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Solar power

Filed under: Enterprize, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 7, 2014

The summer is about half over here and we have enjoyed a lot of sunshine this year, makes you think about the source of energy and its value to our life. Some European countries have embraced alternate energy generation in a big way now BC Hydro is going ahead with project of some scale. The project is being planned for the old Kimberly mine site in the Kootney region of British Columbia. the mine area produced a lot of the lead that was in gasoline decades ago now it is being offered redemption to say.

Kimberley, B.C., will be home to largest solar project west of Ontario

With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, it’s no surprise that the City of Kimberley in the B.C. Rockies has its sights set on solar power.

Today, the city is an alpine ski resort with world-class recreation. But it wasn’t always known for its breathtaking mountain views; for much of its history, Kimberley was a major mining town. The Sullivan Mine, owned by Teck, was once Canada’s largest underground mine within city limits, and one of the largest lead-zinc mines in the world.

But by January 2015, the former Sullivan Mine site will house more than 4,000 solar-cell modules, as the home of SunMine, the largest solar project in western Canada, and the first one to have an electricity purchase agreement with BC Hydro.

Vancouver-based non-profit organization EcoSmart Foundation led the initiative to transform this historic part of Kimberley into a solar farm. EcoSmart partnered with the City of Kimberley, which owns the project, and Teck, which contributed $2 million in funding and offered the former mine site, to develop SunMine. The project was made possible in part thanks to the ability to sell the clean energy generated back to BC Hydro.

source BC hydro for generations.

Today in history: August 07 2007
Barry Bonds sets an all time hitting record of 756 home runs:

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Love lies bleeding

Filed under: -Photography, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — 4 Comments
August 6, 2014
Love lies bleeding, Merritt BC, Photo KDG

Love lies bleeding,
Merritt BC,
Photo KDG

These plants are nearly 5′ feet tall, and have grown in Merritt from seeds that produced plants about 2 and 0ne half feet tall last year.

Amaranthus caudatus is a species of annual flowering plant. It goes by common names such as love-lies-bleeding,[2] pendant amaranth,[citation needed] tassel flower,[2] velvet flower,[2] foxtail amaranth,[2] and quilete.[citation needed]

Many parts of the plants, including the leaves and seeds, are edible, and are frequently used as a source of food in India and South America – where it is the most important Andean species of Amaranthus, known as kiwicha. (see also Amaranth seed and Andean ancient plants) This species, as with many other of the amaranths, are originally from the American tropics. The exact origin is unknown, as A. caudatus is believed to be a wild Amaranthus hybridus aggregate.

The red color of the inflorescences is due to a high content of betacyanins, as in the related species known as “Hopi red dye” amaranth. Ornamental garden varieties sold under the latter name are either Amaranthus cruentus or a hybrid between A. cruentus and A. powelli. In indigenous agriculture, A. cruentus is the Central American counterpart to South American A. caudatus Source wikipedia.

Today in History: August 6th 1912

The Bull Moose party meets in Chicago.

 

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Electric SUV

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 5, 2014
A Tesla S, 85 charges up at Merritt, with an adapter to a DC 500 Volt 120 amp Quick charger, Aug /14 Photo KDG

A Tesla S, 85 charges up at Merritt, with an adapter to a DC 500 Volt 120 amp quick charger, Aug /14
Photo KDG

Randy a person that works for Tesla motors in Vancouver says that there is an SUV edition of the fully electric car coming out next year. Even with out a proto type he says that there are 20,000 advanced orders.
Randy spoke to us while charging his Tesla model 85 400 kilometer EV at the Sun Country charger on Voght street in Merritt on Monday ( BC Day)
http://www.teslamotors.com/modelx
Tesla model X can be, can be pre-ordered for fall 2015 delivery, by risk takers and early opted enthusiasts. Tesla has a better then average track record for reliability with their Roadster ( out of production) and Model S. Third row seating, and falcon wing doors combined with the full EV package make for an interesting and attention getting car.
Today in history: August 5th 1960
Burkina Faso , known as Upper Volta becomes independent from France

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TGIF- AC charger is free

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 1, 2014
A General Motors product, Chevy Volt charges up on the free AC Charger, July 2014 Photo KDG

A General Motors product, Chevy Volt charges up on the free AC Charger, July 2014
Photo KDG

A Chevrolet volt charges up at a charging station last week in Merritt. The Volt had Ontario licence plates and is partial EV, it has a gasoline charging engine that will charge the battery as it drives.
Partial electric vehicles and hybrids are a consumer choice that does not allow for the ideological ” emission free goal but have a cumulative effect to benefit the environment, in the view of some operators. The 2014 volts are in the $37,000 dollar range and where intended to be a mass produced EV. http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles/chevrolet/volt/overview

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors, also marketed in rebadged variants as the Holden Volt in Australia and New Zealand, and with a different fascia as the Vauxhall Ampera in the United Kingdom and as the Opel Ampera in the remainder of Europe.

Sales of the 2011 Volt began in the U.S. in mid-December 2010 followed by various European countries and other international markets in 2011. As of June 2014, the Volt and Ampera models have combined global sales of over 77,000 units, with the U.S. as the leading market with over 63,000 Volts delivered since its introduction in 2010. Opel/Vauxhall Ampera sales in Europe totaled over 9,000 units through May 2014. The Netherlands is the world’s second largest Volt/Ampera market and leads the European region with more than 4,900 Amperas and over 1,000 Volts sold through June 2014. The Volt is the top selling plug-in electric car in the United States, and the Volt and its rebadged variants are the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the world.

The Volt operates as a pure battery electric vehicle until its plug-in battery capacity drops to a predetermined threshold from full charge. From there its internal combustion engine powers an electric generator to extend the vehicle’s range as needed. When the engine is running it may be periodically mechanically linked (by a clutch) to a planetary gear set, and hence the output drive axle, to improve energy efficiency. The Volt’s regenerative braking also contributes to the on-board electricity generation. Under the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cycle, the 2013/14 model year Volt all-electric range is 38 mi (61 km), with a combined electric mode/gasoline-only rating of 62 mpg-US (3.8 L/100 km; 74 mpg-imp) equivalent (MPG-equivalent).

The Volt has won several awards, including the 2009 Green Car Vision Award, 2011 Green Car of the Year, 2011 North American Car of the Year, 2011 World Green Car and 2012 European Car of the Year. Controversies regarding the Volt include the extent to which the U.S. federal government may have participated in the Volt’s development, which continued through General Motors’ 2009 government-led bankruptcy,[6][7][8] and concerns about the battery pack fire risk following a crash test that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performed on a Volt in 2011.[7][8][9] At the completion of its investigation NHTSA concluded that no discernible defect trend exist source Wikipedia

The Tesla S fully electric has had a production of about 30,000 units of the 100 thousand dollar plus car and is bringing out a new version soon to be near par for price with the volt. Range will be a factor in its use as fully EV cars are most useful to those that drive the average Kilometers of an urban driver.

Today in history: August 1st 1984
A preserved bog body, Lindow man is found in Northwest England


 

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Any thing in the first meter

Filed under: Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 31, 2014

The local sign bylaw is strict according to a local merchant.The owner of an optomitry/ jewlery /first/ nation art. Says she can’t put a sign board in the sidewalk. however she says she can put anything she wants in the first meter of walk from the store front. She chooses to put two deer made from tree branches to draw attention to her front door. This is not a problem with the bylaw people,and although it is legal she still can’t put something there that will hinder passage. She must walk a balance to draw attention but not put some one at risk.
A number of years ago her partner had a contention over a huge pair of glasses on the back of a pickup truck that he drove about town.

Today in history: July 31 1588
The Spanish Armada is spotted of the coast of England

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Sprinkler system

Filed under: Environment, Government Works, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 30, 2014

A contractor was flushing out the sprinkler system at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena on the 29th. Fire safe from Salmon Arm had hoses connected to the system on both sides of the building, and water was flushing through a fine filter at the end of it and into the storm sewer. the rusty water was the result of the 15 year time since any flow had been in it, according to a worker that identified himself as just a helper.
The Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, is home to the oldest BCJHL hockey team in the province, and had a major reno and expansion some two decades ago.
Today in history: July 30th 1729
The foundation of the city Baltimore.

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Piano in spirit square

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 29, 2014

A community piano in a community square. Photo: KDG

A community piano in a community square.
Photo: KDG


The CPO, Community policing office has a piano in the Spirit square, in downtown Merritt. Chained to a pillar in a display gazebos it is background by a bio for Michelle Loughery the Vernon BC artist hat did the Walk of stars youth mural project. A display in the window of the community policing office invites people ( youth we think to try to play it) maybe on the of chance that a gifted hear my come along Perhaps the stuff of myths, however they can certainly say there is access to a piano, and maybe by a little social peace for the deprived. Or maybe some one may follow along at a distance from the live performances that are sometimes in the other corner , and sheltered by the vacant Merritt News building with the Glenn Campbell hand print. Glen was not known for piano so much as a guitar and being the fall guy for The duke (John Wayne) in the movie true grit.

The piano is available and has not been vandelized in its two odd weeks of captiity in the Square.

Today in history: July 28th 1993
Andorra joins the United Nations

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TGIF-One more free yoga for all

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 25, 2014

Thursdays have been a free yoga for all evening at the community garden behind the local hospital parking lot. Billed as Yoga for all ages it is free and available in a nature/ plant appreciating atmosphere. The program was advertised for thursday evenings through July. Hot weather and now rain have been a problem however there is one more scheduled night on the 31st of July.
The local hospital has access off Voght street on the Princeton Merritt highway. The community garden also borders Reid Avenue, in the bench area of Merritt.

Today in history: July 25th 1978
The first test tube baby is born.

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A brief respite

Filed under: Climate, Environment, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 24, 2014

Fire fighting crews got a a break from the heat by way of heavy rain yesterday. Two helicopters were seen over the airstrip around noon, just before a brief ice storm was followed by a summer cloud burst. People were kept in the local Starbucks for about a half an hour as thunder and heavy rain fell. One conversation about what to do if the power went off, was answered by an offical, the plan is use the made coffee and call to see how long it would be off. If it was hours then the store would close. Editors note: most public buildings over a capacity have emergency lighting, some like hospitals have emergency generators.
Three days of rain are in the forecast from Wednesday, thursday morning is forecast to feel like 9 degrees c.
Friday should see partly sunny conditions with 25 degree C temperatures, here.
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/canada/british-columbia/merritt
Today in history: July 24th 1866
Reconstruction, Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the US after the civil war.

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3 hours and 45 minutes.

Filed under: Cars, Enterprize, Environment, Social Activism, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 23, 2014

There was an other Tesla EV at the charge station on Voght on Monday night. This one was the model that has the near 500 kilometer range and is only electric. The charge gauge was at 90 KM and it had 3 hours and 45 minutes to finish a complete charge. It was hooked up to the AC charger next to the 120 amp DC charger that a Nissan leaf used Sunday evening. The Leaf owner Julian said that he had to watch his speed as he came from another DC charger in Hope. “It was near running out before I hit the peak of the Coquihalla and the system in his car began to use gravity to recharge the battery”. He said there was a net increase in the charge meaning he had kilometers left when arriving in Merritt.The AC charger at the Voght street is talked of as being a 90 amp charger the product plate on the side of it says 70 amps. The more amperage the quicker the charge.
There are AC chargers at City hall on the other side of Voght, in the 60 amp range, and one behind the Civic center, there is also one at the Husky station, leaving Merritt going north. There is a Boston Pizza across the street from the Husky but no coffee shops or fast food outlets have put any in here as yet.
A General Motors Chevy Volt was seen charging at City hall last week.Merritt is a small community in the south central part of BC, it is in the center of the Coquihalla highway hub.

Today in history: July 23 1995

The comet Hale Bopp is discovered, it becomes visible to the naked eye a year later.

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Friends of the 60s

Filed under: Class reunions by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 22, 2014
Friends of the 60s, see whats up with the Chinese dry goods store that was established in 1927 in Merritt. Photo KDG

Friends of the 60s, see whats up with the Chinese dry goods store that was established in 1927 in Merritt.
Photo KDG

Two hundred  seventy some former Merritt Secondary school students from the 60s and their friends enjoyed fellowship and entertainment over the weekend. Presents from Mrs Nora Turnbull the wife of Robert Turnbull and MSS principal over most of the time that the reunion encompassed were acknowledged as being very thought full by people.

 

 

Today in history: July 22 1997

The second blue water bridge opens between Sarnia Ontario and Port Huron Michigan:

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TGIF- Murray lake fire

Filed under: Climate, Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 18, 2014

There is a lake up in the Coquihalla Valley , a small lake about 1000 feet wide  in a narrow area. The lake has cabins on it and it is considered scenic. The access is off the freeway near the Juliet creek bridge, in the area of Larson hill. There was a fire South of there and presumable from the conditions of wind and conditions the two helicopter  working to extinguish the fire had to go over Merritt and to Nicola lake to get their water buckets filled. The fire was discovered Monday, thought to have been started by lightning it has prompted an evacuation order for the  residents in the area, of the fire, not Merritt. The order comes from the Thompson Nicola Regional District.

The Vernon info news has published what an evacuation order means to those effected by it: http://infotel.ca/newsitem/evacuation-order-issued-for-murray-lake/it11597

The absence of  helicopters being seen going by Merritt  Thursday to Nicola lake may mean that ground crews are in there and have a measure of control over the fire.

Get authoritive information at the regional district site: http://www.tnrd.ca/ click the red button to see what it means to you.

 

Today in history: July 18th 2013

The government of Detroit files for bankruptcy with a record 20 billion dollars of debt.

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