Saturday Funnies

Lottery Luck

Does anyone in Ontario, Canada play any of the lottery games sponsored by the OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation?)

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If you do play and win a large prize, there is something that you probably didn't know.

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On Monday, Mike Walsh of Cambridge, Ontario found that even though he held a winning 6/49 lottery ticket worth $1,000,000, the Toronto OLG office would not honour it until a five-week investigation was complete, because he couldn't remember the exact time and day he bought it.

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This information is not printed on the ticket, nor is there signage stating this rule, posted at any lottery retailers in the province.

Even the OLG web site does not have this rule listed on their site.

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So what's a brand new millionaire to do?
Well fortunately Walsh contacted the Toronto Sun newspaper with his story.

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Just over 24 hours later, he got a call from the OLG office to come back to Toronto to pick up his cheque for $1,000,000.

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Perhaps the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, after consulting with legal counsel, realized that if you are going to have stipulations on when and how you can cash in a winning ticket; they have to let the lottery players know about these rules in advance of the sale of the ticket.

And they probably didn't want a bad press report about this incident either.

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In the future whenever I purchase a lottery ticket, I will make sure that I clip the cash register receipt to the ticket.

This happened in Ontario, but I would suggest to lottery players from other provinces or states, to take my advice and retain your receipt and clip it to the hopefully, winning ticket just in case you might need that information.

And don't forget to sign your ticket immediately after the purchase.

Good Luck!

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Bear((( )))

Cleaning As A Way to Exercise

I want to keep my house clean and take a step toward getting and staying in shape.
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Did you know that when you perform simple household chores, you can burn almost 300 calories per hour.
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Here are some great examples:
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Start Your Vacuum!
Vacuuming works all sorts of muscles in the upper body. And when vacuuming the stairs, you're getting the legs into the action, too.
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Get on the Floor!
Mopping floors for 30 minutes can burn 143 calories for a 140-pound person. That's actually more calories burned than walking for the same amount of time at a 3.5-mph pace. For extra credit (and extra burned calories), get down on your hands and knees and really scrub.
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Wash Those Windows!
Before it gets too cold in some parts of the country, wash the outsides of your windows. And once winter appears you still can wash the insides. Window washing is great for toning arms and shoulders.
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Add Some Motion!
When it comes to chores like dusting, doing the dishes or other stand-in-place activities, kick up the aerobic activity by adding in some squats or walking in place.
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Go on Laundry Duty!
I am finally going to get my laundry room in order by doing all the laundry possible and putting it all away in its proper place. With the bending, twisting and stair climbing, laundry can be a full-body workout. Stand up when folding the clothes and don't forget to break out the iron and ironing board. The motions used for folding and ironing will help tone muscles in the legs, arms and back.
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Keep On Keeping On!
Exercise with housecleaning means I will have two great things to feel good about, a clean house and a toned body.
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Bear((( )))

ABC Wednesday-F

Francine and Francis have been best FRIENDS For Fifty years.

We all have many Friends in our lifetime.

We have childhood Friends, casual Friends, Family Friends, distant Friends, close Friends, neighbourhood Friends, work Friends, blogging Friends, girl-Friends, boy-Friends and sometimes even imaginary Friends. We make new Friends and honour old Friends.

I dedicate this post to my best Friend For the past Forty years, my husband.
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Friends are Flowers that never Fade away.
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Old Friends share one heart.
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Friendship is the best gift of all.
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A Friend in need is a Friend indeed.
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A true Friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else believes the smile on your Face.
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Friendship isn’t a big thing – it is a million little things.
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Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait For the answer.
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What is a Friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
Aristotle
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The language of Friendship is not words but meanings.
Henry David Thoreau
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The antidote for Fifty enemies is one Friend.
Aristotle
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Walking with a Friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.
Helen Keller
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A Friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.
Douglas Pagels
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And so my blogging Friends, this concludes my Friendly post For
ABC Wednesday hosted by Mrs. Nesbitt.
Mr. Linky can be Found here.
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Bear((( )))

Listeriosis Monocytogenes

Listeriosis Monocytogenes sounds like a mouthful doesn't it?
Well you don't need a mouthful of listeria bacterium to kill you as Canadians have found in the past week.

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A dozen deaths are now linked to the outbreak of a bacterial infection that prompted a nationwide recall of ready-to-eat meat, the Public Health Agency of Canada said yesterday.

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Maple Leaf Foods have shut a plant in Toronto, Ontario after an outbreak of this bacterial infection was linked back to their plant.
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"What is Listeria monocytogenes?
The bacterium which causes listeriosis in animals. It may also affect humans.
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What are the sources for human infection?
Soft cheese, ready-made salads, improperly cooked meats, direct contact with an infected animal.
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How does it get into food?
The bacterium is found in soil and water. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure as fertilizer. It has been found in raw foods, such as uncooked meats, as well as processed foods that become contaminated after processing, such as cold cuts at the deli counter. Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking.
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What are the symptoms?
Fever, aches and pains, sore throat, abdominal pain. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions can occur. Symptoms appear within two to 30 days and up to 90 days after consuming contaminated food. Some infections result in death.
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Who is at risk?
The elderly, pregnant women, newborn babies, those with weakened immune systems are most at risk. Healthy adults and children occasionally get infected, but they rarely become seriously ill.
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How is it diagnosed and treated?
It is diagnosed by blood and urine tests. Treatment is with antibiotic drugs. There is no vaccine to prevent listeriosis.
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Minimizing your risk:
Frequently wash and disinfect the refrigerator.
Keep leftovers for a maximum of four days only.
Refrigerate or freeze perishable food, prepared food and leftovers within two hours.
Check the temperature in your refrigerator to make sure it is at 4C or colder.
Cook or boil foods such as hot dogs and poultry products until they are steaming hot.
Wash hands, knives and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods."
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Sources: Canadian Medical Association, Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, CDC
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The CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) recall notices with a link to a list of all the recalled meat can be found here.
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Bear((( )))

Thank You

If you scroll down and look over to the left column (under my blog archive) you will see that I have received two more awards.
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I received "The Spreader of Love" award from Kay at Kay's Thinking Cap.
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And I also received "The Sharing of Love" award from Sablonneuse-My Life in France.
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Thank you so much to both of you for giving me these wonderful accolades.
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Please accept this Bouquet of Bears as my special thank you.
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I also would like to give this bouquet to the other wonderful people who have given me awards in the past.
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Bobbie at Almost There, Daryl at out & about in new york city and The Lehners in France please come over and pick up your Bouquet of Bears as my thanks to you for giving me an award.
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Thank you to all of you and a HUGE thank you to everyone who comes to read and/or leave a comment on my blog.
I appreciate it very much.
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Bear((( )))

Saturday Funnies

Some times you just have to ask yourself, "Will I live to be 80?"

I recently visited my family physician.

After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, he said I was doing fairly well for my age.

A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking him, "Do you think I'll live to be 80?"

He asked, "Do you smoke tobacco or drink alcoholic beverages?''

"No" I replied. "I don't do drugs, either."

Then he asked, "Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?"

I said, "No, I was told that all red meat is unhealthy."

"Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, boating, fishing or relaxing on the beach?"

"No, I don't" I said.

He asked, "Do you gamble, drive fast cars , or have a lot of sex?"

"No" I said. "I don't do any of those things."

He looked at me and asked, "Then why do you even care?"

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And this one is for Wendy at COPD - Caregiving is NOT for Wimps!
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A 97 year old man goes into his doctor’s office and says, “Doc, I want my sex drive lowered.”
“Sir”, replied the doctor, “You’re 97. Don’t you think your sex drive is all in your head?”
“You’re darn right it is!” replied the old man. “That’s why I want it lowered!”

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Bear((( )))

Smashing Age Stereotypes

I received this in an email from a great friend and I wanted to share it with all of you.

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AGE STEREOTYPES

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We have all heard them and if you still haven’t you soon will.
What I am talking about is all the clichés that are out there in society about aging.

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Well I’m ready to smash them, are you?

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Cliché: Over the hill
Stereotype slasher: Yeah, I’m over the hill – because I ran there in my last 10k race.
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Cliché: Past her prime

Stereotype slasher: If that’s true, how is it I’ve got a fantastic career, a great social life and I’m happier with my looks than I've ever been?
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Cliché: Age-appropriate dressing

Stereotype slasher: I prefer “me-appropriate” dressing. Maybe it’s time to dress as we please.
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Cliché: Mature woman

Stereotype slasher: When I’m with my best friends, we don’t act the least bit mature. We giggle like teenagers and have a fantastic time.

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Cliché: Woman of a certain age

Stereotype slasher: Oh, I’m certain all right – certain that I won’t put up with guff from anyone!

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Cliché: Old and lonely

Stereotype slasher: Those words just aren’t in my vocabulary. I am kind, loved, happy, active and valued.

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Cliché: Older faces and bodies aren’t sexy

Stereotype slasher: That’s what you think! Just ask my husband.
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Cliché: 60 is the new 50

Stereotype slasher: Now that’s one cliché that I like!
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This is not about anti-aging. This is about taking a fresh attitude toward aging.
I’m over 60, I embrace life with boundless vitality, I have so much wisdom to share and I’m ready to celebrate all my amazing experiences.

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ARE YOU?

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Bear((( )))

Rest In Peace

From left to right:
Sgt. Shawn Eades, Cpl. Dustin Wasden and Sapper Stephan Stock

THE CANADIAN PRESS
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan

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Three Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device as a "much more aggressive" insurgency exacted another deadly toll on NATO soldiers in the country.
The Canadian deaths came amid attacks on French and Polish soldiers in the country, but Canada's top soldier in Afghanistan said today it should not be seen as a sign the Taliban is gaining strength.
"What I'd say is that they're much more aggressive this fighting season than they've been in the past," Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson said.
The three soldiers were on patrol in Zhari district at about 10:30 a.m. local time Wednesday, when they were killed by an improvised explosive device. They were on their way to a site to do a reconnaissance of a route to be used for a future operation.
A fourth soldier was seriously injured.

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The rest of the story is here.

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The deaths bring the total number of Canadian soldiers who have died during the Afghan mission to 93.

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Rest In Peace

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Bear((( )))

Wish Upon a Star

I was wondering, if you could wake up tomorrow morning and have ONE physical change to yourself, what would it be?

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Would you want a smaller nose, a larger bustline, different teeth or to be taller or shorter?

How about straighter or curlier hair, less of a derriere, smaller ears or feet or maybe abs of steel?

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This is your chance to put in your request and wish upon a falling star.

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As for myself it is a real toss-up.

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Do I want a flatter tummy or to never have thunder thighs with that unattractive cellulite showing?

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Well I have made my decision.

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My choice is to have my eyes changed so that the lids don't droop, the bags are gone and I have 20/20 vision.

But I would keep them the same colour.

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Post your wishes in the comments section and let's see what one thing you would change if it could magically happen overnight.

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Bear((( )))

ABC Wednesday-E

Ellen and Elliot Eldridge Enjoy their Exciting ride on the Enormous Elephant named Elise.

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Elephants are the biggest mammals living on the Earth. They may live up to 70 years.

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There are two types of Elephants - African Elephants and Asian or Indian Elephants.

Asian or Indian Elephants live in forests in Asia and African Elephants live below the Sahara Desert in bush, forests and on grassy plains.

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They resemble Each other only from a distance.

Both are big, have a trunk, a tail and tusks.

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Looking closer, there is a huge difference between the African Elephant and the Asian Elephant.

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Weight:

African--4000-7000 kg

Asian----3000-6000 kg

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Shoulder height:

African--3-4 Meter

Asian----2-3.5 Meter

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Skin:

African--More Wrinkled

Asian----Smoother

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Highest point:

African--On the shoulder

Asian----On the back

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Size of the Ears:

African--Bigger, reach up over the neck

Asian----Smaller, do not reach over the neck

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Shape of the back:

African--Concave

Asian----Convex or straight

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Shape of the head:

African--Not crumpled from the front to the back

No humped structures

No dent on forehead

Asian----Crumpled from the front to the back

Humped structures on top of head

Forehead dented

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Tusks:

African--Existing with both sexes, bigger with males

Asian----Males in many cases have tusks

Females have only rudimentary or no tusks

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Lower Lip:

African--Short and round

Asian----Long and tapered

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Trunk End:

African--With two fingers

Asian----With one finger

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Hopefully I have Enlightened, Entertained and Educated you about Everything you Ever wanted to know about Elephants.

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ABC Wednesday blog with no comment.

Mr. Linky can be found here.

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Mrs. Nesbitt

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Bear((( )))

10 Surprising Super Foods

From Forbes.com
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"According to experts, superfoods are edibles densely packed with antioxidant vitamins and other nutrients. Despite having been around for years, it's still sometimes surprising which foods qualify as super. Here are 10 delicious foods that happen to be ultra-healthy."
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RAW CHOCOLATE
Raw chocolate--or the cacao nut--is the real super food. (Any chocolate that's below 70% cacao has very little nutritional value.) Along with omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of heart disease, the bitter nut contains magnesium, plant-source iron and phenylethylamine, said to enhance one's mood
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BUCKWHEAT HONEY
Honey is categorized as a high-glycemic food, which means it causes a spike in the body's sugar levels. But dark honey, like buckwheat, neutralizes sugar levels.The sweetener is also an anti-inflammatory packed with anti-oxidants, which help improve brain and heart functions. It also has anti-bacterial properties and is used to help heal wounds in certain cultures.
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AVOCADOS
This buttery fruit is high in fat, but it's primarily monounsaturated fat, which means it doesn't clog arteries. Avocados are also high in potassium (which can reduce the risk of high blood pressure) B vitamins (which promote healthy skin and muscle tone) vitamin E (which protects against cardiovascular disease) and vitamin K (which improves bone health) as well as insoluble and soluble fiber, which help aid in digestion.
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PUMPKIN
Used most in a super-sweet pie filling, pumpkin, on its own, is highly-nutritious. The fruit contains antioxidants like carotenoids, a defense against cell damage, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin, which can help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, an eye disease that can result in blindness. When baked with spices--sweet or savory--pumpkin is a delicious, healthy side dish or snack.
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BLACK TEA
Although green tea is often lauded for its health benefits, black tea--more popular in the West--comprises theaflavins and thearubigens, which have been found to be effective in preventing dementia and lowering cholesterol.
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EGGS
This popular, cheap food was once associated with high cholesterol and heart disease. However, more recent studies have found that notion to be false. An egg, on average, only contains 1.5 grams of saturated fat. They also contain vitamin D (which keeps bones strong), choline--a nutrient that aids in heart and brain health--and sulfur and other minerals, great for keeping hair and nails strong.
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CINNAMON
This slightly sweet spice helps to slow down the rush of sugar to the blood, known to affect insulin levels and sometimes cause weight gain. It's also an anti-inflammatory, which means it can help delay the onset of aging.
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TOMATO PASTE
No-salt or low-salt tomato paste has the highest concentration of lycopene of all tomatoes or tomato products. The phytochemical is a natural blood thinner and a strong defense against certain diseases like prostate cancer.
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BLUEBERRIES
The fruit is filled with immune-boosting Vitamin C and antioxidants said to improve brain function. Research at the Boston-based USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging showed that blueberries can help to increase the number of cells in the area of the brain responsible for memory.
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WASABI
Japanese horseradish--a potent condiment often eaten with sushi--has several potential health benefits. It's said to help prevent everything from ulcers and tooth decay to blood clots and asthma. It also has antibacterial properties.
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Bear((( )))

Mundayz

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Bear((( )))

Scientific Proof

Laughter is the best medicine!

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I am sure that I am not alone in saying that participating yesterday in the Olympik

"Synchronized Sittin" event hosted by Bob T Bear (esq.) gave all of us many chuckles.

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B T Bear's comments to everyone were so funny and I have to admit one of his comments to me made me laugh out loud.

I get a huge grin on my face every time I think about it even now.

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I think everyone who entered feels the same and I enjoyed visiting your blogs and seeing your teams.

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How can anyone feel blue when for a short time we have allowed ourselves to act like children at play.

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There is scientific proof that laughter is good for your health and a good stress management strategy. It reduces the level of stress hormones in our bodies and gives us an internal workout. A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.

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There are many social benefits of laughter because it connects us with others. Also, laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well.

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So to all who participated either as fellow entrants in the "Synchronized Sittin" or to my many blog friends who left comments on both B T Bear's and my blog; let's give Bob T Bear (esq.) a resounding three cheers.

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Hip Hip Hurray

Hip Hip Hurray

Hip Hip Hurray

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Bear((( )))

"Synchronized Sittin"

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On Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Bob T Bear (esq.) issued an "Olympik Challenge"
on his blog for a “Synchronized Sittin" Event.
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Well I have never been able to pass up on a challenge, especially from such a well-known, handsome and esteemed bear.
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(The chocolate is in the mail as you requested Bob.)
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These bears seen here in the official Olympic "Synchronized Sittin" Event photo have not moved an inch in the past six months since my injury.
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Points? for STAMINA
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They are sitting in my old iron baby crib.
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Points? for sitting in an ANTIQUE
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Some of the the bears sitting there are used at Christmas.
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Points? for partial COLOUR CO-ORDINATION
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The white shawl draped over the edge of the crib was the shawl used by my son and daughter for their Christenings.
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Points? for RELIGIOUS AFFECT
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A few years ago my daughter had her name and birthdate embroidered in pink on one corner of the shawl and my son's name and birthdate embroidered in blue on another corner. She then wrapped it up and presented it to me on Mother's Day.
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Points? for NOSTALGIA
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The white bear with no eyes, nose, mouth or ears belonged to my 19 year old dog who we had to have put down.
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Points? for SYMPATHY
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They were the only bears sitting where there isn't any clutter in this room.
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Points? for NEATNESS
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The photo was shot by me and not by my more professional husband.
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Points? for BEING AN AMATEUR IN THE TRUE OLYMPIC SPIRIT OF THE GAMES
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I humbly submit my entry.
( to you Bob, the good looking and intelligent bear judge)
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Everyone who sees this, go over to see Bob T Bear (esq.) and tell him why you think I deserve the Gold Medal.
Hopefully he will consider write-in votes and disregard the blatant sucking up and attempt at bribery on my part.
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Bear((( )))

As We Grow Up

I received this in an email and I thought I would share it with all my blogging friends.
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As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
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You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time.
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You'll break hearts too,
So remember how it felt when yours was broken.
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You'll fight with your best friend.
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You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
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You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.
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So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
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Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
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Authour unknown
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Bear((( )))

ABC Wednesday-D

Dr. Dwayne Payne D.D.S. the family Dentist; Demonstrates the proper technique for cleaning Dentures.
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The initials of D.D.S. after his name Denotes he is a Doctor of Dental Surgery.
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Other people aiding in oral health service include Dental assistants, Dental hygienists, Dental technicians and Dental therapists.
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Dental health is important for everyone.
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The most important part of Dental care is to brush and floss your teeth regularly (at least twice a Day, better yet after every meal or snack) based on the advice of your Dentist.
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This will help prevent acid attack to your teeth and help avoid plaque formation.
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Remember:
Food particles left between your teeth will break Down and become acidic.
Food Does not have to be sugary or sweet to cause a cavity.
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Be true to your teeth or they'll be false to you!
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ABC Wednesday is brought to you by Mrs. Nesbitt.
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Bear((( )))

Forgotten Heroes

After posting yesterday about the propane explosion in Toronto and the death of firefighter Bob Leek; I started thinking how we tend to forget about all the heroes out there in our cities, countries and the world who are doing their jobs – to serve and protect.
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Why do we seem to only praise and remember them when a tragedy or death occurs?

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Should we not each day remind ourselves that every second they are on the job, they are there for us, putting their lives in danger for us?
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Our soldiers, the firefighters, the police, the medical personnel, the EMT and the hundreds of volunteers from the Red Cross and the Salvation Army etc. are there doing their jobs and not asking for or expecting anything from us.
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Daily they are doing their jobs; not expecting accolades from us, the general public.
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Human nature being what it is; we all tend to forget about them until a tragedy or death occurs.
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So today I want to publicly say “Thank You” to each and every one of you out there.
You are my super heroes.

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And you are not forgotten.

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Bear((( )))

Propane Explosion in Toronto

Residents 'Very Lucky' After Massive Explosion At Propane Facility
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from http://www.citynews.ca/
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Sunday August 10, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
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" A huge swath of northwest Toronto has been evacuated following a six-alarm fire early Sunday morning.
The blaze was triggered by a massive explosion at a propane facility that sent huge plumes of smoke into the air and scattered debris for kilometres.
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The building, belonging to Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases, blew just before 4am on Murray Road near Keele and Wilson. It's a supplier of nitrogen, propane and helium. There were workers inside the building at the time. It's not known if they made it out, or even how many were there.
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Miraculously, no fatalities have been reported, and authorities want to keep it that way. However, at noon, one person was still unaccounted for."
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The rest of the story can be read here.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV5udSWJcZo
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Also from CTV:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080810/to_explo_080810/20080810?hub=TopStories
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Thank you to the brave firefighters and police personnel who have been working so diligently to protect the citizens of this area of Toronto. Stay safe.
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UPDATE:
Firefighter without vital signs after propane blaze.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080810.wexplosions0810/BNStory/National/home
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FURTHER UPDATE:
Firefighter Found Without Vital Signs Succumbs Following Massive Blast
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http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_25625.aspx
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REST IN PEACE
Bob Leek
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_25625.aspx
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Bear((( )))

Dreams

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could take a movie of one of your dreams?
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I have found a website that can do just that.
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It is called Dreamlines.
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All you have to do is enter a word or phrase and like magic your dream begins.
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I entered the words teddy bears and my dream began to appear on my monitor screen.
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I then did a Screen Capture and have now got a picture from my dream.
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Just a little something that you could do if you get tired of watching the Olympics today.
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Bear((( )))

Nothing to Wear

Yesterday, I was reading Sue’s Blog for Boomers, Men and Women over 50
where she posted that she was
“so frustrated. I've been surfing the web for an hour now. I can't believe the lack of clothing options for the over-50 lady.”

I commented about a web site and store here in Canada that I like.
And of course this got me thinking.

What if we all posted some of our favourite sites and/or stores that cater to the mature woman and her figure?
That way we could save everyone’s favourites on our computers, perhaps in a folder labeled *Shopping for Me.*

Then when we are in the mood for shopping for something new to add to our wardrobes or just want to see what is available at the moment we would have a *one stop shopping area* that would be easy to access either monthly, weekly or in my case, daily.

So ladies what do you think?

I'll start with mine.
The following are my personal favourites here in Canada.

Tabi
On-line or in-store shopping. .

Northern Reflections Canada
On-line or in-store shopping.

Nygard
On-line or in-store shopping

Cleo
In store only

Post your favourites in the comments section or on your own personal blogs.


Bear((( )))

ABC Wednesday-C

Cheer Bear one of the Care Bears.

The Care Bears are a set of Characters Created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting Cards. The original artwork for the Cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik.

In 1983, Parker Brothers and Kenner took the Characters and made the first in a line of very successful teddy bears based on the Care Bears.
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The Care Bears keep watch over Earth to keep bad feelings from spreading.
They live in the Cloud filled land of Care-a-Lot and descend to earth in their Cloud-Cars whenever some lonely boy or girl needs a smile or hug.

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Each of the following Care Bears are a different Colour and have a symbol that describes their personality on their tummy.

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Bedtime Bear whose Colour is Blue with the Symbol: Moon with a hanging star

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Birthday Bear whose Colour is Golden Orange with the Symbol: Cupcake

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Champ Bear whose Colour is Golden Orange with the Symbol: Loving Cup

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Cheer Bear whose Colour is Pink with the Symbol: Rainbow

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Day Dream Bear whose Colour is Orange with the Symbol: 2 Heart balloons

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Forest Friend Bear whose Colour is Tan with the Symbol: Bear and a rabbit

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Friend Bear whose Colour is Orange with the Symbol: 2 Flowers

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Funshine Bear whose Colour is Yellow with the Symbol: Smiling Sun

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Good Luck Bear whose Colour is Green with the Symbol: Clover

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Grams Bear whose Colour is Gray with the Symbol: Rose

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Grumpy Bear whose Colour is Blue with the Symbol: Cloud

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Harmony Bear whose Colour is Purple with the Symbol: 3 Musical notes

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Hugs Cub whose Colour is Pink with the Symbol: Star inside a heart

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Love-a-Lot Bear whose Colour is Pink with the Symbol: 2 Hearts

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Secret Bear whose Colour is Golden Orange with the Symbol: Heart Lock

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Share Bear whose Colour is Purple with the Symbol: Soda with 2 straws

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Surprise Bear whose Colour is Blue with the Symbol: Box with a star

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Take Care Bear whose Colour is Orange with the Symbol: Apple

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Tender Heart Bear whose Colour is Brown with the Symbol: Heart

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True Heart Bear who is Multi-Coloured with the Symbol: Heart inside a star

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Tugs Cub whose Colour is Blue with the Symbol: Diaper with a star inside

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Wish Bear whose Colour is Turquoise with the Symbol: Shooting star

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ABC Wednesday is brought to you by Mrs. Nesbitt.

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Bear((( )))

Prohibition

Prohibition in the US began on January 16, 1920, when the Eighteenth Amendment went into effect.

Federal Prohibition agents (police) were given the task of enforcing the law. Even though the sale of alcohol was illegal, alcoholic drinks were still widely available at speakeasies and other underground drinking establishments. Many people also kept private bars to serve their guests.
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“Liquor bought from distilleries in Canada was smuggled across the border. In Detroit, Michigan, across the river from Walkerville, Ontario, illegal liquor sales were second only to the booming automobile industry. Bootlegging flourished. People bought alcohol under the guise of obtaining it for their own supplies then they evaded authorities, lugging liquor across the US border with skaters on sunny afternoons, tourists crossing on the ferry boats... strapped to underclothing, inside brassieres, in stockings, in boots, up coat sleeves, in tires in cars.”

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So what has prohibition to do with me?
As you know from my post on Monday "It's a Mystery", I have been unable to purchase ReaLemon™ juice in my hometown.
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I e-mailed Dr Pepper Snapple Group on Monday about this problem and here is their response:
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“Thank you for contacting us about ReaLemon™. Your comments and inquiries are appreciated because they provide valuable feedback about our brands.We have recently been informed of an availability issue on lemon concentrate due to weather conditions impacting the most recent lemon crop. This is a global raw material shortage that will impact our ability to supply ReaLemon™ to our customers. As a result, a limited number of items in our ReaLemon™ portfolio will be temporarily out of stock through September. Based on concentrate availability and demand, there may be intermittent shortages.”
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Some friends of ours went shopping in Michigan yesterday and purchased four large bottles of ReaLemon™ juice for us.
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Hopefully that amount will be enough to supply my needs because if it isn’t then I will be forced to start smuggling the juice the old fashioned way.
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I wonder how many bottles will fit in my brassiere?

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Bear((( )))

The Big Read

Gary (aka old dude) from Three Score Plus Ten posted this on his website last Saturday.

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This fun list came from another blog written by Morgan Drake.

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The Big Read

"The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed."

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1. Look at the list and bold/colourize those you have read.

2. Post the list on your site.

(This can also remind you of some great books to read.)

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1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkienn
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

4. Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling

5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

6. The Bible

7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell

9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa M. Alcott

12. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkienn

17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks

18. Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
19. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On the Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession - A.S. Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte's Web - E.B. White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

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Well this must mean that I am not average because I have read many more than six on this list.

Don't you think it is surprising that there is nothing by Ernest Hemingway listed? Such as the following that I have read:

A Farewell to Arms

The Old Man and the Sea

For Whom the Bell Tolls

The Sun Also Rises

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Bear((( )))

It's a Mystery

This is a real mystery.

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Perhaps Sherlock Holmes could solve it.

Or maybe Dr. Watson.

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Or perhaps, YOU out there in the blogosphere know what is happening.

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Who did this?

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What has happened?

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Where did it go?

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When did it start?

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Why can I not find an answer?

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How will I cope?

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I am talking about the disappearance of "REALEMON™" Lemon Juice - Concentrate from the shelves of all the grocery stores here in my hometown.

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I have always been able to purchase this here in Ontario, Canada; but in the past four weeks each and every grocery store that I have shopped at have not been re-stocking their stores with this product.

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Yesterday a local store said that they have not received this for a month but gave no reason *why*.

I add "REALEMON™" Lemon juice - Concentrate to the water I drink.

It has become such a habit that to me plain water doesn't have a *refreshing* taste any longer.

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Does anyone have the answer to the disappearance?

Can you solve the mystery?

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UPDATE: It seems to be happening all over the province of Ontario.

I found this " Where is all the lemon juice?" on a forum.

Is it happening in other parts of Canada or in the US?

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Bear((( )))