Karen Hamilton of Tiny Bites has added her blog to the global Menu for Hope campaign, helping give hope and education to children worldwide while educating us all (and offering up prizes to boot).
Menu for Hope has been organized for the past 5 years by the legendary Chez Pim, with proceeds going to the United Nation’s World Food Program. This year, Menu for Hope targets the development of a school food program in Lesotho, Africa. There is also hope that whatever is raised in 2008 meets or exceeds last year’s global collection of $90,000.
When you donate $10 to this cause you will get a raffle ticket and have the chance to win $600 in prizes donated by other local food sites and businesses such as Social Bites, Farmstead Wines, and Rouxbe.
To be eligible for the prizes you need to be in Canada or the USA, however there are some international prizes available from Chez Pim, Hooked on Heat, and the Abstract Gourment.
Choose your prize at Chez Pim, make your donation (clarifying which prize you’d like to be in the running for in the ‘personal message’ section). There are some specifics available on TinyBites in case you’d like to purchase more than one ticket/make a larger donation.
Over a year ago I did a post about umbrella etiquette and I think it’s time to share some information, laws, and common courtesies regarding snowy conditions in our fair city.
Last night we witnessed about 3 accidents in the alley behind our house as it is not sanded or plowed. Alleys aren’t really a priority for the city so I can understand this, however if you’re driving around town and see a back lane, covered in ice, and on a incline the first thing that pops into your head should be, “how about I take another route”.
City Priorities for Clearing
1) Street
The City of Vancouver first focuses its efforts to control snow and ice on the arterial streets, transit routes, and major collector streets. These are designated ‘Snow Emergency Routes’ and are treated immediately after a snowfall. Sufficient equipment is available to treat all such routes within a few hours under usual snowfall conditions.
2) Bridges
Bridge decks are very susceptible to icing. These are also given top priority by the snow and ice control personnel for patrolling, salting and sanding.
3) Residential hills and designated bicycle routes (that is, integrated routes on city streets, rather than strictly recreational routes such as along the waterfront) are also considered a high priority. Every attempt is made to treat them on the first day.
4) Frost and snow on steep streets
In some cases, steep streets such as Oak from Broadway to 6th. Avenue will be barricaded off to prevent cars from attempting to drive on the hills.
5) Sidewalks
Sidewalks are not cleared by City staff, except on bridges, pedestrian underpasses and overpasses, public access walks and stairs, and in bus stop landing areas.
6) City-owned parking lots
Some City-owned parking lots may be cleared by City staff, but this work receives the lowest priority.
Vancouver has many awnings and we’re very prepared for rain and the need cover. As such, snow has been building up on these slopes that hang above the sidewalks. I saw someone get showered by a sheet of snow that fell off an awning. Business owners, please head out there if you can, grab a broom, and pull down those snow sheets before someone gets hurt – same goes for icicles.
Finally, sidewalks. As the city states, they’re only cleared by their staff when they’re on public property. If you have a sidewalk or path in front of your home you are responsible for clearing it.
Vancouver property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks that surround their property by 10 a.m.
The City’s snow removal by-law applies to all property owners in the city except one- and two-family residences outside the downtown peninsula — south of Burrard Inlet, north of Terminal Avenue, False Creek and English Bay, west of Main Street, and east of Stanley Park.
Property owners who fail to remove snow and ice as required by the by-law may be subject to a fine of up to $2,000, or the City can have the snow removed and bill the owner for the cost. [City of Vancouver]
As the sun is coming out to shine over us (with only 4 shopping days left) things will melt and also freeze up again at night. Travel safe, walk and drive slowly, and avoid slippery icy patches whenever you can. It also helps to be a good neighbour and clear off the walk for someone who might not be able to get out and do so themselves.
Update: Suggestions and more helpful tips from Twitter – @JenniferPriest “Also, clean snow off the top of the car. Rather blinding as it goes flying at the driver behind.”
A few months ago I shared Demetri Martin and his large pad that contained data and “findings”. However it was only recently that I cam across the same type of humour (mixed with a little LOL Cat flare) over on GraphJam. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Well it finally happened after months and months of speculation, waiting, and getting tired of the tease. Former Toronto captain Mats Sundin has officially signed with the Vancouver Canucks.
“Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis today announced that the team has signed free agent centre Mats Sundin. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are very excited to have Mats join the Vancouver Canucks,†said Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks General Manager. “Playing previously in two Canadian markets and consistently being among team and League leaders in scoring, Mats has proven that he can excel under pressure. He adds a wealth of experience, leadership and skill to the Canucks.â€
“I am truly excited to be joining the Canucks,†said Sundin. “Once I made the decision to return to play a few weeks ago, the Vancouver opportunity was simply the best overall fit. I want to thank Mike Gillis and the entire Canucks organization for their professionalism throughout this entire process.” [Canucks.com]
I’ve been following the commentary on various Canucks blogs (and on Twitter) since the summer about this possible transaction – what do you think? One day after we retired #16 to the rafters, is this a new era for the team? Former Maple Leaf Kyle Wellwood seems to be working out for us (mind you there’s still some name calling going around), but are Vancouver fans ready to accept another Leaf on our ice?
[poll id=”22″]
Learn more today from the press conference at GM Place – 4:15pm PT on TEAM1040am.
A few weeks ago we were sent a Jawbone Bluetooth headset from PureMobile.ca to try out and review. Since John just got a new Blackberry from work and he’s on the go all day I had him try it out, and we used it several times during phone calls.
My first impressions were that it certainly doesn’t look as obnoxious as the first generation of Bluetooth headsets. The Jawbone is really small and unless you do a double-take it may be mistaken for an earring or ear piece – not a mini mobile phone strapped to your head.
The sound quality is really great, in fact I could barely tell the difference between talking to John on his handset or when he was using the Jawbone. Having something hands-free is also very handy for driving as fumbling with a cell phone (since we can never miss that call) is dangerous on the road.
“It may be a bit tricky to figure out how it works at first but it’s very stealthy. There are no physical buttons – the whole thing is a button,” John noted. “The LED looks cool and the charger is pretty sweet since it’s magnetic (MagSafe)”.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s going to stay on my head – it’s loose fitting which is very good but can also be bad depending on the person you are,” commented John although I know he’s pretty fickle when it comes to earbuds and headphones as well. “It doesn’t feel like it’s stapled to your head and it doesn’t feel like your suffocating,” adding that it was a nice balance.
He said he did worry that the audio was not loud enough, which again can be a good thing or a bad thing (you don’t want to blow your ear out) and the sound quality was great on audio calls.
Overall the Jawbone was sleek, crisp and not a distraction. You can check out PureMobile.ca for more information and countless product offerings. They also have a blog about the mobile phone industry.
Disclosure: I was not paid to write this review or endorse this product.
