Monthly Archives: November 2008
Nov 30 2008
Cigarette Butt Pollution

I read with great interest the story by David Lazarus in the LA Times Nov 30, 2008.
The column titled “Fuming over cigarette butts” presents some very interesting facts.

1. Cigarette butts account for 1/3 of all litter in the US!
2. Los Angeles County Dept of Public Works estimates 600, 000 butts are dropped on the ground every month in the LA County area, which translates to over 7 million butts in a year!
3. Cigarette butts are the number 1 item picked up at beach cleanups.
4. 370 billion filtered cigarrettes are smoked every year in the US.
5. #4 results in about 135 million pounds of butts polluting
6. Worldwide 5 trillion cigarettes consumed equal about 2 billion pounds of butts.

Two ideas presented which I would support.
1. Charge a deposit on cigarettes, $1 per pack which would be returned upon returning the used butts.
2. Eliminate the filters which would solve the problem, and as a side benefit probably help get some smokers to stop, because of how strong cigarettes can be without the filter.

You can read the column here:
https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus30-2008nov30,0,679460.column
Be sure to vote too, here’s the results of the voting so far:
Would you support a $1 deposit fee for cigarette butts?
76.8 %
77%
Absolutely. Anything to encourage smokers to clean up after themselves.

7.4 %
7%
Perhaps, or maybe just placing more ashtrays around town.

15.9 %
16%
No. Leave smokers alone.

637 total responses

Email David at david.lazarus@latimes.com

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Nov 29 2008
Circuit City

Circuit City 3-Day Sale (234x60)

I am looking for the WII charging station.

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Nov 29 2008
Cell-phone service ratings

Consumer reports issue for Jan 2009 is out and the ratings for cell phone companies are not surprising.

Overall for customer service(best to worse).
1. Verizon
2. AllTel
3. T-Mobile
4. AT&T
5. Sprint

In terms of service availability in the Los Angeles area(best to worse)
1. Verizon
2. T-Mobile
3. AT&T
4. Sprint
Ranked by reader service score.

When ranked by connectivity:
1. Verizon
2. Sprint
3. AT&T
4. T-Mobile

Note: T-Mobile had the worse service availability, which I can attest to personally, I can drive for miles on the 134 and not get service in the Eagle Rock and Glendale area, between the 2 and the 210.
AT&T had the worse static on the line, which I have experienced.

These reports are not surprising based on the everyday complaints we hear.

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Nov 29 2008
Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

Are you looking for lavender gifts this holiday season? Then come and see
me at Sauvie Island Holidays located at Kruger’s Farm Market on Sauvie
Island. Sauvie Island Lavender Farm is proud to be a part of this new
Christmas tradition. Come and buy a fresh cut Christmas tree, come inside
and sip some hot chocolate, have a slice of gourmet cheesecake, and of
course shop for our high quality lavender products made right here on
Sauvie Island. Kruger’s is located just 1.5 miles from the Sauvie Island
bridge. Just follow the red and white “Fresh Christmas Trees” signs.
Hope to see you soon! Remember, you can shop our online store 24/7!!

Julie Cleveland
Sauvie Island Lavender Farm
20230 NW Sauvie Island Road
Portland, Oregon 97231
www.sauvieislandlavenderfarm.com
503-577-6565

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Nov 29 2008
Pharos Trips and Pics

Make and log any journey! Pharos Trips and Pics captures your location and time automatically at any interval you set. Time your training runs. Record your child?s athletic event. Show that great bicycle trip with times and photos. Save the memories from a great vacation. Send the files to friends and family so they can see your photos and where and when you took the pictures. Add text to share even more information. Display your trips with photos on Google Earth or Microsoft Streets & Trips. Pharos Trips and Pics automatically compensates for any difference between your camera’s time and true GPS time, so the information is precise. Depending on the rate you set, the Pharos GPS logger can store from 1.5 to 45 days of times and locations. The rechargeable battery will run the unit for 24 hours. An AC adapter is included in the package.

Product features

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Record trips
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Geotag photos
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Work with any digital camera
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Results can be presented in both Google Earth and Microsoft Streets & Trips
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Support KMZ format for easy archiving, transporting, and sharing
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Take input from multiple sources, including data from portable GPS devices of other companies
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Support GeoRSS for easy online sharing of your trips and geotagged photos
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Built-in tools to allow you to calibrate your digital camera’s clock, add professional photo captions and adjust photo file times.
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Support both Express and Classic user interfaces. Trips & Pics Express allows a non-tech savvy user to accomplish many tasks in one click, from connecting the receiver, getting the log data from it, generating trips, to launching and viewing the result in Google Earth and Microsoft Streets & Trips.
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Integrated with Pharos Ostia
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Home area shielding feature for added security when results are shared online
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Sophisticated trip statistics.
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Non-dedicated hardware. The receiver and dock can be used for other GPS applications.
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Light-weight, portable and long-lasting battery time (24 hours between charges).

Technical specifications

Performance:

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Chipset: SiRFstarIII GSC3fLP
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Antenna: Integrated patch antenna
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Frequency: L1, 1575.42 MHz
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Sensitivity: -159 dBm
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Channels: 20 Channel all-in-view tracking
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Acquisition time in open sky: Cold Start: 35 sec, Hot Start: 1 sec
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Reacquisition: 0.1 sec
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Position update: 1 Hz
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Accuracy: Position: Autonomous < 10 meters, SBAS < 5m Velocity: 0.1 meter/second * Time: 1 microsecond synchronized to GPS time * Datum: WGS-84 Electrical Power * Primary power: 3.3-5.5 Vdc, 50mA typical * Battery: 1100mAh Li-Polymer rechargeable/replaceable battery * Operation Time: 24 hours (typical) Protocol * Standard interface: USB 1.1 through USB dongle * NMEA-0183 (V3.1) standard * Data rate: 4800 bps * NMEA message: GGA, GSA, GSV, and RMC * WAAS/EGNOS: Enabled Physical (Receiver with battery dock) * Dimension: 2.82in (L) x 1.89in (W) x 0.89in (H) * Weight: 0.15lb (2.3 ounce) Environmental * Operation temperature: -10 degrees C to 60 degrees C (-14 degrees F to 140 degrees F) * Storage temperature: -20 degrees C to 75 degrees C (-4 degrees F to 167 degrees F) * Dynamics: Altitude < 20 km * Velocity < 1,800 km/h * Acceleration < 3g

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Nov 29 2008
Britney Spears Birthday Bash

ABC Good Morning America on Tuesday Dec 2, 2008 is having a Britney Spears Birthday Bash. The Concert is being promoted on the ABC site for each video you would like to watch you get Britney talking about her Birthday bash.

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Nov 29 2008
Takashi Wada – No Smoking Outdoors in Pasadena

Pasadena joins the growing number of cities banning smoking in public places.

No smoking in public spaces within 20′. I think it is a good law to pass.

I was walking down Lake Ave yesterday Black Friday and so many smokers standing outside of store doors smoking up a storm. In particular one person that I found pretty rude was smoking and tossing the ashes on the sidewalk and then threw down the filter/butt on the sidwalk.  Pretty disgusting.

Anto Kamarian who owns Chivas Cigar shop needs to get over it and encourage customers to smoke their cigars in his lounge or at home if they love the smell of cigars let them enjoy all the smoke they want, actually they should inhale all the smoke so those of us who don’t want it don’t have to breath this disgusting smoke!

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Nov 29 2008
Exhibitions in Unusual Places- Pasadena

Exhibitions in Unusual Places

Join us for an opening reception.
Friday December 12, 2008 5-7pm
207 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena

The Cultural Affairs Division of the City Manager’s Office has partnered with the Pasadena Police Department for an exhibition of work by 10 Pasadena-based artists. The work will be mounted in the lobby of the Police Department Building.

Selected Artists:

Stephen Berkman, Matthew Cramer, Emily de Araujo, Bia Gayotto, Walter Impert, Brooke Kent, Ronald J. Llanos, Adia Millet, Lynne McDaniel and Mary Kay Wilson.

Learn about the Cultural, Pasadena’s 10-Year Cultural Master Plan at
www.cityofpasadena.net/arts/nexus.asp
or call (626) 744-7062

You can connect with other programs for Pasadena-based artists, teachers and organizations: www.cityofpasadena.net/arts/

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Nov 29 2008
Amazon Free Bon Appetit Subscription
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Nov 28 2008
Taco Ready Rosemead Closes

Taco Ready in Rosemead has closed. The closed on November 14, 2008 after 32 years.

There’s a coupon for $5 off good at the other locations, in Baldwin Park and Covina.

www.tacoready.com

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