Take the time to put out feeders for migratory and resident backyard birds this winter and make your backyard more interesting and pleasant with visits from Blue Jay, Wood, sparrows and even hummingbirds.
According to the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. "By providing the right food and maintaining a clean feeding station, individuals can help birds at time when food is scarce.
The trick is to find a good location, preferably under the eve of your house where it is not easily accessible by squirrels or other rodents for the feeder or nectar feeder or the humming birds.
Woodpeckers and other seed eaters love fatty suet blocks that are simply placed in mesh cages and hung under those eves or locations that can be reached easily by birds but not those squirrels and other critters.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Do You Watch Marilyn! and Read BC Homes Magazine?
When was the last time you tuned in to the Marilyn Dennis Show on CTV? Possibly, with a lot of people, with so many people working one or more jobs nowdays, not as much as you normally would, but remember you can also follow the show on-line at CTV.ca
And it is not a bad idea to tune in once in a while if you're a homeowner but she does have a wealth of information (even for guys) about daily problems -- such as the interview she had last week with a home renovation expert.
He passed on a number of tips about how to select a reputable renovation company such as remembering to ask to speak to the latest customers the company worked for I believe, and also the need for you to keep control of the expenditures.
While the show is obviously designed mainly for a female audience many of the topics will interest both husband and wife.
It definitely wouldn't hurt to tune in once in a while.
Another good source of ideas on ways to protect your investment in your home is BC Homes magazine. The latest issue I saw had a very interesting piece on working with home inspectors and exactly what you can expect from their services if you are thinking of buying a new home.
This is a bi-monthly magazine but you can also contact an on-line version of the magazine.
The Web site editors have raised an important question for homeowners incudentally and that is: "Are B.C. homes built to withstand an earthquake such as the one which recently hit Japan?
You can find more information on this and other building and renvoation topics at www.bchomesmagazine.com
And it is not a bad idea to tune in once in a while if you're a homeowner but she does have a wealth of information (even for guys) about daily problems -- such as the interview she had last week with a home renovation expert.
He passed on a number of tips about how to select a reputable renovation company such as remembering to ask to speak to the latest customers the company worked for I believe, and also the need for you to keep control of the expenditures.
While the show is obviously designed mainly for a female audience many of the topics will interest both husband and wife.
It definitely wouldn't hurt to tune in once in a while.
Another good source of ideas on ways to protect your investment in your home is BC Homes magazine. The latest issue I saw had a very interesting piece on working with home inspectors and exactly what you can expect from their services if you are thinking of buying a new home.
This is a bi-monthly magazine but you can also contact an on-line version of the magazine.
The Web site editors have raised an important question for homeowners incudentally and that is: "Are B.C. homes built to withstand an earthquake such as the one which recently hit Japan?
You can find more information on this and other building and renvoation topics at www.bchomesmagazine.com
Monday, January 23, 2012
Are You Concerned About The Electromagnetic Field?
Are you concerned about this field -- created by not only power transmission lines, but also appliances and apparently even things like cell phones?
If you are get hold of HANS, the Health Action Network to find out when their next conference on potential dangers will be
There phone number is 604-435-0512 and the web site is: www.hans.org.
They do have a conference schedule for January 25, 2012, but all seats are taken for this one -- unless somebody cancels, but if there is enough interest they will schedule another one so why not give them a call?
If you are get hold of HANS, the Health Action Network to find out when their next conference on potential dangers will be
There phone number is 604-435-0512 and the web site is: www.hans.org.
They do have a conference schedule for January 25, 2012, but all seats are taken for this one -- unless somebody cancels, but if there is enough interest they will schedule another one so why not give them a call?
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Want To Be Brave?
Who do you want to be like -- Captain Francesco Schetino, the disgraced Captain of the sinking Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy or the Italian Coast Guard Captain Gregaria De Falco who ordered the Costa Concordia Captain to return to his ship to aid passengers?
Simple eh?
But, if you would to be like Falco in a similar situations you had better watch your company according to psychology professor Sam Sommers of Tufts University.
He warns, "We may like to think that that we would play the part of the Good Samaritan in situations like this, but the reality may not be so simple.
"Our behaviours and attitudes change, depending on our surroundings and the company we keep."
Makes sense. Remember that old adage about, "Bird of a feather..."?
For more information on this topic and Sommers new book see the January 19, Globe and Mail and the article, "Hero or coward? It all depends on the situation" by Wency Leung
Simple eh?
But, if you would to be like Falco in a similar situations you had better watch your company according to psychology professor Sam Sommers of Tufts University.
He warns, "We may like to think that that we would play the part of the Good Samaritan in situations like this, but the reality may not be so simple.
"Our behaviours and attitudes change, depending on our surroundings and the company we keep."
Makes sense. Remember that old adage about, "Bird of a feather..."?
For more information on this topic and Sommers new book see the January 19, Globe and Mail and the article, "Hero or coward? It all depends on the situation" by Wency Leung
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Third Alternative
The 3rd Alternative! Now that is an intriguing title isn't it?
It is actually the title of a new book by Steven R. Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and while I have been able to buy it yet I have read the cover copy and seems to focus on large scale problem solving by putting personal prejudices -- whether they are personal, cultural, religious, or political aside and getting together to focus attention on solving the many problems we face in many different theatres in the world.
If it is like his previous book I will a "good read" choc full of priceless ideas on solving personal and larger problems from Covey's unique perspective. Remember that book?
To quote the copy on the back cover: "Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal professional problems. With penetrating insights sand pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity -- principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates."
Price Smart stores here in Port Coquitlam, B.C. carries his new book, The 3RD Alternative so I would imagine if you have about $30.00 you can find a copy in any of the book stores such as Indigo or Chapters. I'll be getting my copy soon!
It is actually the title of a new book by Steven R. Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and while I have been able to buy it yet I have read the cover copy and seems to focus on large scale problem solving by putting personal prejudices -- whether they are personal, cultural, religious, or political aside and getting together to focus attention on solving the many problems we face in many different theatres in the world.
If it is like his previous book I will a "good read" choc full of priceless ideas on solving personal and larger problems from Covey's unique perspective. Remember that book?
To quote the copy on the back cover: "Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal professional problems. With penetrating insights sand pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity -- principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates."
Price Smart stores here in Port Coquitlam, B.C. carries his new book, The 3RD Alternative so I would imagine if you have about $30.00 you can find a copy in any of the book stores such as Indigo or Chapters. I'll be getting my copy soon!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Can Your Personality Control Your Weight?
Can your personality control your weight? that is the claim of neuroscientist Angelina Sutin , as reported by Rose Pastore in the November 2011 edition of Psychologist Today, in her feature, "Weighty Personalities."
In the feature Pastore writes that different personalities such as impulsiveness, which makes it hard to plan ahead and resists temptation; antagonism, which causes high levels of the hormone cortisol which is associated with weight gain are big culprits in weight control problems says Angelina Putin who has studied this personality traits and weight problems for over 50 years.
According to this feature two other traits: neuroticism, low-conscientiousness, and depression are often the causes of wild fluctuations in weight and when you consider these it all seems quite likely -- take the definition of neurosis for example: "a mental disorder producing hysteria, anxiety, depression or obsessive behaviour,"
Unless victims of these traits can find a way to change these traits they could be a "recipe for a lifetime of weight fluctuations" as Pastore writes.
There are things that impulsive, antagonistic type people can do, however, says Angelina Putin. "Weight -loss programs should be designed around personality types,....Buying healthful groceries, having set meal times, and planning ahead help with weight management," she says.
And remember, if you really want to you can change your personality, either through the help of reputable self-help programs or professional help.
For more information see the article by Rose Pastore in the November/December 2011 Psychology Today.
In the feature Pastore writes that different personalities such as impulsiveness, which makes it hard to plan ahead and resists temptation; antagonism, which causes high levels of the hormone cortisol which is associated with weight gain are big culprits in weight control problems says Angelina Putin who has studied this personality traits and weight problems for over 50 years.
According to this feature two other traits: neuroticism, low-conscientiousness, and depression are often the causes of wild fluctuations in weight and when you consider these it all seems quite likely -- take the definition of neurosis for example: "a mental disorder producing hysteria, anxiety, depression or obsessive behaviour,"
Unless victims of these traits can find a way to change these traits they could be a "recipe for a lifetime of weight fluctuations" as Pastore writes.
There are things that impulsive, antagonistic type people can do, however, says Angelina Putin. "Weight -loss programs should be designed around personality types,....Buying healthful groceries, having set meal times, and planning ahead help with weight management," she says.
And remember, if you really want to you can change your personality, either through the help of reputable self-help programs or professional help.
For more information see the article by Rose Pastore in the November/December 2011 Psychology Today.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)