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Blog Action 2009, Climate Change

October 15 is BLOG ACTION DAY 2009, CLIMATE CHANGE is this year's subject.

Climate Change. This is where I loose some of you, and engage others. The debate around Climate Change (yes, with two capital "C"s), came of age a few years ago. I knew it had when my son, Scott came home one afternoon after seeing the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" and said to me "we need to do something to make this stop".

I have always been a "greenie". I have recycled forever. My kids reveled at the thought of dumpster diving with my boyfriend back in the 80's (they were 7 & 8 at the time). There has been a blue box program at our house since I left hom in the 70's. I have recycled more than my fair share of bottles, cans and paper. I have been conscious of the waste I create. I often shop at thrift stores and second hand places.

So when Scott made this statement, I thought: I'm doing everything I can, what more can I do?

The answer, of course, is LOTS. I can tell you. I can discuss the merits of alternative energy sources. I can try to bring awareness to the issue of climate change and the environment.

I remember as a kid back in the 60's and 70's, thinking that I am going to stop littering. We were traveling through Oregon, and they had these garbage cans called garbage gobblers on the highway. I thought they were cool and took up their cause at once.

Now that I'm an adult, and well into middle age to boot, and in a new century, I need to think about what kind of shape I'm personally leaving the planet in for my children, their children, and their grandchildren.

What more can I, as an individual do?

It is second nature for me to reuse something. I try not to buy things that can only be used once. I have a personal cup that I take to the coffee shop (when I remember). I make my own soup. I cook from scratch when I can. I buy local produce, I go to the farmer's market. When I lived in the West End, I choose not to buy a car and bought an electric bike instead. I put on a sweater rather than turn up the heat. I support wind and solar power whenever I can. I learned to sail so I could enjoy the oceans without an engine.

What else? I can tell other people that we need to be more conscious about our garbage production. I can say "We need to remember to turn off the water when we brush our teeth. We don't need to flush the toilet every time we pee". We need to change our mind set around waste.

For instance, community gardening: Its not just about having a little plot of ground in your neighbourhood. If you are not planning to take the fruit off your trees, let someone else have it. Give it to the food bank. Let someone have access to your backyard to create a victory garden. Make something from recycled material only (I made a potting shed once). Participate in clothing exchanges.

Ok, I've had my say. Now you have yours. Tell someone else about what you do to make a difference. Tell them what you don't do. How you are conscious of your waste. My mom makes her own bread.

What condition will you leave this planet for your children to inherit?

Happy Blog Action Day. Make a difference.

Farmville on Facebook, yes I'm addicted. Are you?

Yes, well its true. I'm a FARMVILLE addict. Ya, thanks Zynga ... lol

I love the little farming game on facebook. I love to get and receive gifts. I love tending to the fields and trees and animals. I like to get new machinery.

Yes, I know its kinda frivolous. However, it also has some connection to reality.

I like farming on line. I have farmed in the past in real life, and I liked that too. It was a lot of hard work, and the return on investment was often outside of the monetary gain. Outdoors, digging in the dirt, caring for animals, learning to butcher (yes, that's right, I learned how to do that... and yes, I can do it again).

I love the water and the land.

So, here is the little list I made of the "profits" for facebook's Farmville. I'll try and update it as I keep playing. I've based it on a 24 hour day, (I'll let you adjust it for Farmville's 23 hour day).

So the profits are "per day", if you harvested & grew the crops for 24 hours. In some cases, like the 4 hour crops, I simply multiplied by 6. I did the same for the experience points.

Happy Farming :)

CROPS I'VE GROWN ON FARMVILLE:

strawberries, (35 - 10) x 6 = $150

xp: 6/day

Eggplant: 88 - 25 = 63 / 2 (# days) = 31.5

xp: 1/day

wheat: (115 - 35) / 3 = 103.333

xp: .666

Soybeans: 63 - 15 = 48

xp: 2

Squash: (121 - 40) / 2 = 40.5

xp: 1

Pumpkin: (68 - 30) x 3 = 114

ex: 3

Artichokes: (204 - 70) / 4 = 33.5

ex: .5

Rice: (96 - 45) x 2 = 102

ex: 2

Raspberries: (46 - 20) x 12 = 312

ex: 0

Cotton: (207 - 75) / 3 = 44

ex: .666

Bell Peppers (Yellow): (198 - 75) / 2 = 61.5

ex: 1

Peppers (red): (162 - 70) = 92

ex: 2

Aloe Vera: (85 - 50) x 4 = 140

ex: 4

Pineapples: (242 - 95) / 2 = 73.5

ex: 1

Blueberries: (91 - 50) x 6 = 246

ex: 6

Watermelon: (348 - 130) / 4 = 54.5

ex: .5

Grapes: 270 - 85 = 185

ex: 2

Tomatoes: (173 - 100) x 3 = 219

ex: 3

Potatoes: (345 - 135) / 3 = 70

ex: 0.6666

LOCKED:

Carrots: (xx - 110)

ex:

Coffee: (xx - 120)

ex:

Corn: (xx - 150)

ex:

Sunflowers: (xx - 135)

ex:

Cabbage: (xx - 140)

ex:

Green Tea: (xx - 105)

ex:

Black Berries: (xx - 75)

ex:

Red Wheat: (xx - 180)

ex:

Sugar Cane: (xx - 165)

ex:

Peas: (xx - 190)

ex:

Yellow Melon: (xx - 205)

ex:

Onion: (xx - 170)

ex:

Broccoli: (xx - 200)

ex:

Asparagus: (xx - 220)

ex:

Goodbye eBike

Fall, cool crisp air, leaves changing colour, breezes, geese and ducks flying south. For me, its a time of change.

My newest change: I'm selling my trusty eBike. That's my electric bike. Time for a change.

I love the electric bike & will be sorry to see her go. Hopefully, she will provide her next owner with the fun and satisfaction that she's given me over the last year.

This is my second electronic bike. I really like them. Its great for getting around town, shopping, site seeing. It is a bicycle, with pedals, so it can go on the SkyTrain and the SeaBus (not during rush hour yet, but hopefully they will change this). Theoretically, you could put it on the bike rack on the buses, but its very heavy to lift (at least for me).

This trusty eBike has helped me be mobile at a time in my life when I couldn't get around too well. Initially, it was a choice between a scooter or an electric bike. I'm stubborn. I didn't want to be chair bound. I wanted a little bit of a challenge but something I could easily handle. The eBike gave that to me.

This eBike is still in great shape. She will provide someone with great mobility.

The rubber on the tires is great. The disk brakes are good. They are easily adjusted by hand on the wheel.

The shocks are good. The alarm system is awesome. The wheels lock when the alarm is sounded.

The stand makes it so you can park it almost anywhere.

Even though the alarm works great, I still use a U-Lock. The more the better. I was watching the triathelon in the West End last year when one of the local store owners decided I needed to move my bike immediately. I was stuck for a moment, and couldn't get to the bike right away. The store owner picked up my bike. He put it down immediately when the alarm sounded. Everyone within a one block radius, probably two, heard the alarm. Yes, it works well!

My favourate eBike story was I was riding all over town. I took the skytrain from Surrey, dropped in on Commercial Drive. Wandered through Strathcona and then ChinaTown (I love those steamed buns... yuuummm... ok I digress). I got to the Dunsmuir Street Viaduct and the battery started to fail. Of course I'd been biking for five or six hours so I really was pushing it. I managed to pedal coast along the viaduct. When I headed up Dunsmuir, the battery said NOPE I'm DONE now. Just ahead of me was the BC Hyrdo Building. You Guessed it. I pulled up to their electric outlet, the one they use for the power leave blower and the lawn mower. I plugged in and charged up. It only took about 20 minutes for me to charge up enough to get home, but let me tell you! It felt SOOOO GOOD to plug into BC Hydro's power!

I've been riding a normal bike for the last three months. I can do it with some patience and with a little help and encouragement. When I get pooped out, or the distance is too far, I put it on the bus. I can lift the pedal bike easily. The last few months have been a good transition. Now its time for a change... its fall. And its time.

I'm sorry to see her go, but its time.

Thanks eBike. You've been great!

If you want to see the Craiglist posting: click here

Abbott & Costello buy a computer

I got this in an email. Its a remake of Abbot & Costello's "Who's On First" radio bit. What would it be like if they were buying a computer today...

Of course, like most emails, there was no author credited.

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Dupercomputer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue'W'.

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.

ok... so now Costello buys his second computer... with Windows 2000 of course... and this is how that goes:

Abbott and Costello Meet Windows 2000

Costello: Hey, Abbott!

Abbott: Yes, Lou?

Costello: I just got my new computer.

Abbott: That's great Lou. What did you get?

Costello: A Pentium IV 1.4 Gig, with 512 Megs of RAM, a 21 Gig hard drive, and a 48X CD-ROM.

Abbott: That's terrific, Lou.

Costello: But I don't know what any of it means!!

Abbott: You will in time.

Costello: That's exactly why I am here to see you.

Abbott: Oh?

Costello: I heard that you are a real computer expert.

Abbott: Well, I don't know-

Costello: Yes-sir-ee. You know your stuff. And you're going to train me.

Abbott: Really?

Costello: Uh huh. And I am here for my first lesson.

Abbott: O.K. Lou. What do want to know?

Costello: I am having no problem turning it on, but I heard that you should be very careful how you turn it off.

Abbott: That's true.

Costello: So, here I am working on my new computer and I want to turn it off. What do I do?

Abbott: Well, first you press the Start button, and then-

Costello: No, I told you, I want to turn it off.

Abbott: I know, you press the Start button-

Costello: Wait a second. I want to turn it off. Off. I know how to start it. So tell me what to do.

Abbott: I did.

Costello: When?

Abbott: When I told you to press the Start button.

Costello: Why should I press the Start button?

Abbott: To shut off the computer.

Costello: I press Start to stop.

Abbott: Well Start doesn't actually stop the computer.

Costello: I knew it! So what do I press.

Abbott: Start

Costello: Start what?

Abbott: Start button.

Costello: Start button to do what?

Abbott: Shut down.

Costello: You don't have to get rude!

Abbott: No, no, no! That's not what I meant.

Costello: Then say what you mean.

Abbott: To shut down the computer, press-

Costello: Don't say, "Start!"

Abbott: Then what do you want me to say?

Costello: Look, if I want to turn off the computer, I am willing to press the Stop button, the End button and Cease and Desist button, but no one in their right mind presses the Start to Stop.

Abbott: But that's what you do.

Costello: And you probably Go at Stop signs, and Stop at green lights.

Abbott: Don't be ridiculous.

Costello: I am being ridiculous? Well. I think it's about time we started this conversation.

Abbott: What are you talking about?

Costello: I am starting this conversation right now. Good-bye.

I've emailed the "official" Abbott & Costello page to see if they know the author. I'll post it if I can find it... the hunt is on!!

image is courtesy of the Official Abbott & Costello home page.

Lou Dobbs & CNN, still promoting the President needs to provide a Birth Certificate

The president of CNN, Jonathan Klein, still defends Lou Dobbs' contention that President Obama needs to provide a birth certificate. Klein claims that Dobbs is simply reporting on the conspiracy theories.

This is not true.

Dobbs has consistently claimed that the President needs to provide a birth certificate (by the way he has posted it on the internet). Dobbs suggests that the birther conspiracys have legitimacy.

As president of CNN, Klein sets their tone. He is now part of the legitimization of this ridiculous conspiracy movement.

The transcript of Kleins comments on the LA Times is here: http://mediamatters.org/research/200907290039