Annual Toasters and Butterhorns Reunion - Cottage Bistro

Cottage Bistro
4470 Main Street
Vancouver, B. C.
  Tel: (604) 876-6138

Heads up for all you Vancouver Peeps Tickets for our Annual Toasters and Butterhorns reunion on Sunday May 19th at 8pm are available NOW at the Cottage Bistro for $15 each... there are only 90 seats so hurry and get em while they last... this show sold out fast last year... Keep it Live
This posting compliments of Ya'Gotta Event Promotion and Ya'Gotta Vancouver Network

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A Possible Naked-eye Comet in March

Far beyond the orbits of Neptune and Pluto, where the sun is a pinprick of light not much brighter than other stars, a vast swarm of icy bodies circles the solar system.  Astronomers call it the "Oort Cloud," and it is the source of some of history's finest comets.

One of them could be heading our way now.

A new ScienceCast video explores the possibility that Comet Pan-STARRS will be visible to the naked eye in early March. Play it!

Comet Pan-STARRS was discovered by the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System atop the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. Astronomers use the massive 1.8 meter telescope to scan the heavens for Earth-approaching objects, both asteroids and comets, that might pose a danger to our planet. In June 2011 a comet appeared, and it was named "Pan-STARRS" after  the acronym for the telescope.

In early March, the comet will pass about 100 million miles from Earth as it briefly dips inside the orbit of Mercury.  Most experts expect it to become a naked-eye object about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper.

"But" says Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab, "prepare to be surprised. A new comet from the Oort Cloud is always an unknown quantity equally capable of spectacular displays or dismal failures."

The Oort cloud is named after the 20th-century Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, who argued that such a cloud must exist to account for all the "fresh" comets that fall through the inner solar system.  Unaltered by warmth and sunlight, the distant comets of the Oort cloud are like time capsules, harboring frozen gases and primitive, dusty material drawn from the original solar nebula 4.5 billion years ago.  When these comets occasionally fall toward the sun, they bring their virgin ices with them.

Because this is Comet Pan-STARRS first visit, it has never been tested by the fierce heat and gravitational pull of the sun.  "Almost anything could happen," says Battams.  On one hand, the comet could fall apart--a fizzling disappointment.  On the other hand, fresh veins of frozen material could open up to spew garish jets of gas and dust into the night sky.

An artist's concept of the Oort cloud. More

"Because of its small distance from the sun, Pan-STARRS should be very active, producing a lot of dust and therefore a nice dust tail," predicts Matthew Knight of the Lowell Observatory.

"However," he cautions, "it could still be difficult to see.  From our point of view on Earth, the comet will be very close to the sun. This means that it is only observable in twilight when the sky is not fully dark."

The best dates to look may be March 12th and 13th when Pan-STARRS emerges in the western sunset sky not far from the crescent Moon. A comet and the Moon, together, framed by twilight-blue is a rare sight.  "My guess is that the primary feature visible to the naked eye will be the gaseous coma around the head of the comet," says Knight. "The comet's tail will probably require binoculars or a small telescope."

Two other key dates are March 5th when the comet comes closest to Earth (about 100 million miles away) and March 10th, when the comet comes closest to the sun.  The dose of solar heating it receives just inside the orbit of Mercury could be just what the comet needs to push it into the realm of naked-eye visibility.

Comet Pan-STARRS should not be confused with another, even better comet coming later this year.  In Nov. 2013, Comet ISON could shine as brightly as a full Moon in broad daylight when it passes through the atmosphere of the sun: video.

"Two bright comets in one year is a rare treat," says Battams.  "This could be good."

Author: Dr. Tony Phillips |Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

Searchlight: Radio Active - CBC Music and CBC Radio One

Searchlight is a national contest from CBC Music and CBC Radio One looking for the best new musical artist in Canada.

Searchlight: Radio Active is the regional round of the competition, and it aims to discover the best local talent in Edmonton and northern Alberta. Tune in to Radio Active on CBC Radio One or check back here for the latest contest updates. If you're a musician, you have until February 14th to enter at cbcmusic.ca/searchlight.

About the show:

From 3 until 6 pm every weekday, Radio Active brings you an eye opening entertaining slice of Edmonton life. We'll update you on the latest news of the day. We'll take you to what's going on right now and what's happening tonight. We'll get you ready for your evenings and weekends and let you know what you should know about your community.

Join us on CBC Radio One - 740 AM, 93.9 FM in Edmonton!

About the host:

Portia Clark joins Radio Active for the next few months. Portia started her career at CBC Radio in Halifax, and has been working in Edmonton for 12 years. Most recently she co-hosted CBC News Edmonton on CBC TV.

With a diploma in broadcast journalism from BCIT, and a degree in philosophy from Dalhousie University, Portia has established a track record as a strong journalist. She's covered some of Alberta's biggest stories, and anchoring the last three provincial elections. She's also involved in many community events and causes.

Portia enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, as well as running, reading and cooking.

This posting compliments of Ya'Gotta Event Promotion. Follow us on Twitter @yagottabob

Red Tape Awareness Week 2013 – Join the revolution…

Red tape affects everyone. It's the line you wait in for an hour, only to find out it was the wrong line. It's the form you fill out to confirm that you filled out another form. It's the rule that has no reason, the process that makes no sense.

When it comes to running a small business in Canada, red tape is everywhere, it's the $30 billion "hidden tax" that leads to lost jobs, stress in the workplace and higher prices for goods and services.

Coming January 21-25, Canada's 4^th annual Red Tape Awareness Week is an opportunity for all Canadians to push back against the paper pushers in government.

Knowledge is power, but knowledge is not enough. This year, Red Tape Awareness Week is going beyond awareness to action, beyond education to change.

CFIB launched an online petition – which will be delivered to governments across Canada – along with the following reports and announcements that will shine a light on this costly problem:

• The Golden Scissors Award: Who's leading the crusade to cut red tape within government?
• Canada's Red Tape Report (with US comparisons): Breaking down the problem of red tape, by the numbers.
• Provincial Report Card: Some governments are worse than others when it comes to red tape. How did your province do?
• CRA Report Card: Grading the Taxman – See how the Canada Revenue Agency treated small business in 2012.
• Agri-Business Focus: Talk about being stuck in the mud – See how agri-businesses fared against government red tape.
• Ridiculous Red Tape Stories: You'll be amazed by these real-life stories of red tape run amok in Canada.

Go to the original Canadian Federation of Independent Business article and sign the petition

Artists living & working in Canada Apply for Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Program 2013

This will be our twelfth year of the programme, which has become widely acclaimed in the art world for providing artists with an original setting, space and community in which to work. The Canadian winner will be one of only eight artists worldwide to be awarded the art community's coveted prize to live and work at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland.

Applicants should email onsite@ocadu.ca for terms of reference, program and selection criteria.

Application closes Tuesday, January 31st 2013.

(Artwork shown is 'Brollachan' by Damian Moppett, Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Program 2010)

This posting compliments of Ya'Gotta Event Promotion

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Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition - Watershed Heroes Countdown to End of Moratorium

4 days LEFT!!!!

The government moratorium on coalbed methane drilling in B.C.'s Sacred Headwaters is set to expire December 18, 2012.  In the 10 days before the moratorium expires, 10 champions of the Sacred Headwaters have been speaking out on why this amazing place deserves protection.  Follow each new hero on Facebook.

Regardless of the upcoming decision, we all know that Royal Dutch Shell will NEVER frack for coalbed methane in the Sacred Headwaters!!  How could we possibly know that?

Simple - You'd never allow it!  This place has many champions and you are one of them.  Whether you helped a kid catch their first fish, took someone rafting, signed a petition, marched in a rally, donated to the cause, went to the river and prayed, organized an event, rocked out at a concert, wrote a song, took pictures, created artwork, bitched to politicians (or anyone really), attended countless meeting, or personally called the government or Shell...YOU are the reason the Sacred Headwaters is not a natural gas fracking field.  Now don't go and brush this off and think it was the just work of others - it was YOU!! 

You have demonstrated the power of a united people and we can't think of a better Christmas present than that!

This posting compliments of Ya'Gotta Event Promotion

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Create Your Own Green Job

A GoodWork Canada Guide

Are you looking for green work, but haven't yet found what you're seeking? Would you love to green your career ...but the opportunities aren't exactly falling on your lap? 

If so, here's an idea: rather than competing for existing jobs, why not create your own? Whether you want to work with an environmental group, green business or government, why wait for someone else to "give" you a job? 

Here are some essential ideas, starting points and resources for making it happen!

First Steps | Environmental Group or Organization | Green Business / Self Employment | Sustainable Food, Gardening & Agriculture | Environmental Education | Government & Public Sector | More Help & Resources | Comments & Feedback

This posting compliments of Ya'Gotta Event Promotion

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