tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86882076202515262952024-03-19T03:51:30.933-06:00Hiawatha HouseRedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.comBlogger1995125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-14631166787894607482024-03-18T20:02:00.007-06:002024-03-18T20:02:50.829-06:00GARRISON KEILLOR<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I discovered Garrison Keillor a long time ago. How a Western Canadian Prairie boy came across Keillor , I'll never know. I think I came across MPR a few times when I was living in the Arctic and was bored and had been going through various radio frequencies. Somehow I landed on MPR (Minnesota Public Radio.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Keillor told stories based on a fictional Lake Wobegon community. He had many characters in the community and it was always funny. It was similar to Canada's Stuart Mclean who had a fictional community of neighbors. Both included much music in their shows. Keillor also had A Prairie Home Companion. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Check out Keillor's a young Lutheran's guide to the symphony orchestra. He also had a story about a college kid who was passionate about college radio. One day the kid had worked hard preparing a show but forgot to turn the station on so he talked to himself. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So a few weeks go I picked up a Keillor's Pilgrims: a Wobegon Romance expecting it to be humorous like some of his other books. The book was neither funny nor interesting. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Then for the first time I looked up Keillor on line and found out that he was not a very nice guy. He faced various charges about indecent behavior towards females. He had many conflicts with MPR and publishers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So I find much of his material interesting, I was surprised to find that he led a very troubled life. </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-47643242599539759392024-03-16T19:40:00.003-06:002024-03-16T19:40:49.980-06:00ARCTIC AND NORTHERN HEALTH<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I was listening to my favorite radio station and program Tuesday morning when they had a half hour on northern health. They were talking to a former MLA and cabinet minister about northern health. Very few people have a family physician. Very few people have access to hospital treatment and fewer yet to long term care. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> It's similar to the situation I described about a murder that took place. People are sent south to something that is very strange. They have different food to eat. They have challenges with the language. They don't have visits from family and friends. Sometimes the visits keep people going. The people back home worry and don't get information about the patient.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> In 1963 to 1966 I taught in Inuvik and we had little kids that stayed in the hostel and were 1000 miles from home. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> What caught my ear on this program, is that for long term care some seniors had to be 1000 miles from home. The distance from Iqaluit to Ottawa is 1305 miles. I'd heard this number before. Right? I thought things had changed a bit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Seniors are taken to Ottawa from Iqaluit. They are 1000 miles from home in a strange environment. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> One example of a problem made me snicker. Some seniors would be given pajamas and asked to wear them. Some of these people had never ever worn pajamas. They didn't like pajamas and weren't comfortable wearing them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Then I thought of myself. I don't wear pajamas. I dislike them. So the thought of me being given pajamas got me thinking about their problems in a very personal way. </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-10928148511316835172024-03-13T20:02:00.009-06:002024-03-13T20:02:49.993-06:00A NORTHERN PRAIRIE SPRING<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> We've had a week of bright , warm, sunny weather. We are calling it spring.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Spring here is a little different than warmer areas because of our winter. I've told you often enough about our cold and that residents here don't really mind the cold. What happens with the constant cold is that the ground freezes. That causes some difference in our spring. Sometimes the ground will freeze down to a depth of 8 ft. Frozen ground is rock hard. Before the days of heavy equipment very little excavation was done in the winter. In the country at one time, graves were dug by hand. One thing they did was to light a coal fire and this would thaw the ground. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Okay, because the ground is frozen the water from melting snow and ice has no here to go. The frozen soil can't absorb moisture. So as a result my street is a slow moving mess of water , slush and ice. We talk about spring run off when water from melting snow and ice drains into small creeks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> We also have a problem with dirt and gravel roads in the spring "when the frost is coming out". There are soft spots and hard spots because of the uneven thawing of the ground. So holes form in the road and then when rain comes these holes fill with water. We have road bans which keep heavy equipment off the roads for a few weeks. Most activity in the oil industry ceases in the spring because the heavy equipment is not allowed on roads. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So my spring has pleasantly sprung. But do you know what is in my forecast three days from now? 5 to 10 cm of snow!</span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-90546083508407012752024-03-10T20:09:00.007-06:002024-03-10T20:10:41.342-06:00DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Well, good old daylight savings time has rolled around once again. If daylight savings time was in a popularity contest it would get close to zero. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> At one time the change in time did not bother me. I just didn't sense the one hour change ahead or in the fall when we went back to standard time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> However, now the time change does bother me. It takes a few days to get used to it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Changing clocks doesn't bother me as the micro Manager changes everything but one and that's because she doesn't know how to do it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Today most of us have a time device which is accurate up to the second. The old wind up clocks would stop and then you were in trouble. You might go a few days with out the time. Once we got phones we could call the central office and get the time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Dad always had a grandfather clock. Not the tall one but one that sat on the shelf. One of my brothers is the keeper of grandfather clocks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> It was funny going to the old churches as people arrived at times after the service started and sometimes long before the service started. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I now hope that we do away with daylight savings time but I don't think it will happen in my life time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Right now I'm trying to fool myself about the time I should go to bed</span>. </p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-52786421040035163082024-03-08T19:39:00.004-07:002024-03-08T19:39:39.072-07:00ELEANOR COLLINS<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> This morning I was listening to my favorite radio station. CBC, and they were talking about Eleanor Collins, Canada's first lady in jazz. I could not call up any clear memories of this lady. Eleanor Collin was the topic as she had just died at age 104.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> There was more chatter and then they played some of her music. That brought it back instantly. I remembered. It goes back to the days of radio when there were programs instead of wall to wall music or talk. So in the 40's and early fifties Eleanor sang on the radio. So in those days of radio you were exposed to the great performers and once you hear her you will remember the music even if you don't remember the singer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> They played music from a concert when she was 95. It was still the great voice. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> At that time there was lots of racism. Eleanor moved her family to Vancouver and the residents didn't want a black family in the neighborhood. She persisted. she taught music in the schools and showed how talented she was and the kids were exposed to a great singer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So tonight I will go to you tube and look for some Eleanor Collis.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I recommend that all of you take a few minutes to find Eleanor Collins and listen to her. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-16853947725714030342024-03-07T19:55:00.002-07:002024-03-07T19:55:07.854-07:00BLUE SKIES<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> After a week of cold, nasty, dull weather things changed yesterday Mar. 6. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> We had clear, bright, blue skies. However, it was still cold. We have one more day before it warms up. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So I have some photos from the yard which really don't show how bright things are. With the new snow it's very bright so sunglasses are a must. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-xZlw3GSEQZ9TUvATEhA9u8JBwDK9qe54024SLBYz6nNrsVMiHi1S0PwZEJkZc5Woqsz6Tk5qMgQfhmpTFxG_WS7LwIcBaKgABQrXuI70w-CQLL3slrCAt-JhpmEzpUvLUT2jSGWi9F1mxfYVArEoU0NlA1vYFlnCet16bQrBQkekkWNlEtX_A0q8jY/s4608/DSCN6829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-xZlw3GSEQZ9TUvATEhA9u8JBwDK9qe54024SLBYz6nNrsVMiHi1S0PwZEJkZc5Woqsz6Tk5qMgQfhmpTFxG_WS7LwIcBaKgABQrXuI70w-CQLL3slrCAt-JhpmEzpUvLUT2jSGWi9F1mxfYVArEoU0NlA1vYFlnCet16bQrBQkekkWNlEtX_A0q8jY/w400-h300/DSCN6829.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGClNUsmS4OVli-2Wx1Z8vZa5IK2w_qnmuEetGGdu2eNPIo-a42pms1gwc_R5eoV7cXRfdaJDrYci_Dpx8XxXZRrh0FI-4IDMti0vj_8wx2sXMZCl8JWPJbi1M2CttpBDSZ1Rw7axYgugBwp5N8KF3dvnPTV-LjmzRRxjw8s-ouICDty66IHnmYMndh9c/s4608/DSCN6830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGClNUsmS4OVli-2Wx1Z8vZa5IK2w_qnmuEetGGdu2eNPIo-a42pms1gwc_R5eoV7cXRfdaJDrYci_Dpx8XxXZRrh0FI-4IDMti0vj_8wx2sXMZCl8JWPJbi1M2CttpBDSZ1Rw7axYgugBwp5N8KF3dvnPTV-LjmzRRxjw8s-ouICDty66IHnmYMndh9c/w400-h300/DSCN6830.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS-YD4Ju9j5JHWPqEYnqdKyl9Vm_qdbEOAzZnN8_CUcPg-0uUv8oWskMvvBM30xD_q1ghhJ8o4XFqQXu6k3k_JlMISrQfvbUxgscNcAqQDexKnbtpjD0_oSCs0ylre0CUNH3WVI5Zgkdy0Cmf7BRzHUgexu4-8PGnIWvWM5EJX5x3dbwVeSZdED5np20/s4608/DSCN6831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS-YD4Ju9j5JHWPqEYnqdKyl9Vm_qdbEOAzZnN8_CUcPg-0uUv8oWskMvvBM30xD_q1ghhJ8o4XFqQXu6k3k_JlMISrQfvbUxgscNcAqQDexKnbtpjD0_oSCs0ylre0CUNH3WVI5Zgkdy0Cmf7BRzHUgexu4-8PGnIWvWM5EJX5x3dbwVeSZdED5np20/w400-h300/DSCN6831.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J_yApLbQktYUADKSbB4TjjO-5px5KU7j8eMy97bnkPMl0Dn2onxppIqbKHd0a0xSaemiRe8aEwDRan3gKJU7kz4RosQhXEh6ViEttTKk_PtMD8UdGBifkd_NIS3-p8nGVg5QrJjYr1-X8rnJ5Tv3vSWKTyWEiDXTZkVrvqTeyR1lezogBw-bR9HMdxg/s4608/DSCN6832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J_yApLbQktYUADKSbB4TjjO-5px5KU7j8eMy97bnkPMl0Dn2onxppIqbKHd0a0xSaemiRe8aEwDRan3gKJU7kz4RosQhXEh6ViEttTKk_PtMD8UdGBifkd_NIS3-p8nGVg5QrJjYr1-X8rnJ5Tv3vSWKTyWEiDXTZkVrvqTeyR1lezogBw-bR9HMdxg/w400-h300/DSCN6832.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-33347945620452377682024-03-05T19:47:00.001-07:002024-03-05T19:47:05.015-07:00WINTER WEATHER.<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Now I like winter. I don't mind the cold. I like snow. I like wind and prairie blizzards. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Now having said all that, I'm about to do a 180.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> This winter has been very different from our usual winter. Generally it's been a mild winter with above average temperatures. We've had long stretches of above average winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> This photo was taken from a window in my house. It was very dull. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdWw3uYXxcViakfGxjQgLkxep3w4IN5p_f9HV7Ux_6RruTZcMmpp0GA9uGKZt3o8XGex__Ovx8IUKGVU-mlVF2MbAUpLTAg9DQcoQvCqGOko_nvZbRjcR1Xiaz1Sh8VVQv8vIuGH67sXoBXEMKGuAKcPM5Esega8jY-YCkMvb_Aoy-U9YWfA1OF20LpY/s3456/DSCN6827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3253" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdWw3uYXxcViakfGxjQgLkxep3w4IN5p_f9HV7Ux_6RruTZcMmpp0GA9uGKZt3o8XGex__Ovx8IUKGVU-mlVF2MbAUpLTAg9DQcoQvCqGOko_nvZbRjcR1Xiaz1Sh8VVQv8vIuGH67sXoBXEMKGuAKcPM5Esega8jY-YCkMvb_Aoy-U9YWfA1OF20LpY/w376-h400/DSCN6827.JPG" width="376" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> However , I don't like constant change to the extremes. This week we've had lows of minus 28 C and highs of around minus 20 C. This is the first week of March! We should not be getting these temperatures, although they do happen. The week before we had similar very frigid weather. Then it was mild and thawed so that we had ice. We've had icy conditions all winter. I like to walk but I stay away from ice now. I watch kids who look for the longest patch of very slippery ice and then slide. If they fall, no harm is done. If I fall, I could remain broken for the rest of my life. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> This winter with the mild spells we have lots of ice. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So I would like a winter that starts with snow and cool temperatures at the beginning of Nov. Then it can gradually get colder with snow piling up. Then in Mar. and April it can warm up and snow and ice slowly melt.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> However, the world doesn't work like this. We have a great variety as weather change all the time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Maybe it's time to buy a gym membership and walk inside. We have a city facility with a 400 m walking and running track. </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-6313429280426335572024-03-02T19:55:00.004-07:002024-03-02T19:55:40.215-07:00SOME WHYS<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> George, my first cousin once removed, can ask some questions that are far out of the box. George reads my blog but does not comment but makes contact by messenger. These are great questions and make one go back and take a good look at what was said. I always think faster than I type. Neither one of them is very fast. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> George wanted to know on what basis I said that the skills and loss of will were lost . I should have said much of it was lost. They still celebrate traditions but do not depend on hunting for food. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> First , I didn't stress enough that this was in 1967 -69. It was a much different age and time. I made a statement that the Inuit lost hunting skills and a will to hunt. Maybe I should have said most. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The economy in the Arctic was changing rapidly. There was much employment for wages. There were various DEW lines constructed in the 50's. Many men were employed. They had lots of money. However, this was largely part time. They did not have any dogs and this was before skidoos. So it was difficult to hunt. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> There were many sad reasons as to why there was next to no hunting. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Inuit were nomads. They followed the game. Once they moved into villages they were much less mobile. A hunter now went out with other men on skidoos. Women who were a part of the hunting did not go. Women did the butchering. Women prepared the skins for trade or use in making clothing. All clothing I saw in 67 to 69 was made of cloth. There was fur trim. So their hunting pattern was severely disrupted. Once you get used to a heated wood house it's hard to go back to staying in a snow house. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Where I was, the hunters would go out in the fall for a week or ten days hunting caribou. They would come back with about 20 animals. This wouldn't go far to feed 200 people. They always gave me some meat. They also went fishing for Arctic char for a week or ten days. They also included me and gave me fish. Arctic char is the best fish I ever ate. Locally they hunted seals. They may have got 3 or 4 seals in one day and then may have not gone sealing for another week. One little seal can be eaten very quickly by a dozen people. They gave me seal liver which was the best liver I ever ate. However seal meat was awful. I tried to cook it. It is better frozen and raw or heated a bit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Where I was there were 4 or 5 good hunters and the rest went out rarely and didn't get much as they didn't know where to find the animals. Sitting at a seal breathing hole waiting for a seal takes great patience and it's incredibly cold.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> They were subsistence hunters. In other words they hunted to survive. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> George, at one time our dads farmed with horses. Neither one of us are farmers or would want to be farmers. There are too many other opportunities. I wonder if either one of us could work with horses. Most of all we could not make a living. We have found more lucrative and challenging ways of making a living.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> A similar thing has happened to the Inuit. they have found better ways to make a living. Dr Joey Carpenter from Banks Island was a surgeon at the hospital in Brandon Man, He practiced for close to 40 years. At one time the Carpenter family was the only family living on Banks Island. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Yes, today some people do a lot of hunting. Much of it is for sport. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> It's a complicated issue and a brief over view is not enough to understand the situation. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA468RhxdHQ8eOcNYjnDqwD-sqEE4qN5E9qPfTqAFNOPunprOFb3DcZTTy6gCk8Tb-tJGpyi_xR9OJB6yraytqBy4XyZEEJm43Z4hTzOx-txF0sFqWis_-SYFnxz1k1Zn3C0T_XeHMrKSpxOnE8m4ucvR-0ysccGNzGqkIXynwCAHNwJO50jb93ee6Y-Y/s3525/31Keith%20Kline%20ice%20fishing%20Airort%20Lake%20Nov.%2064%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="3525" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA468RhxdHQ8eOcNYjnDqwD-sqEE4qN5E9qPfTqAFNOPunprOFb3DcZTTy6gCk8Tb-tJGpyi_xR9OJB6yraytqBy4XyZEEJm43Z4hTzOx-txF0sFqWis_-SYFnxz1k1Zn3C0T_XeHMrKSpxOnE8m4ucvR-0ysccGNzGqkIXynwCAHNwJO50jb93ee6Y-Y/w400-h300/31Keith%20Kline%20ice%20fishing%20Airort%20Lake%20Nov.%2064%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> This is in the western Arctic. I didn't catch any fish that day<br /></span><p><br /></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-87326702766499852432024-02-27T19:30:00.005-07:002024-02-27T19:30:50.912-07:00DETAILS<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> In my last post there were details missing that could help to make more sense of the situations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The isolated settlement I went to had 188 Inuit and 12 white guys. I was hired as Local administrator , principal of a two room school and teacher. The administration was a tremendous amount of work but very interesting. For the local Administration I had a one hour open office right after school. With this job I issued welfare money. I would give them gas so that they could go hunting with canoes or skidoos. I bought soapstone carvings everyday for the government. I had a $2000.00 monthly budget to buy carvings. I supervised the mechanic who didn't need supervision. I had to check off supplies that came in on the ship. I looked after visiting administrators. Since there were no facilities to look after travelers I looked after them and as a result met some very interesting people. Fred Breumer a noted photographer and author stayed with us for a week. In other words administration at times was a full time job. However, it was very, very interesting. For all this work I received $1000.00 per year. This was in 1967. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The Inuit did not speak English. There were a few younger people who could interpret. The people looked after their own affairs as in if someone died, they looked after all of it. Al and I were worried about the lack of communication. However, they knew this situation was different and did not interfere. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I had written to the Quebec Dept. of health describing Alisi but received a blah, blah letter which said they would do nothing. My predecessor had also written. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So in less than a year Alisi came back on the plane with clean clothes and tailor made cigarettes. None of us had any idea that she was coming back. She was not charged but was probably assessed and given medication. I don't know how any assessment could be made as she didn't understand French and they didn't understand Eskimo. I don't know how she would get more medication as we were 300 miles from a pharmacist. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> One day one of the elders asked me where Alisi's baby was. So the child was taken out so decisions could be made. So none of us had thought about the closure needed for the loss of this child. This was a serious mistake in handling the body.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> However, I've always said that this whole northern experience changed my life forever. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> In most ways these Inuit were very independent. However, since they were encouraged to live in a village and send their kids to school, they very quickly lost hunting skills or the will to hunt. </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-23098448882220401362024-02-25T20:42:00.004-07:002024-02-25T20:42:27.671-07:00MURDER<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I wrote the last post for my friend, Bob. He commented that we had taught together in the same school for 24 years and he didn't know the story of my first year teaching. So, I was trying to explain how Bob could find more about me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I thought I'd have some fun with Bob and ask him to search for murder on my blog. To be safe I checked it out myself. I was very surprised that the story I was looking for was not there but there were five other stories.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So that gives me my topic for today. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Many times I've told you of teaching in a very isolated northern community. I have no idea how close the nearest road came to me. I know that I was 300 miles from any service like medical and air transportation. Flights into the community were only occasional.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Did I say this was supposed to be about murder? Well , yes, but I had to set things up. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I was working for the federal Government. I was in the province of Quebec so there was some friction between the two governments. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> One early Sunday morning, when we were still in bed, one of the people came and said, "Alisi's baby not good." The Micro Manager had been treating this little girl so she quickly got dressed and on her way to check on the baby. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> To The Micro Manager's horror, when she got there, the little girl was dead. Furthermore, it was very obvious that the little girl had been beaten. The MM hurried back to the house to take the next steps in the case.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The Quebec Govt. looked after justice matters. So off to the Quebec administrator we went. Al, The Quebec administrator, radioed the only police man within 300 miles. Horror of horrors. There were no airplanes to bring him to our settlement. He said it could be six weeks before he got in. So , over the radio , he told us what he wanted us to do. We were to collect the body. That was the Al's job but he asked me to go with him. The MM was to make a sketch showing the injuries. It was gruesome There were many burns and bruises. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Now, I was a naive prairie boy, who never ever dreamed that I would find my self looking after such situation. We were to put the body in a box and keep it in the Al's garage. It was late Sept. so the garage would be cool. Now we were pretty nervous as neither one of had any experience with bodies. We went down and Al picked the little girl up in his arms. After we said we should have taken the box and carried her in the box. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Fortunately the police man who was younger than Bob and I came in 5 days later and took the body and mother. Oh, I didn't say that it was obvious the mother had beaten the child. What did we do with the murderer those 5 days? We couldn't arrest her. We could not hold her in custody. Her niece said that she would stay with her aunt and they carried on with daily life. The lady was seriously mentally ill and was not likely to harm any one else. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So again, I never thought I would be in such a situation. I'm sure that no other criminal situation would have been handled the way Al and I looked after it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I haven't had to look after another case since!. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnfvceTEXb0ibgnOif0AIla59Z2RJZPN9olNESxxFo9bXmAtjiScWYU21imTcP6mJCKf0TkVUvURK2nuLY2WHcNrmqrEYhR_zc_dTzh6iokMi9OUk35aAvJA8yLLdy-NuiCSl_LyL42i0muCCFaOlGhP-A0cCw3Ohp_rb7lTCraDaE_1PKwJTEUUDQJc/s4608/34%20Xmas%20games.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnfvceTEXb0ibgnOif0AIla59Z2RJZPN9olNESxxFo9bXmAtjiScWYU21imTcP6mJCKf0TkVUvURK2nuLY2WHcNrmqrEYhR_zc_dTzh6iokMi9OUk35aAvJA8yLLdy-NuiCSl_LyL42i0muCCFaOlGhP-A0cCw3Ohp_rb7lTCraDaE_1PKwJTEUUDQJc/w400-h300/34%20Xmas%20games.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p><p> </p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-39329483245902136952024-02-23T20:54:00.000-07:002024-02-23T20:54:01.265-07:00SPEAKERS<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I belong to a local naturalists group that has speakers for 6 or 7 months of the year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> We are not a rich group so have to be careful in selecting speakers. We have a policy where we cover the speaker's expenses. Of course that limits getting some of the more prominent speakers. We sometimes have speakers from the local college, grad students from various universities and some scientists doing research. Speakers are quite often looking for publicity about their studies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Last night we had a speaker on bison. He is connected with the Grasslands park in southern Saskatchewan where they are trying to establish a large herd of prairie bison.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I have always been interested in bison. The speaker we had last night was disappointing in a number of ways. I was expecting to hear about the history and operation of Grasslands Park. There was nothing except in questions after the presentation. I was expecting to hear abut prairie bison in North America. There was very little. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The speaker gave the world history of bison over millions of years and how they got to North America. I was not interested in the long history of bison. So , although the guy was well prepared and knowledgeable I was not interested in the part of the topic he presented.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So close to 100% of our speakers are great and their topics interesting. So one disappointing speaker once in a while isn't bad. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4gEENFOzrHa9j7IBQvMJ6acU4GkTTAnlZ4mJ3E72iUEyy4X5eKoK_lJWdAAONBnto0_mSCUt0BMl5DWpPJ6D7i8PciFwqzxIrU1bDHYAO6JLms0gCryI4Jz9nc36Eoonh4piPfygOqNM1-82TTqj25-qlZ0X-_9r66HkM1CL6vjkN2jfD-uCbxYJHQ0/s4608/DSCN6261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4gEENFOzrHa9j7IBQvMJ6acU4GkTTAnlZ4mJ3E72iUEyy4X5eKoK_lJWdAAONBnto0_mSCUt0BMl5DWpPJ6D7i8PciFwqzxIrU1bDHYAO6JLms0gCryI4Jz9nc36Eoonh4piPfygOqNM1-82TTqj25-qlZ0X-_9r66HkM1CL6vjkN2jfD-uCbxYJHQ0/s320/DSCN6261.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Birders</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SZtIuFB1vxEfCqKg2hgYp4FmJpPrY5g28htoK0mcxFKGSYYfAYHRE3XmBKebbXV2vxvSNzaI4v3x1xKAzilXUCkPzhcjr5g2Hgi8TI9FlnQGJ5AxsFWbzBX7wj4gm8M1S6Sxf9FBmZSVTrRsW0w5hf8_CfE7L2x4W48kqniExmjoiYC2MSrhONjBb7o/s4608/DSCN6588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SZtIuFB1vxEfCqKg2hgYp4FmJpPrY5g28htoK0mcxFKGSYYfAYHRE3XmBKebbXV2vxvSNzaI4v3x1xKAzilXUCkPzhcjr5g2Hgi8TI9FlnQGJ5AxsFWbzBX7wj4gm8M1S6Sxf9FBmZSVTrRsW0w5hf8_CfE7L2x4W48kqniExmjoiYC2MSrhONjBb7o/s320/DSCN6588.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The scary moose at the nature center reminding us to be cautious</span>.</p></div>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-59202422881159311822024-02-21T20:48:00.002-07:002024-02-21T20:48:24.749-07:00BLOG SEARCH<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> My last post was about my beginning as a teacher. Now some of my followers had not seen anything like this before. They wanted to see more. And I'm embarrassed to admit that when I went back and checked I found another very similar post only it was better. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So searching my blog is easy. On the top left side of the home page is a blank with a search symbol. So you can type in a topic and if it's on the blog it will come up and you can read it. So if you type in Louisville you will find another similar post and for all I know maybe some other posts on Louisville. Try typing in such things as teaching, education, students, Wakeham Bay, Inuvik, school. You will find many posts that I have written on my teaching career as well as my reflections on education. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I have written very close to 2000 posts. There's lots there . You just have to find it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> When I started the blog, I had in the back of my mind a biography. Most of my life is on the blog. I would have to pull it out of Hiawatha House and tie it all together and add some missing parts. I know what to do , but it isn't going to happen. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Anyway enjoy searching through the blog. Search and let me know what you find that's surprising. </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-37160134978973234762024-02-17T19:17:00.000-07:002024-02-17T19:17:03.771-07:00ANOTHER OLD STORY<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Over my life I have had many experiences and adventures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I was a teacher for a while...37 years. Teaching was a challenge but a very satisfying experience.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I entered teacher's college before my 18th birthday. This was a one year course that did a pretty good job of preparing people to teach. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I got a job in a one room country school. I started teaching before my 19th birthday. Most people would look at 19 year olds as if they were a joke in a classroom. 19 year olds would not be hired today. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I had nine students. The school building was old and in very poor condition. It was built using green lumber which shrunk so there were many cracks in the walls.. You could see daylight out of the northeast corner. There was no insulation. It was heated by a heater not a furnace. Sometimes we would sit around the heater to keep warm. Most mornings we sat around the heater until the building warmed up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I liked working with those nine kids. I particularly liked the grade ones. It was most satisfying to see how much they had learned in one year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I enjoyed this year. The parents were most supportive. It was at a time when the rural population was in decline. Schools with this level of enrolment should have been closed but, school divisions could not purchase buses and there wasn't equipment to clean snow off the roads.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I taught one year and resigned. The district wanted me to stay. They had a series of poor teachers before me so wanted me to stay. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The next year the school was closed and the students bused to town. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrRsS6XoLd47uMugvAAljNY047uMaLFxeH4oHnQqXdskCfoSS3dwE6FNMVPigBxJE_qPWaFxtVaxh1Y05mOg3mUndP8eQLFzUfludI1o4GNv0h2a_TkZBH3f6xdjxM8JDMfuYYoy34iIyfordmX6HvYaLMiW26Fv74MyKBhJCimudD94chyyY85rkKXM/s1600/DSCN1804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrRsS6XoLd47uMugvAAljNY047uMaLFxeH4oHnQqXdskCfoSS3dwE6FNMVPigBxJE_qPWaFxtVaxh1Y05mOg3mUndP8eQLFzUfludI1o4GNv0h2a_TkZBH3f6xdjxM8JDMfuYYoy34iIyfordmX6HvYaLMiW26Fv74MyKBhJCimudD94chyyY85rkKXM/w400-h300/DSCN1804.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qy3eWJMYIAr8auIfL0U4ymRU8qjIu9fImAtOQMXnXVoUZ9P69QLESm5rQNIJ24YZ3Os6Y5TZmXi5EiMxjcUPeBnMgKmlvLGGLytNNXFnvOPAl2ufLNnrlP4SlJa6XkltQTtxYvtL2o3GpL9Xnc5HuKYXIp6D8P6-wACcd15ZXCIgrWRi7s-78JNppCE/s1600/DSCN1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qy3eWJMYIAr8auIfL0U4ymRU8qjIu9fImAtOQMXnXVoUZ9P69QLESm5rQNIJ24YZ3Os6Y5TZmXi5EiMxjcUPeBnMgKmlvLGGLytNNXFnvOPAl2ufLNnrlP4SlJa6XkltQTtxYvtL2o3GpL9Xnc5HuKYXIp6D8P6-wACcd15ZXCIgrWRi7s-78JNppCE/w400-h300/DSCN1805.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rlkkXofzfsRpwEDBi_ipvMeiN1rh2yYeAAKgbjzhWZUlC1-8NUr6afdxXksNDb8s9bVYBj30e_ivQgsq0BLIg1D4nutjqqyWuvWSIGSd_HACnpGuvHdclsDUntN7ifNr_j3tVg2CV2O6a_6AhjhnvkKd3OmadZglSzD6m7V4cT4elgzfD_Q8T981aQM/s1600/DSCN1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rlkkXofzfsRpwEDBi_ipvMeiN1rh2yYeAAKgbjzhWZUlC1-8NUr6afdxXksNDb8s9bVYBj30e_ivQgsq0BLIg1D4nutjqqyWuvWSIGSd_HACnpGuvHdclsDUntN7ifNr_j3tVg2CV2O6a_6AhjhnvkKd3OmadZglSzD6m7V4cT4elgzfD_Q8T981aQM/w400-h300/DSCN1806.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjCZ787EQfkdgqUvGFp6UeMIV6GkkCa5ZTiXioNi0_jJDf5OPKBr83-8t6zgqZJKxnX2aMvcwbjrgdQP7BDO6tEEpgKwLZvnFvaqLiurupvGAq44t0dlbTCtz8TafEmYk7r5JcRlzejSeD-ymvPr1FtblStWREpO14IiJkW6M_d3dR0BiUTEbY6sxkP4/s1600/DSCN1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjCZ787EQfkdgqUvGFp6UeMIV6GkkCa5ZTiXioNi0_jJDf5OPKBr83-8t6zgqZJKxnX2aMvcwbjrgdQP7BDO6tEEpgKwLZvnFvaqLiurupvGAq44t0dlbTCtz8TafEmYk7r5JcRlzejSeD-ymvPr1FtblStWREpO14IiJkW6M_d3dR0BiUTEbY6sxkP4/w400-h300/DSCN1807.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-73944038495095090812024-02-13T19:27:00.000-07:002024-02-13T19:27:33.767-07:00MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> My maternal grandparents were born in the 1880's and raised in the south of England. Grandma made some income by sewing and grandpa was a butcher , not the kind of butchers we have today. At that time there was no refrigeration. Grandpa went from farm to farm and butchered for farmers. This job was neither lucrative nor steady. Then a depression hit in England and they were very poor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> A church group in Canada agreed to sponsor them to emigrate to Canada. They were set up as market gardeners but this was a poor choice of business. Grandpa loved gardening but it was not enough to keep the wolf from the door. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> During the second world war he was a janitor on an air force training base. After that he drove a delivery truck for a bakery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> In the late 40's they moved to the west coast where Grandpa again found employment as a janitor. He worked well into his 70's. He said when he got tired he sat in the bath room for a break. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Grandma told us that when she was a girl they talked about flying but it was imaginary. She never thought she'd see airplanes . She was able to fly on a jet back to England to visit relatives . </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> After Grandpa retired they would spend part of their summer on our farm. Here grandpa could garden to his heart's content as there was a large garden on the farm. He liked nothing better than to bring in fresh produce. Mom would tell Grandpa what she wanted and grandpa would harvest it. He was a handyman. One summer he painted the barn. He was not allowed to climb the ladder so the higher parts of the barn weren't painted. Dad had about 300 laying hens and grandpa loved looking after the chickens. One day grandpa didn't show up for lunch. A discussion was had and they thought he was gathering eggs just before lunch. They checked the chicken house but the door was fastened from the outside. Finally they heard Grandpa yelling. His grandson had seen the chicken house door not latched so he latched the door and that's how grandpa was locked in the chicken house and didn't make it in the house for lunch. His grandson received some teasing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> When they were coming back to the prairies for parts of the summer, I was away and missed spending time with them. I had regrets but I was not living at home anymore . </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> It's hard to believe the many hardships this couple faced in their life. Their grandchildren certainly benefited from their hard work. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> This photo was taken in the early 70's shortly before Grandma passed away. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkImhC9Swjj_EUzMKri5jkyJjU2AmcxaDupROvXKfOPDk-r46yR0aBrbKobx6C-HID7JmsqUzWzpor6kRDDRlL5EnDDTX6CF3titfz6mhN4uMNsQf0zzt6AzQfUdHe_Ey_txG2GGE-Z6swErIPqROiL1TE4p9yenh3YNRC8Fin2k8I1gXC1U0RZUtSQY/s3968/Scan2024-02-13_184228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="3968" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkImhC9Swjj_EUzMKri5jkyJjU2AmcxaDupROvXKfOPDk-r46yR0aBrbKobx6C-HID7JmsqUzWzpor6kRDDRlL5EnDDTX6CF3titfz6mhN4uMNsQf0zzt6AzQfUdHe_Ey_txG2GGE-Z6swErIPqROiL1TE4p9yenh3YNRC8Fin2k8I1gXC1U0RZUtSQY/w400-h258/Scan2024-02-13_184228.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-18506310738823952152024-02-11T20:51:00.005-07:002024-02-11T20:51:51.228-07:00MORE FREE RANGE<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> When I was looking for photos on my last post I ran into some other interesting photos.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I've written about my childhood in the 40's and 50's. Sometimes it's hard to believe what I was writing. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So this photo may be from around 1945. The three kids are my brother and sister and I. And of course, Dad. This was winter transportation. I don't know where we had been . This was not a fancy sleigh to go for a sleigh ride singing Jingle Bells. This was a work sleigh. The horses where Queenie and Daisy. Queenie was very old. Daisy was a younger horse. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So this was winter transportation. We didn't have snow clearing equipment. Cars had not yet been built for winter driving. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> However , the photo shows part of our life when we had to use horses for winter transportation. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_Gg2AWXqhvm5arbINLQ3X3n83qIjedxcA1mCiYr2wVqa_OtBB1PZDJoGbjJ0DULlI_EnCbyCOtRfZTcvnfOxh4yS_uhiz0RMQ8C6PCGeUtZPtZ8WKYadddNs_q1T-zzzKxNLD4lCB52UpGTB6LWmEVjrtr9gm-Zqi7rhU9iAHWNeya8I40afuXKdVyg/s6917/Scan2024-02-11_203346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6917" data-original-width="4517" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_Gg2AWXqhvm5arbINLQ3X3n83qIjedxcA1mCiYr2wVqa_OtBB1PZDJoGbjJ0DULlI_EnCbyCOtRfZTcvnfOxh4yS_uhiz0RMQ8C6PCGeUtZPtZ8WKYadddNs_q1T-zzzKxNLD4lCB52UpGTB6LWmEVjrtr9gm-Zqi7rhU9iAHWNeya8I40afuXKdVyg/w520-h640/Scan2024-02-11_203346.jpg" width="520" /></span></a></div><br /><p></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-68723150044092170692024-02-09T19:14:00.003-07:002024-02-09T19:14:14.176-07:00HOW DID WE SURVIVE?<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Today we talk about free range kids. My kids, who grew up in the 70's and 80's, think that they were sort of free range kids. They look back and are happy with the freedom they had.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> For my growing up in the 40's and 50's free range involved much more . There wasn't much supervision of kids on the prairie farms as Dad's were busy farming and Moms were just plane busy with house work and many other things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So, as well as being free range kids we had freedom with no supervision. Stuff was not locked up so we were drawn to guns. Now most farmers at that time had a very small rifle. Hunting wasn't done so big rifles were not around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So it didn't take long before we started playing with guns. The shells were easily available on the farm. The storekeeper in town would sell us shells. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So the playing began. Hitting a stalk of grass was cool and you had bragging rights. How far your bullet went in a 2 x 4 counted. Tin cans were great targets. Seeing how far your bullet would travel was another pass time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So there were usually 5 or 6 kids together. We had no instructions about gun safety and we really weren't supposed to have the guns. With that many kids running around , I can't believe someone wasn't hurt. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Taking a small tractor on new ice and applying one break made the tractor spin. We were all riding . Did we think of falling off? Never. Again it was dangerous with no parental supervision or permission.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So I often look back to those days and say "How did we ever survive?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So this photo shows the culprits. Here are two sets of four brothers. We are cousins. We were the only kids in the district. We'd grown up since our gun days except for my little brother who now is about 70. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSX_UvPxspgVn1ZzsnCDdusRouokwn9QSxDcD4PsUg6iw3Og6DejwK0Isd5gZAGHxp4GfxC8QSHC-lBsO5QmmL6xOluvdYj4FNAIzNmtrAty6i40Up20G1PHYoLZZ1H6ZYI-gNLfYAkokSiMurhaX98cXfTMGPN5srPE0s4G9TgWiJDTsMtZStHWyTu4/s6917/Scan2024-02-09_184506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6917" data-original-width="4517" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSX_UvPxspgVn1ZzsnCDdusRouokwn9QSxDcD4PsUg6iw3Og6DejwK0Isd5gZAGHxp4GfxC8QSHC-lBsO5QmmL6xOluvdYj4FNAIzNmtrAty6i40Up20G1PHYoLZZ1H6ZYI-gNLfYAkokSiMurhaX98cXfTMGPN5srPE0s4G9TgWiJDTsMtZStHWyTu4/w418-h640/Scan2024-02-09_184506.jpg" width="418" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-82991828224308608832024-02-05T20:58:00.005-07:002024-02-05T20:58:49.097-07:00TIME LIMITATIONS FOR MEDICAL CARE. <p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I have had some situations where my health care has taken a very long time to begin or carry on. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I would like to see some rules and regulations that put a limit on the time taken to see a patient and begin treatment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Okay, there's a bee in my toque. I was recently referred to a heart specialist to investigate a condition I have that may be circulation related. The initial communication happened in acceptable time. I wore a heart rate monitor and blood pressure cuff for about 20 hours. I was told I would get the results back in a week and at the most 2 weeks. Well, here it is 3 weeks and I've heard nothing. I'm not impressed with this specialist. I could get very old before he wakes up and sees me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> A family member was referred to specialist and waited 6 months for an appointment which was done by phone! Not Zoom. Just the old land line. 2 more calls were made and finally a test was done and biopsies taken. Now the guy is away all Feb and an appointment is made for March to go over a test from Jan 17. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So this is where I'm coming from. Once referrals are made it should be mandatory to meet and have examinations and tests in a short time and not wait for 6 months. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Now I know specialists and physicians have all kinds of challenges because of limitations from health facilities. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> However, I think that there should be some kind of penalty for taking too long to see and treat a patient. </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-41750231125054524692024-02-02T20:51:00.005-07:002024-02-02T20:53:18.829-07:00GROUND HOG DAY<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">So another groundhog day has come and gone. Predictions have been made and we had fun. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"> Growing up on the wild western prairie of Canada I had some problems getting my head around ground hog day. We don't have groundhogs. How could a groundhog in Philadelphia predict when spring would occur if he was that far away? Well, I put up with it and debated with my buddies about the predictions. As little fellows we had trouble remembering what was predicted by seeing the shadow or not seeing the shadow. Usually the temperature was far below 0 F at that time of year. Spring was the least thing on our minds. We had no idea how spring could arrive.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"> Well, since my childhood days, the groundhog day participants have increased. Ontario has Wireton Willy. They have real ground hogs there. It was found that groundhog day made a good attraction. Groundhog day was used to promote a town.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"> Hey, even Alberta has it's groundhog, Balzac Billy. Balzac Billy looks pretty lively for just coming out of hibernation. You will see what a meant about being fun.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmMS2h1cj5RaEeM87ncFci1FoKjewQ11UYEOlaZUUcjdgKHFLYAGUK-W65dLFQW87Q5kaidgCYGgo6Clq3P_T3ynneeLRsTtPSD4YDwByuIeR5fhe9qt4zn4C0uGITH68Eu_d5dSxYjKroYazcAXZnuttfa7nrf_SGBrVRIubFV8ys78R4bB_fizm-3ss" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><img alt="" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="768" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmMS2h1cj5RaEeM87ncFci1FoKjewQ11UYEOlaZUUcjdgKHFLYAGUK-W65dLFQW87Q5kaidgCYGgo6Clq3P_T3ynneeLRsTtPSD4YDwByuIeR5fhe9qt4zn4C0uGITH68Eu_d5dSxYjKroYazcAXZnuttfa7nrf_SGBrVRIubFV8ys78R4bB_fizm-3ss=w400-h246" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br /><p></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-62405893337535920732024-01-31T19:49:00.002-07:002024-01-31T19:50:02.306-07:00LONGER DAYS<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Well guess who's looking forward to longer warmer days. Who's counting down the minutes. January, the toughest winter month is behind us. We've had an excellent mild winter except for about ten days in January. I can't complain.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> We are in the middle of an incredibly mild spell. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So things are moving towards spring.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Dec.21 Sun rose at 8:42 </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Sunset 4:24</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Day length 7:41:45</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Change Minus 0.05</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Jan.31 Sun rose at 8:42 </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Sunset 5:19</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Day length 9:01:54 </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Change plus 3:23</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">Day length is starting to increase rapidly. </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-6510239390957227182024-01-29T20:47:00.002-07:002024-01-29T20:47:27.244-07:00SOME PEOPLE SURPRISE YOU<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I taught with a woman for around 20 years. We'll call her Sharon. Sharon was a physed. teacher and a good one. Sharon coached all girls teams at the school .</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> For all those 20 years she never taught anything else. Sharon didn't teach any options. The only time I know that she spent time in another field is when she came with us on an outdoor education field trip. We were probably short a female supervisor so Sharon was conscripted. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Sharon's been retired for about 15 years and I've only seen her once. I met her in the library when we were both getting books. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Lately one of my friends was asking if I knew Sharon. She told me that Sharon sings in a ladies singing group and is a great singer. Not in my wildest dreams did I think Sharon was a singer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> My friend went on to tell me that Sharon paints...watercolors. Sharon put on a show of her own in a local art gallery. Again, I had no idea that Sharon had talents in art. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So there I was thinking that Sharon was a one trick pony and could only teach physed. It would have been interesting to have seen Sharon in a music class or art class. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Some people really surprise you. </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-52609151545288944572024-01-27T19:25:00.003-07:002024-01-27T19:25:39.010-07:00HEARING AIDS<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Well, here I go, down the rabbit hole of hearing aids.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I was surprised in the last post how quickly the topic turned to the performance of hearing aids. So in this post I will comment on the function of my hearing aids and I, and some of my readers may get some good tips.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I've had problems wearing masks during covid. The hearing aids have popped out when I'm taking the mask off and on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Hearing aids are good for some things but they aren't a complete solution. Hearing aids make all sound louder including what you're trying to hear. In noisy places like restaurants hearing is very difficult. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Partners quite often have difficulty with the hearing aids. They are disappointed with the performance. The MM thinks I'm ignoring her and asks me to turn up the hearing aids. There are some frequencies where we don't hear well. Sometimes much of the partner's voice is at the frequency that you don't hear well .</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I use batteries. The batteries die in about 4 to 6 days. So you go with one aid working for a while before you get a chance to change them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Changing some of the wax protection devices can be a challenge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So I would like to hear some advice to get more out of hearing aids. I hope readers will pick up tips as well as give tips.</span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-15902389776828073872024-01-25T19:41:00.005-07:002024-01-25T19:41:48.513-07:00I THINK SPENCER IS BACK<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I wrote a series of posts in the last two months about a jack rabbit. It started out when I thought that the color had not all changed to winter white. He/She then kept coming back. This was a surprise as I didn't think they stayed in the one shelter for very long. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So Jan. 10 was the last time I had a visit from Spencer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Today I look out and there's Spencer back in the same place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I think it would be the same animal as it's back to the exact place as before. I don't think another animal would take over another rabbit's shelter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> And this animal still has a noticeable amount of it's coat that hasn't turned white.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMcbmcuEvV7dQnBkbtbEkwYKfb8muDBQbdA0h8km6NljZJyRpxAB4851R-McPCpOs_sOXRcJz6imn7hZW3-1rjUK-F4m-XD6mEfNNWVyIvBFdotpQSYntfMxps75jgojFAaqMB63-BKO84mwVQkl1kvwQPYh8UzOAyWrOmTb691-PJ33j9gElBzFOcFw/s4608/DSCN6823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMcbmcuEvV7dQnBkbtbEkwYKfb8muDBQbdA0h8km6NljZJyRpxAB4851R-McPCpOs_sOXRcJz6imn7hZW3-1rjUK-F4m-XD6mEfNNWVyIvBFdotpQSYntfMxps75jgojFAaqMB63-BKO84mwVQkl1kvwQPYh8UzOAyWrOmTb691-PJ33j9gElBzFOcFw/w400-h300/DSCN6823.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><p></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-80571870183892956752024-01-24T19:58:00.002-07:002024-01-24T19:58:10.498-07:00A DIFFERENT DAY<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> What a difference a day makes!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The first photo is the sunrise of Jan. 22 and the second is of the Jan 23 sunrise. On the 22nd there were cloud formations catching the sun's rays from below which gives the color. Yesterday, it was perfectly clear.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2Csc28OmrHYhhCC2i1MRqv4tQgBoZ-MJg98C0dWc73xFvTTUQsO90jPdCwfnP8dUobvJxsy79Znzxy6rIPPZa96Mh8cnelQjyAMUqZUKb6Dogz_I6X7Awo8tR_QRfcIF3fTAM8XlhUGr1mEajHTjqdFsDVI9oXEJ0iokth0XbSPD0i3rDlYruprY8n0/s4608/DSCN6820.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2Csc28OmrHYhhCC2i1MRqv4tQgBoZ-MJg98C0dWc73xFvTTUQsO90jPdCwfnP8dUobvJxsy79Znzxy6rIPPZa96Mh8cnelQjyAMUqZUKb6Dogz_I6X7Awo8tR_QRfcIF3fTAM8XlhUGr1mEajHTjqdFsDVI9oXEJ0iokth0XbSPD0i3rDlYruprY8n0/w400-h300/DSCN6820.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbzFia6phB94G-U8bnUExAkjnwrsciThMhR6lXM5WCzFcs9SkshP4B6tlYO4UxrPXidvIXLAv3p96Q91wXDkaCNISwZJndEoyUQqMuJ8fmKHo8wy0NkscECyCP5QcU31cwZoJ5-JaZd5qLaivHfa67gNOEz-PumnFNHdvHdaGD3ZiJYS5sqZLb4Hiz2g/s4608/DSCN6821%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbzFia6phB94G-U8bnUExAkjnwrsciThMhR6lXM5WCzFcs9SkshP4B6tlYO4UxrPXidvIXLAv3p96Q91wXDkaCNISwZJndEoyUQqMuJ8fmKHo8wy0NkscECyCP5QcU31cwZoJ5-JaZd5qLaivHfa67gNOEz-PumnFNHdvHdaGD3ZiJYS5sqZLb4Hiz2g/w400-h300/DSCN6821%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a><p></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-77745562071762028842024-01-21T19:18:00.001-07:002024-01-21T19:18:11.626-07:00MORE ECONOMY<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> One thing that got me going on my last post was hearing aids.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I was wondering if I had any time left on my warranty. I looked at all the paper work I had with the hearing aids. The first hurdle was to find the actual purchase date. You get to test them for a week and dates and info are confusing. Well it's the same with the warranty. Some things are 3 years and some are 5 years. I wanted to cover my bases and know for sure what was what. We finally phoned the local office. The person had to take several runs at it and finally sorted it out for us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Then I got thinking about buying the hearing aids. To my way of thinking quite a few people were paid for the hearing aids. The total price was $6500.00. Govt aid to seniors paid roughly $1800. My pension plan paid some. For some reason the AMA(( Alberta Automobile association ) paid $2000.00. I paid the remainder of $1800.00. All this was meant to make me feel good about buying hearing aids as if I got a good deal. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> To me it looks like games are being played. Somehow the price appears to be raised unnecessarily. Rumor has it that the physical aids cost less than $100.00 to make. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I wonder how many people would not be able to afford hearing aids if they had to pay for them on their own? </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688207620251526295.post-91819710225815875562024-01-19T19:23:00.000-07:002024-01-19T19:23:04.907-07:00THE ECONOMY<p> <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I've been wanting to make a few comments on the economy for a while. It's been on my topic list . I just hadn't sorted things out in my head as to what I wanted to say. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> This morning I was listening to a radio interview about people working more than one job. Historically we can look back.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> At one time there was only one wage earner per household and he/she usually worked at one job. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Today we have two wage earners in a family and in some cases both of them are working two jobs. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The economy has a number of tricks that keep people on a tread mill. A treadmill that keeps them purchasing more product. Build in obsolescence as in appliances that don't run very long. Same situation with cars. And while we're at it sell insurance on the poor appliance so they get to sell insurance as well as a product. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The way the economy is set up now it has to grow. So more product has to be made and sold. It's a vicious circle. Get more workers to work in factories to make things. More workers means more customers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> So people are caught with a huge amount of product to buy and they do buy too much. Customers must pay for the goods. You can use a credit card but that soon gets you into more trouble. So this morning they were talking about proceedings to help the poor folks who've come to the end of the rope with their money. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Families working more than two jobs started appearing before I retired from teaching. They wanted to do the right thing but didn't have time or money. They wanted to support their kids but didn't have time. It was sad. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> The last few years prices have been rising very noticeably. Wages have not risen noticeably . So the economy goes into recession because it's not growing. The government pours money into the pot so people start buying things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I realize this is oversimplified. I'm not an economist. I took a political economy class in 1958. That doesn't do me much good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I am upset with the path the economy is on in the last few years. How long will many people have to work two or more jobs? </span></p>Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.com31