Philippines typhoon aid: Canned food donations can be a 'curse'

CBC.ca   Nov 13 02:20am

In times of disaster like the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, many instinctively reach for food and clothes to donate from their own homes, but aid organizations and charities caution that such help can pose a problem.

Cash the most effective donation

First-ever Forum on the Future of Toronto Public Library

First-ever Forum on the Future of Our Public Library – Sunday, November 24th – 2 pm to 4pm – Council Chamber – City Hall - See more at:http://ourpubliclibrary.to/#event 

Toronto has the busiest and, by most measures, the best library system in North America. But this precious public asset, founded in 1883, is falling behind. How could it not, after 20 years of political neglect and budget cuts? 

More service reductions are being planned for 2014 and beyond. Toronto Council is closely divided on this issue. Major decisions will be made soon. Your voice will make a difference. continue reading more @ Mayank Bhatt posted in Generally About Books

On the same shelf:

Red Hook Public Library offers help signing up for health plans Airdrie Public Library encourages patrons to get in their good books

Photographing the world, one Torontonian at a time

Photographing the world, one Torontonian at a time.

So far:

• John (South Korea)
• Melvyn (Botswana)
• Lis (Denmark)
• Nadia (Bangladesh)
• Bruno (Belgium)
• Ava (Germany)
• Many more to come: http://cosmopolistoronto.com

Info courtesy:

Naeem Nick NooraniRetweeted Cosmopolis Toronto (@cosmopolistor):
@VitoMarchese looking for people born outside of #Canada who call#Toronto home for portrait project. Please RT. http://t.co/esFawS0TOj

A Four Step Reality Check for Job Seekers

A 4 Step Reality Check for Job Seekers U.S. News & World Report (blog) November 12, 2013 By ARNIE FERTIG Extract: "I'm just starting my job search," said a newly unemployed executive. "I'm bright, I know that I communicate well, and have lots of contacts in my industry. I'm not like all those other people who are unemployed for the long term. I'm sure that I won't have any difficulty finding my next position."  Maybe so. But all too often, the axiom "The bigger they are, the harder they fall" applies to highly skilled, knowledgeable professionals who are at the top of their game. Regardless of whether you are just beginning your job search, or have been at it for a while, a serious gut check may be in order. Ask yourself these four questions: 1. Are you self-absorbed or self-aware? 2. Do you have today's required job hunt skills? 3. Are your expectations realistic? 4. Are you prepared for the long haul? continue reading  On the same shelf:  Traditional versus Non-Traditional Job Search Techniques Career Transition Primer

Browsing the Toronto Public Library stacks for inspiration

PS. This post is inspired by Mayank Bhatt posted in Generally About Books

What is the strength of Toronto Public Library, if you wish to visualize 'Toronto City?'

A Boolean search by title (Toronto AND city) shows 374 titles in the Toronoto Public Library

Items that I can...

Borrow and take home  (21)

Only use in a library  (353)

Type

Books  (280)

eBooks & Online Content  (1)

Movies & Videos  (1)

Magazines, Newspapers & Journals  (10)

Microforms, Maps & Computer Disks  (89)

Publication Year

2011-2013  (3)

Last 5 Years  (9)

2000 to present  (49)

1900-1999 (20th century)  (243)

1800-1899 (19th century)  (65)

more...

Subject

Ontario  (261)

Toronto  (223)

Toronto (Ont.)  (49)

Environmental aspects  (39)

Airports  (35)

more...

See also: Browsing the city stacks for inspiration - Writer in Residence - Shawn Micallef torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com (PS. A comment suggests this should be titled: 'Walking the City for Inspiration....' )

Today's interesting post @ Canadian Trends: Lack of foresight, attention Albertans

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Lack of foresight: Dangerous like driving in the Rocky Mountains

It is sometimes quite embarrassing to be an Albertan. I've just come across anarticle that is just sadly funny. We can call this funny because it's been filed under "entertainment", so we have the all clear! continue reading

Rogers removes digital magazines from Canadian libraries

The Globe and Mail-by Steve Ladurantaye-Nov 5, 2013

Visitors to Canadian libraries will no longer have access to free digital magazines from Canada's largest publisher. 

Magazines Canada, an industry trade group, advisedCanadian publishers to walk away from an agreement with the company whose software makes the publications available because of delivery problems. Rogers Media complied, and its magazines are no longer available on the popular Zinio app.

On the same shelf:

• Rogers to Deliver First Mobile Wallet Broadcaster
• The ALA Speaks Out on the Issue of Digital Content Lending

New deductions for 2013 income tax return!!!

New deductions for 2013 income tax return!! Not much different than Gov’s in any other place. by Robertwmh (The Caretaker.)

Bottomline: (Before reading any further, I need to mention that it's not about Canadians, it's about: European MPs at work in Brussels - Friendship Forum)
This deduction option/column is not yet for Canadians, eh? We have to wait.

Extract:

• Don't forget, on this year's income tax return, to list the names of Members of Parliament and Senators as your “dependents”.
  EARN WHILE YOU SLEEP.... MP’s at work: not bad for $10,000/month. Click here for all visual images
• Others make only $8,000/month.
• A little bit of reading on the side at $11,000 month.
• Writing your mail at the expense of the tax payer…
• Dammit, this job is so hard!   I must ask for a   raise.
• I’m not sleeping, I’m thinking about retirement and my cost of living indexed pension.
• SO AM I.   I ONLY HAVE TO SNOOZE HERE FOR SIX YEARS TO GET THE PENSION.
• Is it time for lunch yet in our taxpayer subsidized restaurant?

Pass this on… WE  UNDERSTAND WHY THIS JOB IS SO SOUGHT AFTER !!
IT IS IDEAL TO CATCH UP ON MISSED SLEEP AFTER  EXHAUSTING TAXPAYER FUNDED TRAVELS WHILE WAITING  SERENELY FOR PROSPEROUS RETIREMENT OR FOR A SECURE REWARD IN CASE OF A LOST RE-ELECTION…
AFTER THOUGHT:
THE ABOVE  ARE ACTUALLY AMONG THE MOST DILIGENT  MP’s,
BECAUSE THEY  ACTUALLY SHOWED UP IN  PARLIAMENT!

Counting & Discounting in Census' demography: Difference Between India and Canada

Counting & Discounting: Census and Identity in India and Canada by Mohammed Ayub Khan Download/Browse @ academia.edu 

On the same shelf (from the bibliography)

• The Politics of Numbers (Population of the United States in the 1980s : a Census Monograph Series)  William Alonso
• Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism  Benedict Anderson
• Ethnicity and Race: Making Identities in a Changing World (Sociology for a New Century Series)  Stephen E. Cornell
• The Imaginary Indian: The Image of the Indian in Canadian Culture  Daniel Francis
• The Gujarat Genocide: A Case Study in Fundamentalist Cleansing  Garda Ghista
• Confronting Saffron Demography Religion, Fertility, and Women's Status in India  Patricia Jeffery and Roger Jeffery
• Census and Identity: The Politics of Race, Ethnicity, and Language in National Censuses (New Perspectives on Anthropological and Social Demography)  David I. Kertzer
• Contested Ethnic Identity (Nationalisms Across the Globe) Chris Kostov
• Austrian Immigration to Canada: Selected Essays 
  Frank Szabo