Category: Technology


Snow

Filed under: Environment, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 30, 2013

The weekend saw a lot of wind here probably gale force. At least one large tree was ripped up and half  of it on the ground. Cold weather and snow was right behind it. Last night snow fell again and is still on the ground of this 600 meter above sea level community.
Some lighting and thunder claps proceeded a power outage over most the city of circa 8000 here. Causing intersections to be under person direction instead of street lights.
Calm and clearing at mid morning.
Editors note: powerful weather can put in play a series of events that can bring people into danger. Think ahead.

Today in History: April 30th 1492

Spain gives Christopher Columbus  a charter to explore for a new world.

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The week in Pictures 4/27/13

Gallery
Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Cars, Environment, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 27, 2013
Jack Cross brought this back from a show in Pentiction ,The sunshine valley rural resident has ” a dozen “
GM dealer sale event
Earth day saw students picking up garbage on a school day File Photo KDG
Parking lot paving of purity feed store after renovation
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Earth day: Canada April 22/13

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 23, 2013

The students (all) from the local high school observed earth day by going out on school time and picking up garbage. Carrying bags and wearing gloves many were seen to be about the river trails and paths.

There is also an earth month youth, April is full with activites surrounding it here: http://www.earthday.ca/pub/

Today in History: April 23 ,1985

Coca Cola launches its new taste it fails and Coke Classic is back in three months.

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Rafe Mair

Filed under: Environment, First Nations People, Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Social Activism, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 18, 2013

A voice from the past  or current  personality , Rafe Mair will be speaking   here on April 24th. ” hear about rivers, PPs, oil tankers ,salmon and democracy all this in a conclusion of why are hydro bills are going through the roof.

Rafe’s picture on his promo poster shows a grey bearded cane wielding lively moving person, with the cane raised and the left elbow high and ready.

Admission by donation ,  at the Merritt civic center starting at 7 o’clock. The event also features film maker Damien Gillis.

Today in history: April 18th 1906

Fire and earthquakes destroy San Fransisco

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Two laptops

Filed under: Government Works, Social Activism, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 17, 2013

The local library in Merritt has two laptops to use in the study carousels at the Garcia street facility. The laptops are two of ten that were dispersed from a program called literacy Merritt.

The librarian said it was a program to help seniors stay in contact with grand children that may be living elsewhere.

The lap tops are available for use without log in or a library card, the library has wi-fi service.

Today in history: April  17th 1897

The Aurora UFO incident.

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Spade foot

Filed under: Environment, Flora, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 11, 2013

The local naturalists are having a presentation on the Spade foot on the 18th of April.

The northern limit of the great basin Spadefoot is the subject of the evening.

The naturalists also enjoy a presentation of members wildlife pictures before the main presentation as well.  Gerry Sanford and freelance published author Murphy Shewchuck are some of the members that regularly share unique captures at the pre presentation.

The event begins at 7:00 at the local community college lecture theater NVIT, 4155 Belshaw Avenue in Merritt.

Today in History:  April 11,1976

The apple 1 is created.

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500 kilometer range

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 9, 2013

Off Voght Street in Merritt and  next to the Merritt Desert Inn is an electric car recharging station. I talked to a man recharging his car and he said his car a Tesia model S has a 500 kilometer range. He had come from Vancouver and took on 130 kilometers worth of free power from the charging station.

The man said that he spends 6 dollars a month on power for his 100 thousand dollar luxury electic car. There three models below it  with less range and according to him it takes more than over night to fully charge his car with the 110 service at home.

The car drove off with no noise and a happy driver on his way to Kamloops.

The charging station is  in the  same parking lot that the farmers market occupy starting May 18th.

A report in the Merritt Herald here said that  more stations are coming.

An update:
Another Tesia driver charging up here on 4/15/13 said his range is more like 300 KMs because of going up hill and he agreed that the return trip should have better results as that would be downhill . Merritt is 2000 feet above sea level that the coast drivers come from.

Today in History:  April 9, 1867

Alaska is purchased from the Russians by a vote of one.

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Public access

Filed under: Government Works, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 4, 2013

The local library is on Garcia street in Merritt it has 8 public access PC type computers. The public can log in for an hour a day with their library card and for visitors out of the area a 1 hr pass code is available at the front desk.

The  library was built in the early 1990s and a big part of the plan was the acceptance of the computers from the Bill and Melinda
Gates foundation. although they have been updated by the regional district since the original gifting it is good to acknowledge those that give back to the community in this way.

From the 8000 people of Merritt and 10,000 more in the trading area ,thanks to goodness and the Gates bunch.

Today in History: April, 4, 1975

Microsoft corporation is founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Calfs and lambs

Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Environment, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — 2 Comments
April 2, 2013

A trip out highway 5A saw many spring calf’s and new born lambs along the road and in the ranches fields  that are intersected by the highway.

Once asked a local rancher Gloria Capp what the difference between a spring calf and a winter calf she replied ” one is born later”.

Nicola Ranch, Quilchena ,Cattle Company and  others along the lower road to Kamloops are quite pleasant to view from a car  as  it takes its way along the ” 70 percent load restriction ” road . These restrictions concern transports and commercial trucks and have made the route free of them at this time ,preferring 5  the divided highway with out load restrictions.

Today in History: April 2,1912

The ill fated RMS Titanic begins sea trials.

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Blue box

Filed under: Government Works, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 27, 2013

A source in the City thinks that they will be distributing the Blue box  recycle garbage cans that complement the  gray lidded plastic cans for garbage in April or May. The cans have been siting in a pile at the city works yard waiting for  the go ahead from the powers. The same truck is divided into sides one for recycle another for garbage. A mechanical  hydraulic arm picks them up and dumps them into a compression chamber and returns them to the curb. This is worker friendly taking a lot of the risk of injury away from the one man handler.

Water sewer and garbage rates are being separated from the property tax levy on the billing  from City hall this year.

Today in history:March 27 1998

The authorities approve the drug Viagra for impotence.

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Better streaming

Filed under: Sports and Leisure, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 21, 2013

The Telus techs have two trucks and a flagging crew on Voght street in Merritt today. A sources says it is splicing fiber cable. The city paid 25 thousand dollars for a new website template that allows for direct updating at their office. A source said that the last time they were here it was to enhance streaming for that application. The source said they are not sure what the splicing is for today.

Today in history: March 21,1989

Sports illustrated ties Pete Rose to baseball gambling and game fixing

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Williamson Sapsuckers

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 14, 2013

On Thursday the 21st of March the Nicola Naturalists will be presenting on the Williamson Sapsuker. The presentation is at the Nicola Valley Instute of Technology, at 7 PM . Membership or donations requested. They say that the:

Williamson’s Sapsucker has always been considered one of those rather rare and enigmatic birds.  With differences in the male and female plumage that are unique among all woodpeckers, it is nowhere truly abundant, and is Endangered in Canada.  The Merritt area is one of the strongholds of this species, but this local population was virtually unknown just 10 years ago, with many aspects of its biology only recently discovered.  Biologist Les Gyug of Okanagan Wildlife Consulting has been studying Williamson’s Sapsucker since 1996.  He is an engaging speaker and excellent photographer. Join Les for an informative and entertaining account of this little known species.

The presentation is in the lecture theater and no food or drink is allowed. Parking is free and the machine waved after school hours.

NVIT is at 4155 Belshaw St Merritt BC V1K 1R1

Today in History: March 14.1964

Jack Ruby is found guilty of assassinating JFK’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.

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