Travel Blog

This a short post to alert hikers to a great place to hike in the Palm Springs area. There are many places to hike, however this is one of my favorites so far to spend a little time. We have gone out to this location White Water Canyon Palm Springs several times over the past years and always enjoy the time spent there.

The best time to go is early in the day, when it is still cool. You do not need to worry about the heat too much. Always make sure you take lots of water with you to avoid any dehydration issues.  Always bring a hat and sun tan lotion. If you plan to go on a serious hike, tell someone were you are going and hike with a partner. Also if you go early in the morning there is a good chance that you will spot a couple of big horn mountain sheep on the surrounding mountains. Twice now we have just missed then after we arrived at 10 in the morning. Get there early if you want to see them live on the mountains.

Hiking in White Water Canyon Palm Springs

We know that everyone is looking for a variety of things to do. Hiking may not be what everyone is looking for. Perhaps you just want to get away from the heat in Palm Springs. Or just want to have a family picnic around under the tree’s. There is lots to do for the day so here is a quick list of the advantages of this particular location in no particular order:

• Well groomed trails which are repaired any time there is a flood
• Several trails to choose from that vary from easy to medium in difficulty
• Maps available for hikers
• Links with Pacific Coast trail
• Camping sites available although there is a limited number and it is encouraged that campers reserve ahead of time
• Picnic tables at the main site were all of the trails begin
• Volunteers available to provide information and assistance to hikers
• Trout ponds for the kids to go fishing – catch and release; 3 ponds stocked with fish
• Occasional sightings of big horn sheep on the surrounding mountains

Take a few minutes and speak with one of the volunteers in the main cabin and you will learn lots of things about the area. Most are serious hikers and can provide lots of information that will be of use to you. On the day we went to the Whitewater canyon area, the volunteer told us about how everything got started and how it ended up as a park for people to hike in with rainbow trout that you can catch in the desert!

Fishing At White Water Canyon Palm Springs

If you decide to try fishing, remember that it is catch and throw back and you must use barb less hooks to protect the fish from being damaged. Also fishing is for the kids and there will be someone around to assist them with how to fish, how to cast and pulling the fish in, if needed. This is a really great place to spend a few hours and get away from the desert, although it is all around you.

For more hiking related posts, click here.

Well if you read our last post which was a summary of the US Governments New Diet Guidelines, we are assuming you are confused and wondering if you can eat anything at all. You may be also wondering if you have to give up all of your favorite foods with pizza possible at the top of the list. Well this writer does not think so and it is not based on any kind of scientific study, nor is it based on lobby groups. Or opinion is based on experience and a little bit of common sense. Common sense usually is the best approach to many things in life and this is just one more.

Common sense says that if you eat 5000 calories every day and sit on the couch you are going to get fat. Just think about if for a second. The Tour de France bikers participate in races that span 5 to 6 hours and cover up to 200 kilometers. During this time they will burn between 5000 and 7000 calories. If you are not burning calories you either have to limit your intake or increase your activity to avoid gaining more weight and also to lose weight.

But the new diet guidelines are more than just calories. They are also about making sure you get the right amount of vitamins, fibre and minerals to keep your system running well and staying healthy. This is also very important because if you are not well , then you are sick, become lethargic and likely will gain weight.

Diet Guidelines – Study the Guidelines

Remember they are guidelines. They are not a bible that you have to follow religiously. Rather they are a set of instructions that you should follow most of the time if you want to avoid gaining weight and also stay healthy. Print out the list of things you can eat and those you cannot eat. Carry it with you and use it as a reference. After awhile you will know it by heart, but until you do it will be a handy reference for you to refer to each time you are deciding what to eat.

They Are Really a Guideline and not a Law

This is so important. While you want to follow these guidelines as much as possible, what is important to remember is that these new diet guidelines are just that. Follow them as best you can, at least 90% of the time , which means you may fall off the wagon once in a while, but that is ok as long as it amounts to only 10% of your food intake. They are a guideline so use them as guidelines !

Portion Control

Use small plates. It just makes so much common sense. We all love big plates so that we can pile all of our favorite foods on them. If you use a small plate you will reduce a few hundred, maybe even a thousand calories. Drink a glass of water with your meal as well to fill you up and you will be surprised at how much less food you eat. After awhile it becomes habit to eat less.

We love going to buffets and they all have these huge plates. You can pile so much food on them of all different types. We have learned to take the desert plates instead of the dinner plates when we are browsing the main course buffet lines. You cannot get that much food on them. You have to go back for seconds. But that is just fine since it limits our caloric intake! By the time we finish these little plates we are starting to feel full and often decide to not continue eating.

You have to use small tricks like these to limit your food intake other wise it is just to tempting to just keep on eating.

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Just read a post or actually a tweet,  from President Obama telling us that the troops are coming home from Iraq by the end of the year. Apparently they could not reach a deal with the government, but this is still a win win for everyone. Troops coming home is really great news for many families.

The troops are coming home and Iraq will get to define its own culture. Let’s hope that they can work to develop a moderate society that welcomes all people’s from all over the world and not one that is closed to other nationalities. Let’s hope they recognize the rights of men and women equally and not continue to suppress women they way they have.

Troops Coming Home

It is a good day for the Americans too. They get to bring all of their troops home,  they get to begin to cut costs that the war was costing and they probably enhance their image as well.  Now if they could only get out of Afghanistan,  wouldn’t it be a great thing. Unfortunately in the writer’s opinion the country is just not as mature as Iraq is and will have to work harder before the Americans leave.
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If you cannot go to Paris France, why not come to Paris Hotel Casino Las Vegas. Admittedly it is not the same thing at all, however you can visit a replica of the Eiffel Tower and even take an elevator ride to the top. We have not stayed at the Paris hotel yet, however perhaps the next time we visit Las Vegas. It is centrally located along the strip and close to all of the major hotels on the strip such as Caesars, Bellagio, Ballys and many others.

Whether you spend time at this hotel or stroll along the strip, this is a great city to visit and the hotel will more than live up to it’s name.

Following is a quick summary of what you can expect. When we visit this hotel , we will update this post more with our own pictures and personal comments.

Paris Hotel Casino Las Vegas – Slot Machines

There are over more than 1,700 slot machines which are set alongside streets capes, fountains and statues beneath the massive legs of our Eiffel Tower. You’ll find the very latest in themed slot machines, the most popular multi-line games and the infamous, statewide progressive Megabucks machines. The Champagne Slots, is in the high-limit slot area, which resembles an exclusive, Parisian courtyard.

Table Games

There have all of the popular table games that many people enjoy including: Craps ; Texas Hold’Em poker and Seven Card Stud; Baccarat ; Mini Baccarat ; Roulette with a wheel marked with numbers 1 through 36 and American roulette has a 0 and 00; Pai Gow

Restaurants

The Paris casino has great french based restaurants that offer the best in cooking for visitors. From 5 star restaurants to quick coffee shops, there is something for everyone. Café Belle Madeleine;Cafe Ile St Louis; Cafe du Parc; Eiffel Tower Restaurant; JJ’s Boulangerie; La Creperie; Le Provençal; Le Village Buffet; Les Artistes Steakhouse; Mon Ami Gabi; Le Burger Brasserie; Sugar Factory American Brasserie

Paris Hotel Casino Las Vegas – Major Points of Interest

If you are just passing through the Paris Hotel and Casino, you will want to take a moment to see the following areas of the Paris Hotel and Casino

• Great French restaurants
• Great entertainment
• Eiffel Tower
• Outdoor café’s, particularly along the strip
• French atmosphere in the hotel
• Nice pool

What We Liked

• Great location for the hotel
• Outdoor café’s
• Some of the best French restaurants
• Eiffel tower
• A very charming hotel & casino
• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Buffet
• Pool area and spa free to hotel guests
• Hotel rates are very reasonable and competitive
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Paris hotel & casino

It is a 4 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Harrah’s Total Rewards slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels,  as well as sister hotels in Tunica, Biloxi, Laughlin and Reno.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Harrahs has hotels as well as casinos in most major markets across the country and all are available to Harrahs Total Rewards members. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Paris Hotel Casino Las Vegas – Parking

There is ample parking at the Paris hotel & casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel. There is no surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels.

Directions:Located at 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, it is easily reached from the Las Vegas Strip. Access to the Strip from I15 can be from a number of exits. They will take you on to the strip and then to the Paris Hotel. It is located across the road from the Bellagio, and it is beside Bally’s Casino right in the center of the strip action.

Tonto Creek, Arizona is one set of rapids that is only for experts and only at certain times of the year. This creek is really only navigable just after a major rain storm in the surrounding mountains and even then there are many natural obstacles as well as man made obstacles to watch out for.

With a class IV / V set of rapids with massive boulders to navigate around and a narrow water way, this is really only for experts.

Additionally there can be barb wire strung across the creek by ranchers to stop their cattle from roaming too far. You need to watch out for this and other items that can ruin your trip in a big way.

Review of Tonto Creek Rafting

Rafting Trip – There are no rafters offering trips on this creek and you must bring in everything that you need.

Access can be gained at SH 260 crossing just east of Payson; Rye Creek confluence just east of the SH 188/SH 87 intersection; Any USFS park on the banks of Roosevelt Lake .

Description – Hazards may include, barbed wire fences strung across the creek. Also dead-fall strainers in the channel, live tree strainers overhanging the creek along its banks. Or boulder garden rapids dropping into keeper holes, ample opportunities for pinning and wrapping, narrow slot drops of 8-10 feet, or more, rattlesnakes and copper heads hiding in the rocks along the creek, and very difficult access for emergency personnel in the event of an accident.

Christopher Creek (USFS) and Ponderosa (USFS) Campgrounds, both primitive forest campsites, are located between Tonto Creek and SH 260 just east of Payson. There are no other campgrounds located along or near Tonto Creek.

The best time to run Tonto Creek is right after a heavy rainfall in its drainage basin. There is a short window of opportunity unless in the midst of a prolonged period of rainfall.

River Rating – Class IV / V

Number of Rapids – Varies based on amount of rain and the time you go. Water flow does not last very long, depending on the amount of rain that has fallen in surrounding mountains.

Minimum Age – Experts only

Departure Dates – No scheduled trips, you are on your own.

Boat Type – Kayaks are apparently the best for this, with experts who can exert perfect control

What to Bring – Everything you are going to need. Note if you catch the runoff late, you could end up walking out. The water flow falls as fast as it rises.

Reviews – None that we found

Outfitters – None offered

Location – The Europa Hotel in Belfast

One big reason to check-in to The Europa is, without doubt, is the location – right in the middle of Belfast’s “Golden Mile”. Located near the Grand Opera House and the historic Crown Bar, the National Trust’s only public house property, beckons from just across the road. And then you’ve got shops, several award-winning restaurants, high-end entertainment and the business district – all within walking distance.

Parking

As with most City Centre hotels, there is no on-site car parking available. Your hotel concierge can help you with finding local parking and rates that you should expect to pay. As with all large cities, parking at hotels and in downtown areas can be expensive. Some people will only rent a car after having spent a few days touring on foot.

Europa Hotel – Belfast Rooms

Thick duvets and fluffy pillows scream comfort and luxury. While Ralph Lauren fabrics and Zoffany wall coverings stamp designer authority all over the décor. The bathrooms are exquisite with glass, chrome and ceramic finishes . The hotel advertises superior sound proofing in every room to ensure that every guest is guaranteed a good night’s sleep.
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We stayed at another Drury Inn, this time in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and found that this location lived up to the value and the comfort that the first two locations we stayed in did. This location is just north of the downtown area of the city off of I25 which takes you North to Santa Fe.

We got there just in time for the evening hot food and drinks that come with your room. We paid $81 plus tax for a room on a weekend with triple A discounts for a king bed, and two people.

With this, we got the usual free long-distance service, free wi-fi and a hot meal in the evening and in the morning as well. In addition, we also receive 3 drinks each consisting of beer, wine, and mixed drinks. There are also soft drinks and popcorn available 24 hours a day.

Drury inn – Alburqueque

We included a couple of pictures, one of the outside and then two pictures of the inside eating area. This is a really great place to stay with not only the deal you get but also the location. There are at least 5 restaurants within walking distance of the hotel if you decide you want something more than what is offered at the hotel.
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We are visiting the Gold Strike Casino once again this fall. We are writing a brief update about this casino, as well as it’s neighbor the Horse Shoe Casino and the Roadhouse Casino. You can click on any of the links above. Review more information about all of these great vacation spots.

We checked in a bit early and were given our room key right away. The October time frame prior to thanksgiving is a slow period for the hotels in this area. There are lots of rooms available.They put us on the 31st floor with a great view of the river.

We are staying free at the hotel as part of a comp package we received in the mail from the hotel. We were offered free rooms for two nights, $25 towards meals and $55 in free play. When you combine this with the new express comps feature and points conversion for food while staying at the hotel, it turns out that this is a pretty good deal.

Gold Strike Casino Meets Expectations

The hotel as usual met all our expectations. We would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to spend a few days gambling, playing golf in the area or taking in some of the activities in Memphis.

We noticed that the buffet is perhaps a little bit reduced from past years. However the food is just as great and the value is there.  Service was a bit slow, but then we are on vacation and not in a hurry.

The new express comp feature is a really nice add on. Your screen on the slot machine you play will show you exactly how much you have in express comp’s. You do not need to visit the M-Life desk any longer to get a comp for a meal. Just hand over your M-Life card to the cashier. They will use the comp’s on your card to pay for your meal. And the best part is that when you use your comp’s the meal will be half price! We think this is a really good deal for everyone and another reason to always use your slot card.

Gold Strike Casino Update

They have updated the slots with all of the latest multi-line penny machines while still maintaining many of the traditional reel machines as well. There are less video poker machines as well and very few keno machines. There was no damage at all due to the floods as far as we could tell to the hotel, the casino or even the grounds around the hotel.

This is a great place to visit and we will be coming back here again.

We recently stayed at the Drury Inn in Nashville, TN along I40 on the east side of the city. What a pleasant place to stay at and good value for the price as well. We normally stay at other chains but decided to stay for one night at this hotel and would highly recommend it to anyone who is traveling.

The picture on the right was taken with my smartphone and it is a bit dark even after adjusting the effects on the picture. Blame it on my smartphone and not the Inn. It is a bright, very clean eating area with lots of places to sit both at tables and on comfortable couches and chairs.

Drury Inn in Nashville – Hotel Renovations

The hotel apparently has been recently renovated. the rooms were large, well appointed with all of the amenities you need and lots of granite. We paid $109 with a Triple-A rate, while the walk-in rate was $129. We could have paid $10 less with two double beds instead of a king bed.  This may seem a bit high for some folks but wait until you hear about the advantages you get with this hotel for the price.

• Evening snack which is really more than a snack
  • Baked potatoes with sour cream and butter
  • Chicken strips
  • Pasta
  • Salad
  • Soup
  • Hot dogs for the kids
  • Three drinks per person – beer, wine, or mixed drinks
  • Chips and sauces to go with everything

• Just about to have breakfast, so cannot provide a list, however, looks like it is a full hot buffet breakfast with the normal things that you would expect and coffee and juice.
• In addition, there are flat screen TV’s in every room, free long-distance calling across the US and into Canada as well, and free parking inside a gated area.

Drury Inn’s

When you compare a cheaper hotel plus paying for two meals, this is really a good deal and you do not have to worry about drinking and driving after your meal out at a local restaurant. This hotel really works for us and we would recommend it to anyone passing through Nashville. Apparently, Drury has a number of hotels across the mid west so we are looking forward to staying at more of them.

Leave us a comment if you have had a similar experience. For more posts about hotel service, click here.

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The incumbent Ontario Liberals received a slap on the wrist from voters, being reduced from a majority to a minority government with voter turnout at only 47.6%, the lowest in history. This is the 3rd term for the Ontario liberals and it is unfortunate that the Ontario voters allowed this to occur, however the conservatives can only blame themselves.

Ontario Liberals – Ready to Make a Change

The Ontario electors were ready to make a change, however with a lackluster campaign by Mr. Hudak and his party, the voting public decided they wanted to vote for the party they knew even with the lies of Premier McGuinty! But they did not give him a majority! At least we got that right so that the liberals will not be able to increases our taxes easily. With the NDP and Conservatives controlling the votes, we should actually get some good governing from this next Ontario provincial  government.
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Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant is part of a chain of restaurants in the United States. We happened to visit the Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant in Bullhead city , Arizona. The address is 2040 Highway 95, Bullhead City, AZ 86442. It is up on a bit of hill along highway 95, which runs through Bullhead. Many people chose to sit inside, however we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the view of the mountains and the Colorado River.

Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant – Comments

We visited there several times and really enjoyed the ice cold beer and the chicken wings which is what they are known for, as their name suggests. They have many different styles of wings with a variety of dips and rubs that will appeal to just about anyone. In fact these are among the best wings we have had at any restaurant. While they are generally not good for you from a health perspective, they sure taste good. Every time we went at lunch time to this restaurant, it was full and many people were also taking advantage of the take out service.

We only went here at lunch time, so cannot report what it is like in the evening. We think that it is probably busy at that time as well. They have lunch time specials as well as evening specials, so make sure you check these out and save yourself a little bit of money as well.

Sit out on the Patio

We sat out on the patio in the shade. In fact the restaurant was full at lunch time, while no one was on the patio. We could not understand this and mentioned it to the waitress. Even though it was 80 F, most people will sit inside and watch the sports on the big screen TV’s. We found this to be a pleasurable place to go for a quick lunch and a beer.

Apparently this restaurant,  Buffalo Wild Wings is part of a chain and has places in many cities across the US. We will definitely be going to this location again sometime in the future. We also want to visit some of the locations around the US.

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Sarah Palin White Water Rafting on the Matanuska River

An exciting glacial fed, class III & IV whitewater trip next to the 27 mile long Matanuska Glacier. The main rapids are several miles long and the result of a squeeze play between the glaciers lateral moraine and “Lion Head”, a massive basalt rock wall from an ancient volcanic plug. A perfect trip for first-timers or experienced river runners! Oar rafts with paddle assist or full paddle rafting available.

Sara Palin White Water Rafting

On the Sarah Palin show about Alaska were Sarah and her family went white water rafting, there was her brother and sister, her father and a number of the kids along with an expert guide. They appeared to have a wonderful time, getting totally soaked and thrills galore as they traversed the class III rapids. The water was ice cold since this river comes from the glacial melt that is just above the freezing point. It is also just plain cold in Alaska most of the time anyway.

All though I am sure that the entire event was somewhat staged, this was a great show and demonstrated what it is like for people to go white water rafting in a setting such as Alaska. Surrounded by mountains, glaciers and a raging river, it provides some of the best scenes for a show such as this. The scenery is fantastic and anyone who enjoys this sort of thing will like rafting on these rivers.

Other Rivers in Alaska Suitable for White Water Rafting

Perhaps the wildest and most visually spectacular rivers in North America, the Alsek and Tatsheshini give you mountains, glaciers and more! Flowing from the inlands of the Yukon Territory to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Alaska, these rivers offer a full range of outdoor experience.

The Tatshenshini River flows through the heart of the largest bio-preserve in the world. Wildlife abounds as you travel through tall mountains, vast glaciers and ice burg dotted lakes.

The Alsek is extraordinarily different from the Tatshenshini which is only “one valley over”. Glaciers, icebergs, wildlife, canyons and a helicopter portage around Turnback Canyon add to the adventure. The Alsek valley is perhaps the most “Himalayan-like” topography on the continent!

Additional rivers that can be candidates for white water rafting are COPPER RIVER – CHITINA RIVER – – NIZINA RIVER – KENNICOTT RIVER – GULF OF ALASKA.

If you are planning to head off to Alaska to do some white water rafting, check out the rivers online. Then book your trip with one of the rafting companies ahead of time. You want to make sure that you have a spot on the raft of course. But you will also want to find out what equipment they provide to their customers. Also what equipment and clothing you need to bring. A second set of warm dry clothes is definitely on the list for these cold water rivers.

For more posts about Alaska, click here.

We passed through the Presque Isle Downs Casino and decided to write a review about it. An hour in the casino is all we spent.  We did not try any of the bars, or restaurants at the casino. So our comments are based on looking at the web site and our brief time spent there. This is a casino only facility. There is no hotel with this facility, although there are motels and hotels in the area.

Presque Isle Casino Reviews – From penny slots to Virtual Blackjack, Three-Card Poker, & Roulette, you’ll find a wide variety of choices and denominations to suit your gaming needs. At Presque Isle Downs & Casino, they are the Home of the Big Jackpots! Look for our Progressive Slots conveniently located throughout the casino.

Presque Isle Casino

The Presque Isle Downs Casino has over 2000 slot machines and a number of virtual table games such as blackjack, roulette and several others.

There is ample parking at the casino, all surface parking which means on busy days there may be a long walk involved to get to the casino. There are two entrances, with Valet service at the main entrance.

The casino is nice, there is no hotel and there are lots of slot machines. There is also a high roller area as well. The Presque Isle Downs Casino is a combination casino and race track . It is similar to many that have sprung up across the country were the race track has been struggling and the casino addition has meant that the racetrack can continue to operate.

Presque Isle Casino Review

Slot Machines

There are over 2000 slot machines of all types. The casino is large enough to have all of the popular slot machines as well as poker and keno machines.

There are many 5cent and penny machines as well as 25 cent, 50 cent and $1 dollar machines to choose from.

Table Games

There  are 7 or 8 virtual table games that players can try out. These include blackjack and roulette and a number of other table games. Virtual table games have gorgeous virtual dealers that manage the game and deal the virtual cards.

Restaurants

La Bonne Vie Enjoy a Classic American Prime Steak House at La Bonne Vie located in the heart of the casino. They are open every Wednesday through Saturday from 5pm to 10pm.

The Downs Clubhouse & Lounge features a beautiful year-round view of the racetrack and casual dining at its best. They are open Friday & Saturday nights for live entertainment!

The Triple Crown Buffet If you’re looking for a quick bite, visit The Triple Crown Buffet which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They feature Prime Rib & Shrimp every Sunday through Thursday and Crab Legs & Prime Rib Buffet on Friday & Saturdays from 4pm to 11pm.

Experience one of the four lounges. Zelda’s, The Paddock Bar, The Speakeasy Lounge, and The Clubhouse Lounge offer your favorite spirits daily until 2 am.

Lit’l Al’s Need a quick snack? Stop by Lit’l Al’s located in the Elevator Lobby just off the casino floor and you’ll find hot dogs, pizza, and more!

What We Liked

• A variety of slot machines
• Buffet
• Easy access from all highways
• A safe environment in the casino and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Columbus or points west

What We Did Not Like

• Smoking in the casino
• No hotel
• A long way to walk from the parking to get into the casino

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Roarin’ 20s slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at the casino including cash back as well as discounts on meals at the casino.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Presque Isle Downs Casino in a large surface multiple parking lot system that we observed.

Directions:

Presque Isle Downs is conveniently located on I-90 Exit 27.

Presque Isle Downs & Casino, 8199 Perry Highway, Erie, PA 16509, 1-866-ERIE-FUN or (814) 860-8999

Additional Driving Directions:

From Buffalo, NY

I-90 West to Exit 27 • Make a left off the exit • Entrance to Presque Isle Downs is on the left.

From Cleveland, OH

I-90 East to Exit 27 • Make a right off the exit. The entrance to Presque Isle Downs is on the left.

From Pittsburgh, PA

I-79 North to I-90 East • Exit 27 Make a right off the exit • Entrance to Presque Isle Downs is on the left.

From Youngstown, OH

Route 11 North to I-90 East. Take exit 27 • Make a right off the exit • Entrance to Presque Isle Downs is on the left.

The following is a summary of the new US Government dietary guidelines. In our next post we are going to discuss these guidelines and how the average person may be able to apply them!

A new term has been coined by the US Government and they want you to  avoid extra calories from Solid Fats and Added Sugars (SoFAS). Also consumers  who eat a lot of SoFAS also tend to eat a lot of refined grains which should also be avoided. They want consumers to move away from our over reliance in the past on sugar and sodium and saturated fat.

If it tastes great, then you probably should avoid it and of course that means pizza, which is major source of food types Americans enjoy and  are advised to avoid.

We also need to cut back to 1,500 mg of sodium per day for people over age 51, African-Americans, and people with high blood pressure.  Everyone else are advised to cut back to less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. There is salt in just about everything, so start by putting the salt shaker away! Avoid processed foods were salt is very high. Read the labels and look for low sodium levels in foods. Also avoid fast food restaurants that do not have low salt menus and low calorie foods.

The New Diet Guidelines focus on two major themes:

• watching calories to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• tipping the balance of calorie intake: More calories from nutrition-rich foods, fewer calories from solid fats, sugars, and refined grains

The new American guidelines suggest:

• Eat more seafood — at least 8 ounces a week
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Substitute healthy oils for solid fats (such as margarine)
• Lower your sodium intake
• Avoid fast foods
• Exercise more
• Read food labels
• Substitute whole grains for refined grains
• Eat more beans and peas
• Get plenty of fiber, potassium, and vitamin D
• Eat/drink more nonfat or low-fat dairy products
• Replace high-fat meats with lean meats
• For some Americans, drink less alcohol
• Get off your SoFAS

The new guidelines point to specific sources of SoFAS and refined grains that we should not eat.

Dietary Guidelines: Worst Foods for Solid Fats

Solid fats make up almost a fifth of the total calories in American diets. They are a major factor behind the obesity epidemic.

The 10 foods that give us the most solid fats (and the percentage of solid fats from each food):

• Grain-based desserts (10.8%)
• Pizza (9.1%)
• Regular cheese (7.6%)
• Sausage, franks, bacon, and ribs (7.1%)
• French fries (4.8%)
• Dairy desserts (4.7%)
• Tortillas, burritos, and tacos (4.6%)
• Chicken and mixed chicken dishes (4.1%)
• Pasta and pasta dishes (3.9%)
• Whole milk (3.9%, just ahead of burgers at 3.8%)

Dietary Guidelines: Worst Foods for Saturated Fat

The body makes its own saturated fat — and we don’t need any more from our diet. High intake of saturated fat is linked to high cholesterol levels, which in turn are linked to heart disease.

The 10 foods from which Americans get most of their saturated fat

• Regular cheese (8.5%)
• Pizza (5.9%)
• Grain-based desserts (5.8%)
• Dairy desserts (5.6%)
• Chicken and chicken mixed dishes (5.5%)
• Sausage, franks, bacon, and ribs (4.9%)
• Burgers (4.4%)
• Tortillas, burritos, and tacos (4.1%)
• Beef and beef mixed dishes (4.1%)
• Reduced-fat milk (3.9%)

 Dietary Guidelines: Worst Foods for Added Sugars

Added sugars make up 16% of the total calories in American diets. Like solid fats, they’re a major factor in obesity. Far atop the list are sugary beverages.

The 10 foods from which Americans get most of their added sugars:

• Soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks (35.7%)
• Grain-based desserts (12.9%)
• Fruit drinks (10.5%)
• Dairy desserts (6.5%)
• Candy (6.1%)
• Ready-to-eat cereals (3.8%)
• Sugars and honey (3.5%)
• Tea (3.5%)
• Yeast breads (2.1%)
• All other foods (15.4%)

The new dietary guidelines say we should get more fiber in our diets.

The guidelines’ top 10 selected sources of dietary fiber :

• Beans — navy, pinto, black, kidney, white, great northern, and lima (6.2 to 9.6 grams)
• 100% Bran ready-to-eat cereal (9.1 grams)
• Split peas, lentils, chickpeas, or cowpeas (5.6 to 8.1 grams)
• Artichokes (7.2 grams)
• Pears (5.5 grams)
• Soybeans (5.2 grams)
• Plain rye wafer crackers (5.0 grams)
• Bran ready-to-eat cereals — various types (2.6 to 5.0 grams)
• Asian pears (4.4 grams)
• Green peas (3.5 to 4.4 grams)

Dietary Guidelines: Best Foods for Potassium

The new dietary guidelines say we should get more potassium in our diets.

The guidelines’ top 10 selected sources of dietary potassium :

• Baked potatoes including the skin (738 mg)
• Prune juice, canned (707 mg)
• Carrot juice, canned (689 mg)
• Tomato paste (664 mg)
• Beet greens, cooked (654 mg)
• White beans, canned (595 mg)
• Tomato juice, canned (556 mg)
• Plain yogurt, nonfat or low fat (531 to 579 mg)
• Tomato puree (549 mg)
• Sweet potato, baked in skin (542 mg)

Dietary Guidelines: Best Foods for Calcium

The new dietary guidelines advise Americans to get more calcium in their diets.

The guidelines’ top 10 selected sources of dietary calcium:

• Fortified ready-to-eat cereals (250 mg to 1,000 mg)
• Orange juice fortified with calcium (500 mg)
• Plain yogurt, nonfat (452 mg)
• Romano cheese (452 mg)
• Pasteurized processed Swiss cheese (438 mg)
• Evaporated milk, nonfat (371 mg)
• Tofu, regular, preserved with calcium sulfate (434 mg)
• Plain yogurt, low fat (415 mg)
• Fruit yogurt, low fat (345 mg)
• Ricotta cheese, part skim (337 mg)

Dietary Guidelines: Best Foods for Vitamin D

The new dietary guidelines advise Americans to get more vitamin D in their diets.

The guidelines’ top 10 selected dietary sources of vitamin D :

• Salmon, sockeye, cooked (19.8 mcg)
• Smoked salmon(14.5 mcg)
• Salmon, canned (11.6 mcg)
• Rockfish, cooked (6.5 mcg)
• Tuna, light, canned in oil, drained (5.7 mcg)
• Orange juice, vitamin D fortified (3.4 mcg)
• Sardines, canned in oil, drained (4.1 mcg)
• Tuna, light, canned in water, drained (3.8 mcg)
• Whole milk (3.2 mcg)
• Whole chocolate milk (3.2 mcg)

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The childhood of someone growing up in Belfast, Ireland during the 70’s and 80’s was  very different than other kids around the world. If you  grew up in west Belfast, you heard the sound of bombs and gunshots which was a normal everyday experience. With people being killed daily and British soldiers patrolling the streets; life on the streets just wasn’t the same as we experience it today in North America. Sure there are some areas in our larger cities that are bad, but not as bad as what the Irish had to put up with during those years.

This was a difficult time for the Irish as it had been for many years prior to that. An entire generation Growing up in Belfast was affected by the issues that took place during the 70’s and 80’s. It will be another generation before it is really historical and not present in the minds of the Irish.

Growing up in Belfast – Weekend Activities

The weekend activities for young men in those days was very different than what young people know today. Instead of thinking about going out to socialize or play games the majority of local youths would go out to riot. With either people from the other side of the political of the other side, or with the British soldiers and/or RUC (royal Ulster constabulary). This was the popular thing to do at that time. It was a very violent and difficult society to live in.

During the 1970s and 80s Belfast was like a war-zone. Belfast’s troubled history has seen many tragedies and atrocities. One positive thing that has come out of these bad times and helps everyone to remember what happened in the past is the murals that now dot the city.  These atrocities are illustrated in the many murals dotted all over Belfast. They are painted on the sides of houses, on walls of building and anywhere paintings are allowed in public.
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It is the classic conundrum. Everyone wants to conserve energy and become less dependent on oil from other countries. Our own country is the same with all of the pollution etc that goes along with oil, as long as it is not in my backyard. No one wants an oil refinery or a coal fired electrical generation plant too close to them . Now it is going to be those magnificent windmills that are receiving a negative vote.

You can pretty much locate a coal fired plant almost anywhere, so most of the time they locate them a long way from concentrations of the population. Not so with wind farms. You have to find a location that has a lot of wind, preferably stable and located on a higher hill or across the flat plains were the wind blows.  You can see them for miles and they really are something to watch. Those majestic wings or propellers sweeping around with little noise and interference.
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It is increasingly looking like it will be another Liberal government after the Ontario Election. Many people just cannot believe this is going to happen. It is not because they like the current incumbent, McGuinty! The majority of people know he lies and will do and say whatever he needs to in order to stay in power. The problem is that the competition from the conservatives is just not enough to convince voters they should vote conservative. What a shame! We are updating this post several years later. Although McGuinty has resigned amid shame and controversy, it looks like the liberals are still going to be voted in again . What is wrong with Ontario?

Post Ontario Election

And what a squandered opportunity. After the election is over and we have the final results , chances are that the conservatives will sit back and assess the situation. They need to decide if they should have been harder hitting with their policy and their positions. But it will be too late by that time. In fact 3 days before voting day it is already to late. Barring some major mistake by either party, it is pretty much a done deal as far as the pollsters are concerned.
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If you can believe some of the news reports, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Premier Dalton McGuinty is in a panic that not only will he lose the election, he could lose to the conservatives in a big way giving them a majority. With the liberals in a panic in Ontario, the big guns come out. It is too bad for Ontario if he wins! He is busy promising more jobs and more spending to try and trying to buy votes in Ontario’s election. Does this sound familiar? I think that it does and it is typical of the liberals and the party in power to realize at the last minute that they could be kicked out in favor of a new party.

There is another reason that every one should consider which way they vote in this election. We know that the liberals have lied to us over the past years. They have promised us all kinds of things and then reneged on the promises. They have raised taxes significantly over the past 8 years and driven business out of the province. The reality is though that all politicians are really no better, so it is quite likely that I would be saying the same thing had the conservatives been in power for the past 8 years. So why not just leave the liberals in power?
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It appears to be common knowledge that the Liberals have more than doubled spending over the past 8 years they have been in power. Even in this election they are talking about Ontario’s Budget Increases. They are increasing our taxes even more than they already are. Does anyone have concrete figures that support these commonly held notions about the increases. I tend to believe them but would like to see some facts on this particular subject. Hopefully the Ontario electorate will not put up with this and vote them out of office.

As a rule Liberals tend to spend money a lot more than the conservatives, I am not surprised. They dole it out to supporters. They have had a number of really bad errors in the past 8 years. One of the most notable was the health systems squandering of over a million dollars for computer systems that still do not work.
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Can you imagine being called a bed blocker in a hospital!  That is what hospital staff call people who should be in an long term care facility and not in the hospital! They are not patients, they are not someone that the staff really cares about, they are called “bed Blockers”!

We do not know if this is a liberal thing or just a part of the culture in our hospitals. But one thing is sure, it is only going to get worse unless they add more funding to support the availability of long term care facilities and also home care facilities. Apparently it costs $70 per day for home care and $235 for a hospital stay per day. Long term care is somewhere in between.  The number of baby boomers in the 65+ bracket is growing by leaps and bounds so it is only going to get worse.
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Well it looks like another week of the markets going up and down. Nervous are investors trying to figure out what to do with their portfolios. Market volatility makes everyone nervous. As of writing this post, indications are that the stock futures are pointing up, but as we all know, it really means nothing with the current debt crisis in Europe. Until the European countries get their collective act together we are going to see a lot more of this.

What are investors supposed to do in this climate? Well if you are invested in quality stocks and bonds, most experts will tell you to stay put. Certainly that is what my adviser is suggesting at the moment. On the other hand if you are invested in speculative stocks and mutual funds, it might already be too late to get out. You will be selling at a loss and trying to time the market is next to impossible. If your stocks are paying good dividends, at least you will be collecting income while you are waiting to see which way the markets are going to go.
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The markets are on a roller coaster again and this time headed into a deep trough! Or as some would say this is temporary and as soon as the worlds countries get things stabilized we will be back to normal! Who do you believe and what should the average person do in these difficult times? An update from June 2013 suggests that the market rose to new heights and is now about to tumble again. We will have to wait and see what happens this year in a year with market volatility.

We think government workers every where should be really nervous. Private industry has been shedding jobs for years and conserving cash, something that the worlds governments have yet to do. If this latest round of market and debt problems gets really bad, the government is going to need to reduce their costs as well. First thing to go will be programs and then the workers that administer those programs. All we can say is try to make sure that you are working on something that will not be cut!

Market Volatility  – Dow Tumbles

But back to the issue of the market and the up and down swings we have seen. On Thursday, Sept 22, the Dow tumbled as did many other markets. If you are invested in good quality bonds and stocks, then you are probably ok. Sure you have lost money , but only if you sell. If you sell now you are locking in those losses. Hold on to quality and as long as you have time, the market is likely to bounce back! Too many people are panicking and selling low and locking in the losses that are now in the market.
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McGuinty’s tax increases for Ontario have increase a lot. Wondering about the tax increases over the past seven year. Here is what our Premier has done for Ontario in the past seven years. and there is more coming ; the smart meter tax and the Ontario Carbon tax! It is time to wake up Ontario! More tax Increases for Ontario are coming.

Note: we did not write this, it was passed on as part of an email campaign to us. We thought it was too good to not pass along to our readers. If you were the writer please let us know and we will add your name to this post.

Of course the liberals will say that the conservatives would have and will do the same thing. After all someone has to pay for the increasing costs. This is true, but then if you control your costs like the average household perhaps you would not have to add all of these taxes!

McGuinty’s tax Increases for Ontario

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Well the folks in the province of Ontario, are going to be hit with another tax! It seems that the province has spent $850 m to install Smart Meters for Electrical Usage around the province. Now they want to charge 75 cents a month for two years to recover some of these costs. It was not enough to raise the rates, install smart meters and force us into doing laundry at night and on weekends. We now have to pay for these meters which we did not want in the first place.

There is an election in Ontario right now and we vote on Oct 2nd. Surely we can send a message to the liberals in power at the moment. Either give them a minority or send them packing! It is just disgusting the way they have raised our taxes to an unbelievable level in this province. We are one of the highest taxed governments in north America.  No wonder we are losing jobs, business does not want to move here and many are moving out of the province.
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If you are planning a whitewater rafting trip, there are several options for camping near or on the Middle Fork American river and American Middle Fork campgrounds.  There are a few public campgrounds in nearby Forest hill. Primitive campsites are available in Auburn State Recreation Area by reservation. Wilderness camping (camping outside designated camping areas) can be enjoyed in the river canyon by obtaining a Wilderness Camping Permit.

American Middle Fork Campgrounds – Primitive

There are five primitive campgrounds that  are available in the Auburn Recreation Area. There is  a 30 day total camping limit along the American Middle Fork in this area. Camping fees are $7-9.00 per night, last time we checked, with additional vehicles charged at $5.00 each. There is also a $1.00 fee charged per dog per night. Dogs must be on a leash or secured inside a vehicle or tent at all times. Animals kept in vehicles must be monitored at all times to avoid any possibility of over heating.  Fires are allowed in fire pits, where provided. You should pay attention to fire warnings in the area to avoid starting forest fires.

Wilderness Camping Permits

Most locations also will require a permit before you can camp on these sites. While there is a nominal camping fee, this money is not even close to what they need to manage the camp sites and the wilderness parks. Purchasing a permit is in your best interest for your own protection.

The reason many parks use permits is so that they can keep track of how many people are using their sites and are camping in the wilderness. If there are too many people it puts a lot of pressure on the ecosystem. If someone does not check out when they leave it may trigger a search party to look for them in the area they indicated that they were going to be camping. It is so important to be accurate about were you are going in the wilderness. If you get into difficulty, the first place the search parties will look will be based on the information you provided when you registered at the park rangers station.

Changing Locations within the American Middle Fork Campgrounds –  Wilderness Area

If you decide to change locations in the area while camping, it is always a good idea to advise the camp wardens as to your location just in case there is some kind of emergency. If they need to find you for whatever reason, the first place anyone will look is the last known location. This can make a huge difference between life and death in many situations. Always tell people were you are going, always take lots of water with you and hike with a partner.

Growing up in Belfast in the 70s,80s and 90s was an adventure of a kind experienced nowhere else in the free world. The weekend activities for youths in those days were very different to that of today. Also compared to many other locations around the world. Instead of thinking about going out to socialize or play games. Many local youths would go out to riot with either people from the other side of the political  spectrum. Or with the British soldiers and/or RUC (royal Ulster constabulary). This was a violent time for Ireland.

Violent time In Northern Ireland

During the 1970s and 80s Belfast was like a war-zone, and Belfast’s troubled history has seen many tragedies and atrocities. These atrocities are illustrated in the many murals dotted all over Belfast, painted on the sides of houses. A good friend of ours left Ireland because of this reason. In fact they decided not to have children, because they did not want to bring up a child in the midst of this violence.

These massive paintings are today a major Belfast attraction for tourists. In the past, however, they were a way for the residents of Belfast’s troubled areas to get their points across. Or make a plea or demand that the rest of world could see through the power of the media.
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Recent studies by scientists are uncovering a phenomenon that points to the an exercise and live long strategy. Exercise appears to ensure that more blood gets to organs and tissues. They are cleaned of impurities and they receive more oxygen, which contributes to overall health and longer life. Of course like anything else you can overdue exercise. You can begin to have to much wear and tear on muscles, joints and ligaments. For most people it means exercising moderately 4 or 5 times a week with out enduring extreme wear and tear on your body.

The scientists are reporting that not only that signs of premature aging were halted. They were even reversed — in virtually every tissue and organ in the bodies of exercised mice.

So instead of taking a pill or eating some exotic food, all you need to do is follow an exercise regime and you will longer  than your peers who do not. Your motto should be – Exercise and Live Long.

The particular studies that these findings are being based on consisted of allowing mice to receive regular exercise in one group . While in another group, they were allowed to lead a sedentary lifestyle. The mice that exercised, were much more lively , had more energy and were much more alert than the sedentary mice. They also looked more healthy as well with sleek shiny coats of fur compared to the group.

Exercising 3 times a week for perhaps 45 to 60 minutes a week is sufficient to achieve these stupendous results. Anti-aging effects of endurance exercise on the brain, skin, hair, gonads (ovaries and testicles), kidneys, spleen and liver were significant.

Exercise and Live Long – Real Life Example

Recently a friend of mind was talking about his father who had experienced a slight stroke. He was hospitalized and then caught a disease while in the hospital. The net result was that he was in bed on his back for 3 months with no exercise at all while he recovered. He was then shipped to a long term care facility.

He had lost a great deal of muscle mass, and strength. Her fatherinlaw was lethargic and had very little energy. Fortunately for him, his daughter in law was a former critical care nurse. She knew that she needed to get him up and walking.

Start Slowly

They started slow with a walker, to the door of his room and back. This is really how bad he was. Later he progressed out the door and to the end of the hall. All of the time rebuilding his strength and increasing his heart rate just a little bit.
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Well we just got an email from the Wynn casino in Las Vegas. They are offering us three free rooms at the Wynn casino or the Encore in Las Vegas. We have to stay on a Sunday through Thursday night. This is fine for us and the Encore in Las Vegas rooms are considered suites which are upgrades from the Wynn. Both are fantastic, and we are just so excited that we are getting these rooms for free. The cost of the room depends on the time of year and how busy the hotel is on any given week. A friend is staying at the same time as us. They are paying $149 a night which is supposed to be Casino Rate!

So with tax and everything that is almost a $600 value just in the rooms alone. It is nice coming to a casino knowing that you have already won and you are $600 ahead of the casino. So of course we are staying at the upgraded Encore for this trip and it is free! We will be gambling of course and may win or we may not. But at least we do not need to worry about paying for the rooms on this trip.

Encore in Las Vegas – Free Credit

But it does get better. They also are giving us $150 in free credit  which we can use at slot machines to play on and perhaps win some more money. Once at the TI or Treasure Island, we won $800 on our free play.

Booked our Stay

We have booked our stay in Oct and are planning our trip now. This is including the games we will play while we are there. We are also thinking about the restaurants we are going to go to and the shows we may see. Who knows we may end up spending all of our time in the casino playing the slots especially if we are lucky and win some money!

The Wynn and the Encore are sister hotels and casinos. You can play in either and use your red slot card to play, rack up points and perhaps earn more comp’s.

Shopping at The Encore

They are connected by a shopping mall which has many of the famous shops that only the rich can shop at and of course big winners at the slots or tables.

It is nice to browse but way beyond anything I want to pay for clothes and other things. The restaurants at either hotel are some of the best. We have yet to decide which one we will go to.  I am really looking forward to enjoying one of the best steaks you can have while in Las Vegas.

We have written reviews on both the Wynn and the Encore, which you may want to take the time to read. Click here for the Wynn and Click here for the Encore. Hope you enjoy and wish us luck!

We had the opportunity to stay at the red condos by the river in Bullhead City in Arizona this past spring and we would recommend that you really make sure that you check the contract terms and conditions of the property before you sign up. We thought we did and missed a major item that really spoiled our vacation and actually that of many other snow birds.

Bullhead City – Colorado River

This is a beautiful setting along the Colorado River and all should be good, however we found that the building is not well maintained. Hallways are not clean, ping pong table is dirty and most important, the pool is not open during the March period or for that matter the rest of the winter. This was the argument we got from management. It is winter time and we do not heat the pool. Other guests were told that there is a broken part and in fact they had been told the same thing the previous year. Can you imagine having a pool not heated for snow birds? The weather was 80 to 85 almost every day, while the nights were cool which is typical of the desert.

Cannot Go Swimming

With these temperatures you want to spend some time by the pool and you want to go swimming, meet other people etc. The pool temperature was at 61 degrees F and pretty much not for swimming. On top of that there were a pair of ducks who would land every day and spend hours either sitting on the edge of the pool or in the pool. They left excrement all over the pool deck which usually took a few days to get cleaned up. This was bad and although we complained nothing was done. Others complained as well and all of us said we are not coming back another year.

We decided to write these posts to try and alert other potential snow birds. Anyone  who might be thinking of renting these red condos by the  river in Bullhead city. Another caution , do not take the rental agents word for anything. If it is not in the contract you will not get what you are looking for. This includes heating the pool. Make sure your contract says the pool is heated if this is important to you.

High Season

March should have been high season for snow birds, however most units were empty and that says a lot. Should we have done a better job of checking the place out before we rented? Of Course! But we did not do a good enough job so we want other people to avoid our situation. Hopefully this post will help. March is still considered winter for people in this part of the country? Maybe for the snow birds!!! An I do not mean the ducks!

If you have comments on this property, good or bad, feel free to leave us a comment. We will include it on this blog. For more posts about Bullhead and Arizona, click here.

Were there is smoke there is usually a fire. That is exactly what we think about a Liberal comment by Brant MPP Dave Levac. He apparently told a Brantford newspaper that a new Ontario carbon tax was being reviewed by the Liberal Government. He claims he made a mistake and confused another program with this proposal.

Do you believe him? We do not and we think that it was intentionally a foot in the mouth moment.  The Ontario liberals have a habit of increasing taxes for people who live in Ontario. This is one more that the liberals will add if they get re-elected.  All you need to do is take a look at some of the conservative advertising to see how many taxes they have added in the past 8 years. Of course we all know that you cannot trust Dalton to say anything that is true. He is probably the worst leader we have had in some time and we actually voted him in for two terms!

Ontario Carbon Tax – Watch out

So we think that Ontario had better look out. If the population votes another liberal government into power in this election, there is going to be a new Ontario Carbon tax for us to pay. It is pretty much guaranteed.  Of course some people will say that the conservatives will do the same and we should go for experience by voting the liberals back into power.
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