Ward Hunt ice shelf breaks up

The Ward Hunt ice shelf on Ellesmere Island has broken after 3,000 years of undisturbed existence. NASA scientists attribute this change to human-caused climate change.

The breakup of the ice shelf is a loss to biodiversity since the shelf contained a rare microclimate known as an epishelf lake. An epishelf lake is a particular climate consisting of fresh, brackish, and salt water in a rare combination similar to that found in George Bush's brain.

Yellowknife Golf

In Yellowknife golf has a few additional rules. The course is mostly sand; so you have to take a little artificial grass mat around with you and hit the ball off the artificial grass. Secondly, you have to watch out for the ravens which are likely to carry off your ball. The course even has a special rule posted for that situation.

Indy Bookstores

If you are in NYC I recommend the following

1. Get off the subway in SoHo, e.g. Prince St. Station

2. Browse the stacks at Housing Works Used Bookstore (126 Crosby St, Soho). They have a marvelous selection with catwalks and a classic dark wood style. Their profits provide housing and healthcare for homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.

For other NYC bookstores check out Chekovsmistress.com

3. Dinner at the Hampton Chutney Co. Avocado and spinach dosa, plus mango lassi: $14

Yellow Alert

The Department Of Homeland Security has raised the terror alert level to orange for commercial aviation, yellow for everything else. This follows the arrests of people in Britain for plotting to blow up airliners.

How about an advisory level for climate change? Do Americans even recognize a threat that doesn't affect the next fiscal quarter? or the next five years? Climate change will affect more people than the worst-case scenario from last week. It may not be as dramatic or imminent but it is a threat that needs to be taken seriously.

Mailbox

Number twelve Beatrice street has a secret. There are two mailboxes at this house, and one of them is a mini art gallery called the Lower Mailbox Gallery. They reportedly hold art openings on the front porch, where wine is served in extra small glasses. Cute

Squash

Cooked. The first spaghetti squash from the garden on Sunday. Here it is. Squash is a native North American plant; one of the so-called Three Sisters of agriculture which included also maize and beans. The following recipe from epicurious works well:

Ingredients

• a 2- to 2 1/2-pound spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise, reserving 1 half for another use
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
• 1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions
Wrap the squash half in microwave-safe plastic wrap and microwave it, cut side up, at high power (100%) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until it feels soft when pressed. Let the squash stand for 5 minutes.

In a small microwave-safe dish combine the butter, the onion, and the mushroom and microwave the mixture at high power (100%), stirring once, for 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender. Discard the squash seeds, scrape the flesh with a fork into a bowl, and toss it with the mushroom mixture, the parsley, the chives, the Parmesan, and salt and pepper to taste.

Jump Up

I went to the Caribana Festival of Bands parade. Caribana is Toronto's annual Carribbean festival modelled onTrinida & Tobago's carnival. The music was loud, the sun was hot. The crowd was enthusiastic. Alas no batteries for the camera so I couldn't take any photos.

Tips for next year's parade:
Bring a bike. Get onto Lakeshore at Strachan Ave. and then walk your bike westbound, moving up the parade from back to front. The parade is slow enough that you can overtake it, and that way you don't have to sit around all day waiting for it.

Yay Long Weekend - Simcoe Day

Happy birthday Mr. John Graves Simcoe

go

This week I began taking GO Transit to a customer site. GO allows bikes except through Union at rush hour.

Trains rock my world. Maybe it's the European in me. The ride is comfortable, fast, and productive if you have a laptop or a crackberry.

A two way ticket is $14 by GO, and over $50 by car (the mileage charged by my company for the same trip)

I get a thrill every time a train blasts through the station at 100 km/h.

Big Three Take a Hit

Detroit's Big Three automakers have taken a hit. Toyota now has a greater market share in the U.S. than Ford does.

• Ford: sales down 43.9% in July with July being Ford's 6th consecutive monthly sales decline
• DaimlerChrysler: sales down 35%
• GM: down 19% with July theirFord's 6th consecutive monthly sales decline

Time to stop selling inefficient vehicles boys. Wake up, or die Detroit automakers.