language law" to require government to publish information in straightforward language. Now in his seventh term as an MP, Pierre Poilievre entered the leadership race with a video statement in which he said "governments have gotten big and bossy," and that COVID-19 has been a "political opportunity" for the Liberal government to attack small businesses, truckers and other Canadians. "Trudeau thinks he's your boss. He's got it backwards. You're the boss," he said. "That's why I am running for prime minister, to put you back in charge of your life. Our destination is a Canada where the government is servant, not master." During the campaign, Pierre Poilievre was endorsed by Mr. Harper - the first such endorsement the former prime minister has given in a leadership race since his government was defeated in 2015. Noting Pierre Poilievre's decision to run for the Conservative Party leadership, I was convinced that he would win and would re-establish the grassroots conservative values of the party so badly trampled by the two previous leaders. This conviction lead me to make a difficult personal decision in resigning from the Peoples Party of Canada (PPC) and rejoining the Conservative Party, because I found most of the ideas advocated by the PPC in Pierre's platform. Having known him for four and a half years as a colleague in the House of Commons, I was convinced that he would pursue these ideas with tenacity and would not be another weathervane leader. Pierre Poilievre, 43, was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004. Under Stephen Harper he served in cabinet as democratic reform minister and employment and social-development minister. More recently, he was the finance critic for the Conservative Party, pressing the Liberal government on inflation - an issue that was central to his leadership campaign. Pierre Poilievre's campaign featured rallies across Canada attended by large crowds. Midway through, his team announced that it had signed up about 311,000 members. This figure came out as the party announced that overall membership had grown to 678,702 from about 160,000, when the race began. In Pierre Poilievre, the federal Conservative Party of Canada has found its most effective, electable leader since Stephen Harper. Someone who may defeat Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the next general election and relegate the federal Liberal Party to the political sidelines. While one may be ambivalent about Pierre Poilievre's victory, it must be acknowledged that his straight-ahead march to his party's leadership was singularly impressive. In fact, it was one of the most masterful leadership bids in recent Canadian history. Pierre Poilievre's overwhelming victory gives him total control over his party and caucus. There is no dispute about who is in charge, something a couple of his predecessors (see Andrew Scheer and Erin O'Toole) could never claim. This will allow him to focus on his primary task: preparing to defeat Mr. Trudeau in the next election. He is a gifted communicator in both of the country's official languages. Many of the short, four-to-five minute videos he posted during his campaign were brilliant. One on the cost of housing in Canada was talked about for weeks. While some of his most successful campaign talking points - the government's failure to effectively run airports and passport offices, the waste of time that is the ArriveCAN app, the infringement on "personal freedoms" that vaccine mandates pose - are not likely to be viable targets when the next election is held, other issues he focused on during his leadership run continue to fester. When Pierre Poilievre zeros in on pocketbook issues, the Liberals know that the high cost of everything is not a problem likely to disappear in the near term. The mountainous debt the Liberals have racked up is not going to disappear before the next election either. These issues provide a feast Pierre Poilievre can dine on for some time. Pierre Poilievre also has a not-so-secret weapon in his wife, Anaida, who introduced herself, and her husband, after his victory was declared. Born in Venezuela, she tells a compelling story about her family's immigration to Canada, where they started with nothing. She can describe the journey in three different languages. She is not shy of a microphone and seems like a natural campaigner. It's not difficult to imagine Pierre Poilievre appealing to the immigrant vote with her help. Pierre Poilievre has his own unique story to tell as well. The son of an unwed teenaged mother who gave him up, he was adopted by a couple of French Canadian school teachers from Saskatchewan. So the Conservative Leader's upbringing stands in stark contrast to the silver-spoon childhood of the current Prime Minister, a fact voters are sure to be reminded of. Having a French-sounding name will not hurt him in Quebec, nor will his fluency in French. In fact, it will be an enormous advantage during the French election debate. His wife having grown up in working class Montreal and speaking fluent French also helps. This is not Andrew Scheer the Liberals will be facing. While a lot can happen between now and the next election, as things stand, Pierre Poilievre represents the best chance of regaining power the Conservatives have had in a long, long time. Best of luck Pierre! Bonne chance, Pierre!

Can Hardly Wait

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. I must say that I can hardly wait to be elected. After meeting with many ward residents, I feel excited to have the opportunity to serve. My drive to serve comes from seeing the quality of life not only in our ward but in Oshawa slowly decline. This as a young person it concerns me. I want to feel safe walking down our streets. Not to worry about being assaulted by petty criminals. I don’t want to worry about walking parks and constantly having to look down due to discarded drug paraphernalia. I want a clean and healthy Oshawa. Some day I plan on raising a family and the way things look today. I am concerned and scared. I am also concerned over development. The costs of homes and the run away development of these complexes. It is time to take control of the over development and consider other alternatives. Such as high rise. Less use of land and maximum capacity. As a young candidate I bring fresh and innovative ideas. Ideas that will transform Oshawa from what it is to what it could be. I heard someone say that Oshawa use to be the crown jewel of Durham. Today, our luster appears to have tarnished. Our relation to the Region need to be strengthen as the opportunities and prosperity are awaiting for us to have a vision. A vision that requires new educated minds. I do not profess to have all the answers, but I can assure you I will do my best to find them for all of us. I also am looking so forward once in office to listening and addressing all of your concerns. I keep hearing time and time again that many constituents have called the city and no response. This is wrong. Councillors work for the taxpayers and as such it should be our primary duty to stay in touch with each one of the callers. No excuses. I vow to bring municipal government back to the people of Oshawa. I vow to assure that everyone has a voice and a way to air concerns. Without public input we can’t gage the need of the community. We need to have everyone take part in the decision process and the new vision for Oshawa. Oshawa and ward 1 are my home. As such my interest runs deep. I am running not for me. I am running for us and future generations. We the youth want to contribute to our future. Please consider me as your new representative. I promise not to let you down and repeat the mistakes of previous councillors.

FRIENDS TODAY ENEMY TOMORROW

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 people today? I remember a time when deals were closed on a handshake. A promise meant your honor was on the line. That your word was gold. A friendship, a bond that is anchored in your heart and soul. Something that is respected, honored and valued. Something that under no circumstance be compromised. Much like family. It is a life long bond. A relationship rooted in blood and genetics. Friendships are an extension of that sacred bond. I remember the pride in men knowing that they honored family and friends. A bond that mandated reciprocation. A bond that made society the great place it was. I say was because today. Society is compromised. Your friends today are nothing but out for themselves and not true friends. Running in this election this finding is so much so. Those I thought to be friends. Turned out to compromise that bond. Those that came around when they needed something. Now shun away. What is wrong with people today. Now, for those that are truly my friends I can count them on a single hand. I thank the God’s that there are still men and women of integrity, honor and valor. People that are human beings and respectful towards one another. I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO

All Jobs Are a 'Means to an End'

By Nick Kossovan All jobs are a means to an end, which is why all jobs have one thing in common-they come with a paycheck. Suppose I'm hungry and want a cheeseburger and onion rings. To achieve my goal, I drive to Harvey's and order their angus burger with cheese and bacon and a side order of onion rings. In this scenario, eating the cheeseburger and onion rings is my "end" goal. I'm doing everything else, getting in my car, driving, etc. to get a cheeseburger and onion rings. These activities are the "means," the things I must do to achieve my end goal. A means is a conditional act. I use several means to reach my cheeseburger end goal-driving to Harvey's, walking up to the counter, etc. An end goal is something that's desired for its own sake. Our decisions and behaviours are driven by it. A company without medical benefits wouldn't be suitable if one of your end goals is to maintain your health. All the activities (means) associated with a job, from waking up, commuting, dealing with annoying colleagues, to performing all the tasks required to do your job, lead to one goal (end): Making money. "Necessities of life" (READ: end goals) have greatly expanded since the mid-70s. Canadians now "need" (READ: feel entitled to) the latest iPhone, eat out three times a week, vacation in Mexico, two cars, a 64" Smart TV, bottled water, buying Starbucks coffee which can be made at home for 20 cents. We're not tethered to our employer, which many say, as if work isn't voluntary, is exploiting them. Instead, we're tethered to consumerism and always wanting more, thus constantly chasing more money. How many people in a Starbucks line have little or nothing saved for retirement? It never ceases to amaze me how much stuff some people accumulate while oscillating between lower middle class and upper middle class-cars, boats, motorhomes, jet skis, etc. The bottom line: When you buy stuff, you're told you need, you're creating your own exploitation. Employees aren't exploited by their employers. Employees exploit themselves when they feel they must have what marketing propaganda tells them they "must have." We're exploiting ourselves for a Starbucks, an iPhone, eating out, travelling, a leased car, an oversize house, a designer "whatever," you know, spending money trying to look rich. I've never encountered a boss who was unhappy with an employee going into debt. Indebted employees are less likely to leave. Regarding a job, what are your end goals other than "make money"? Why do you need to make as much money as you'd like to make? Do your whys stem from your ego or financial prudence? Ego-driven end goals: - Buy a car, sailboat, or cottage. - Every week eat at the best steakhouse in town. - Take your spouse on a trip of a lifetime for her 45th birthday. - Get the latest electronic gadgets. Ego-driven goals aren't about meeting your actual needs but about appearing "successful." Financially prudent driven end goals: - Save as much money as possible for retirement. - Pay off your mortgage before the age of 55. - Build an emergency fund that'll cover 6 months of your expenses - Eliminate any debt you may have. (e.g., student loan, car, credit cards) Financially prudent goals lead to building equity and wealth, early retirement and being able to pursue your passions, and less stress during inevitable job losses. Some of the happiest people I've met, and know, see their job as little more than a paycheck. As far as they're concerned, their job is nothing more than a means to achieve their end goals. They don't identify themselves with their job, and more importantly, they don't define success based on their boss's opinion. They define success as making it to the next paycheck. Defining success doesn't get much simpler than this. In contrast, I find that those who are the most stressed, frustrated, and unhappy expect fulfillment from their job. Their boss's praise and recognition are important to them. They believe their work alone should be rewarded with raises and promotions while ignoring that being likeable and successfully navigating office politics is how careers advance. It may seem noble to remain loyal to your employer. However, I believe being loyal to financially prudent end goals are much more practical, especially when jobs are precarious. During the pandemic, we saw how quickly jobs can disappear. Ask yourself these 4 questions: 1. What are my end goals? 2. Are my end goals ego-driven or financially prudent drive? (It's healthy to have a few ego-driven end goals.) 3. Are my end goals causing me undue stress? 4. Can I achieve my goals with the jobs I'm going after? Here's some advice I learned the hard way: The wrong end goals cause you to chase the wrong employers. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

DOBA WHO ARE THY MYSTERIOUS 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. No one will disrespect me in my house or backyard. No one will hurt my family and all those that I love. With this said. I take every downtown business owner as my family. The citizens of Oshawa that I love I vow to stand before you and anyone attempting to bring you harm or hardship. As our house our City is our home and pride. My/Our backyard is our downtown, our lake front and our airport. We are a blessed population with the unfortunate tempest of no leadership and a municipal government that has lost touch with citizens needs. With this said, I put a STRONG warning to all merchants of the downtown core over the development of a handful renegade downtown merchants that have taken upon themselves to attempt to deceive us, mislead us and in the long run bring us economic hardship. The group in question goes about calling themselves DOBA or Downtown Oshawa Business Alliance. A group made up of a handful of downtown restauranters that claim to represent the downtown cores best interest. WRONG THEY DO NOT REPRESENT MINE. And I am sure not yours also. Most of the 70 members of the successful INGINO shop local initiative have never heard of them. So who are they and why are they all of a sudden before an election coming out? In my opinion I strongly believe that these folk are attempting to mislead city hall by claiming they represent the best interest of the merchants of the core. I CAN TELL YOU. THEY DO NOT REPRESENT MY BEST INTEREST. I say this because for the past four weeks I been putting calls in to DOBA and no one had the decency to call back. I am the editor of the largest and oldest independent newspaper with the most successful shop local program in the history of Oshawa. You would think DOBA would want to align themselves with such a success story. No instead they work in the shadows and sneak and hide. According to sources DOBA has applied for a NOT FOR PROFIT status in which they have to wait a year for it to mature and start operating as such. DOBA has not yet completed one year. Therefore they are going about asking for local donation on their web site. A web site that has no mention of membership, directors and or contact number. A web page full of cliche and irrelevant information. Once DOBA’s year come due and they can openly utilize the special status of NOT FOR PROFIT. You can bet your bottom dollar that they will approach the city and claim that they have a right to the same funding as the debunked BIA had. Now remember. The BIA was destroyed by Rick Kerr local councillor inability to think outside the box and the fact that the BIA was demanding an extra $100,000. from the city. The BIA wanted to increase the levy and the merchants fought back. The BIA lost. This new DOBA in my opinion will do little or nothing for the core and will assure that all their so called ghost administrative members get a hefty salary. COME ON PEOPLE... WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU DOBA. If you truly cared about the downtown core you would not be so underhanded. So disrespectful. Let me send you a message through this column and I know every one of the handful of members of DOBA will read it. START OVER: Actually send and invite to all downtown business owners to attend a special downtown meeting. And not some fictitious email. Actual go to their front door and ask them to attend. Every single one. Not pick and choose. Not your friends or your friends, friends as DOBA has done up to now. EVERYONE. Once you have that list and you meet ask the merchants what their needs are. NOT WHAT YOU WANT OR WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOUR OWN BUSINESS. Then from those that attend. Have all of them be part of the decision process. No Chair. No secretary baloney. No one gets paid. no reenumeration should ever be considered. Once you have this nuclei... and only then. You can call yourself a representative of the core. Personally. I will not be insulted and disrespected in my own back yard. I know other local merchants feel the same. I am bringing this to light because I care about those merchants of the core. I do not want them to suffer and or have to close their businesses due to hefty levy to support scoundrels that operate in the shadows. DOBA needs to learn a little respect. A little about what businesses really need and want for our core. DOBA is and has in it’s short life disrespected those they want to represent. DOBA just this past week on their once again sketchy Facebook page posted and insulting and attacking ‘City of Oshawa Report Card’. Really!!! Who voted on the issues they claim? What statistical numbers are they presenting that are backed by hard core data? I read it and it is a blatant attack on the two current councillors. It is an attack against the city of Oshawa staff. Very disrespectful towards staff. It is not Staff fault that they have no leadership. No direction. To me it is a disgraceful attempt to attack to councillors. I am surprised that they are not attacking the mayor as he is responsible for his lack of leadership. His lack of vision. No mention of Carter... Why? Because this is the same group that will eventually support Carter in this election in turn get funding from the city. What a coincidence that this same group will be hosting a meet and greet across from Carter's campaign office. DOBA has no creditability and by posting this ‘REPORT CARD’ has further proven the bias, prejudice and slant they employ. DOBA - prove me wrong. If you truly care about the core. CALL ME. Introduce yourself. Prove me wrong. We are the City paper and a prominent downtown business. 905-441-2657 Merchants I will keep you posted.

Economy, Inflation, Travel woes, World politics - the hot political issues this fall.

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As parliament is due to start its fall session on September 19, the Liberals and Conservatives are headed for a showdown in Ottawa over the hottest political files of the summer. Both parties are making plans to prioritize issues like economy, inflation, world politics and travel woes. After a summer of scrutiny over chaos at airports and passport offices, continued economic pressure on families due to inflation and the subsequent rising cost of living, and the Ukraine Russia war which drags on, it is expected to be an ugly and edgy House of Commons this fall. I anticipate this to be the case especially if Conservative leadership frontrunner Pierre Poilievre wins on Sept. 10. The long-time MP who always does his homework, may be best placed to come out on top once all ballots are counted next week. He has been doggedly going after the Liberals throughout the race over these issues at campaign stops and in highly circulated social media videos. Such a fresh face at the helm of the Official Opposition would put pressure on the Liberals when it comes to these hot-button issues. About time, too, because the Liberals seem somewhat detached from the worries of Canadians when it comes to the worsening economy, the increasing cost of living, the deterioration of heath care and the disregard for the travel woes of people who have suffered a long isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic and deserve a worry-free vacation. I am convinced that after the loss of two elections in two years the Conservative Party of Canada will have learned from its past mistakes. After two failed leaders they will concentrate seriously on defeating the governing Liberals and choose the right leader this time. In focusing on issues bordering on fantasy land the Liberals seem to have lost touch with the pressing realties of everyday Canadians. Their power-preserving deal with the NDP is leading the Liberals into embracing more costly projects the country cannot afford. I'm curious to see on how the Liberal government approaches these issues in the fall. Their habit of printing money, and giving away money we do not have internationally, without accountability, will hopefully be scrutinized. For the record. inflation is a growing concern for all economic observers. The recent surge in inflation is being driven by soaring energy prices, a resounding demand for recently reopened services, supply chain problems, container shortages and labor shortages. Current inflationary pressures seem to be lasting longer than anticipated. The rise in the inflation rate increases financing costs and will have a debilitating effect on the economy unless dealt with effectively. Canada may not be in an official recession right now but with inflation taking a harsh bite out of every personal, and every business budget, the economy is in turmoil. No matter where Canadians turn, there is no reprieve; housing is more expensive, driving a car is more expensive, food is more expensive. Right now, many Canadian households are trying to adjust their budgets, cutting costs where they can in order to keep up with their monthly bills. But as the cost of living continues to rise - it's likely to get worse before it gets better - households will have to make increasingly difficult choices about what to cut, and could find themselves piling on debt to make ends meet. With inflation nearing a 40-year high, there is mounting pressure for more aggressive interest rate hikes to tame inflation. Canadians who are not financially prepared to absorb future interest rate increases will soon find themselves in financial trouble, as they become unable to manage the increasing costs of their debt repayments. As the Bank of Canada is still poised to raise the interest rate aggressively this week, despite the drop in the inflation rate, this action will create a real problem for people engaged in financial responsibilities to the edge of their income. "Inflation in Canada has come down a little, but it remains far too high," Tiif Macklem the Bank of Canada Governor said. "We know our job is not done yet - it won't be done until inflation gets back to the two per cent target." Some of Canada's major banks are forecasting the central bank will raise the key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point, bringing it to 3.25 per cent. Higher interest rates feed into higher lending rates across the economy, making it more expensive for Canadians and businesses to borrow money. The central bank is hoping that by increasing the cost of debt, spending in the economy will slow and inflation will cool. However, senior economist David Macdonald at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives warns that the rapid pace of the hikes could have serious repercussions because of the high levels of business and household debt, and I tend to agree with him. "What I really wanted to bring out in this analysis was the fact that private sector debt is much higher today than it was in the 1980s and 1990s and previous times that we've seen this kind of rapid rate increase," said Macdonald. "And why this matters, of course, is that it's not just the interest rate that matters, the interest rate is charged on something. It's charged on private sector debt." In an interesting proposal, Macdonald has been calling for alternative solutions to cool inflation, using federal government rather than central bank policy. I mention this, because the so called independent national bank systems such as the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the Federal Reserve systems (FED) in the United States etc. are all intertwined with the Bank of International Settlements (BIS). In fact they are anything but independent and they represent a globalist intention rather than national interests. Wouldn't it make more sense that all institutions dealing with the well-being of people be under the responsibility of the government elected by the people rather than under some out of control international entities whose priorities do not necessarily coincide with national interests? So here is something to consider: it is not just that high inflation that is bad, but reducing high inflation back down to low inflation hurts a lot.

Preventing Over Development

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. I want to bring municipal government back to the people. I have heard from many of you the hardships of getting anything done or even a phone call from the current councillors. My heart goes out to all of you that are left waiting. I can assure you that when I am elected to office. Your phone calls will be priority one. Your concerns will be at the top of my agenda. If I can’t find an answer or solution I will assure to consult with my colleagues and get the result you require. A real concern for many is the rapid development happening north bound. This type of development needs to be revived. We can’t get into allowing our prime farm lands to be abused in such way. Many of these homes are erected out of a cement foundation by two by fours and plywood. Many of these homes do not even have basements. It appears that people are purchasing over priced motor home type of housing. I have grave concern over this type of development. On the first, it is wasting prime land to build what in my opinion is nothing short of future ghetto. As a responsible member of council I will look to assure that any development brings property values up not down. Furthermore, I do not believe that the municipality should be left to deal with the aftermath of the sale of these home to individuals. Individuals that are purchasing these properties have no clue what they are purchasing paying top dollar and expecting unrealistic services. We must address this huge problem and we must assure that these developments don’t leave us with millions in social problems in the long run. I also strongly believe that the existing neighborhoods, hamlets and pockets of development that have been around for hundred of years are protected and not become an obstacle for future developers. Our community is the last frontier before we are amalgamated with Port Perry. We need to maintain that distinctive country culture and atmosphere. I know that for many farmers the sale of the land assures them a comfortable retirement. We must not be selfish in our development and our lands. We must think of future generations and what the future will look in years to come. We must consider building up instead of further north. We must seriously entertain high rise development with the emphasis on affordability. We as a city should be able to negotiate with a land owner and have City own high rise with controlled rent and prescribed standards. It is not about giving things away. Instead it is about finding ways to accommodate the need of our people in a controlled fashion. I am that person to assure quality life for all citizens.

WarD 1 your vote counts

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. As a hard working Canadian. I am asking everyone to please go out and vote. Your vote matters and it never matter so much as now. I don’t say this out of selfish interest. I say it out of passion for our community. Current council needs a good shake up. Our ward has been under represented. Our current regional councillor has served for way to long. It is time to make a change. I do not profess to have all the answers but I surely will work hard to get them. I will work hard to help every citizen in my ward. I will utilize the same principles I utilize when I was in business. I will treat our tax dollar with the same care and yield the same benefits. I will assure that waste is eliminated and that our services and quality of life exceed our expectations. From roads to infrastructure. From development control to the creation of new opportunities. From the welcoming of new industry to tourism. Our Oshawa is on the eve of great things. It can’t happen without your help. We need you to come out and vote. Make a difference. If not for you for your children and future generations to come. See you at the polling stations. I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO

Are You Job Seeker #1 or Job Seeker #2?

By Nick Kossovan Job seekers fall into two categories: - Reactive - Proactive Reactive: Gets rejected and gives up on the company. Proactive: Gets rejected, thanks the person who rejected them and continues to build a relationship with the company. Reactive job seekers look for a job passively, applying only to jobs they believe they have a chance of getting. They're reacting (applying) to positions posted on job boards and company websites. As I've mentioned in previous columns: Applying to a job posting is hoping a stranger will choose you over hundreds, if not thousands, of other equally qualified candidates, which is equivalent to playing the lottery. Reactive job seekers are lazily looking for a job. This is why they clash with the employer's hiring process, blame it for not accommodating them, and conveniently ignore the fact employers own their hiring process, not job seekers. Therefore, reactive job seekers tend to have a longer job search and settle for whatever job they get "that'll do." Reactive: Applies for jobs and waits for (hoping) responses. Proactive: Connects with employers. In contrast, proactive job seekers take control of their job search; they adopt the mindset of a hunter. They hunt for opportunities before the opportunity appears on a job board or the company website becoming public knowledge and attracting candidates they'll have to compete with. They accomplished this by networking with hiring decision-makers, thus gaining access to the hidden job market, which I'm sure you're aware of. Often, jobs in hidden markets result in you being the only applicant considered, or maybe one of five. Compare those odds to being one of 500 candidates an online job posting will attract. As my column readers know, successful job searching involves focusing on activities that increase your chances of getting a "Yes!" Proactive job seekers land the coveted jobs-the jobs you wish you could get-that align with their career goals and meet all their needs and wants. Reactive: Criticizes the hiring process for not giving them a "fair" chance. (Believes they're owed a job.) Proactive: Acknowledges that the employer's hiring process is what it is and thinks of ways to stand out. The difference between reactive and proactive job seekers has nothing to do with degrees, skills, or experience. The difference is their mindset. A proactive job seeker sets their expectations based on reality, a reactive job seeker on how they wish the world would be. Choosing your mindset is entirely up to you. I assume you'd choose the mindset of a proactive job seeker. Reactive: When told they lack experience, complain they can't get it without being hired. Proactive: Rather than expecting others to give them experience, they create their own. Here are a few ways proactive job seekers hunt for employment opportunities before they become public knowledge: - They reach out to companies they want to work for. On LinkedIn, connect with current employees and decision-makers. Ask your network (Proactive job seekers understand that constantly networking is crucial.) if they know anyone at your target company and ask for an introduction. - They ask for information. People love to talk about themselves, especially their successes, so get over being afraid to ask someone in a position you aim to one day be in for career advice. Ask them how they became successful in their role, how they got where they are, and what advice they'd give someone aspiring to be in their shoes. Besides talking about themselves, people love to give advice. (Guilty as charged.) The things you'll learn if you just ask will surprise you. If you've convinced yourself you're an "introvert" and asking the above-mentioned questions over the phone or over coffee makes your heart race, then ask them if you can email them three questions. TIP: Always take career advice from someone who's been in the trenches-who's been there, done that. (I love career war stories.) - They create a targeted direct-mail campaign. Create a list of all the companies you're interested in working for in your area. Research, the decision maker(s) in each company. (HINT: This isn't the HR Manager.) Then email them a value proposition letter selling the decision maker why you'd be a valuable asset to their company and attach your resume. Use your past achievements to emphasize value. Make it easy for employers to envision what tangible results they'll get by hiring you. Reactive: Sends 10 networking emails, doesn't hear back, says networking doesn't work. Proactive: Sends 10 networking emails, doesn't hear back, follows up (calls) and sends 10 more. Proactive job seekers are proactive in finding their next employment opportunity instead of waiting for opportunities to present themselves. Besides being more empowering and less frustrating, it also results in more interviews and offers in less time. Lastly, people adopt a proactive mindset for a reason: They believe in themselves. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

Growing Up

I am interested in understanding the behavior of our 26-year-old son. Our son wants to socialize most of the time doing activities he finds enjoyable, such as skateboarding, spinning records, and visiting his buddies. He has finished secondary school, made a sad attempt at college, and run away from home. After much discussion, questions, and listening for the hundredth time, we all agreed going into the Navy might help. However, he was rejected because marijuana was found in his system. We all agreed on a try at vocational college as they offered subjects he found interesting and he felt he could finish this. It lasted about one year. When he applied himself he got great grades, but he soon lost all motivation. Living away from home he ran up a lot of debt, could not keep a job, and avoided his family for months. At present he is back home. He found a full-time job which is now less than 20 hours a week, as the new company is not doing well. My husband and I have supported our son monetarily and emotionally, but we are depressed and lost for direction about how to help a very special young man. Phyllis Phyllis, because your son is 26 you want to treat him as an adult. In reality, you are bearing his responsibilities, much as you did when he was 16. You fear he may disappear from your life, or even do something so reckless as to endanger his own. He is using his actions to control you. He has a knack for failing outright or sabotaging attempts to make him self-sufficient. He has a talent for burdening others with his life. The reason you pay taxes is because there are repercussions. There is a known, set date when it must be done. Your son has no known, set dates for doing anything and no repercussions for failing. Many children need and appreciate a firm hand. When they succeed, they reap the benefits of pride and accomplishment. Determine reasonable goals for your son, like full-time employment and contributing to household expenses and chores. What you agree on together needs completion dates and penalties if deadlines are not met. When a capable adult child lives at home, he lives under your rules. He is not a guest. Each of us feels depressed when a basic element of life is out of our control. Take back the authority in your home. Being responsible for ourselves is part of life. You had to do it. We had to do it. Everyone has to do it. So, of course, your son has to do it. Wayne & Tamara The Wrong Approach I have been dating Kitty for seven months. We were chatting a while ago, and I asked her if she thought I was too nice. I mentioned some women think nice guys are lame. Kitty said I'm not lame, but she wouldn't mind a little more assertiveness. I enjoy giving her massages, stroking her hair, and buying her things, but she doesn't make me feel appreciated. Kitty says she wants to be more accepting of me, but I have no idea how she really feels. Should I tone down my niceness? Judd Judd, stepping out of a role creates problems. For example, when a mom acts like a waitress and maid to her kids, her kids will treat her like their waitress and maid. You sense this relationship is slipping away from you. Why? Because if a man doesn't act like a man, he doesn't trigger those feelings in a woman that make her respond to him as a man. You can't make a woman's heart race by acting like her handmaiden. Sometimes guys ask us why women go for the bad boys. The answer is because at least they act like boys. Don't be bad, but act like her boyfriend. Tamara Wayne & Tamara are also the authors of Age Difference Relationships, When Is the Gap Insurmountable, available from Amazon, Apple and most booksellers. Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

A Windfall of Science on Apples

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones We write about natural remedies we believe are good for human health. Why this focus? It’s not to encourage avoidance of pharmaceutical drugs when medical care is an imperative. To the contrary, Canadians and Americans have the luxury of the world’s best doctors, medicinal drugs, and healthcare facilities. But health systems are overwhelmed. To ease the crush, people who are not yet ill should take up responsibility to stay healthy. Good health is not achieved through inaction. Live a poor lifestyle and illness will come as sure as night follows day. But the talents of doctors and the cure of drugs are best reserved for the unlucky who lose the health lottery. For young people and the healthy aging population, a proactive, protective stance should be the default position. What better way to achieve this than by adopting natural approaches? Let’s take a classic example: the hearty apple. It’s long been said, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. References can be found as far back as Plato! But what does the modern scientific community have to say about apples? It might stun you to know that scientists have published over 65,700 articles on apples in the past 50 years, available on the peer-reviewed scientific database, Scopus. The National Institutes of Health in the U.S. houses a massive open-source repository of research in its National Library of Medicine. Since 1997, using the web address PubMed.gov, anyone can search the database. The scientific consensus is clear. Apples contain a lot of good things. First, they are packed with macronutrients including sugars, fibers, pectin, fat and proteins. They contain malic and citric acids, which are organic acids required for health digestion. The have C, E, and B-complex vitamins. And they have minerals such as potassium, calcium, nitrogen, and magnesium. Scientists are now exploring fascinating new dimensions of nutrition and food. For example, let’s look at the phytochemical compounds in apples, called polyphenols, known predominantly for their antioxidant qualities. So far, in 2022, it was easy to find nearly 100 studies published by scientists around the world investigating the properties of apple polyphenols. Twenty years ago, only 13 such studies were published. Collectively between 2002 and today, PubMed provides access to over one thousand studies on apple polyphenols. Don’t let anyone tell you that natural products are not being researched! What are some of the findings? Several studies have shown that apple polyphenols can reduce body weight and inflammation. But a new study on mice has demonstrated that apple polyphenols prevent loss of bone mass induced by obesity, which has potential implications for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related osteoporosis. Other studies are exploring whether the addition of apple polyphenols to cured and smoked meats like bacon, can help reduce carcinogenic risks. The idea is to use natural antioxidants to reduce oxidation and nitrite additives in processed meats to improve safety. Still other studies are looking at how apple polyphenols perform in the digestive systems of adults as compared to aging seniors. They have found that as people age, their digestive systems fail to absorb the benefits of some foods. This means we should pay close attention to supplements offering improved bioaccessibility of key nutrients. If an apple a day is not your thing, you might be surprised to learn that supplements offer a convenient alternative packed with health benefits. The polyphenol content of young apples found in supplements can be ten times higher than in the fresh fruit found in grocery stores. Look for ApplePhenon as an ingredient. Here’s to your health this apple season and all year long! 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