Spring rain

Ah, the wonders of a long lens and shallow depth of field. Simple drops of rainwater hanging from winter-bare branches make a picture. It won't be long until this bush is green with spring foliage. Hey, another picture!

Saturday Morning Walks

I showed my confidence in my new ICD by joining the Thames Valley Trail folk for their Saturday morning walk. I was surprised that the group took the walk from Gibbons Park along the river to the bridge to the University of Western Ontario main campus. Although most of the walk was dry, there were a few muddy spots and a few gently flooded areas.

Almost all the snow is now gone from London. What little there is left will be gone withing a day or two at most. Spring is in the air, green sprouts are everywhere, and soon there will flowers in bloom.

If you are interested the next walks will be:

April 16 at Meadowlily Woods. Walkers are asked to meet at the sports field on the north side of Commissioners Road, east of Highbury.

April 23 at Springbank Park West. Walkers are asked to meet at the west end parking lot, off Commissioners Road.

April 30 at Sifton Bog. Walkers are asked to meet at the north west corner Super Store car park on Oxford St. West.

Iron fence

Common a hundred years ago, iron fences like this one sighted in Mount Brydges west of London are now rather rare. I recall a high school history teacher claiming many of these fences were melted down for the iron content and recast as weapons used in fighting the First World War.

This fence may actually be a reproduction. It is just in such excellent condition.

Should wooden ties just fade away?

New wooden railway ties await installation.

These tracks, running through a little town just east of London, disappear in the early morning fog. The staggered piles of lumber beside the track are replacement railway ties. Some of the old ties have rotted almost completely away and a good number of the railway spikes are lifting.

Note the spike lift, lower left, and rotted tie, right.

I wondered if this track was safe. I did some research on the Internet. I learned that the spike pictured is suffering from "spike lift." Whenever there is a derailment, spike lift is one of the things that investigators look for. With the rotted ties and the spike lift, this track appears to be suffering. New ties are needed.

I have a retaining wall behind my home that was made from railway ties. The wall is rotting and in need of replacement. From my personal experience with railway ties, I figure these big chunks of creosote-saturated lumber do not last all that long. My years of working for a newspaper tell me that trains occasionally jump the track. Derailments are far from unknown. This is 2011, not 1911, isn't there a better way of anchoring track?

Well it turns out there well might be. For more than 30 years, Europe and Japan have been using concrete slab track instead of traditional ties and ballast. This type of track works well for high-speed passenger trains, but the challenge has been to design and construct a track system providing the required ride quality for high-speed passenger trains with the strength to withstand 39-ton axle loads at freight train speeds.

The Portland Cement Association is leading research into the problem and slab track installations are being tested in the United States.

Deer in the Woodland Cemetery

A large number of white-tailed deer now call London Ontario's Woodland Cemetery home. The usually timid animals are easily sighted from the busy four lane street bordering the south side of the cemetery grounds. Reportedly, at least two bucks have been seen as well as a good number of does.

The littlest couch potato

The littlest couch potato

Fiona is not quite 19-months but she's learning to like her DVDs. After a day of hide 'n' go seek, wolf at the door and doing battle with various puzzles, there's nothin' beats relaxing with some friends and a good movie. Fiona likes The Search for Santa Paws and Despicable Me. Paws, thanks to all the dogs, is well in the lead.

ICD spells No Blogging for a Month

I've had an ICD — an implantable cardioverter defibrillator — inserted into my chest. A long lead goes from the unit through a vein to my heart. If I should have another V-tach event, as I did last summer in California, the ICD will shock my heart and stop the event.

This means that I cannot lift my left arm higher than my shoulder for a month. Also, I should refrain from lifting anything more than ten pounds during the healing period. As for driving, it's out, too.

Feeling a little uneasy about carrying my camera bag, and feeling a little restricted in the use of my cameras, and unable to get about by car, I am suspending my shooting until early April. At that time I'm going to get back to the daily grind of shooting as my babysitting will no longer be an all day affair.

If you're interested in knowing more about an ICD or about the Canadian health care system, please click on this link to Rockin' On: the Blog.

Supporters want Baby Joseph sent home

Showing support for the family, dozens turned out Saturday to rally beside Moe Maraachli to protest LHSC's refusal to perform a tracheotomy on Maraachli's young son before releasing him into his family's care.

Baby Joseph is dying. On this both the Canadian hospital and Baby Joseph's parents agree. The dispute arises as to where the infant will die. Will it be in the hospital or at home?

Saturday dozens of supporters protested the hospital's refusal to perform a tracheotomy on the little boy before sending him home to face certain death.

Moe Maraachli is Baby Joseph's dad.

The 13-month-old son of Moe Maraachli and Sana Nader of Windsor Ontario, known to the world as Baby Joseph, was admitted to Victoria Hospital in London Ontario last October. 

The family was on the way home from Toronto, not quite halfway to Windsor, when their infant son developed life-threatening breathing difficulties. They rushed the boy to emergency in Ingersoll and from there he was taken to the London Health Sciences Centre's pediatric critical care unit. 

It is now March and the little boy is still being cared for in the Southwestern Ontario hospital. The doctors have determined he is dying of the same progressive neurodegenerative disease that claimed his sister, Zina, eight years ago. 

The doctors would like to remove the breathing tube keeping the little boy alive. His parents want the doctors to perform a tracheotomy and let them take their son home to die, as was done with Joseph's sister. She lived six months with a tracheotomy before succumbing to the fatal genetic disease.

For more on this story see the Digital Journal post.

Protesters supporting the parents of Baby Joseph lined Commissioners Road and Wellington Road at the busy intersection near the large hospital complex.

Connett speaks in London, Ontario

Dr. Paul Connett is co-author of book The Case Against Fluoride.

Fluoride is hardening more than teeth in London Ontario. In this Southwestern Ontario city it is also hardening positions. The battle to remove fluoride from the city's drinking water appears to be gaining strength.

A talk at the downtown Central library by Dr. Paul Connett Wednesday night filled the 370-seat Wolf Performance Hall to capacity, forcing organizers to close the doors and turn many Londoners away. Connett is co-author of book The Case Against Fluoride.

Connett is the head of a New York state-based anti-fluoridation group called the Fluoride Action Network. These American activists have found Canadians quite receptive to their arguments against the continued fluoridation of tap water. Just recently politicians in two major Canadian cities, Calgary in Alberta and Waterloo in Ontario, have voted to remove the chemical additive from municipal water.

Many people are clearly concerned and for good reason. When Connett's talk was announced, a columnist at the local Sun Media paper told those who disagreed with him, "C’mon folks. Give your head a shake." He openly mocked a city councillor for suggesting, ""If you do any research on the Internet, you'll find scientists believe there are health risks."

Those doing Internet research didn't have to look farther than Canoe health expert and Sun Media columnist Dr. Gifford-Jones.

The good doctor wrote that the fluoridation of water is useless and fluoride toothpaste is a dangerous biological poison.

He went on to say several studies involving as many as 480,000 children found fluoride provided no protection against tooth decay.

Those lucky enough to gain admittance to the auditorium learned that Dr. Connett is quite in agreement with Sun Media's good doctor and popular columnist. Connett pointed out that one tooth paste box warns consumers to keep the tooth paste out of the reach of children under six years of age. If they accidentally swallow more than a pea-sized amount, they should get medical help and a Poison Control Center should be immediately contacted.

Connett argued fluoridation is unethical. "No government has the right to force medication on its people to fight a non-contagious, non-life-threatening disease."

Note: This is not a news report nor is it an endorsement of Dr. Connett's position. This post is simply letting folk know what went down in London, Ontario, last night at the Central library.

Heart failure awareness week

Photo illustration from LHSC event showing Dr. M. Arnold.

This was "Heart failure awareness week" and London Health Sciences Centre held a public education event in one of the hospital auditoriums Wednesday.

Dr. Malcolm Arnold, one of the heart failure specialists at the event, says:

"Although we are seeing rates of other heart diseases decreasing, heart failure cases are rising in the population. Heart failure is now the most common diagnosis in hospitals for patients over the age of 65."

"Through careful lifestyle management and treatments it is entirely possible for someone with the condition to continue living a healthy and active lifestyle. There are many advances in treatment and good health management that can improve symptoms, prolong health and keep people out of the hospital."

Clearly heart failure is not automatically debilitating but there is a pressing need for heart failure awareness. Learning about the signs and symptoms of heart failure is the first step in protecting oneself.

This event was especially important to me. My mother died of congestive heart failure, a good friend is on diuretics to control his water retention caused by heart failure and I may have a heart condition known as ARVD which can lead to a progressive loss of healthy heart muscle. Tests to confirm my heart disease are ongoing.

Events like this one are an important part of a well-rounded, total approach to health care.

Shadows on snowy slopes, superb

The shadow cast on the snow doesn't accurately mirror the fence.

I had to go to the hospital Saturday. This may sound odd, but I was in an incredibly good mood. When you are puzzling through a serious heart problem, a blue sky above bright, white snow with cold, crisp, winter air makes one feel oh-so-alive. And that a-l-i-v-e feeling spells happiness.

On the way home from the hospital I saw the shadow featured today. The road home went up a small hill  leaving the university grounds — the hospital is just north of the university. A black iron fence ran beside the roadway. The moment I saw the shadow cast by the fence climbing that small hill, I knew I had a picture.

Saturday was one fine day!

Cold Advisory

It was cold this weekend. Cold enough to cancel some outdoor events. But it wasn't cold enough to stop me from going for my 5 km walk. If your heart is weak, it is important to get out and give it some gentle exercise.

It's funny but I'd have thought beating 50 times every minute all day and all night would be enough exercise. The doctors assure me that it isn't.

There's a little reason posts are sporatic: Fiona

For more than a year this collection of blogs enjoyed regular, almost daily, posts. This activitiy has come to a grinding halt and for that I apologize. With both of us in our early 60s, my wife and I have taken on the quite enjoyable task of babysitting a beautiful little girl, Fiona, our granddaughter.

The kid's awake!

The little tyke can be quite demanding --- in a sweet sorta way. I can't move without having Fiona following along. Working at the computer is completely out, unless I want to visit YouTube and share some videos with the kid. She loves movie trailers like the ones for Tangled or Despicable Me and music videos are always worth a look.

As you can see from today's picture, Fiona arrived asleep. I have just a few moments for an explanatory post; Judy tells me the little girl is starting to stir. I best get ready to share a banana and maybe a crushed and chopped pear with the kid.

Have a great day,
Cheers,
Rockinon!

Snowshoes and snowboards

Springbank Park in London, Ontario, is one of the most popular spots for locals to go to exercise. Usually it is joggers that one sees. But, in winter, one also sees cross-country skiers and sometimes folk traipsing through the deep snow wearing snowshoes for some off-trail exercise.

One sight that one doesn't see too often is a snowboarder on a picnic table. The young man had built a ramp out of snow and was sliding down a nearby slope, zipping up the ramp and leaping onto the snow-covered table, before jumping from the table back to the snow.

Merry Christmas from London, Ontario, Canada

Fiona got lots of gifts and their value ranged widely. But one gift that got lots of attention cost but $2 at the Dollar Store: a simple xylophone. A toy with a history going back a hundred years was easily able to compete with her other favorite toy: Mom's iPhone.

Merry Christmas from London, Ontario, Canada

Merry Christmas

and a 

Happy New Year

to all!

. . . and now to go and watch Fiona unwrap her gifts. Maybe I'll post some pictures. I do hope you are all having as wonderful a Christmas as I am. 

Cheers!

More on the upside to snow

A family enjoying the deep snow on the long, steep hill near Lookout Crt.

Families can often be found taking advantage of the steep neighbourhood hill running for hundreds of yards behind dozens of suburban homes in the Byron subdivision in the southwest of London, Ontario.

It's a bit of a climb back to the summit.

The hill is so long and steep because it is what remains of a very deep gravel pit that was closed and rehabilitated.more than a decade ago.

The runs are fast but the climb back to the top slow can be slow, especially when the snow is deep and fresh.

Although few wear helmets, they would be a good idea, especially here. When the snow gets shoved aside by all the sledding, sometimes a rock will jut out of from the slope.

If you're dressed for it, one can simply rest in the snow.

One thing we learned from the unfortunate death of actor Natasha Richardson was even small falls pose big dangers. Richardson died after taking a tumble on a beginner hill at Mont Tremblant, Quebec.

Every year thousands go to the hospital with injuries sustained playing on slopes. Helmets are a good idea, even if they're not popular.

It can be difficult seeing where you're going with the snow flying.

The upside, the upside downside, to snow

This boy knew just where to aim his sled. He took to the air on each descent.

I live in the suburb of Byron in southwest London, Ontario. At one time there was a gravel pit across the court from my home. Today the gravel pit is filled and there is now a park there. In the spring it's a great place to fly a kite and in the summer it has a well maintained diamond for baseball. But it is in the winter when the former pit really shines. It has a long, steep slope that is easy to reach and great for sledding, tobogganing, or even snow boarding, if you don't mind a short, fast run followed by a long, slow climb.

Glasses aren't much good when you have your eyes closed.

Today I noticed more than the usual number of cars in our court. This could mean only one thing: The slope is snow-covered and perfect for sledding. The word was out.

I grabbed my camera and headed into the snow. I followed the last group to arrive down the path behind a row of suburban homes until we reached the crest of the toboggan run.

. . . or when they are covered with snow.

The countryside surrounding London is quite flat. Oh, there is the occasional small hill but I do mean small hill.

The are only two ski hills in the area and one is quite close to where I live. Boler Mountain has a vertical height of a hundred feet. That's correct: A hundred feet. It is better known as the Byron Bump.

Now you understand why the small hill across from me is so popular. Heck, when I was a boy we took our toboggans to an overpass on 401 in order to find a slope.

Making it all the way to the bottom is a challenge.

Close to the ground is good. Less distance to fall.

More pictures to follow tomorrow!

300 stranded, OPP asks military for help

By mid-afternoon the severe weather was pounding London, Ontario.

Early Tuesday Search and Rescue technicians (SAR) and air crews from CFB Trenton began airlifting stranded motorists who had been trapped overnight on Hwy. 402 between London and Sarnia by a severe winter storm.

Capt. Annie Morin, public affairs officer for 8 Wing Trenton, confirmed that by 5:00 p.m. the military had rescued about 70 people. The OPP, assisted by local volunteers, together rescued a further unknown number. Designated locations have been set-up in Sarnia, Strathroy and Wyoming to receive the evacuated travelers.

By 7:00 p.m. CBC News was reporting: "All stranded motorists have been rescued, and police are now checking each vehicle to be sure no one was left behind."

Capt. Morin said two Griffon CH-146s and a special search and rescue configured Hercules CC-130 were dispatched from CFB Trenton just after midnight Monday at the request of the OPP who sought their assistance with the rescue of 300 motorists and their passengers. They were trapped in their vehicles along Hwy. 402 by a fierce winter storm .

Looks can be deceiving. West of here it was winter hell.

"The weather was not cooperating and our crews had to land in London for a few hours before taking off again. They reached Highway 402 at about 7:00 a.m. this morning (Tuesday)," Morin said.

The Hercules is equipped with portholes through which spotters peer to sight stranded motorists and guide the Griffon helicopters. The Hercules circling overhead also acts as a flying communications platform for the rescue operation.

The stranded motorists were not dramatically airlifted from the scene in baskets. Instead, the Griffons landed near the snow-trapped vehicles but far enough to not endanger anyone unfamiliar with helicopters and the dangers posed by the spinning rotors. The people were then able to walk to the helicopters, where they were strapped in to be airlifted to one of the designated areas.

The SAR technicians are prepared to handle medical emergencies but Morin had no word on the state of health of the evacuees.

A truck sits idle, as its driver waits for Hwy. 402 to reopen.

The winter storm that had closed Hwy. 402 Monday from London to Sarnia and kept it closed through Tuesday has now worsened, earning it the moniker "Son of Snowmageddon." It was just days ago that London suffered through a storm that dumped an almost record breaking amount of snow on the area.

Lake effect squalls have closed the Bluewater Highway heading north from Grand Bend to Port Elgin.

Check out the video from My Fox WJBK Detroit that is embedded into my Digital Journal story.

Click on the link.

Blowing snow at the 402 Lambeth exit hints at the conditions west of London.

Photojournalist Morris Lamont, reporter John Miner and others from the local paper, The London Free Press, filed storm photos to Twitpics.

A stranded mom comforts her daughter.

It looked like this on Highway 22 at 81.

Perth OPP brought in to help Strathroy police.

Cleaning up after snowmaggedon

Traffic backs up behind a snowplow in Lucan, just north of London, Ontario.

It is snowing again in London, Ontario, and region. It is going to be hard getting around the area at times again tomorrow. Ironically, if it isn't snow blocking your way, it might be a snow plow.

During the recent heavy snowfall in London, Ontario, it was reported by The Beacon Herald, the paper in neighbouring Stratford, that London expected to have about 160 pieces of snow-removal equipment on the city's roads, up from the usual 127. Now you know why the clean-up after "snowmaggedon" might be a $1-million-plus snow-clearance job.

Four day snow storm buries London

London is heading into its fourth day of heavy snow. With already about 100 cm of snow on the ground in certain parts of town, another 20 cm expected to fall over night and more hitting the town again tomorrow, London will be absolutely buried.

The University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College have both announced that they will not be open until Thursday. Banks closed early Monday and stayed closed today, Tuesday. All three major London Malls were closed by Tuesday afternoon. At the peak of the Christmas season, this is no time for the malls to be closed.

For more on this storm, see my article in the Digital Journal.

The snow banks at the sides of this chap's driveway are almost as high as he is tall.

Ceiling or daddy long-legs spider

 Some books call this spider a daddy long-legs but I don't. The daddy long-legs with which I am familiar have different bodies. No, this is what we called a ceiling or a cellar spider when I was a boy.

The spider that I called a daddy long-legs is also called the harvestman and I understand it is not a true spider. I think the term daddy long-legs fits the harvestman more than the cellar spider and so I'm staying with my terminology.

There is a myth that a daddy long-legs (cellar spider) has the most potent venom of all spiders but because it is unable to pierce human skin, it is harmless.

This myth was tested on Myth Busters and it was busted — twice. It seems the spider was able to bite through Adam's skin but he reported nothing more than a very mild, short-lived burning sensation. Analysis of the venom proved it didn't approach the potency of the black widow spider.

Apparently one story isn't a myth. Cellar spiders do hunt and kill the dangerous-to-humans black widow.