text:
I've always hoped to join the NASA HoneyBeeNet program that relies on volunteer submission of daily hive weight to track nectar flow at dozens of sites across the country. http://honeybeenet.gsfc.nasa.gov/ The understanding of nectar flow nicely complements satellite tracking of vegetation coverage for modeling of climate change, the effects of land use changes, or even how invasive plants and animals are likely to spread.
As a hobby beekeeper with two toddlers, I would also find it extremely helpful to know when nectar is flowing so I can add supers when needed without making unnecessary trips to check the hives' progress!
There are a few rough guides to digital hive scales on the internet, and http://hivetool.org/ demonstrates the type of high frequency (every minute or so?) data that can be collected. However they either rely on cheap digital scales that drift significantly with temperature, or they require outlet power and a PC to run. This is great work, but I don't have a wife that allows bee hives within feet of a power outlet.
I've designed the system around the following requirements:
- Record hive weight and temperature as well as ambient temperature every 1-5 minutes.
- Send data to thingspeak.com for backup and graphing of data.
- Log to micro SD card with a timestamp for reliable backup.
- Power with solar panels and lead-acid battery
I'd be interested in feedback on what's important or interesting to monitor. I'm particularly interested in helping others get their own hive logging systems running to add to the NASA dataset. I'll be writing up a guide (probably on instructables.com) with a complete part list, and I could also put together kits or complete systems by next spring if there's interest.
This isn't a sales pitch. I want to support anybody who's interested, but I'm more interested in feedback on what could be improved. Here's more details on the project. I welcome criticism or suggestions!
The Core microSD datalogger:
I've designed the system around the CPWPlus200 scale used at HiveTool.org, and while it's a bit pricey at $160, it's valuable to me to start with a scale I know will work. After some google research, I think I've found a cheaper shipping scale for $80 that might work just as well, but I won't know until I try it, and I'm focusing on finishing the first prototype before trying to reduce cost.
The logging microcontroller is an Arduino Uno that uses a real-time clock to log an accurate timestamp to the SD card. It talks to the scale via simple serial communication (an important feature that seems to add around $20 to the cost of the scale). I'm using 1-wire temperature sensors so I could add as many sensors as I'd like without complicating the wiring.
All the electronics (minus the temp sensors) fit inside the scale, so while I'll be building a cheap wooden frame to hold the scale, as long as it doesn't get submerged, it'll be relatively weather resistant. The scale is only rated down to 32F, so while I think it'll be possible to run through the winter with some extra care and risk, I'm planning to pack it in the honey house for the winter.
With the scale, this basic system that logs to a microSD card cost me around $290 including the $160 scale. That hurts, but I'm hoping future versions can be closer to $200 with a cheaper scale. It could be powered with an extension cord, and maybe even log to a PC like many others have done.
Wireless logging to the internet
To add wireless datalogging to a free internet service at thingspeak.com (there's others out there like cosm.com etc... that would work just as well) I've used XBee radio transmitters. The low power versions I'm using have a max range of 120m (390ft) but realistically, they're going to be limited to a third or a half of that if transmitting through trees or walls. It's relatively simple to add repeaters, and the remote radio (with a repeater) can be upgraded to 1+ mile range (with line of sight) fairly simply by using a more powerful chip.
I've used a ConnectPort X2 to transfer the signals from the hive directly to the internet via an ethernet cable (connected to your home network) for $108. WiFi versions exist, and you could even use another XBee radio with a computer to relay the data if reliability of the connection wasn't a major concern (the SD backup could always fill in gaps in the internet data).
With the ConnectPort, the wireless electronics cost me around $190.
Solar Power
Solar Power is a big question mark at this point. I plan to us a 12V trickle charger with a 12V lead-acid battery sized to the final measured power draw of the system. The voltage regulator built into the scale can easily take 12-18V (rated to 36V) so connecting straight to the battery and charger should be fine even when it's charging (12V lead-acid batteries run at 12.6V when fully charged down to under 12V when discharged, but they charge at up to 17.8V, so it's important to consider the charging voltage if you're going to hook up electronics to a charger and battery!).
The scale draws about 20ma, I'm guessing the microcontroller will draw under 50ma, and the radio will draw 45ma when transmitting (sleeping 95-99% of the time) so I'm hoping I can keep the entire system drawing well under 2ah per day.
Using some conservative numbers in this calculator: http://www.batterystuff.com/kb/tools...alculator.html it looks like I'll need a 20W panel and a 25ah battery to give me 10 days of backup.
I'm penciling in $200 for the solar system (panel with charge control, wiring, and battery) but I think it will be closer to $100 if I can really run it on a 20W panel. Of course power draw may increase if my scope creeps...
Counting Bees (aka: scope creep)
About a month ago, user Hydronics posted the following guide to counting bees going in and out of the hive using a couple of proximity sensors! http://www.instructables.com/id/Honey-Bee-Counter/
Knowing exactly when bees are moving in and out of the hive seems like the sort of thing that could be incredibly useful to a beekeeper (you could set up a text message alarm for when 30k bees suddenly leaves the hive to swarm in the middle of the day). That said, it'd roughly double the power draw of the system and it'd cost around $150.
I'm almost certain to add it to my hive eventually -- I've got plenty of time before the hives wake up next spring to try to reduce power and I can wait on purchasing the solar panels or battery until I have a solid measurement of total power draw.


text:
Fr. Bruce Engen
Father Bruce Engen
Pine River
Father Bruce Engen, 74, died Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd.
Father Engen was born Jan. 13, 1939, in Minneapolis, to Oscar and Jeanette (Westlake) Engen. He attended St. Bridget's Catholic School. At a young age, he delivered the Minneapolis paper on bicycle. He worked for Honeywell at several locations in the Twin Cities. In 1966, his love for nature prompted him to move to Remer. He was manager of Remer Hardware and Lumber and later an insurance agent. He was also a foster parent. His calling to the priesthood came later in life. After graduating from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., he was ordained for the Diocese of Duluth on June 25, 1989, by Bishop Robert Brom at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Father Engen served as an associate pastor at St. Joseph in Grand Rapids and St. Augustine, Cohasset. In 1990, he was named pastor at St. Charles, Cass Lake, and St. Anne, Bena. In 1993, he began service as pastor of St. Agnes, Walker, and Sacred Heart, Hackensack. From 1998 until 2003, he was pastor of St. Mary, Deer River, and St. Augustine, Cohasset. Then he entered into active retirement being made a senior associate on July 16, 2003. At the time of his death he was serving as a senior associate of the Lake Country Parishes while residing at Our Lady of Lourdes in Pine River.
Father had a passion for old farm equipment and John Deere tractors and was known for his generous and welcoming spirit to all who met him.
Father Engen is survived by his mother, Jeanette Engen-Barkhoff; younger brothers, Richard (Pat) Engen, Howard (Vel) Engen and Dean (Deb) Engen; nieces and nephews, Robin and Michael Lucas, Michael W. Engen, Gregory and Tonja Engen, Stephanie and Ryan Walseth, Deana and Chris Middendorf, Jaden Engen and Michael H. Engen; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Oscar; and his stepfather, Louis Barkhoff.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pine River. Visitation was Friday evening, April 12, from 5-7 p.m. at the church. Burial followed the funeral at Fairview Cemetery in Remer.
Arrangements were with Kline Funeral Home, Pine River.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Im hopeful to get some surplus this year from the gals and was wondering what the procedure is. Im sure I can figure out the crush and strain aspect - what Im curious about his how you get all the bees off the comb and out of the box. Is there some sort of one-way bee escape that people are building? If so, how is your's designed?


text:
City approves liquor stores
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - In November, Elizabethton residents voted 'yes' to having liquor stores in the city limits and Thursday night, they voted on who will occupy them.
"Each and every one, by my standards, met the criteria financially," says councilmen Sam Shipley.
Mayor Curt Alexander tells News 5, there were six applicants. Three were chosen.
"William Armstrong, Billy Chappell, and Nidiffer & Bridges," Mayor Alexander says.
The council voted to determine which applicants best met the criteria for the city. "For the last couple of weeks, analyzing financial statements, looking at locations, things like that," he continues.
Council members say, they had a hard time choosing. "I really wasn't in agreement with limiting the number to three, because I would prefer that the market operate to determine whose successful and whose not," says councilmen Jeff Treadway.
Now that they've been selected, there are a few more steps owners have to take. "Give them their certificate of compliance on Monday. They will send their packet of information to the state of Tennessee, and the state of Tennessee has 45 days to either accept that or reject that, send it back and at that time once they do, their final exceptions they can purchase the liquor and start selling alcohol," continues the Mayor.
For the three that were not chosen, councilmen say, they hope to see that change down the road.
"I hope in the future we revisit this and hopefully open up the opportunity got some more certificates," says Treadway.
The three stores are going to be spread across the city.


text:
I do find this thread "Amazing", but for a completely different reason than most that have posted here.
I realize that many beekeepers are set in their ways. *Almost everyone has an aversion to change. *This is not limited to senior citizens or beekeepers. **I think you are being shortsighted to dismiss all the combined wisdom that is undoubtedly present within the bee club, just because you disagree with their treatment philosophy.
This is my challenge to you. *Answer these questions and then consider those answers.
What is the combined number of bee hives represented by those that have posted on this thread to date? ***What is the combined number of years of beekeeping experience of the same posters? *How do these numbers compare to the rest of the population you are choosing to disregard?
Don't misunderstand me. *There are a lot of times (especially surrounding resistance to change/trying new things) when I disagree with older more experienced keepers than I. *But they do, for the most part, deserve respect and have a wealth of other knowledge that I would be remiss to ignore. *They have more experience and actual time in field than I will ever have. *Why would I (you) think that I have all the answers?
Just because someone disagrees with your stance does not validate make theirs wrong and your right.
It doesn't matter to me what your answers and eventual decisions are. *I just would like you to actually take the time to consider just where you are and how you got there.


text:
Text-to-pay parking meters have failed at least three times in the past two months.
One man who uses txt-a-park up to 10 times a week says the service isn't good enough.
Tim Kitson claims the system has failed at least six times in the past two weeks, though official figures deny this.
"The most annoying thing is you've got to go all the way through it only to find out at the end that it hasn't worked."
Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan says there have been three days with two-hour outages this year, two of them in January. He is trying to find out why from the provider.
Nationwide, there were 539 complaints about txt-a-park last year and 649 in 2011. Kitson knows he is not the only one being let down by txt-a-park.
He contacted Auckland Transport on one occasion and the operator said he was not the first to complain that day.
"The lady on the phone was extremely helpful, but it's just an inconvenience of their time and my time. It needs to be fixed."
There are 875 parking machines in Auckland and all but nine have been txt-a-park enabled since the payment option was introduced in 2006.
The service works only with phones connected to the Vodafone and Telecom networks.


text:
JNPR: Argus Ups to Buy on Valuation; Strategy Has'Matured'
Shares of Juniper Networks (JNPR)
are up 4 cents at $17.59 after Argus Research's Jim Kelleher
raised his rating on the shares to Buy from Hold, with a $22 price target, writing that "the decline in JNPR shares - capped by the sympathetic selloff following an April 5 EPS warning from F5 Networks (FFIV) - overstates Juniper's challenges and fails to reflect the current EPS recovery after several difficult quarters."
Juniper, notes Kelleher, is down form a peak of $45 two years ago because of worries over its "core routing" sales, margin pressure, and having neglected its "core competencies." However, the strategy, he writes, "has now matured and can no longer be considered a distraction."
"Juniper has preemptively launched its software-defined-networking (SDN)
strategy. As Cisco [Systems (CSCO)] and Juniper push further into data center and SDN, the Junos OS,which knits together the company's devices and technologies, is becoming more of a competitive advantage."
The stock has lost its traditional premium, and the balance sheet supports the stock, he thinks, at a 13.7 times forward P/E:
JNPR has historically commanded a sizable premium to the peer group weighted-average P/E. However, it has now lost that premium and trades at a discount to the peer average. JNPR also appears undervalued based on other key valuation metrics. Juniper has $3.8 billion in cash and $2.8 billion in net cash, giving it plenty of firepower for niche buys and/or returns to shareholders.
The sell-off in the shares comes despite fundamentals having actually improved of late, writes Kelleher:
JNPR shares are down 12% year-to-date as of 1/28/13, ahead of the 7% gain for the peer group (and the 8% gain for close rival Cisco). The shares declined 4% in 2012, better than the 11% decline for the peer group, but behind Cisco's 9% gain. JNPR shares plunged 45% in 2011 as revenue fell and margins contracted in 4Q11. In 2010, JNPR rose 38%, while rival CSCO dropped 16%. JNPR shares were up 15% year-to-date late in January; ironically, weakness in the shares has followed the company's best quarter in over a year. The share-price decline accelerated on 4/5/13, hurt by the double whammy of the broad selloff on the poor nonfarm payrolls number, and, on a sector-specific basis, by collateral damage from an EPS warning from F5 Networks […] In our view, the routing & switching business is now coming out of a period of underperformance and should begin to strengthen going forward. The underperformance was due to both cautious carrier spending and Juniper's own product cycle. However, carriers now seem more willing to spend, and Juniper's core offerings are moving
into an up-cycle.


text:
Raven Software
Call of Duty Online is now available in China
The Chinese market-exclusive Call of Duty Online has entered into open beta.
Raven Software headlines
Can Call of Duty: Ghosts' multiplayer keep up with the dynamic age?
Call of Duty: Ghosts is a static arena shooter in an increasingly dynamic industry. VG247's Dave Cook quizzes co-developer Raven Software on how it hopes to modernise the format going into next-gen.
Call of Duty: Ghosts developed by Infinity Ward, Raven & Neversoft
Call of Duty: Ghosts development was aided along by fellow Activision teams Raven Software and Neversoft, Infinity Ward has confirmed.
Jedi Knight II source code released to mark LucasArts' passing
Raven Software has released the sourcecode for Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy to mark the closure of LucasArts today. "We loved and appreciated the experience of getting to make Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy for LucasArts. As a gift to the persistently loyal fanbase for our Jedi games and […]
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Mac now available via digital distribution
"Better late than never" is a familiar adage to Mac gamers, and if you've been hanging out for an OS-X friendly version of Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, today's your lucky day. The well-received 2003 action affair arrived on digital distribution platforms for Windows in 2009, but the Mac flavour has only now arrived […]
Ten more maps, two modes for Modern Warfare 3 in 2012
Activision has outlined the remaining 18 content drops of a promised 20 for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
First Modern Warfare 3 DLC dropping next month
Infinity Ward's confirmed the first DLC for Modern Warfare 3 will arrive on Xbox 360 next month.
Quick Shots: A couple new screens of Modern Warfare 3 turn up
Videogame.de has previewed Modern Warfare 3, and in the write-up are two new shots of the game, which we've posted below. Head on through the link to see what the site thought of the game. MW3 is out in November for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. Thanks, NeoGAF.
Bowling explains Raven and Sledgehammer's involvement with Modern Warfare 3
Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling has said Raven Software's part in the Call of Duty franchise was to help Treyarch with DLC as well as "random user interface and engineering tasks," and it will be helping IW out with Modern Warfare 3 "in the same capacity".
Raven CoD contributions mentioned in designer job ad
Singularity developer Raven Software's long-rumoured association with the Call of Duty series seems to have been confirmed by another informative job listing.
Vicarious, Raven Software, High Moon defend Activision in wake of lay-offs
The vocal minority's opinions only mean so much, but when it's calling you "the evil empire," it might be time to set the record straight. Such was the aim of a recent PAX East panel, during which Activision-owned studios Vicarious Visions, Raven Software, and High Moon stormed the stage with some sunshine and butterflies to […]
Quake 4 now legally available to download in US and Canada
Bethesda's made id shooter Quake 4 available via legal downloadable means, a mere five years after it first released.
LinkedIn profile turns new Bond game rumours up a notch
Give the old rumour anthill another stir; a Raven employee's LinkedIn profile has added fuel to the speculation fire that a new Bond game is forthcoming.
Report: Sledgehammer and Infinity Ward co-developing MW3 for November release
According to a report over on the LA Times, Activision has tasked Sledgehammer with co-development duties on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 with Infinity Ward. This is according to "people familiar with the situation," and will add to burgeoning rumors surrounding the next installment in the monster shooter franchise.
Report - New Bond game "recently got go-ahead"
A Deadline report has claimed that a new James Bond game has been greenlighted by Activision following news last night that the Bond 23 movie was back in play.
Rumour: Raven working on Call of Duty-related project
Raven looks likely to be working on something in the Call of Duty universe, if a a job listing found by MCV is anything to go by.
Rumor: Raven Software developing stealth-based Bond game, taking focus off X-Men Origins sequel [Update]
Tomorrow never dies. And neither does Bond. Lord, that was a shitty movie.
Report - 20-40 people laid off at Raven Software
According to reports from Shack and Kotaku, 20-40 people have been laid off at Singularity developer Raven Software.
Singularity trailer shows off the multiplayer
Activision has released a new trailer for Singularity, featuring the multiplayer mode.
Video - Singularity's Time Manipulation Device
Activision has put out a new video for Singularity, which is part one in a four-part series. This particular one features the age and revert function of the Time Manipulation Device and how it works within the game's environment. Developed by Raven Software, Singularity ships for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on June 25 in […]
Page 1
Raven Software latest
Can Call of Duty: Ghosts' multiplayer keep up with the dynamic age?
Call of Duty: Ghosts developed by Infinity Ward, Raven & Neversoft
Jedi Knight II source code released to mark LucasArts' passing
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Mac now available via digital distribution
Quick Shots: A couple new screens of Modern Warfare 3 turn up
Bowling explains Raven and Sledgehammer's involvement with Modern Warfare 3
Vicarious, Raven Software, High Moon defend Activision in wake of lay-offs
Report: Sledgehammer and Infinity Ward co-developing MW3 for November release
Rumor: Raven Software developing stealth-based Bond game, taking focus off X-Men Origins sequel [Update]
Wolfenstein: Designer will pay for your copy should the game outsell Madden 10


text:
Say Hello!
November 20, 2012 • Comments Off on Ken Blanchard on Employee Productivity
Filed as: Tasty Quotes
Comments are closed.
Get monthly nuggets of marketing know-how
I believe passion and a sense of purpose fuel successful marketing messages, whether delivered via a product, a service, an experience, or a presentation. My background includes a decade working deep inside the marketing departments at Starbucks Coffee and Whole Foods Market.
All Content © 2017 Brand Autopsy
site by Out:think


text:
Hello all,
Last year I started with 4 hives, total 560 pounds. Beginers Luck for sure!
I would like to know how many you started with, and how you grew in hive numbers to where you are at now.
Any do's and dont's. Best way to expand- keep buying new hives in spring or splits or other....?
Also, any pitfalls and or recommendations to someone wanting to expand.
I appreciate your stories,


text:
Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty
Contact InformationOffice: Walker 908
Phone: 617-824-8745
samuel_binkley [at] emerson.edu (E-Mail »)
Sam Binkley
Associate Professor (2003)
B.A. Empire State College
M.A. City University of New York
M.A. New School University
Ph.D. New School University
Sam Binkley offers courses in the sociology of identity, cultural sociology, critical theory and cultural studies.
His research considers the historical and social production of subjectivity in the context of contemporary lifestyle culture, employing theoretical frameworks derived from Pierre Bourdieu, Norbert Elias, Michel Foucault and others. He has undertaken varied inquiries into such phenomena as lifestyle movements of the 1970s, contemporary anti-consumerist movements, consumer cultures under Cuban socialism, the temporality of neo-liberalism and contemporary therapeutic culture, all with an eye toward the fashioning of reflexive subjectivity through lifestyle choice.
His monograph, Getting Loose: Lifestyle Consumption in the 1970s (Duke University Press, 2007), examines the role of holistic discourse in the shaping of reflexive subjectivity, and its ultimate influence on lifestyle branding. He serves as co-editor of the journal Foucault Studies, and his articles have appeared in Subjectivities, History of the Human Sciences, Time and Society, Cultural Studies, Rethinking Marxism, The European Journal of Cultural Studies and the Journal for Cultural Research. He is currently working on a new book on neoliberalism, positive psychology and happiness.


text:
0.15 ct. t.w. Diamond Elephant Pendant (H-I, I1)
by Chetan Collection | Item #: 248776 | Model #: SP17CP17126SS |
- $ 125 00 125.00
Non-members pay 10% surchargeJoin now!
- Shipping
- Enter ZIP Code for shipping options
- Estimated arrival
Delivery estimates, taxes, and fees are based on ZIP Code. Club Pickup orders are based on your club's current price and item availability on the day of payment.
About this itemBring good luck with this charming Elegant Elephant Pendant in Sterling Silver!
This beautiful elephant with its trunk up is said to bring good luck to the wearer, according to Hindu mythology. A fine piece of craftsmanship and a great conversation piece, this lucky elephant charm will add a bit of cultural exoticism to your daily life.
View additional information on The Chetan Collection here. (PDF)
- Accent diamonds: 0.15 ct. t.w.
- Diamond Color: H-I
- Diamonds Clarity: I1
- Pendant size: .5" L x .5"W
- Metal: Sterling Silver
- Chain: Sterling Silver 18" chain
Assembled Country
Component Country
Member reviews & questions
Ask & Answer
Policies & plans
Shipping Information
Standard - 2 to 6 business days
Premium - 2 to 4 business days
Express - 1 to 2 business days
Some items require customization Click here for estimated delivery.
Warranty Information
This product is covered by the Sam's Club Member Satisfaction Guarantee. Returns must include all original packaging, including the IGI Certificate (if applicable).


text:
I'm going to be the first guy to admit that I was on the fence last year about Darren Sproles. Statistically speaking, Sproles was a middle of the road guy as a return man, and I hadn't seen him run between the tackles enough to be confidant he could serve as Ladainian Tomlinson's primary backup. I had question marks about Sproles, and I was looking forward to see how those questions would be answered this year.
Here we are, a full season in and onto the playoffs and Darren Sproles has emerged as one of the games best return men. And in addition to his return skills, Sproles racked up 700 yards on offense and 6 touchdown scores. One of the biggest things that jumps out to me about Sproles' development from a year ago is his patience and vision he now displays. He is no longer outrunning his blockers. He allows the play to unfold before him and he uses his incredible acceleration to lull defenders and then explode past them. Sproles certainly stepped up in a big way this year, and that's exactly what he needed to do. Its a contract year for him, but the Chargers prepared themselves by drafting Jacob Hester. However, Sproles earned a roster spot in training camp, and he's earned a new contract with his Pro Bowl-like play this year.
In a recent interview with the NFL Network, Indianapolis Colts' GM Bill Polian talked about his team matching up with the San Diego Chargers, a ball club that has given him fits the past few years. One of the guys he called out was Darren Sproles:
We have to do some things to win that game, or be in that game at the end, that we did back in November (IND 23 @ SD 20) but didn't do here (in San Diego) when we played them in the playoffs last year. For one thing, we've got to limit Sproles, particularly in the kicking game. We can't give him any home runs in the kicking game because he does that with regularity. The other thing we have to do is limit their big plays, both with Sproles and LT in the running game. They thrive on that. And we've got to limit their big plays in the passing game because they are, with Rivers and that great receiving core, a tremendous down-field big-play team. We've got to make them hit doubles and not home runs. If we do that, and we don't turn the ball over, we should have a chance to be in the game at the end, as we were in the previous contest and you hope that you can make a play to win it. But we have to play our best in order for it to be a close game because they are an extremely, extremely talented team.


text:
Mitt Romney..
u guys got really excited after round 1 too...
Obama is an Eli guy... another 4 - just like i told you
and will tell u agian after u try and pretend that Romney has a shot...
"Typical Morehead!"..................and he didn't even mean that as a compliment..
people literally think Romney is some sort of misogynist now because 90% of the media latched onto one comment (binders full of women)
Before this one plenty of people that I care about and who are otherwise intelligent actually "believe" that Romney's out to hurt poor people....that he wants to "steal" your social security and medicare.
the idea that Romney is any of that is so absolutely ridiculous that only an dullard would give it a second thought...that said a large portion of people I know who are otherwise intelligent believe these things....
I hate Election season because it makes me think less of people I generally think the world of.
I want to specify I don't think less of them because they have a differing opinion...that would be stupid/horrible.
Discussion differing opinions is generally the best way to learn about any topic.....no I think less of them because they simply believe everything they are told, they refuse to check to see if what they are being told is even remotely true...and that bothers me...because it's something every person should do....in my opinion.
Last edited by DavenIII; 10-19-2012 at 11:28 AM.
like the gun toting conservative women I work with that is choosing to vote for Obama because she's afraid that Romney is against women's rights and is going to send us back to the 50's
this is a 50 year old women working in the electrical engineering field, she is not an idiot....but her choice, to vote for Obama even though she disagrees with him on the vast majority of important issues simply because she's afriad Romney hates women, is an idiotic act.
Last edited by DavenIII; 10-19-2012 at 11:41 AM.
I try my best but its like talking to a wall. They really think the right is out to suppress them.


text:
Name: Sue Hunt-LeMay
Residence: Novato
Agency: The YMCA Youth Court, which helps families with teens navigate the "risk-taking" years.
Quote: "Sue has volunteered for the YMCA Youth Court for years in the Decisions Under the Influence training," director Don Carneysaid. "She has shared her personal tragedy, the loss of her son in a Novato automobile crash, hoping her story would protect other families from experiencing a similar tragedy."
Volunteer of the Week is compiled with help from the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin.
For more information, visit www.cvnl.org.


text:
Redskins win, we are smarter, better smelling, and have the fastest qb in the league. Hail
gotta be very exciting for you guys ... altho in classic football irony now that you finally have a franchise QB for the 1st time in like forever ... even some of your Super Bowl winning QBs werent exactly household names
anyway, now that you finally have one ... your D is, at least, statiscally not holding up it's end of the deal ... now it can be misleading, you get into shootouts and the yards can really start to pile up, but i imagine it is still frustrating
Apologize to Melo 5
Giants have had a tendency to come out flat 2-3 times a year when up against supposedly inferior opponents. They did it this year against the Browns and luckily put together a second half blitz. They also did not start out well against the Bucs. I would hope after what happended last year they will be pumped up for this game even after the big win over the 49ers this week, I think they will spy Griffin and just let the front 4 pressure RG3. Redskins don't have the receivers to match the Giants and although RG3 has been impressive as a rookie he can't yet be compared to Eli when it comes to reading defenses and throwing the ball. Redskins D seems very weak and I would be shocked if the Giants score less than 30. 31-17 is my prediction for what it's worth.
Vick's 40 time came from his pro-day, and was hand timed. Basically, it's about as accurate as Hellen Keller pitching.
Put up 26 on one of the best D's in the league.
No problem putting up 38 against you guys.
And you guys might put up 30, but
your going to have to to even have a chance.
If we can win this game, after the G-Men just put a beatdown on one of the better teams in the loaded NFC, it would alter my expdctations for this season a little. We don't win this game without turnovers though. Can't wait for this game though. Last year felt real good after 2-3 years of getting embarrassed. Hopefully we can make it three in a row.


text:
The Alliance Splice Swimsuit features a diamondback design, for reduced back coverage and increased support. Showcasing Xtra Life LYCRA® construction, the DLIT1 offers a beautiful, long-lasting fit that resists chlorine 5X - 10X longer than traditional spandex swimwear and provides the fit and freedom of movement that swimmers want and the performance that athletes demand. Engineered for increased speed and reduced drag, the Alliance Splice swimsuit offers shape retention and durability that lasts long into the season, so you can concentrate on your swim, instead of your gear.
Choose a currency below to display product prices in the selected currency.


text:
Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts Contest Winner Is The Love Reese's To Pieces Doughnut
In the whirlwind that was Tim Hortons news this week (the Burger King buyout, the new cheesecake doughnut and the ridiculous Americanized Buffalo crunch pastry), there's one more Timmies creation we need to talk about.
On Thursday, the coffee company crowned Jennifer Brown of Glencoe, Ont. as this year's Duelling Donuts Contest winner. Brown's sweet peanut butter and chocolate entry, the Love Reese's to Pieces doughnut, is filled with crème brûlée, covered in chocolate fondant and topped with peanuts and Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cups.
It took 76,500 doughnut entries, eight finalists and a judging panel of Canadian doughnut lovers like actor Jason Priestley, musician Jann Arden, chef Anna Olson and TV host Ben Mulroney, but eventually, Brown walked away with bragging rights and $10,000.
"A peanut doughnut is an untapped resource – something that's hard to find, but that we all want," she said in a statement. Brown says she came up with the idea late at night when she couldn't sleep and wanted to pass the time. (We're going to guess she was a bit hungry as well.)
Last year's winner was The Tortoise Torte — a chocolate, caramel and pecan-topped doughnut.
Will you be trying out this doughnut? Let us know your reviews below:
By: Jennifer Brown, Glencoe, Ont. BASE: Chocolate yeast fill FILLING: Crème brûlée ICING: Chocolate fondant TOPPINGS: Peanuts and peanut butter cups WE SAY: Can you imagine if this one was filled with peanut butter instead? Drool.
By: Nikola Kostic, Toronto BASE: Red velvet FILLING: French vanilla ICING: Cherry TOPPINGS: White chocolate crispy pearls and red sprinkles WE SAY: Since this is red velvet, we were hoping for some cream cheese, but may Nikola knows something we don't.
By: Jennifer Veenvliet, Barrie, Ont. BASE: Chocolate yeast fill FILLING: Banana ICING: Pineapple TOPPINGS: Waffle cone, whipped topping and rainbow sprinkles WE SAY: We're digging the idea of an ice cream sundae, not so much the pineapple.
By: Lauren Armstrong, Toronto BASE: Lemon FILLING: Cheesecake ICING: Raspberry TOPPINGS: Bourbon praline pecan and toasted coconut WE SAY: Yes! Two desserts in one? We say double yes.
By: Isabelle Scantland Lebel, Gatineau BASE: Pistachio FILLING: White chocolate ICING: None TOPPINGS: Blackberry bark and white chocolate crispy pearls WE SAY: We're digging the idea of adding fruit to your doughnut to make it seem more healthy.
By: Nancy Angus, Oro-Medonte, Ont. BASE: Chocolate yeast fill FILLING: Brownie batter ICING: Chocolate fondant TOPPINGS: Crushed SKOR bars and brownie crumble WE SAY: This could be a chocolate overload.
By: Danny Hawtin, Waterdown, Ont. BASE: Chocolate yeast fill FILLING: Cookie dough ICING: White chocolate fondant TOPPINGS: Cookies and creme bark WE SAY: This may be too similar to the recently launched Oreo doughnut ... not that we are complaining.
By: Judd Mah, Edmonton BASE: Apple cider FILLING: None ICING: Maple fondant TOPPINGS: Graham crunch and bacon WE SAY: We like how Canadian this doughnut is (and how it's made with apple cider).
Calories: 190 Grams of fat: 6 Grams of saturated fat: 2.5 Sodium: 210 mg Sugar: 11 g
Calories: 200 Grams of fat: 5 Grams of saturated fat: 2 Sodium: 230 mg Sugar: 12 g
Calories: 210 Grams of fat: 6 Grams of saturated fat: 2.5 Sodium: 250 mg Sugar: 16 g
Cheating note: Yes, this is a picture of a Timbit, but nutritional info is for a donut Calories: 210 Grams of fat: 8 Grams of saturated fat: 3.5 Sodium: 190 mg Sugar: 11 g
Calories: 220 Grams of fat: 6 Grams of saturated fat: 2.5 Sodium: 250 mg Sugar: 15 g
Cheating note: Yes, this is a picture of a Timbit, but nutritional info is for a donut Calories: 220 Grams of fat: 10 Grams of saturated fat: 5 Sodium: 270 mg Sugar: 10 g
Cheating note: Yes, this is a picture of a Timbit, but nutritional info is for a donut Calories: 230 Grams of fat: 6 Grams of saturated fat: 3 Sodium: 200 mg Sugar: 15 g
Cheating note: Yes, this is a picture of a Timbit, but nutritional info is for a donut Calories: 240 Grams of fat: 5 Grams of saturated fat: 2.5 Sodium: 250 mg Sugar: 21 g
Calories: 250 Grams of fat: 6 Grams of saturated fat: 2.5 Sodium: 210 mg Sugar: 24 g
Calories: 250 Grams of fat: 9 Grams of saturated fat: 4.5 Sodium: 200 mg Sugar: 15 g
Calories: 270 Grams of fat: 5 Grams of saturated fat: 2 Sodium: 230 mg Sugar: 31 g
Calories: 270 Grams of fat: 6 Grams of saturated fat: 3 Sodium: 260 mg Sugar: 24 g
Calories: 270 Grams of fat: 14 Grams of saturated fat: 6 Sodium: 320 mg Sugar: 16 g
Calories: 280 Grams of fat: 7 Grams of saturated fat: 4 Sodium: 250 mg Sugar: 24 g
Calories: 280 Grams of fat: 11 Sodium: 240 mg Calorie information via Inside Timmies.
Calories: 280 Grams of fat: 14 Grams of saturated fat: 6 Sodium: 320 mg Sugar: 19 g
Calories: 290 Grams of fat: 13 Grams of saturated fat: 6 Sodium: 320 mg Sugar: 20 g
Cheating note: Yes, this is a picture of a Timbit, but nutritional info is for a donut Calories: 300 Grams of fat: 11 Grams of saturated fat: 5 Sodium: 350 mg Sugar: 16 g Information obtained from Calorie Lab
Calories: 320 Grams of fat: 19 Grams of saturated fat: 9 Sodium: 230 mg Sugar: 22 g
Calories: 340 Grams of fat: 16 Grams of saturated fat: 8 Sodium: 220 mg Sugar: 29 g
Poutine — French fries generously slathered in gravy and cheese curds — is a classic Canadian treat that is said to have originated in Quebec in the 1950s. Since then, it has been adapted in many weird and wonderful ways from gourmet versions with lobster and foie gras to —believe it or not — a doughnut version. It's also inspired a crop of trendy "poutineries" and a "poutition" to make it Canada's official national dish.
There are some snacks that define a nation, but not many that taste good to only those who live there. What do we love? The fact they leave our fingers dyed red after we've had a whole bag. Ketchup has never tasted so salty, non-tomatoey and outright good. Our U.S. friends may go nutty over Doritos, but we love our ketchup chips. Did you know that Lay's dill pickle and Munchies snack mix are also exclusively Canadian?
What could be more Canadian than syrup that comes from the maple tree, whose iconic leaf has come to symbolize Canada and its national pride? Quebec is the largest producer of maple syrup in the world, accounting for about 75 to 80 percent of the supply. Maple syrup — recently elevated to "superfood" status — is a classic sweet topping on pancakes and waffles. Still, that hasn't stopped some people from thinking of surprising savoury pairings such as maple-bacon doughnuts.
It's no secret that Canadians are obsessed with bacon. The delicious cured pork product can be made oh so many ways, including ever popular strip bacon and peameal bacon, often referred to as "Canadian bacon" abroad. In fact, Canadians are so passionate about their favourite food that many would probably choose it over sex.
A butter tart is a classic Canadian dessert made with butter, sugar, syrup and eggs — filled in a buttery (yes, more grease) pastry shell, and often includes either raisins or nuts. They can be runny or firm — so it's hard to mess them up when you're baking. Also, they never seem to go out of style.
BeaverTails, or Queues de Castor in French, is a famous trademarked treat made by a Canadian-based chain of pastry stands. The fried-dough treats are shaped to resemble real beaver tails and are often topped with chocolate, candy, and fruit. These Canadian delicacies go hand in hand with skiing, and even gained White House recognition during U.S. President Barack Obama's 2009 trip to Ottawa.
These legendary Canadian no-bake treats originated in (surprise!) Nanaimo, B.C., and are typically made with graham-cracker crumbs, coconut, walnuts, vanilla custard and chocolate. Need we say more? Common variations include peanut butter and mint chocolate.
No one likes to think of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as dinner, but game meat is abundant in Canada and can be found in butchers, restaurants and homes across the country. Among other popular Canadian game is boar, bison, venison, caribou and rabbit.
B.C. Pacific salmon — commercially fished or farmed — includes many different species such as Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye, Cutthroat, Steelhead and Pink. They can vary in colour and taste from Atlantic salmon, and are found in fishmongers and restaurants across Canada.
Believe it or not, Canada is the world's largest producer and exporter of wild blueberries, also known as "lowbush blueberries," mostly grown in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
Bees also love our blueberry shrubs! Pollinating blueberry shrubs with honey bees more than doubles the potential yield of this very Canadian berry, according to Dutchman's Gold, which makes its honey from acres of blueberries growing in Ontario and New Brunswick. Although this honey is not actually blueberry flavoured, it does have a subtle aftertaste of the fruit.
Canadians can enjoy fresh oysters 12 months of the year. These famous little aphrodisiacs are plentiful on Canada's Atlantic and Pacific coasts, from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia to British Columbia.
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" may be an old English saying, but this nutritionally perfect food is quintessentially Canadian. Some of the most popular domestic varieties are McIntosh, Cortland, Gala, Fuji and Golden Delicious. According to Agriculture Canada, apples were first brought over to the country by European settlers in the 17th century.
P.E.I. potatoes (such as Russet, White, Red and Yellow) are famous across Canada and around the world. Prince Edward Islanders have been growing potatoes since the late 1700s! Apparently they're superior because of the land's ideal growing conditions, including red, sandy soil that is rich in iron.
The Atlantic province of Nova Scotia is world-renowned for its tasty crustaceans. They have some of the most fertile lobster fishing grounds on the planet.
The popularity of Alberta beef might have been a little tainted by the unfortunate E-coli outbreak at XL Foods in 2012, but the province's AAA beef is considered among the best. Alberta is the cattle capital of Canada and according to the province's farmers, it has the fourth largest cattle herd in North America, behind Texas, Kansas and Nebraska.
You can call them the New York bagels of Canada, but Montreal bagels are often smaller and sweeter in taste. These O-shaped baked breads are paired deliciously with lox and cream cheese. Calorie-wise, bagels are equivalent to about three or four slices of bread, but you still might want to eat more than just one.
Arctic char is a freshwater fish species raised across Canada, in the Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon Territory, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Arctic char is a part of the salmon family, and looks similar to a salmon but is more genetically linked to trout.
Bannock takes its name from a traditional Scottish flat bread, adopted by North American Natives, including Canada's Innuit. It's recently received some gourmet treatment in the culinary world, as a focaccia-like substitute for sandwiches.
Yes, Kraft Dinner is also Canadian. This dorm room staple and processed-cheese masterpiece has been dubbed a Canadian classic. And really, if you haven't tried a bowl of the instant comfort food yet, we recommend skipping the milk and going straight for the butter.
No, it's not a "Saved by the Bell" reference. Screech is a type of rum made in Jamaica, and bottled and aged in Newfoundland. It has a storied history dating back to early trade between Newfoundland and the West Indian island (when salt fish was shipped to Jamaica in exchange for rum.) We hear it tastes like any other rum, but it has an awesome name, doesn't it?
Tourtière is a traditional spiced and savoury meat pie from Quebec, made with diced or ground pork, veal, or beef. This French Canadian delicacy is typically made around Christmas time, but eclectic foodies enjoy it all year round.
Very similar to blueberries (but a fascinating alternative), Saskatoon berries are native to the Canadian Prairies, British Columbia and Northern Canada. They're also rich in antioxidants and considered one of the world's "superfruits."
A "Double-Double" has become somewhat of a popular slang term for Canadians. It refers to a coffee with two teaspoons of sugar and two teaspoons of cream. How popular is it? In 2011, Tim Hortons even released a "Double-Double" flavoured ice cream.
Fiddleheads are curly, edible shoots of fern, often consumed in many provinces seasonally across the country. And like your mother always told you, eat your greens: Fiddleheads are high in potassium and vitamin C.
Canadian chain restaurant Swiss Chalet's rotisserie chicken and grilled ribs get a fair amount of attention, but there's always been something special about that secret sauce that people love to pour all over their food. What's in this sauce, you wonder? People have debated this point for a while and we're not exactly sure either. But we can assure you there are no milk, egg or fish products in it, (cue the vegetarian sigh of relief). But if you'e still not convinced, try making your own knock-off version.
Besides bagels, Montreal is also known for its kosher-style smoked meat. Schwartz's in particular has been using the same recipe of marinated spices and herbs in their smoked beef brisket for over 80 years. If you've never been, go early — the deli shop is usually packed with long line-ups.
This classic East Coast late night food "is to Halifax what the banh mi is to Saigon, the jambon-beurre to Paris," says the Globe and Mail. Evolved from the Turkish doner kebab, it's typically made of spiced ground beef that has been shaped and pressed into a large loaf and then roasted on a spit, like shawarma and gyros. It's then usually served on flatbread with fresh tomatoes, raw onion and a sweet, garlicky sauce.
If you live in Newfoundland, you probably already know why cod tongue is a local treasure. Cod tongue is usually made by sautéing cod tongue with milk and flour, according to The Globe And Mail.
Kind of like jerky, pemmican is a type of dried meat often made from bison or moose. The meat is usually pounded into a powder and mixed with melted fat, berries and other edible bits.
Canadians drink more than nine billion cups of tea every year, according to the The Empire Of Tea. If you've ever visited a Canadian hotel or even spent enough time at your grandparents' house you've probably seen Red Rose tea bags. How Canadian is Red Rose? They even have a Canadian-blended version.
As controversial as it is, Canadian foie gras, particularly from Quebec, is a hot commodity. Foie gras, French for fat liver, is made of liver of a duck that has been through a process called gavage (force-feeding.) But some foie gras is made more ethically.
Oka cheese, a Quebec classic (named after the small village of Oka), is a semi-soft pressed cheese made with cow's milk. Oka's rind is often dark orange and has both a nutty and fruity flavour.
Sugar pie or tarte au sucre, is a common dish found in Quebec. These desserts are made with a flour pie crust and are often filled with butter, flour, cream and maple syrup. They can also be topped with fresh fruits and English cream. Check out this recipe from Canadian Living to make your own.
Wild B.C. spot prawns are actually the largest of seven species of shrimp found on the West Coast. These prawns are known for their sweet flavour and firm texture. Another fun fact: these prawns are often a reddish-brown colour but turn bright pink when cooked.
When it comes to food, Canadians concede there's far more selection in the U.S. but we're fiercely proud of the candy bars that can only be found here. Coffee Crisp is a great example. Consisting of a crunchy wafer, milk chocolate coating and slightest hint of coffee flavouring, the chocolate bar is true to its marketing slogan of making 'a nice light snack' and is adored by all moms and seniors. Rumour has it they've been spotted in a few U.S. border town convenience stores. We want proof!
It's the ideal summer drink and hair of the dog when you're hungover. The Caesar, Canada's favourite breakfast, lunch and evening cocktail is essentially a Bloody Mary with Clamato instead of tomato juice. Think of Clamato as a spicy tomato-clam juice. It's typically served with celery and lime in a celery salt-rimmed glass, and it's pretty amazing. (Pleaes don't call it a Bloody Caesar, because that's just wrong.)
Sushi pizza, a mini pizza-like creation of a fried rice cake topped with raw fish and spicy mayo, is commonly found in Japanese restaurants in major Canadian cities. Who actually started this trend? We'd love to know. We've heard restaurant owners and forums say Toronto — but sushi pizza has also been popping up in California.
This popular Novia Scotia dessert is made from blueberries and flour dumplings — it's basically like a blueberry pie without the crust. Check out this recipe to make your own.
This two-in-one chocolate and surprise (talk about a win-win situation) wasn't really "invented" in Canada, but you won't find Kinder Surprise eggs in countries like the United States. In fact, even if you're thinking about smuggling some south of the border, you shouldn't. Last year, two men spent two hours in a detention centre after trying to bring these chocolate eggs illegally over the U.S. border. These treats have been banned in the States because of the potential choking hazard of the small toys.
Chocolate-covered mint cookies have come a long way for the Girl Guides of Canada. In 1995, this popular treat was first introduced to all provinces across the country and in 2003, they were produced in a nut- and peanut-free bakery. And sure, you can find mint cookies anywhere, but these cookies are certainly a Canadian tradition.
Rappie pie is a traditional Acadian dish made from shredded potatoes, and sometimes, with meat and onions. Popular in Nova Scotia, this dish dates back to the 1700s.
These cherries, also known as wild black cherries, are found in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Quebec and Newfoundland. They are related to plums, peaches and apricots, and are commonly used in making juices, jams, jellies and wine, according to the Government of Manitoba.
Who knew that Saskatchewan is the world's largest exporter of green lentils? This nutritious little legume grows in pods and is one of the oldest cultivated crops on earth. They are often found in French, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine and are perfect for wintry soups and stews.
Sourdough bread is particularly popular in the Yukon. But up north, sourdough is made both into flapjacks and bread. In fact, the territory even celebrates a Sourdough Rendezvous festival every year with a bread baking contest and winter activities.
Garlic, which belongs to the onion family, is a cool-season crop and grown across Canada, but the purple varieties — found in Ontario and British Columbia — are more rare.
Mussels cultured in the cool water surrounding Prince Edward Island are famous across North America. Cultured mussels are grown in mesh stockings that are suspended from ropes in the water, never touching the ocean floor. According to P.E.I. Tourism, this creates conditions ideal for growth, while giving these cultured mussels a sweet taste and tender, plumper consistency free of ocean grit.
There are few brands in Canada as reliable as President's Choice. Mr. Christie thinks he makes good cookies but nothing tops the Decadent, the brand's answer to Chips Ahoy. Kraft Dinner, in its familiar blue box, pales in comparison to PC's White Cheddar Mac & Cheese. It also doesn't hurt that nerdily-handsome Galen Weston (hearthrob of Canadian suburban housewives everywhere) is the pitchman for this iconic line of Canadian products. Why yes, Mr. Weston, I'd like some more Memories of Morocco Sweet And Spicy Sauce...
Canada is the largest exporter and the second largest producer of mustard seed in the world, accounting for 75-80 per cent of all mustard exports worldwide, according to the Canadian Special Crops Association. Who knew? Apparently, Canada's climate provides ideal growing conditions for the spicy crop.
It completes your morning bowl of cereal, can quench thirst and is the perfect companion to chocolate chip cookies. Milk, dear readers, is an all around amazing drink. And grabbing a glass of the white stuff in Canada is unlike anything you'll be able to experience in many other countries. That's because there are no unnatural hormones in our dairy products (so concerns about negative side effects simply doesn't exist), and we serve the beverage in a plastic bag, which, frankly, is far more convenient and environmentally friendly than cardboard containers (the baggies can be reused as makeshift lunch bags!). (Photos Shutterstock)
9 time Canada was smarter than the U.S. Read the story here.
When Fox won a contract to broadcast the NHL in 1994 it decided people needed the puck to glow in order to be seen. This was stupid. As Canadians know you do not need laser to see a puck. You just need eyes. The stupidity of Fox's move was immortalized in a Molson Canadian commercial. FoxTrax was retired in 1998, around the time Fox gave up on hockey.
America's less-famous first Constitution included an invitation to Canada to join the U.S. It remained open from 1781 until the U.S. Constitution everyone knows was finalized in 1789. A 2004 poll from Leger marketing found just 7 per cent of Canadians were even vaguely interested in merging with the U.S. So obviously, Canada made the right call. America didn't learn its lesson. For proof, see the next slide.
While many historians have labelled the conflict a draw, we're not sure how repelling a foreign invader and then burning its national monuments qualifies. And it wasn't all because of luck or American strategic incompetence, although that played a part. Canada also outsmarted the U.S. on a number of occasions. Take the fall of Detroit, when a much smaller force of British soldiers, Canadian militia and First Nations fighters convinced American General William Hull to stand down by using subterfuge. British General Sir Isaac Brock's forces allowed fake letters to fall into American hands. The missives suggested the size of their aboriginal force was much larger than it really was. Militiamen were dressed in the uniforms of British regulars. Encamped troops built more fires than were needed and troops marched in and out of sight of the U.S. fort to create the illusion of a larger army. The result? Hull surrendered more or less without a fight. Brains over brawn for the win.
America has maintained a trade blockade of Cuba since the missile crisis of 1962. Canada, not so much. In fact, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro was enough of a friend of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau to show up at his funeral in 2000. While America may have had good reason for maintaining sanctions against Cuba during the Cold War, the fall of the Soviet Union has raised serious doubts about the wisdom of the ongoing policy. While a series of U.S. administrations have avoided angering Cuban expats in the electorally-important state of Florida by maintaining the blockade, they have also passed up trade opportunities that could greatly benefit both nations. On a side note, it's hard to imagine Canadian literary legend Mordecai Richler without his beloved Romeo y Julieta cigars. If Canada had joined the blockade it's possible nobody would have ever heard of Duddy Kravitz. Did we mention vacations in Cuba are cheap and beautiful? America, you're missing out.
While America has been involved in many dubious conflicts over its history, Vietnam is widely considered the nation's greatest military blunder. Despite being closely allied with the U.S., Canada managed to stay out of the conflict. In 1965, prime minister Lester B. Pearson even called for a cessation of bombing in North Vietnam, a move which is said to have angered president Lyndon B. Johnson. Nevertheless, Canada-U.S. relations were never seriously damaged over Vietnam. The period is an enduring example of how two allied nations can disagree and still remain friends.
Ten years after the U.S. invaded Iraq, it has become clear the war was something of a mistake. The rationale to invade was the presence of weapons of mass destruction that didn't exist and the management of the country after the invasion led to bloody sectarian warfare. Canada, despite heavy pressure from the U.S. and a commitment to Afghanistan, stayed out of the conflict.
While there are signs Canada is headed for a housing crash of its own in the second decade of the 21st century, it did manage to avoid the crisis of the late 2000s that brought America's economy to the brink of total collapse. Canada avoided many of the questionable lending practices that saw low-income families take on homes they simply couldn't afford. But while Canada avoided the out-of-control leverage that characterized America in the 2000s, Canadians may not have learned the larger lesson. Since the financial collapse, international and domestic observers have grown increasingly concerned Canada is headed for its own housing meltdown. The federal government has made it more difficult to get mortgages with long amortizations and discouraged banks from lending at ever lower rates in an attempt to cool markets. Whether these moves will be enough to allow Canadians to continue to boast of their financial crash superiority remains to be seen.
America's national debt stands at roughly $16 trillion and climbing. Canada's national debt is roughly $600 billion. Even after adjusting for the U.S. population being nearly 10 times that of Canada, it's clear which nation is doing a better job at keeping debt under control. The situation isn't an accident, but a result of policy. In this case, smart policy from Canada and a near total lack of policy from the U.S. In the mid-90s, Canada significantly lowered its debt-to-GDP ratio with stiff cuts. While the cuts slowed economic growth to a crawl, they were seen as necessary by the Liberal government of the period after Canada's credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor's and Moody's. While the drop in growth lowered tax revenue, nearly to the point of making the cuts revenue neutral, they did shift Canada's economic balance away from the public sector and toward private business, a change credited with fuelling Canada's subsequent economic success. The U.S., on the other hand, took the surpluses of the Clinton era and turned them into massive deficits during the 2000s. President George W. Bush's massive tax cuts, two wars and the financial crisis have left America with a dire financial situation its political system seems unable to address. America's status as the global reserve currency has kept its debt from becoming a lending issue, but almost everyone in the political class agrees something must be done. The bipartisan Simpson-Bowles report commissioned by President Barack Obama in 2010 called for a combination of revenue increases and cuts to alter America's debt curve. Since then, most Republicans have steadfastly refused to trade revenue increases for cuts, arguing that cuts to spending and taxes are the way to kick-start the economy. Maybe checks and balances aren't so great after all, eh? Maybe the Founding Fathers should have given the Westminster system and majority governments a shot.
It's almost universally recognized that campaign finance has become one of the most detestable aspects of America's political system. Congressmen, senators and presidential hopefuls now spend absurd amounts of time raising cash. The situation has gotten so out of hand that phone-banks are now available just steps off federal property in Washington D.C. so politicians can easily make calls to donors without violating federal regulations. The cost of the 2012 federal election campaign has been estimated at roughly $7 billion. But even calling it the 2012 campaign is a bit of a misnomer. Campaigning for president never really ends now. In contrast, Canada passed laws banning donations from corporations and unions and setting a low cap on personal donations in the mid 2000s. The Liberal and Conservative parties were both part of the legislative effort. Campaigns are much shorter than in the United States and there are fewer allegations of corporate lobbying. Which way of doing things sounds smarter to you?
Many Canadians will point to the fact that Superman has a strong connection to the Great White North, but we'd like to reintroduce you to the real thing. 'Survivorman', while it was on in the late 2000s, showcased Les Stroud, a gritty Canadian who shot his own show in snow, sleet, heat and rain with nothing but random household objects and a trusty knife. We like to think that in a country that's increasingly urban, the outback is still our domain. Les, he's the best of us.
It was the scream heard around the world, and has been imitated - although never duplicated - several times since. William Shatner, who in his own right is a great Canadian, uttered the famous scream 'Khaaaaannnnnnnnnnnn!' in a scene during 1982's 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'. Was it the close up on Shatner's face or the fact he shook while he screamed that made it so powerful? Thirty years later, filmmakers and actors are still trying to outdo Shatner. But some things just can't be beat.
Overall, Americans can save 24 per cent if they buy their drugs from online Canadian pharmacies versus filling their prescriptions at home, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study sought to find out why so many U.S. citizens have been taking advantage of the deep discounts north of the border, and the results showed dramatic savings across the board. "Forty-one of the 44 brand-name medications examined were less expensive in Canada." Canucks are proud of their health-care system and easier access -- in this case financially -- to pharmaceuticals. (Photo Alamy)
The debate on whether we should cut ties to the monarchy was all but quashed last year after the outpouring of pomp and pageantry -- in Canada -- around the royal wedding. Canadians embraced the nuptials as if Prince William was their own and turned out in droves to see the newlyweds during their cross-country tour last July. From trying to get Pippa's butt to putting in their two cents on whether Prince Charles deserves the throne, Canadians love their Queen and all of the gossip that goes with her. (Photo Rex Features)
Undoubtedly one of North America's natural wonders, the power and beauty of Niagara Falls never ceases to amaze, whether it's your first trip or 100th. Luckily for Canucks, the best place to view the falls is on the 'Canadian side'. That's right, busloads of tourists from around the world flood the observation areas near the falls in Ontario every day to snap the perfect picture for their Facebook profile. Do Americans bother to cross the border for the better view? You betcha. Just look out for the person using 'eh' at awkward times. (Photo Shutterstock)
About 56 per cent of Canadians have a passport while just 37 per cent of Americans do. While the majority of Canadians haven't been to countries like Azerbaijan, they do take pride in seeing the world and it's difficult to not run into a Canadian while travelling abroad. A story by TechCrunch claims more Americans have a Facebook page than a passport. Perhaps they prefer to view the travel photos of their friends online than to actually see sights for themselves... (Photo CP)
Canada limits corporate influence on our electoral process via spending limits on political donations and third-party advertising. The 2010 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down similar campaign finance laws in that country -- on grounds they violate the free-speech right of corporations -- poses a serious threat to democracy and the integrity of future elections in America. (AFP/Getty Images)
The soul of hockey isn't at the Hockey Hall Of Fame. Or the Air Canada Centre (sorry Leafs fans). It's in places like Windy Arm, Yukon where you can skate on ice clearer than your bedroom mirror in a setting that's straight out of Tolkien's Middle Earth.
Ours might be smaller and fewer in number but Canadian cities consistently rank above American cities on livability. In the most recent Mercer survey of livable cities, Canadian cities took 4th, 14th, and 15th place, while the highest-ranked American city was 33rd. (Photo Getty Images)
According to Forbes, Canada is the best country in the world to do business and it's not because of the climate. Chalk it up to a lower corporate tax rate, excellent infrastructure and a well-educated populace. The U.S. and Europe's recent economic woes don't help them either. (Photo CP)
Canada has greater social mobility. If you are born into the poorest 10 per cent, your odds of making it to the richest 10 per cent are considerably better in Canada than in the U.S. In other words, it's easier to realize the American Dream in Canada than it is in the U.S. (Shutterstock)
(Photo Getty Images)
When it comes to national anthems, we've always had a bit of an inferiority complex (the maple leaf is not a banner spangled in stars). But according to new research, our simple and quaint pro-Canuck ballad "O, Canada" is among the world's finest. We even trump the Americans and Brits. So what if you can't remember all the words? This is an anthem worth singing. (Photo Getty Images)
Having a baby is hard work. And many women around the world aren't given the amount of time off they deserve post-delivery. But here in Canada, the true north strong and free, a lady can take up to a full year of paid maternity leave (17 weeks at 55 per cent of their salary and an additional 35 weeks after that). This contrasts vastly with The United States, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Liberia and Lesotho who provide no type of financial support for new mothers. (Alamy)
Take a deep breath in... and slowly exhale it out. Do you smell that? You may not, but that's the scent of clean air flowing through your lungs. According to new research, Canada rates tops in air quality (meaning you can say "ta ta" to stinky smog and gross pollution. [Ed. Note unless you live in smog-heavy Toronto]). In fact, while the U.S. averages 18 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic metre of air, Canada averages only 13 micrograms. That also decreases our risk of developing bad air-induced health conditions like allergies. Now once again and all together now: inhale... (Photo Alamy)
This "fake" Heritage Minute says it all: on July 20, 2005, Canada's government passed the Civil Marriage Act giving same-sex couples the same rights and privileges as heterosexual pairings. The LGBT community can not only marry, they can also adopt children. We also host one of the largest Gay Pride festivals in the world in Toronto every June/July.
A decades-long U.S. trade embargo on evil 'Communist' Cuba means that that island's beaches and resorts have long been free of American tourists. Canadians, needing an escape from long winters have been flocking to the island for decades now. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Canada has also been a crucial trading partner of the island country. (Photo Getty Images)
Many people think Canada is a country of citizens who don plaid, beaver tails and fur all year round. (We also, obviously, live in igloos.) So thank goodness for Joseph Mimran, the fashion powerhouse who is behind one of Canada's biggest and most popular clothing exports: Joe Fresh. His bright, colourful and decidedly on-trend collections are showing the world what Canada has to offer sartorially (which is not limited to some hipsterish version of a lumberjack). (Getty Images)
Once a 44.5 kg weakling, The Great White North punches way above its weight class in the music world. A few decades ago, only a rare few Canadian musicians managed to establish international careers. But the rise of government funding for music and CanCon radio regulations supporting domestic tunes developed our homegrown scene until it was strong enough to lead a post-millennial Canadian Invasion. Nowadays we claim the world's biggest artists in almost any imaginable genre - Arcade Fire, Justin Bieber, Feist, Drake, Michael Buble, Deadmau5, Metric, Shania Twain, Celine Dion, Nickelback, Diana Krall, etc. Don't tell the Republicans, but we can thank "socialism" for all that money, money, money these musicians are making. (Photos By Getty Images)
Tell us why you think Canada is great. Is it a photo of your favourite camping spot, a Canadian you really admire, our weird obsession with hockey and cold weather? We're looking for your responses on Twitter with the #LoveCanada tag, Facebook, in the comments and via e-mail. We'll be collecting the best responses and featuring them on our site in the coming weeks. (Photo Getty Images)


text:
I know this may seem counter productive with lots of people moving to all medium set ups, but how would I go about changing from medium nuc frames to a deep frame? Here are some of my ideas and hopefully some one knows the best or close to best way. A little background why I ended up with a medium nuc is because I didn't want a southern queened package that the people are offering around here to pick up locally. Didn't want to pay shipping on an ordered package. The person that I found making nucs is local over wintered, no treatment, breed for mite resistance and temperament. Only problem is they only had mediums left, they put me on a waiting list for a deep if some one cancels. Or so now on to the main issue on hand.
- place the medium nuc frames in a medium body and a deep on top when space is needed then repeat the process when the deep on top of the medium is full at that point find the queen and make sure she is in the deep and put the medium on top with a queen excluder.
- place the medium nuc frames in a deep body with a block of some sort to fill int the empty space and slowly pull out the medium frames. Maybe use for a nuc to start a second hive (this maybe wishful thinking)
- place the medium nuc frames in a deep body and leave the as is so the bees make drone comb in the empty space and cut off to controll mite population since I am useing plastic foundation
- run medium / deep / deep through winter and pull out the bottom medium at the end of winter before eggs are laid.


text:
Other Services
Free Tools
Online shopping can be a convenient and fun activity, provided you take a few precautions to ensure that your information and money stay safe. Take the time to review these tips on what to do when making a purchase in order to have the best experience possible.
When Making a Purchase:
By following these tips, and doing a little homework ahead of time, you can expect a safer shopping experience. For more information on safe online shopping, read our e-guide "Shop Online with Confidence."
The Ultimate Security:
Connect with confidence and protect your most personal device
PC Infected? Get Expert Help Now!
Connect to one of our security experts by phone. Have your PC fixed remotely – while you watch!
Available daily, 24x7.
Risk Assessment:
Date Discovered:
We accept:
© 2003-2017 McAfee, LLC


text:
Film & Discussion: Tesla and the Race to Zero Point Free Energy
It looks into technologies that could be applied to our daily lives in the near future. It includes a series of interviews and commentary from physicists, inventors, and authors related to the worldwide scientific community. This video makes you wonder why these ideas haven't been pursued on a large scale, from complete electric vehicles to devices that can power your home indefinitely. It's a shame that these ideas are not more widely discussed on the world stage.
At a time when the politics of the world are controlled by Big Oil interests, the economies of all nations are in the stranglehold of energy scarcity, here is a ray of hope. Perhaps the future holds more for mankind than slowly drowning in our own pollutants. Let's talk about it!
Doors open at 6 p.m. Suggested donation $5-10. No one turned away for lack of funds. Volunteers appreciated.


text:
I'm thinking of building an "honor" stand in my driveway loop oposite my kitchen window.Do any other beeks use this system and do you have any pictures.
bad weather?
I'm thinking of building an "honor" stand in my driveway loop oposite my kitchen window.Do any other beeks use this system and do you have any pictures.
bad weather?
http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213069&highlight=honey=stand_ Links in post #1 does NOT work. Go to post # 9 and link-- bee pics homestead. Or here for just the pics: http://www.beepics.homestead.com
Remember this one from awhile back; not mine. It's simple!! Don't know about security/bad weather.
Here's a 'fancy one'. http://www.beesource.com/forums/show...ng+honey+stand Post #8. 'The Honey House'.
Last edited by Oldbee; 01-25-2009 at 09:53 AM.
Complete with 1 million year old New Hamsphire granite steps from my very own quarry!
I have to plow about 25 feet of snow to the drive way.
I set the handle latches a certain way so that when I drive by, if I see the handles in a different position
I know some one has come by. I only keep 2 or three of each item on the top. The rest is stored below.
I did get rip off totally twice (long story posted somewhere on here a while ago,) but not so bad that I'd
want to lock it and have ppl come to the main house for a key. More often I see a little extra in the honey money jar as ppl round up to the nearest dollar.
I have more problems with ppl cutting down my Christmas trees!
Last edited by The Honey House; 01-25-2009 at 10:27 AM.
Always question Conventional Wisdom.
A honey vending machine.Thats the answer
Just slip in your $5 bill and out pops a lb of honey!!
I have seen them go for a couple hundred bucks at state auctions and on GSA and gov liquidation.
Always question Conventional Wisdom.


text: Hello , My name is olivier ,from the Netherlands, i live in belgium . 4 week s ago i bought a chevrolet tahoe 5.3i Vortec V8 from 2003 . The car is great and very comfortabel ! This summer we go to France with the Tahoe:glasses: All the best Olivier


text:
Oct 20 , 2009
The Daily Fetch
Cat survives two-mile ride in car engine: Check under the hood this winter!
Art survived a two-mile ride in an SUV engine (photo: NY Daily News) With cold weather already upon us, it was no surprise to read about about a cat who survived a two-mile car ride while trapped in an engine. (Read the original story and the follow-up in the New …


text:
Re: RUaNinja? Win Signed Copies of Ninja Hacking Book
I am also in an organization called Toastmaters, which is a public speaking group. I was considering doing this as a speech that involves visual aids, so doing a writeup would assist in that decision as well.
CCNA, MCSA, MCTS, Sec+, Net+, Linux+, CEH


text:
When you bone a person in a bed you peed in 2 days prior and haven't cleaned the sheets or flipped the mattress.
When Lolla awoken the next day smelling of pee and dirty sex but was not wet. she realized that she was a victim of a golden sponge bath.
by The Double D from O September 02, 2010


text:
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Merino Long Sleeve Baselayer top
Feb 14, 2013 at 5:56 pm #1299279
Looking around for a new merino-based (doesn't have to be 100%, but I don't want the smell of synthetic, if such a blend exists). I've lost a bit of weight since my last purchase in this area, so my go to L/S base layer Terramar merino/silk is quite large and stretched out (especially the collar). I am not of fan of the form-fitted varieties and I have tried a few brands that I didn't like the feel of so much like Ibex. I like my IB Hopper T, but I find other IB stuff to be tighter fitting. All of the Smartwool tops seem too tight. I tried on a Kuhl medium that I found at a local outfitter on sale, but it was a spandex-like fit. I am open to suggestions….
Also, has anyone tried this one —
New Balance Merino Long Sleeve Base Layer T
?? Looks like it was marketed for military use, but is available through the website. A 'proprietary merino/jersey blend' it says, but no mention of percentages of either in any material I could find.
TIAFeb 14, 2013 at 6:13 pm #1954534
Dan DBPL Member
@txbdanLocale: Boston, MA
base layers are supposed to be snug and close to the skin. if you want it larger, size upFeb 14, 2013 at 6:21 pm #1954538
Thanks Dan, I was thinking that as a possible option. The Kuhl I tried on recently was only available onsite in a medium and an XXL so I couldn't see what a large would have felt like. I do tend to wear the base layer by itself at times while hiking and I don't like it to be too restrictive, so maybe I am looking for the semi-fitted area (versus athletic or fitted, or compression – yuck). My fear is that sleeve lengths tend to get longer as well as I size up – not a huge deal, but worth considering. Everything else I usually fit in a medium with no problem, but as you said this is the one closest to the skin. Just seeing if there are options in the experienced BPL community I should be considering.Feb 14, 2013 at 6:22 pm #1954539
Ben 2 WorldBPL Member
@ben2worldLocale: So Cal
Howdy, Dan –
When replying, can you keep the subject line please? This makes it easier for the rest of us when browsing the topics list.
You may already know, but just in case not, if you click the button (instead of the Post Reply button), the subject line of the post you are replying to will 'populate' automatically. Thanks.Feb 14, 2013 at 6:28 pm #1954544
look at Patagonia Merino 1, mostly merino (65%) – it gives you the benefits of both merino and syn (the syn makes it more durable and slightly quicker to dry)
the fit is "slim", but not "athletic"- it's not clinging at allFeb 14, 2013 at 6:31 pm #1954545
Dan DBPL Member
@txbdanLocale: Boston, MA
Maybe something like this: http://www.smartwool.com/mens/l/sweaters.html
which is advertised as a sweater instead of a baselayer, but is still relatively light and semi form fitting. I don't have any personal experience with it thoughFeb 14, 2013 at 6:36 pm #1954548
michael leviMember
@m-lLocale: W-Never Eat Soggy (W)affles
This is mine, its a relaxed fit, about 170g, so slightly thicker than the ultralight 150.
But I can wear it around town etc, I hate the feel of tight shirts.
http://www.backcountry.com/smartwool-crew-shirt-long-sleeve-mensFeb 14, 2013 at 7:32 pm #1954569
Jennifer MitolBPL Member
@jenmitolLocale: In my dreams....
Not to hijack…
How is the smell of Patty's merino 1?? I'm intrigued, looking for a good light long sleeve for JMT for everyday wear, but worried about the stink after 21 days. That's so un-ladylike…….Feb 14, 2013 at 7:44 pm #1954571
I've got several other merino shirts (mostly Ibex) and the Merino 1 is no more (or less) smelly than those- so I'd say equivalent :)Feb 14, 2013 at 7:47 pm #1954573
John WhynotMember
@jdw01776Locale: Southeast Texas
I bought 1 of the re-released Merino 1 Ts last year — it was full of holes after 4 days on the trail, but it still smelled fairly fresh…Feb 15, 2013 at 3:30 am #1954650Feb 15, 2013 at 6:53 am #1954665
John- were these "re-released" ones different? obviously Patagonia will stand behind them, but that's disappointing- mine I've worn a full week w/ nary a nick
MikeFeb 15, 2013 at 7:04 am #1954671
Well, it looks like the long-sleeved T shirt varieties from Smartwool are in the 'elusive, not produced' category anymore (not even a T shirt area on their website), but they do appear to have the more relaxed fit I am desiring. Guess I will keep my eyes on Fleabay and the like for older stock closeouts — looks like there are a few out there now, but none exactly to my liking. Thanks for pointing out the general direction…Feb 15, 2013 at 8:28 am #1954687
Nico .BPL Member
@nickbLocale: Los Padres National Forest
I've found both the Smartwool Microweight Crew T-shirts and the Patagonia Merino 1 shirts to fit like a favorite t-shirt. A little bit of a slim cut but certainly not form fitting tight like some of the Ibex base layers.
I've had the same problem finding t-shirt like fitting merino baselayers but both of the above have worked well for me in XL (I'm 5'10", 210 lbs, athletic build with broad shoulders).
The merino blend Patagonia uses seems to be working out okay for me. It's very thin and light, seems to resist odor almost as well as pure merino, dries a bit faster and has had pretty good durability. It's pilling a bit along my lower back and where the shoulder straps of my pack ride, but otherwise is holding up well.Feb 15, 2013 at 9:58 am #1954709
John WhynotMember
@jdw01776Locale: Southeast Texas
@mike – I believe Patagonia changed the fabric blend between the first release of the Merino 1 (2010?), and then the second release last year. I did return it, which is too bad, because it fit well. I'm thinking the fabric on the back of pack I used was more abrasive (Lowe Alpine Attack vs ULA Conduit). I ended up selling the one I bought in 2010, as I'm using Arcteryx Phase SL now…Feb 15, 2013 at 10:47 am #1954721
Gary YeeMember
@lakemcdLocale: NW Montana
Check out a company called Minus 33. I have purchased 3 of their heavy weight 1/4 zip shirts for my family and they hold up very well in durability and stink department. The last time I ordered, everything was 100% merino. No itch from these garments at a terrific price point. Search and you can get it even cheaper. FYI from my experience they tend to run a little big. I can without question give them 5 stars.
Cheers, GaryFeb 15, 2013 at 12:21 pm #1954749
@John- didn't know they changed the fabric, seems like some of these bigger companies make this mistake over and over- they have a great product, folks like it and then they change it- and for some reason it seems like it's often not for the better :(
At least they stand behind it and replace it, I should have bought a couple, three when I first got mine :)Feb 15, 2013 at 2:10 pm #1954799
David LaRueMember
@phaedrusLocale: Chicagoland
I purchased both the top and bottom Woolrich Elite Tactical Base Layers a while back. I purchased an XL and it was too big for me. They are both 100% Merino wool, and they are a nice weight, and warm (I purchased the L and use them in cold weather). They are both in the original packaging, and have never been worn. XL top for 46-48 muscle fit, bottoms, 40-42 waist. The bottom line is that if you wear an xl now you will need an large.
If you think they will fit, let me know if you might be interested we can come to terms.Feb 16, 2013 at 7:12 pm #1955106
Richard RenoBPL Member
@scubahhhLocale: White Mountains, mostly.
Wears well and does everything you expect from merino. Makes. Warm base layer and ha thumb hole to keep the hands warm solo it's not too warm, and it has a half-zipper so it vents well.Feb 16, 2013 at 7:33 pm #1955109
Dena KelleyBPL Member
@eagleriverdeeLocale: Eagle River, Alaska
I get all my Merino on Steepandcheap – I refuse to pay the inflated prices everyone has and wait for S&C to have a good deal. I've bought several brands on S&C and here's my take by brand:
Stoic: Fit is very athletic (read: get a size bigger than you normally would) and the colors are kind of garish and the material is thin and rougher than the other brands. I haven't had any issues with it falling apart, but probably wouldn't buy Stoic again as I'm just not really impressed with their Merino shirts.
Smartwool: Excellent cut, nice soft material, good fit, but has a tendency to get holes in it. I'd buy it again, but this one requires more babying (handwashing, line drying, care when wearing) than any of the other brands I've tried.
Icebreaker: Athletic fit, excellent material. No complaints at all. Love Icebreaker, it's my favorite brand of them all.
Sport Science: My heaviest Merino sweater and hat come from Sport Science. It's not the most attractive (Olive drab green) but it wears like iron and is an excellent material. I would buy this brand again.
Luna: Very similar to Smartwool. Nice flattering cut, soft material but has a tendency to get holes. I'd buy it again, but you really have to baby it.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.


text:
Town Square
Palo Alto Zero Waste Operation Plan Discussion
Original post made by Bob Wenzlau, Crescent Park, on Mar 12, 2007
Zero waste is the next paradigm in approaching our solid waste management efforts -- it seeks to avoid land disposal (land fills) through a coordinated effort to cause reduction of generation, reusables, and recovery. The plan addresses the industrial, commercial and residential sectors.
While the tenants of Zero Waste are strong (as embodied in the policy), when the action gets defined in the "Operations Plan", my view is that the commitment has been watered down.
I wanted to re-introduce the topic to the community, and remind us of some of the questions at hand?
- What is the future of the drop-off recycling center? The plan seeks proposes a significant expansion -- I personally think "driving" to recycle is "dead", and should be replaced by curbside. This ties to new paradigms of global warming.
- How aggressive should the city be in "mandating" recycling? The plan invites a commitment to mandatory recycling, but postpones the commitment for 3 to 4 years. I believe that we should entertain this commitment now. I do not believe the "mandatory" forces folks to go to jail, but would be similar to consequences of excess irrigation during the drought.
- What can the city do to encourage waste reduction? This is a curious venue for government where it may wander into folks personal space: can government tell me what to buy? Yet many cities are now considering whether to ban certain plastics, and reduce excess packaging.
I wanted to introduce this because I have worried that the City is not fully reconciling the commitment to Zero Waste they have made. Some recent decisions have been made not to increase diversion of our waste at the regional processing center (SMART), that made me question the understanding. I do not believe this is an easy program to implement, but if we have made the commitment, we should follow through. We can be comforted that most of the expenditure for waste (resource) management come through an enterprise fund (meaning your refuse bill), and will not dilute resources from our city's general fund.
The City's Zero Waste efforts are seen on this web link: Web Link
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 12, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Like so many of these brilliant ideas, zero waste assumes that the time and convenience of the individual is of no value. Government tends to be as cavalier with our time as it is with our money. Let's make a deal - If the government can find a buyer for sorted recyclables, and if the government will then agree to apply that revenue directly to reducing the garbage bill, o.k. - otherwise, put it in a box at the curb.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Mar 12, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Bob Wenzlau is a registered user.
The economics (your billing rate) have always been key in my view to waste management. Palo Alto's landfill closes it doors in 2011, and other landfills are recognizing how they can gain top dollar selling disposal space to Palo Alto. The hauling cost rise and the toll gate charges rise. As such, efforts to reduce the waste will lead to putting money in your wallet, and that can't be lost on the process. Your refuse bill would be higher if you just haul the bin out, because it forces the city to pay the exorbitant fees. Our inspirations may be different, but we both like keeping the money in our wallets.
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 12, 2007 at 8:08 pm
It is time to institute the excess express and haul out garbage by rail up to the Black Rock Desert. I believe several Northwest cities are hauling their garbage to the desert. This current practice of cosseting garbage like the crown jewels is nuts and is based on the ludicrous idea we are running out of dump space.
Some day we might even recognize that garbage and sewage is best macerated and dumped offshore, to restore the organics our dams have robbed the ocean of. You may believe that garbage sorting is an appropriate use of the people's time, I do not. In Great Britain they have garbage cops writing heavy tickets if you miss=sort. That will follow here unless we tell them no more.
a resident of Barron Park
on Mar 12, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Government intervention-
People that live and do business in PA need not fear garbage cops if they just use the programs and services available. Just like traffic cops don't issue tickets to every offender, neither would garbage cops if mandatory recycling were instituted.
The waste study shows a lot of recycling is still being put in the garbage. Some highly educated, advanced-degreed person in the community is guilty of something- not caring? too "busy"? too ____(fill in the blank). When IS the appropriate time for government to step in?
waste reduction-
The government only has to tell people what to do (i.e., buy or not buy)if they can't figure it out for themselves. For example, if people would drink the water out of their tap instead of buying bottled water, the City would not have to:
- pay PASCO to haul water bottles to the other side of the Bay
- pay again to have them sorted when they get to the other side of the Bay
- buy trucks to do this job and drive through your neighborhood. If there is less to haul, then there is a reduced need for services or their frequency.
It all translates to less money needed to provide services that are not really needed. There's a lot of $ savings that could be realized by not making recycling OR garbage that then needs to be collected and moved, sorted, sent to China, sent to Sunnyvale then San Jose etc. But maybe people don't really need to save money if they can pay $1.50 for a bottle of water. Why not pay to have stuff shipped all over in order to recycle it,too.
The same goes for plastic bags. Why do people want to pay to have them recycled (collected at the curb) when they have reusable cloth bags from every trade show and conference they have ever been to sitting in their closet? People defend their right to the convenience (i.e. inabilty to remember to bring bags to the store with them)of their doubly-plastic-bagged shopping booty but they scream about the price of fuel and the high profits that oil companies reap.
Connect the dots people- petrolum-based anything costs money and lots of what you buy is plastic. Once you drill for oil and create the demand, you get just what you asked for- more plastic stuff that you then complain about, pay for and then can't recycle because no one is making anything from your plastic crap you no longer want.
If the community would just stop and think for a moment, and do a little bit more to reduce their waste in the first place, we would all be better off. One does not have to be deprived in order to be less wasteful.
Regionial Cooperation
Sending PA's waste or recycling to another community is the not-in-my-back yard (NIMBY) syndrome. Isn't the "regional solution" some other cities Bay front or rolling hills? The SMaRT Station is at the end of Moffett Channel, which diverts from the Guadalupe Slough that feeds SF Bay. It is not o.k. for PA to deal with its own waste at its Bay front, but it is o.k. for PA to take it down to
Sunnyvale's Bay front?
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 13, 2007 at 6:41 am
The value of recyclables other than aluminum is seldom enough to defray the cost of their recovery. Dumping in unused areas until we get over this virgin earth silliness would save an awful lot of trouble. If the current government folk are not up to taking out the garbage they should get out of the way for someone who is willing.
a resident of another community
on Mar 13, 2007 at 10:13 am
Did you ever stop to consider how much it would cost to haul all our trash to the desert or, better yet, haul and then put it on a trash barge and pull it out to the ocean to dump - both of your "innovative" suggestions? No, i didn't think so. Please stick to arging about Iraq.
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 13, 2007 at 10:16 am
I've always wondered if the processing involved in recycling things like plastics, metals, etc. produces toxic byproducts. This isn't a rhetorical question - does anyone know? If so, is it more or less than the harm of dumping in a landfill?
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 13, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Yes, reality, I have. I do know that Iron Mountain could hold 50 years of LA garbage, and that Northwest cities are doing exactly as I propose with their garbage. With containers and little if any preprocessing It would beat all hollow any local processing. People are always telling me that engineers need to consider externalities - and yet the externality of individual time and comfort is not considered.


text:
Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite (Album Minimix)
Big news from NYC via the land down under...Kylie Minogue made a verifable SPLASH in the city on Friday. Lame punner, but 'tis true that Ms. Minogue stopped by the night club to preview tracks from her upcoming eleventh (11th!) studio album, Aphrodite. Our pals at MuuMuse and Hard Candy Music braved the humidity of a hot and sweaty spot to check her out. (View their take on the evening's festivities here and here, respectively.)
Apparently, new song, Get Outta My Way, is the jam to get up while you're getting down. And while I was unable to attend the performance, this morning I got the biggest, baddest, beastiest treat in my inbox, and can concur that yes indeed, this track will have all the boys, girls, aliens, robots, moms and pops bouncing their booties like there's no tomorrow.
And if you want to hear more songs from Aphrodite, then let this Beast be your path to the promised land. We've got a minimix of six album cuts, as follows.
1. Get Outta My Way (Cutfather/Lucas Seacon / Stuart Price)
2. Cupid Boy (Sebastian Ingrosso / Magnus Lidehall / Luciana)
3. Too Much (Jake Shears / Calvin Harris)
4. Can't Beat The Feeling (Pascal Gabriel, Borge Fjordheim)
5. Put Your Hands Up (Starsmith / Stuart Price)
6. Aphrodite (Nerina Pallot / Andy Chatterley / Stuart Price)
All hail the goddess of love, beauty and sexuality.
mp3: Kylie Minogue - All The Lovers (DJ Oskar Edit)