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14.12.01: In the Toronto Star Nov 28th, a recent survey indicates 88% of Canadians want Canada to commit to "significant new actions" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ... and 84% want our government to show more leadership.
Harper is finally under pressure to accept climate change impact by fossil fuels...and stop supporting Alberta shale oil development.
Now that USA and China have entered into an environmental agreement, he will have increased pressure to step up.
But I expect he will continue to indicate non-compliance as long as any significant country is not on-board (Australia and India).
Tim Harper was at Stephen Harper again today in the Toronto Star.
An excellent read!
It seems many journalists are increasing their complaints against Harper's policies.
Let's spread the word. Environmentally, it is time for a change in govt as any change is better than what we now have.
09.21.14: This site is a combined effort of Harvard university researchers and IBM to support the work on cancer treatment, solar energy research, and AIDS research.
Together with many PCs around the world, it performs the workeffort of a supercomputer ... at minimal impact to all contributors.
The article in the Toronto Star today provides more information.
This is an excellent (and cost effective) way to contribute to a few worthwhile projects.
When you go to the World Community Grid site, you will need to click on the Join Now" to install the software on your PC and select the project(s) you wish to run when you are not using your PC.
When the app has been installed, you will see this screen on your desktop.
It will start each time you start your PC but only run when you are not using your PC.
Using your PC this way does not mean you need to leave it running any longer than you normally do.
If you happen to leave it unattended for a while, the WCG application will make use of it's computing resources at minimal expense to you.
Once you become a member, you will be able to review your contribution to the project(s), by signing in on the main site.
Isn't it a great way to help valuable research progress faster than it normally would!
14.09.01: Somethings about government really get me concerned.
Health Canada has decided Citronella (a natural product) is bad for you and you should use DEET instead!
The problem is it is a natural product and is not bad for you...but those who develop Citronella product are not large corporations who can afford to spend the $1M on animal testing to PROVE it is better than DEET!
Perhaps I am missing the obvious ... retail sales, in Canada (governed by the conservatives) are to be reserved for big business only?
I am expecting most sensible Canadians to now find a way to purchase Citronella from the USA, as we all know DEET isn't good for your children.
I will do more research and outline ways to purchase online in the future.
14.06.22: Back in early 2011, I made some noise on this blog about the tar sands project our PM is in full support of.
Very little has changes, in his eyes, since then.
He must be looking for a senior mgmt position with an Alberta oil company when he is kicked out of office (next election, hoperfully).
Our federal govt approved the northern gateway pipeline this month
Fortunately, a lot of Canadians have spoken up and created a list of objections that must be satisfied before the project begins.
Mulcair and Trudeau have promised an NDP or Liberal government would nullify Harper’s go-ahead for Northern Gateway.
I don't know if you are aware of Avaaz.org and their efforts to raise concern about those issues affecting all Canadians.
I am a big supported, to date.
This latest tar sands item from Avaaz should be supported by all non oil-related Canadians.
It is in all Canadian's best interest to read in detail and pass on via email, twitter, facebook, etc, to all those you know.
14.04.20: Our lawns look dead this time of year ... but a little rain will change the colour to green quickly.
Did a little research and found there is a little problem applying grass seed and fertilizer at the same time.
Home Depot had Weed n Feed on at a good price and they all have grass seed available right now.
What to do first ... and now?
Based on the research, it appears grass seed is first (now), if your lawn needs it.
If not, the best fertilizer at this time of year appears to be a something in the 20-0-5 to 20-5-10 range.
My Weed n Feed should be saved until after the new grass has appeared, as it tend to stop new grass along with stopping weeds.
14.04.18: Article in the Toronto Star today outlines how many employed people are in the same job less than 2 years.
It appears that job hopping is becoming more and more common today.
It also seems a lot (almost half surveyed by Workopolis) have had more than 2 career paths.
More than two-thirds surveyed have worked in more than one industry.
The main reason for movement is poor working relationship with their boss.
I have been saying it well before I retired.
If I was entering the job market, as a professional, specialist, or in any other capacity, my career would be quite different than it was.
The problem in our time (1960-2000) was only certain companies were professional in their employee development practices.
As well, it was important (to quite a few of us) the company had a well structured retirement plan.
These criteria encouraged loyalty to an employer.
Today, the word loyalty is not in the career planning vocabulary.
It is very important that a young person beginning a career understand employment movement is critical in the early years.
If there is no sign of upward movement very quickly, the resume should be updated in Workopolis, etc, immediately and the process of looking for another job should begin.
In actual fact, the process of actively looking for another job should continue throughout the career.
As well, for those so inclined, developing a self-employment agenda should be pursued and acted on before other events increase your risk-aversion thinking.
Along with this current day employment process, you should begin your retirement saving as soon as you start your first job.
This is difficult for a young person to consider and put into practice but allocating a specific percentage of income to RSPs (whether Registered or not) at the beginning makes it a lot easier to manage other expenses that will occur throughout life.
14.03.03: Is your PC taking longer to start up? This assumes you turn it off to conserve energy each time not using...
If it taking longer, there is a way to reduce this time by using a Startup Mgr app to delay the start of specific apps that start automatically.
For the non-techies out there, there is a free app (Advanced SystemCare) that has a lot of easy-to-use very helpful apps.
Here is how to use the Startup Manager.
Select the Toolbox on the main screen.
Select Startup Manager, under Optimize.
Look at each item here and, if you know one that doesn't need to start when you turn your PC on, click on the down-carrot beside Enable to Delay or Disable it.
if you do either, the item will appear in a separate list at the bottom of the screen. You can easily change the action at any time.
This pic lists some items I have delayed at startup.
If you would like some help deciding which items to delay, let me know.
14.02.12: Back in November, I remarked on Harper's Environmental Influence. Since then, he has increased his bullying of any non-profit organization who speaks out about environmental impact (especially Tar Sands development).
I wasn't noticing many columnists really standing up to him ... until Heather Mallick's article in today's Star.
Harper has been bullying our gov't scientists for quite a while and has been withholding money from any non-profit organization who speaks out against environmental items such as the tar sands.
This has to stop.
But, in our democratic system, the elected leader has much more power than the position should allow.
What we really need is independent auditor generals with the right to access any data related to reviewing any elected person...and present the conclusion of their analysis in all leading newspapers.
Without this, we will be continuously embarrassed (on the world stage) by election mistakes ... and can't correct until the next election process.
Thanks to well recognized people such as Neil Young, more visibility will make more people aware before the next elections.
Heather also refers to the extensive list of Harper mistakes ... growing by leaps and bounds!
The mistakes are so extensive, there is now a site that lists them all.
14.01.11: Part of the sourcing of energy is the increased need for energy as world population grows.
What if we had a dramatic decrease in world-wide need for energy.
Would this reduce the emphasis on oil? No, in my opinion, it would only decrease the pressure to find oil alternatives.
Regardless, progress is being made on alternate sourcing in major cities.
On Jan 8th, the BBC reported on wireless (inductive) charging of city electric buses in a city 90km north of London. The buses carry 800,000 passengers a year. The buses are required to stop for 10 minutes every loop of their 25km route.
While the need to stop for 10 minutes isn't a concern, Bombardier's PRIMOVE system appears better as it doesn't require stopping. It has been in test mode since 2010 (on an 800 metre light-rail line in Augsburg Germany).
Another wireless electric system (Conductix-Wampfler's IPT technology) has been in use in Genoa and Turin Italy (200km) since 2003. IPT uses magnetic resonance which recharges the batteries while passengers are getting on/off.
In Gumi Korea, a couple of buses travel 24km using magnetic resonance via online electric vehicle (OLEV) technology in 2013.
The plan is to increase to 10 buses by 2015.
14.01.05: Article in the Toronto Star today by Eduardo Porter. First published by him in the NY Times Nov 19th.
The bottom line: Nuclear Power is the answer, at this time.
Here is a summary:
1. Developed countries (other than Canada) are promising to replace fossil fuels with renewables.
2. So far, coal and natural gas are winning.
3. Between 2010-2012, world-wide consumption of nuclear energy reduced by 7%.
4. Between 2010-2012, world-wide consumption of coal (the worst global warmer offender) rose 4.5%.
5. Coal accounted for over half the growth in fossil fuel emissions in 2012.
6. Energy consumption is expected to grow by more than half in 30 years ... means carbon-free nuclear power is mandatory (with current knowledge).
7. Nuclear power remains the most scalable and cheapest of alternate energy sources.
8. $108/MWh - new-generation nuclear plant entering service 2018.
9. $144/MWh - solar powered (but expensive transmission).
10. $86/MWh - land-based wind farms (but expensive transmission).
11. $221/MWh - offshore wind farms (but expensive transmission).
12. $118/MWh - approx of coal-fired plant.
13. $65/MWh - natural gas plants.
14. Cost-wise - fossils are the most attractive. Politicians count on this!
15. Saving lives (from the fuel type) - nuclear power is the best!
What all of this doesn't address is survival of the planet.
Unfortunately, only when death and destruction occur in large numbers, will people finally ignore the expense and agree on extreme environmental change (absolute stoppage of fossil fuel use) ... but it will be too late!
Is there still time for sane minds to over-power political motivation???
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