Near-Death Experience

October 24th, 2011

Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/rescued-hiker-was-sure-he-was-going-to-die/article2211039/

Have you ever had a near-death experience? If not, then you're lucky unlike Michael St. Laurent, 45, who was found Hanes Valley near Grouse Mountain. If not for chance, he may not have survived. The only reason he was discovered was because a off-duty staff member was out jogging in the Valley.  This is the first case that  have heard of that someone had been so sure of dying. St. Laurent was so positive that he was going to die in the forest that he had written and name and ID on himself to identify the body if he was ever found. He had arranged a self search-and-rescue for himself and gave his approximate position. This story reminds me of the movie 127 hours, where a man gets stranded in the desert with no way out and not much water. His solution for getting out, is amputating his own arm off which I don’t think I could ever do. The suffering and pain that Michael St. Laurent went through while he was stranded on Grouse Mountain would have been unbearable and what he did, calling in a search and rescue, and tagging himself for identification was really brave and courageous. 

Ontario Election Debate 2011 - Healthcare

October 4th, 2011

CBC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbZl_dz3aR8

The leaders of all three of the main parties gathered to discuss and debate on topics and ideas brought to light by the Canadian public. The segment that I am talking about it healthcare, and opinions in investing in the private sector. Each of the leaders had their own view on how it should be handled. Andria Horwath's (NDP) view on the healthcare system is that their need to be major changes in the public system; wait lines are too long, not enough nurses and doctors. She believes in the public, universal healthcare 100% and not in the private sector. Dalton Mcguinty (Liberal) really brought to surface the fact that Ontario has the shortest wait lines in the country. I felt that he sort of avoided the question, rather than directly attest to it by bringing up their support in the auto sector during the recession. He really harped on the fact that the PC party had a huge shortfall on their numbers of 14 billion dollars, and that Tim Hudak had not had an economist look at his numbers. Tim Hudak (PC), I felt, gave a really personal touch to his opinion on the healthcare. He understands how hard the doctors and nurses work to serve the patients of all the hospital, and that there needs to be more of them. He also intends to add more nurse and doctor practitioners. If I were legal I would vote Conservative because of all the high spending and debt that McGuinty has put Ontario in. As Tim Hudak said, "We can't afford another four more years of Dalton McGuinty."  

50/50

October 2nd, 2011

The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/how-seth-rogen-learned-to-laugh-at-cancer/article2185503/

Seth Rogen, a well-known, Canadian, actor has taught us to see the bright, happy side in a not so bright situation; E.g. Cancer. Seth's good friend, Will Reiser, was diagnosed with cancer and, at Will's expense, Rogen decided to help his friend's situation by adding a little humour to his illness. The doctor's told Reiser that he had a 50/50 chance of overcoming his sickness. Although this wasn't the news he had hoped for, it still gave him the chance to fight-off and overcome the cancer, and with the comfort and support of his friend Seth, he overthrew his enemy. I think that Seth Rogen's view of laughing at the one thing they should be afraid of is a good way keeping everyone's mind off the negative thoughts. I think that he has shown us that you don't always have to down on things that are sad or bad. Thank you Seth for showing us that you can laugh at Cancer.