Information Regarding Breast Cancer

Owen Jones On May - 20 - 2011ADD COMMENTS

The official phrase for breast cancer is ‘malignant breast neoplasm’. Breast cancer originates most frequently in the inner lining of the milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. The general term for cancers that originate in ducts is ‘ ductal carcinomas’ and the term for cancers originating from the lobules is ‘lobular carcinomas’.

Successful treatment depends greatly on the kind of cancer, staging and the age of the patient, however the figures vary from 10% to 98%. Worldwide, malignant breast neoplasm accounts for just more than 10% of all cancers in women, which makes it the second most common form of cancer in women after skin cancer.

In 2004 (the latest figures accessible at the moment), breast cancer caused almost 520,000 deaths worldwide, which is 7% of all deaths by cancer and 1% of all deaths. One more interesting statistic is that women are 100 times more likely to get breast cancer than men, but women have a far higher likelihood of recovery (mostly due to more frequent screening).

October has been designated as ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ and the symbol used (not just in October) is the ‘Pink Ribbon’. It has become a global symbol of breast cancer awareness.

However, some firms have been criticized for putting the pink ribbon on the labels of their products (see Kentucky Fried Chicken and some alcoholic drinks). The lesson to be learned is to check out how much that firm really donates to malignant breast neoplasm awareness and research.

If Breast Cancer Awareness month is to do any good, the one thing it ought to concentrate on is making women aware that this kind of cancer is not a death sentence, because if it can be treated early the survival rate is very high. Even cancers that have been diagnosed ‘a little late’ can be treated successfully although the treatment will probably be much more harsh.

All women should go for frequent screening by a professional – at least once a year – but they ought to also learn how to test their breasts themselves and get into the habit of doing the self-test each day while washing in the shower. You could also get a friend to help by incorporating it into foreplay.

The information necessary for self-testing is widely accessible all year round (not only in October) at your doctor’s surgery or at your gynecologist’s. It is also available in libraries, clinics, some schools and on Net. One of the foremost factors that you ought to take in to account when deciding on your plan for counteracting the threat of cancer is whether any other members of your family have had breast cancer or any other form of cancer for that matter.

One anxiety that many people in the know have is that breast cancer research is getting too high a proportion of the whole amount available for funding for cancer research. This means that more patients are dying of other kinds of cancer than should be.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now involved with the stages of ovarian cancer. If you would like to know more, please visit our web site at Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Birth control is a large issue, there is no doubt of that and women are more aware than ever that having children is not a compulsory result of having sex. They are also conscious that having children at the wrong time can ruin their careers and they are also conscious that passions or alcohol can get in the way of safe sex using condoms very often.

This results in women taking supervision of the vast majority of birth control by taking ‘the pill’. The contraceptive pill caused a furore in the Sixties with the Establishment and the Churches predicting the downfall of society and morality. And after a fashion, they were correct. But what happened was to sweep away a great deal of social barriers and privileges that previously just the rich (and men) had had. The ‘old order’ lost a bit of ground.

The difficulty with the way that women took control of their sex lives was or is twofold: firstly, men leave ‘that sort of thing’ to the woman and secondly, taking the pill can lead to cervical cancer. The chances of getting cervical cancer from taking the pill are small (15,000 Americans a year, of which a third dies), but they do exist.

However, there are no recorded cases of men contracting cancer from wearing a condom.

Women normally get cervical cancer from having sex. They pick up the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Most of the time, the woman’s immune system will stop that virus from causing cancer, but research has shown that women who take the pill for over five years in a row have a higher risk than women who have not.

Consequently a condom would be useful here.

Unfortunately, there are no symptoms in the early stages of cervical cancer, but later on, there may be heavier losses of blood, pain after sexual intercourse and even unpleasant smells. Periods could also last a lot longer than ‘normal’.

The difficulty with studies is that, there often comes another study to prove something else and this is true here as well. Some studies have shown that the use of the contraceptive pill lessens the incidence of ovarian cancer.

It is like old sayings, there is always a opposite, as in: ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’ and ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’.

If you listen to the ‘experts’, you would be in a lasting state of dilemma. Therefore, the only really safe course to take is to go for regular tests or screenings – at least once a year, unless your doctor or gynecologist tells you different and if he or she does, query it.

The pharmaceutical firms have been promising a male contraceptive pill or implant for decades. In fact, the pill may even be there. But that is not the point normally. The difficulty is usually men. The majority of men cannot be depended upon to provide adequate contraception whilst they are involved in casual relationships.

So long as this state of affairs continues, women will continue to take risks so that they are not bogged down by a family of a dozen kids like their great-grandmothers were.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is now involved with the stages of ovarian cancer. If you want to know more, please visit our web site at Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

The Grand Canyon: A Trip For Gay Men

Howie Holben On May - 2 - 2011ADD COMMENTS

We tested ourselves and committed to drive from Oklahoma to California and back in a two week period. We traveled 1001 miles in just one day, which anyone can tell you was quite a feat. We were planning to do a gay Grand Canyon trip along the way.

With the steep cliffs that the water and wind had eroded away. It was one of the first national parks in the United States and was dedicated as such by Theodore Roosevelt on Nov. 28, 1906. Although the river is 286 miles long, ranging in width from 4 to 18 miles and is as deep as a mile, it is not the longest river in the world. Nor is it the widest.

The entire adventure from Lee’s Ferry to Lake Mead is 275 miles and takes 17 days to complete. The cool thing is though, if you chose this course all the rafting companies offer food, tents and all the supplies you need to enjoy your extreme camping adventure. I would definitely do this with my children considering all the things I missed when I went back in 2001.

There are so many things to see from hidden water falls to old native villages hidden within the back parts of the canyon. After all you are on one million acres of land. With so many opportunities for exploration the Grand Canyon brings the explorer out while in safe and capable hands of the guides who have been on this river for more than 75 years.

I can’t remember being so cold out in the sunlight. We drifted lazily down the river watching the wildlife passing by. To our amazement we had caught a glimpse of a Bald Eagle which according to our guide was a rare sight to see.

There are signs posted that show a well fit man walking into the canyon. The sign reads: Each year we rescue hundreds of people from the canyon. Most of them look like him. Or for the more extreme traveler there are rafting trips that will take you on a 17 day rafting adventure through some of the wildest white waters in the United States. – Although one can go for the 2 hour rafting trip which is the one I took.

It is the lazy man’s way of seeing the canyon with no rapids but a great view. If you do decide to take the gay whitewater rafting tours there are three kinds of boats you can travel on. You can take the motor boat which is as I put it before the lazy man’s way. Imagine if you will boating on a lake for fishing. The guides take you only on the smoothest course. You can go with the oars, in which case the guide rows while you hang on.

Gay Grand Canyon whitewater rafting is an amazing experience of a life time. If you ever get the chance to do it then you should. There are so many breath taking views and it shows only the finest of all creation. It is a thrill, but it is also awesome in its splendour.

Advice initiated by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys puts forth gay Grand Canyon whitewater rafting and gay Grand Canyon vacations.

How To Choose The Right Nursing Degree Programs

Jackie Lettermann On April - 25 - 2011ADD COMMENTS

When you choose to pursue the calling of the nurse profession, this entails you must choose the right nursing degree programs. With the evolution of the profession, the programs have become broader than ever, branching out to different areas and specialties, much like medicine. Nurses can be seen in practically any clinical setting: from hospitals, doctors clinics, out-patient departments, and what have you.

You can choose from a variety of selections: Licensed Practical studies, Bachelors studies, or Masters. Either can be suitable of your vocation. To become a licensed practical nurse, it will only take one year of studying. You will learn the basics of like taking vital signs, wound dressing, the skill of giving injections to patients, collection of specimens, and doing laboratory testing. But if you wish to upgrade to a higher level, you should take the Bachelors degree.

In this program you will learn how to perform fundamentals in laboratory testing, you will also learn how to give injections, take and monitor the vital signs of the patient, dressing of wounds, and collecting of samples. These basic nurse skills can be learned and practiced when you take up Licensed Practical Nurse. But if you want to gain a higher level in the industry, you should take up an advanced level of education like Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in Nursing.

Studying as a Bachelor in Nursing, you will experience and immersed into different areas in the hospital. Most likely you will learn a much broader knowledge and skills than as a Licensed practical Nurse. Here, you will be more familiar of the roles and responsibilities of a nurse in a specific area like in the emergency room, intensive care units, in the patient care unit, delivery room, renal area, and more.

These trainings are more specific duties which they can choose from the different areas in the industry. They will be immersed and rotated in different areas, and will learn advanced skills and knowledge. Bachelor of Science graduates will allow them to be qualified to work in specialized areas and will step into specialized careers like pediatrics, obstetrics, and more.

In specialized trainings, you will develop skills that can be utilized in one specific area. Take for example, a nurse in pediatric learns how to help sickly children. Obstetric nurses also learn how to help women who are giving birth.

Masters of Science degree is one program which allows students to focus more on specific areas like management, health policies, and more. Most students who take up this program have already gained experience in the hospital. This program allows them to widen their knowledge and will prepare them for more advanced skills in nursing. Students who were able to finish this program have a higher position in the industry. So which one of the nursing degree programs best suits you?

Get inside info on how to choose the right nursing degree programs now in our guide to all you need to know about where to find a top nursing degree online .

Working As A Certified Nursing Assistant

Mona Larwance On April - 19 - 2011ADD COMMENTS

Many health clinics, hospitals, and facilities for elderly people rely on a certified nursing assistant to help ease the burden of caring for patients. Registered and licensed practical nurses tend to be very busy throughout the day and look to assistants to help them keep patients monitored, cared for, and comfortable during their shifts.

However, people who desire to work in this capacity must first take classes at a college or university, or even a training school, to learn how to become such a medical worker. Even more, training may also be offered through a nursing home or through a rehabilitation clinic. Such places often offer these classes to people with the promise that they will work at the facility for a certain amount of time after completing training. In fact, this scenario often allows people to take classes for very little or no charge at all.

After completing the required coursework and field experiences, assistants may begin working in a medical workplace. Full-time, part-time, and even as needed positions often can be found at many locations. They are needed to work all shifts, from early in the morning to late into the evening and overnight hours. People generally can find a position that will accommodate their personal schedules.

While at work, they work with the medical staff and help monitor and care for patients. Indeed, some nurses instruct their assistants to routinely check a patient’s heart rate, pulse, and blood pressure. Such care is especially essential if a patient is in critical condition or taking strong medications.

They also hand out medications to people whose medical treatments call for their taking antibiotics, heart pills, or other such oral medicines. Especially for those patients who are recovering from surgery or other serious illnesses, receiving these medications in a timely manner ensures their recovery. When a nurse is caring for other patients, an assistant fills the role to make sure that other patients get their medications when needed.

These workers also routinely help care for a patient’s hygienic needs. They may assist a patient in taking a shower or bath, as well as help that person to use the restroom. As such, assistants need to be able to lift considerable amounts of weight.

Many hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation facilities need a certified nursing assistant to support their medical staff. People who work in this position train at a variety of locations before beginning their work in the health care field. They maintain a patient’s hygienic needs, distribute medications, and monitor vital signs throughout their shifts.

Get inside info on the role of a Certified Nursing Assistant now in our guide to all you need to know about how and where to find the best certified nursing assistant classes .

A while back I had written about how much money it was plausible to save by taking public transportation. Since that time, I have became aware that there are a quite a few different selections for student bus passes across the country. The example I used of the pass in Winnipeg ended up being around average, so that’s good as far as the comparison proceeded to go; however, shortly after finding out about the various options across Canada I thought it may be helpful to make note of the differences.

Possibly the most controversial component of student bus passes in Canada is the potential of a majority of university students on several campuses to make the passes mandatory. Universities which includes the University of Ottawa, the University of Victoria, Saint Mary’s University, and the University of Western Ontario have held student referendums where students elected to incorporate bus passes together with their over-all tuition and student user fees. At Ottawa this contributed to a law suit by nine students against the University since they felt discriminated against.

Obviously this dilemma has some positives and drawbacks. The really low cost of public transportation for many who use it is an unquestionable incentive. On those campuses the rate was lowered to about a 100 bucks flat for the year! This is very likely because of the boosted volume of sales. The fact that students are forced to get passes would definitely also benefit the overall usage rates. This has excellent spin-off environmental effects, along with the previously mentioned financial ones.

For me personally, the disadvantages are far more prevalent to me. During my time at the University of Manitoba we had a referendum on whether to come up with a mandatory package for public transportation to be supported by all students. I quite frankly can not get past the fact that it shouldn’t be considered realistic for a negligible majority of students to trample the legal rights of a huge minority and take money out of their wallets to subsidize their chosen mode of transportation. If I remember correctly, there was already a percentage of the money used from parking service fees to help counteract student bus pass costs. This is still a tough sell for me regardless of the environmental benefits. Naturally as a vehicle owner I am definitely bias.

My distaste for certain aspects of public transportation is probably a result of the Winnipeg pubic transit system. It doesn’t matter how much money I was saving I couldn’t rationalize the consistent waste of time. The schedules were never ever correct, the constant rudeness of passengers, and the lousy weather aspect of life in Winnipeg, was more than enough to motivate me to get my own car.

If perhaps I had went to school in British Columbia I would possibly have a very different perspective of student bus passes. After a comment from a local with regards to her public transportation experience, I reviewed the Vancouver area options. I was impressed by the fantastic bargain they got and the fact it was not subsidized by other students (this means it doesn’t punish the students that walk, bike, or drive to school). The U-Pass (universal pass) is available to post-secondary students for the low price of $30 monthly. The great part of the deal is that this doesn’t only just cover the bus, but the Seabus and SkyTrain services as well! With such a complete variety of options I would presume there is a great deal of success with the program there.

In comparison, Winnipeg charges over $70 monthly for its substandard patchwork of buses. Other monthly public transportation rates for students include $89 for a metro pass in Toronto, $41 in Montreal for a combined metro and bus pass, $71 for a student bus pass in Saskatoon, and Calgary didn’t even have a student rate from the information I was able to see on their web page. The general adult rate there for a month to month bus pass is $90.

One more thing for people (not just students) who use bus passes should be aware of is the non-refundable tax credit available. For most people you may get a pretty good idea of how much money you should receive on your taxes by multiplying the annual price of your bus passes by .15 (15%). This is a wonderful little reward incentive for people who are already financially and environmentally mindful enough to use public transportation.

Getting a student bus pass is a popular approach to saving money when attending school. Student public transportation is crucial to any university that is thinking make a subsidised program to their students.

A while back I wrote about how much money it was possible to save by taking public transportation. Since that time, I have discovered that there are a quite a few varying alternatives for student bus passes across the nation. The example I used of the pass in Winnipeg turned out to be close to average, so that’s good as far as the comparison proceeded to go; however, upon checking out the various options across Canada I thought it might be interesting to make note of the differences.

Probably the most debatable component of student bus passes in Canada is the capability of a majority of university students on some campuses to make the passes mandatory. Universities such as the University of Ottawa, the University of Victoria, Saint Mary’s University, and the University of Western Ontario have organised student referendums where students decided to add bus passes together with their overall tuition and student user fees. At Ottawa this lead to a law suit by 9 students against the University because they felt discriminated against.

Obviously this dilemma has some positives and disadvantages. The very low cost of public transportation for many who use it is an undeniable bonus. On those campuses the cost was reduced to close to a 100 dollars flat for the year! This is probably because of the inflated volume of sales. The fact that students are compelled to get passes would also improve the overall usage rates. This has wonderful spin-off environmental effects, as well as the aforementioned financial ones.

Myself personally, the disadvantages are a lot more prevalent to me. During my time at the University of Manitoba we had a referendum on whether to put together a required package for public transportation to be supported by all students. I just simply cannot get past the fact that it shouldn’t be considered realistic for a minor majority of students to trample the rights of a massive minority and take money out of their pockets to subsidize their preferred form of transportation. If I remember correctly, there was presently a percentage of the money used from parking service fees to help offset student bus pass costs. This is still a hard sell for me despite the environmental benefits. Of course as a car owner I am definitely bias.

My personal distaste for particular aspects of public transportation is likely a result of the Winnipeg pubic transit system. No matter how much money I was saving I couldn’t rationalize the constant waste of time. The schedules were hardly ever correct, the constant rudeness of travellers, and the awful weather aspect of life in Winnipeg, was enough to encourage me to get my own vehicle.

In the instance that I had went to school in British Columbia I may have a very different perspective of student bus passes. After a comment from a local pertaining to her public transportation experience, I looked into the Vancouver area possible choices. I was impressed by the wonderful deal they got and the fact it was not subsidized by other students (this means it doesn’t penalize the students that walk, bike, or drive to school). The U-Pass (universal pass) is available to post-secondary students for the low price of $30 per month. The really great part of the deal is that this doesn’t just cover the bus, but the Seabus and SkyTrain services as well! With such a thorough variety of options I would assume there is quite a bit of success with the program presently there.

In comparison, Winnipeg charges over $70 monthly for its substandard patchwork of buses. Other monthly public transportation rates for students consist of $89 for a metro pass in Toronto, $41 in Montreal for a merged metro and bus pass, $71 for a student bus pass in Saskatoon, and Calgary didn’t even have a student price from the information I have been able to see on their web site. The general adult rate there for a month-to-month bus pass is $90.

One more thing for people (not just students) who use bus passes should be advised of is the non-refundable tax credit available. For some people you can get a pretty good idea of how much money you should receive on your taxes by multiplying the yearly fee of your bus passes by .15 (15%). This is a nice little reward incentive for those of you who are already financially and environmentally sensitive enough to use public transportation.

Student Bus Passes are a great method for saving money when attending school. Cheap student public transportation is important to any university interested in make a subsidised service to their students.

There are three key stepping stones for mental healing with holistic healing techniques. Keep things in a positive mind set. Focus on gratitude. Stay in the present moment.

These things all sound very simple to implement into our lives, so why do not more people do this? It is all really based on how we were learning growing up and what the emphasis is to these things instead of conformity to chaos and negativity.

Mental healing is all about working with areas of your mental status. This can be a combination of affirmations, goal statements, mantras, positive mind sets, making decisions, removing mental barriers, taking responsibility, and much more. This mental level is where all of these issues reside and this needs to be corrected to have as strong and healthy mental area as possible.

When we work through Reiki healing sessions it can help us incorporate a lot of change in our life, but if we are not strong and confident in our mental aspects then this can bring back into our life the old patterns that we resonate within. This causes a leak within our physical energy and things go back to old pattern of life. It is not that the other healing did not work, but you have to supply the mental healing behind this to change things in your life. You would not go and lose weight to only go back to the same ice cream shop and eat this everyday again.

Mental healing is vitally important in any healing work and can be done in the comfort of your own home. The key stepping stones for mental healing are to keep things positive, focus on the gratitude you have in your life, and stay in the present moment.

Working with changing your positive mind set is something that helps shift all of your energetic vibrational levels for your healing purposes in life. When you are constantly seeing the positive silver lining in each and ever opportunity your life will shift with this mental aspect.

Focusing on the gratitude in your life is just as equally important. The biggest issue that many people come across is that they focus on the material possessions that they are grateful for. I am not saying to not be grateful for them, but you are forgetting the most important thing you have and that is your infinite potential and power that resides from within. Without this infinite potential, none of this work would be possible. So the statement, “I am grateful” works best. You are grateful, and that is it; you don’t have to list the house, car, job, or whatever else that is in your life. Simply being grateful for your life is the key!

Being present in the moment is the last step to your mental healing completion. You have to remember that we cannot change anything about our past, nor can we live in that or in the future.

By working on these key stepping stones for mental holistic healing, we can change everything in our life with simple shifts of these key tools!

Founder of Healing Art Forms and Holistic Healing Minute, Nicole Lanning is an expert certified healer. Find out more about energy healing, spiritual healing, crystal healing, and holistic healing services by contacting her today!

Last week I wrote about how much money it was plausible to save by taking public transportation. After that, I have discovered that there are a many completely different options for student bus passes throughout the country. The example I used of the pass in Winnipeg turned out to be around average, so that’s fine as far as the comparison proceeded to go; however, shortly after considering the various options across Canada I thought it may be useful to note the differences.

Possibly the most controversial issue of student bus passes in Canada is the power of a majority of university students on some campuses to make the passes mandatory. Universities just like the University of Ottawa, the University of Victoria, Saint Mary’s University, and the University of Western Ontario have organised student referendums where students decided to incorporate bus passes as part of their all around tuition and student user fees. At Ottawa this contributed to a law suit by 9 students against the University since they felt discriminated against.

Naturally this dilemma has some advantages and drawbacks. The really low cost of public transportation for those who use it is an unquestionable incentive. For those campuses the cost was reduced to close to a 100 dollars flat for the year! This is very likely because of the increasing volume of sales. The fact that students are made to get passes would also benefit the overall usage rates. This has wonderful spin-off environmental effects, together with the aforementioned financial ones.

Myself personally, the disadvantages are much more prevalent to me. During my time at the University of Manitoba we had a referendum on whether to come up with a compulsory bundle for public transportation to be supported by all students. I quite simply can not get past the fact that it should not be considered realistic for a minor majority of students to trample the rights of a massive minority and take money out of their wallets to subsidize their preferred form of transportation. If I remember correctly, there was already a percentage of the money used from parking service fees to help offset student bus pass costs. This is still a hard sell for me despite the environmental benefits. Obviously as a vehicle owner I am definitely bias.

My personal distaste for specific aspects of public transportation is very likely a result of the Winnipeg pubic transit system. Regardless of how much money I was saving I couldn’t rationalize the steady waste of time. The schedules were never correct, the constant rudeness of travellers, and the terrible weather aspect of life in Winnipeg, was more than enough to encourage me to get my own vehicle.

If I had attended school in British Columbia I would possibly have a very different view of student bus passes. After a remark from a local with regards to her public transportation experience, I researched the Vancouver area choices. I was impressed by the good bargain they got and the fact it was not subsidized by other students (this means it doesn’t punish the students that walk, bike, or drive to school). The U-Pass (universal pass) is readily availablefor sale to post-secondary students for the low price of $30 a month. The great part of the deal is that this doesn’t only just cover the bus, but the Seabus and SkyTrain services as well! With such a extensive variety of options I would assume there is quite a bit of success with the program there.

In comparison, Winnipeg charges over $70 a month for its shoddy patchwork of buses. Other monthly public transportation rates for students consist of $89 for a metro pass in Toronto, $41 in Montreal for a combined metro and bus pass, $71 for a student bus pass in Saskatoon, and Calgary didn’t actually have a student price from the information I was able to see on their website. The basic adult rate there for a month to month bus pass is $90.

One more thing for people (not just students) who use bus passes should be advised of is the non-refundable tax credit available. For some people you will get a pretty good idea of how much money you should get back on your taxes by multiplying the yearly cost of your bus passes by .15 (15%). This is a nice little reward incentive for people who are already financially and environmentally conscious enough to use public transportation.

Having a student bus pass is a common approach to saving money when attending school. Student public transportation is essential to any university planning to make a subsidised program to their students.

The previous week I had written about how much money it was plausible to save through public transportation. After that, I have realized that there are a several assorted alternatives for student bus passes across the country. The example I used of the pass in Winnipeg ended up being around average, so that’s good as far as the comparison proceeded to go; however, upon considering various options around Canada I thought it may be helpful to note the differences.

Probably the most debatable aspect of student bus passes in Canada is the possibility of a majority of college students on several campuses to make the passes mandatory. Universities which includes the University of Ottawa, the University of Victoria, Saint Mary’s University, and the University of Western Ontario have organized student referendums where students decided to add bus passes as part of their over-all tuition and student user fees. At Ottawa this lead to a law suit by 9 students against the University because they felt discriminated against.

Obviously this dilemma has some advantages and disadvantages. The very low cost of public transportation for those who use it is an indisputable incentive. On those campuses the cost was decreased to around a hundred bucks flat for the year! This is very likely because of the boosted volume of sales. The fact that students are compelled to get passes would also assist the overall usage rates. This has great spin-off environmental effects, in addition to the aforementioned financial ones.

For me personally, the drawbacks are a lot more prevalent to me. During my time at the University of Manitoba we had a referendum on whether to put together a compulsory package deal for public transportation to be supported by all students. I simply just can’t get past the fact that it should not be considered realistic for a slight majority of students to trample the legal rights of a massive minority and take money out of their wallets to subsidize their chosen form of transportation. If I remember correctly, there was presently a percentage of the money used from parking service fees to help counteract student bus pass costs. This is still a tough sell for me regardless of the environmental benefits. Obviously as a vehicle owner I am definitely bias.

My distaste for certain aspects of public transportation is very likely a result of the Winnipeg pubic transit system. It doesn’t matter how much money I was saving I couldn’t rationalize the consistent waste of time. The schedules were never ever correct, the constant rudeness of passengers, and the lousy weather aspect of life in Winnipeg, was enough to encourage me to get my own vehicle.

If I had went to school in British Columbia I might have a very different view of student bus passes. After a comment from a local pertaining to her public transportation experience, I reviewed the Vancouver area options. I was impressed by the terrific bargain they got and the fact it was not subsidized by other students (this means it doesn’t penalize the students that walk, bike, or drive to school). The U-Pass (universal pass) is readily availablefor sale to post-secondary students for the low price of $30 each month. The excellent part of the deal is that this doesn’t only just cover the bus, but the Seabus and SkyTrain services as well! With such a extensive variety of options I would assume there is a great deal of success with the program presently there.

In contrast, Winnipeg charges over $70 per month for its shoddy patchwork of buses. Other monthly public transportation rates for students include $89 for a metro pass in Toronto, $41 in Montreal for a combined metro and bus pass, $71 for a student bus pass in Saskatoon, and Calgary didn’t actually have a student rate from the information I was able to see on their site. The standard adult rate there for a month to month bus pass is $90.

One other thing people (not just students) who use bus passes should be informed of is the non-refundable tax credit available. For many people you can find a pretty good idea of how much money you should get back on your taxes by multiplying the yearly price of your bus passes by .15 (15%). This is a great little reward incentive for people who are already financially and environmentally sensitive enough to use public transportation.

having a cheap student bus pass is a popular way to save money when going to school. cheap student transportation is very important to any university aiming to make a subsidised service to their students.