Chuck Shepherd's News of the Weird (.990)
WEEK OF JANUARY 28, 2007

LEAD STORYIn findings that could surely be matched in the United States, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reported in January that the country's 100 highest-paid business executives had, by 9:46 a.m. on Jan. 2, earned an amount equal to what the average Canadian would earn in all of 2007. And The New York Times reported in December that Wall Street bonuses for 2006 were so large that one real estate broker complained at New York City's shortage of $20 million properties and a Greenwich, Conn., Ferrari dealer complained that Ferrari hadn't manufactured enough 599 GTB Fioranos (price: about $250,000) to fill his customers' orders. [Standard-Freeholder (Cornwall, Ontario), 1-2-07] [New York Times, 12-25-06]

The Know Zone

Mike Larsen, a friend and fellow CERT team member said, “You know you ought to write about some of the stuff that has been going on around here and how everyone needs to enter the Know Zone.”

Did you know that the CERT team is working out plans called, “Standard Operating Procedures” (SOP’s)? What’s that? Well, they are guidelines for a team to follow during an emergency. Because we are developing these SOP’s as a team, we all have a say in what and how those plans work. At the end an SOP has been designed and discussed to the most miniscule detail by everyone on the team. All possibilities that we can think of beforehand are included in the plan. So when the day arrives we will have both practiced and planned for a lot of the possibilities as a team. Those that we can’t know will be dealt with as they come up. But for the most part we will have a handle on a lot of what happens.

Did you know that the current largest problem we face is getting our community in touch with one another especially in the first few hours. Pulling everyone under one umbrella and making sure you know we are coming and what you can do. You need to be in the Know Zone.

Did you know that 2 persons came out of the forest late at night recently and the police were called? Did you know they were arrested for meth? Did you know that a lady has been seen at the main gate, late at night, staring across the park by residents? Are you in the know about a resident that makes a patrol loop around the park once a night in the wee hours of the morning? He actually confronted some teenagers loitering and scared them off and turned it in to the police. Did you know that one of our single lady residents awoke to a strange man standing next to her bed recently? He was arrested. Did you know what was going on during the last high powered wind storm. Were you able to follow what repair crews encountered? Those in the know zone know all about these things. Did you know that right now the water is shut off on 60^th st here in our community? Won’t be on for a day or so. about the lady who was protected from loss of oxygen in the last windstorm? Did you know that recently a modus operandi for local theives is to run a stick across your outside wall and if no lights come on they feel emboldened to break in? Did you know that several residents possess the key to the know zone and are in the know? Because of the know zone several people feel more secure and sleep easier...

NOW! The Know Zone is going to increase in size and scope .. Everyone will be offered the key. You will be able to know what is going on 24/7 in our community... and you are part of the plan.

Coming Soon .... The Know Zone.. don’t miss out.

WATER UPDATE

Email from Larry Henson


Hi Ron,

The problem with the water leak at 60th and Deer has been found and repairs are being initiated. Do not know how much longer water will be out but will keep everyone informed. as events unfold.

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life.'"

Spanish start-up Whisher promises free Wi-Fi for all - USATODAY.com

Spanish start-up Whisher promises free Wi-Fi for all - USATODAY.com: "'Either you believe in the user-generated revolution or you believe ISPs rule the world,' said Ferran Moreno, co-founder and CEO of Whisher. 'I believe ISPs don't rule the world and how the Internet works. If I am paying for my broadband, I have the right to share it with other people, as long as I am not reselling the service. And we are not reselling access.'

Of course, there is one small snag in Moreno's utopian view of free Wi-Fi for everyone. In the U.S., it's illegal.

'Sharing broadband access outside of your dwelling is a violation of our subscriber agreement,' said Maureen Huff, a spokeswoman for Time Warner Cable, the second largest cable operator in the U.S. 'We've taken steps as a company to inform our customers that passive or active theft of our services is illegal, and people who violate these agreements can be prosecuted on a criminal and civil basis.'"

Snow Complicates Life for Alaska's Moose, Deep Mountain Snow Complicates Life for Alaska's Urban Moose - CBS News

Snow Complicates Life for Alaska's Moose, Deep Mountain Snow Complicates Life for Alaska's Urban Moose - CBS News: "'I tell people when the moose is alive it belongs to the state,' Sinnott said. 'If it's dead and on your property, it belongs to you.'"

BBC NEWS | Health | Human metabolism recreated in lab

BBC NEWS | Health | Human metabolism recreated in lab: "They hope the computer model will allow scientists to tinker with metabolic processes to find new treatments for conditions such as high cholesterol.

It could also be used to individually tailor diet for weight control, the University of California team claimed."

Water is off


Good Morning Ron,
Last night a water leak occurred in the vicinity of 608 NE 60th St. Early this morning I made the decision to turn the water off to the loop line serving that area.
Now contacting residents in the area to inform them that Dave or I will bring them water if they need it and there are showers at the Longview Hills Community Center spa room. Apologize for the inconvenience. Hope to get this fixed as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Larry Henson, CM/LA-LVHMHC

To hear the stats on where this country is going, the amount of people this country is taking in and how it effects the many service we deal with daily and how it will effect everyone, mostly our kids and grandkids down the road.
Take time to listen to the whole report this gentlemen has...........


YouTube - Immigration Gumballs

How Many of Me - Front Page

Jim Dodds has found a new website for your enjoyment. Follow the link.

How Many of Me - Front Page: "What about you? How many people share your name? Enter it and find out how many of you there are."

Sunny Oregon Coast Sees Rare Oddities, Seals and Wild Waves

Sunny Oregon Coast Sees Rare Oddities, Seals and Wild Waves: "Sunny Oregon Coast Sees Rare Oddities, Seals and Wild Waves
Intense wave action at Yachats

(Oregon Coast) – It was more than the average visitor bargained for on the Oregon coast this weekend, as the warm weather brought out an exciting, even rarely witnessed natural event, a couple of lounging seals, some strange discoveries about tide pool life and extraordinary waves that belied the calm, sunny conditions and would’ve made surfers from Hawaii jealous."

The News-Review - News

The News-Review - News: "Oregon truck stop business aims to help truckers, save the planet

January 29, 2007

Comment Comments (0) Print Friendly Print Email Email Subscribe Subscribe

COBURG, Ore. (AP) — A truck stop business designed to spare the planet has opened near the Interstate 5 exit to Coburg. It sells fuel-saving and anti-pollution devices to long-haul semitrailer drivers."

The News-Review - News

The News-Review - News: "But Oregon’s status could change under a pending bill in the Legislature that would award the state’s seven electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote nationally, regardless of who wins the state. Similar legislation, which is being filed in more than 45 other legislatures around the country, won approval from the members of the Colorado state Senate this past week."

Arcata Eye :: The mildly objectionable weekly newspaper for Arcata, California

Arcata Eye :: The mildly objectionable weekly newspaper for Arcata, California: "Wife saves 70-year-old from mountain lion – Jan. 28, 2007
Sarah Hobart
Eye Correspondent

PRAIRIE CREEK – Avid hikers Jim and Nell Hamm of Fortuna had never seen a mountain lion track, much less an actual lion, in all the years they’d hiked California’s abundant trails.

But that changed in a horrifying instant last Wednesday, Jan. 24, when a mountain lion knocked 70-year-old Jim Hamm down and clamped its teeth onto his skull just a quarter mile from the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park."

Fw:

 

OBSERVATIONS....

 

I will attempt to complete this article with Marilynn's help.  I don't know what "truncated" means, but that is what happened to my earlier attempt.

 

I got good news that the IMRT radiation treatments I had last summer (25 sessions) along with a long day of HDR (High Density Radiation) appears to have done the job in my case.  Hopefully my name will be added officially to the Prostate Cancer Survivor's list when I visit my medical team in Eugene on March 1.

 

I bring this up for two reasons:  First, to express my complete trust in modern medicine and the dedicated people who are working to make our lives better.  There is an enormous amount of information available on the internet for almost any malady and my advice is to be pro-active with your health by doing your homework.  Not ignoring "danger" signals from one's body is a wise choice to make along with keeping your medical team up to date on all of your concerns.   Second, I bring this up to say (as a life-long Republican, but you already knew that):  "God Bless The Democrats".  It was the Democrats, by a substantial majority who voted MediCare into being.  Without MediCare I might be in a pickle.  The tab for my treatment as best as I can determine approached $75,000 of which I paid nada, zip, zilch, zero.....in other words my MediCare supplement (Mutual of Omaha) along with MediCare took care of the entire bill.  Let's hear it for President Johnson!

 

Now I can get back to worrying about a comet falling on me; President Hillary; how does the government know each year which flu shot to prepare for me; is someone going to invent a cure for arthritis of the knees; why is there only one place in Brigham City, Utah where a person can get a drink of Pendleton whiskey; is Windows Vista going to be too complicated for me to understand; and can the Bears win the Super Bowl this year?

 

I will also begin enjoying the cool weather here in Utah (2 degrees last night), now that the furnace man said my furnace is good to go for at least another five years.  It has snowed a total of eight inches so far, but it is almost gone now.  A neighbor bought a Massey Furgason tractor and a box scraper last summer.  He is the unofficial snow plow for our block.  I heard him out there after our last snow fall and visited with him.  He is an engineer with Thiakall (the people that make booster engine parts, etc. for the space program) and is so senior at his job he has nothing to do.  With all of that time on his hands he needed something to occupy his time so he bought an old tractor and fixed it up to function as a snow plow.  He said that when there is a prediction of snow he gets so excited that he can't sleep in eager anticipation of his plowing duties.

 

Twenty people signed up after seeing my two inch ad in the local paper regarding stained glass classes.  I went from having enough time in my life to spend an hour daily with Assistant Manager Dave solving the world's problems while in Newport to not knowing how I was going to make it through the six week class sessions.  Student Betty who is 82, and Student Dorothy who is 86 are keeping me focused.  When they tell me they are NOT comfortable doing things my way, all I can say is "yes maam" and try to find a way to get my point across they will accept.  Imagine that, SOME people get set in their ways as they get older.......who would have thought?

 

I have a coffee appointment with Dave in the Club House on March 3.  Hope to see you there.    Jim McCrea

 

P.S. If this gets published correctly I will shortly share with you the story of my new bar-b-que. 

Burning ban heats up in Legislature

Burning ban heats up in Legislature: "Burning ban heats up in Legislature
Rural vs. urban - The grass seed industry plans an all-out offensive to stop the bill

BRAD CAIN

SILVERTON -- At times resembling miniature nuclear explosions, towering pillars of smoke rise up over Oregon's populous Willamette Valley each summer, billowing up to 6,000 feet and higher."

Scientist develops caffeinated doughnuts - USATODAY.com

Scientist develops caffeinated doughnuts - USATODAY.com: "Scientist develops caffeinated doughnuts
Posted 1/26/2007 7:51 AM ET
DURHAM. N.C. (AP) — That cup of coffee just not getting it done anymore? How about a Buzz Donut or a Buzzed Bagel? "

My Breakfast Brûlée Recipe -- Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007 -- Page 1 -- TIME

My Breakfast Brûlée Recipe -- Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007 -- Page 1 -- TIME: "My Breakfast Brûlée Recipe
Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007 By JOEL STEIN


1 cup cooked oatmeal

1/2 cup fresh berries

1 cup plain yogurt

6 tablespoons brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350?. Although you will not use the oven for this recipe, it will warm up the cold kitchen in the morning. (Remember to leave oven door open.) Also, I always wanted to start a recipe with 'preheat oven.'

Divide the oatmeal between two small, pyrex bowls. Push the berries on top of the oatmeal. Pour enough yogurt on top to insulate the heat of the oatmeal.

Spoon sugar over top of bowls evenly, fully covering. Burn with a créme brûlée torch until solid.

Serves two idiots willing to tolerate your stupid ideas."

News - StatesmanJournal.com

News - StatesmanJournal.com: "Oregon is nation's No. 2 destination for moving vans

THELMA GUERRERO
Statesman Journal

January 28, 2007

People from out of state are moving into Oregon faster than a realtor can hand out business cards."

Solar Home in Va. Getting High Marks, Experimental Solar Home, a Va. Tech Project, Plays Host to Green-Friendly State Senator - CBS News

Solar Home in Va. Getting High Marks, Experimental Solar Home, a Va. Tech Project, Plays Host to Green-Friendly State Senator - CBS News: "(AP) State Sen. Frank Wagner is staying warm at his temporary address, even in below-freezing weather and without a traditional power supply or fireplace.

The Virginia Beach Republican, a proponent of alternative energy sources, is living for a week outside the Science Museum of Virginia in a solar-powered house designed and built by Virginia Tech students. He moved in Wednesday.
"