Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy

There was a press conference today at The Terrace on the UofR campus, announcing a “greywater” project that is getting underway. The new Lab Building Addition (LBA) has had dual pipes installed, to provide greywater to toilets and other systems that don’t require drinking-quality water. This has a twofold effect, in that it reduces sewage output, and cuts drinking water intake. The hope is to turn Regina into a leader in this technology.

Currently, the U of R is focusing on the key component of the project — design and constructions of the portable pilot plant. The expected completion date of the detailed design is late summer. To test the system, greywater will be obtained from select bathroom sinks of the newly constructed laboratory building at the U of R campus, where specialized dual piping systems have been installed to independently collect the greywater. The pilot plant will be installed and tested in the basement of the new facility.”

There is a great need for this to work, since many sewer lines in the city have reached their capacity, which will hamper building development. In a time when we may start to reach record population levels due to an oil boom, we can’t afford to hold up building new homes because there’s no place to put the sewer water. Water reclamation that turns that waste water into reusable greywater, will be what saves the water supply on the prairies, and beyond. Dr. Young who is heading the project, says the systems can be modified to provide drinking quality water at additional expense.

This kind of project is really a no-brainer. Minister Lyle Stewart and Mr. Andrew Scheer (for Minister Rona Ambrose) have put money into the development. Naturally, Stewart pitched it as a way to make Saskatchewan a technology and investment leader, and Scheer played up how it was confirmation of the supposed fact that the Conservatives are committed to reducing greenhouse gases (What??). Regardless of their spin, it will help make Regina (and eventually the world) more sustainable for humans. A plant of the type Dr. Young specializes in designing, has already been put into production in China, according to the announcement.

So, in 2009, probably after December, please take a seat at the LBA’s washrooms, and poop our province to prosperity.

(Oh wait, they are only taking the water from the sinks to start with. So don’t misuse the sinks please. Also interesting to note, is that there are no-flush urinals in the LBA men’s washroom on the main floor. A “green” roof is going to be installed on a part of that building too.)

This is beyond creepy, and sick. There just can’t be a good reason this is happening. I’m not going to speculate as to the cause, nor make an easy pun. I know the blogosphere has mentioned this apparent serial crime when the last foot was found.

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And it looks like I meet the minimum requirements to be a Canadian astronaut! Perhaps I should apply, on a lark.

Since before the last election, Stephen Harper was going on and on about a Made in Canada solution to deal with greenhouse gases. That mantra has fallen down since he revealed he doesn’t really care about greenhouse gases or air pollution, but the point is he wanted a solution that we made. It would be ours, and in theory it would be best. Well, people who know what he really meant, was that he wanted a Made in America solution to greenhouse gas emissions, and he has been working on implementing it since he came to power.

Now he’s made the mistake of fixing Canada’s (food) labeling law. This change requires that products with “Made in Canada” or “Product of Canada” are actually mostly Canadian in origin and content. If he doesn’t relabel his “Made in Canada” pollution strategy to “Made in USA”, will he be violating his own law?

Seriously, the food law is a good change. I just had to bug him about his “Made in Canada” crap he’s fed us before. The King of Carbon has a lot of experience with the poop slinging. When he’s not insulting Canada, he does a fine job of saying every other country’s government with a carbon tax is just out for a cash grab.
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While it isn’t really news, I thought it interesting that the Leader Post (online at least, maybe in the paper too) had an anatomy lesson. It’s supposed to reduce injury if you have a better understanding of how your insides are connected. It makes sense, and I thought it was a good tip. These other tips are also handy.

Replace [old] exercises with multipurpose winners like the lat pulldown (upper and middle back, biceps, shoulders), push-ups (chest, triceps, shoulders) and seated row (middle and upper back, shoulders, biceps), or combine a biceps curl with a lunge and a calf raise with a barbell squat.

The lat pulldown looks like a chinup. So if you don’t have a machine, I’d guess that’s the equivalent. Let’s hope you have a sturdy bar to pull yourself up to safely instead. And besides, if you are ever thrown off a bridge, and you are hanging on to the edge for your life, like you’re a star of some movie, you’ll be able to pull yourself back up to safety.

The Leader Post is reminding campers who are headed to Provincial Parks, that alcohol is not welcome on the long weekend. The ban has been in effect since 2006, and has presumably decreased the noise and vandalism levels seen in the parks prior to the ban. It’s a shame that some drunken yahoos have to ruin it for the responsible drinkers.

Also, lifejackets for boaters, and seatbelts for drivers are being mentioned, because sadly many people across Canada die because they don’t take those simple precautions.

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Driving on the Ring Road this afternoon, I passed a speed trap that has been set up for southbound vehicles past Assiniboine Ave. I was going under the speed limit, but someone was pulled over. I was one of the few cars that slowed to the required 60km/h as I went by the police car with its flashing lights on.

While shopping through Superstore, I came across some real sunlight. It was nice, except I then noticed that it shone directly onto the stacks of DVD-R and CD-R discs. Recordable disks have to be kept out of direct sunlight, or they get damaged. I mentioned to the electronics staff that they were damaging their inventory, but I fully expect them to not move the discs. So, buyer, beware.

It’s a very nice day outside, I’m going to poke around in the garden a little, and hope the gusty wind has died down enough to not make a dust bowl while I plant.

This is pretty sad. I also think these victims are not taking the safest route to justice or their healing.
This kind of story makes me nervous about visiting Florida in the future - How do I know a prosecutor won’t decide that 59Mph = 78Mph?

I got some free potting soil, so I refreshed some of my indoor plants, and put some pots on the balcony to get them ready for some tiny veggies or herbs. I tried planning a couple radishes, and a couple yellow peppers, so hopefully they sprout. There is plenty of rain forecast for this week. I still need to get out to my garden and plant some things. They didn’t turn the water on a few days ago, because of freezing nights.

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On Saturday I dropped my crippled bike off at Dutch Cycle. Even though I got there at about 2 minutes past closing time at 4PM, they were nice and let me in the door. The missing wheel can apparently be repaired for about $35 (used), and I’m hoping they throw in a speedometer magnet with that too. I can possibly get it on Tuesday, but I bet it will turn into Saturday or Wednesday if I’m lucky.

Saturday evening I dragged two friends out, to Bushwakker’s, and I had potato skins. I cut off a bite, and when it touched my lip, it burned it. Then I was in that awkward situation I hate, where you know if you finish putting the food into your mouth you’re going to burn it, but if you spit it out, you’re going to look rude. I went with the pull the food out of my mouth with my fingers technique.

Sometime shortly before or after that I was bugged for swirling my water glass around the top of the table whilst making a “wooo” sound. So I proceeded to prove that I was still sober by stacking a salt shaker on top of two glasses, then a pepper shaker on top of the salt, then a menu, and then tenting two coasters on top of it all. I threatened to balance a full water glass on top of the menu, to cries of objection. I wouldn’t have really done it (because I couldn’t have).

I was considering leaving this mostly unfounded jab fall by the wayside, but I see Dr. Dawg has responded eloquently to it already. I just would like to point out though, that one week we’re “self-centered bigots” for not knowing something took place, and the next week we’re supporters of “fringe anarchists” and “paranoid fabulists” because what we should have known according to Robert, actually didn’t happen (again according to Robert) because the person who recently pointed it out is Mr. Annett, “and we can’t let him make a mockery of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”

So Robert, which is it? You can’t cut both ways, just to suck up to Kate’s crowd. Because that’s how this comes across, at least as much as your probably sincere worry that further investigations will somehow delay the compensation already settled upon. Seems easy enough to pay the settlements due, and if there’s further injury proved, then to pay again to the families further injured. Bring on an investigation.