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JK Kennedy
"Things I Think, I Think."
» Blog II: Thinks I Think I Think – “A $72.00 Stimulus Package”
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Marissa Reaume
Will Some Chocolate Each Day Keep The Doctor Away?
Posted March 8, 2010 @ 10:36PM
Lately, I have been reading in many health magazines that chocolate is good for your health because it contains a high amount of antioxidants and other health promoting ingredients. Its benefits range from lowering blood pressure and cholesterol to improving one’s mood.
Unfortunately, not all chocolate is beneficial and only dark chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa is said to be worthy of the benefits listed above.
Therefore, when I decided to try eating dark chocolate once a day in an effort to improve my health I went above and beyond and bought a chocolate bar containing 86% cocoa. Since any type of chocolate—even dark—still contains calories and fat, most articles that I have read suggest that people only eat a small amount per day. I decided to start off eating one square of chocolate every morning.
I have always liked dark chocolate but have never tried it with a cocoa content as high as 86%. My first impression: dark chocolate containing this much cocoa is the exact opposite of the milk chocolate coating on Caramilk bars or below an M&M’s candy shell. It is in no way creamy and does not melt in your mouth. In fact it is fairly bitter and almost waxy in texture.
Regardless, I will keep eating this chocolate bar, square by square, until I finish it...and then start on the new chocolate bar that I just bought containing 99% cocoa!
The way I see it, if eating a square of dark chocolate once per day will potentially prevent me from taking blood pressure medications (or other medications) in the future, it’s worth a try.
What do you think?
Try Something Different for Dessert
Posted March 1, 2010 @ 6:22PM
Tired of the slices of apple pie, fudge brownies and silvers of cheesecake that most restaurants have to offer? I was, so I tried something new and went for dessert at the Creperie Omer, 1285 Ottawa Street. This place serves delicious dessert crepes filled with fruit, chocolate, nuts, marshmallows, or any other sweet ingredient that you are in the mood for. The crepes are very large—the perfect size for sharing. I usually order the Crepe Barbara that is filled with sliced strawberries and almonds and topped with warm creamy white chocolate. It also comes with a side of vanilla ice cream. The restaurant also serves fondue and dinner crepes.
The Best Thai Food In Windsor (my opinion)
Posted February 26, 2010 @ 3:13PM
Over the past year I have been trying different Thai restaurants in Windsor. Each time I eat at a Thai restaurant I always seem to order some form of Pad Thai with shrimp. Last week, to my surprise, I came across (in my opinion) the best Pad Thai in Windsor...at a Vietnamese restaurant! Pho Xic-Lo, 1750 Wyandotte Street West is the restaurant responsible for creating what I believe is the best Pad Thai that this city has to offer. Although it is, for the most part, a Vietnamese restaurant, it has a small section of Thai food on its menu. This restaurant’s Pad Thai is very flavourful and is served in a large portion for a small amount of money. The cafe-style atmosphere is enjoyable as well. Give it a try!
Get Fit for $5
Posted January 14, 2010 @ 3:25PM
In a time when fast food restaurants appear on every corner, Swine Flu reports repeatedly clutter the local news, and many of the people we come in contact with on a daily basis are suffering from winter colds and illnesses, it is important to make extra efforts to preserve our health.
Although I try to eat healthy, wash my hands frequently, and get regular medical checkups, there is one healthy activity that I have never been a fan of—exercising.
Yes, I used to be a figure skater/hockey player/dancer when I was younger but once I started University 7 years ago my motivation for physical activity disappeared...until now.
I have finally found a way to obtain the health benefits of exercise without signing up for an expensive gym membership—Zumba!
Three times per week, Cathy’s Dance Studio offers 45 minute Zumba lessons that cost only $5 per class (or $25 for 6 consecutive classes). You can stop in whenever you want for a class—there is no need to register.
Zumba is the perfect cardio workout because it combines fitness and dance to the beat of Latin music. This type of exercise also tones the body and is easy to do. The instructors, Ruth and Jo-Anne, are very energetic and motivating.
Classes take place on Tuesdays (7:15-8:00 pm), Wednesdays (1:15-2:00 pm), and Thursdays (11:00-11:45 am). Please see cathysdancestudio.net for more details.
A Humane Solution to Windsor's Feral Cat Population
Posted December 8, 2009 @ 10:12PM
Back in October, one of my neighbours told me that a mother cat and her three kittens were living under her deck but that she could not care for them due to her allergies. She was very worried that the cats were starving and knew that they needed help. Being the animal lover that I am, I immediately drove to the pet store, bought bags of cat food, bowls, and blankets, and made daily trips to my neighbour’s house to feed and care for the homeless cats.
But then it got cold and my neighbour and I started to worry that the cats would not survive the winter once the snow came. A relative told me that the cats could live at her house until we could find them homes. Her generous offer sounded like the perfect solution to the homeless cat problem in my neighbour’s backyard and yet there was still one obstacle—the fact that the cats were feral and would not allow humans to touch them.
So I overcame the obstacle by placing a call to Mike Gabor, a man who selflessly runs a TNR (trap, neuter, release) program called ‘Earn Your Wings’. Basically, he helps people catch feral cats so that they can be spayed or neutered for less than half as much money as a vet would charge, and then release the cats back into their chosen habitat so that they can enjoy their freedom without becoming pregnant and adding to the stray cat population.
Gabor helped me catch the cats one by one with a gentle and harmless method. I decided that rather than sending them back outside, I would bring them to live with a family member until we could find them homes. I have visited them daily since we brought them inside.
Two weeks later the cats are still wary of humans but are getting braver every day. In fact, two of the cats are already eating food out of my hands without flinching. I am confident that within a few more weeks they will be completely comfortable around us and will be ready to move on to new homes.
I think that Gabor’s program is a necessity in Windsor. It offers an alternative to the Windsor Humane Society’s policy to euthanize feral cats and allows these animals to live freely while controlling the feral cat population.
Canadian Writers Read in Windsor
Posted December 8, 2009 @ 9:43PM
Tonight, Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson read from their new books at the Caboto Club. Both authors entertained their attentive audience with wit, knowledge, and prophecies, highlighting the fact that this country is filled with great writers that many of us may not take time to recognize.
In a society where technology is dominating, sometimes we forget what great minds can create and transform from their thought processes to a sheet of paper via an ink filled tool. As cell phones transform to Blackberrys and television screens shrink in width but expand in other dimensions, I hope we don’t forget about writing because it is where true creativity, intelligence, and individuality exist.
Give a Gift to Homeless Animals this Holiday Season
Posted November 15, 2009 @ 3:48PM
A few years ago, my mother—a woman who never wants anything for her birthday—suggested that my family and I put the money that we would spend on a gift for her toward items that we could donate to the Windsor-Essex Humane Society.
Since the recession hit there has been an increase in this city’s stray animal population. Many people have found themselves unable to afford pet food and veterinary visits resulting in a large number of homeless cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, etc. The Humane Society is where many of these homeless animals find shelter.
Even if you cannot afford to donate money to the shelter or adopt a pet, there are ways that you can help the homeless animal community survive the winter.
Many of us have unwanted items in our homes that the Humane Society could put to good use. For example, this organization is currently looking for donations of the following items: newspaper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, laundry soap, grocery tapes from Zehrs, Canadian Tire, and HBC Rewards, hand soap, towels, and blankets.
Based on this list of items, you can probably make a donation without even making a purchase. If you do, however, want to buy something for the animals the Humane Society is always looking for canned (wet) cat, kitten, and dog food.
To see the a complete list of items that you can donate to the Humane Society go to windsorhumane.org and click on ‘Humane Society Wish List’ under the ‘Support the Shelter Heading’.
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate...
Posted November 14, 2009 @ 6:00PM
...lately, that has definitely been the question surrounding the H1N1 vaccine.
Many people are torn between the dangers of receiving the shot and the consequences of catching swine flu.
So far, I have had three nurses tell me that they would not get the shot nor would they recommend it. Their reasoning behind this opinion relates to the fact that currently we do not know the long term effects of the shot.
Terrifying stories of those who have received the shot are also swirling throughout the news. One particular incident of a vaccination gone wrong involves a 26 year-old Washington Redskins cheerleader ambassador named Desiree Jennings. After receiving the shot she developed a rare neurological disorder called Dystonia which prevents her from speaking and eating properly. She also has difficulty walking and frequently has seizures. If you want to learn more about this story there is a youtube video that features an interview with Jennings conducted by Fox News (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_kTEzleJI).
Odds are that a young, healthy woman such as Jennings likely would have survived the flu had she not been vaccinated. I personally know more than one healthy young person who has caught this flu and recovered within a week or two without having to go to the hospital.
So is the vaccination worth the low risk of dangerous side-effects? Possibly, if your immune system is compromised. After all, Windsor’s eleven o’clock news program last night revealed that two 50 year-old men in Windsor have died from the swine flu. Both men had pre-existing medical conditions.
I’m still pondering both sides of the to get the shot or not to get the shot debate. What is your opinion?
Is the Web the Way to Go?
Posted November 9, 2009 @ 8:27PM
Lately, it has come to my attention that people are taking a large interest in online shopping. A few days ago I waited in line for 15 minutes at the post office at Shoppers Drug Mart just to buy a stamp. The holdup? A man mailing numerous packages filled with items that he sold on ebay.
Let’s face it, shopping from the privacy and comfort of your own home or office is more convenient and takes less time than scanning the aisles of multiple stores on a weekday afternoon. During the busy fall months even I’ve found myself cringing at the thought of walking the halls of Devonshire mall, only to be tempted by sales and new products at a time when life is chaotic and money is tight. So I decided to purchase my dress for the Biz X Oscar Gala online without having to put on my coat or tie my shoes.
Some may be wary of online shopping due to high shipping costs but some websites ship for free. A prime example is well.ca, a Canadian site that sells drugstore items and delivers them right to your door.
Even some Windsorites are jumping on the online shopping train by opening website based businesses. One particular business is Tse My Wall which sells vinyl wall art for the home and office. Check them out at tsemywall.com.
With the way things are going, more local businesses may want to develop websites so that customers can at least learn about and browse, or even purchase, their products from home.
Another Bookfest Windsor Evening
Posted November 8, 2009 @ 12:07PM
On Friday I attended another Bookfest Windsor event. The venue itself—the Art Gallery’s Valiant/Rodzik room on the 3rd floor—made the event worth attending. It is a long, partially triangular room that points toward the river with its glass window walls. Regardless of where audience members were seated, almost everyone had a view of the twinkling lights across the water in Detroit, as well as the cars rolling down Riverside Drive. I think this location would be perfect for a wedding reception at any time of the year because in the summer the sun would shine through the walls of glass illuminating the room, and in the winter those inside the room would feel as if they were in a snow globe.
The authors read from a podium at one end of the long white floor as audience members listened attentively from their rows of white chairs. Karl Jirgens (the event’s moderator) was first to read, followed by Brian Henderson, Nicole Markotić, and Susan Holbrook. Nicole Markotić and Susan Holbrook read from their new books—Nicole’s a fiction novel titled Scrapbook of My Years as a Zealot (published by Arsenal Pulp Press in 2008) and Susan’s a collection of poetry called Joy Is So Exhausting (published by Coach House Books in 2009). The publication dates of these books confirm that, despite the recession, people are still creating and producing.
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