Category: Technology


SERUM

Filed under: Environment, Government Works, Public health, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 28, 2014

Opinion:

The news that a nurse hosting the Ebola Virus has been declared free of the disease is well received and hopeful. Logic says that a person once quarantined now free is also carrying antibodies against the virus, making serum from her blood is now a possible  treatment for carriers, this use of her blood could be as expediential as the cotangent could have been. With thousands of forces going to West Africa to treat the source of the outbreak it gives us calm to know this resource exists.

The WHO has stated that transfusion of whole blood or purified serum from Ebola survivors is the therapy with the greatest potential to be implemented immediately, although there is little information as to its efficacy.[209] September 2014, WHO issued an interim guideline for this therapy.[210] The blood serum from those who have survived an infection is currently being studied to see if it is an effective treatment.[211] During a meeting arranged by WHO, this research was deemed to be a top priority.[211] Seven of eight people with Ebola survived after receiving a transfusion of blood donated by individuals who had previously survived the infection in an 1999 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[97][212] This treatment, however, was started late in the disease meaning they may have already been recovering on their own and the rest of their care was better than usual.[97] Thus this potential treatment remains controversial.[18]Intravenous antibodies appear to be protective in nonhuman primates who have been exposed to large doses of Ebola.[213] The WHO has approved the use of convalescent serum and whole blood products to treat people with Ebola    source Wikipedia

Stay safe and take all reasonable precautions in this interconnected world we have.

Today in history:  Oct 28th 1538

The first university in the new world is established in the Hispaniola  (Dominican Republic)

 

 

 

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TGIF- winter burning

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 24, 2014
One of 8 volumes of the environmental assessment. for the Lower Mainland 500 KV line. Hard copy at Public library. Photo KDG

One of 8 volumes of the environmental assessment. for the Lower Mainland 500 KV line. Hard copy at Public library.
Photo KDG

BC hydro has published notice that it will be doing  fall winter burning of wood debris material along its new 500 KV line to the Lower Mainland, they say the work is  “weather dependant” and contractors will be instructed to not burn unless the venting index is “good”.

The 247 kilometer line is still under construction and is meant to bring more electric power to the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. Merritt British Columbia is also having a cogeneration green wood waste incinerator  worth hundreds of millions of dollars being  built to join to the power grid.

Today in history: October 24th 1980
The government of Poland makes the Solidarity Trade Union legal.

 

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BC parks open comment period closed.

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Politics and Politicians, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 21, 2014

Trans Mountain pipeline the operator for Kinder Morgan and its pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby BC has a proposal for a twinning of the line. the line will bring tar snads crude to an ocean port facility.They operate existing lines in Provincal parks, and this fall intend to submit an application for a temporary relaxation of Park ruiles while construction occurs.

Trans Mountain Pipeline has submitted a draft Stage 2 Boundary Adjustment Detailed Proposal to the Province of BC for review. If approved, the Boundary Adjustment would result in the removal of land required for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion right-of-way (RoW) from the provincial park or protected area for the period of construction and until restoration is complete. If the lands required for the Project are removed from the Finn Creek, North Thompson River and Bridal Veil Provincial Parks, the Ministry of Environment may seek government approval to establish those lands as a protected area under the Environment and Land Use Act to allow the Minister of Environment to continue to manage those areas.

Following completion of Project construction, the lands removed from the parks through the boundary adjustment may be returned to park or protected area status with operations authorized under a park use permit.

Four BC parks and protected areas are addressed in Trans Mountain’s Boundary Adjustment Application. BC Parks will review the application and make a decision about each location separately. Public comments are an important consideration for BC Parks in considering any boundary amendment proposal. Detailed information and maps for each location are available below.

Trans Mountain Pipeline intends to submit an application in the fall of 2014 for a resources use permit (RUP) to authorize the construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion through Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area. The RUP application will include a similar degree of assessment as the four parks and protected areas.

If approved, implementation of the temporary boundary adjustment and RUP will be subject to the National Energy Board’s approval of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.

The existing Trans Mountain pipeline traverses an additional three provincial parks that are NOT impacted by the proposed Trans Mountain Expansion Project. These parks are Coldwater River Provincial Park, Coquihalla River Provincial Park and Rearguard Falls Provincial Park.

http://www.transmountain.com/bc-parks-application?utm_source=Trans+Mountain+Today+October+9+2014&utm_campaign=TM+Today+10%2F09%2F14&utm_medium=email

The RUP application has a local effect on users of the Coquihalla highway, and visitor s to Merritt BC Canada, open comments are closed with BC parks , comments to your local MLA are always relevant at any time.
BC Parks operations are considerably less stringent then a national park, like the one proposed for the South Okanagan Similkimeen. http://action.sumofus.org/a/bc-parks-open-oil-gas-mining/?sub=fb
SOSnationalpark.com
Doreen Collins spoke to the Nicola Naturalists Thursday the 16th and outlined the need to get the province back on board for the National park proposal,” the MLA is blocking support do to a hunters lobby”. The SOS brochure outlines a phasing out of hunting, ATVs and industrial activities such as minerals and oil.
The Nicola Naturalists are a four year old Non profit, president Alan Burger U vic.
You do the math!

Today in history: October 21st 2013
Record smog levels closes public facilities in Harbin China.

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150 towers

Filed under: Environment, Government Works, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 15, 2014
Contractors for new 5 kV line hiring

Contractors for new
5oo KV line hiring
File photo start of
project KDG

Two sources on the third 500 KV lower mainland line under construction for two years have said that there is a problem with the bolts that assemble the transmission towers. The most recent report says that 150 towers are having their bolts all replaced by higher grade bolts. This extends the project for one local contractor for some time. The project is now being constructed from both ends with one of the contractors going to the lower mainland end.
A problem with a collapsed tower at the beginning of the project was caused by a failed lifting cable with the crane installing it. The tower construction is now at the Murray lake area, in the Coquihalla ; a source says that they are installing snow legs and estimates they are the strongest worked on in memory.
Today in History: October 15th 1878

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TGIF- Okanagan observatory

Filed under: -Photography, Space, Sports and Leisure, Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 10, 2014

Royal Astronomical Society, Okanagan observatory. The Astronomical society has a free observatory open Friday’s on the way to Big White ski resort outside Kelowna. they report that they started with a long term lease for a dollar and have put 300 thousand more to convert the old gravel pit into a viewing platform. At a recent presentaion in Merritt, they showed an interested crowd the heavens from the local Public Library parking lot. The equipment they have on site is more powerful and they offer it free on Fridays. http://www.okanaganobservatory.ca/

The Okanagan Observatory hosts free public observing nights every Friday. The Okanagan Observatory is exactly 4 kms up Big White Rd from Hwy 33. That makes it only 35 kms from Rutland Rd. We will be pointing out the Milky Way and constellations with special astronomical laser pointers as we tour the night sky. Club members will have their telescopes on hand and be using the observatory 25 inch telescope to show off celestial wonders such as the Moon, planets, comets, dying stars, stellar nurseries, globular clusters, open clusters and galaxies.

Today in history: October 10th 1967 The outer space treaty come into effect after being signed by over 60 countries.

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Nicola Naturalist Society

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Fish, Flora, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 8, 2014

The local Naturalists had there AGM on September 18th, they reported 63 members after its 4th Year of operation. they have a schedule of monthly meetings in the non summer part of what they do. Speakers included Bruce Archibald ( Fossils of the BC interior),Richard Doucette, ( mine reclamation) Barbara Pryce ( nature conservancy of Canada) and they reported others. The group had outings over the year including the Christmas bird count, Spius Creek Hatchery, and many frogging outings. They had two nature presentation in elementary schools by members. They report their website as having 5 50 visits on average per month, http://www.nicolanaturalists.ca/ .They report a healthy balance sheet with a three fold increase in income over last year to $14,119.11 after paying $11,259.62 in expenses they had a net income of 2,859.49. The club has a balance of $6,936.02 in cash and $4,310.26 in assets, with outstanding liabilities of 75 dollars in cheques to clear, and 1500 dollars in liability to BC nature. they report 15 dollars in petty cash reserve. Directors for 2014/15: Alan Burger Norm Hanson D. Kerridge Anne Pang Chris Lepsol Margret Carlson

The next meeting is on October 16th 2014 with Doreen Olson on the Similkameen Natural park proposal, the presentation starts at 7:00 in the NVIT Lecture Theater

Today in history, October 8th 1904 The Canadian City of Edmonton Alberta is incorporated.

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TGIF-Pacific Forest Rally

Filed under: -Photography, Cars, Environment, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 3, 2014

Every fall  there is a sports car rally in the Nicola Valley,The Pacific Forest Rally is the 4th stop on the national tour and is on October 3rd and 4th this year.Tenty eight competitors are featured in the rally guide and will compete for place and time beginning in a ceremonial start at 5:30 PM on Friday October 3rd, on Granite avenue downtown Merritt.
The rally has an offical charity, The Abilitas Foundation.
Best vantage points:
Lily lake, night special,815-830 PM, Friday October 3rd.


 

Today in History:October 3rd 1955
The Mickey Mouse club has its debut.

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Author talk

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Enterprize, Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 1, 2014

The cougar lady at the Merritt Public library author Rosella Leslie, on Thursday Oct 23rd 6-7 PM.
Must preregister at the front desk.
Merritt and the Nicola Valley have significant cougar populations. Rosella Leslie from Shelt inlet, recounts her life as a trapper, including being arrested for carrying a rifle in town.
Today in history: October 1st 1981
Born Brazilian footballer Julio Baptista.

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Tims in tents

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Restaurants, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 30, 2014

The local coffee watering hole Tim Hortons has two large tents in its parking lot. The Barista at the Starbucks across the highway says that they are to be there for 6 weeks while Tims undergoes a renovation. The drive through is going to be open for the renovation however tents are there to accommodate sit down patrons.
Weather or not this is a global warming support remains to be seen, the schedule puts it into the second week of November and a time that we here at 2000 feet above sea level get our first snow.

 

Today in history: September 30th 1955

Movie star James Dean dies in a road accident at the age of 24.

 

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TGIF-Green energy project

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 26, 2014

A crane drives piles at the 200 million dollar cogen facility in Merritt BC Photo KDG

A crane drives piles at the 200 million dollar cogen facility in Merritt BC
Photo KDG


last week a crane drove a dozen pilings into the ground at the site of the green energy project ( licensed and sanctioned by BC Hydro Power and Authority) The site is at the Tolko sawmill operations and will supply electric power to the mill and to a substation in the Highland valley, which has the massive Teck operation mine as its main consumer of power. There is also a two pole line going from here to the substation near Logan Lake BC with a 130 KV line that replaces a 61 KV line coming from the Merritt substation at this time. The Merritt substation is also having a rebuild.
A young worker at the site told us he was grateful to know that he had two years work from the project at least.
Today in history: September 24th 1948
The Honda motors company is founded.

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Corn

Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 23, 2014

Corn grown in the Nicola Valley Photo KDG

Corn grown in the Nicola Valley
Photo KDG


The Nicola Valley has a marginal climate for growing anything other than grass and alfalfa, however the new owners of the river ranch ( the ranch on the Nicola River in the center of town) have a field of cow corn
The ranch is being leased by its local owners to diary interests from the lower mainland and have a number of feedlots. The feedlots confine and feed dairy cows for their first two years and then are taken to the coast for milk production.

Today in history, September 23,1999

The National , Aeronautics  and Space Administration says that it lost communication with its Martian climate orbiter.

 

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Nicola Naturalists

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Flora by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 18, 2014

The local naturalists are starting their fall/winter program on Thursday the 18th, they will have their member photo night and annual meeting at 7 PM in room 0001.
President Alan Burger, a PHD and artic explorer is the president at this time, and will present a brief AGM. The group has monthly meetings with guest speakers open to the public with a request for membership or donation.

Today in history: September 18th 1906

A typoon kills ten thousand people in Hong Kong.

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