Monthly Archives: December 2011

Climate Change and Insects

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Watch out for the bugs
Published: 12:56 AM GMT on December 10, 2011
I’m wrapping up my stay in San Francisco for the annual Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the world’s largest gathering of Earth Scientists. Over eighteen thousand scientists from all over the world, including most of the world’s top climate scientists, were in town this week to exchange ideas to advance the cause of Earth Science. It’s been a great opportunity to learn about climate change topics I don’t know much about, and I attended a fascinating (and somewhat unnerving) lecture on how global warming is expected to affect insects, titled “The Impact of Global Warming on global crop yields due to changes in pest pressure”. Global warming is expected to bring a variety of impacts to agriculture, both positive and negative. Extra CO2 in the atmosphere will tend to increase crop yields, but crop losses due to insect pests are expected to double by 2100, according to a insect pest/crop model designed by David Battisti of the University of Washington. These losses will occur in addition to the expected 35 – 40% decrease in crop yields due to higher temperatures by the end of the century.

When temperature increases, the metabolic rate of insects goes up, requiring that they eat more to survive. In the mid-latitudes, the predicted 2 – 4°C temperature increase by 2100 will require insects to eat double what they do now, in order to survive. The increase in temperature is also expected to enable insect populations to rise by 20%. However, insect populations will fall by 20% in the tropics, where insects have evolved to tolerate a much narrower range of temperatures. Let’s look at the world’s three most important crops: rice, wheat, and corn. In the four largest rice producing countries–China, India, Bangladesh, and Thailand–Insects currently cause a loss of 10- 20% of the crop, and this is expected to double to 20 – 30% by 2100. These nations have 40% of the world’s population, and make 60% of the world’s rice. For corn, the world’s four largest producers–the U.S., China, France, and Argentina–are expected to see insect pest losses double from 6% to 12%. The story is similar for wheat; pest losses are expected to double from 10% to 20% by 2100. The total increased damage to global agriculture is predicted to be $30 – $50 billion per year by 2100. This will likely contribute greatly to food costs and potential food shortages. The model made a number of simplifications that could greatly change this outcome, though. The model assumed that there would be no change to the number of insects that survive winter, and this number is likely to increase in a warmer climate. Precipitation was not changed to reflect what is expected to happen in a changed climate, and this will cause increases in crop yields in some areas, and decreases in others. Farmers are likely to change growing practices and utilize new pesticides to combat the expected increase in pests, and this was not considered, either. It is interesting to note that during the great natural global warming event of 55 million years ago–the Palecene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)–fossil records of plant leaves show greatly increased levels of damage from insects, supporting the idea that a warmer climate will drive an explosion in the insect population.

Jeff Masters

Locust Clouds over Paamul (cleo85)
A several miles wide swarm of Locus is moving from Cancun south-west ward over Yucatans Jungle.Paamul, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Locust Clouds over Paamul, by cleo85

Storm Targets California Monday

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Major Storm to strike Southern California on Monday, bringing Severe Weather

Published on December 11, 2011 10:00 am PT
– By TWS Staff Reporter
– Edited by Staff Editor


(TheWeatherSpace.com) – TWS’ Southern California Weather Authority has issued a Severe Weather Statement for the populated zones of Southern California for Monday for severe weather to strike.

TWS Senior Meteorologist Kevin Martin issued the product this morning just after 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time. The skies are clear across Southern California and it does not even seem like a major storm is on the horizon, but there is

“This is one of those systems that goes negative tilted, which means the dynamics for widespread thunderstorms and a chance of severe weather, including tornadic activity, is possible. The best dynamics is offshore Orange County, which means areas along the Orange County coast and inland need to be aware.”

TWS SCWXA has named the system the next name on the list, Garrett. Major Pacific Storm Garrett is a category four to start, but Martin stresses the highest scale of five could be issued by tonight if trends continue.

“In addition to this, the mountains above 5,000 feet will take a beating with the system, bringing significant snowfall to those areas and thundersnow,” concluded Martin.

from:   http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-121111-major-storm-southern-california.html
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Strong Earthquake – Iguala, Mexico

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Very strong earthquake near Iguala, Mexico – 2 people killed, 4 injured and 50 houses damaged in Guerrero

Last update: December 11, 2011 at 5:38 pm by By 

Earthquake overview :  A very strong earthquake occurred near Iguala Mexico at 07:47 PM local time. Luckily the hypocenter was at a depth of 64.7 km.

image copyright and courtesy telediario.mx

Update 11/12 – 17:23 UTC
– The Civil Defense undersecretary from the Guerrero province has declared that the official death toll is 2(updated from 3), 4 people have been injured  and 50 houses have been damaged.

Update 11/12 – 13:23 UTC
– As could be expected after such a powerful earthquake, a number of aftershocks have been reported so far
– The picture at right shows the damaged van of the unlucky driver who lost his live during this earthquake. We do not know the exact circumstances but it looks that he was hit by one of the heavy stones on the ground. 2 woman inside the van were more lucky as the far heavier stones where blocked by the roof of the van. The woman were injured.

Update 11/12 – 12:06 UTC
The death toll remains at 3 and will probably and hopefully not increase anymore.
All the fatalities have been reported in Guerrero state.
The Mexico City DF (Federal district) has reported a SALDO BLANCO, which means that there were NO injuries and/or fatalities
– At least 13.2 million people must have Felt the earthquake
– The deep hypocenter or focal depth  is the main reason why this very strong earthquake did not made more victims.
– Based on what we know right now, we can call it a lucky escape.
– The video below shows the shaking while a TV soap was being recorded. We think that this video was recorded in Mexico City, at least 150 km from the epicenter. The video shows very well the length of the shaking (official reports are mentioning 47 seconds, but this might have been the case closer to the epicenter).

Update 09:06 UTC : 
A third death has occurred in the northern region of Guerrero, where a rock fell onto a driver.
Thus we have had 1 death via structural failure, and 2 via rockfalls.
In Chilpancingo, several houses and businesses were damaged, while the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary has a serious crack in one of the towers.
Civil Protection has continued monitoring of damage, mainly in Zumpango del Rio, where the epicenter occurred. Helicopters are flying over for more reports, as people gradually have returned inside their buildings in a city that is ready to receive thousands of pilgrims for the annual celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Update 08:34 UTC : 
The death toll from this earthquake remains at 2. An 11 year old boy was killed when the roof of his house fell on him, and a rock fall caused the death of a motorist. As yet these are the only reports of deaths. Injuries have occurred in many locations from falling structures, objects and landslides.

I Have Felt It map – courtesy USGS

Update 08:34 UTC : 
The epicentral region has been hit by many earthquakes in the past 110 years according to CATDAT – here are just some of the damaging earthquakes within 100km of the epicenter. Chilpancingo has had damage on average every 30 years.
Date Magnitude Lat/Long No. of fatalities
1899 7.5Ml 17.1,-100.5 Chilpancingo damage
16/01/1902 7.3Ml 17.6,-99.5 300
6/10/1937 6.5Ml 17.3,-99.3 0
10/01/1944 7Ml 18.1,-100.6 0
11/05/1962 7.3Mw 17.18,-99.642 4
19/05/1962 6.7Ms 17.009,-99.763 30
30/11/1962 5.1Ml 17.6,-99.7 1
6/07/1964 7.2mB 18.193,-100.509 78
2/07/1968 5.7mB 17.519,-100.259 1
7/06/1976 6.4Mw 17.378,-100.691 0
13/04/2007 6Ml 17.302,-100.198 0

Update 08:11 UTC : 
From such an earthquake, the shaking in the soft soil (clay basin) of Mexico City, can sometimes be amplified many times, and could be the reason why we have seen damaged buildings in Mexico City despite expected low ground accelerations due to the distance from the epicenter. Mexico City was built on a lake originally, and hence the soft alluvial soils that magnify ground motion.

for more, updates, and links, go to:   http://earthquake-report.com/2011/12/11/very-strong-earthquake-at-intermediate-depth-near-iguala-mexico/

David Wilcock on Spiritual Growth

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Check out this video from David Wilcock on essentials of spiritual growth, connectedness, love, the Law of One, Service to others, and more.

First, just a comment from me:

In these times, we need to expand our minds and out consciousness.  This means that we need to let go of a lot of old stuff, old patterns, ideas, ideals, relationships,  manners, styles, etc., etc., etc.  This is never easy, but there is so much help available right now.  Help comes in all different forms and formats.  This is not a time for taking small things for granted.  Messages appear on the wind, out of the mouths of babes, in Freudian Slips, synchronicity, to name a few.  The most important thing is, as always, to look within, to go to your heart center, to be at one with your Core Self. You and I and everyone and everything are Universal Consciousness knowing itself in all the myriad forms.  It is play.  We take on roles and personae.  Just as easily, we can try something new.  That is all part of transition.  It is a process, an huge process.  Perspective comes with the knowing process.

This is not a time for fear, but joy.  Fear fears joy for joy sees the wonder, beauty, synergy, and plan in everything.  Joy lives above the mundane.  Fear attempts to meld the mundane into something destructive and dangerous.  To laugh in the face of these illusions is to know your power.  And to approach all with love is to be your fulfilled self.

So, take a look.  Some interesting points:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_eWj6NywfM

December 11-17

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Overall Color for the Week:    Grainy White

This week will bring surprises on every level.  Do not believe everything you hear or see.  This will be brought home to you again and again as the week progresses.  Use your discrimination and intuition.  People are getting confused messages and being confused by the energies that are playing out all around them.  There is a clash of vibrations going on at this time as old and new start to come into closer and more immediate contact.  Look to your health and be generous with yourself in that regard.  Do not overdo it.  Your body is reacting to the new energetic shifts.  This can result in aches and pains and emotional upsets.  While these things can be disconcerting and cause you some anguish, remember that it is merely a reaction to what is going on outside of you and does not necessarily reflect an inner condition.  This is a week for staying within your power, for taking care of yoruself, and for observation.  Before going out, it is a good idea to ward yourself against influences outside of you.  Step back from things and do not react.  Regard, reflect, and only then, respond.  Stay within your heart center and listen to the wisdom there.  It is your connection point with Universal Consciousness.  It is the ultimate perspective giver.  This is a time also for forgiveness.  Remember, though, that forgiveness is about you.  It will not change the other, so do not look for it to do so.  You must walk your path and show your light. Others have to take care of themselves.

On the larger scene, there will be oddities everywhere.  Strange noises in the environment will take place.  It will be difficult to pinpoint their source.  Meanwhile the weather will be crazy, out of sync, and out of season.  Expect more Earth movements in odd areas, and expect the strength to increase.  Animals and birds will be acting differently.  Look to them.  Their patterns are shifting and the direction of those shifts can indicate to you how things are going in the natural world.  The fish world also will have some odd occurrences, particularly in the usually ice bound areas.  There will be mention made of clearer communication with the sea mammals.  People will begin to speak of messages from whales and dolphins that will bring a kind of perspective as they tell tales of how this Earth was at the time of Atlantis and Lemuria.  The financial picture will be shifting behind the scenes, as news reporters tout the positive  nature of the  holiday season spending.  While those in power speak of peace, there are rumblings of war beginning to be heard, particularly in the Mid East.  Along with that will come some information concerning the role of that area in the development of history and influence from Extraterrestrials.  Things will be happening in the U.K. that are going to lead people to wonder.  The good news is that things are beginning to fall into place for a transformation on all levels.  Things have not been able to be hidden for quite some time now, and this week will bring more old stuff to the surface.

Sunday, December 11:    Sea Blue

Many things have been drifting about in your life, thoughts, ideas, images, stuff, people, plans, and things. This is a day for gaining some perspective on all of these.  Center and ground, then take a look.  What do they all mean?  It is time to prioritize and clear out.  What are the things that you cannot, will not, want not live without.  Those should be the first items on your list, then go down from there.  Oh, and in the process, it is important to know where you belong.  It is time to see, feel, understand, appreciate, and be true to WHO you are and where you are within your life.  You should be Number One on your list.  True selflessness at times comes out to be sincere and authentic selfishness.  There is no guilt here.  If, first and foremost, you are good for you, then you can be good for everything else.

Crystal energy:     Blue Tiger Eye—The energy of this stone grants vision without judgment and knowledge that opens accepts, and understands, and the discrimination to know how to react.  Resonates with the Third Eye Chakra.

Monday, December 12:    Lime Green

There is a shadow on some of the things that you are dealing with.  It is time for clarity.  People have been keeping you in the dark about events and items that you are wanting to clear up.  Today is a day for knowing what is right and just.  Your intuition is strong today, and if you feel that things are being kept from you, then it is time to speak out and ask for reasons, clarity, and guidance.  There is someone who has some answers to give you.  You could be surprised to know just who this person is.  Look for signs in the air today. The energy shifts are stronger and odder.  It is time to be aware of what is around you. You have always known more than you give yourself credit for.  Open to that and you can see the meaning in the signs and symbols you encounter.

Crystal Energy:    Serandite—-This mineral allows for connections to be made on all levels, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, being channeled through the energetic systems of the body.  At the same time it works to heal points and issues that could otherwise act as blocks to connectivity.  Resonates with the Crown and Upper Chakras.

Tuesday, December 13:    Dark Sky Blue

There are messages in the winds today.  Along with those, are words and statements made by others.  This is a good day for sorting out truth from fiction.  The overall energy has a number of different layers.  Some are related to truth and others are related to illusion.  This is a day for staying in your Core Self in order to know which is which. Listen to the knowing of your heart.  It will not lead you astray.  There can be some difficult moments today when you come to grips with stuff in your life.  Some of the things you already knew but were unwilling to accept.  Others can really surprise you.  There is much in the way of emotional energy around.  It is time to give in to the urges to cry, to laugh,k to be joyful.  This is not a time for holding onto, but allowing the flow.

Crystal Energy:    Azurite-Malachite—-The dynamic synergy of these two enegied brings about a movement into, or at leas,a sense of the greater whole and where you belong.  It brings a sense of calm and perspective to the troubled heart.  Resonates with the Heart and Third Eye Chakras.

Wednesday, December 14:    Barely Blue

The energy of the day favors goodness and compassion, understanding and brotherhood.  It is a time to look at people, places, and things that you have some kind of grudge or ill feeling about and see them in a new light.  Perspectives are changing.  What seemed one way in the past can be different today.  This is a time for being aware of the total picture, remember the story of the blind men and the elephant.  Step back from things.  Give them time.  You have plenty more opportunities for dealing stuff.  Today is a time to engage yourself in reflection. Take time in nature, listen to soothing music, close your eyes, dream, meditate — whatever allows you best to go within and connect with your true essence,  There is much you can teach yourself.  Today is a good day for a lesson.

Crystal Energy:    Sapphire—-The energy of this stone wards off negativity.  It assists one with centering, and though that activity with knowing one’s truth.  It is a good protection stone.  Vibrates to the Throat and Third Eye Chakras.

Thursday, December 15:     Golden Amber

Hearing, seeing, touching, tasting.  The senses are at the forefront today.  This is a good day to take things easily, quietly, slowly.  Let things be what they are and then taste them.  You have much to learn from that. There is no hurry.  If you choose to rush thing, then the magic can very easily fall apart.  The dimensions are exceptionally leaky today and you can see, hear, and feel things from times past, other places, and those who have moved on.  Listen closely to your inner knowing, your intuition, there are messages there for you.  It is time to realize what means most to you.  Take time to look around before you act.  Know the territory.  Sense the blockages.  There is nothing in the air today that can hold you back unless you allow it.

Crystal Energy:    Almandine Garnet—-This stone opens one to the wonder of life, awakening the passions and the joy in life.  Resonates with the Root Chakra.

Friday, December 16:    Light Magenta:

Take a breather today.  Allow yourself some fun.  The current energy allows for inspiration and understanding to come through enjoyable activities.  Look around and listen.,  You will know your real friends.  There are things that you have not been willing to look at because of the emotional upset that they have for you.  Let the energies of transformation that are in the air at this time run through you, and you will find yourself seeing things in a new way.  You need to let go of more and more old stuff as the Solstice approaches.  It is time for a change.  You have known that for quite some time.  Your power, strength, and resolves are growing.  Take time to meditate on what it is that you truly want.  Be centered and grounded.  That way you can follow through as you never have before.

Saturday, December 17:    Dark Lavender

This is a day for contrasts and noticing the relationships of one thing to another.  Questions can arise today that have no easy answers, and there will be those who become angry because the answers are not there.  Moreover, there is a sense in the air that things are more complicated and difficult than you thought they would be.Know that when you feel that way, it is merely a reminder to go within and see the larger picture.  There will be many themes that are run through today and you have the opportunity to choose which ones you wish to focus upon.  By making one or the other your point of reference, you allow the others to take care of themselves.  This is a day for seeing things one at a time.  If people or situations attempt to force you to do otherwise, know then that this is not the best place for you at this time.

Crystal Energy:    Psilomelane—-This mineral grants protection and grounding in times of need.  Resonates with the Root and Navel Chakras.

Keeping Veggies Viable

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Increase The Shelf Life of Your Fruit & Veg..Without Using Toxic Plastic Products

Eating more fruits and vegetables is a requirement for every healthy eater.

But when you buy more fresh produce, do you end up throwing away more than you eat?

Would you like to increase the shelf life of your fruits and veggies without having to use toxic plastic products that harm both the environment and you?

In today’s economy you can’t waste money on food that will rot the day after you bring it home.

Plastic food wraps and their negative effects on the environment and human health.
  • PVC: Some food cling wraps (especiallyused at the deli counter) are polyvinylchloride (PVC), which is not only very environmentally toxic, it’s also laced with phthalates. Source
  • BPA and phthalates: BPA and phthalates have been found in several types of plastic food containers and storage bags, increasing the possibility that you absorb them by storing food in plastics.Source
  • Wildlife hazard: Film plastics like bags and cling wraps pollute landscapes and oceans where they pose choking, suffocating, intestinal blockage threats to wildlife. They also add to the great Pacific Ocean plastic island where they wrap around coral, killing these vital organisms.Source
  • Non–renewable: Whether it’s made from #3 PVC or #4 LDPE or low-density polyethylene (another common material used to make plastic wrap products), these plastics are derived from petroleum, making them inherently non-renewable.
  • Non-recyclable: Although it is technically possible to recycle these plastics, most curbside recycling programs will not accept plastic wraps. Learn more about recycling soft plastics.
HOW TO STORE VEGETABLES WITHOUT PLASTIC

These tips are from the Berkley Farmer’s Market which is a Zero Waste market! Here is a printable PDF of their original tip sheet.

Always remove any tight bands from your vegetables or at least loosen them to allow them to breathe.

Artichokes – Place in an airtight container sealed, with light moisture.
Asparagus – Place them loosely in a glass or bowl upright with water at room temperature. (Will keep for a week outside the fridge)
Avocados – Place in a paper bag at room temp. To speed up their ripening, place an apple in the bag with them.
Arugula – Like lettuce, should not stay wet! Dunk in cold water and spin or lay flat to dry. Place dry arugula in an open container, wrapped with a dry towel to absorb any extra moisture.
Basil – Is difficult to store well. Basil does not like the cold, or to be wet for that matter. The best method here is an airtight container/jar loosely packed with a small damp piece of paper inside, left out on a cool counter.
Beans – Shelling open container in the fridge, eat ASAP. Some recommend freezing them if not going to eat right away
Beets – Cut the tops off to keep beets firm, (be sure to keep the greens!)by leaving any top on root vegetables draws moisture from the root, making them loose flavor and firmness. Beets should be washed and kept in and open container with a wet towel on top.
Beet greens – Place in an airtight container with a little moisture.
Broccoli – Place in an open container in the fridge or wrap in a damp towel before placing in the fridge.
Broccoli Rabe – Left in an open container in the crisper, but best used as soon as possible.
Brussels Sprouts – If bought on the stalk leave them on that stalk. Put the stalk in the fridge or leave it on a cold place. If they’re bought loose store them in an open container with a damp towel on top.
Cabbage – Left out on a cool counter is fine up to a week, in the crisper otherwise. Peel off outer leaves if they start to wilt. Cabbage might begin to loose its moisture after a week , so, best used as soon as possible.
Carrots – Cut the tops off to keep them fresh longer. Place them in closed container with plenty of moisture, either wrapped in a damp towel or dunk them in cold water every couple of days if they’re stored that long.
Cauliflower – Will last a while in a closed container in the fridge, but they say cauliflower has the best flavor the day it’s bought.
Celery – Does best when simply places in a cup or bowl of shallow water on the counter.
Celery root/Celeriac – Wrap the root in a damp towel and place in the crisper.
Corn – Leave unhusked in an open container if you must, but corn really is best eaten sooner then later for maximum flavor.
Cucumber – Wrapped in a moist towel in the fridge. If you’re planning on eating them within a day or two after buying them they should be fine left out in a cool room.

Eggplant – Does fine left out in a cool room. Don’t wash it, eggplant doesn’t like any extra moisture around its leaves. For longer storage, place loose, in the crisper.

Fava beans – Place in an air tight container.
Fennel – If used within a couple days after it’s bought fennel can be left out on the counter, upright in a cup or bowl of water (like celery). If wanting to keep longer than a few days place in the fridge in a closed container with a little water.
Garlic – Store in a cool, dark, place.
Green garlic – An airtight container in the fridge or left out for a day or two is fine, best before dried out.
Greens – Remove any bands, twist ties, etc. most greens must be kept in an air-tight container with a damp cloth, to keep them from drying out. Kale, collards, and chard even do well in a cup of water on the counter or fridge.
Green beans – They like humidity, but not wetness. A damp cloth draped over an open or loosely closed container.
Green Tomatoes – Store in a cool room away from the sun to keep them green and use quickly or they will begin to color.
Herbs– A closed container in the fridge to kept up to a week. Any longer might encourage mold.
Lettuce – Keep damp in an airtight container in the fridge.
Leeks – Leave in an open container in the crisper wrapped in a damp cloth or in a shallow cup of water on the counter (just so the very bottom of the stem has water).
Okra – Doesn’t like humidity. So a dry towel in an airtight container. Doesn’t store that well, best eaten quickly after purchase
Onion – Store in a cool, dark and dry place, good air circulation is best, so don’t stack them.
Parsnips – An open container in the crisper, or, like a carrot, wrapped in a damp cloth in the fridge.
Potatoes – Like garlic and onions, store in cool, dark and dry place, such as, a box in a dark corner of the pantry; a paper bag also works well.
Radicchio – Place in the fridge in an open container with a damp cloth on top.
Radishes – Remove the greens (store separately) so they don’t draw out excess moisture from the roots and place them in a open container in the fridge with a wet towel placed on top.
Rhubarb – Wrap in a damp towel and place in an open container in the refrigerator.
Rutabagas – In an ideal situation a cool, dark, humid root cellar or a closed container in the crisper to keep their moisture in.
Snap peas – Refrigerate in an open container
Spinach – Store loose in an open container in the crisper, cool as soon as possible. Spinach loves to stay cold.
Spring onions – Remove any band or tie and place in the crisper.
Summer Squash – does fine for a few days if left out on a cool counter, even after cut.
Sweet peppers – Only wash them right before you plan on eating them as wetness decreases storage time. Store in a cool room to use in a couple a days, place in the crisper if longer storage needed.
Sweet Potatoes – Store in a cool, dark, well ventilated place. Never refrigerate sweet potatoes they don’t like the cold.
Tomatoes – Never refrigerate. Depending on ripeness, tomatoes can stay for up to two weeks on the counter. To hasten ripeness place in a paper bag with an apple.
Turnips – Remove the greens (store separately) same as radishes and beets, store them in an open container with a moist cloth.
Winter squash – Store in a cool, dark, well ventilated place. Many growers say winter squashes get sweeter if they’re stored for a week or so before eaten.
Zucchini – Does fine for a few days if left out on a cool counter, even after cut. Wrap in a cloth and refrigerate for longer storage.

HOW TO STORE FRUIT WITHOUT PLASTIC

Apples – Store on a cool counter or shelf for up to two weeks. For longer storage in a cardboard box in the fridge.
Citrus – Store in a cool place, with good airflow, never in an air?tight container.
Apricots – On a cool counter to room temperature or fridge if fully ripe
Cherries – Store in an airtight container. Don’t wash cherries until ready to eat, any added moisture encourages mold.
Berries – Don’t forget, they’re fragile. When storing be careful not to stack too many high, a single layer if possible. A paper bag works well, only wash before you plan on eating them.
Dates – Dryer dates (like Deglet Noor) are fine stored out on the counter in a bowl or the paper bag they were bought in. Moist dates (like Medjool) need a bit of refrigeration if they’re going to be stored over a week, either in cloth or a paper bag? as long as it’s porous to keeping the moisture away from the skin of the dates.
Figs – Don’t like humidity, so, no closed containers. A paper bag works to absorb excess moisture, but a plate works best in the fridge up to a week un?stacked.
Melons – Uncut in a cool dry place, out of the sun up to a couple weeks. Cut melons should be in the fridge, an open container is fine.
Nectarines – Similar to apricots, store in the fridge is okay if ripe, but best taken out a day or two before you plan on eating them so they soften to room temperature.
Peaches – And most stone fruit, refrigerate only when fully ripe. More firm fruit will ripen on the counter.
Pears – Will keep for a few weeks on a cool counter, but fine in a paper bag. To hasten the ripening put an apple in with them.
Persimmon –Fuyu (shorter/pumpkin shaped): store at room temperature. Hachiya (longer/pointed end): room temperature until completely mushy. The astringentness of them only subsides when they are completely ripe. To hasten the ripening process place in a paper bag with a few apples for a week, check now and then, but don’t stack?they get very fragile when really ripe.
Pomegranates – Keep up to a month stored on a cool counter.
Strawberries – Don’t like to be wet. Do best in a paper bag in the fridge for up to a week. Check the bag for moisture every other day.

from:    http://wakeup-world.com/2011/09/08/increase-the-shelf-life-of-your-fruit-veg-without-using-toxic-plastic-products/

Jail or Jesus in Alabama — Really?

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Jesus or jail? Alabama town offers options for serving time

Jesus or jail? Alabama town offers options for serving time

September 26th, 2011
03:47 PM ET

If you’re charged with a nonviolent crime in one Alabama town, you might just have the chance to pray it all away.

Starting this week, under a new program called Operation ROC (Restore Our Community), local judges in Bay Minette, Alabama, will give those found guilty of misdemeanors the choice of serving out their time in jail, paying a fine or attending church each Sunday for a year.

The goal of the program is to help steer those who are not yet hardened criminals the chance to turn their lives around. Those who choose to go to church (there are no mosques or synagogues in the area) will have to check in with a pastor and the police department each week, CNN affiliate WKRG reported. Once you attend church every week for a year the case would be dismissed.

Police Chief Mike Rowland said the measure is one that would help save money and help direct people down the right path. Rowland told WKRG it costs $75 a day to house each inmate.

“Longevity is the key,” he told WKRG.

He said he believes 30-day drug programs don’t have the long-term capabilities to heal someone in the ways the ROC program might.

Police in the town said they think it is a simple choice, but others think it’s a choice that shouldn’t even be offered.

The ACLU in Alabama said the idea is “blatantly unconstitutional,” according to the Alabama Press-Register.

“It violates one basic tenet of the Constitution, namely that government can’t force participation in religious activity,” Olivia Turner, executive director for the ACLU of Alabama told the paper.

Rowland acknowledged there were concerns about separation of church and state complaints but said he didn’t see it as too big of a problem because offenders weren’t being forced to attend church, they are just being given the option.

The offenders who voluntarily choose church over jail get to pick the churches they attend. If they complete a year’s attendance, Rowland said, their criminal case would be dismissed.

from:    http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/26/jesus-or-jail-alabama-town-offers-options-for-serving-time/

Owen Waters on 2012, Solstice, etc.

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The 2012 Gateway Trajectory

Owen Waters
a message from Owen Waters
Sunday, 27 November, 2011  (posted 9 December, 2011)

Recently, I related how a senior member of the spiritual hierarchy – a global spirit who functions as the Lord Protector of The Shift – took me under his wing to act as a messenger for urgent spiritual information.

Under his guidance, I have learned about a principle called the 2012 Gateway Trajectory. This states that the pattern of consciousness that you have on December 21st, 2012 will influence your trajectory through experience for many thousands of years into the future.

The 2012 gateway is rather like a vortex. You enter it from one side, pass through the eye of the vortex where your pattern of consciousness is stamped or fixed within your aura, then you exit the vortex into a whole new set of multi-millennia cosmic cycles bearing that pattern.

Last week, I talked about how your challenges in life are not all that they seem. As a spiritual seeker, you are a lightworker and therefore a leading thinker in the advancement of consciousness. You may have adopted one or more challenges to work through in this life so that you could create a pattern in the mind belt to make it easier for others to follow and heal their own lives.

You’ve borne those challenges, not so much because you need the experience, but because other people need pioneers to resolve the issues that are important today. The more the pioneers succeed in resolving their issues, the easier it becomes for the rest to follow.

The point of knowing this is so that you may resolve whatever challenges still face you before December 21st, 2012. As you head towards the 2012 gateway, it’s time to take inventory and see where you stand on matters of unfinished business.

Whatever gives you discomfort – even so much as a nagging doubt that all is not right – now is the time to address those issues. Anything that gives you a feeling of being out of harmonious alignment of mind, body and soul should be addressed and resolved.

Remember, you’re not the challenge that you are facing. You adopted it as something to master in order to make the way easier for others to follow the pattern you set in the mind belt. The average lightworker has already mastered those challenges in previous lives. They took the same challenges upon themselves in these critical days because they knew they could rise above and resolve those challenges in time to help set a pattern for others to follow and set themselves free.

As I said last week, if you are currently working through a major life challenge and feel as though you’re going round in circles and getting nowhere, stop and look for the gift in that challenge. The gift is that, by loving yourself and others more, you can rise above the challenge and become more of who you really are. Then, the experience changes from one of challenge to one of self-empowerment.

The solution to a challenge in the material world is typically not to be found in the material world at the level of the problem. The answer is found when you rise above that frequency and gain from the resources of the higher aspects of your mind. Fear-based challenges, for example, are always resolved by connecting with the strength and security of your inner being.

Real strength does not lie anywhere in the outside world. It lies within you. Once you find that inner power, you rise above any limitation and stand as a self-realized way-shower in a world desperate for spiritual freedom.

We can look forward to December 21st, 2012 as the gateway that marks the close of many cosmic cycles and the end of the old way of doing things on Planet Earth.

The 2012 gateway is the beginning of a whole world full of opportunities. Positive action will come very easily when all the cycles begin anew and are running in their constructive, ascending mode.

Most of all, decide before then to make Spiritual Growth your number one priority and you will harvest an ever-increasing joy in the years ahead.

Make the 2012 gateway everything you want it to be. Make it a beautiful event opening into a wonderful future filled with joy and enlightenment!

December 10-16 Meteor Shower Outlook

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Meteor Activity Outlook for December 10-16, 2011

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Saturday December 10th. At this time the moon will lie above the horizon the entire night and will severely impact meteor observing by obscuring all but the brightest meteors. As this week progresses the moons phase will wane and it will rise approximately forty-five minutes later each night. Toward the end of the week there will be a window of opportunity to view evening activity under dark skies between the end of dusk and moon rise. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this week is near two as seen from the northern hemisphere and one as seen from the southern hemisphere. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near eight as seen from mid-northern latitudes and five from mid-southern latitudes. The actual rates will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness and experience in watching meteor activity. All rates are reduced due to intense moonlight.

 

The radiant (the area of the sky where meteors appear to shoot from) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning December 10/11 These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed coordinates may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases (available at science stores and planetariums) will provide maps with grid lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where these positions are located in the sky. A planisphere or computer planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky, either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at the radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies at the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to easily trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower member) or in another direction if it is a sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located below the horizon. The positions below are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier in the night while those listed further down the list rise later in the night.

The list below presents a condensed version of the expected activity this week. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning. Detailed descriptions of each shower will continue next week when the moonlight is less of a problem.

 

SHOWER DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY CELESTIAL POSITION ENTRY VELOCITY CULMINATION HOURLY RATE CLASS*
RA (RA in Deg.) DEC Km/Sec Local Standard Time North-South
Antihelions (ANT) – 06:04 (091) +23 30 0000 1 – 1 II
Monocerotids (MON Dec 08 06:45 (101) +08 41 0100 <1 – <1 II
Geminids (GEM) Dec 14 07:22 (110) +33 35 0200 3 – 2 I
Puppid-Velids (PUP) Dec 07 08:22 (125) -45 40 0300 <1 – 1 II
Sigma Hydrids (HYD) Dec 06 08:32 (128) +02 61 0300 <1 – <1 II
December Leonis Minorids (DLM) Dec 20 10:15 (154) +34 64 0500 <1 – <1 II
Psi Ursa Majorids (PSU) Dec 05 11:49 (177) +41 61 0700 <1 – <1 IV
December Alpha Draconids (DAD) Dec 05 13:54 (208) +58 44 0900 <1 – <1 IV

 

 

 

Submitted by Robert Lunsford on Fri, 2011-12-09 21:47.

Why We Laugh When Others Trip or Fall

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Schadenfreude Explained: Why We Secretly Smile When Others Fail

Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience Managing Editor
Date: 09 December 2011 Time: 10:50 AM
upset businesswoman carrying a box of supplies after losing a job
Do you take joy in seeing a colleague who “has it all” fail in some way?
CREDIT: R. Gino Santa Maria | Shutterstock

When the office slacker makes a mistake that could cost them a pay raise — do you truly feel bad, or do you have to work to hide your smile?

If you smiled, you’ve just experienced schadenfreude, a bit of enjoyment at the misfortunes of others. And now researchers know more about why we experience this seemingly odd emotion. Turns out, it can be a sure way to make you feel better about yourself. It’s a self-affirming boost.

“If somebody enjoys the misfortune of others, then there’s something in that misfortune that is good for the person,” said study researcher Wilco W. van Dijk, adding that it could be due to thinking the other person deserves the misfortune, and so becoming less envious of them or feeling better about one’s self.

Mwa-ha-ha-ha!  

In the study, van Dijk, of Leiden University in the Netherlands,and his colleagues had 70 undergraduate students (40 women and 30 men) read two interviews about a high-achieving student who was likely to land a great job. Then they read an interview with the student’s supervisor revealing that the student had suffered a big setback in his/her studies. Next, they rated their level of agreement with five statements meant to gauge their schadenfreude, such as: “I enjoy[ed] what happened to Marleen/Mark”; “I couldn’t resist a little smile.”

Those with low self-esteem (assessed at the study’s start) were both more likely to be threatened by the overachieving student, and to experience schadenfreude. However, the researchers found that regardless of self-esteem, those who felt more threatened by this student also felt more schadenfreude.

The researchers thought that perhaps the reason for this was that schadenfreude was self-affirming for these “threatened” individuals.

As a follow-up experiment, the researchers gave about half of the students a self-affirmation boost by shoring up their beliefs about what the students had indicated was a very important value to them, and then asked them to repeat the same interview-reading stint.

Participants with low self-esteem were again more likely to experience schadenfreude, and also more likely to feel threatened by the high-achieving student. However, those who had been self-affirmed were less likely than those who hadn’t to reap pleasure when reading about the other student’s academic slip.

“I think when you have low self-esteem, you will do almost anything to feel better, and when you’re confronted with the misfortune of others,” you’ll feel schadenfreude, van Dijk told LiveScience. “In this study, if we give people something to affirm their self, then what we found is they have less schadenfreude — they don’t need the misfortune of others to feel better anymore.” [5 Ways to Boost Self-Compassion]

Evil thoughts

If you feel an evil sort of glee at the slip-ups of another, are you a bad person? Well, van Dijk says that just about all of us experience schadenfreude at some point in our lives.

“We know that it’s very good to feel empathy and sympathy for people, so if you feelschadenfreude without any sympathy or compassion for that other person,” that would not be good, van Dijk said. “Our society thrives on compassion and empathy.”

While some of us get a kick out of the small blunders of a colleague, say, others experience schadenfreude due to another’s grave misfortunes, as van Dijkhas found in research yet to be published.

The current study is detailed in the December 2012 issue of the journal Emotion.

from:    http://www.livescience.com/17398-schadenfreude-affirmation.html