CAN DISNEY BE DONE SAFELY WITH CHILDREN?

CAN YOU DO DISNEY WITH KIDS?

May 2013 | Not Under The Pine Press

Here is the ideal situation : Children held tight to parents. Little ones strapped to a parent's body. Children appear to have a healthy/pragmatic fear of crowds.

It is possible to take your children to a very crowded and busy place like Disney World, but a few precautions must be taken. First off keep it simple; get in and get out. The crowds are too big for you to be ill prepared. 

• You need to plan your day in detail. For eg. Go in, get picture by Cinderella's castle, then leave before the crowds get too dense. 
• Always maintain contact with your children to prevent them from getting separated and lost. If possible hold them tight, not bruising tight, but, security level tight. Leashing them is also an option.
• All children under the age of three should be strapped to a parents body in a carrier of some sort. If viable, those over the age of three that are under fifty pounds should also be strapped and carried by a parent.
• Question all those in costume. You don't know who is under that mask, they could be a cast member or they could be a visitor dressed up. Ask for official verification when a costumed figure approaches your party.
• Stay out in the open and avoid dark places. Keep to open places such as the centre of Main Street USA and avoid dark rides such as The Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain.
• Talk to your children before hand about the dangers of strangers, contagious diseases, and the unethical behaviour of corporate media giants.
• Familiarize your group with an emergency evacuation plan, again keep it simple. Something such as : Run like the dickens to parking lot Donald-15 to our car and gun it home, should suffice.
• Last, but not least, ENJOY. Take a moment every ten minutes to look at the scenery and relax. That is after a sufficient scan of the crowd and a run through of the secret family codewords.

10:10 am | Florida| NUTPP

BAN ON PEANUTS GONE TOO FAR?

AGREEMENT TO BAN NUTS IN PEANUT BUTTER FACTORY

March 2013 - Not Under The Pine Press

A midsized facility in Etobicoke, Ontario, that makes peanut butter for industrial use has recently started enforcing a ban on nuts in the workplace. According to the company's HR representative there are numerous employees working in the onsite offices that have serious peanut allergies and/or brazil nut allergies. "We are taking into account the health of our employees...it just makes sense. You can't have employees having anaphylactic attacks at the work place...productivity would be negatively impacted."

The situation came to a head three months ago when this factory, which used to produce jams and other fruit based spreads, changed production to peanut butter. At the time there were employees with nut allergies who were offered a severance package and politely asked to leave. However, this enraged allergy activists and the local food manufacturing employee union (LFMEU 2127). A court battle ensued with affected employees arguing a violation of the charter of rights, their right to work, and other such rights.

An out of court settlement has been agreed to by both sides. The company has agreed to transfer the employees to non-production based jobs and strictly enforce what they are calling a 'no nuts in the office' policy.

The Allergists United movement has claimed a victory here, sighting this as an example of compromise and inclusion by the 'non-allergic'. "Even in a situation as extreme as a peanut butter factory those with nut allergies can, and should, be included," spokeswoman R. Walsh announced at a local meeting last Thursday afternoon.

The owner of the factory, who is rumoured to have a peanut allergy himself, was supportive of the ban through the entire process. He was previously quoted, in 2008, as saying, "a healthy worker is a productive worker." Which may be part of the reason the bargaining went so smoothly.

23:03 | Toronto | NUTPP

CANADIAN SNOW USED FOR SNOWCONES DOWN SOUTH

SNOW FROM CANADA SHIPPED TO CALIFORNIA

Not Under The Pine Press - March 2013

A blanket of snow covering trees, roads, building, is a sight many of us Canadians take for granted. But, it is a sight most southern Californians have never witnessed before. That may explain the surprising demand for Canadian snow, which they are consuming by the ton - in the form of snow cones.

A small company, The SNOW Cone Cart, located in Oxnard, CA (near the sprawling city of L.A.), selling snow cones has recently started using snow in its product instead of the traditional shaved ice. The snow supplier they have subcontracted out to is a Canadian firm located in British Columbia. Owner and operator Carl Mendez believes this 'imported snow' gives him an advantage in the highly competitive snow cone market and he may be right. Since launching the 'Real SNOW cone', as he dubbed it, his sales have sky rocketed, so much so that he is planning an expansion into new markets and is even looking into a franchising option. Even considering the higher price of the snow cones, due to the increased shipping costs and storage of the snow, Mendez can barely keep up with the demand.

Could this be the start of a new market for one of Canada's least used natural resources?

A comment from the Ministry of Economic Development thinks so. Spokesman Irving Irvine commented, "according to the preliminary numbers, we could be on the forefront of millions of dollars worth of snow being exported down south...one day we could be looking at adding twenty to thirty thousand good paying jobs in BC alone." Currently snow cone exports account for under $10,000 in trade.

Interest in the business community is also ramping up with one local entrepreneur starting the legal process of legalizing claims on snow located on crown land, similar to logging or mining claims. This request is currently pending in the provincial courts, but, is expected to be ruled on in the next few weeks.

On the environmental front a group of young environmentalists calling themselves AARS (Alliance Against Removing Snow) have started an online petition calling for the ban on extracting and exporting snow. As of today they had just over one hundred thousand signatures. Other environmental groups (WWF, Coalition of the Environment, Treehuggers, Naturalists of BC) have voiced concerns over what they are viewing as another environmental scar caused by business. One tweet from the NOBC was trending high last week and has really brought the topic to the forefront, "I understand the logging industry replanting the trees they harvest, but, what are they going to do about the snow they take? You can't replant snow!"

This seemingly insignificant decision to use a scoop of real snow on a snow cone is already causing waves throughout many levels of Canadian society. Is this going to be another oil sands debate, pitting Canadians against one another? 

13:55 | Vancouver | NUTPP

THE LOSER'S LOTTERY?

LOSER'S LOTTO

Not Under The Pine Press - January 2013

An interesting new approach to the popular Lottery, oft known as the 'idiot tax', was announced today by a spokesperson from the Ministry of Lottery and Gaming. There will be a new game launched in 2014 that will be marketed as a charitable donation, therby making it a tax deduction. The only difference from the current Lotto set up - nobody will actually win the jackpot. Even with this drastic change the Ministry believes this could be a winning situation for many of those that play the Lotto on a regular basis.

Spokesperson Annie VanReebee explained, "the current set up of the regular lottery is about half the proceeds going to charity and the other half going to the winning number. In 2014 we will be launching a new gaming option where one hundred percent of the money will go to charity. Since all of the money is going to a charitable cause it would be considered tax deductible...as we all know, most frequent users of the Lotto are never going to win the big Jackpot...with this new option at least the money spent can be used as a deduction on their tax return...charities win and the Lotto losers win as well."

This revamp was initiated after a survey of Lotto players found that :

• a vast majority never win more than a free ticket
• a majority agreed with the term 'idiot tax'
• a strong impression there is social pressure to purchase tickets in order to be able to complain while hanging around the water cooler at the office
• buying a ticket is a family tradition

An official name for this new game has not been announced. Currently, the press is referring to it as the Loser's Lottery.

  

10:15pm | Ottawa | NUTPP

TIGHT REAL ESTATE MARKET IN SASKATOON

TIGHT REAL ESTATE MARKET IN SASKATOON

 Not Under The Pine Press - January 2013

It is not all that well known, but, it is a tight real estate market for those looking for a move-in-ready $100 million plus house, with acreage and a helipad, in the Saskatoon area. As found out by new money, and new resident, Mr. Bloom.

Mr. Bloom has recently sold a large plot of land in Northern Alberta to an unnamed oil firm for an undisclosed amount (which Bloom has hinted in the hundreds of millions) and has decided to move closer to family in the Saskatoon area.

His search for suitable housing has been unsuccessful so far.

"I don't think I'm being unreasonable," Mr. Bloom claims, "and my real estate agent agrees - she just keeps telling me it is a tight market right now."

Bloom is currently crashing on a friend's futon in a small midtown apartment. Bloom explains the situation, "you really hate to rent a place and risk losing that first & last month's rent. Especially considering my initial expectations when I came to town - a week, maybe two 's what I told him." 

That was three months ago.

Bloom has already lost out on two bidding wars.

The lack of supply in the $100 million plus market has made Bloom widen his search. "I'm even willing to look into the single digit million market if need be." However, Bloom is holding out for the time being explaining that, "these properties tend to be lacking helipads...and I just don't want to have to put one of those things in. You never make that money back."

Bloom's futon loaning friend has given him one more week, then if not successful, it is on to family. "Ya, I have a sister in town, but, she has kids and a cat. I'd hate to disturb the cat."

- 3:15pm | Saskatchewan | NUTPP