Simmering Hope

Some months ago I read an article about the best places to retire.
I live in British Columbia, very close to Vancouver. Now, lots of people would like to move or retire here. Why? Because of the surroundings: mountains and ocean. Yes, in theory you can ski in the morning and go to the beach in the afternoon. Only that it’s raining like crazy. People don’t know or want to understand that we are in Pacific Northwest and it rains, it’s humid, and overcast more often than not. Not to mention the cost of living. We crave for sunlight more than anything else.
I digress; let’s go back to retirement places.

What captured my attention was Malta.
I have been searching the net like crazy trying to find more information about this small state, tucked into the Mediterranean Sea.
Suddenly, I’ve fallen in love with Malta and decided to give it a try. First we will have to go there

These are my 10 reasons for voting for Malta:
1. Near perfect climate year-round… hey, I’ve been living closer to Vancouver for the past 14 years and the rain and the almost steady overcast started driving me nuts
2. The cost of living is low and no property taxes… yupee!! We pay a whooping $3500 per year on our propriety and the cost of leaving here is absolutely ridiculously high
3. Crime is practically non-existent and the locals are friendly
4. Everyone speaks English
5. According to the World Health Organization, Malta ranks 10th in the world for its medical standards
6. The University of Malta, founded in 1592 is one of the oldest ones in the world… I listed this point because we have to take into account our son’s need for education
7. House prices are decent
8. Leisure time includes sailing and horse riding… we love boating so leaving there will suit us perfectly well
9. A chance to return to our European roots
10.The last reason is mostly subjective: my wandering soul is longing for sunshine, sea breeze and a more laid back life

I will like to finish my post with some info found on … CIA site. Weird. I did not even know that you can access their site.
If you go there this is what you find:
“Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004.”
“The country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration”
Economy:
“Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and pharmaceuticals), and tourism. Continued sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports, tourism, and overall growth. “

If you want to lower your risks of heart disease, you have to lower your bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase the good one (HDL)
Cholesterol is carried through your blood attached to proteins. The cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein.
Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL): carries cholesterol throughout your body, depositing it along the walls of your arteries. Cholesterol buildup forms plaques that make arteries hard and narrow — ultimately increasing the risk of coronary artery disease. Hence LDL is bad news.
High Density Lipoproteins (HDL): picks up excess cholesterol in your blood and takes it back to your liver for disposal. The higher your HDL cholesterol, the less bad cholesterol you’ll have in your blood.

For people at high risks for developing coronary artery disease, just lowering LDL might not be sufficient. They may need to increase their HDL.
In one study participants with the highest HDL levels had half the risk of developing coronary artery disease as did those with the lowest HDL levels.

Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. Most people should aim for an HDL level of 60 mg/dL or above. An HDL level below 40 mg/dL increases the risk of heart disease.
For the average man, HDL cholesterol ranges from 40 to 50 mg/dL. Thanks to female sex hormones — which have a positive effect on HDL cholesterol — the average woman fares better, with HDL cholesterol ranging from 50 to 60 mg/dL. But both men and women can benefit from increasing those averages.

What changes can you do to meet your HDL target?

Don’t smoke. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol and increases your blood’s tendency to clot. If you smoke, quit.
Lose weight. Excess weight take a toll on HDL cholesterol. Start loosing weight: for every 2 pounds you lose, your HDL may increase by .35 mg/dL. . Aim for a weight loss goal to achieve a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or below. To keep your weight in a healthy range, focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise habits.
Get more physical activity. In one study, regular aerobic exercise increased HDL cholesterol by 3 percent to 9 percent in otherwise healthy sedentary adults. Try to get at least 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity on most days of the week. If possible, exercise every day. Take a brisk daily walk. Ride your bike. Swim laps. If you can’t fit in a long workout, break it up into smaller sessions spread throughout the day.
Choose healthier fats. A healthy diet includes some fat, but there’s a limit. In a heart-healthy diet, up to 25 percent to 35 percent of your total daily calories can come from fat — but saturated fat should account for less than 7 percent of your total daily calories. Avoid foods that contain trans and saturated fats, which raise LDL cholesterol and lowers HDL cholesterol. Instead, switch to products containing unsaturated fats (olive, canola, flaxseed, etc.)
Cut back on simple carbohydrates. Cakes, cookies and highly processed cereals and breads are high-glycemic foods that can lower your HDL and raise the levels of another fat in your bloodstream, triglycerides.
Add fiber. The soluble fiber found in fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains might boost your HDL.
Drink alcohol only in moderation. In some studies, moderate use of alcohol (particularly red wine) has been linked with higher levels of HDL cholesterol — but the benefits aren’t strong enough to recommend alcohol for anyone who doesn’t drink already. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means no more than one drink a day for women, and one to two drinks a day for men.

Over the counter (OTC) cough and cold remedies for kids are pretty popular.
They are coming in different flavors: bubblegum, grapes, strawberry, cherry, to please a kid’s palate.
But are they good?
As a mother of a 4 year old son, I must admit that as soon as he is running a fever I rush to the medicine cabinet and grab Advil or Tylenol, because we have them both, just in case.
The market for kids under six is about $80 million a year. No wonder the manufacturing companies will accommodate the kid’s palate.
But many doctors have been concerned about the ever increasing popularity of OTC kids’ cold remedies. It has been little public fuss about OTC medication for kids until a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel of experts recently concluded that there is no evidence that these products work and even more, that they should not be given to kids under six.
Even worse, cough and cold medication may not be safe for children. Some contain ingredients associated with neurological problems, arrhythmia and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Two major drug companies have voluntarily withdrawn their cough and cold products, including Dimetapp Decongestant Infant Drops and Tylenol Concentrated Infant Drops Plus Cold and Cough sold for kids under two.
Why are cold and cough medicines still sold even if they have been proved as not efficient? Because regulators like Health Canada and FDA have been slow to examine the claims and because of the long-held belief that what works in adults works in kids as well.
For at least five years, the Canadian Pediatric Society’s stance has been to not give children under three cold medications. For kids between three and six you were asked to consult the doctor first.
Health Canada only recently warned of ‘life-threatening adverse events, including unintentional overdose’ associated with the use of these products in children under two.
Why are OTC popular?
Not because they exist. Because we, as parents panic. Even if we think that maybe it’s best to let the cold run its course, we are desperate to give some fast comfort to our kids.
And sometimes it’s too scary to just rely on Vicks VapoRub and bed rest. Especially when the kid burns with high fever.

I remember one particular rough cold my son had. I gave him one dose of Advil; the fever did not subside; another one, same story. At that point I started a frantic search on the net, and I found out that I should switch between Advil and Tylenol if only one would not help.
Finally this is what I did : I wrapped his forehead and his hands in lukewarm compresses. The compresses were made by soaking towels in solution of vinegar and water. I changed and refreshed the compresses as soon as they got cold until the fever became more manageable.
For coughs he normally gets a natural syrup, made of pine young shoots.

But from a realistic point of view: what are we supposed to do when our children are sick and the daycare will not get them in, especially if they run a fever?
With this in mind I truly believe that most parents will try to find a balance to address the main concerns.

Here is the list of the toys not to buy, as compiled by the nonprofit group World Against Toys Causing Harm Inc., or WATCH.

There are retailers out there still selling them, although some of them were recalled. Example being Go Diego Go- Animal Rescue Boat, which I am pretty sure have seen a few days ago at London Drugs.

The top 10 toys on the 2007 WATCH list along with the companies that make them:

1. Aqua Dots or Bindeez, Spinmaster. Contains GHB, lead ?

2. Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat, by Fisher Price. Contains lead paint.

3. Sticky Stones, GeoCentral. Magnetized stones that, if swallowed, could “stick together across the intestines, causing serious infections and death.”

4. Jack Sparrow’s Spinning Dagger, Zizzle. Viewed as eye hazard.

5. Dora the Explorer Lamp, Funhouse. Potential for electric shocks and burns.

6. Lil “Giddy Up” Horse - Sassy Pet Saks, Douglas. Contain fibers and small parts that could be a choking hazard.

7. Spider Man 3 New Goblin Sword, Hasbro. Rigid plastic could cause injuries.

8. Hip Hoppa, by Spin Master Ltd. and Vivid Imaginations, Ltd. A combination footboard and bouncing ball that children jump on has the potential for head and other injuries.

9. B’Loonies Party Pack, Ja-Ru, Inc. Children blow balloon-like toy out of substance squeezed from tube. Has potential for chemical ingestion.

10. My Little Baby Born, Entertainment, Inc.; Zapf Creations AG. Baby doll comes attached to tiny pacifier that could be swallowed.

Lil “Giddy Up” has been defended by the company as not being harmful, but rather having a wrong label, that has been fixed in the mean time.
The article follows:

BUSINESS NEWS UPDATES
UPDATED
Thursday, 8:37 AM
From the Boston Globe Business Team
Company: Our item doesn’t belong on worst toy list
November 14, 07 02:56 PM
A toy company today disputed the inclusion of one of its products on a list of the year’s “10 worst toys” as compiled by the nonprofit group World Against Toys Causing Harm Inc., or WATCH.
A story in today’s Globe reported that the group included on its list the “Lil’ Giddy-Up Sak with Horse” from Douglas Co. of Keene, N.H.

The toy is a miniature plush-toy horse that comes in a purse.
In an e-mail to the Globe, Douglas president Scott Clarke wrote that Lil’ Giddy-Up Sak should not be on any list that includes recalled toys because his product has been tested many times and the horse and purse meet and exceed government standards.
But Clarke added, “We agree with the comment from WATCH that this item should be more clearly labeled, and we will make the horse age grade match the age grade of the purse.”
The horse is labeled that it’s age appropriate for “birth and up,” and the purse is labeled as appropriate for “18 months and up,” said Clarke, who added the labels would be modified to both read that they’re appropriate for “18 months and up.”

WATCH director James A. Swartz said that the purpose of the top 10 list is not to catalog toys that are recalled but to cite examples of the types of potential hazards that parents could find in toys on store shelves.
As for Lil’ Giddy-Up Sak, Swartz said that the purse features a wooden bead that could get detached during play; according to Swartz, the bead is small enough to pose a choking hazard and shouldn’t be included in a toy “marketed for babies.”
Told that Douglas was planning a label change, Swartz replied, “That’s a good start.”
Clarke noted that the bead on the Lil’ Giddy-Up Sak is securely fastened.
“It does not detach with play,” he said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)

Courtesy of Don Ediger who wrote for International Living, we got some general information on beach properties that could be bought for a good price in various countries.

So, if you want a place in the sun, but don’t want to spend more than $100,000, there are 10 destinations you need to consider:

Costa Rica: It’s a favorite retreat for North Americans who like the country’s cool mountains or beautiful, wide beaches. Costa Rica has superb sport fishing, birdwatching, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, and horseback riding. Property prices are rising–but not so fast that you can’t still find bargains.

The Dominican Republic: It’s one of the least expensive countries in the Western Hemisphere. Ocean-view condos are on the market for just over $100,000. For a little more than half that amount you can find an apartment in the capital Santo Domingo, known for its old world charm.

Belize: This English-speaking Caribbean country offers big tax incentives to foreigners who live part- or full-time in the country. While Ambergris Caye and several other coastal areas have become expensive, there are still real estate bargains galore, particularly in the exotic rainforests only a few miles from the ocean.

Mexico: The country has been a favorite of second-home owners for many years, but prices in Mexico can vary just as much as the climate. Today’s savvy property shoppers are attracted by low prices around Yucatán’s Gulf Coast and by the big advantages of the Lake Chapala area–golf, tennis, hiking, and horseback riding, as well as theater, concerts, and garden clubs.

The Bahamas: Sports, nature, and an elegant lifestyle continue to lure people to these islands just off the Florida coast. Though the Bahamas have a reputation for pricey real estate, it’s not difficult to find condos for $100,000 and three-bedroom houses for around $200,000.

Guadeloupe and Martinique: The French West Indies combine Caribbean culture with a Riviera lifestyle. That means dining and dancing as well as opportunities to enjoy nature, whether it’s a hike around a volcano or a dip in ocean waters that Jacques Cousteau described as among the best in the world.

Nicaragua: Despite the potentially worrisome outcome of recent elections, the country remains a haven for second-home owners. Bargains are the big reason. Even at property developments with top-notch golf courses, you can get a condo near the ocean for less than $100,000.