kickingfrog

Nice piece of driving. I was watching the transport on the right.

WANT ONE!

Link has a few photos as well as article: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70J0GP20110120 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new species of giant crayfish literally crawled out from under a rock in Tennessee, proving that large new species of animals can be found in highly populated and well-explored places, researchers said on Wednesday. The new crayfish should not have been easily overlooked, as it is huge -- twice the size of other species, the team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Eastern Kentucky University said. But the crustacean is also quite rare, they report in the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. "This isn't a crayfish that someone would have picked up and just said, 'Oh, it's another crayfish,' and put it back," said University of Illinois aquatic biologist Chris Taylor, one of the researchers. "You would have recognized it as something really, really different and you would have saved it," Taylor added in a statement. Taylor and Guenter Schuster of Eastern Kentucky University found their first specimen of the new species under one of the biggest rocks in the deepest part of a commonly explored Tennessee creek. The new species, called Barbicambarus simmonsi, is about 5 inches long and has antennae covered with a sensitive fringe of tiny, hair-like bristles, called setae. More than half of the 600 known species of crayfish in the world are found in North America, Taylor said. "This thing had not been seen by scientific eyes until last year," he said. We spend millions of dollars every year on federal grants to send biologists to the Amazon, to Southeast Asia -- all over the world looking for and studying the biodiversity of those regions," Schuster said. "But the irony is that there's very little money that is actually spent in our own country to do the same thing. And there are still lots of areas right here in the U.S. that need to be explored." (Reporting by Maggie Fox; Editing by Eric Walsh)

Not quite a pressed ham is it?

At minus forty you only need one scale.

Link has article and a few photos: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2939332 Local News Fishing season started off slow, but cool down has resulted in good conditions out on Simcoe By MARG. BRUINEMAN BARRIE EXAMINER Updated 11:00am Jan 21, 2010 Mark Wanzel photo Jay Munshaw of Grizzly By The Bay Ice Hut Rentals heads onto Lake Simcoe, Thursday, taking with him clients who are looking to experience ice fishing. Joye Canning hasn't put an ice hut on Kempenfelt Bay in a couple of years, but she still has a handle on winter fishing and ice conditions. "The ice this year is very variable," says Canning, who still runs a bait and tackle business where fishing licences are also sold across from Minet's Point Park on the south side of Kempenfelt Bay. She's noticed there haven't yet been any snowmobile-riding visitors coming off the lake, which tells her there's reason for caution. But clearly, the ice fishing season is well underway. Right along the shore at Minet's Point, Trish Wise and James Phillips run Phillips Hut Rentals. From that point, they rent out 16 huts. "Last weekend we were booked solid," said a delighted Wise. The season was slow to come on. Just as the lake trout and whitefish season opened Jan. 1, it rained. But it quickly cooled down the following day and remained cold. After that, ice quickly formed on the bay. Wise reports between eight and 10 inches of ice on top of the 80 to 90 feet of water where the Phillips huts are lined into the centre of the bay. The Weather Network's outlook for the remainder of winter is close to normal for Ontario, possibly slightly colder, separated by moderate spells with the chance of more snow. Certainly the week-long forecast looks promising for those wanting to venture out onto the ice, particularly this weekend, with temperatures dipping to -14C Saturday and -12C Sunday, accompanied by flurries both days. A lot of people renting huts come from Toronto and Southern Ontario, but many of the huts booked for the coming weekend are local fishers, said Wise. This year the Phillips have partnered exclusively with Comfort Inn, providing packages for visitors wanting to spend a couple of days fishing in the comfort of an ice hut by day and relaxing in the hotel overnight. The cold weather has sparked interest in Lake Simcoe's winter recreational activity, said Pam Bothwright, a tourism development officer with Tourism Barrie. "We see a lot of phone calls come in from the States," she said. "We've definitely seen an increase in phone calls." Lake Simcoe is one of Ontario's most popular winter fishing destinations, with ice hut rental operators dotting its shores. Just south of Barrie, Jay Munshaw helped develop Grizzly By the Bay Fish Hut Rentals. The newest hut operator is located at Big Bay Point -- where Kempenfelt Bay opens into Lake Simcoe. "There's a good eight to 10 inches of black, solid ice where the huts are," said Munshaw. Grizzly started business last year and launched this season with eight huts, with plans to quickly increase the count. "They're all brand new huts and their insulated," he said. The largest boasts 144 square feet of space. It is equipped with a kitchen and bathroom and three bunk beds. The business has been targeting communities all around Ontario, drawing quite a few visitors from the Hamilton and Oshawa areas. Allen Carriere headed out onto the field of ice that offers a forever view Thursday just to get away from it all and relax. By chance he also caught a fish. "The bonus is always catching the fish," he said. "Once you get one, you get hooked," added Munshaw. mbruineman @ thebarrieexaminer.com - - - Preferred ice fishing equipment list: Fish Finder, bear in mind these are not fish catchers Ice Fishing Shelter Propane heater Spud bar (for checking ice thickness) Camera, to verify your tall fishing tales Ice cleats Ice Anchoring System Flashlight Lantern Matches or Lighter, how else are you going to light your heater? Bait for tip-ups: check local regulations for what you can use Cellphone, maybe you can get a pizza delivered, make sure battery is fully charged GPS unit, make sure batteries are fully charged Source: www.icefishingcanada.ca

You made something that I will be trusting with my life, and its made 10x better then anything that I could have bought if I had been able to find one. Don't spend that gift card all in one place.

Hold my beer, I gotta show you somin'.

I don't know if anyone here knows this guy, but he went to Sir Sandford Fleming and worked at a fly-in camp so he seemed like the type that would hang-out here. http://www.simcoe.com/community/barrieinnisfil/article/929455 Friends celebrate life of their ‘Eagleman’ Young victim at home in the wild. Barrie’s Patrick Beatty died Tuesday after he was struck by a transport truck on Highway 400 near the St. Vincent Street Bridge. BARRIE - A small group of people from a fishing camp in Red Lake, Ontario is mourning the loss of a young Barrie man alongside his family. Patrick Beatty, 19, died in hospital a week ago after being hit by a transport truck on Highway 400 Jan. 6. He was in his second year at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay, taking the fish and wildlife program. “Patrick came to our fly-in fishing camp last summer because I needed a young guy – someone with muscles,” said Enid Carlson, owner of Viking Island and Outposts. From May until September, his job was maintaining the boats, motors and portages, mowing the lawns, painting cabins, chopping firewood, and every other task of a maintenance man, she said. “He was an absolute necessity around the island, as well as great fun to be around.” Carlson said Patrick seemed older than his age, and was a hands-on learner. “It’s very difficult to just get someone to live in the bush. Most young people would want to go to town and not hang out with the older people here. He was more than what we required,” she said. “My only problem with him was that he never took breaks.” She knew Patrick was special when she saw him forming relationships with some of the older native people who live in the area. Ojibway is their first language, said Carlson. “They still live by their native culture, they have their own ways. You don’t just drop into an island and get along with them.” But Patrick took the opportunity seriously and set out to learn about their culture and language. “He liked the way they live and let live. It suited his personality.” He also made friends with Carlson’s 96-year-old mother, two-year-old granddaughter and the young pilots, mechanics and cooks who worked there. But one native woman, Jean Keesic, got along with Patrick so well she “adopted” him, believing people can have multiple parents. She even had an official naming ceremony and had asked Patrick to do a series of tasks. One was to find an item that would be presented to him in nature. “He had developed a relationship with the eagles,” said Carlson. “He fed them everyday, they recognized him and his boat.” He returned with an eagle feather, and was named Migizi Nini, which means Eagleman. In native culture, the eagle helps heal and guide and the feather is called the talking feather. It is used in various ceremonies for physical as well as social healing. “Jean went on to ask her band council if Patrick could live on the reserve for a while and go out onto the trapline this winter. This is a permission rarely granted in this part of the country,” said Carlson. Instead, he returned home to continue his studies. “He was here for just a summer, but he left more than a summer’s worth of impression,” said Carlson. Patrick had plans to return again this summer, and she was stunned to hear the news of his death. “It’s a very hard thing to understand. Sometimes people who are very empathetic feel other people’s pain, and as a result, they have more struggles in their own life,” said Carlson. Patrick’s mother, Yvonne Hargreaves-Beatty takes comfort that he’s with God now. “He was a beautiful person, a wonderful young man,” said mother Yvonne Hargreaves-Beatty. “He gave himself to everyone.” Police said a transport truck hit Patrick on Jan. 6 near the St. Vincent Street Bridge. He had brain damage and spent several days fighting for his life. “We’re devastated, he’s my baby, my only son. We’re torn in a million pieces. But Patrick is living on with four people; he donated his organs to save others.” As a kid, he’d give his time at senior’s homes, said Hargreaves-Beatty. “He was always giving.” He is the youngest in the family, with three older sisters. He was also a Sir Sandford Fleming College student, working towards a career outdoors. “He loved all of God’s creatures. He was all about protecting our land, protecting our water. He was right in there with the Site 41 thing.” A funeral service was held Monday at St. Mary’s Church at 10 a.m. Donations are to the Brain Injury Association of Canada and the Terry Fox Foundation. “Patrick participated for 19 years. The first year I took him in a stroller, then the next year in a baby seat on the bike, and I did it until he started doing it on his own,” said Hargreaves-Beatty. “He should be commended for that.”

Globe and Mail article about some of the rituals: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/the-rituals-behind-police-funerals-explained/article1875096/ The rituals behind police funerals explained ANNA MEHLER PAPERNY From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Published Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011 8:32PM EST Last updated Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011 9:06PM EST Who organized the event? A 30-person Toronto Police Service logistical team, comprised of everyone from platoon commanders to security personnel. Members of this group say they’ve been working 14-hour days for the past week, and through Tuesday’s ceremony, to get the logistics sorted out. MORE RELATED TO THIS STORY To mourn and respect: Why police march en masse for slain cops Thousands attend service to honour slain Toronto officer Trust account set up for slain officer’s son PHOTOS Toronto mourns a fallen police officer VIDEO Wife of Sgt. Russell expresses her thanks MEDIA Police officer deaths across Canada Who attended? Nearly 13,000 people participated in an hours-long march through the streets of downtown Toronto. That includes upwards of 3,000 Toronto police officers, as well as members of emergency services, other police and law-enforcement agencies from across Canada and the United States, personnel from the Canada Border Services Agency, court services and parking enforcement. In addition, hundreds more people crowded into the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to watch the ceremony. Did officers get paid to be there? All the Toronto police officers participating were off-duty; officers from Sergeant Ryan Russell’s 52 Division were relieved by colleagues from elsewhere in the city. OPP officers attending had the day off. Calgary officers were paid and considered on duty. Who’s paying for this? The Toronto Police Service is covering the cost of the ceremony and organization, but not paying for other officers to come to Toronto. They wouldn’t estimate costs for the event, saying it’s too soon to tell. Who covered travel costs? The hundreds of OPP officers were allowed to use police vehicles if they got their supervisors’ approval and it didn’t interfere with operations. Airfare and hotels for officers from Vancouver and Calgary were covered by the police departments and unions. What role does the family have in planning? A pretty significant one. The planning process for something like this is a delicate dance between the public, proper and protocol-driven face of the police service and the much more private and personal desires of Sgt. Russell’s family. “There’s a lot of tradition and ritual that goes with the service itself – our ceremonial unit has a lot of protocol which they follow,” said Toronto Police Constable Wendy Drummond. “However, this is a funeral. And Ryan’s family has a lot of decisions.” In this case, the speakers included a reverend and chaplain; the readings were a combination of Christian scripture, an officer’s prayer Staff Supt. Jeff Mcguire said Sgt. Russell would carry with him and a poem written for him by his fellow officers. But services like this are tailored to a family’s preferences and background: Sikh, Muslim or Jewish families wouldn’t necessarily have reverends reading their last public rites. If Sgt. Russell’s wife, Christine, hadn’t wanted an official funeral service, Constable Drummond said, there wouldn’t have been one. Why make it public? Simply put, because Sgt. Russell’s family was on board – and because the location at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre allowed for a more open, public setup. “That is something very unique, and that wouldn’t be done in the past,” Constable Drummond said. “It’s something that you discuss with the family and it’s something that they had agreed with.” How unusual is this? In terms of numbers, this is pretty huge. Toronto police estimate this is the city’s largest funeral for a slain officer. But while the hours-long event that brought downtown Toronto to a standstill felt unusual and historic, events like these are “sadly all too common,” said Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Constable Lindsey Houghton. “Emergency services personnel attend funerals for fallen comrades every week across North America.” Last March, more than 5,000 officers attended the funeral in Mississauga of Peel police officer Artem Ochakovsky, who died in a collision. Why are the flags at half-mast? According to city protocol, flags in civic centres and City Hall – as well as fire halls, police and EMS stations – are flown at half-mast when an officer dies in the line of duty. When a soldier from Toronto is killed, flags are lowered to half-mast as well. Why the flag on the coffin? Officers killed in the line of duty have the flag draped over their coffin, along with a ceremonial cushion bearing the officer’s cap. Why the swords, bayonets and fancy uniforms? At solemn events like these, officers wear their “colours” – the flags and uniforms symbolic of a particular unit. Calgary’s six-officer contingent, for example, has colours honouring 11 fallen members. “You have to guard your colours,” said Calgary Police Regimental Sergeant Major Mike Inglis. “There’ll be guys carrying weapons with bayonets, and that would be the significance.” How about the bagpipes? The pipes, often accompanied by drums, have been part of police and military funerals in North America since the entry of Scottish and Irish officers into police forces decades ago. “In Calgary,” says Regimental Sergeant Major Mike Inglis, “it comes from an RCMP officer that was of Scottish heritage. It just seems to be that the police have been raised in Scottish and Irish ranks and they kind of go towards pipe bands.” What’s it like going to dozens of funerals like these, across North America? Brutal, Regimental Sgt. Maj. Inglis said. But worth it. He figures he’s been to 30 in Western Canada and the United States, although this is his first time heading east. In some, he plays drums in a piper band; on Tuesday, however, he was among those “getting everybody lined up and ready to go.” “When you hear about it, it’s always a kick in the gut,” he said. “But after that, you want to pay your respects and represent the service. It’s a huge brother- and sisterhood. And today – I’ve never seen something that phenomenal.” What does the outpouring of public support mean for police-civilian relations? The last time so many police officers were in Toronto’s downtown was during the G20 summit in Toronto last summer. But now, the support for Sgt. Russell and the Toronto Police Service has been “amazing and overwhelming,” said Police Services Board chairman Alok Mukherjee. "We were all v struck by the spontaneous show of grief and ykno wanting tobe there to give support to the family it was quite an amazing sight and experience. We sort of talk in abstraction of what the statistics tell us about public support for police, but this was concrete and very physicial. ... “It’s a very high price to pay to sort of remind people what policing is all about. But I suppose it has caused people to pause and take a second look and think, or rethink. I’ve heard some of the journalists who have been highly critical, and today they were acknowledging that. The occasional blips aside, generally what our men and women do is highly important and valuable. And they do it well. “The loss of a young man who was at the prime of his career, and a very promising career, is a very sad event. But at the same time, it is an event that has brought out the best feelings among people towards the police service.”

In three, two, one. Goodnight OFC.

Hate you.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~Henry David Thoreau But you already knew that.

That's how I feel about it. Plus living 3hours away I don't know what the real weather was like leading up to a fishing trip.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/Publication/STEL02_163615.html

Heading to Quinte (fingers crossed for weather) this Saturday. No issues picking it up.

Serious?

I agree with doc. Kick one of them in the pills and then tell the next guy he'll get worse if they don't spill. We all like to think we have our secret technics, baits, lures and spots. The reality is much different.

Well it's been a few years since I've used my spud, and I can't find it. Went to a few tackle stores today and struck-out. I'm going to call Tromblys in Orillia.

Why does it take my mechanic three days and two phone calls to change the alternator?

Very nice, but this winter is going to seem like it lasts forever now.

Some oily canned fish? Kippers, sardines.

That's your best audio accompaniment yet. Thanks for taking the time again.

I've read about guys using strips of chicken breast, raw of course, for lakers. But for this, I'd think it was shrimp also.