Wetcoaster

So why no "S" being pronounced??? Should be "KWEZ - nell", eh? Mind you it could be worse... you could be living in Surrey.

What location?

SFU webcams showing snow: University Dr. North http://www.sfu.ca/itservices/technical/webcams/webcams_library.html Convocation Mall http://www.sfu.ca/itservices/technical/webcams/webcams_convo.html There is a heavy snowfall warning for Whistler - webcam link: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/weather/cams/index.htm Latest report: There are reports of snow falling in Burnaby, White Rock, North Vancouver and Chilliwack and other parts of Metro Vancouver Wednesday afternoon. ... Meanwhile, Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for Whistler, which is expected to receive about 15 to 25 cm of snow today and tonight. Environment Canada has also issued a special weather statement for the Okanagan Valley and several surrounding areas, where a series of low pressure systems will bring significant snowfalls over the remainder of the week and continuing into next week. http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Snow+hits+parts+Metro+Vancouver/5720987/story.html#ixzz1duUJRHpA

My significant other (aka She Who Must Be Obeyed) has just returned from ten days in New York City and up state New York where she got caught in that huge winter storm. There was well over a foot of snow where she was staying. Fortunately power was not lost like in so many other areas.

A location would be a useful bit of information.

Vancouver Sun photo gallery of first snow of the season on the North Shore Mountains: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/5619185/story.html?tab=PHOT

First snow of the season falling on the North Shore mountains and Whistler. It is joy to some and headache for others, but the first snow of the season fell on the North Shore mountains this morning. Sarah Lusk with Grouse Mountain says they got four centimetres of fresh powder since early this morning, and it is showing no signs of stopping. "We are all very excited," said Lusk. Grouse Mountain kicked off its skiing season on Nov. 20 last year. "But with La Nina making another round, we are hoping that it could be sooner this year," said Lusk. Mount Seymour experienced close to five centimeters of snow since about 8 a.m. today as well, and spokesperson Julie Mulligan says it's been coming down heavily and consistently. "It is the very first snow, so we are all very excited. You can tell that temperatures have been dropping drastically, so to see snow today, everybody is really excited." She says they are tentatively scheduled to kick off their skiing season on Nov. 26, but the mountain will open once the first 70 centimeters of snow cover the tracks. At last report, Cypress Mountain was receiving close to two centimeters. There were reports of snow in Whistler as well. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/First+snow+falls+North+Shore+mountains/5610707/story.html#ixzz1bvBsxfjf

That is the prediction. Vancouver, Western Canada facing record cold temperatures this winter As Canadians wrap up what for most has been one of the warmest October weekends in recent memory, they can brace themselves for the coming winter with a long-term forecast calling for thick socks and thicker skins. The forecast is for one of the coldest winters in the past 20 years for Western Canada, major snowstorms for Ontario and Quebec, and a drier than normal winter for Atlantic Canada, according to U.S.-based AccuWeather.com. That's not to say that blasts of Arctic air won't chill Canadians east of Manitoba, but those bitter blasts will be short. "You can be pretty confident that Western Canada will be pretty cold," said Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.com. Anderson said temperatures out West will be up to five degrees Celsius lower than normal, meaning temperatures will drop below zero in Vancouver and below about -20 C in Edmonton. Vancouver will experience one of its coldest winters on record, Anderson said. "The worst of the cold is going to be in Western Canada," Anderson said. Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces will see below average snowfall in December, but come January, things are going to change, Anderson said. "Its going to be a slower start and then in January, February, it's going to be fairly active," Anderson said. "That's when we're going see our significant snowfall events." The reason for more snow and more cold? La Nina, a phenomenon that occurs when water temperatures across the central and eastern Pacific are below normal. La Nina produces extreme cold across Western Canada during the winter while adding to snowfalls in Ontario and Quebec. Water temperatures this year are pointing to a moderate strength La Nina, Anderson said, which help with the predictions. This winter will see less snowfall in the Prairies, Anderson said, except in southwestern Alberta. Because the Great Lakes are running warmer than normal, the areas around the lakes will have a greater amount of lake-effect snowfall, Anderson said. http://www.canada.com/news/Vancouver+Western+Canada+facing+record+cold+temperatures+this+winter/5528542/story.html#ixzz1aWWQlU1A

No need.

Surrey would lose.

Seems unlikely. The best available science suggests that residents in the Victoria area plan for tsunami impacts within 4 metres elevation of the normal highest tide. Because of the underwater topography in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, tsunamis created elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean are not likely to affect properties in Greater Victoria beyond the high water that normally comes with severe winter storms. Likewise, minor or moderate earthquakes in the vicinity of Greater Victoria will not likely generate a destructive tsunami. ... Tsunamis are rare, but dangerous events. Scientists and technical experts agree that areas around Greater Victoria are not seriously threatened by tsunamis. (source: PEP website)http://www.victoria.ca/cityhall/pdfs/departments_veptsn_brchr.pdf

We had one major tsunami already that hit the west coast of Vancouver Island recent history. The Great Alaskan Earthquake of March 28, 1964 generated a tsunami and serious damage occurred at Alberni and Port Alberni which are situated at the head of a 35 mile long inlet. The tsunami travel time to Port Alberni was 4.1 hrs. As reported in the aftermath of the tsunami: Tsunami Effects The shape and configuration of the inlet were the reason for the extensive flooding that occurred at Alberni and Port Alberni. The first wave to reach the head of the inlet caused major flooding but was not particularly damaging. It served as a warning for people to evacuate. It was the second wave - almost an hour later - that came with much greater force and caused the greater damage by carrying homes and cars inland. A total of 375 dwellings were damaged, with 55 being totally lost. Loss of Lives and Damages There was no loss of lives on Vancouver Island or anywhere else in Canada. Damage was estimated at $ 10 million (1964 dollars). (My note in 2011 terms the damage would be over $70 million.) Here are some photos of the damage at Port Alberni from the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program More photos: http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/photo/alberni_tsunami_1964_gallery/Frame.htm In Alaska: The combination of the earthquake and tsunami waves practically destroyed five of Alaska's seven largest communities. A total of 106 people lost their lives. Damage was estimated at $84 million (1964 dollars - 2011 dollars $60 million). Alaska's fishing industry and most of its seaport facilities were either completely destroyed or severely crippled. http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Tsunami1964PrWilliam.html The tsunami generated also hit California (Crescent City was hardest hit and 11 people were killed) and Hawaii little damage and no loss of life: http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Tsunami1964Calif.html http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Tsunami1964Hawaii.html

http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/hazard-alea/zoning/haz-eng.php http://www.bcbuildinginfo.com/display_topic.php?division_id=2&topic_title_id=47&topic_id=212

It depends where you were in Burnaby. In South Burnaby just east of Metrotown I felt it and the condo swayed for a few seconds.

Okay time to head over to Krasicki & Ward to stock up for the next big one... Krasicki & Ward Earthquake Experts We are a leading company located in Vancouver, British Columbia, specializing in Earthquake Supplies, First Aid, Industrial Supplies as well as Custom Made Vests. Our own superior quality vests are made right here in Canada. You design it, we make it!http://www.krasickiandward.com/about.html City of Vancouver Emergency Preparedness Program recommendations for a Disaster Supply Kit: http://vancouver.ca/emerg/prepyourself/supplykit.htm

Are you underwater yet?

Happy Hour for me starts at 4pm... and it is always 4pm or later somewhere in the world.

First report: An earthquake has stuck around Vancouver and the Vancouver Island, according to reports. The U.S. Geological Service is reporting the earthquake was magnitude 6.8. and centered around the north end of Vancouver Island. People are reporting buildings swaying for extended periods from the Fraser Valley to Campbell River at around 12:21 PT p.m., but there are no reports of damage. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/09/09/bc-earthquake-vancouver-island.html

Earthquakes over the past 30 days in our region: Date Time Lat. Long. Depth Mag. F Region ---- ---- ---- ----- ----- ---- - ------ 2011/09/07 11:17:40 49.32N 123.97W 64.0 1.5ML 17 km NNW of Nanaimo,BC 2011/09/07 09:52:12 48.19N 122.73W 21.1 1.6ML 54 km ESE of Victoria,BC 2011/09/07 08:57:50 48.60N 123.62W 21.5 0.4ML 16 km WSW of Sidney,BC 2011/09/07 08:51:30 48.90N 122.79W 22.0 0.9ML 24 km SW of Langley,BC 2011/09/07 04:38:07 47.95N 125.15W 47.2 1.3ML 115 km SSE of Ucluelet,BC 2011/09/07 00:42:36 50.61N 130.27W 10.0* 3.0Mw 201 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/09/06 19:50:34 48.83N 125.50W 25.2 1.1ML 13 km SSE of Ucluelet,BC 2011/09/06 18:03:51 48.83N 125.35W 28.5 0.5ML 19 km ESE of Ucluelet,BC 2011/09/06 16:07:48 50.74N 130.48W 10.0* 3.3Mw 215 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/09/06 13:53:55 49.35N 127.86W 10.0* 2.7Mw 132 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/09/06 11:29:08 49.81N 125.98W 23.2 1.5ML 17 km NE of Gold R.,BC 2011/09/06 02:20:46 48.18N 123.17W 45.0 2.4ML 31 km SE of Victoria,BC 2011/09/05 10:13:15 48.40N 123.48W 1.0 1.0ML 9 km WSW of Victoria,BC 2011/09/05 06:05:29 49.70N 123.41W 0.8 1.4ML 17 km W of Squamish,BC 2011/09/04 09:05:09 48.27N 122.40W 19.0 1.0ML 74 km N of Seattle,WA 2011/09/02 14:18:59 48.56N 127.80W 10.0* 2.8Mw 152 km WSW of Tofino,BC 2011/09/02 10:25:00 48.52N 122.39W 1.0* 1.6ML 60 km S of Abbotsford,BC 2011/09/01 17:53:24 49.25N 128.28W 10.0* 2.7Mw 165 km WSW of Gold R.,BC 2011/09/01 01:50:45 49.01N 128.60W 10.0* 2.5Mw 196 km WSW of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/31 23:13:51 49.27N 127.84W 10.0* 2.3Mw 133 km WSW of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/31 10:52:13 50.57N 130.39W 10.0* 2.9Mw 210 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/31 10:11:19 50.11N 123.62W 1.0* 1.3ML 46 km W of Whistler,BC 2011/08/31 00:07:12 49.55N 127.61W 32.1 1.8ML 109 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/30 23:44:48 49.52N 127.56W 31.3 1.7ML 107 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/30 12:28:42 51.24N 130.84W 10.0* 2.9Mw 213 km WSW of Bella Bella,BC 2011/08/30 11:44:47 48.82N 129.17W 10.0* 3.5Mw 240 km W of Tofino,BC 2011/08/30 02:49:11 50.23N 130.20W 10.0* 2.8Mw 204 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/30 00:56:48 50.17N 130.13W 10.0* 2.7Mw 201 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/30 00:52:11 50.18N 130.08W 10.0* 2.6Mw 197 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/30 00:17:06 50.04N 130.16W 10.0* 2.9Mw 208 km WSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/30 00:02:14 50.16N 130.15W 10.0* 2.6Mw 202 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/29 14:52:48 50.70N 130.45W 10.0* 2.6Mw 214 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/29 13:52:43 48.98N 128.52W 10.0* 2.7Mw 190 km W of Tofino,BC 2011/08/29 10:38:13 51.11N 130.76W 10.0* 2.8Mw 216 km WSW of Bella Bella,BC 2011/08/28 19:36:27 50.68N 129.43W 10.0* 2.3Mw 142 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/28 14:52:42 50.37N 130.30W 10.0* 2.6Mw 207 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/27 21:32:03 47.79N 122.31W 28.9 2.1ML 20 km N of Seattle,WA 2011/08/27 04:34:35 50.06N 128.04W 18.0 1.5ML 84 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/27 02:22:44 50.03N 127.86W 25.3 1.9ML 81 km SSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/26 23:16:43 51.26N 130.97W 10.0* 2.9Mw 219 km WSW of Bella Bella,BC 2011/08/26 18:50:40 51.39N 125.08W 1.0* 2.4ML 154 km N of Campbell R.,BC 2011/08/26 13:31:51 48.85N 125.13W 33.1 0.9ML 32 km ESE of Ucluelet,BC 2011/08/26 10:46:31 48.80N 129.07W 10.0* 3.0Mw 233 km W of Tofino,BC 2011/08/26 06:20:37 49.36N 123.96W 64.0 0.9ML 19 km WSW of Sechelt,BC 2011/08/25 05:59:01 49.54N 127.38W 30.3 1.3ML 94 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/24 12:11:35 50.53N 130.22W 10.0* 2.9Mw 199 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/24 08:57:21 48.45N 125.45W 24.2 1.2ML 55 km SSE of Ucluelet,BC 2011/08/24 02:52:01 48.78N 129.06W 10.0* 3.3Mw 233 km W of Tofino,BC 2011/08/24 00:06:48 49.12N 125.60W 31.2 0.8ML 19 km NNW of Ucluelet,BC 2011/08/23 07:37:24 50.33N 130.08W 10.0* 2.6Mw 193 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/23 04:03:09 50.47N 130.11W 10.0* 2.8Mw 191 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/23 02:04:06 49.53N 127.24W 26.6 1.6ML 83 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/23 00:30:40 48.73N 129.05W 10.0* 3.0Mw 233 km W of Tofino,BC 2011/08/22 23:44:53 49.90N 127.73W 12.2 1.4ML 91 km SSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/22 22:25:19 49.60N 127.24W 16.5 1.6ML 82 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/22 09:42:10 51.50N 130.91W 20.0* 2.2ML 204 km SSE of Sandspit,BC 2011/08/22 03:52:30 50.03N 130.13W 10.0* 3.4Mw 206 km WSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/21 10:26:07 49.01N 128.18W 10.0* 2.9Mw 165 km W of Tofino,BC 2011/08/21 02:21:41 50.82N 130.29W 10.0* 2.1ML 202 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/20 13:05:38 49.57N 130.05W 10.0* 2.6Mw 225 km WSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/20 06:39:46 51.42N 130.97W 10.0* 3.0Mw 212 km WSW of Bella Bella,BC 2011/08/19 06:54:59 48.25N 121.88W 9.5 2.7ML 79 km NE of Seattle,WA 2011/08/18 12:59:03 49.86N 127.51W 30.2 1.1ML 94 km S of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/18 12:49:11 48.96N 124.77W 20.6 0.4ML 30 km S of Pt. Alberni,BC 2011/08/18 09:30:31 48.51N 124.97W 25.8 0.7ML 65 km SE of Ucluelet,BC 2011/08/18 07:49:44 47.49N 122.07W 0.5 2.2ML 23 km ESE of Seattle,WA 2011/08/18 06:30:33 49.73N 127.07W 34.3 1.1ML 69 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/18 06:08:42 49.13N 129.64W 10.0* 3.0Mw 236 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/18 04:51:36 49.55N 127.20W 28.5 1.1ML 80 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/17 23:15:30 50.54N 125.29W 1.0* 1.1ML 58 km N of Campbell R.,BC 2011/08/17 21:38:09 50.75N 129.85W 10.0* 2.3Mw 171 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/17 19:58:20 50.57N 130.35W 10.0* 2.8Mw 207 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/17 19:56:21 50.57N 130.26W 10.0* 2.5Mw 201 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/17 10:38:52 48.97N 125.96W 20.0* 1.2ML 20 km SSW of Tofino,BC 2011/08/17 09:23:52 48.58N 128.77W 10.0* 2.8Mw 218 km WSW of Tofino,BC 2011/08/17 07:47:25 49.62N 127.24W 24.9 1.1ML 82 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/17 05:46:11 48.94N 129.22W 10.0* 2.7Mw 234 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/17 00:32:24 49.49N 126.02W 45.2 3.1ML 22 km SSE of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/16 18:11:48 50.34N 130.23W 10.0* 2.5Mw 202 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/16 11:17:26 49.30N 127.90W 10.0* 2.6Mw 136 km WSW of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/16 06:26:38 50.04N 130.01W 10.0* 2.8Mw 198 km WSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/16 00:30:13 50.63N 125.95W 1.0* 0.6ML 80 km NW of Campbell R.,BC 2011/08/15 20:39:47 50.77N 129.91W 10.0* 2.9Mw 175 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/14 22:30:56 50.37N 129.86W 10.0* 2.3Mw 176 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/14 11:33:09 49.97N 127.73W 10.0* 1.4Mw 84 km SSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/14 04:23:58 47.86N 122.46W 17.7 1.3ML 30 km NNW of Seattle,WA 2011/08/13 00:55:06 48.82N 125.13W 14.1 0.9ML 34 km ESE of Ucluelet,BC 2011/08/12 22:22:57 48.91N 129.31W 10.0* 3.7Mw 241 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/12 22:18:40 48.90N 129.29W 10.0* 3.3Mw 241 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/12 20:17:22 50.07N 127.93W 23.7 0.9ML 79 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/12 16:13:57 50.06N 127.93W 23.9 1.4ML 80 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/12 16:10:08 50.08N 127.91W 22.2 0.6ML 77 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/12 08:57:27 49.56N 122.44W 20.3 1.0ML 37 km NNW of Mission,BC 2011/08/12 06:37:32 49.33N 127.97W 42.3 1.5ML 141 km W of Gold R.,BC 2011/08/12 06:02:11 49.54N 122.40W 19.5 3.3ML 34 km NNW of Mission,BC 2011/08/11 23:52:51 50.24N 129.70W 10.0* 2.3Mw 169 km WSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/11 18:50:06 50.52N 130.25W 10.0* 2.4Mw 201 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/11 18:19:42 50.77N 129.79W 10.0* 2.3Mw 167 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/11 16:54:34 48.11N 124.45W 36.6 1.2ML 87 km WSW of Victoria,BC 2011/08/11 16:33:56 50.70N 127.94W 24.9 0.8ML 36 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/11 12:06:49 50.17N 127.80W 23.2 0.5ML 64 km SW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/11 05:53:43 49.11N 127.14W 55.6 1.4ML 89 km W of Tofino,BC 2011/08/11 04:37:17 48.60N 125.49W 33.7 1.0ML 39 km S of Ucluelet,BC 2011/08/10 22:30:41 48.82N 122.17W 1.0* 1.4ML 27 km SSE of Abbotsford,BC 2011/08/10 18:34:51 50.37N 125.40W 0.7 1.0ML 39 km N of Campbell R.,BC 2011/08/10 06:43:16 50.73N 129.80W 10.0* 2.3Mw 168 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/10 05:57:02 48.38N 123.11W 43.9 0.8ML 20 km ESE of Victoria,BC 2011/08/10 04:42:43 50.75N 129.85W 10.0* 2.0Mw 171 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/10 04:28:27 50.78N 129.81W 10.0* 2.1Mw 169 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/10 01:53:46 48.94N 128.65W 10.0* 2.4Mw 200 km W of Tofino,BC 2011/08/10 01:49:06 50.76N 129.81W 10.0* 3.8Mw 168 km W of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/09 23:25:45 50.58N 127.63W 12.4 0.7ML 20 km WSW of Pt. Hardy,BC 2011/08/09 17:54:57 50.81N 130.78W 10.0* 2.8Mw 236 km WSW of Bella Bella,BC 2011/08/09 15:43:59 48.76N 123.49W 50.0 0.9ML 13 km NW of Sidney,BC 2011/08/09 15:28:01 50.13N 124.73W 1.1 2.0ML 33 km NW of Powell R.,BC http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/recent/maps-cartes/index-eng.php?tpl_region=swbc

I am in South Burnaby and the condo was just swaying for a few seconds. Thought i was dizzy at first or too much single malt Scotch.

The app will be available on iPhone, Blackberry and Android for free as reported. A new TransLink app hitting smartphones Sept. 6 will give users the ability to track buses on GPS. TransLink expects the full version to have programmable bus routes along with real-time map tracking. The $700,000 project is planned for TransLink’s 1,300 coach and articulated buses, but will not be installed for community shuttles. While many Canadian cities including Toronto, Banff, Saint John and Laval already use similar GPS tracking services from California-based NextBus Inc., TransLink has developed its own system internally. The app will be available on iPhone, Blackberry and Android for free.http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2011/08/21/18583086.html

The bus driver involved in that crash last night has now been charged with one count of speeding and one count of failing to wear a seatbelt under the BC Motor Vehicle Act. Police have found that a Coast Mountain bus was travelling at "a high rate of speed" on Highway 99 in Richmond Sunday evening, and that that was a contributing factor in the bus crashing into a concrete barrier. The driver of the bus has been charged. The bus, carrying 30 passengers on the 351 Bridgeport route, crashed into the barrier on the highway near Cambie Road at around 9:30 p.m. Witnesses told police the bus was travelling in the bus lane at a high rate of speed when a minivan abruptly changed lanes in front of it, causing the bus to leave the road and collide with the barrier separating the bus-only lane from the merge lane, on the northbound side of the highway. Sixteen injured passengers were transported to Richmond General Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital with minor injuries; several others were treated at the scene for various injuries. “This is a classic example demonstrating what can happen when drivers fail to pay attention to their speed, their driving, and to what’s going on around them. The results can be catastrophic, especially when travelling at highway speeds,” said Cpl. Aaron Sproule of the RCMP’s Lower Mainland District Traffic Services department. The bus was not driveable and had to be towed away. The 48-year-old bus driver, Laurence Douglas Brand of Delta, has been charged with one count of speeding and one count of failing to wear a seatbelt under the BC Motor Vehicle Act. Police are continuing to look for a light-coloured mini-van seen leaving the scene, which police believe also contributed to the collision. Anybody who might have witnessed the crash or have knowledge that might identify the minivan is asked to contact the Deas Island RCMP Detachment at 604-46-2184. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/UPDATED+Police+charge+driver+Coast+Mountain+Richmond+crash+that+sent+hospital/5256558/story.html#ixzz1VABWBkJH

I now read e-books on an e-reader or my computer. There is free software such as Kindle for the PC, MobiPocket Reader and Calibre (highly recommended as it is a great program to convert the various formats, organize your e-library and it is also a viewer). Libraries now allow you to download e-books online and there are just TORRENTS of e-books available online. I have all five of the Song of Fire and Ice series to read and I just grabbed all the Asimov Foundation novels to read again.

There was a bus crash in Richmond Sunday night after the vehicle hit the median on Highway 99 sending 16 passengers to hospital with several injured treated at the scene - four with serious injuries to VGH. Several people were taken to hospital following a bus crash on Highway 99 in Richmond last night. A Coast Mountain bus carrying 30 passengers on the 351 Bridgeport route, crashed into the median on the highway near Cambie Road at around 9:30 p.m., confirmed a spokesman for TransLink. TransLink’s Drew Snider said 16 people were taken to hospital, and several others were treated at the scene for various injuries. “The bus wound up on the median,” Snider said, adding that the driver of the bus may have been trying to avoid a collision with another vehicle on the highway. Twelve people were taken to Richmond Hospital with minor injuries and an additional four bus riders were taken to Vancouver General Hospital with serious injuries, said B.C. Ambulance Service spokeswoman, Kristy Anderson. “None of the injuries were critical,” Anderson said. Snider said he hadn’t yet spoken to the bus driver. Police are continuing to investigate the accident, he said. Deas Island RCMP, which is investigating the accident, has not yet been reached for details.http://www.vancouversun.com/crash+Richmond+sends+hospital/5256558/story.html

Radiation issues continue to be a concern in the food chain (now mushrooms join rice, beef, tea, milk, fish and vegetables as matters of concern) and in people, especially children. Mushrooms joined the threats to Japan’s food chain from radiation spewed by Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, as the country expands efforts to limit the effects of the disaster. Japan is under pressure to enhance food inspections as it has no centralized system for detecting radiation contamination. About two-thirds of Japan’s prefectures now plan to check rice crops, the Mainichi newspaper said today, citing a survey. Half of Japan’s rice is grown within range of emissions from the crippled nuclear plant, and farmers are awaiting the results of tests before harvesting begins this month. “By strengthening inspection on rice, we want to make sure only safe produce are in the market,” Agriculture Minister Michihiko Kano said at a press conference on Aug. 12. Nameko mushrooms grown in the open air in Soma, a city about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the plant damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, were found to contain nine times the legal limit of cesium, the local government said Aug. 12. Japan’s farm ministry asked growers in Fukushima prefecture to refrain from harvesting mushrooms off raw wood left outside, public broadcaster NHK said yesterday. Authorities in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures are conducting spot checks on a range of products in cooperation with local farmers. Radiation exceeding safety levels has been found in produce, tea, milk, fish and beef sourced as far as 360 kilometers from the nuclear plant. Importing Vegetables Kansai Super Market Ltd. yesterday announced it bought a 30 percent stake in Masami Cattle Ranch Inc. in California, to enable the farm to expand production and supply vegetables to Kansai stores in Japan, according to a statement the Hyogo prefecture-based supermarket chain made to the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The European Union plans to strengthen radiation inspection on imported seafood, both from waters near Japan and from farther out in the Pacific, NHK reported yesterday. Levels of cesium-134 in seawater near the Fukushima plant’s No. 3 reactor rose to levels 30 times the allowed safety standards last month, according to tests performed by Tokyo Electric Power Co, NHK reported at the time. Japan may join a U.S.-led treaty under which governments agree to prevent excessive claims against other members for compensation from nuclear accidents, the Nikkei newspaper reported today, without saying where it got the information. Contaminated Trees The nation’s forestry agency urged Fukushima prefecture to prevent shipments of any wood or charcoal that has been stored outdoors since the nuclear crisis, the Yomiuri newspaper said yesterday. Jiji Press reported that the farm ministry ordered the local authorities to conduct tests on trees used for mushroom growing. Last month, hay contaminated with as much as 690,000 becquerels a kilogram, compared with a government safety standard of 300 becquerels, was found to have been fed to cattle. Beef with unsafe levels of the radioactive element was detected in four prefectures, the health ministry said July 23. Japan’s wheat crop will have little impact from the nuclear disaster as cesium levels in the roots of the plants are low, and the effect on the wheat spikes for consumption are likely to be small, NHK said today, citing a Tokyo University study. Radioactive iodine has been detected in the thyroids of half of 1,000 Fukushima children, NHK reported yesterday, citing findings from a group led by Satoshi Tashiro, a professor at Hiroshima University. Tashiro said the children should continue to be monitored though the levels are low and not thought to pose a threat to health, according to the report on the broadcaster’s website. Prolonged exposure to radiation in the air, ground and food can cause leukemia and other cancers, according to the London- based World Nuclear Association. http://www.canada.com/news/Issue+radiation+tainted+food+Japan+escalates/5252900/story.html#ixzz1V2kpoAk8