My 2015 Prognostications …

 

As I mentioned earlier, I will come at this differently from previous years – more along what are the possibilities and less on concrete predictions.

But first I would like to set the stage by reviewing how things are continuing to go in the international, national, provincial, and municipal spheres which sadly are more or less the same as the way they were in 2014:

1. International

Iran remains the world’s number one issue as the US continues to diddle around, making no significant attempt to force Iran to roll back its atomic program.  When Iran is able to ‘deliver’ its bombs all bets are off for peace in our time.

Russia will continue to threaten the former USSR nations.  With the drop in Oil / the Ruble, Putin is a wounded bear and is more dangerous than ever.

ISSIS will remain the beasts they are throughout Iraq and Syria.

Terrorists will continue to stalk the jungles of Africa preying on the innocent – mostly girls and young women.

The fires of the Middle East will continue to burn brightly.

Europe will continue to struggle economically.

The US will continue to be led by its most inept President in its history and since he cannot seek re-election – he is at his most dangerous.

Another $ Trillion will be added to the US debt.  The Government is on life lines.

Black militancy will continue to threaten.

International foes will continue to not fear the States and friends will continue to realize that they can no longer depend on America as it once did.

2.  National

Canada will face an election this year which at this point will likely end in minority government.

The plunge in the value of oil will severely dampen the economies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia and as such will put pressure on Canada’s ability to balance its budget.  It will also put a strain on the equalization program.

We will continue to be involved militarily throughout Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Pipeline construction will continue to idle.

3.  Ontario

Will continue to be governed by the worst government in its history – the McGuinty / Wynne Regime.

Our debt will continue to rise with no balancing of the budget in sight.

Public Service Unions will finally start to be told ‘no’ or perhaps ‘maybe’ but it will be at the margins and will have little effect on the ill state of the Province’s finances.

Green Energy will continue to get the green light despite the fact that our Auditor General just told us that since the Grits came to power, Ontarians have paid $50 Billion more for hydro than we should have.

Our Health and Education Systems will continue in decline.

4.   Municipal

Ottawa will continue to spend too much on its operations, too much of it is wasted on too many expensive employees and too many pet projects not aligned with the city’s core service responsibilities.

The biggest issue in that regard is with respect to garbage collection as residents continue to be subjected to only twice monthly pick up of real garbage.

Gang Shootings which reached a record level last year, will continue unabated.

The above are not predictions as much as they are just statements of fact - that is to say it is just a rehash of how things were last year and will continue to be in 2015. It takes no genius to identify them.

My next Blog will though contain some predictions and some possibilities …. Stay Tuned.

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

I Am Into New Year’s Predictions ….

 

NOT RESOLUTIONS

But before I deal with some Predictions for the coming year I do want to deal with the most popular New Year’s Resolution this year and in years past and that pertains to dieting / losing weight.

And I have the diet or should I say ‘non-diet’ for you.

I have my daughter Natalie to thank for the information I am about to impart and she in turn, I know, would thank Dr. Yoni Freedhoff founder and Medical Director of Ottawa’s Bariatric Medical Institute.

Dr. Freedhoff is also the author of the much read and applied book The Diet Fix.

If Natalie was writing this blog she would quite rightly go into heaps of explanation and background on what Freedhoff’s method is but since I am a bottom-line type of guy … I will keep it very simple for you.

In essence it is all about counting calories.

I can hear you now – hey Galagher isn’t that what most diets are all about?

And they are, but the truth of the matter is – if you take in more calories than your body needs, you will gain weight. Full stop.

But counting calories is where the similarity ends.  And you do not have to exercise!

So here are the 5 Steps:

1.  Figure our how many calories your body needs per day – data for this can be found on the internet.  For me it is 2,000 per day –  For a woman it would be around 1,500.

2.  Subject to step 5 – try not exceed your daily allotment.* 

3.   Break up your eating into breakfast (350 cal); mid morning snack (200 cal); lunch (450 cal); mid afternoon snack (200 cal); and supper (800 cal). (note if female, reduce these numbers by 25%).

4.  Try to include protein with each snack / meal.  Protein keeps you satisfied and that, with the numerous food breaks, keeps you from craving more than your daily allotment.  For instance, for a break you could have a protein bar many of which have 200 or even less calories.**

5.   If at the end of a day you have ‘blown it’ ***– simply dust yourself off and begin anew the next morning.  I find that any weight you gained will come flying off.

Notes:

* When I say have whatever you want – that’s true but realize your body needs its fair share of fruits and vegetables many of which are low in calories anyway.  

** I am now aware of how many calories are in the foods I eat – and give as an example my shopping for hamburgers – regular PC hamburgers each have 400 calories while its ‘blue box’ hamburgers have but 200 calories and taste better !  Yogurt has much less calories than regular ice-cream and so on.

*** Eat what you want regardless of how many calories but just be aware of how many calories you are consuming.  That knowledge itself, along with the frequent number of meals / snacks will lead you to the promised land.

I would normally end with saying Good Luck to you – but you won’t need it. 

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’