Toronto Cycling Union

Literally, A Web Log

About This Site
Misuse of the word “literally” gets my blood boiling (no, not literally). It started as a nit-picking distraction, grew to a frustrating obsession, and finally resulted in the creation of this blog.

What’s the problem?
According to the wonderful web site Common Errors in English:
“literally” has been so overused as a sort of vague intensifier that it is in danger of losing its literal meaning. It should be used to distinguish between a figurative and a literal meaning of a phrase. It should not be used as a synonym for “actually” or “really.”

U.S. reading skills, comprehension declining: study

The following is from CBC. CAAmericans are reading less and reading skills are deteriorating, especially among young people, according to a comprehensive U.S.-wide study of reading skills by the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C.
The study found only 52 per cent of Americans aged 18 to 24 read a book voluntarily in 2002, down from 59 per cent a decade earlier.
The slide is even sharper among younger readers — less than one-third of 13-year-olds read every day, down 14 per cent in the last 20 years.
At the same time, reading scores for American adults have deteriorated, even among well-educated people.

The study, To Read or Not to Read, is based on data collected from government, academic and foundation studies on reading and reading comprehension.
The sole bright spot was among nine-year-olds, whose reading scores have soared since the 1990s, with 54 per cent of them reporting they read every day for fun.
"I think there's been an enormous investment in teaching kids to read in elementary school," said NEA chairman Dana Gioia.
"Kids are doing better at nine and at 11. At 13, they're doing no worse, but then you see this catastrophic falloff … If kids are put into this electronic culture without any counterbalancing efforts, they will stop reading."

People who read are more likely to exercise, visit art museums, keep up with current events, vote in presidential elections and perform volunteer work, she said.

A Lifetime of Secrets: Part II

Back in October, I posted a You Tube link to an ad for a book; A Lifetime of Secrets by Frank Warren. His Postsecret blog asks readers to send him a postcard with a secret on it that they have never revealed to anyone.

Having never seen the book, I posted the clip anyway as I thought it seemed provocative and interesting. A short time later, my friend Paul told me that he had gone out and bought the book and loved it.

On Saturday, I turned 40, I received the book as a gift, and it is very, very moving. My son, Patrick was here for the weekend and read the entire book cover to cover and also loved it. It does make a great gift and a definite insight on the human condition.

Buy the book here.

Should See TV

Nova recently aired a program entitled "Judgement Day: Intelligent Design on Trial". This was an excellent program covering the court case of; Kitzmiller, et al. v. Dover School District, et al. Take a look at the Judgement Day "Links & Books" page and you can see how this program and PBS in general, is one of the few media outlets today (in the United States or elsewhere) that presents unbiased and fair journalism.

WGBH Boston Evolution Site

Nicole Testifies

SYDNEY, Australia -- Nicole Kidman told a courtroom Monday how she was reduced to tears and feared a car accident after a celebrity photographer pursued her two years ago.
Kidman, who divides her time between Los Angeles and her hometown of Sydney, Australia, was testifying in the photographer's defamation suit against a Sydney newspaper that slammed him for allegedly hounding the Oscar-winning actress.

Read the full story at CTV.CA

Leafs Site Now Even Lustier!!!!!

Here's something new on the net. Click on the image to view full size. I see that his stats have been updated.

What's with the poll on the right side of the page? Is there more going on with the Leafs than we know?

Below The Radar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Below the radar: Secret flights to torture and ‘disappearance’

Quintupled Goodness with Green Tea & Citrus

This good health news was something we noticed at CBC.ca
"You've likely seen the studies that argue green tea is a powerful brew of cancer-fighting antioxidants.
But new research shows that although green tea is high in catechins — antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disorders — the amount of these substances that are available for absorption by the body are lower when they're consumed solely in tea.
Under 20 per cent of catechins, which include EGC, EGCG, EC and ECG, remain after digestion, say the authors.
Scientists have discovered that mixing green tea with other substances, such as citrus juices, vitamin C and even soy milk and rice milk, increases the amount of the antioxidants that can be absorbed by the body.
The study is published in the November issue of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research."

Lusty Leaf Speaks!

In a statement issued by Tlusty late today he says, "I used poor judgment in this instance last season and I have learned a valuable lesson. It will not happen again and I have no further comment."

Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson issued a statement as well: "Photographs were posted recently on the Internet without Jiri's knowledge or consent. He made a naive mistake as a teenager. It's a lesson in how something private can easily become very public in the Internet age. Hopefully it's a lesson that other people will learn from as well."

Green Party Third In Polls

Today, for the first time in our 24-year history, we are polling as one of Canada's top three parties in a national survey of voter intentions.

Here are the numbers:

Liberal 32%
Conservative 32%
Green 13%
NDP... Bloc....well it doesn't matter. I will be like the media and just focus on the top three. Does this mean the NDP and Bloc won't be allowed to debate now?

I urge you to support and join the Green Party today. www.greenparty.ca

TTC Service (Oxymoron)

Please use their online form yourself the next time you have a problem. If we make noise maybe they will at some point begin to listen. Here is the link.
Or call them 8am-5pm only!!!! 416-393-3030 How lame is that? Yeah TTC service. HA!

My letter of complaint this morning:

Sherbourne St. Bus 75 South.

This bus was late. AGAIN. Just about every morning it is the same thing. LATE BUSES. I waited at Bloor/Sherbourne from 9:00 until 9:15. I began walking passing masses of others at Wellesly waiting for the late bus, AGAIN.

I finally see a bus coming. IT is so FULL there is no room. By this time I am almost to Carlton street. What is coming behind this bus? Another bus, half full, so you see the volume? This bus decides to sit behind another bus at Dundas for several minutes. I finally arrive at work at Richmond St. at 9:35 am

Now, I'm done. I am buying a bike today.

Brockville Streets Close For Mountie

Thousands of mourners are expected in the eastern Ontario city of Brockville Tuesday for the funeral of an RCMP constable killed in Nunavut last week.

Const. Douglas Scott, 20, was serving in the remote Arctic hamlet of Kimmirut on Baffin Island when he was shot while responding to a drunk driving call on Nov. 5.

Final preparations were underway Monday and early Tuesday for the full regimental service to be held at 1 p.m. in Wall Street United Church, a short distance from Scott's hometown of Lyn.

Read the full story from CBC news here.

New Site: Fabulously Poor

Fabulously Poor is a lifestyle site featuring tips and advice on living well, and doing it without a lot of money. This site is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and will present a new article each week with money saving ideas on decorating, gifts and really anything that helps you to live a fabulous life without tons of cash.

Please visit Fabulously Poor today. Click here.

Lady Emily Howard Photo Montage Video

Toronto Murder Map

This just in, something to show to your out of town Mom. Yes, its what everyone wants, an interactive homicide map showing the location of all 74 homicides of 2007. I presume the CBC will update it as the number increases. I'm certain it will, there is, after all another fortysome days left in the year.

Lady Emily November Portrait

Fairest Michael Ever Graces Ebony Cover

It's Easy M'Kay!

A Gardening Question

The strong gardeners need to stay focused on the task at hand, keeping watchful eyes on one another, rakes at the ready when one misses a weed. Weeds can start very small, but grow out of control at such a rate it frightens and intimidates us with its vigour and determination.The strong gardeners have identified most of the weeds in our garden, and now have begun the strenuous task of pulling them out; right from the root, so they won't come back! Think how strong we will be when we've pulled them all out and cut the deadwood from the paths. Imagine how beautiful and vibrant our garden will be, as year after year it grows stronger, fuller and more beautiful. It will be filled with love, respect and appreciation. For the beauty was always there, but the strong gardeners had to tend and care for it, so it could be seen and appreciated.Of course, in time, as the beauty becomes apparent, and the insects spot our beautiful garden, some will be new varieties, others... pests from the past, returning to irritate us again with their incessant buzzing. A few will be beneficial and add to the gardens beauty, unfortunately, the more common varieties will not be. But as long as the gardeners remain vigilant and focused on what is theirs, the weeds and insects will be kept at bay. Nothing harsh needed, just keep watch and take care of them one at a time.Some lazy gardeners will see our beautiful garden from outside stonewalls and ask how did you do that? There is no secret really. Just tend to it and care for it the most, with sincerity and attention. Try not to be distracted and wander off into the neighbours patch for too long or too often. It will have its own beauty, but it does not belong to you, and should only be admired with respect, for others tend to it.Be friendly and kind, but aware, for the lazy gardener will want in for a closer look. Some will say, "oh remember me, I was here before?" They are the ones I will not allow past the gate, for they vanish at the sight of the shears and wheelbarrow, when they saw the garden party season had come to an end, and there was much work to do. The strong gardener may even expect them to help support the heavy rose arbour or fence while he makes a repair. Hands might get dirty!The strong gardener tells the lazy gardeners keep on walking. To go on buying their cheap, cut flowers to drop in an expensive, showy vase, placed front and centre of course, to draw attention and praise.The cut flowers look so pretty and fresh...for a few days, maybe even a week. Then, without warning dark spots appear, a drooping petal lets go and falls, unheard and unnoticed to the polished floor below. The water begins to foul and sadly, the poor cut flower is no longer of any use.Fortunately, for the lazy gardener these common cut flowers are so cheap and easy to replace and they really take no care at all, so the lazy gardener feels nothing as he tosses them aside to rot in their own stinky remains. There is certainly no love, no feeling of accomplishment. The lazy gardener has invested nothing but a moment or two choosing the bouquet and a few dollars to buy them.And the cycle, like in a perennial garden repeats itself.So the question is: What kind of gardener are you?

Kitchen Fire

Quote of the Daye

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968)

Weatherman V. Cockroach

Blackmail At The Palace?

My money is on Prince Harry. Click the title for the BBC story.

Leonardo's Last Supper set for web posting

From CBC News:
An Italian tech firm is set to post a high-resolution scan of Leonardo da Vinci's mural The Last Supper online this weekend, about three months after an Italian man's announcement of mysterious findings within the image sparked renewed interest.
This latest posting is being spearheaded by Slavisa Pesci, the computer analyst and amateur scholar who, in July, announced that when he superimposed the famous painting — Leonardo's depiction of Jesus's last meal with his disciples — with its mirror image, he had detected what appeared to be a woman holding a child next to the figure of Jesus and the transformation of two apostles into knights.

Click the title link for the full story from CBC news.
The high-resolution scan can be viewed at Haltadefinizione.com beginning October 27, 2007 09:30 am CEST (03:30 am EST)

Oaklahomo @ the 519

Kooza

Last Thursday David and I saw this show, one of the last Toronto performances. It was excellent, if you have the opportunity I recommend you see this or another show.

The following is from the Cirque Du Soleil website...
KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

The Innocent's journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket, and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement.