Monthly Archives: December 2017

Culture

Poll Showed 56% Of Our Neighbors In America Believes In Devil

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Against a backdrop of horrific crimes and devastating natural disasters, 56 percent of Americans surveyed believe in the devil, 53 percent believe in hell and 43 percent believe in hell as “a place of suffering and punishment where people go after they die,” according to a poll of 1,218 Americans conducted over Memorial Day weekend back in 2013.

Hey Devil- no cheating! image: dumc.my
Image: dumc.my

The survey also found that Americans don’t hold God responsible for these tragedies with 86 percent believing natural disasters such as the Oklahoma tornado and Hurricane Sandy are a function of nature. Sixty-one percent believe recent terror and crime episodes, such as the London terrorist attack, the Cleveland kidnapping/imprisonments and the Sandy Hook massacre are caused by “the evil in people’s hearts” rather than “divine retribution.”

Equal numbers of respondents (38 percent) believe that people who commit violent criminal acts go to hell, as well as those who don’t ask God’s forgiveness for their sins before they die. More than 61 percent believe they’re going to heaven, while less than 2 percent believe they will go to hell.

Ominously subtitled- "What is to come" Ryden cuts right to the chase with a Premonition preface that begins: "All my life I've seen the spiritual realm. I see Angels, and Saints, and other supernatural Beings. I see the souls of dead people." CP
Ominously subtitled- “What is to come” Ryden cuts right to the chase with a Premonition preface that begins: “All my life I’ve seen the spiritual realm. I see Angels, and Saints, and other supernatural Beings. I see the souls of dead people.”

Commissioned by the True Life in God Foundation (TLIG), www.tlig.com,  established by international humanitarian Vassula Ryden (author of the bestseller Heaven is Real But So Is Hell; released in March 2013), the poll was conducted online from May 23-27, 2013 among 1,218 Americans age 18 and older with a margin of error of +/-2.9%. Respondents were equally split (50 percent) between male and female.

The new survey shows that while a majority of Americans still believe in hell (54 percent), the number is declining. A 2008 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life / US Religious Landscape Survey showed that 59 percent of Americans believed in hell, and an earlier Pew study reported that 71percent believed in hell as of 2001.

Other key findings include:

• 62 percent believe in heaven and think they are going there.

• 44 percent believe in hell as “a place of suffering and punishment where some people go after they die;”

• The 56 percent overall belief in the existence of the devil and 53% belief in hell was consistent across all the four survey age groups;

• With regard to what causes evil in the world, i.e., the Boston Marathon bombings, Sandy Hook school shooting and 9/11, older respondents (45-60) say people are evil while younger  respondents (18-29) say people are sick;

• 41 percent identify the devil as “Satan the fallen angel who rebelled against God and now tempts humans to do the same;”

• 47 percent believe heaven is “God’s dwelling place” while 44 percent believe heaven is “a spiritual dimension where good people go when they die.”

The True Life in God Foundation conducted the survey to help Americans explore the existence and causes of evil in the world. The foundation commissioned Survey Monkey, one of the leading polling companies in America, to survey a cross-section of Americans from every age group, region, ethnicity, religion and household income.

The survey follows the release of Heaven Is Real But So Is Hell  , which hit No. 1 on Barnes &  Noble online, as well as No. 1 in Christian Orthodoxy on Amazon.[ following its March 16, 2013 release CP] The book details Vassula Ryden’s spiritual journey in which she received visions of heaven, hell, demons and angels, and the battle between good and evil in the world.

Vassula cautions skeptics who scoff at the existence of the devil: “The devil’s most powerful tool is convincing us that he – and hell – do not exist. He works subtly and silently, feeding our doubts and inadequacies, sowing dissension and creating chaos and confusion in our lives. Evil is real, and we have to know how to respond to it.”

Crossroads(1986) Guitar duel between the Devil’s guitarist (Steve Vai) and Juilliard trained “Lightning Boy” (Ralph Macchio)

Vassula believes prayer, forgiveness, reconciliation and service to others are the main tools to overcome the forces of evil.

About True Life In God Foundation

Founded by International author and humanitarian Vassula Ryden, is an international non-profit organization that funds 25 Beth Myriam homes serving the poor in six countries.  A Greek Orthodox Christian, Ryden has more than 1 million followers on social media, and has spoken to millions of people in 80 countries, including more than 500,000 in the Philippines alone. An internationally-acclaimed advocate for peace and unity, Ryden was twice awarded Bangladesh’s 2003 Gold Medal Peace Prize for her work in religious tolerance and aid to the poor. She has been endorsed by many government and religious leaders, and has met with leaders at the United Nations, the World Council of Churches and the Vatican, including Pope Francis and his two predecessors.  Ryden advocates “unity in diversity” between Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians, and reconciliation between all world religions. For more information visit: www.tlig.com. GG

Supplemental- What Canadians are believing- http://www.canadianmennonite.org/articles/heaven-trumps-hell-canadian-poll

 

Culture

Roadside Memorials Of Loss Are On The Rise

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One of Toronto based photographer Erin Riley’s series of photographs depicting roadside memorials in and around the GTA

Indeed, the prevalence of roadside memorials has increased significantly over the past several decades and there is little doubt that each of us has encountered them at some point. Roadside memorials are essentially visual manifestations of profound suffering and loss. They mark the site where a motor vehicle accident has occurred and the death that resulted from it (however , many memorials, especially in major cities, have little to do with motor vehicle accidents and more to do with cycling accidents, innocent bystanders or anything else that faithfully marks the site of passing).

In areas where large gravestones or plaques cannot be placed, for a variety of reasons, makeshift memorials take their place. These sites grow with each flower, ribbon or object and deplete with the wind, rain or snow; they are in a continuous state of flux. The organic quality of roadside memorials may directly reference the very epehemerality of life itself. Moreover, in their various forms and inclinations, they challenge Western society’s visual seperation of the living from the dead; therefore, as they subsist, roadside memorials carry the spectre of mortality into the public sphere, a space where even speaking of death remains taboo.

Post-mortem/momento mori photography during the Victorian age is a fascinating though dark and unsettling movement.

Roadside markers are a rural and urban feature- this marker is located on Front Road, near St. Williams, Ontario, Canada image: www.thesilo.ca

Encountering the idea of death may be one of the reasons why people take issue with the appearance of roadside memorials. For them, they represent a veritable “distraction” while driving, are considered “unsightly” or a “vandalism of public property”. For the families of the deceased, roadside memorials allow the opportunity to mourn their loved one(s) at the very place of their passing. The level of emotion generated by being near the actual site where a loved one has died is different from standing beside their final resting place in segregated communities of loss that are the modern cemetery.

Not only are roadside memorials, as markers of loss, important to the families and groups that maintained a relationship to the deceased, but they powerfully address the living by acting as memento mori (reminders of death). It is through them that one may better appreciate the present.

Toronto-based photographer Erin Riley’s series of photographs depicting roadside memorials in and around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) specifically engages the publicization of loss and its visual manifestation. Riley’s images are strikingly beautiful and skillfully composed, yet they raise ethical questions precisely because they aestheticize markers of death sites by transforming them into visual objects to behold.  This theme was explored  in Jarrod Barker’s April 2010’s  Umwelt at the Norfolk Arts Center with a central piece depicting a virtual gallery memorial in conjunction with projected audio/video loop of a recently deceased Deer- struck down by a motorist, the piece becoming essentially a rural memento mori.

Happening upon a recently struck deer- Artist Jarrod Barker aestheticized the site by placing a white linen ‘shroud’ over the victim. This would later become a central piece in the installation of Umwelt April 2010 photo: J. Barker

Another question concerns the identification of deceased individuals and whether or not their names should be made public through the vehicle of art. That being said, Riley’s photographs do provide an eloquent record of roadside memorials within the GTA and speak to their social and cultural value. Ask yourself: where do you stand on this issue?

It would seem that, for the families of the deceased, roadside memorials serve the purpose of exactly that: the memorializatin of a life. [ “even” an animal life CP ] They also serve a function for the living, reminding us that life is fleeting and that the dangers of the road are real. Ultimately, rather than causing drivers to collide, roadside memorials may force drivers to more aware of the consequences of speed, negligence and drunk driving. May roadside memorials continue to stand where lives have fallen. For the Silo, Matthew Ryan Smith. 

Supplemental– http://www.rideofsilence.org/memoriam.php

 

 

Culture

Best Countries In Which To Be A Doctor

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Working abroad is an exciting and appealing prospect, but for the medical field there are differences that are worth considering. This infographic compares the top 5 countries in which to be a Doctor and looks at the cost of living as well as the quality of life to be found there.
It’s important to make a well-informed decision if you choose to work in another country and this infographic is a fun and helpful place to start. *quoted funds are in US dollars.

Brought to you by our friends at Gap Medics, the world’s leading provider of hospital work experience placements for school and university students.

havemeddegreewilltravelinfographic2

Earth

Ask Ontario To Grow Greenbelt To Protect Vital Water Supplies

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Dear Silo, I share with you and your readers both good news and not so good news. The Province has launched a consultation process on expanding the Greenbelt to protect critical water resources. Several hydrologically significant areas are included in the proposal, but vulnerable areas are missing.

Ontario Oak Ridge Greeenbelt Map

We need to get this right. Ask the Ontario government to expand their proposal and protect a “Bluebelt” of 1.5 million acres to ensure clean water supplies for future generations.

Over 1.25 million people in the region rely on groundwater for their drinking needs. And, our lakes and wetlands are home to numerous at-risk species of fish and wildlife. We urgently need features like moraines, wetlands and headwaters that filter and store water protected from development.

Oak Ridges Moraine Ontario
Oak Ridges Moraine Ontario, Canada

Photo credit: Shezamm

9 in 10 Ontarians support the Greenbelt’s protection of water, farmland and nature. You can be one of them.

Together we can grow the Greenbelt to protect our precious resources.

To learn more, you can read our latest blog.

Susan Lloyd Swail
Livable Communities, Senior Manager

Culture

Messenger Kids Facebook App Creeps Technology Into Family Life

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On December 4, the New York Times ran an article about how Facebook just introduced a new app called Messenger Kids. According to Facebook, this app makes it easier for kids to safely video chat and message family and friends. Per their privacy policy, the app collects registration details from parents such as a child’s full name. It also collects the texts, audio and videos children send, as well as information about whom the child interacts with on the service, what features they use and how long the children use them. In launching this new app, Facebook has ignited a fierce debate about how young is too young for children to use mobile apps and how do parents deal with the creep of technology into family life.

One mother has stepped into the debate with an alternative. Janice Taylor created a website and application called Mazu, which teaches children and families how to use digital media responsibly and become positive digital citizens. She cautions parents and says they need to ask themselves, “do you trust Facebook as a medium to protect your children?”

Bing search engine results for “Facebook messenger kids”

“Facebook’s only goal is to monetize a new user base and beat SnapChat at it. Children should never be used as ammunition in the Social Media war for dominance.” Taylor explains.

Based on the concept that “It takes a village to raise a child,” Taylor takes the position that every adult has a role to play in the well-being of the child and society. Taylor created Mazu to build a healthy digital village for families that is founded in love and core values. “Traditional social media preys on our desires to be liked, to be validated, and to be rewarded. That’s why the ‘Like’ button is so addicting and why we at Mazu don’t have one.”

Since its inception in 2010, Mazu, with over 250,000 users and growing, has evolved and now, through partnerships with professional sports teams, has brought the ‘it takes a village’ mentality online. With a suite of family friendly apps, Mazu connects kids to their family, friends, and teams/ brands they love in a way that is safe, healthy and fun. To date they have raised more than $6 million from non-Silicon Valley companies.

A recent Reuters Facebook post about Facebook Messenger Kids

“We believe that parents matter in the digital lives of their children, that’s why our COPPA-certified apps are created with parents in mind. We believe in the power of family and staying connected,” says Taylor. “By building our products around a set of values and using the community to build each other up, we believe we can create better digital citizens.”

Janice Taylor is a social entrepreneur, mother, inspirational speaker, author, and online safety advocate. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an Honors thesis that focused on self-esteem and self-efficacy among women. It was from this research that she sought to create a solution to the issue of social media addiction and how it was affecting women, children, and families. For the Silo, Trina Kaye.  Have something to say about this article? Leave us a video comment by clicking record below or use the comment section at the bottom of this page to type us a response. 

[vidrack align=”center” ext_id=”345″ desc=”Leave us a video comment by clicking the record button”]

Earth

Ontario Results Of November Cap And Trade Program Auction

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NEWS from The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change- Ontario has announced the results of the province’s fourth auction of greenhouse gas emission allowances, held Nov. 29, 2017.  A total of 20,898,000 current (2017) allowances were sold at a settlement price of $17.38 CAD and a total of 3,116,700 future (2020) greenhouse gas emission allowances were sold at a settlement price of $18.89 CAD. The auction generated an estimated $422,081,073 in proceeds, which by law will be invested in programs that will reduce greenhouse gas pollution and help families and businesses reduce their own emissions through the Climate Change Action Plan.

Proceeds from the province’s carbon market auctions are funding programs in 2017-18 that help people and businesses across Ontario reduce pollution, including:
 $64 million to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases and redirect savings into patient care at 98 hospitals across the province
 Up to $377 million to establish the Green Ontario Fund to help homeowners and businesses save money and fight climate change through programs and rebates
 Up to $657 million for repairs and improvements to social housing apartment buildings over five years, contingent on carbon market proceeds
 $200 million for public school energy improvements
 Up to $100 million to support municipalities in fighting climate change through projects such as renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements
 $93 million for cycling upgrades
 $25 million to establish the Low Carbon Innovation Fund to help create and commercialize new low-carbon technologies

These recent investments build upon $100 million to help homeowners make home energy upgrades, $20 million to install a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations, $92 million for social housing upgrades, nearly $100 million to help businesses adopt low-carbon technology, and $13 million to support clean economic growth in First Nations communities, $8 million to launch a new pilot program to help fund the purchase of electric school buses, over $1 million to improve ecosystem health in urban and rural communities across the province.

The auction was administered by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change using services contracted by the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) Inc., with oversight from an independent market monitor to ensure the integrity of the process. The summary report of the results has been made available to the public.  For the Silo, Anna Milner.    Disponible en Français.

QUOTES
” The goal of Ontario’s carbon market is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our largest
sources of pollution. The proceeds generated are being invested into Ontario’s economy
through programs and projects that will do even more to reduce greenhouse gases, and help
people in their everyday lives.”
– Chris Ballard
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

QUICK FACTS
 On May 18, 2016, Ontario passed landmark climate change legislation that ensures the
province is accountable for responsibly and transparently investing proceeds from the
cap and trade program.
 The Climate Change Action Plan and the cap and trade program form the backbone of
Ontario’s strategy to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by
2020.
 On September 22, 2017, Ontario signed a cap and trade linking agreement with Quebec
and California. The linkage will become effective on January 1, 2018.
 After introducing its cap and trade program and putting a price on carbon, California’s
economy grew at a pace that exceeded the growth of the rest of the U.S. economy.
 The number of jobs in California grew by almost 3.3 per cent in the first year and a half
of the program, outstripping the national rate of job creation, which was 2.5 per cent over
the same period.
 In the United States, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has invested more
than $1.3 billion of auction proceeds since 2009 in programs that include energy
efficiency, clean and renewable energy, greenhouse gas abatement and direct bill
assistance.
 RGGI investments are projected to return more than $4.67 billion in lifetime energy bill
savings to more than 4.6 million participating households and 21,400 businesses.

 

Sci-Tech

Must Have Chargers For iPhone X

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With Streetinsider.com recently reporting that Apple sold an estimated 6 million iPhone X units this past Black Friday weekend alone, as calculated by an analyst with Rosenblatt Securities, and with untold millions more sure to sell throughout the holiday season, it’s clear the marketplace is embracing this new iPhone iteration. In fact, the analyst firm is so optimistic that it increased December quarter iPhone X shipment estimates from 27-28 million to 30 million units.

Given each new iPhone model launch ushers in an abundance of equipment and accessories hell-bent on helping users make the most of their prized smartphone, I began wondering what extras are on tap for the eagerly anticipated iPhone X. In the event that your own curiosity is piqued just the same, or if you’re one of the multi-millions of customers for whom iPhone X marks the spot in your heart (and wallet), here’s an array of accouterments that can help ensure smartphone satisfaction for any X-phile. All prices are in US dollars and are msrp.

ALLDOCK USB Charging Station (www.Alldock.com) – Starting at $129.00

The ALLDOCK is a multi-port USB charging station that offers consumers a piece of technology that looks like anything but, allowing them to embrace their electronics and avoid the cable chaos. This interior design-friendly gadget gives users the ability to charge all devices you’re your iPhone X, as well as other smartphones and tablets, all in one place. Accessory add-ons include a docking mount for the Apple Watch, Fitbit Wearables, Apple Pencil and Apple AirPods (more charging add-ons are to be released the company says). It offers all around compatibility for both wireless and quick charge phones, and delivers a 40% quicker charge as compared to using a standard charger. ALLDOCK is available in two sizes and is offered in various premium materials such as Bamboo, Walnut and Aluminum.

ALLDOCK iphone charger
photo- ALLDOCK

Skyroam Solis (www.SkyRoam.com) – $149.99

Skyroam Solis is a dual 4G LTE global WiFi hotspot and power bank. It satisfies the most significant needs of travelers with super-fast LTE speeds, long-lasting battery and mobile charging that will keep users powered-up all day long. Skyroam service seamlessly connects users with mobile WiFi on-the-go through its proprietary global WiFi network that’s powered by patented virtual SIM (vSIM) technology. With instant access to secure, unlimited data in over 100 countries, Skyroam Solis offers the convenience of going from one country to another without configuring local SIMs, updating plans, or incurring roaming charges or overage fees. Plus, it’s shareable on up to five devices simultaneously.

Skyroam Solis
photo- Skyroam

Mophie Wireless Charging Base (www.Mophie.com) – $59.95

Mophie makes charging your iPhone easier than ever. This wireless charging base includes the latest Qi technology and delivers fast charging speeds of up to 7.5W to your phone on contact. In fact, it delivers safe charging speeds 50% faster than standard wireless chargers. The non-slip finish ensures perfect placement, and the included wall adapter means you get everything you need right in the box to start charging right away. The wireless capability also allows users to be clutter-free and take the base with them while they’re out and abut; making it a portable option for those indelibly on-the-go.

photo- Mophie

Tech Armor ActivePower External Battery Dual USB Power Bank (www.TechArmor.com) – $39.99

Compact and lightweight, the Tech Armor 6000mAh Power Bank will boost your smartphone’s battery life, ensuring you’re charged up for your entire day. You’ll get not just one, but two full charges for your smartphone. And, it boasts a built-in flashlight. The Power Bank also has dual USB ports to charge two devices at once, such as a phone and a tablet. Tech Armor’s high performance ActivePower external battery packs use only the highest quality, Grade A Korean battery cells available on the market. With four models to meet anyone’s power needs, Tech Armor ActivePower series his sure to have something for you. This 6000 model is covered by a hassle-free two-year warranty. The company even says that they are committed to your satisfaction and will send you free replacements for defective or unsatisfactory product.

photo- Tech Armor

Ventev Mobile Powercell Chargers (MobileAccessories.Ventev.com) – $54.99 – $74.99

Ventev Mobile’s Powercell 6000+ is a useful device for frequent travelers who hate carrying multiple chargers to keep all of their gadgets and gear juiced up. The Powercell 6000+ is a 6000mAh, dual output portable backup battery that provides a full 25 hours of talk, 18 hours of Internet, 20 hours of video or 100 hours of audio playback power. It features 1A and 2.1A ports that allow for optimal and simultaneous charging of phones and tablets, and built-in folding AC prongs that make recharging the battery extremely easy. Also from Ventev Mobile is the Powercell 3015c, a 3000mAh portable battery with a built-in Apple Lightning cable. The slim, wallet-sized device provides 12 additional hours of talk time and features an on/off button with LED battery indicator light. The attached cable eliminates the need to carry around pesky removable cords to charge your devices while on-the-go.

Ventev Powercell 6000
photo- murrayontravel.com


For the Silo, Merilee Kern. 
As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern is an internationally-regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority—a travel, dining, leisure and lifestyle expert who spotlights noteworthy marketplace innovations, change makers, movers and shakers. She reports on exemplary travel destinations and experiences, extraordinary events and newsworthy products and services across all categories. Reach her online at www.TheLuxeList.com, on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/LuxeListEditor, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheLuxeList and on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/LuxeListReviews.

Here’s the fineprint- ********Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or sponsored to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.********

Featured image- ALLDOCK

Sources:

https://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst+Comments/Apple+%28AAPL%29%3A+iPhone+X+Production+Ahead+of+Schedule%2C+6+Mil+Est+Sold+Through+Black+Friday+Weekend+-+Rosenblatt/13544265.html

http://rblt.com/