BC Premier Gordon Campbell today announced that Canada's Queen Charlotte Islands will now become known as Haida Gwaii. The premier stated the new indigenous name for the archipelago off the British Columbia’s coast will in time be reflected on provincial maps and all other official provincial documents and presentations. Haida Gwaii translates into Islands of the People. Congratulations to the Haida First Nations!
Wherever you may be on November 11th at 11am, take a moment to pause and reflect upon the men and women, past and present ,that have helped to preserve our way of life as well as freedoms of allies throughout the world.
My wife and I enjoyed Dim Sum last week with some dear friends who later introduced us to our first cup of Civet Coffee, “one of the world’s most expensive and coveted coffees”.
It is not widely known that the Philippines produces one of the world's most expensive and coveted brands of coffee. Natives go into mountain forests to hunt for undigested coffee beans that are excreted as sausage-like clumps onto the forest floor by the Philippine Civet cat, a nocturnal jungle animal. Yes, that’s right… the droppings are coffee beans that have passed through the civet cat whole after fermenting in their stomachs. Apparently, that's what gives this coffee its unique taste and aroma.
The Philippine Civet cat belongs to the mongoose family and uses its nose to choose the ripest and sweetest coffee cherries to feast upon during coffee season. Gathered very early in the morning usually before the sun rises, local forest dwellers climb the mountains to pick the civet droppings off the jungle floors. On a good day, a coffee gatherer can collect one kilo of civet droppings. the coffee beans are washed and dried out in the sun and roasted, until the strong aroma comes out.
Literally worth its weight in gold, Civet coffee, which some coffee aficionados consider among the world's best, sells in the United States for as much as $660 a kilogram or $300 a pound. Only 250 kg are produced worldwide each year, says Antonio Reyes, Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization Certifying Agency. Reyes says the civet's digestive process, particularly enzymes in its stomach, probably gives the brew its distinctive flavor and aroma.
Scuba Diver Australasia gave a full page spread to one of my photos in their November 2009 issue. Scuba Diver Australasia is a scuba magazine dedicated to the underwater world in the Asia Pacific. The official publication of the PADI Diving Society in the Asia Pacific, Scuba Diver Australasia was first published in 1979 under the name Scuba Diver. In 2000, it was renamed Scuba Diver Australasia. As of April 2009, the magazine has a readership of 90,000 across 48 countries.
"A guaranteed shark sighting is worth its weight in gold to the tourism industry."
He said recent research by James Cook University found potential shark sightings were a major drawcard to the diving sector, with tourists willing to pay thousands of dollars to see a shark in the wild.
The researchers estimated up to 25 per cent or $1,375 of each visitor's expenditure in Cairns and Port Douglas in far north Queensland went towards the opportunity to see a shark.
Divers mostly want to see hammerhead sharks followed by whale sharks and tiger sharks, the study found. The group says more than 70,000 sharks are taken by fishermen each year in waters off north Queensland, many inside the Great Barrier Reef area.
Sharks thus come under particular threat because of slow growth rates, late sexual maturity, long gestation periods and birthing only a few young at a time.
Complete Story
“The strength and beauty of sharks are a natural
barometer for the health of our oceans.
Therefore, I declare today that Palau will become
the world’s first national shark sanctuary, ending
all commercial shark fishing in our waters and giving
a sanctuary for sharks to live and reproduce
unmolested in our 237,000 square miles of ocean.
We call upon all nations to join us.”
Johnson Toribiong, President of Palau,
in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly
on friday, September 25, 2009
For the latest information on Palau Shark Sanctuary click here http://sharksanctuary.blogspot.com
Overfishing from greenforum on Vimeo.
Came across this while surfing the Internet tonight. This was not only funny - but rings very true at times..."Usually, writers will do anything to avoid writing. For instance, the previous sentence was written at one o’clock this afternoon. It is now a quarter to four. I have spent the past two hours and forty-five minutes sorting my neckties by width, looking up the word “paisly” in three dictionaries, attempting to find the town of that name on The New York Times Atlas of the World map of Scotland, sorting my reference books by width, trying to get the bookcase to stop wobbling by stuffing a matchbook cover under its corner, dialing the telephone number on the matchbook cover to see if I should take computer courses at night, looking at the computer ads in the newspaper and deciding to buy a computer because writing seems to be so difficult on my old Remington, reading an interesting article on sorghum farming in Uruguay that was in the newspaper next to the computer ads, cutting that and other interesting articles out of the newspaper, sorting... by width... all the interesting articles I’ve cut out of newspapers recently, fastening them neatly together with paper clips and making a very attractive paper clip necklace and bracelet set, which I will present to my girlfriend as soon as she comes home from the three-hour low-impact aerobic workout that I made her go to so I could have some time alone to write."
— P. J. O’Rourke
With the Beatles back in the news so much lately... I was reminded of a time back in the early 70’s when John & Yoko conducted a spirited campaign for me to join their Plastic Ono Band.. Ahhh… we all shine on!
1. Rock N' Roll Train
2. Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
3. Back in Black
4. Big Jack
5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
6. Thunderstruck
7. Black Ice
8. The Jack
9. Hells Bells
10. Shoot to Thrill
11. War Machine
12. Anything Goes
13. You Shook Me All Night Long
14. T.N.T.
15. Whole Lotta Rosie
16. Let There Be Rock
Encore:
17. Highway to Hell
18. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Bob Dylan will release a Christmas album on October 13th. It's worth mentioning again... Bob Dylan will release a freakin' Christmas album on October 13th!!!
Entitled Christmas in the Heart, the collection will feature holiday standards including “Must Be Santa,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Here Comes Santa Claus.” All U.S. royalties from the collection will benefit the charity Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Other proceeds from the disc will benefit hunger relief organizations around the world.
Christmas In The Heart will be the 47th album from one of the greatest songwriters of our time.
His Bob-ness stated on his website - www.bobdylan.com
“It’s a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone ~ 12 million of those children ~ often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from. I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season.”
Ho, Ho, Ho!, Mr. Dylan!! I'm a long time fan and will purchase my copy of Christmas From The Heart from ITunes when available.
