Spot the Problems: Political Edition*

Source: Andrew Davidson, CBC News, Last Updated: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 | 1:19 AM ET





*I mean besides the fact that the Tories were re-elected. ZING!
What an appropriate beginning for the newly re-elected government. This shall not bode well.

Spot the Problems

I subscribe to a free service that texts the scores of games of any team or sport I want. With the new NHL season, I needed to make some adjustments to my account. This is what I came across:

Regina in Pictures

Beautiful pictures of a beautiful city, blog updated nearly daily.

Women in Sciences Unite!

In a follow up to me complaining about feeling lonely at the university, Since the beginning of the school year I have gotten to know a couple females from my classes. Two of them are in my Physics class and it really is more of a mentoring role I have. One of the girls told me that it is nice to talk to a female when you need help.

There is another girl from one a math class that we are trying to coordinate schedules to study for a midterm together. Our class has 10 people -- 8 males, 2 females. We are both used to being the only females in classes like that so it is a little refreshing. Us two girls plus a male friend who I worked with over the summer are the only ones who understand what is going on in that class. He doesn't say anything in class so to the other students it looks like only the girls know what is going on -- kind of amusing. I kind of avoided her because of a bad first impression. She came up to me on the first class and said "Hey aren't you friends with that tall girl from Guelph who is really loud?"* Loud just had a bad connotation to me -- I guess I took it as she was calling my friend loud mouthed. After a couple weeks of class I realized that she was alright.



*If she hadn't specified where she was from it really could have been any number of my friends. :)

Day 8: Ok, I cheated a bit

I bought some ketchup chips long before I decided to go off refined sugar. Last night I ate some of them. I don't feel guilty since I haven't had any refined sugar since last Sunday when I was on my way home from a wedding out of town. Last weekend my only refined sugar was from some condiments, a serving desert at the wedding and a snack on the way home. I think I'm doing pretty good for myself but it made me realize I need a plan for when I'm going away from home for long periods of time.

I sort of had a crummy day at school on Thursday and I really wanted some chocolate or something sweet. I still had to be at school for a couple more hours so I bought a fruit bowl that had different kinds of melons and strawberries. Fruit and fruit juices have helped me a lot whenever I've wanted to eat something sweet. We have a natural desire to want to eat sweet things but what you eat is what makes the difference.

ROAARRRRRR!!!!!!

Source: Hamsters and chicks are dangerous, doctors warn, Guardian.co.uk

Day 3: Starting from Scratch

Mom and I went grocery shopping today. I did not find any of the sweeteners I wanted to try out so I'll be using honey and fruit juice in the meantime.

Today I made ketchup from scratch with tomatoes, onions, garlic, honey, soya sauce, apple cider vinegar and various herbs. Turned out pretty well though tastes nothing like any ketchup I've ever had. I had to chop up two whole onions and half a head of garlic -- my hands still smells like onions. Interesting fact: though more appealing, the smell of celery last longer than onions.

Tomorrow I head to a wedding out town so I'm not sure what this will mean for my diet. I'll just have to try the best I can to avoid refined sugar and get back to reality on Sunday.

Judging a Book by Its Cover

I would not go to her for a mortgage. I'd go to her for my fake nails or tanning booth needs.

Day 2: Lack of Options

Today I had a super early appointment so I didn't have time to make lunch before leaving for school or eat breakfast. Huge mistake, it was hard to find anything at the university. I was eating a lot of fruit, vegetables and cheese through out the day. I'm craving salad dressing of all things. Today I didn't use the dip my veggie tray came with and it was taunting me. On the way home I saw A&W and it made me crave Thousand Island dressing.

Next week I'll plan better. Mom and I are making up a meal plan for next week and tomorrow we'll go grocery shopping. When I was a beginning teacher, living up North, I made everything from scratch and rarely ate processed food. What I am doing now is a variation so I've been there before. The difference between then and now is more temptation in the city. There were no good restaurants in my small town and processed food was super expensive. Making food from scratch in large quantities was the cheap and easy thing to do.

So far I have consumed no refined sugar today. Yeah me!

Day 1: No Sugar (almost)

Did you refined sugar is in almost everything? Oy. The only refined sugar I had today was in some salad dressing but it only occurred to me after the fact to check the label. I wanted to have a smokey tonight but then could find no non-refined sugar condiments in my fridge. I came across this website earlier in the day about cooking without sugar but I didn't have any of the right ingredients to make any of the recipes. I improvised my own condiment out of laughing cow cheese, honey and garlic powder.* This is going to be tough.







*I don't know if it was the cheddar smokey, the cheddar I put on top or the sauce I made but the combination was revolting.

Only 3 more sleeps

until the new NHL season.

Sugar, ah honey, honey

I decided to cut refined sugar out of my diet. My sister was telling me how much refined sugar reduces the immune system so I did a little research. A single can of pop can decrease your immune system by 25% for about an hour, a frosted brownie by 60%. I know I am sick all the time because of allergies but my immune system needs all the help it can get. Let's see how that goes.

Suspect Description

The suspect is described as a white male, about 30 years old, with brown hair. He was wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans.

- Police ID girl slain in small Alberta town, CBC Online, Last Updated: Sunday, September 28, 2008 | 5:47 PM MT

I'm not trying to make light of the situation but that sounds like about a hundred guys I know. I remember a news report teaching people what details to concentrate on when they witness a crime but who is thinking of that at the time? I'd probably be way too freaked out by what I was seeing to be focusing on the details of the criminal.

Slacker Uprising

Michael Moore's new documentary Slacker Uprising is available for free form his website. You can either view it from the website or download it and distribute it freely. The movie is about Michael Moore's campus tour in 2004 to get young people to vote.

Seeking New Evil

You can use your powers for good or you can use your powers for awesome. The Evil League of Evil is recruiting, all applications must be in by October 11.

Baseless Postivity

The Power of Negative Thinking Source:New York Times Online, Op-Ed Contributor: BARBARA EHRENREICH, Published: September 24, 2008

The delusional optimism of mainstream, all-American, positive thinking should get its share of the blame for the financial crisis.

Driving Grandmas and Babies*

I am a cautious driver and extra cautious when I am driving children or seniors. One time I traveled with my cousin around Calgary with my her toddler in my backseat. My cousin forgot to attach one of the straps of the car seat but didn't notice until she went to take out -- my driving was that smooth.

Today on my way home, my bus hit a car that ran a red light. The hit car had two babies in the back seat that were taken to hospital. Stupid enough to run a red light but when you are in the care of two infants?!?!? Dad and I checked the news, since nothing was mentioned we hoped that is good news. At the scene we were told they were just being taken as a precaution so I pray that they are alright. Life is big and scary enough but even more when you are helpless or can't understand what is going on. Poor babies.

*Alternate Title: The Butterfly Effect
Last Thursday I asked a question in class and my professor was totally rude to me. I woke up Friday with a cold and have been sick ever since. Today my sinuses started to hurt so I decided to skip my last class, the one with the rude professor. I was well enough to learn but not well enough to put up her nonsense. Since I skipped my class, I took an earlier bus which got in an accident. I wasn't supposed to be on that bus. I had to brace myself so I didn't hit the seat in front of me which hurt my back and neck. I went to the doctor; I don't have whiplash but may be sore for a couple days. My back hurts because I asked a question in class 5 days ago.

Cutting Myself Off

Starting today I'm removing myself from as much entertainment news as possible. The plan for the coming school year is to record* as many shows as possible and watch them in the summer time. Some don't matter but there are shows that I don't want to know what happens. I'm cutting myself off from any sources that may spoil the surprise. This is a huge change for me -- I like being in the know for what is happening on TV. Let's see how well this goes.







*My new DVR is an investment in my education.

'Cause I'm Classy Like That

During my second class today, 3 hours after I left home, I realized I had not brushed my teeth today. Never in my life have I forgotten to brush my teeth before leaving the house. I managed to remember mascara and eyeliner but I forgot to brush my teeth.

During the next class, I opened my mouth to take a bit of my sandwich and let out a huge belch. Everyone thought it was totally intentional.

I Just Can't Win

With the new semester at school comes new schedules. I rarely the people I saw over the summer working at the university due to conflicting schedules. I'm feeling a little lonely in a crowd. I just want someone I can met for coffee (or my case tea) or eat lunch with occasionally. The Physics department is holding a beginning of the year shindig next week during my Physics lab. I know I like to avoid awkward social situations but there are some people in the department I'd like to get to know. I'm sort of lacking in opportunities here to get to know people in my departments so I'm not sure what to do.