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96 Rexdale Blvd.Toronto ON M9W [email protected]

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of Scarborough & Markham

April 15, 2011 Issue #: 00002Bi-Weekly

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TIDBITS® PICKS SOME

COTTONby Patricia L. Cook

If you look at the labels on the clothes you are wearing, at least some of your apparel is probably made from cotton. You may not realize the versatility of this plant. It is not only used as a fiber but also in food products, fertilizer, fuel and more. This week, Tidbits looks at this remarkable plant. • Cotton is a natural fiber whose history goes

back thousands of years. Civilizations in India, China and Egypt grew cotton as well as the Mayans in Guatemala, Yucatan and other parts of Mexico. The oldest archaeological evidence of clothing made from cotton comes from the Indus Valley of today’s Pakistan. Cotton “bolls” that start in a field are used to produce much of the fabric in the world.

• The first cotton grown in the United States was in Virginia and Florida in the early 17th

century. By the end of the 18th century, cotton had become the biggest industry in the United States. This was helped by Eli Whitney’s cotton gin invention in 1793.

• Whitney’s machine provided a faster way to separate cotton from its seeds. It could clean the cotton about 10 times faster than doing it by hand.

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Gingery Shrimp and Noodles

ghjghj Good Housekeeping

COTTON (continued):• When we think of cotton, most of us think of

comfortable blue jeans, flannel shirts, underwear or the 800-thread-count soft sheets that we sleep on at night. Cotton provides all of that and a whole lot more.

• Cotton is used more than any fiber, natural or manmade, in the world. It is a daily part of our lives and is still today one of the leading cash crops for farmers in the United States. Every part of a cotton plant is useful.

• The most important part of the cotton plant is the fiber, or lint, which is used to make cloth. The fiber has to be separated from the seeds, which are quite sticky. This is why the cotton gin was so important. When the fiber and seeds had to be separated by hand, it took many laborious hours.

• “Linters,” the short fuzz remaining on the seeds after separation of the lint, provide cellulose for making explosives, plastics and other products. They are also incorporated into high quality paper products and processed into batting for the padding used in mattresses and cushions for furniture and automobile seats.

• The cottonseeds are a valuable byproduct as well. They are crushed and separated into three products: oil, hulls and meal. Cottonseed oil is used for salad dressing, cooking oil and shortening. Cottonseed oil has no cholesterol has little or no trans-fats, making it a good option for healthy cooking.

• The meal and hulls are used for livestock, poultry and fish feed and also fertilizer. After all of these parts are taken away, the remaining leaves and stalks of the cotton plant are plowed under to enrich the soil.

Light and fresh, this Asian-inspired dish tantalizes with the scents of ginger, soy and green onion. Low-cal shrimp and nearly two pounds of nutrient-rich cabbage keep it healthful.

Salt and pepper3 tablespoons vegetable oil1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced1 tablespoon peeled finely chopped fresh ginger1 pound shelled and deveined 16- to 20-count shrimp, with tail part of shrimp left on, if you like3/4 cup water1/3 cup lower-sodium soy sauce2 bags (14- to 16-ounce) shredded cabbage mix for coleslaw1 pound rice noodles

1. Heat covered 6-quart pot of water to boiling on high. Add 2 teaspoons salt.2. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil on medium. Add green onions and ginger; cook 2 min-utes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle shrimp with 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Add shrimp to skillet in single layer; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp just turn opaque, stirring frequently. Transfer shrimp to medium bowl.3. To same skillet, add 3/4 cup water and soy sauce, scraping up browned bits. Stir in cabbage mix; cover and cook 6 to 7 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender, stir-ring often.4. Meanwhile, add noodles to boiling water in pot. Cook minimum time that label di-rects, stirring occasionally. Drain well; rinse under cold water and drain again. Return to pot; add shrimp and vegetable mixture, tossing until well combined. Serves 6.

Tip: We like to use flat, 1/8-inch-wide dried rice noodles, often labeled pad Thai, thin rice noodles or rice sticks.

¥ Each serving: About 455 calories, 8g total fat (1g saturated), 115mg cholesterol, 1050mg sodium, 75g total carbohydrate, 4g dietary fiber, 18g protein.

(c) 2011 Hearst Communications, Inc.All rights reserved

Protect your family during an emergency

(NC)—Do you know what to do during a hurricane, a flood or another type of emer-gency? Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is an annual weeklong event held this year from May 1–7, 2011, to educate Cana-dians on the importance of emergency pre-paredness.

“Almost half of all Canadians admit they are not prepared for a potential emergency,” said Eric Michalko, spokesperson for Allstate In-surance Company of Canada. “An Allstate Canada survey showed that while 86 per cent of Canadians understand the importance of being prepared for catastrophes, 42 per cent admitted they were unprepared for one.”

While you can’t control what Mother Nature has in store, you don’t have to let an emer-gency catch you off guard. “Emergencies are chaotic,” said Michalko. “By taking the nec-essary steps to be prepared, you may save your life or your family’s.”

Allstate Canada asks Canadians to take the time to follow these steps so that you and your loved ones stay safe during a cata-strophic event:

• Understand the Risks: Learn about the climate and weather patterns in your re-gion and how to best prepare for those kinds of catastrophic events.

• Make a Plan: Prepare an emergen-cy plan with your family and practice it to make sure it runs smoothly. The plan should include the safe exits from your home and neighbourhood and also where to meet if you are separated from each other.

• Assemble an Emergency Prepared-ness Kit: This kit will include everything you need to make sure you and your family are able to get through the first 72 hours of an emergency. Make sure the kit is easily ac-cessible, easy to carry and stored in a water-proof container.

You can find more information on how to get prepared, including what items to include in your emergency preparedness kit, at good-handsadvice.ca.

Tidbits® of Scarborough & MarkhamFor Advertising Call 416.615.2584

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Whether a waiting period is taking longer than expected, or just seems that way, the anxious Lamb would do well to create a center of calm within her- or himself, and not do anything rash. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Practical matters dominate the week, but cultural activi-ties also are favored, especially those that can be shared with someone special in the Bovine’s life. Some impor-tant news might be forthcoming. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You need to know more about a possible career move in order to see if it offers a real opportunity or just a change. You’re sure to get lots of advice -- some of it good -- but the decision must be yours. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) The arrival of hoped-for good news about a loved one dominates most of the week and provides a great excuse for the party-loving Moon Child to plan a special event to celebrate. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Leos and Leonas rushing to finalize their plans might want to think about slowing down the pace, or risk over-looking an important consideration that could become a sore point down the line. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) The week’s challenges call for logical approaches. But sentiment also has its place. Sharing memories with a special someone, for example, strengthens the bond between you. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A brand-new approach to a problem could have a good chance of succeeding if it’s based on a solid founda-tion of fact to strengthen its potential for standing up to scrutiny. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A favorable report should give your optimism an impor-tant boost as you confront another phase of a challenge. Don’t be timid about accepting advice from someone you trust. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You might want to target another goal if your current aim is continually being deflected. But stay with it until you find that first sign of an opening, and then follow through. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Although offers of advice might not always please the usually sure-footed Goat, good counsel is always worth considering, especially from those whose experience can be invaluable. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Don’t rush to make up for lost time. Your productivity can be measured not only by what you do, but how you do it. Move carefully until the job is done the way you like it. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Emerging facts about someone you know might cause you to rethink your relationship. But remember to make judgments in context of a full situation, not just on scraps of data. BORN THIS WEEK: You are known both for your love of acquiring beautiful things as well as for your generos-ity to others.

(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.


COTTON (continued):

• For years, the “Cotton Row” district of Memphis, Tennessee, was the center of the worldwide cotton trade market. The Cotton Museum at the Cotton Exchange opened in 2006 in the building that was once the place where cotton was inspected, bought and sold, and shipped around the world. The museum has artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of cotton, its history and its impact on the region and the world.

• Another museum dedicated to cotton is The Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum in Greenville, Texas. This museum is dedicated to preserving the history of America’s cotton industry. The museum includes the oldest house in Greenville and an actual cotton patch.

• The states where cotton grows are sometimes referred to as the “Cotton Belt.” These states are all across the southern edge of the United States. They are Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, NewMexico, Arizona and California. The climate and soil conditions of these areas provide a great cotton-growing environment.

• Are you curious as to what can be made from one bale of cotton? How about 4,321 socks, 3,085 diapers (yes, the old fashioned cotton kind!), 1,256 pillowcases, 690 bath towels, 409 skirts or 250 pairs of pants!

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(NC)—Renovating your kitchen or bathroom – projects often cited for best return on invest-ment – can certainly increase the value of your home. Yet, many don’t know a well–maintained deck can do the same. The Home Depot Canada shares these tips for maintaining your existing deck or building a new one:

The Annual Tune–upAfter a hard Canadian winter, every deck can do with a good wash, clean and seal to keep it looking its best. To ensure your deck’s lon-gevity, clean the deck with a heavy duty deck cleaner. It removes old waterproof sealers and semi–transparent stains that show signs of win-ter damage, restoring wood so it’s ready to be sealed or stained.

Simple RepairsTo prevent wear and tear on a natural wood deck, tackle repairs as soon as the damage is done. If you’re inspecting your deck regularly, these repairs can be simple. Look for popped nails and loose railings or boards and replace. If left too long, a weak spot in the floor can lead to further and more costly damage.

Update TimeFor an old deck or one that hasn’t been main-tained well, a larger update might be in order. Easy signs include moisture damage or rot in deck framing. If this kind of damage is visible, the deck needs replacement. One deteriorating joist or post usually indicates more will soon follow.

Increase your home’s value with a backyard deck

Start from ScratchBuilding a deck to extend living space is a great option and in keeping with the growing trend in outdoor living. Once you determine your bud-get, make an appointment with an associate at The Home Depot to discuss your deck plan and how you can get started. There’s a large selec-tion of design options and materials to fit small, medium and large budgets so get ready for sum-mer!

For more information, visit www.homedepot.ca/decks or your local The Home Depot store.

COTTON (continued):• Most people have heard of “hand-me-downs”

and probably have worn them. Blue jeans are especially known for this because of their durability. Hand-me-down blue jeans were taken to a new level in 2006 when Cotton Incorporated created a marketing initiative to recycle denim for insulation for housing.

• The “Cotton. From Blue to Green. ®” denim drive was a student-run campaign on several college campuses to educate students on the renewable and recyclable attributes of denim. Blue jeans were donated and then given a “new life” as housing insulation for houses. In the spring of 2007, 30 homes were built for families by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge (Louisiana) who lost their homes as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Twelve of those homes were insulated with UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation.

• A campaign by National Geographic Kids Magazine in 2009 asked readers to donate their old jeans with the goal being to set a Guinness World Record™ for the “most items of clothing collected for recycling.” The record was announced in Washington, D.C. on August 12, 2009, with 33,088 pieces of denim donated. These jeans were given to the “Cotton. From Blue to Green.®”campaign for more housing insulation projects. What a terrific way to help people, recycle and keep blue jeans out of our landfills!

• Cotton has been an important part of our lives for many years and will likely continue to be. As the advertisements say, it is the “fabric of our lives.” Cotton is now grown in 70 countries, with China producing the most at about 25 percent and the Unites States producing almost 20 percent. China and India are the largest producers of cotton, while the United States is the world's largest exporter of cotton.

Dont waste time going from bank to bank to find the best mortgage rates. As a mortgage broker, I search high and low for lenders across the country. Consider me your one-stop solution for the best mortgage that is right for you!

Rajee Iyadurai, AMPMortgage AgentLicence No: M08009269 Direct: 416-918-7346Fax: [email protected]


(NC)—While many Canadians diligently sched-ule regular doctor’s visits as part of maintaining their overall health, some forget that routine eye examinations are equally important to detect eye disease and early signs of vision loss.

“While you should always pay attention to changes in your vision, many eye diseases don’t present any symptoms until it’s too late,” says Dr. Keith Gordon, vice president of research and service quality at CNIB.

“This is why scheduling regular eye health ex-ams is so important, as it can help reveal serious eye conditions which, if left untreated, can lead to vision loss down the road.”

In fact, 75 per cent of vision loss can be pre-vented or treated, and many serious eye diseases have no detectable symptoms. Glaucoma, for example, is a serious and incurable eye condi-tion that affects 250,000 Canadians. While lost vision resulting from glaucoma cannot be re-stored, early detection and treatment can help control the rate of further vision loss.

Regular eye health exams are even more impor-tant if there is a family history of eye disease. Sight loss can happen at any age, too. When a child’s vision loss isn’t detected early enough in life it can become challenging for them to excel in school.

As part of its annual Vision Health Month cam-paign in May, CNIB is calling on all Canadians to take control of their eye health, starting with getting their eyes checked.

For more information about vision health and how to support Canadians with vision loss in your community, please visit www.cnib.ca.

(NC)—For the 3 million Canadians who have diabetes, it can be a challenge to eat right and control blood glucose levels. Those who have re-cently been diagnosed with the disease must also learn new dietary habits and pay much closer at-tention to factors like alcohol intake, vegetarian-ism and the food they eat when they are away from home. Here are a few recommendations that may help you in this regard.

AlcoholWhen you drink alcoholic beverages, your liver prioritizes the elimination of alcohol from your body over the elimination of glucose. It therefore temporarily traps the glucose and this, in turn, influences your blood glucose levels. The Cana-dian Diabetes Association 2003 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada therefore recommends that people with diabetes limit their alcohol in-take as follows:

Women:• One drink per day or less

Men:• Two drinks per day or less

(A 340–ml serving of beer, a 45–ml serving of spirits and a 150–ml serving of red or white wine all count as one drink.)

Eating away from homeYou will undoubtedly be called upon to eat away from home from time to time, whether you are visiting friends or family or have a business function to attend. When this happens, don’t hesitate to ask questions about the food being served and bring a copy of your eating plan with you to help you make wise choices. Restaurant fare is often higher in fat and lower in fibre than home–cooked meals. This can have an impact on the speed at which your system processes car-bohydrates and, consequently, cause your blood glucose to fluctuate more so than when you eat at home. You should therefore keep a closer eye on your levels and test more often. There are a number of new systems on the market that make testing simpler and faster than ever, such as Roche’s Accu–Chek Mobile, which eliminates the need to handle used lancets or test strips and provides readings in less than five seconds. And the portable, discreet and lightweight device is ideal when you’re dining out.

Vegetarian dietsMore than 1.3 million or 4% of Canadian adults are vegetarians. Is this lifestyle choice off limits to people with diabetes? Not at all! In fact, quite the opposite: the higher fibre intake associated with a vegetarian diet helps improve glucose metabolism, regulate blood glucose peaks after a meal and in-crease insulin sensitivity. Fibre from legumes, oat bran, barley and certain fruit are believed to slow digestion and the absorption of carbohydrates. A vegetarian diet also contributes to achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight.

It is nevertheless recommended that vegetarians who have diabetes consult with a registered dietician or nutritionist to help ensure they protect against any nutritional deficiencies. For vegetarians whose in-take tends to be limited to a small variety of foods, supplements may be necessary.

Dietary guidelines for people living with diabetes

Make eye exams part of your health routine


Family Travel Tips: Entertaining kids in a hotel room(NC)—After a long day of travel cooped up in a car or a plane, the last thing kids want to do is sit around bored in a hotel room. Econo Lodge hotels welcome thousands of value–conscious families each year, and they offer the following tips on how to keep the kids engaged, and the adults sane.

• Packanartsandcraftskitwithpaper,scissors,markers and more. Encourage the kids to make something thatrepresentswhatthey’veseenthatday,ortheirfinaldestination.

• Beforeyougo,buysomeinexpensivelittletoys,books or games, and bring out a new one when boredom creeps up on the kids.

• Ifit’sarainyday,haveanindoorpicnicbybuying supplies or ordering in. Watch a movie or listen to favourite music while you eat.

• Challengethekidstocomeupwithacreativeactivity and promise to play along.

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