Notepads we could all use from time to time......

Hey NASA, Egypt & Tunisia....Chill Out !!

Here's a little tidbit to gnaw on over the summer. (click the post title for a link to the original story)

You know how it gets hot in the summertime right ? In some places around the world, it gets really, really hot...I mean 120 in the shade...sweat dripping from places you'd rather it didn't...kinda hot...

Well, turns out that the US Military, with it's two ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq don't like the heat any more than you or I do, at least not that kinda heat. Soooo....what's their solution ? Just like you and I, they crank up the A/C. Now we all know that air conditioning is energy intensive. Your gas milage drops, your electricity bill climbs and god forbid you have the frost blasting while you've got the window open. Remember how your parents would freak out on you over that ?!?

Well.....the US Military is spending more on A/C for it's troops in Iraq & Afghanistan than.......
The entire budget of NASA or The total aid offered to fledgling democracies in Egypt and Tunisia promoting and supporting freedom where little existed 6 months ago.

Now they'll tell us that it's the cost of the fuel + the transport of the fuel + the other assorted infrastructure but come on !!
- That it's higher than NASA or Democracy
- It's $20 Billion. That's one helluva A/C bill AND it's one tiny budget for NASA or Democracy.

To top it all off, if the Pentagon would only insulate their tents & buildings, they could save upwards of 92% in fuel to run the A/C. They have done the studies, have the results, the technology is available and the ongoing bills are staggering. But so far, they just haven't twigged to the fact that they could save some gas/oil if only they closed a window or put up some foam insulation.... Secretary Gates or President Obama needs to only sign a one page memo to make it happen !!

Also, lets not forget that in those two countries, with populations of Tens of Millions, most citizens do without air conditioning (let alone refrigerated food, drinks etc..) and they've been living there for centuries !!

Yet this is the most advanced military of the most advanced nation on earth ?

Not to be glib about it but when you can save 92% of the fuel and a good chunk of the expense, hassle and grief but choose not to then something is wrong with your thinking.

I think about the impending loss of Hubble, the Shuttles, the leadership position in space exploration, the lost goodwill that could be generated in the muslim world, the promotion of free and fair elections, setting up true representative democracies and institutions where you had animosity only months before....

Guess I better chill out myself.......

You say the US is broke ? I'd say their society is broke-er.......

The asylum is being run by the lunatics...(Canadian Law Review)

Here in Canada we recently had an election where the incumbent party (insert Darth Vader theme) won but this time with enough votes to form a majority government. Now I'm not going to bore you with my usual diatribe about politics or the evils of putting pinheads in office. By now you're either in full agreement with me OR you're numb to my rantings.

BUT......One of the platform centerpieces of our new majority Conservative party is to start spending more on our prisons. Now crime rates have actually been dropping but the grand pubah in Ottawa is convinced that we need to lock more people up in order to make our streets safer. Forget the fact that his solution is expensive, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted etc...He's convinced that we need more of our population behind bars for whatever offences exist on the books. Soooo....let's have a look at some of those offences that will result in either a fine or possibly incarceration here in our glorious Canada.

National Law

• Every fifth song on Canadian radio must be by a Canadian born citizen.

• You may not pay for a fifty-cent item with only pennies.

• Citizens may not publicly remove bandages.

• No one in Canada may watch or listen to an encrypted broadcast which is not licensed by the Canadian government. This means using US satellite systems such as "DirecTV" is illegal.

• It is illegal for clear or non-dark sodas to contain caffeine.

• It is illegal to kill a sick person by frightening them.

• It is illegal to pretend to practice witchcraft.

Alberta

• Wooden logs may not be painted.

• You may never use dice to play craps.

• Businesses must provide rails for tying up horses.

• If you are released from prison, it is required that you are given a handgun with bullets and a horse, so you can ride out of town.

• In Calgary, it is unlawful to throw snowballs or set off firecrackers within the city, without the authorization of the mayor or City Council.

• All bicycle riders must signal with the arm before making a turn, and a bicycle rider must keep both hands on the handlebars at all times" in Edmonton.

British Columbia

• It is illegal to kill a Sasquatch.

• A law requires jailers to bring convicted debtors a pint of beer on demand.

• Anyone interrupting a meeting of the British Columbia Grasshopper Control Committee can be arrested.

• In Burnaby all dogs must be under control by 10 pm or the owners will be penalized.

• You are not allowed to wear a bathing suit while "loitering, playing or indulging in a sunbath" in any park or on the beach in Victoria.

Manitoba

• A by-law forbids anyone from striking the sidewalk with a metal object in Winnipeg.

• In Winnipeg, it is against the law to go naked in your own home if you leave the blinds up.

New Brunswick

• Driving on the roads is not allowed.

Nova Scotia

• When raining, a person may not water his/her lawn.

• In Halifax, no citizen is allowed to chop wood on the sidewalk.

Ontario

• It is illegal for children to eat ice-cream cones on the streets on the Sabbath in Ottawa.

• Theater owners are forbidden to start a movie that will end after 2 am in Toronto.

• You are not allowed to saw wood on the streets, or wash your automobile in Toronto.

• The speed limit is 80 kph for cars, but bicyclists have the right of way.

• Bylaw states that no more than 3.5 inches of water is allowed in a bathtub.

• If you have a water trough in your front yard it must be filled by 5:00 a.m

• The color of house and garage doors is regulated by city bylaws (a purple door get you a fine).

• It is also illegal to have a clothes line in your backyard.

• You can't work on your car in the street.

• It's illegal to climb trees.

• You can't drag a dead horse down Yonge Street in Toronto on a Sunday.

• You are not allowed to play a musical instrument in a park in Windsor, Ontario.

Quebec

• It is illegal to turn right on a red light at any time.

• All business signs in the province of Quebec must be in French. If the business operator wishes to have English on the sign, the French must be at least twice as large as the English is.

• It is considered an offense to have more than two colors of paint on your house.

• You may not own a log cabin.

• "For Sale" signs are not permitted in the windows of moving vehicles.

• One's rear license plate may not be protected by glass or plastic.

• You may not swear in French.

• Citizens may not relieve themselves or spit on the street.

• In Canada, It is illegal for a teen to walk down main street for Fort Qu'Appelle with their shoes untied.

Saskatchewan

• It is illegal to try and catch fish with your hands in Saskatoon.

Mmmmmm.....Beer Candy. Finally, something to get the man on Valentines Day !!

We now have wonderful Beertaffy (tm). Beertaffy has great beer flavor and comes in IPA and Stout. You can buy a 1/2 pound bag with both flavors in it.  We also have delicious gourmet caramels are made with real craft beer. Soft and creamy, the rich flavors come through. Beercandy® makes a great gift! The caramels come in a beautiful royal blue, shiny box with gold accents. The flavor keys and descriptions of the candies are on the box's sides. The boxes of caramels come in 2 sizes. The 4-piece, like a sampler, has one of each flavor. The 12-piece box has 3 of each flavor. 

Attention! Some of the Caramels have run out. There are no more boxes of single flavor Stout. We are also out of Hopdrops at this time. We will be making more soon! Try the assorted caramels because they all taste great!  

Hopdrops™ are a surprising marriage of bitter and sweet.  These candies are flavored with real hop oil. The bags have two flavors in them: American Cascade and  British Fuggles.

Not sure which Beercandy® to give as a gift? Check out our guide to choosing beer and Beercandy® on the Beercandy® Land page. Or you could just choose an assortment!