Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i Zoomer Magazine

NOSTALGIA IS A double-edged indulgence. Misty watercolour memories, as the lyrics go, are filtered through social, cultural and racial perspectives, so The Way We Were is felt in radically different ways. Donald Trump’s Let’s Make America Great Again slogan – with Again being the operative word – is inspiring or offensive, depending on one’s reading and experience of history, but the possibility that he may win the American presidency has triggered yet another “move-to-Canada” moment. Along with the Underground Railroad, where escaped slaves fled north, the most significant move-to-Canada moment was when thousands of “draft dodgers” followed suit in protest against the Vietnam War. Not to be too reductive about it, but the divisiveness in the American discourse and the pockets of violence and protest that with increasing frequency erupt…

(AND DOWN) You’d think at this age Juliet could tell her family to bugger off Italian ballerina Alessandra Ferri, 53, reprises the role as Juliet, in Romeo and Juliet, for a single American Ballet Theatre show. Scottish woman, 68, goes viral by rapping Drake songs to bagpipe music Oddly enough, she still sounds better than Meek Mill. “Hey, baby, why don’t you turn down the lights and rub some of that testosterone gel on me?” Study says aging men could remedy sexual dysfunction by boosting low testosterone levels. New York nursing home starts a dating service for residents Which explains why grandma’s new “friend” is always “forgetting” his testosterone gel in her room. Florida senior loses her sight during a back operation 23 years ago and then regains it during…

Tom Thomson has a Tragically Hip song written about him, Emily Carr is on postage stamps, Alex Colville and Norval Morrisseau works were featured in the horror flick The Shining and Lawren Harris’s paintings enjoy their own major Art Gallery of Ontario show co-curated by comedian Steve Martin. Still, 54 per cent of Canadians admitted, in a recent survey, that they can’t name a Canadian artist. It’s a sad state of national artistic awareness when more Canadians can name the killer on the last episode of Murdoch Mysteries than a Canuck painter. The West Wind by Tom Thomson, part of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Canadian collection…

SUZANNE TIMMINS Standing in heels at a cocktail party can be painful. But the modern sneakers in vogue feature sparkle or jewels – perfect for evening. And, instead of a LBD, opt for a motorcycle jacket and trousers but up the glam factor with chandelier earrings. For a red-carpet mode, this fashion director is a master-class study on how you can cover up and still look ravishing if you opt for a figure-hugging gown in an eye-catching print. KIRSTEN OWEN For an evening gala, this model who helped popularize the grunge movement of the ’90s gives a simple black dress an edgy vibe when paired with boots. The asymmetrical hem on the dress softens the punky attitude. Note the absence of heavy sparkly evening accessories; it ups the cool factor.…

▪ Psychologists at the University of California, Davis, found that both breathing and heart rates synchronize between lovers but not between non-romantically involved people. ▪ Men tend to underestimate the value of even small romantic gestures. Richard Wiseman, author of 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (Random House Canada), found women valued surprise and thoughtfulness more than gifts such as candy or flowers. ▪ Holding a loved one’s hand or simply looking at his photograph reduced women’s pain from minor burns during an experiment at the University of California. ▪ Co-operating regularly in unusual and adventurous activities in order to reach a goal tends to keep the spark of attraction glowing for long-term couples. ▪ Here’s a surprise: in almost two-thirds of relationships, it’s the man who first…

Finding it hard to stay physically and emotionally close with your partner? Now's the time to reclaim your sensuality and get reconnected for a deeper relationship and more satisfying sex. Here's what you need to know to get more out of your horizontal tango. 1. Take your friend on a dirty weekend. A mini-break away is perfect for reuniting with your partner and letting loose without distractions. Can't afford to get away? Plan a staycation to pave the way toward intimacy. Play a sport, go for a hike, cuddle in front of a movie—make it a naughty one if you dare. No laptops. No housework. No phone calls. Just the two of you, unplugged and up for anything. 2. Get grooming for the boom-booming. Want to feel soft and sexy?…

IN 1960, the Holocaust did not exist. Fifteen years after the war’s end, the phrase itself was absent from the mainstream vocabulary; the horror it encompassed was not part of the public imagination. The extermination of Jews had become a taboo topic, remembered vaguely, in media and textbooks, as one of the many atrocities that had formed the backdrop to the greater drama of the Second World War. For the countless Jews who had seen their families gassed or worked or starved to death only years before, the horror was simply inexpressible, beyond the capability of words. It was Elie Wiesel, more than anyone else, who broke that silence. The publication of his memoirnovel Night, which first appeared in English in 1960, began a decade-long public awakening. The language it…

t HE WIND is old, but it keeps blowing,” boxer Roberto Durán, whose career in the ring lasted from age 16 to 50, once declared. Now 65, the former champ retired with a 103-16 record and the kind of legacy that lands you a big screen biopic starring Robert De Niro – Raging Bull himself – as your famed trainer, Ray Arcel, with your nickname, Hands of Stone, in lights on the marquee. Some names, though, don’t lend themselves to marquees. Take Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, who never landed any memorable punches like Durán. He did, however, land a compromised commercial US Airways plane in New York’s Hudson River in January 2009, saving the lives of everyone on board and becoming an instant American hero. He’s also 65 and the subject…

TREKKIES GO GLAM Star Trek turns 50 this month, and chances are you watched (and fantasized about) Capt. James T. Kirk back in the day. The series was also progressive – remember that kiss with Lt. Uhura (above)? It was the first interracial kiss on American television. Today, you can use a lipstick inspired by the enduring franchise to kiss your own captain (or Mr. Spock if that’s more your thing), as well as eye shadows, face powder and more from the MAC Star Trek collection, designed to boldly go where no makeup has gone before. GLOBE-HOPPING To mark the 25th anniversary of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics comes the City Collection inspired by three of makeup artist Bobbi’s favourite hot spots – London, Paris and New York. Each city is represented…

WANDA MORRIS, CARP’s COO and VP of advocacy is away, so on her behalf, here is our report for September 2016. After years of fruitless back and forth, the federal government and most of the provinces have agreed to a modest increase to the Canada Pension Plan. This move recognizes the good news, generally speaking, that we’re all living longer but also the bad news that many of us are not financially equipped to deal with all those “extra” years. What made it all go this time – credit where credit is due – was the rare political love affair between the Liberals in Ottawa and the Liberals in Ontario. And in announcing their determination to go ahead with a new Ontario Pension Plan absent a national response, Premier Kathleen…

“To err is human, to forgive divine” —Alexander PopeDoctors are human; they make mistakes. The Canadian Adverse Events Study estimates that medical error affects nearly 25 per cent of Canadians. It is fair to state that most errors occur despite doctors’ best efforts to do what is best for patients. It is also fair to state that the results of medical error can be devastating, to the patient and also to the doctor. Medical errors are associated with inexperienced physicians and nurses, new procedures, complex care and urgent care. Poor communication, improper documentation and similarly named medications are also known to contribute to the problem. The most commonly misdiagnosed diseases are: infection, abnormal growths, heart attack, blood clots and cardiovascular circulatory disease. The Canadian Medical Protective Association and hospitals across…

WHAT DOES “ICONIC” actually mean anymore? Until recently, the word was rarely used and only to describe someone or something that was seminal, epochal, legendary and original. Nowadays, it seems to apply to middling celebrities, TV shows and products from the past that endure not on merit but simply because they’ve somehow escaped being dumped into our pop culture disposal bin. But on June 10, on the day that Gordie Howe died and Muhammad Ali was buried, these two legends reminded us of what “iconic” truly means. Mr. Hockey and The Greatest (even their nicknames were iconic) not only rose to the pinnacle of their sports, but their very styles, personalities and values truly reflected their countries of birth and even their respective generations. Strangely, you couldn’t find two people…

GETTING HIS GOATEE “Mail” [“Stubble Trouble,” July/August] surprised me. The suggestion to Russell Crowe to shave off his “facial hair trend” and he will look younger ... what’s that all about? People have little tolerance for the simplest of things. Those with beards do not make fun of those who do not. It is not being lazy or frugal, as some suggest. It is a choice that should be respected by others. Mr. Crowe and Mr. Speilberg ignore the self-appointed fashion police. And as for looking your age, is that important? Kind of reminds me of the ’70s when others told people to cut their hair. —Peter C. Oickle, Bridgewater, N.S. In your June issue, Alistair Hensler takes exception to Russell Crowe’s facial hair. In the July/August issue, I wonder…

fOR RAY CIVELLO, water is not merely a substance used in the beautifying process in his hair salons, but he has learned firsthand how it can change a single life and transform entire communities. The hair, beauty and wellness guru – and photographer – travelled to Kenya with WaterAid Canada, the charity organization whose mission is to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene to people living in some of the poorest regions of the world. (An estimated 900 children five and younger die each day around the world as a result of unsafe water.) Civello took a series of soulful portraits of children facing this plight and his photos will be published in the book, One Life, out this fall, with all proceeds benefitting the organization. “We know water is…

I ASSUME IT IS A matter of good genes. When Hazel McCallion, the legendary 95-year-old former mayor of Mississauga, Ont., came by to talk about ageism, I asked her the obligatory question: “What is your secret?” The answer, as it often does, sounded almost banal. It came down to a healthy lifestyle – eating right, staying active and engaged, having a purpose and a good attitude. To my mind, all those things are a given for anyone to reach a great age without any physical impairment. But they don’t explain why so many people who live equally well don’t attain that – which is why I am of the opinion that you need nature on top of nurture. But Hazel is doubtful that genes have anything to do with her…

BREAKTHROUGHS IN WOMEN’S HEART HEALTH Did you know that heart disease and stroke kill more women than men and that women are seven times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer? Gals face more cardiovascular risk factors than men, yet we aren’t diagnosed or treated at the same rate. Because our bodies are different, the disease often develops differently, yet there’s less research on female-centric signs and symptoms. Plus women tend to delay seeing a doc for help. But new breakthroughs are helping to fight heart disease in the fairer sex. Check out three. 1 Many women have no idea they have cardiovascular disease until they’re hit with a heart attack. Since the disease doesn’t necessarily follow a typical male pattern (women, for instance, are more likely…

Almost a third of Canadians over the age of 65, and two-thirds of Canadians over the age of 85, have trouble walking around a city block. What you may not know, however, is that an impairment may enable you to recover a portion of the income tax that you’ve paid every year over the last 10 years, up to $5,000 a year. Every year, the government pays out hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits to people with impairments. Yet thousands of Canadians aren’t even aware that they qualify for the money. “It’s a shame that one can go for so long without knowing there’s help just a call away,” says Andrew Burns of Victoria, who collected a refund with the help of Grants International. “We work with the…