Dropping your cigarette butt on the ground is littering … and I want it to stop. For some reason, buttchucking (or filter-flicking) seems to be the only remaining acceptable form of littering. We would frown or comment if someone tossed their Timmy’s to-go cup on the ground in front of us, but the butts seem to drop without issue. I …
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Are the time and energy spent coupon clipping worth the return?
Coupons are ruining my life. They’re supposed to help us save money and introduce us to new products, but I’m starting to wonder if they are more trouble than they are worth. I’m directing this column to those of you out there who also clip coupons. Coupon clippers tend to be those of us who run the finances and are …
Allow children to take safe risks, but protect them from great harm
What would you do if your young teenager asked you to let him or her sail around the world? Me, I’d say no. Recently, we heard of a 16-year-old girl who had to be rescued from her attempt to navigate the globe alone, at a great cost to perhaps everyone except her parents. Now, a 14-year-old has been given the …
Shaking the salt habit is much harder than I thought it would be
I’ve taken on a significant battle — I have launched an assault on the salt in my diet. Our bodies need some sodium, but excess sodium raises your blood pressure, which can result in heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Admittedly, I prefer the studies that say salt is not bad for you, but they are strongly in the minority. …
Has the concept of truth in advertising gone up in smoke?
Where there is money to be made, there are unethical business practices. Unfortunately, there is a lot of money to be made in tobacco sales. Yes, where there is smoke, there is fire. There seems to be an ongoing awkward dance between the government and tobacco companies. Government tries to limit the advertising, use, and sale of cigarettes, and tobacco …
Newcomer to politics needs to find a way to get her name out
I was a little shocked to read that one of the mayoral candidates said that they would not be using electoral signs or go door-to-door to increase awareness of their candidacy. I have to question if they are really serious about this election. Corel Corporation had a better word processing product, and yet I am currently typing in Microsoft Word, …
Like-minded and unlike-minded can connect at ChangeCamp
When I was first asked if I knew about Change-Camp, admittedly, I thought it was a reality television show. Then, when I was told it was a nationwide grassroots movement encouraging us to “design a future based on transparency, civic engagement and democratic empowerment,” I still thought it could make good television, at least on the CPAC channel. According to …
Exercise can replace all new-fad gadgets to sculpt and tone your booty
We’re being encouraged to focus on our bottom lines lately and we should perhaps all be happy to note that assets are firmly on the rise. Although I could be talking about the economy, I’m referring to the number of products focused on accentuating a woman’s buttocks. Seems I can’t turn on the television or Internet without seeing an advertisement …
We owe it to ourselves and our children to stop rushing to relax
Ah, summery weather is finally here, and minds wander to beaches and camping and getting closer to nature. Unfortunately, there is the hurried and often harried packing up, travelling, and setup to conquer first. While I appreciate the rush to get to that special place for family quality time, the irony is evident in the insanity we put our kids …
How do you thank your mom for everything she’s done for you?
I didn’t buy my mother a Mother’s Day present this year and I’m not sure I’ll buy one ever again. It’s not that I don’t appreciate her; quite the contrary. It’s just that since I’ve had children and am in the process of raising them, I can’t think of an appropriate gift to send her anymore. I used to buy …