Your Health

BIZ 120

In Jewish tradition, it is customary to wish someone a long and healthy life. The Jewish version of the Vulcan “Live long and Prosper.’ is the shorter “Biz 120” which means “May you live to be 120 year old.” The reference is to Moses whose death is described in the Bible as:
“Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” Deuteronomy 34:7
So, the Jewish blessing is not just for long life, but full health to the last second.

What instigated this blog is the fact that people are now getting closer and closer to the Moses target.
In Okinawa and pockets in Italy and elsewhere, there are so many healthy and active centenarians that they have been the focus of scholarly research and documentary coverage. Just recently, the media had extensive coverage on the death of the oldest surviving U.S. soldier from WW1 – at an active 110. Similarly, in the Canadian Jewish News (Feb 24, 2011, page 17) there was an article on a woman, age 104, who still cooks and bakes for her family and grandchildren.
Moreover, according to Maclean’s (March 21, 2011 pages 42-43) new research has found that centenarians in good health have 2 characteristics: elevated levels of so-called good cholesterol and a tendency to have their bodies ‘reprogram’ cells with fewer ‘errors’ that lead to cancer and other health issues -- an ongoing process called methylation.
The over 500 individuals in the Longenity study had diverse weights – including obese, many smoked and drank or did little exercise, but the above 2 factors (and possibly others yet undiscovered) have allowed them to actively carry on into their 2nd century.
As anyone can increase their good cholesterol levels through diet choices, and the discovery that some new anti-cancer blood drugs can reverse defective cell production during methylation, Maclean’s is optimistic that a longer and healthy lifespan will soon be upon us.
So there is much on the upside of aging to celebrate and look forward to.
May we all be ‘biz 120.”

Charge of the Light Brigade

F35 or rice cakes

While Canadian opposition party politicans continue to criticize buying new F35 jet fighter and what it 'might really cost', China has just unveiled the J 20-- its own stealth -- state of the art -- jet fighter. Thew plane is totally made in China and designed to keep the Communist state at the leading edge of military technology, defense and offense.

The revelation was via a fly over of the J 20 during a visit by high ranking U.S. government deligation. Oh how chagrined the Americans must have been!

For some 10 years China has worked secretly on this project and its sudden leap to the forefront of world aircraft technology must have been a huge shock to the U.S., Europe and the Russia.

So, the military game of chess has changed and ratched up a notch or two.

The Chinese understand the importance of staying up with the lastest war technology.

Maybe its time all Canadian politicans do the same

Do the Math

Statistics Canada blows it big time!

According to an article buried in the business section of the Globe and Mail (“No Longer Tops in Recovery”, January 29, 2011, B4) it is now revealed that Statistics Canada has been using 2001 census data to calculate the size of Canada’s labour force and related employment/unemployment numbers to December 2010!!!

Just now is Statistics Canada beginning to use the 2006 census data! So, low and behold, the information used by Canada’s federal and provincial government, the media, financial advisors and investors was way off – as it was way off due to data that was 10 years old!!!

Even the new database Statistic Canada has just started using – the 2006 census – is already 4 years old and probably equally ‘unhelpful’ and misleading.

Governments, business and investors need accurate and current data for decision making.

Instead of the fuss over the Tory elimination of the long census form, maybe Statistics Canada should look after getting it core information correct and help the economy make rational, informed decisions.

YOUR HEALTH

Taste bud Lament

The announcement Monday, January 24, 2011 that the Open Window Bakery is closing down (Toronto Metro p. 04) completes a series of recent culinary losses to the Jewish and broader Eastern European communities of the GTA and across Canada.

Some 2 years ago, Open Window discontinued manufacturing Hamishe farfel to the chagrin of many. Farfel, a pasta-like side dish is traditional in Eastern European Jewish and non-Jewish homes and Open Window’s Hamishe formula was spectacular. Sold through various local groceries and major chains, it was the Rolls Royce. While competing brands end up congealed -- like lumpy mashed potatoes, Hamishe – even if merely boiled in some water – produced the equivalent of the French fry – crisp, separate bits with a uniquely tangy taste.

About the same time, as a result of a fire at its Bathurst and Lawrence storefront and processing plant, the half-century old Perl’s Kosher Meats also disappeared – any hope of re-opening dashed just last month as the partially rebuilt property went up for sale.

Anyone who ever tasted Perl’s spicy salamis, their sweet coleslaw and cucumber salad and other delicatessen products knew the taste of heaven.

Now, to add to these losses comes the closure of Open Window Bakery itself, another Holocaust survivor enterprise ( like Perl’s) opened in Toronto soon after WW2. For years, Open Window and a small handful of local bakeries offered Eastern European rye bread, Pumpernickel (black bread), Challah (egg bread) and a host of related buns and, the ultimate – the bagel – when normal Toronto bakeries where the home of white toast.

As well, because of its Jewish ownership, Open Window followed Jewish tradition and did not use lard whatsoever. Nor did the company add whey powder and other dairy ingredients to its complete line up like standard, non-Jewish bakeries. Clearly marked ‘cheese buns’ and like signage ensured no confusion as required by traditional Jewish dietary rules.

I still remember from my childhood their mouth watering chocolate éclairs, butter tarts and great blueberry buns (chock full of berries enclosed in a thin, sweet dough). [Unfortunately, Open Window switched its blueberry bun formula long ago to a minimal filling and heavy dough shell. Only Bagel Plus (at Bathurst and Sheppard) has maintained the soft dough, blueberry filled recipe.]
So, now, in early 2011 a double era comes to an end. The Jewish community has lost 2 key holocaust survivor institutions that thrived for a half- century and filled mouths and bellies with unique delights.

Maybe someone in the food industry or a young entrepreneur or two will come forward and buy these great recipies; pick up the torches, so to speak.

My mouth and stomach can only hope!