PEOPLE ARE DYING DUE TO GAMBLING ADDICTION

I do not want any more people to die due to gambling. 

In the Province of B.C. the number of suicides due to gambling have increased and will continue to do so.  This is true all across Canada.
No one is speaking up for these people.  They died because they could not face the shame of their gambling addiciton and no one is listening.  How cheaply do we now hold life if we sit back and do nothing?
The Province is thrilled to have all the revenue that gambling generates, and professes to provide help to those that are addicted.  And it is true that there is councilling available to those that can find it.  it is free to compulsive gamblers and their spouses.  But it is hard to find and takes effort.  The gambling hot line numbers you see in casinos are a start, but the process is not a one stop shop.  In addiction we have seen self banning as an alternative.  This has proven so ineffective that law suits are pending because people have continued to gamble and no one has challenged them.  And people have died.

It is also true that compulsive gamblers can get help through Gamblers Anonymous - a self help program that has been in existance since 1957.  These groups are not funded and are everywhere.  Their doors are open to all and they have helped people to quit.  Unfortunately people usually go to G.A. when they are at the lowest point.  Sometimes that point is having lost literally everything; money, family, friends and employment.  They may also be one step away from suicide.

But this is not enough to stem the tide that has arisen due to the expansion of gambling and it's prevalence in society.

I am not an advovcate of banning gambling.  I am an advocvate of telling the truth about the risks of gambling.

This is what I want to see.  I want to see awareness advertised as well as promotion.  I want to see advertising on TV and radio of what can happen to someone if they become addicted.  I want to save lives.  I want to give the borderline gambler a chance to see what will happen when they cross the line.  I want them to know the truth. 

We have seen the horrors of drugs and smoking, we are relentlessly told of what harm these can do to our health.  Do we ever hear of the horror stories around gambling?  Do we hear about someone walking into a bathroom at a casino and finding a woman who had hung herself in a cubicle?  Because she could no longer deal with her addiction?

The truth is ugly and it is being withheld.  This might seem ok if you are running a business where the government is not involved.  But when it is, I believe that we as citizens should have the right to expect the truth of the dangers of uncontrolled gambling.

Imagine how this would impact you if you had a spouse, sibling, parent, or child that was addicted.  Maybe you do not understand because you cannot imagine how this happened.  How could someone throw away everything in order to gamble? But the truth is, if you know someone who goes to the Casino, or gambles more than you think normal, the chances are they are on their way to devastation.

Someone has to stand for those who have already given their lives to this demon.
I do not want any more people to die. 

SUPPORT YOUR ATHLETES FOR 2012 PARALYMPICS

I have the honour to be the parent of a paracyclist Olympic hopeful.
Before my exposure to the life of a para athlete, I was unaware of the life of any athlete, let alone those who are not fully able-bodied.  Now, having first hand knowledge of the effort, the time, the endurance, the pain, and the dedication to their sport, that each athlete has, I am truly humbled.

In 2012, London, England will host both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Check out the website of the Irish para cycling team and get an idea of what they are up to at
http://www.cyclingireland.ie/Home/Para-Cycling/News.aspx

And if you are looking to support something that rewards the efforts of ordinary people who step beyond the courage of most of us, please donate to your para athletes efforts!

TUNE UP YOUR BUSINESS - COME IN FOR AN AUDIT CHECK

You are a small business owner and you have someone doing your books.  So far so good.

One day you are out buying some supplies, when your company credit card is denied.  That must be a mistake, right? 

You get a call from the Canada Revenue Agency.  They would like to know when you will pay your GST,
because you are 6 months in arrears...that couldn't be, could it?

You asked your bookkeeper to see if they could put together a list of your suppliers' purchases for the last year.  You got the list.  6 months late.  Having asked 4 times.  But you think that's OK, of course.....

So what't the point you ask?  What if we told you that for the price of dinner for two, at a good restaurant, with wine, you could get a tune up for your business record keeping? 

If you want to know more, visit our website.


trueaccountinglus.com

THE MOLLY MAID ACCOUNTANT

The more I work in this industry the more ineffective and just plain bad providers I run across. I spend more of my time cleaning up behind these so called bookkeepers and accountants than ever. When looking for someone to take care of your business records,try doing some due diligence, not just asking your family and friends if they know someone. Ask for references, and if you do hire someone and if you are not satisfied, get someone else before the damage is done.

TRUMP APPRENTICE HITS AN ALL TIME LOW

THE APPRENTICE! IVANKA - PREGNANT AND A TERRIBLE WARDROBE? Please never wear any of the clothes you wore in the show tonight. Ever again. I missed the entire first segment trying to find out what you were wearing, and then why you were wearing it. The blue top that makes you look like you are stuffed into it, and the bottom of which looks at first horified glance, like an oversize pair of jodopurs or plus fours. Very ugly and vey unflattering. Unless of course you want to be the focus of attention and the fore runner of the 'worst dressed' category 2010... Also, your hair in the boardroom, looked flat, oily, unkempt. It was a tough decision which was worse, the dress or the hair. I promise you, that I could dress you off the rack in a recycle for charity thrift store, than whoever if chosing your wardrobe and doing your hair. And you could donate the difference to charity. Now there's a reality show for you. Wow.

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD DOES NOT BUY CLASS MR. TRUMP

THE APPRENTICE! DONALD (TRUMP) SINKS TO A NEW ALL TIME LOW... I admit I watch the Apprentice. I have no excuses. What's that popular expression,'like watching a car wreck, you can't look away'... Now though it is true, I have not seen every episode of every season, but I have watched most of them. It appears that we have sunk to a new all time low. Is America so bereft of smart, educated, go getting, MANNERED people? I may finally have seen my last episode. Do you really think that you would keep, a loud mouthed, disrespectful, insubordinate, without class,egotist and did I mention, disrespectful? So this must be television I guess. I keep hoping that one day, someone will get some integrity and make something that does not glorify rudeness, and selfish, childish behaviour. But then, silly me, I forgot - Donald runs the show...

TRY THIS ON NFL

There are several ways the NFL could improve the game. 

Here's my rant on some.

No kneel down to end the game and running out the clock.  I know there's a lot of gambling on points spreads, but really.  Play the game for 60 minutes, make it exciting.  Watch some of the CFL games, you might get the idea. 

Equal opportunity for both teams, first play of overtime.  Why is this not implemented? Are you people crazy?  How much excitement do you think there is in awarding a significant advantage on the toss of a coin.  Come on. Really.

Get rid of the cheer leaders.  The idea that 80,000 people care about seeing some scantily clad girl whose IQ equals her bra size, jiggling about to loud music in between plays seems to me, to be just a wee bit out of touch.   I think you have missed the boat.  It sailed awhile ago.  You might raise some interest if you dressed up some chimpanzees.

Don't make the season longer, don't be so greedy that you finally embark upon the slippery slope to consumerism!  Keep your millions, who needs billions anyway. 

Stop messing about trying to stop the guys playing football.  It is a tough game.  All you have to do is watch the Pro Bowl, something I still have not been able to accomplish.  Last Sunday I think I saw a total of 3.6 minutes.  If anyone saw 3.6 minutes of the Pro Bowl they will know what I mean.  That's what the game wouldl look like and noone would watch.

Football is a tough game, next best thing to modern day Gladiators.  Stop girlying up the rules. 

Enough!

Go Packers!