Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - April 2009 - Index

Poo-pooh!
I actually dread each foot of snow
that recedes because under it I discover
poo. Many of our neighbours have
dogs and though they are conscientious
enough in decent weather, I’m
guessing at least a few of them let their
civic sense slip as they stand and shiver
and wait for their precious pets to do
their business. I understand it’s cold,
but please, it’s not my dog and I don’t
want to be picking up what you were
too lazy to pick up.
– KAUSTUB S INHA
Litterbugs
All through the long winter months,
stuff that scatters from garbage bins
just lies buried under snow or in
ditches that are too hard to reach.
Newspapers, cereal boxes, egg cartons...
Added to that, of course, is the
stuff people throw on the streets –
coffee cups, cigarette butts, etc. Come
Spring, it’s displayed for all to see. I
think these humongous bins we have
now in Toronto don’t help, either. They
are difficult to haul to the edge, particularly
over mounds of snow on the
sidewalks, and when the garbage trucks
pick them up and tip them to empty
the contents, invariably things fall out,
adding to the mess. Why didn’t the City
councillors think through these issues
before casting their vote?
– IQBAL F ARID
Killer chemicals
I don’t get people who continue to use pesticides and chemicals
in their yards. The use of cosmetic pesticides has been banned
for a while, but even without the ban, public awareness has been
high on the harm caused by the stuff being washed into our lakes.
But there are still people out there who believe a velvet-green lawn
is more important than the health of the community.
– R BHARINI
mindSET
Junk mail
Flyers in my mailbox. All junk! I don’t want the
flyers and have repeatedly told the distributors but
every week, I find I am throwing a huge pile out.
Such an antiquated way of reaching potential customers
and such a waste of paper. I think we should
all browse online. – YOGANAND KELKAR
My pet peeves
Now that Spring is here, and we are
inching towards decent weather,
what’s left to grumble about?
FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST
SA SATW
SA TW TWANT
TW ANT SINGH SINGH KHOSLA
KHOSLA
Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public
Divorce • Custody • Access • Support • Immigration • Real Estate • Civil Litigation
Commercial Law • Estate Planning, Wills, Power of Attorney
SER VICE IN ENGLISH, PUNJABI, HINDI, URDU, GUJARATI, SW AHILI. LEGAL AID ACCEPTED.
416-499-6202
416-499-6202
2190 Warden Avenue (at Sheppard), Suite 214,
Scarborough. Fax: 416-499-3977
The “green brigade”
The “green brigade” can be so selfrighteous
and smug! So long as we are
not infringing on anyone’s rights, I think
all of us have the right to live the way
we choose to. I’m not advocating irresponsible
behaviour, but I refuse to be
lectured on the household cleaners I
use!
Don’t believe me?
Well, just recently, I was out washing
our windows and my neighbour strolled
by. She watched me for a bit and then
asked if I was using a particular brand
of window cleaner. When I told her I
was using something else, she launched
into a tirade against it, saying it harmed
the environment. Now this is a product
that is available in every store! She
has even, on occasion, come to my
house for coffee, and then proceeded
to point out how my ancient appliances
are power guzzlers. “You are not still
using these? Get Energy Star appliances,”
she tells me. I feel so tempted
to ask her if I follow her advice, if I
can then also send her the bill! But jokes
apart, I am a conscientious recyler. I
always use re-usable bags when I shop
for groceries. I recycle pretty much
whatever I can. But I get really, really
annoyed when people tell me how to
live my life. Someone should really tell
them to learn to mind their own business.
– JOSIE SEQUEIRA
E-mail forwards
E-mail forwards really bother me. The silly jokes are bad enough,
but though they are a waste of time, they are at least good for a
laugh occasionally. But those e-mails that come with dire warnings:
Send this to everyone on your mailing list or else...are awful.
Some even come with stories about people who have lost loved
ones or jobs or been in bad accidents, all because they didn’t forward
the mail. – MONA DHAWAN
905-456-81
905-456-8111
905-456-81
1300 Steeles Ave. East (at Tomken),
Suite 105, Brampton
April 2009 Desi News 13