Category: Technology


Smart meter

Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Enterprize, Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 10, 2012

On the 1900 block Quilchena Ave, in Merritt there is a couple of businesses in the same building. Around the back are two hydro meters one an analog one a digital.(more later)

At this time there are complaints about higher bills then before the utility put in digital meters. The Hydro in BC operates as a not for profit business and lower rates are mandated by law. When the production and distribution of power is efficient, there becomes a benifit to consumers. They can not take retained earnings from year to year except for projects. If people have been not fairly metered in the past by old analog meters then eventually a rate decrease will come through fairer and less defeated metering.

We know of a couple of techniques  the utility is employing to ensure that complaints are legit. Remember that taking any unmetered power, is theft and subject to criminal prosecution.

Today in history, April,10 1983

Born Haig Sutherland Canadian Actor.

Related articles
Comment

Self checker

Filed under: Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
February 16, 2012

The local Thompson Nicola District Library, self checker has been being used for a matter of weeks and is expanded into the general collection from the function of signing out holds. When asked a confirmed source said that there are no plans for signing items in on the machine.

We used the equipment and it works well and it frees library staff to spend more time with people that need more help.

Self checkers are used in some grocery stores but not any in the community of Merritt.

Opinion:

Electronics are every where.  We wonder when the market will have respite from them in some sort of sanctuary. Or free zone. A connected world is certainly a different  world.

 

Today in History;February 16,2006

The last MASH , Mobile Army Surgical Hospital is taken from duty in the US.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Comment

Airstrip

Filed under: Enterprize, First Nations People, Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Technology, Tourists, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
February 13, 2012

There is a small airstrip here in Merritt, Saunders Field. It is on a nice little bench just north-west of town. The local city council was inviting people who would be interested to be on the airport committee to contact the city. The strip is 634 meters at 500722 North,1204450 west. It is a public airfield and yes operated by the city.

About two decades ago a premier visited it in a whirlwind working tour and a 600 thousand dollar grant was given to put night landing lights on it. The money was never used and was returned to the Cabinet. However in the last year there has been a new hanger building built and there is a going concern helicopter company at the field.

The Merritt Flying Club operates a website that updates weather every 5 minutes as well as almanac and moon phase.However the last reading shows 29/1/12 and there is a registration offer from ambient weather.

The airstrip has had scheduled  passenger service in its history never lasting long as small planes are not comfortable to use as passengers and there is commercial jet service in both Kamloops and Kelowna, about an hour and a quarter away.

A city committee is usually chaired by a councillor and is a good precursor to running for elected office.

Every now and then the Federal government lands one of its four engine search and rescue aircraft and gets fuel adding to the legitimacy of the strip.

Today in History: February 13,2008

 The Australian Prime Minister makes a historic apology to the aboriginal people ; the indigenous Australians and the stolen generations

Editors note: tomorrow  February 14, 2012, afternoon 12-1, Dr.Cora Voyageur at the local college will be giving a presention open to the public on trends in aboriginal communities: there is also and evening session.

Related articles
Comment

Furnace upkeep

Filed under: Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 19, 2012

Spoke to a person at Nicola Plumbing, a long time second generation family business here in Merritt. He recommends to have your furnace serviced at least every two years to prevent a cold house from a failure. Filters, cleaning, thermal coupler and gas leak scan is all included. sometimes a carbon monoxide test in the house is appropriate.

Every year is optimal and the biggest thing is the check for issues. A froze up house is a terrible event and it takes a lot to fix something that can be prevented. Fall or early spring is the time to do it as the construction season is somewhat wound down.

Natural gas furnaces are very efficient for gas usage these days and are compact , especially when equipped with a heat exchanger.

Things can escalate when failure happens in cold weather.

Today in history, January 19, 2006

The New Horizons Probe takes off for Pluto.

Related articles
Comment

MInus 22

Filed under: Environment, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 18, 2012
Pictograms of Olympic sports - Field hockey

Image via Wikipedia

The temperature outside is about 20 degrees below celsius maybe up mid 20s were it has a wind chill. A long way from the 30 degrees farenheit from my time here as a young man.  It is still cold for people and without clothing dangerous as a frost bite warning  is in effect.

Remember that things can escalate in cold weather and danger come out of simple mechanical failures, so be a critical thinker and stay safe.

And do some warm up exercises before going out to shovel snow..

Today in history, January 18, 1886

The modern game called field hockey is born in England.

Related articles
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Sensitive information

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Politics and Politicians, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — 2 Comments
January 16, 2012

Opinion: 

The world has changed in the last few decades and the need to have secrets abated. Shared security and its value to the planet  with projects such as the international space station give pause to think. The whole concept of stolen ideas and patent fraud as it were; on the back burner.

The interdependence of the business world and a mature attitude of the good business sence of an interdependent outlook, means that thugs and mugs are not using angles to lever knowledge. Rather in our post war age people understand that their interest will be served better by a defined relationship ( our part in your discovery) as it comes to a market that consumers drive, the demise of the exclusive business relationship has a demonstrative effect as patent holders licence out and do not hold ransom new technologies but try to realize reasonable profit margins on huge volumes serving many human beings.

We find it sad to see that there is a remaining attitude with the RCMP in BC and wish that Spy Vrs Spy would stay a cartoon spoof.

Today in history, January 16,2003

 The Space Shuttle Columbia takes off on the mission that will see its destruction on re-entry 16 days later

Related articles
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Electronic check out

Aside
Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 10, 2012

Today the Merritt public library started using their automatic check out machine. The librarian is busy coaching the patrons on the self activated system.Scan your card , check your account, scan out your books of films and your away.

A source says that they will have a posted instruction eventually.

Today in history, January 10, 1870

John D. Rockefeller incorporates standard oil

Comment

Horse that eats power poles

Filed under: Fauna, Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 21, 2011
Rondane

Image by Anatoly Kraynikov via Flickr

There is an unconfirmed report that a horse is chewing on a power pole in the Highland Valley. A worker has yet to investigate the allegation. And an observer asked how old is the horse ,as it may be a midlife crisis and he thinks he missed out by not being a beaver.

Today in history, December 21,1962

Rondane National Park becomes Norways first national park

Related articles
Tags: , , , , ,
Comment

BC Hydro, power and authority

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Government Works, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 13, 2011

Lots of no trespass signs about and some on old hydro meters. Dell from Coopers says they were by and changed his. Some people say they don”t want them because of health issues. Other say they wanted a choice for no wireless connection. The fact is they are being installed and adds in the papers are asking for clear access.

The hydro has worked since it was nationalized in BC as a  monopoly and  as socialism goes it was considered  draconian. However the lower rates we are supposed to get from the monopoly are supportive of the vision of Canada being a mixed economy. As a Non profit crown corporation it is not allowed to have retained earnings and must lower rates for efficiencies it gets. Still you have to watch that the government does not raid it for revenues like raising water licence fees, to accommodate good water levels for the utility.

The off-peak time dynamic will be the next issue us consumers will be watching as we still want it to be an under girding of our economy and not go to profits.

BC Hydro has the rights to all water in the province for generation purposes and a lot of power.  When good snow packs occur the next year should see rate reductions, as they have in the past.

The lines and poles are public property and that always raises an issue when they talk about co generation ; recently the utility has replaced a lot of poles and  is working to have a third 500 KV line to the lower mainland from the interior.

Today in history December 13 ,2003

Saddam Hussein is captured in Iraq. ( The Ace of Spades)

Related articles
Tags: , ,
Comment

lending library

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
November 23, 2011
An Amazon Kindle Powered Off

Image via Wikipedia

The electronic world is expanding with a lending library on Kindle readers.  The local  Public library  has a Kindle reader for lend , and they have paid for some titles, now a source says that Amazon the internet book seller is also going to be offering  an entry menu of some publishers books  on lend. We will watch  and wait on this. However reasons for not having a tablet  device are getting fewer and far between.

Today in History, November 23,2001

The convention on cyber crime is signed in Budapest Hungary.

Related articles
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Comment

Snow

Filed under: Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
November 18, 2011

There is a beautiful continuous snowfall here today. An accumulation of about 5 inches is making for a picture postcard . The forecast is for the same the next few days. And the 14 day forecast  is weighted towards snow.

Looking forward to a White Christmas and lots of  good photo ops here in Merritt.

 Truck traffic on  routes are a great concern of coffee goers so think in terms of a defensive strategy when driving to routes that have transport trucks.

Today in history,November 18 1977

Born Fabolous, American Rapper.

Related articles
Comment

What do you want. Fall humorous speech contest, merritt toastmasters, Kevin D Griffiths ACG, ALB, TGIF

Filed under: Enterprize, Fauna, Social Activism, Technology, Tourists by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
November 10, 2011
  • World War II MemorialThe Japanese needed security and provoked the second world war for fill. Yes fill, the crafty fellows thought that the world would respond by firing artillery shells into the island nation, plugging holes and filling cracks so that they had land to live and grow on. That has to be true as when the game went atomic the war was over because no more fill.
    England, Japan and New Zealand are about the same size with the latter being slightly larger than the Japanese 4 islands that house their 100 million people.
    Points
  • Snakes, there are no snakes in New Zealand as In Ireland they didn’t make it out of the ice age.
  • Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?
  •  A least one 1200 year old tree centers the splendid sand and greenery for the fauna in New Zealand
  • A small lizard survives the from the Dinosaur age we think he must have liked to eat frozen snakes.
    • Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?
  • product placement
  • 1/4 acre syndrome; the  inhabitants of New Zealand have lawns and single family dwellings and their favorite pastime is self home renos.
    • Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long  journey to Paradise?
  • 20 to 1 sheep, there is peace and contentment as the 3 million odd people in New Zealand can all count sheep to go to sleep at night.
  • *
    • Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?

It’s a long, long way to paradise from spirit bay….

If the Japanese can make it to Vancouver they can fly for about a thousand dollars to New Zealand  via commercial air carrier .

Note there are poisonous sea snakes in the ocean off New Zealand     .

  • Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?
  • please note the one pointless note….*
Related articles humorous
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Comment