Saturday, August 16, 2008
Information Statement
Information Statement: M 4.7 030 N EUREKA, CA. 0557Z AUG 17: Tsunami NOT expected
NewsGator Online
"Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. So procrastinate now, don't put it off."
Study says most corporations pay no U.S. income taxes | Markets | Bonds News | Reuters
Study says most corporations pay no U.S. income taxes | Markets | Bonds News | Reuters: "The report did not name any companies. The GAO said corporations escaped paying federal income taxes for a variety of reasons including operating losses, tax credits and an ability to use transactions within the company to shift income to low tax countries."
Friday, August 15, 2008
NewsGator Online
"In all recorded history there has not been one economist who has had to worry about where the next meal would come from."
Plug-In Hybrid From G.M. Is Nearly Ready for Testing - NYTimes.com
Plug-In Hybrid From G.M. Is Nearly Ready for Testing - NYTimes.com: "G.M. has said it will charge $30,000 to $40,000 for the four-door Volt. Frank Weber, G.M.’s vehicle line executive for the Volt, said that the company did not expect to make money in the near term but that the “E-flex” battery technology will ultimately allow G.M. to sell a profitable line of ultrafuel-efficient vehicles."
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Proposed Automated Neighborhood Watch Alert System
After you have considered this article would you answer the poll question on the right side of the website?The above diagram( left click it to make it larger) shows how a neighborhood alert system could work at LVH. At the heart of the system is a service called a predictive phone dialer.
Management or a chosen park resident (the Neighborhood Watch coordinator or a block captain) would call the dialer service or go on the internet and type in a message to all residents. The dialer would then call everyone in the park in about 15 minutes (180 homes).
At the same time the LVH emergency radio network would be activated and transmit any updates and answer questions. Management would announce an all clear over the radio. Because it costs $$ to use the service more than is necessary.
The dialer will leave a message on an answer machine and it will redial busy and no answer phone numbers until a predetermined time by the originator of the message.
Cost is $75 installation fee and $300 per year for a limit of 500 calls per month.
Solar Collector Could Change Asphalt Roads Into Renewable Energy Source
Solar Collector Could Change Asphalt Roads Into Renewable Energy Source: "“Our preliminary results provide a promising proof of concept for what could be a very important future source of renewable, pollution-free energy for our nation. And it has been there all along, right under our feet.”"
Do-It-Yourself Electric Cars , Businesses Selling Plug-In Hybrid Systems To Modify Prius Models Or Replace Internal Combustion Engines - CBS News
Do-It-Yourself Electric Cars , Businesses Selling Plug-In Hybrid Systems To Modify Prius Models Or Replace Internal Combustion Engines - CBS News: "(CNET) Countless small start-ups and Detroit automakers are trying to revive electric cars from an early grave, although there's a long road ahead before electricity might serve as a 'fuel' for the masses.
In the meantime, however, a handful of companies aims to put the power cord in the hands of drivers who want to transform their gas-electric hybrids into plug-in hybrids, or to replace the internal combustion innards of other cars with all-electric systems."
In the Sahara, Stone Age Graves From Greener Days - NYTimes.com
In the Sahara, Stone Age Graves From Greener Days - NYTimes.com: "When Paul C. Sereno went hunting dinosaur bones in the Sahara, his career took a sharp turn from paleontology to archaeology. The expedition found what has proved to be the largest known graveyard of Stone Age people who lived there when the desert was green."
National Geographic News
teckron@gmail.com has sent you this story from National Geographic
News. We hope you enjoy it
News. We hope you enjoy it
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080813-elephants-video-ap.html
BBC NEWS | Health | Hope for arthritis vaccine 'cure'
BBC NEWS | Health | Hope for arthritis vaccine 'cure': "The Arthritis Research Campaign, which is funding the project, said if successful, the treatment would be 'revolutionary'.
It could be fully tested and available within five years."
It could be fully tested and available within five years."
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tai Chi Program Helps Prevent Falls Among Older Adults
Tai Chi Program Helps Prevent Falls Among Older Adults: "'Our results are very important from a public health perspective,' says Li. 'The U.S. population is aging rapidly and falls are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among adults age 65 and older. Falls are associated with an enormous burden to individuals, society, and to the health care system. Tai Chi, as a proven fall intervention, may have much to offer in terms of reducing the public health burden of falls and the benefits accrued for prevention.'"
NewsGator Online
"Every man serves a useful purpose: A miser, for example, makes a wonderful ancestor."
Americans driving fewer miles - Sacramento Business Journal:
Americans driving fewer miles - Sacramento Business Journal:: "In a statement, the department said, 'As Americans drive fewer miles, less revenue is generated for the Highway Trust Fund from gasoline and diesel sales--18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon, respectively. During the first quarter of 2008, motorists consumed nearly 400 million fewer gallons of gasoline, or about 1.3 percent less than during the same period in 2007, and 7 percent less -- or 318 million gallons -- of diesel.'"
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels - NYTimes.com
Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels - NYTimes.com: "The Great Salt Lake is so briny that swimmers bob in the water like corks. It is teeming with tiny shrimp that were sold for years in the back of comic books as magical “sea monkeys.” And, for reasons scientists cannot explain, it is laden with toxic mercury."
Science Visuals - How the First Farmers Colonized the Mediterranean - NYTimes.com
Science Visuals - How the First Farmers Colonized the Mediterranean - NYTimes.com: "Since Cyprus lies 60 kilometers off the Turkish coast, the suite of agricultural species must have been brought there on boats by the new farmers. That establishes one episode of colonization, and Dr. Zeder sees evidence for several others. The second map shows, in red circles, the dates when farming colonists' enclaves were set up around the Mediterranean."
NewsGator Online
"I've been trying for some time to develop a lifestyle that doesn't require my presence."
Oregon Coast Labor Day Weekend Advice
Oregon Coast Labor Day Weekend Advice: "Labor Day weekend is a crazed time on the coast: a flurry of frenzied activity on what is normally Oregon's favorite laid back region. Things still move more slowly out here on this weekend. The reason, however, is that there are so many people. With everyone getting away from it all, they manage to bring it all with them."
MailTribune.com: CERT: In Case of Emergency
MailTribune.com: CERT: In Case of Emergency: "It's only a matter of time before a major wildfire or flood slams into Ashland, so the city's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is busy organizing people into groups that have survival kits, know where everyone's children, old people and animals are, know how to turn off water, electricity and gas, and have gotten to know each other by first name.
It's called Map Your Neighborhood and it happens at block parties where people organize potlucks, say howdy, learn how to reduce fire hazards in yards, and gain confidence they can make use of the so-called Golden Hour — the first hour after disaster strikes — to save lives and homes, says CERT Program Coordinator Lucy Edwards."
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Link to LVH Emergency Radio Spreadsheet.
Over there on the right of this site you will find a new link listed under "Other LVH Sites". It is the weekly log of who checked into the Emergency Radio Net and how clearly their radio was heard.
New game fill in the blanks...
You all should give it a try... It takes about 5 minutes and teaches you how to call in on an emergency.... The winter windstorms are just a few weeks off... Learn now, smile when the_____ hits the fan. Because you are prepared.
Learn now because if a power outage happens you will know what's going on and can call for help if you need it. Or, bury your head in the _____.
Learn now because when an Ice Storm locks you in for several days You can call CERT for help... because you know how... Or just freeze your _____, off.
Learn now so you can keep up to date on community closures or suddenly have your water pipes ripped off the_____.
Learn Now because if a really big disaster like a forest fire or an earthquake comes you will only be able to use that radio... Or, just ignore this... what the ____.
New game fill in the blanks...
You all should give it a try... It takes about 5 minutes and teaches you how to call in on an emergency.... The winter windstorms are just a few weeks off... Learn now, smile when the_____ hits the fan. Because you are prepared.
Learn now because if a power outage happens you will know what's going on and can call for help if you need it. Or, bury your head in the _____.
Learn now because when an Ice Storm locks you in for several days You can call CERT for help... because you know how... Or just freeze your _____, off.
Learn now so you can keep up to date on community closures or suddenly have your water pipes ripped off the_____.
Learn Now because if a really big disaster like a forest fire or an earthquake comes you will only be able to use that radio... Or, just ignore this... what the ____.
Information Statement
Information Statement: M 5.3 120 SW COLD BAY, AK. 0010Z AUG 11: Tsunami NOT expected
Neighborhood Watch
editorial ron thomas
Ideas
What to do about Neighborhood Watch in our community?
The trouble with Neighborhood Watch is it is a phone tree type of system designed for a neighborhood of 8 to 10 homes... We have 180 homes... Various Neighborhood watch volunteers have proven time and again that a phone tree system will not work here.. There are just to many homes to call... Try to break up the calls into groups does not work because some of the callers will not be home. Calling some people is a hazard in itself as they will continue to talk on for hours tying up a critical phone line.
Having one person call the problem out and then call an all clear will take up to 6 hours (FACT).
Radios? Have somebody monitor FRS radios 24/7 ? Do you have that kind of dedication? Although there are some trying to do this now it really can't be done full time..
People leave the park.. They go to sleep.. Their radio batteries discharge... a myriad of problems show up.
Most of our people do not feel this an overwhelming issue big enough to volunteer their time yet it would be great if we had a system that would warn us of outages, people sneaking around, and generally keeping us informed.
That is the challenge to make an early warning system that works 24/7 that will contact everyone within minutes and not be volunteer time intensive. A solution does exist. Here is the problem will you pay for it? If you won't volunteer your time will you volunteer you money?
What is it and how much?
Cost between $300 and $1200 a year...(based on some internet research I've been doing)
There are services that are both computer based and phone based. Here is a generalization of the way they work.
They have telephone lines in large numbers and computer software that combine to make a system of notification that would work here at LVH like this example...
We or LVH management buy the service. We give the password to Larry Henson and 5 other community members who are neighborhood watch block captains and the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator. A notice comes up... say it is delivered to Larry Henson as park manager from public works.
This notice says that the water will be off throughout the park tomorrow. Larry goes to his phone or computer and does this... If by phone he calls a special # and enters his PIN. The automated service then walks him through the message he wants to send and when he wants to send it. Then he hangs up and it is done... Within 15 minutes everyone in the park has been called and notified with that exact message. It does not stop there.. During calling their computer knows to wait for answering machines to finish their messages and then leave its own message... If their computer gets a no answer it keeps remaking the call until the time specified by Larry to stop. While this is all happening Larry and the 5 other residents can watch a real time generated report that show who has been notified and who has not as it is happening. 15 minutes! You don't have to volunteer! You know what's happening!
You can preprogram messages so that you could say send message #3 now. It might say during a wind storm for you to tune into CH 6 or CH 6.16 and listen for update from the CERT team or request their help...
The Neighborhood watch block Captains could call the coordinator about suspicious activity and a message could be sent throughout the neighborhood ... all 180 homes to watch out for the problem.
This is how the system works... It needs to be fed money $$$, in order to work.
Consider, in the 10+ years we have lived here Neighborhood Watch has been wishy washy at best because it is to volunteer time intensive. Finding volunteers is difficult and then the enormity of the task and lack of caring among residents usually results in people resigning. This is a way to revitalize our system, give it teeth and it could be a great selling point for the park... as a really class security system designed for a Senior living community.
Most of the time I take on these tasks and it takes forever to accomplish. Like you, I'm aging and that takes its toll on my energy reserves and I am not truly up to doing this thing alone. I'm willing to do what I can but some of you community leaders that can see the value of establishing this program are going to have to come forward now and roll up your sleeves. We need a steering committee to put together a plan.
Yesterday, Jacky and I talked to Matt and Debbie Matheney, the newest folks in the park, about being the Neighborhood Watch Coordinators. We spoke for about
2 1/2 hours about the evolution of Neighborhood Watch in the park and about the idea you have read above. They have agreed to take on the Coordinator job and Matt will start by coming to Monday's CERT meeting so he can begin to get an understanding of how CERT hopes to intertwine with Neighborhood Watch.
Send me an email or catch me at the clubhouse or call me and let me know if you are willing to serve on this steering committee.
Ideas
What to do about Neighborhood Watch in our community?
The trouble with Neighborhood Watch is it is a phone tree type of system designed for a neighborhood of 8 to 10 homes... We have 180 homes... Various Neighborhood watch volunteers have proven time and again that a phone tree system will not work here.. There are just to many homes to call... Try to break up the calls into groups does not work because some of the callers will not be home. Calling some people is a hazard in itself as they will continue to talk on for hours tying up a critical phone line.
Having one person call the problem out and then call an all clear will take up to 6 hours (FACT).
Radios? Have somebody monitor FRS radios 24/7 ? Do you have that kind of dedication? Although there are some trying to do this now it really can't be done full time..
People leave the park.. They go to sleep.. Their radio batteries discharge... a myriad of problems show up.
Most of our people do not feel this an overwhelming issue big enough to volunteer their time yet it would be great if we had a system that would warn us of outages, people sneaking around, and generally keeping us informed.
That is the challenge to make an early warning system that works 24/7 that will contact everyone within minutes and not be volunteer time intensive. A solution does exist. Here is the problem will you pay for it? If you won't volunteer your time will you volunteer you money?
What is it and how much?
Cost between $300 and $1200 a year...(based on some internet research I've been doing)
There are services that are both computer based and phone based. Here is a generalization of the way they work.
They have telephone lines in large numbers and computer software that combine to make a system of notification that would work here at LVH like this example...
We or LVH management buy the service. We give the password to Larry Henson and 5 other community members who are neighborhood watch block captains and the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator. A notice comes up... say it is delivered to Larry Henson as park manager from public works.
This notice says that the water will be off throughout the park tomorrow. Larry goes to his phone or computer and does this... If by phone he calls a special # and enters his PIN. The automated service then walks him through the message he wants to send and when he wants to send it. Then he hangs up and it is done... Within 15 minutes everyone in the park has been called and notified with that exact message. It does not stop there.. During calling their computer knows to wait for answering machines to finish their messages and then leave its own message... If their computer gets a no answer it keeps remaking the call until the time specified by Larry to stop. While this is all happening Larry and the 5 other residents can watch a real time generated report that show who has been notified and who has not as it is happening. 15 minutes! You don't have to volunteer! You know what's happening!
You can preprogram messages so that you could say send message #3 now. It might say during a wind storm for you to tune into CH 6 or CH 6.16 and listen for update from the CERT team or request their help...
The Neighborhood watch block Captains could call the coordinator about suspicious activity and a message could be sent throughout the neighborhood ... all 180 homes to watch out for the problem.
This is how the system works... It needs to be fed money $$$, in order to work.
Consider, in the 10+ years we have lived here Neighborhood Watch has been wishy washy at best because it is to volunteer time intensive. Finding volunteers is difficult and then the enormity of the task and lack of caring among residents usually results in people resigning. This is a way to revitalize our system, give it teeth and it could be a great selling point for the park... as a really class security system designed for a Senior living community.
Most of the time I take on these tasks and it takes forever to accomplish. Like you, I'm aging and that takes its toll on my energy reserves and I am not truly up to doing this thing alone. I'm willing to do what I can but some of you community leaders that can see the value of establishing this program are going to have to come forward now and roll up your sleeves. We need a steering committee to put together a plan.
Yesterday, Jacky and I talked to Matt and Debbie Matheney, the newest folks in the park, about being the Neighborhood Watch Coordinators. We spoke for about
2 1/2 hours about the evolution of Neighborhood Watch in the park and about the idea you have read above. They have agreed to take on the Coordinator job and Matt will start by coming to Monday's CERT meeting so he can begin to get an understanding of how CERT hopes to intertwine with Neighborhood Watch.
Send me an email or catch me at the clubhouse or call me and let me know if you are willing to serve on this steering committee.
Oregon State Police Timeline | StatesmanJournal.com | Statesman Journal
Oregon State Police Timeline | StatesmanJournal.com | Statesman Journal: "1979-81 budget cycle: Patrol troopers reach 665 of total agency employment of 1,114; there are 272 troopers elsewhere. Patrols draw from the highway fund, which consists of gasoline taxes, vehicle registration fees and weight-mile taxes on trucks."
Map maker brings artist’s eye to his craft: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.
article picked especially for Wayde Dudley
Map maker brings artist’s eye to his craft: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.: "“Cartography is a craft and, in many ways, Dave Imus is the ultimate craftsman,” says Tom Patterson, former president of the North American Cartographic Information Society. “I regard him as one of the better cartographers in the U.S. and abroad.”
Imus’ original Oregon map, which has sold 45,000 copies, won “best of show” in an American Congress on Surveying & Mapping contest. The revised version was nearly two years in the making."
Map maker brings artist’s eye to his craft: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.: "“Cartography is a craft and, in many ways, Dave Imus is the ultimate craftsman,” says Tom Patterson, former president of the North American Cartographic Information Society. “I regard him as one of the better cartographers in the U.S. and abroad.”
Imus’ original Oregon map, which has sold 45,000 copies, won “best of show” in an American Congress on Surveying & Mapping contest. The revised version was nearly two years in the making."
Newport News-Times: Crosswalk operation to be Tuesday
Newport News-Times: Crosswalk operation to be Tuesday: "The Newport Police Department will be conducting a “targeted pedestrian enforcement” operation from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
The event will take place in the crosswalk at N Highway 101 and NW 3rd Street. The operation focuses on drivers failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Citations are issued in an effort to raise public awareness and educate people on pedestrian right-of-way laws. Citations will also be issued for other violations. Flyers will be given to drivers who are stopped."
The event will take place in the crosswalk at N Highway 101 and NW 3rd Street. The operation focuses on drivers failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Citations are issued in an effort to raise public awareness and educate people on pedestrian right-of-way laws. Citations will also be issued for other violations. Flyers will be given to drivers who are stopped."
Perseid Meteor Shower To Peak August 11 and 12
Perseid Meteor Shower To Peak August 11 and 12: "Unlike short-lived solar eclipses or unpredictable auroras, meteor showers regularly offer skywatchers a dazzling show.
Soon the curtain will rise on one of the best of these showers: the Perseids, so called because the meteors appear to originate in the constellation Perseus.
Slated to peak sometime during the night and early morning of August 11 to 12, the shower offers one of the year's best chances to see a shooting sta"
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