17 Ways To Treat Mosquito Bites That You Need To Know

Mosquito bites are a real pain: the mosquito's saliva  causes a histamine response, which in turn creates the itch and irritation. And while we continue to wait for the mosquito sterilization master-plan (a seemingly bizarre process of sterilizing the sperm of male mosquitos) to fully come to fruition and marginalize the population of these deadly creatures, we must have a number of remedies on-hand, especially while enjoying Ontario's great summer outdoors. Below are some unnatural and natural remedies that you can add to your first aid strategy.

Some Medicinal Remedies For Mosquito Bites

1. Deal with the initial itch: Itching is caused by the mosquito's saliva: an anticoagulant that causes the body to produce a histamine response. Scratching will only make the itch more irritated, so try to resist the urge.

2. Treat the area immediately: To reduce the itch, clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol, alcohol wipes, or just plain water. If you have a severe reaction, apply an antihistamine cream or lotion, especially ointments containing a combination of antihistamine, analgesic, and coricosteroid. If an infection due to the bites, see your physician.

3. Select an itch-soothing solution: This may require some shopping based on budget, availability, allergies to certain ingredients, and familiarity with the solution. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns, or have a history of allergic reactions to certain products. 

Natural Remedies For Mosquito Bites

Below are some natural treatments:

4. Baking soda + warm water: 

• One tablespoon to one pint of water
• Gently apply the affected area. Use your clean fingers, a cotton swab, or popsicle stick to apply
• Leave on for a few minutes, then wash off with warm water. 

5. Baking soda + amonia:

• Mix a few drops of household cleaning ammonia with baking soda to form a paste
• Apply to the affected area and allow to dry
• Remove with warm water.

6. Cider vinegar:

• Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar
• Place soaked cotton ball over the mosquito bites. You can hold it or tape it into place
• Leave it there for a few minutes

7. Cooled Tea: Apply cooled tea to the area as a compress

8. Ice Pack: Put an ice pack on the bite for 20 minutes

9. Clear Liquor: Use neat gin or any clear alcoholic liquor on the bites. This'll cool the skin and stop the itch.

10. Toothpaste: Use any non-gel toothpaste, and rub it on the bite, and leave a glob of it to dry overnight. Wash it in the morning with cold water and mild soap: the toothpaste will dry out the bite and take away any irritation.

11. Mouthwash: Go into your medicine cabinet and pull out the mouthwash and apply onto the bite and leave to dry.

12. Lemon or lime: Cut a lemon or lime into pieces and rub on the affected area or just squirt a bit of juice on it. The acid in the juice as itch-relieving properties.

13. Banana peel skin: Peel a banana or pull out the peels from the garbage and rub the inside of it on the bite. 

14. Raw potato: Cut a potato in half and rub an open side of one half on the bite. The potato sap will dry on the bite and reduce the itching.

15. Finger nail: Use your fingernail to press an 'x' into the bite; this will disperse the protein and stop the itch for a while.

16. Saliva: Place your own saliva over the bite and let it soak in.

17. Copper: Hold a penny or copper coin over the bite. Copper often makes the skin feel better after being stung. 

Rubbernecking And 9 Other Startling Causes Of Accidents--And No, Doing Up Your Top Button Without A Tie Is Not One Of Them

Traffic accidents are bad for you. They can damage your body, your vehicle, and your driving and insurance record. There are many different causes of traffic accidents, but this post will focus only on ten of the most common. The key here is safe driving, which seems like common sense, which evidently is difficult to conjure up when behind the wheel of an automobile.

1. Cell Phone Use: A study by Harvard indicated that individuals using cell phones are 4 times more likely to cause an accident. Even hands-free and Bluetooth do not guarantee that you will be safe from causing or being involved in an accident. In fact, cell phone use has outranked impaired driving as the number one cause of traffic fatalities.

2. Eating in the Car: Surprising enough, there are innumerable accidents that have been caused because the driver tried to avoid getting crumbs or mustard on their pants, or had a drink-lid spontaneously pop open and spilling drink on the driver's lap. 

3. Rubbernecking: This is the act of turning your neck to get a good look at an accident or police pull-over while you're driving by. If you live in an urban area, you're more susceptible to this kind of accident cause. Many secondary accidents occur around accident scenes when people take their eyes off the car in front of them to catch a peek at the activity on the shoulder.

4. Changing CD/Radio: It seems like an innocuous activity, for haven't drivers been using radios for ages? Changing the CD/radio setting has been a serious contributor to car accidents. 

5. Drinking and Driving: While drinking and driving was the leading cause of accidents used to have the highest risk of death or debilitating injury, it is now second to distracted driving caused by texting. At number two, it continues to claim many lives, in spite of all the campaigning to deter people from doing it. It's pretty simple, no?: If you are drinking alcohol, don't drive.

6. Drugs: Drugged driving refers to driving while under the influence of drugs. The obvious ones are narcotics like marijuana that impair one's ability to concentrate on the road; but there is continuous research showing that prescription and over the counter drugs are becoming more of a hazard to drivers. As prescription drugs are becoming a more prevalent in our society, more drivers are experiencing accidents under their soporific spell. 

7. Driver Distraction: Distracted driving is often thought of as involving texting or some other mobile phone activity; but kids and animals can be as distracting as cell phones (think of the mom who was spotted reaching backward while driving to feed her baby in the back seat of the car). Often it happens when children are screaming and fighting in the back seat and the driver looks way from the road to deal with it. It's better to focus on the road or pull over to deal with the children or dog than to risk an accident.

8. Speeding: The higher the car speeds along the highway, the higher the risk of fatal accident. Just as bad is speeding in residential areas. The faster you travel, the harder it is to stop.

9. Recklessness: Reckless driving is defined as a willful disregard for traffic laws, such as driving too close, cutting into traffic, and changing lanes without signalling. It only takes one wrong move before you're in the heat of an accident.

10. Poor Road Maintenance: With more cars hitting the pavement, roads are deteriorating quicker thus requiring greater vigilance and maintenance. In Ontario, where winters are extreme, roads can be riddled with potholes, uneven pavement, and other defects, which lead to serious accidents. Another reason to keep your eyes on the road--at least until we get solar panelled roads made of nano-particles that heat in the winter and cool in the summer...

If You Think This Is The Way To Sail, You've Gotta Check Out These Awesome Boating Tips

In a CTV News report on June 28, 2014, boating had claimed double the lives of last year: eleven boating deaths were reported, nine of which were a result of passengers being without lifejackets, and alcohol was involved in at least two of the cases. The sad thing is that most of the deaths could have been prevented. The OPP urge boaters to get educated about all safety aspects of boating, get a boating license, and use common sense. 

But Boatsmart's statistics show that 77 percent of boaters do not have licenses, and 79 percent of boaters killed in accidents between 1996 and 2010 were not wearing lifejackets. There is a $250 fine in Ontario for not having a boating license, and yet it only costs $50 for an individual to obtain one through Boatsmart. 

To help keep boating safety top of mind, here are some tips from the Red Cross that you can take with you on your next sail in, through, and around the great lakes:

Along with your boating license, you must have, by law, the following items at the bare minimum:

• Canadian approved floatation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each passenger on board
• Buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres in length
• Watertight flashlight or Canadian approved flares--Type A, B or C
• Sound-signal device
• Manual propelling device (i.e., a paddle) or an anchor with at least 15 metres of rope, chain, or cable
• Bailer or manual water pump
• Class 5 BC fire extinguisher

In addition to the list of minimal items above, the Red Cross prescribe the following:

• Marine First Aid Kit
• Drinking Water
• Sun-Screen
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Dry Clothing (i.e. long sleeved shirt)
• Snacks
• Waterproof Matches
• Knife

A big safety item is to refrain from alcohol consumption while boating

The facts are:

• 37% of boaters in Canada admit to consuming alcohol every time they boat
• 66% report they drink alcohol sometimes when they boat
• 40% of recreational boating fatalities cite alcohol as a factor
• Drinking and boating is just as illegal as drinking and driving

The key is to be responsible while boating

• Wait until you're off the water before consuming alcohol--and have a designated driver there to take you home
• Don't allow a person who has consumed alcohol to operate a boat
• Provide non-alcoholic beverages for boat operators and passengers
• Where lifejackets or Personal Floatation Devices--for the whole trip, every trip

Weather is another big factor in the safety of your boating trip

• Be aware of the weather and water conditions and any other hazards that may affect your trip. Plan ahead
• Run through a pre-departure checklist to make sure you have everything
• Check the Weather Network, or Environment Canada for a complete update on weather conditions. If you have a 3/4G network, and you think the weather looks precarious while you're out on the boat, check the weather on your smart phone to stay updated. 

Are You In The Need For Speed? These Motorcycle Tips Will Get You Soaring

“The point is valid: the difference between survival and wipe-out in a physical crisis is nearly always a matter of conditioned reflexes.” 

― Hunter S. Thompson, Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga

Motorcycle riding carries more risk than that of cars or trucks, simply because the rider is more exposed. According to a recent article in the Bracebridge Examiner, there is growing concern among OPP of the rise of collisions involving motorcyclists who have experienced life-threatening injuries. Often, according to the article, it is more often the motorist who is at fault and not the motorcyclist, simply because the former may be following too close behind, not paying attention to a cyclist riding through an intersection, or not seeing a cyclist changing lanes in front. 

A friend of mine owned a Harley Davidson for some time--he had been a truck driver for many years and was a very confident driver, with a penchant for the euphoric nectar of speed. He was gliding down the left-hand lane of the Gardiner Expressway, the Toronto skyline at dusk gleaming before him, when a car zipping up in the middle lane slid over and nudged his handle bar with its rear-view mirror. With his heart lumped in his throat, he gained control of the bike as the car drifted back to the middle lane and sped off ahead. The following day, my friend sold the Harley, and has never ridden again. 

If you are a first time rider, considering purchasing your first motorcycle, or are getting back in the saddle of one for the first time in a long while, here are some tips that will help you on your way.

1. Don't choose too much bike
Bike size is important for safety and control; as well, motorcycles are increasing in speed and power every year. It's therefore important to choose a motorcycle that is the right size for you. Your feet should be able to comfortably rest on the ground without being pulled up on tippy-toes, and it should be light enough for you to control it while in centre-stand--if it feels heavy while you're trying it out, then it simply is. A motorcycle with a 250 or 300-cc engine makes for a good commuter bike; but if you're doing a lot of highway riding, then a 500-750-cc range will be adequate for keeping up with the speed of traffic. 

2. Get anti-lock brakes
Anti-lock brakes are a proven life-saver, and comes with many models of motorcycles. With anti-lock brakes, you are 37 percent less likely to get into a fatal crash than without. What anti-lock brakes avoid are those tragic sliding crashes that are customary among riders, the result of the brakes being locked up and the rider losing control. Anti-lock brakes come standard in many high-end motorcycles, and are only a few hundred dollars extra for more basic models. 

3. Take riding classes
Taking motorcycle riding classes is an important way to learn all you need to know about safe riding: by working with professionals, you'll learn all the basic techniques, as well as performing evasive emergency maneuvers. Insurance companies will often provide a discount to those who have taken a riding course. According to Motorcycle Basics, riding courses are not mandatory for getting a license in Ontario, but they hold out several important advantages over those who just take the test and hope to pass: 1) Survivability: those who take the course learn what it takes to ride carefully and avoid fatal errors, 2) There is a higher percentage pass-rate on the test for those who have taken a course, 3) Shorter wait time for the actual riding license, and 4) Discounted insurance rates, from several hundred to, in some cases, a thousand dollars. 

4. Wear a helmet--it's the law
Helmets are mandatory in Ontario--period. Here's how that law is defined:

Canada’s motorcycle helmet laws are easy to understand because they are        fairly uniform across all 10 provinces and three territories: all passengers on a motorcycle or motor-assisted bicycle must wear crash helmets at all times securely fastened under the chin.

And the kind of helmet is important, as explained here:

Motorcycle helmets must meet safety standards approved for use as a motorcycle helmet in Canada. Only helmets that meet CSA CAN3-D230-M85 standards may be worn in compliance with Canada’s universal helmet laws. These are roughly equivalent to helmets certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for sale in America. There should be a label on the helmet indicating the certification.

If you have one, but it's five years old, it's considered due for replacement. Helmets can succumb to chemicals and overall wear and tear that compromise its performance. As well, the technology of helmets is growing, which ensures you a level of improvement to your old one.

5. Be alert and defensive
In up to 60 percent of motorcycle collisions with motorists, the latter is at fault. With the rise of mobile devices, there are more accidents caused by distracted driving than by impaired driving. And those driving automobiles are often not paying enough attention to motorcycles, and can easily cut you off, or whip out in front of you turning left at an intersection. It's thus very important to be alert and defensive when you're riding. It's obviously a temptation to ride like those more reckless around you, but then you're increasing your chances of falling prey to a possibly fatal collision. Don't tailgate vehicles ahead of you, for they might suddenly brake or swerve to reveal an obstacle in the road that you may not have enough time to respond to. 

These Selfies Are The Future Of Driving And Will Blow Your Mind

Driverless cars are a reality--whether we know it, believe it, accept it, love it, hate it, or not. This will be one massive disruption to numerous industries, including insurance. While some skeptics in the insurance industry claim it will take decades for insurance as we know it to become obsolete, we have very recent examples of industries that have collapsed due to disruptive technologies, even though the signs had been there for anyone able to see them. 

Mercedes-Benz: On the Way To Self-Driving Cars

I like KurzweilAI.net: it's a website that lays out news stories for futurist nuts like me, based on the research and thought of futurist, inventor, and thought leader, Ray Kurzweil. One study it paid considerable attention to was the IHS Automotive Study, released on January 2, 2014, that forecasts nearly 12 million yearly self-driving cars sales and almost 54 million in use on global highways by 2035. According to this forecast, self-driving cars (SDC) that are a hybrid of computer and driver-control will become nearly ubiquitous by 2025, followed by a complete transition to self-driving-only vehicles by 2030. 

The rise of SDCs is forecasted to emerge along the above trajectory, comprised of five distinct levels, as shown above.

Accordingly, complete ubiquity of self-driving personal and commercial vehicles will emerge by 2050. Such vehicles will provide greater safety to drivers and pedestrians: near-zero crashes of SDCs (although non-SDCs will crash into SDCs), near-zero pedestrian deaths, and less traffic congestion and air pollution. It is indeed presumed here that SDCs will be electric, not gasoline-fuelled, vehicles, given for instance the European Commission's comprehensive strategy, titled Transport 2050, whose primary goal is "To halve the use of 'conventionally fuelled cars in urban transport by 2030; phase them out of cities by 2050; achieve C02-free city logistics in major urban centres by 2030." 

What these reports are forecasting, and admonishing, is the disruption of the entire global transportation industry--all within only about 15 years' time! In this very short time-period, most--if not all--gas-powered vehicles will be obsolete, and removed from the roads, as well as all human-driven vehicles. This is a possible shift of millions of vehicles world-wide and trillions of dollars in lost and recovered profits. According to the IHS Report, North America will account for 29 percent of worldwide sales of SDCs in 2035, or nearly 3.5 million vehicles. China will be not far behind, capturing the second largest market share with 24 percent or 2.8 million units, and Europe will have the third largest market share with 20 percent of the total, or 2.4 million vehicles. Who will be on the right side of this change? Technology companies, such as Google.  Who will find it very difficult to compete? Traditional companies, whether auto or insurance--unless they have been able to reinvent themselves and intentionally drive the change rather than merely react to it. 

GM VP, Larry Burns, Gives This TED Talk On The Future Of Cars 

If cars are self-driving by 2030, then auto insurance will by that fact undergo a massive change. Insurance companies will have to innovate to stay both relevant and profitable; and they'll have to compete with the likes of Google which will most likely enter the insurance business to cover any litigations as a result of their vehicles succumbing to accident. 

These Tips For Extreme Weather Conditions Could Save Your Life

Extreme weather extends beyond what is considered normal for a particular region and includes unusual, severe, or unseasonal weather. Some claim that extreme weather is a consequence of human-induced global warming; however, this remains a point of contention among scientists and academics. 

National Geographic: Worst Weather Ever?

While the cause of extreme weather remains difficult to determine and largely contentious, we still know it when we see it: hurricanes, heat waves, golf-ball hail, cold waves, flooding rains, and deathly drought. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in 2011, the estimates of annual losses due to extreme weather have ranged since 1980 from a few billion dollars to above 200 billion (USD), with the greatest culprit being Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Relatedly, Professor Tim Palmer, Co-Director of the Programme on Modelling and Predicting Climate, of the Oxford Martin School of the 21st Century, predicts that extreme weather events will increase in severity over the coming years. 

Professor Tim Palmer, Oxford, on Extreme Weather

Extreme weather, especially in Canada, is here to stay; the key is knowing how to respond to it. Here are some summer examples of extreme weather, and what to do if you're in your vehicle when they happen around you.

Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms develop when warm, moist, unstable air is forced to rise into the atmosphere. This creates turbulence, which in turn, creates positively and negatively electrically-charged areas within the cumulonimbus clouds. Lightening kills an average of 7 people and injures 60-70 people each year in Canada. It is also responsible for 42 percent of the country's forest fires, with an annual 'damage cost' of $14 billion.

In a vehicle: You're safe inside a hard-topped vehicle like an RV, because the outer metal body of the vehicle will divert the lightening. But keep your hands to your lap, and do not touch anything metal inside the vehicle. It will also be important to pull your vehicle over in such instances if your visibility is totally compromised.

Hail:

Hail forms when the updrafts carry water droplets into the colder reaches of a cumulonimbus cloud where they freeze. More layers are added when updrafts hurl other water droplets and they collide with the now frozen particles. This process builds until the frozen particles are too heavy for the updrafts to support, and they fall to the ground as hail.

In a vehicle: A car can give you reasonable protection, but be aware that extremely large hail could break windows. If you hear a forecast of an extreme hail storm on the news, it's best to find some kind of temporary shelter to prevent your vehicle from major damage.

Flash Floods

A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas, such as rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm, or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields. A flash flood is distinguished from a regular flood by a timescale of less than six hours.

 

Calgary Flood, 2013--View of downtown

Toronto Flooding 2013, soon after Calgary Flood.

In vehicle:  

Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. Driving through flash flood areas can be extremely dangerous. 

• Never drive through a flash flooded road or bridge--back up and try another route. Stay on high ground. 
• Listen to the radio for weather information. 
• Take routes that avoid flooded areas. 
• If your car becomes flooded, do not stay in it--abandon it immediately and move to higher ground. 
• If your car is swept into the water and submerged, don't panic. Stay calm and wait for the vehicle to fill with water. Once the vehicle is full, the doors will open. Hold your breath and swim to the surface. 
• If you are swept into fast moving floodwater outside your vehicle, point your feet downstream. Always go over obstacles, never try to go under. 
• If you are stranded on something above the floodwater, such as a tree or building, stay put and wait for rescue. Do not enter the floodwater. 
• Do not walk into flood water--a mere six inches can sweep you away.
• If possible, avoid contact with flood water. It may be contaminated with oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. It may also be charged with electricity from fallen power lines.

Tornados

Tornados often occur in the hot, humid weather of late spring or summer afternoon or evening. The storms that create tornados often occur in areas where warm and cold air masses collide. Tornados are violently rotating columns of air extending from the cloud base to the surface. A tornado can range in width from 10 metres to 2 kilometres. 

In a vehicle: A vehicle is not a safe refuge when a tornado strikes. Don't get caught in your car, camper, or mobile home. If possible, go to the lowest level of a building with a strong foundation or basement. If no such building is available, then leave your vehicle, find a low-lying area, lie down flat, and protect your head. Such areas can be a deep stand of trees in a low-lying area, or a ditch or other low spot. The key is to get as close to the ground as possible and protect your head from flying debris.

The most important point in all of this is to stay alert and informed. Environment Canada posts climate reports throughout the day. Before you travel, especially over long distances and across provinces, consult the Environment Canada website and look at the long-term forecast. You can also get such information through sources like the Weather Network. 

Some believe that extreme weather is intensifying; that we are in some kind of pre-apocalyptic period in human history that is leading to a growing brittleness of our global system that threatens collapse. Whether you believe that or not, staying informed and alert is your best insurance against being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If, however, you find yourself in such a scenario, hopefully these tips will come to mind.

These Smart Technologies Make Driving Even More Awesome

Smart technologies are ways of extending how we experience the world. The world is suffused with information that is now being captured and presented to us in real time. When such technologies are combined with driving, a routine experience is transformed to something more personal and relevant to our day-to-day lives. 

Below are some cool smart technologies that make the driver experience that much more informative, personal, and therefore relevant.

Hyundai Blue Link

Mercedes-Benz App On Pebble Steel Smartwatch

Samsung and BMW i3: Smart Connectivity

Nissan Nismo Smartwatch

You've Got To See What Lionel Messi Drives When He's Not Leading Argentina To World Cup Glory

If you were 22 years old, and signed a $125 Million contract with Real Madrid, like Brazil's Neymar, what car would you drive? What if you were 24-year-old Mario Balotelli, one of sport's wealthiest players? These famous international footballers enjoy their speed off the pitch as much as they revel in it while on.

In the spirit of all that is glorious and grotesque  in 21st Century professional sport, and the World Cup itself, here are a few famous footballers and their cars of choice...

What the Elite Footballers Drive...

Cristiano Ronaldo, Bugatti Veyron 
This is one awesome car that costs $US 1.7M. It's not the only car he has, however--there are about 20, including a Rolls Royce Phantom (incidentally, David Beckham owns one of those too).

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Audi R8
The Audi R8 Spyder is one of the oldest super cars, yet one that is still a favourite among enthusiasts. Costing upwards of $US 180K, it's obviously not as extravagant as a Bugatti, but a fine choice of car. Perhaps a bit on the conservative side--perfect balance of form and function--what one would expect from a German striker.

Neymar, Porsche Panamera Turbo S
An interesting vehicle for a world football star with the charisma of Neymar that falls in the price range of US$160K. This choice surprises me, but he's got others, including an Audi R8 Spyder.

Lionel Messi, Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradele
Very sweet car; incidentally, Jazz legend, Miles Davis, drove a Maserati also. The price starts at about US$130K, but its mystique is much more valuable than the rather conservative price tag.

 Mario Balotelli, Bentley Continental GT--Yes, that's camouflage.
How much does it cost to camouflage-wrap a Bentley Continental? Such a paint job would certainly take it beyond its US $270K price point. Though, aesthetically it doesn't really look like camouflage but more like blob painting--still pretty cool, but belies a kind of childish playfulness rather than combativeness.

What the Average Person in Canada and Brazil Drives...

Top Selling Car in Canada, Honda Civic
This is the hottest selling car in Canada for almost 17 years: The Honda Civic--yawn... Price? US $22K--a meagre speck of dust compared to the super machines above; and yet, this is what the average person in Canada drives. Quite a striking and grotesque gap, don't you think?

Top selling car in Brazil, VW Gol
This is the most popular car in Brazil: The VW Gol (no, not Golf!), which costs around US $18K. Again, here you see quite the gap between what an average driver would buy in Brazil and what the stars who they are cheering for drive. Incidentally, the Argentinian revolutionary, Che Guevara, forbade his wife from driving the car they were granted for his government status, urging her to take the bus as with most of the other Cuban citizens at the time.