Apple Blossoms in Ottawa
Eye Opener on the Pet Food Industry
I was watching a documentary on the pet food industry and I was horrified to learn of the practices employed by the various companies. CRUEL animal testing including killing of the test animals, and much, much more. Almost all of them employ extremely deceptive marketing practices and your cat is eating a majority of grains even if meat is listed first on their ingredient labels.
If you want to know what companies use animal testing check out this website: http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/hummingbird/198/id2.htm
If you'd like to find out more about the CBC documentary check it out here: http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/dogsbreakfast.html
...and here's an organization working to improve the situation for all pet owners: http://www.defendourpets.org/
BOINC – Volunteer your PC or MAC for science/medicine/charity
Do you leave your PC turned on when you're not using it? If you're like me, you probably do and you might feel a bit guilty about all that wasted power. Well I've found a way to allay my guilt. Its called BOINC from Berkeley University. It allows your computer to process raw data from various organizations. For example, you can help with cancer and AIDS research. Your PC analyzes protein molecules and sends the information back to the organization you're helping. This is called Distributed Computing and it allows organizations to make use of a vast amount of computing power spread out over the planet! Good idea, eh?
If you're interested in helping out, download the BOINC agent here: mach zehnder modulatorhttp://boinc.berkeley.edu/
I've had this running on Windows XP, Vista, Ubuntu and Macintosh all without any problems. If you need help getting started, drop me a line!
Puffy
Here Puffy! I adopted her from Toronto Cat Rescue this week and I am in love already:
Why I choose organic food whenever possible
I keep seeing news stories comparing the taste and nutrition values of organic vs. non-organic foods. I feel like people are completely missing the point.
Our environment is becoming more and more saturated in chemicals made by companies that want to keep making profit off their sale. Why should we have to prove that organic farming is healthier? Why don't we err on the side of caution and reduce or eliminate the use of these chemicals? What's the worst that can happen from choosing organic foods? I may spend a little extra money, but I know that the people that produce the food aren't exposed to toxic chemicals and I know that the wildlife near those farms isn't being adversely affected either. I would hate to eat non-organic and find out that a chemical used to grow it was responsible for killing our bees, or causing disease in people and animals.
People need to change their way of thinking about food. Its about the planet and all its inhabitants.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I wish all of my friends and family a healthy and prosperous 2009! Love to All! ....Robin
Vacation in the Maritimes
Hereколи под наем's a sampling of the things I did while out East:
Picked Potatoes.
Helped hay.
Painted and fixed three birdhouses.
Visited Ina and Shirley MacKenzie in Pictou.
Drove around NS. (Sorry I didn't visit some friends if you're reading this. It was a family thing.)
Went beachcombing for driftwood, shells and cool rocks.
Went to Emily and Don's Wedding.
Spent time with family and friends.
Took a lot of pictures of the BEAUTIFUL Autumn leaves.
I am now back in Toronto feeling refreshed! I hope to see everyone again soon.
Fried Green Tomato Mash
Mom used to cook this concoction every summer. I still love it:
- 2 large green tomatoes (unripe)
- 1 onion
- half a green pepper
- half a pack of mushrooms, sliced.
- 5 slices of bacon.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- a dash of herbes de provence or Italian herb mix if you like.
Cut the bacon into small squares and fry till crispy. Set the bacon aside. Drain the bacon fat that's left over, leaving a table spoon or so in the pan.
Add the veggie ingredients. Fry until everything is soft and starts to crisp a bit. Add the bacon back in, mix, and serve! Makes a great sidedish and its a great way to use your extra green tomatoes.
