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NNL, by James Murray, 14, August 2014 

THUNDER BAY – LIVING -The wildfire season in Northern Ontario has been far less severe than usual this summer. That is not however the case in British Columbia, or Alberta where hundreds of Ontario firefighters have been deployed to assist in fighting fires in those regions. “As we have seen already this year, wildfires are a real threat and pose significant danger to many communities in Western Canada,” said Bill Adams, Vice-President, Western and Pacific, from the Insurance Bureau of Canada. “Wildfires move fast, can change direction unexpectedly and are often difficult to contain. The unpredictable nature of such events highlights the threat to homeowners and why it is vital to minimize risk and be prepared.”

The dangers of wildfires might not seem all that critical in major urban centres, but as witnessed a few years ago in Australia, Slave Lake, and in California, wildfire can easily destroy homes and property as well as forests.

Severe weather is on the rise in Canada. According to an IBC-commissioned report by Dr. Gordon McBean – one of Canada’s foremost climatologists – the occurrence of wildfire activity is projected to increase, especially in Alberta and British Columbia. As noted in the report, it is possible that wildfires in British Columbia could increase by 50% or more in the period to 2050. These predictions make it even more critical to know how best to prepare your family and property for a wildfire.

Caption: A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, collects water in a Bambi bucket during aerial firefighting efforts in California, May 14, 2014. Aircraft from the 3rd MAW are partnered with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to conduct aerial firefighting against several wildfires ablaze in San Diego County. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Carl Atherton

IBC Top 10: Wildfire Safety and Prevention Tips

1. Stay informed about the weather – weather forecasts are vital to being prepared for a potential wildfire;
2. Pay attention to fire danger ratings – take note of and obey fire prohibitions and restrictions to know the likelihood of, and prevent wildfire igniting in your region. Check local government’s website for more information;
3. Install and regularly check smoke detectors – remove dust, replace batteries when the clocks change in spring and fall, test regularly and replace at least every 10 years;
4. Create an emergency preparedness plan for your family – develop a fire evacuation plan, practise executing that plan and stick to it in an emergency;
5. Properly store flammable materials – store gasoline, solvents, waste or other materials that may ignite at least 10 metres away from your home;
6. Remove dry leaves and debris – keep leaves, other dry materials and potentially flammable garbage away from the exterior of the house, especially if you have wood or vinyl siding.
7. Manage space around your home – remove combustible material such as shrubs, trees and woodpiles within 10 metres of your home;
8. Prepare your home – check that your home’s roof, its exterior walls and undersides of balconies are treated with flame-resistant materials;
9. Prepare and update a home inventory – make a list of what you own, including the value of each item, take photos or video and update the list regularly;
10. Assemble a disaster safety kit – prepare a basic kit of food, water and other necessities that will last at least 72 hours in an emergency.

All hope is lost when her dog returns home without her; then the dog leads rescuers to the missing 3-year-old, who was called the miracle girl

GrindTV, by David Strege, August 13, 2014

A little girl lost in a remote region of Siberia inhabited by bears and wolves survived 11 days in the subarctic forest by eating wild berries and drinking river water before her dog finally left her side to summon help, leading rescuers to her location.

Karina Chikitova, 3, wandered away from her home in a remote village of the Sakha Republic on July 29, according to The Siberian Times and U.K. MailOnline.

Her mother believed Karina and her dog had followed her father, Rodion, who had left to go to his native village. Because there were no phone connections, it wasn’t until four days later that the family discovered Karina was missing, prompting a massive search.

Little girl suffered only a few scratches on her feet and several mosquito bites. Photo from Caters News Agency used by permission

Sakha is said to be Siberia’s coldest region in winter, but this time
of year overnight temperatures were about 42 degrees Fahrenheit, though
some parts were colder. Karina hugged her dog and huddled up in the
tall grass to stay warm, but that made it difficult for rescuers to spot
her from helicopters and drones.

Two days before Karina was found, her dog returned to the girl’s home in the village Omon in the Olyokminsky district.

“That was the moment when our hearts sank, because we thought at least with her dog Karina had chances to survive; night in Yakutia are cold and some areas have already gone into minus temperatures,” Afanasiy Nikolayev, spokesman for the Sakha Republic Rescue Service, told The Siberian Times.

“If she was to hug her puppy, we thought, this would have given her a chance to stay warm during nights and survive [she wore only a tank top and purple stockings]. So when her dog came back we thought ‘that’s it’—even if she was alive, and chances were slim—now she would have definitely have lost all hope. Our hearts truly and deeply sank.”

By that time, the family had lost hope.

Experts said chances of survival for such a long period were minimal. Rescuers confronted a bear during the search, highlighting the danger of the region.

Then, a miracle.

Karina’s dog led the adults to the lost child, or as The Siberian Times called her, the miracle girl. With the dog’s help, rescuers discovered bare-foot tracks in the dirt, which helped lead them to the girl.

Little girl was found in tall grass. Photo from Caters News Agency used by permission

“In the morning, almost right after we began searching—we only made 20 meters—we saw Karina sitting in the grass,” Nikolayev said. “We rushed to her, got her a little tea and grabbed her to run back to the car and doctors.

“I carried Karina myself to the car, and she was light as a bird. She was hardly ten kilograms [22 pounds], but amazingly she was fully conscious.”

This video from The Siberian News shows the rescue effort; the moment Karina was found starts around the 3:05 mark:

Truly a miraculous ending to a remarkable story.



The dog that led rescuers to the little girl lost in Siberian forest. Photo by Caters News Agency used by permission

Whenever I interact with someone,
May I view myself as the lowest amongst all,
And, from the very depths of my heart,
Respectfully hold others as superior.

 ~Dalai Lama

True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind
and exercise of the body; the two are ever united.

~Wilhelm von Humboldt

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Woman sparks outrage by posting ‘funny’ photos of baby granddaughter in a roasting pan and with duct tape on her face

By Snejana Farberov, Mail Online, 12 August 2014

An Ohio woman thought she was being funny when she photographed her baby granddaughter with duct tape on her face and lying in a roasting pan – but Facebook users who saw the images disagreed.

The grandmother, Jackie Sheaks, of Columbus, Ohio, set off a firestorm online that drew the attention of the local sheriff’s office when she shared the prank photos of her granddaughter.

In one of the images, the child’s pacifier had been secured to her cheeks with two pieces of duct tape. In another, the infant is resting inside a large turkey roasting pan next to some potatoes.
Mrs Sheaks explained this week that she uploaded the snapshots online hoping to amuse her Facebook friends.

‘It started as just a joke,’ she told 10TV. ‘We put a little tape on the pacifier because we were being silly.’

Very awkward family photos:  Jackie Sheaks posed her granddaughter in a roasting pan for a photo (left), and  the infant had a pacifier duct-taped to her face in another photo (right)

Here’s a look back at some of the more than 100 movie characters that actor Robin Williams brought to life.Beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams died at the age of 63. Robin Williams was a big part of my childhood, he would always put a smile on my face when I would watch one of his comedy’s. It is truly sad to see the legend go. I hope you enjoy this short.Paying tribute to one of our most beloved actors. Watch all of our favorite Robin Williams moments: Robin McLaurin Williams was born on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois.