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Why We Need Two Incomes
- jim Young
“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” - Dolly Parton
We live in a disposable world. Everything from paper cups to spouses are disposable these days. And it costs us big time (especially the latter). Not only has this become a problem for our environment, it’s also the cause of a lot of our social problems.
Excessiveness is also part of the problem. We all have too much stuff.
People complain that two incomes are required to survive in today’s world. It is very rare to see a stay-at-home mom anymore. The decision to become a career mom may be based on many facets but economic need remains a major contributing factor.
I think our attitude towards material things has a lot to do with it too.
We have a pair of scissors in our kitchen. We also have a pair of scissors here in my den. I can’t be bothered walking all the way down to the kitchen to get the scissors when I need them.
When I say “all the way down”, I don’t mean down a flight of stairs, I m…
“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” - Dolly Parton
We live in a disposable world. Everything from paper cups to spouses are disposable these days. And it costs us big time (especially the latter). Not only has this become a problem for our environment, it’s also the cause of a lot of our social problems.
Excessiveness is also part of the problem. We all have too much stuff.
People complain that two incomes are required to survive in today’s world. It is very rare to see a stay-at-home mom anymore. The decision to become a career mom may be based on many facets but economic need remains a major contributing factor.
I think our attitude towards material things has a lot to do with it too.
We have a pair of scissors in our kitchen. We also have a pair of scissors here in my den. I can’t be bothered walking all the way down to the kitchen to get the scissors when I need them.
When I say “all the way down”, I don’t mean down a flight of stairs, I m…
Northern Ontario Sunshine
- jim Young
When most people think of Northern Ontario, they often think of cold and snow. But we get lots of hot days here in the summer too. When it gets really hot, I turn to something cold and refreshing such as this drink I came up with that I like to call Northern Ontario Sunshine. I make it up ahead of time so no matter when the sun's out, once the work is done all I have to do is put the last few ingredients together and sit back and relax.
Time Required: 10 min.
Yield: 9 cups / 2 litres
Servings: 6
Serving Size: 12 Cdn oz / 333 ml
Calories per serving: 222
Cost per serving: $3.27
Stuff Required:
1 cup Coconut Rum1 cup Pineapple Rum2.5 cups Orange Juice1 litre Club SodaCrushed IceDo this:
Mix Coconut Rum, Pineapple rum and Orange Juice in one large container and refrigerate until needed.Fill a Highball or Collins glass with crushed ice.Half-fill the glass with Rum/OJ mix.Top up with Club Soda.Serve with a straw.
Cost per serving is based on the following data:
SPECIAL NOTE: Please jo…
When most people think of Northern Ontario, they often think of cold and snow. But we get lots of hot days here in the summer too. When it gets really hot, I turn to something cold and refreshing such as this drink I came up with that I like to call Northern Ontario Sunshine. I make it up ahead of time so no matter when the sun's out, once the work is done all I have to do is put the last few ingredients together and sit back and relax.
Time Required: 10 min.
Yield: 9 cups / 2 litres
Servings: 6
Serving Size: 12 Cdn oz / 333 ml
Calories per serving: 222
Cost per serving: $3.27
Stuff Required:
1 cup Coconut Rum1 cup Pineapple Rum2.5 cups Orange Juice1 litre Club SodaCrushed IceDo this:
Mix Coconut Rum, Pineapple rum and Orange Juice in one large container and refrigerate until needed.Fill a Highball or Collins glass with crushed ice.Half-fill the glass with Rum/OJ mix.Top up with Club Soda.Serve with a straw.
Cost per serving is based on the following data:
SPECIAL NOTE: Please jo…
Microwave Butterscotch Sundae Sauce
- jim Young
Looking for a good summertime treat? Try this sundae topping. It's a great recipe I got from my Aunt Mary many years ago and it only takes a few minutes to put together. The hardest part is waiting for it to cool so it won't melt your ice cream. The addition of the ButterShots Liqueur was my contribution. And while it's a great topping for any ice cream, Aunt Mary always recommended using it on Kawartha Ice Cream!
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cook Time: 3 min.
Cool Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours, 13 min.
Yield: ½ cup
Stuff Required:
¼ cup butter, softened⅔ cup brown sugar⅓ cup whipping cream½ tsp vanilla extract¼ cup ButterShots Liqueur (optional)Do This:
Stir butter with brown sugar and whipping cream in a medium sized microwave bowl.Cook in the microwave on high heat for about 30 seconds.Stir well, then cook in the microwave for another 30 seconds to a minute or until slightly thickened. (Note: cooking it too long in the microwave will cause it to harden.)Stir in vanilla …
Looking for a good summertime treat? Try this sundae topping. It's a great recipe I got from my Aunt Mary many years ago and it only takes a few minutes to put together. The hardest part is waiting for it to cool so it won't melt your ice cream. The addition of the ButterShots Liqueur was my contribution. And while it's a great topping for any ice cream, Aunt Mary always recommended using it on Kawartha Ice Cream!
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cook Time: 3 min.
Cool Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours, 13 min.
Yield: ½ cup
Stuff Required:
¼ cup butter, softened⅔ cup brown sugar⅓ cup whipping cream½ tsp vanilla extract¼ cup ButterShots Liqueur (optional)Do This:
Stir butter with brown sugar and whipping cream in a medium sized microwave bowl.Cook in the microwave on high heat for about 30 seconds.Stir well, then cook in the microwave for another 30 seconds to a minute or until slightly thickened. (Note: cooking it too long in the microwave will cause it to harden.)Stir in vanilla …
Wearing A Mask In Public Places
- jim Young
“Who was that masked man?” - from the Lone Ranger Radio & TV Show
To be honest, I’m not sure that I totally buy into the hype of wearing a mask when out in public.
There are a lot of pros and cons and debates about the use of masks, which masks should and shouldn’t be used and even how they should and shouldn’t be used.
I have seen plenty of very impressive dramatizations online demonstrating the effectiveness of masks although I am not certain they necessarily have any real scientific backing.
But, at the same time, I don’t understand why so many people are so resistant to wearing a mask.
Vanity
Is it vanity? Some people think wearing a mask makes them look silly. Don’t worry about it. Who’s going to recognize you anyway? There’s safety in numbers. So what if you look silly? So does everyone else. Is it worth the risk? How will you feel about how you will look in your coffin?
Restrictive
Some people will tell you that it’s too hard to breathe and they are not getting enou…
“Who was that masked man?” - from the Lone Ranger Radio & TV Show
To be honest, I’m not sure that I totally buy into the hype of wearing a mask when out in public.
There are a lot of pros and cons and debates about the use of masks, which masks should and shouldn’t be used and even how they should and shouldn’t be used.
I have seen plenty of very impressive dramatizations online demonstrating the effectiveness of masks although I am not certain they necessarily have any real scientific backing.
But, at the same time, I don’t understand why so many people are so resistant to wearing a mask.
Vanity
Is it vanity? Some people think wearing a mask makes them look silly. Don’t worry about it. Who’s going to recognize you anyway? There’s safety in numbers. So what if you look silly? So does everyone else. Is it worth the risk? How will you feel about how you will look in your coffin?
Restrictive
Some people will tell you that it’s too hard to breathe and they are not getting enou…
Published in The Great North Arrow, August 2019: My Family Name
- jim Young
“What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;” - William Shakespeare
Last month I touched on the importance of my family name.
Family names are an interesting topic.
In Canada and most Western cultures, children typically take on the father’s family name. Of late however, it has become more common for a child to take on a mother’s family name, particularly if she is a single mother or has chosen for whatever reason, not to adopt her husband’s family name.
In other cultures such as Cuba, children more often take on their mother’s family name. The Castro family however didn’t follow this rule or Fidel and Raúl Castro would have been known as Fidel and Raúl Ruz.
Our family name is often also referred to as our last name in Western cultures although in many parts of the world it is listed first, followed by given names.
Family names once described a man’s profession such as Baker or Smith (for a Blacksmith). Sometimes a person’s last …
“What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;” - William Shakespeare
Last month I touched on the importance of my family name.
Family names are an interesting topic.
In Canada and most Western cultures, children typically take on the father’s family name. Of late however, it has become more common for a child to take on a mother’s family name, particularly if she is a single mother or has chosen for whatever reason, not to adopt her husband’s family name.
In other cultures such as Cuba, children more often take on their mother’s family name. The Castro family however didn’t follow this rule or Fidel and Raúl Castro would have been known as Fidel and Raúl Ruz.
Our family name is often also referred to as our last name in Western cultures although in many parts of the world it is listed first, followed by given names.
Family names once described a man’s profession such as Baker or Smith (for a Blacksmith). Sometimes a person’s last …
No Offence Intended
- jim Young 20200701
“I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.”
- Bennie Benjamin, Horace Ott and Sol Marcus
The first thing we learn to do as babies is how to communicate. If we are unhappy or uncomfortable we instinctively cry and our parents will attempt to soothe us.
Sometimes, however, they don’t soothe us in the way we want to be soothed.
We quickly learn that if we cry one way, they will feed us. If we cry a little differently they will change our diapers and yet another cry will get us rocked.
With that communication comes power. Just from crying.
As we grow older our needs become more complex and our sounds develop into words to accommodate these needs.
The average English speaking adult today knows and uses about 20,000 words and probably knows and understands another 20,000 words.
Almost every word also has multiple meanings, some up to 430.
However you look at it, that’s a lot of words…
“I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.”
- Bennie Benjamin, Horace Ott and Sol Marcus
The first thing we learn to do as babies is how to communicate. If we are unhappy or uncomfortable we instinctively cry and our parents will attempt to soothe us.
Sometimes, however, they don’t soothe us in the way we want to be soothed.
We quickly learn that if we cry one way, they will feed us. If we cry a little differently they will change our diapers and yet another cry will get us rocked.
With that communication comes power. Just from crying.
As we grow older our needs become more complex and our sounds develop into words to accommodate these needs.
The average English speaking adult today knows and uses about 20,000 words and probably knows and understands another 20,000 words.
Almost every word also has multiple meanings, some up to 430.
However you look at it, that’s a lot of words…
Nothing
"I can sit for hours in front of the T.V. And if I get bored... I'll get up and turn it ON." - jim Young