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Culture

How Apple Parallels My Life

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When I think back to the 1980’s I have mostly fond memories. It was time of great fun and discovery for me personally. I had both Commodore and Apple computers and a hairstyle that is happy to remain in my past. I listened to cool groups like “Twisted Sister” and wouldn’t publicly admit that I enjoyed “Culture Club”. Being in high school, I was painfully shy and didn’t have a lot of success with girls.

Apple had a pretty similar experience if you think about it. They were a little shy and reserved, but very much loved by those who understood them. They didn’t go out much – choosing to stay in schools and in a very few select homes. They had their share of identity crisis’ in the early 80’s and tried to break free with a whole new persona called “Macintosh” in 1984.

They walked around confused between educational, business, and recreational use and staggered out of the fog towards the end of the decade.

The 1990’s brought about a new confidence and independence. I had started a business just at the end of the 80’s and took my experience to heart as I tried to find the right niche for me. I knew that computers was where I was meant to be and grew a business from nothing to exceptional sales in a short time.

Steve Jobs and Apple’s Macintosh Computer.

I also saw the market hinge and my sales erode and I wasn’t quite able to move fast enough to recover my previous glory.

Apple saw their market share grow and decline in the 90’s as well. They knew that computers were where they were meant to be, but they couldn’t decide if they were the company to make them. They tried licensing out their operating system to others in a move that ultimately
muddied the market and left their loyal customers wondering just exactly where they were going next. Following graph courtesy of www.saypeople.com

The 2000’s became a year of maturity for me. More confident in the path I was following, I followed my dreams to open a computer museum and finally saw it through in 2005. I refocused my energies with my passion for video games to acquire the largest collection in Canada while at the same time educating others along the way.

I worked my way towards a global following for those that have shared my vision. Apple made the move from niche computer to dedicated
music device, to a more advanced smart phone in the 2000’s. They grew their loyal following in the computer market by making some radical
changes to their core operating system and integrating their new consumer devices flawlessly. They became the company they had always
dreamed they could be.

Today, I ’m following my dreams and am no longer the shy, awkward guy I was in high school. I ’m successful and I ’ve moved on from “Culture Club”. My life is very interesting because I like to keep one foot in the past to enjoy the good times, while putting another foot forward into the exciting future.

The best is yet to come, and I think the same is true for Apple. For the Silo, Syd Bolton. Check out www.pcmuseum.ca in Brantford,Ontario.

Earth

Get Dirty And Grow Organic

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Rick’s lettuce- yummylicious

We’re too fat.  That’s what the media tell us.

We’re too lazy.  They say that too.  And North Americans in general are pretty unhealthy.  I’m saying that. Yet at the same time there are daily press releases about eating healthier, supporting local agriculture, the 100-mile diet, and buying organic produce.  Of course, that requires some thought and decision-making.  The default setting is to support economies of California or China, which we do, pay for the increasing cost of importing,which we do, and wonder what residual chemicals are in our salad greens, which we should.

I was at a high-end organic market in the GTA recently and I hate to say it, but the organic vegetables were a great disappointment.  I felt it was a misrepresentation of what organic produce should be.  But what if you grew your own? Or at least tried?

You don’t need a degree in agriculture, and don’t have to be intimidated by those who have been gardening for years.  It’s OK to be new.  It’s fun to be new.  There are all kinds of health benefits derived from gardening, aside from the produce itself.   And it gives you some time alone with your thoughts.

My advice is to just do it. 

Time and experience will be your best teachers.  Start simple, start small.  I had mini-gardens in townhouse patios and on apartment balconies for years.   At this point, I’m a big supporter of raised bed gardening for almost endless reasons. If you don’t want to go it alone, find a friend or two and have a competition. Like – who will have the first ripe tomato, (Grow the heirloom variety called stupice to win), or the biggest carrot, (oxheart will win, if you can find seed). The first thing to do is select your site.  Simply, the more sun the better.

The second step:  Prepare the bed. 

If you are going to put in a raised bed, you can just mound up the soil into a kind of plateau, or actually construct a container.  Avoid using pressure treated wood since the chemicals could leach out into the soil.  I’ve seen beds built with bricks and patio stones stood up on their edges.  I am
experimenting with various-sized lumber.

The next step is to add or amend the soil. 

The key is to add organic matter, and not just fertilizer pellets.  I think of it like feeding a child – you would never give your kids just water and vitamin pills and expect them to thrive.  Mixed organic matter (leaves, composted kitchen waste, composted manure, old straw…) builds the soil, feeds the worms, and adds the micro-nutrients that will eventually find their way into your vegetables.  Shortcuts are not sustainable. The most important rule is this:  feed the soil, and the soil will feed the vegetables.

If the soil is healthy, the plants will also tend to be healthy and be less susceptible to infestation by insect pests.  It’s one of the laws of nature that the sick and the weak are targets for the predator.  So it is in the garden.   Also consider “companion planting” for plant health.  Among other things I plant strategically-placed marigolds, nasturtium and herbs for insect control.

In selecting the plants for your garden, in the beginning start with what your family likes.  Even for the small garden you can get a pretty good yield in a small space.  For early spring grow leaf lettuce.  You can extend the season by picking off the outer leaves or cutting off the entire head about an inch above ground.  It will push more tender leaves until the summer heat arrives.

Love peas?

Try early bush snow peas, inter-planted with carrots and radishes.  All of them are great for small spaces. Grow herbs for your salads and seasoning.  You’ll decrease the desire for salt and sugar on your plate which will help you stay healthy. You just have to grow tomatoes. Locate a source for an heirloom variety.  Nothing compares with the taste of an old-fashioned vine-ripened tomato still holding the sun’s heat. For the Silo, Rick Posavad.

Culture

Unlike Quebec and United States, Ontario has no transportation budget $ for cycling infrastructure

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Still from the classic Queen song- Bicycle Race

Toronto – GPO leader Mike Schreiner is calling on the McGuinty
governmentto dedicate1% of the transportation infrastructure budget
to cycling and another 1% for pedestrians. Sustainable infrastructure
is a sound investment that will help people choose healthy
transportation options.

[The song  featured is by Mercury and was supposedly inspired by his observing a leg of Tour de France. It starts with a chorus unaccompanied by instruments. The chorus is followed by two verses connected with a bridge, both followed by a chorus. Around the middle of the song there is a solo played with numerous bicycle bells. During the live performances, it was often played by the audience who specially brought the bells for this purpose. The song has a very unusual chord progression with numerous modulations, a change of meter (from 4/4 to 3/4) in the bridge, and the multitracked vocal and guitar harmonies.

The video for the song became scandalously famous for featuring 65 naked women, all professional models, racing at Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium. It was filmed by Dennis de Vallance. The group rented the stadium and several dozen bikes for one day for filming the scene; however, when the renting company became aware of the way their bikes were used, they requested the group to purchase all the bicycle seats. The original video uses special effects to hide the nudity.

“Bicycle Race “é um single da banda de rock inglesa QUEEN. Foi lançado em 1978, no álbum JAZZ e escrito pelo vocalista da Queen FREDDIE MERCURY. Ela foi lançada como um duplo lado-A única juntamente com a canção” Fat Bottomed Girls “. A canção é notável por seu vídeo com uma corrida de bicicleta com mulheres nuas em Wimbledon Stadium, que foi editado ou mesmo proibido em vários países. A canção tem uma progressão de acordes muito incomum com modulações diversas, uma mudança de metro (de 4 / 4-6 / 8) na ponte, e os vocais multipista e harmonias de guitarra.

A canção foi escrita por MERCURY e foi supostamente inspirado por sua observação de uma perna do Tour de France. Ela começa com um coro acompanhados por instrumentos. O coro é seguido por dois versos conectado com uma ponte, ambos seguido por um coro. Ao meio da música há um solo com sinos de bicicleta numerosos. Durante as apresentações ao vivo, muitas vezes era tocado pelo público, que levavam os sinos especialmente para esta finalidade.

O vídeo para a canção tornou-se famoso por escandalosamente com 65 mulheres nuas, todas as modelos profissionais, competindo em Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium. Foi filmado por Dennis de Vallance. O grupo alugou o estádio e várias dezenas de bicicletas durante um dia para filmar a cena,. Porém, quando a empresa que alugou tomou conhecimento da forma como as suas bicicletas foram usados​​, eles pediram ao grupo para adquirir todos os assentos das bicicletas, o vídeo original usa efeitos especiais para esconder a nudez.  Courtesy of http://www.youtube.com/user/lcsRamone CP ]

 


“If Premier McGuinty can find $1 billion dollars to build his
‘people’s highway,’ why can’t he find a few million dollars to make
streets safe for people?” asks Schreiner.

Today marks the launch of Bike Month in the City of Toronto. Cycling
plays an important role in the health of our citizens, strengthening
our local economies and our general quality of life.

Quebec spends $200 million on cycling infrastructure and earns $135
million each year from bicycle tourism alone. The US dedicates 1.6% of
its transportation budget for states to invest in cycling
infrastructure. Ontario has no dedicated funding to support cycling or
pedestrian infrastructure.

“Ontario needs infrastructure if we are serious about making our
streets and roads safe,” says Schreiner. “A small investment to
support cycling will reap big rewards — combating gridlock, reducing
health care costs and supporting local businesses.”

Two Danish studies showed that when 1% of car drivers switched to
riding bicycles, health care costs were reduced by 1%. Copenhagen
saves $300 per person per year on health costs because almost 80
percent of its population bikes regularly. Cycling and walking
projects create 11-14 jobs per $1 million spent, compared to just
seven jobs created per $1 million spent on highway projects. These and
other studies show that Ontario cannot afford not to invest in cycling
infrastructure.

The GPO’s 1% percent solution would create two funds for
municipalities to access the dollars they need for cycling and
pedestrian infrastructure. By doing so, Ontario would finally
recognize that cycling and walking are important forms of
transportation for growing numbers of Ontarians.

“We need a Complete Streets Act in Ontario to ensure that our streets
are safe for all users: cars, trucks, bikes, pedestrians, wheeled
mobility devices, and transit users” says Trinity-Spadina candidate
and GPO critic for transportation Tim Grant.

Jaymini Bhikha
(O) 416-977-7476
(C) 416-275-8573 [1]
jbhikha@gpo.ca

For the Silo by Green Party of Ontario
PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
Canada

Culture

New flirting concept FlipMe empowers Women to ‘make the first move’

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Rachel DeAlto- flirting expert and brain behind the concept of FlipMe

May15, 2012– Introducing FlipMe, LLC—a revolutionary new way for women to flirt without providing their personal information, but before we get to that, Rachel DeAlto (flirting expert and the mastermind of FlipMe) offers her  Top 5 Flirting Tips for Men: 1) Make the Approach – Flirting from afar should last about 1 minute. Take the initiative and start a conversation – even “Hi” works! 2) Play it Cool – Women definitely want to know you are interested, but we don’t want to feel like the last woman on Earth. Let us know you like us, but play a little cat and mouse along the way. 3) Pay Attention – It’s easy to get distracted, but try to give your full attention when you are just starting to get to know her. Listen to what she is saying and ask follow-up questions. 4) Stay Humble – You may be super successful and drive a fancy car, but don’t boast – it is a complete turn off. Let her figure it out on her own, and be impressed by your down to earth style. 5) Go Solo – We know you love your friends, and one day we might too! Until then, keep your boisterous buddies at bay while we get our flirt on.

Rachel DeAlto  is a seasoned expert who has been featured on several television shows and programs and regularly teaches courses on flirting at The Learning Annex, America’s leading adult education center.

Radio show: www.webtalkradio.net/shows/the-naked-truth-about-dating/

What is FlipMe?

FlipMe Revolutionizes “How to Date” Rules & the Online Dating Scene and this popular flirting tool empowers Women to channel their inner coquette & make the first move.

How does it work?

– Give a prospective love interest a card with a sweet, sassy or sexy statement

– Log into your profile to see if he has responded

– Upon a response, connect and become intrigued with the new form of flirting

About FlipMe:

What FlipMe really is, is a philosophy. It’s here to say – let’s have fun again, and be confident. Get out there, meet people and make a connection. It’s breaking the ice made easy. You take charge of your dating life by giving your sassy, flirtatious side the perfect sidekick. FlipMe brings a casual confidence to meeting newpeople by offering a clever way to say “hi.” This stylish accessory is a simple and intriguing way to break the ice and let someone know you’re interested without divulging your personal details. When you purchase a pack, you get 30 cards, each with a unique code that lets the lucky recipient view your profile and send you messages. No one gets access unless you give them a card, and no one gets to see your personal information. It’s a safe, secure way to put the fun back in flirting.  http://flipme.com/index.php

Katherine Fleischman for The Silo

Culture

Now playing- Complete Game 4 NHL playoffs -Preds vs Wings

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Bringing you a little hockey 'something-something'

Who doesn’t love playoff hockey? Especially a game like this one with great goaltending and lots of energy. We sure aren’t complaining… enjoy CP

Boyko Source for all your sporting needs downtown Simcoe, Ontario
Politics

Green Party of Ontario: “Conservative Kill-Green Energy Bill will damage economy and environment”

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TORONTO: Green Party of Ontario (GPO) leader Mike Schreiner is calling on MPPs to vote against Tim Hudak’s bill to nuke the province’s long-term, green energy strategy.

“Mr. Hudak’s willingness to sacrifice homegrown green jobs in a politically expedient attempt to exploit fears over rising energy prices is just bad economics,” says Schreiner. “I want him to look farmers and small business owners in the eye and explain how he wants to kill their businesses and their chance to earn income producing pollution-free electricity.”

Mr. Hudak’s Bill 42  [this Bill was defeated on second readinghttp://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet&BillID=2587 CP ] , being considered in the legislature today [ March 22nd CP ] , would abolish the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program. The FIT program provides stable fixed-rate, long-term contracts to green energy producers.

“Let’s not kill the FIT program, but fix it so that it better benefits communities,” says Schreiner. “The GPO will continue to push for a community-based green energy program with local ownership, decision-making and benefits.”

Although Conservatives claim that green energy is causing prices to rise, the reality is this — most cost increases are due to infrastructure upgrades and nuclear cost overruns. The Liberal and Conservative support for new nuclear will drive up costs far more than FIT contracts for green energy.

“The establishment parties are completely out of touch with the true causes of rising electricity prices,” says Schreiner. “Energy efficiency, combined heat and power, hydro imports from Quebec, and a diverse mix of other renewables provide our most flexible, low cost options.”

Jaymini Bhikha Cell: 416-275-8573 Office: 416-977-7476 jbhikha@gpo.ca

Gaming

DJ Hero- Blurs the line between videogame and performance art

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Question: what do William Shakespeare and DJ Hero have in common? Well, in the famous words of Will himself, “If music be the food of love, play on”. That’s right, the soundtrack is the star in this new video game! We’ll get to the gameplay in a moment but first let’s jive to the beats.

Saturday morning, I’m sitting in my living room, morning coffee in hand staring at a turn table. I think to myself, so that’s it? A box with some buttons and a spinny thing? How bad could this be? I mean really, how is this game going to be any different than guitar hero (minus the obvious difference in “controllers”)? As a newbie to the turn table scene I was confused but anxious to give what little skills I had a try. Now, with bloodshot eyes, cramped fingers and a twitch from drinking copious amounts of coffee, I am here to tell all. Far beyond what I had initially set out to review this game for, the music in DJ Hero is by far the most creative and energetic. It’s new, original and truly defines what the game is all about. All the tracks are original mash-ups created by such talent as DJ Jazzy Jeff and Grandmaster Flash. If you are looking for funk, hip hop, techno or maybe all three spun together, you’ve got it! Even if you’re a soul man, look no further. Unlike Guitar Hero and Rock Band, DJ Hero is comprised of never before heard tunes that are incredibly well matched. My favorite – the Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer mash-up. Yeah, it’s a way back playback but I loved it! I’m going to say, with great certainty, that it is nearly impossible to play this game without a single toe tap or head bob. Simply put, the music featured on DJ Hero well surpasses my expectations. 10/10.

In terms of gameplay, DJ Hero is actually quite intense. Although the game does a walk-through of all the controls and allows you to play on either easy, beginner, medium, hard or expert levels the tricky part is somehow managing them all at once. Unlike Guitar Hero for example, you are doing more than just pressing buttons and strumming – you are pressing buttons, controlling the effects dial, sliding the cross fader, scratching either up or down or all around (depending on the directions), oh yeah and remembering to blink and breathe. I love games that really test my abilities including my use of hand-eye coordination and this video game certainly put those abilities to the test. DJ Hero requires each hand to work separately and perform its own task. You earn stars based on your performance and it is through this that you are able to unlock new mixes, characters and costumes. DJ Hero is incredibly challenging but always leaves room for improvement which is part of the reason why this game is so awesome.

Speaking of improvements, this game could use one or two. More specifically, the multiplayer function in DJ Hero is slacking. I will give Guitar Hero and Rock Band the points on this one simply because they offer more variety. For example, Rock Band allows for several different instruments to all play together and help “create the music”. DJ Hero’s multiplayer function allows for another turntable to be added to the mix but you are still playing the same song, the same notes and not contributing to the overall sound. DJ Hero also allows for a guitar to join in however, the songs to be played on guitar are limited and don’t come together as smoothly as you might think.

Despite my two “needs improvement” comments, overall DJ Hero is a definite must have! It challenges your mental and physical abilities and successfully frustrates you to your core. I can recall shouting several profanities at my television screen therefore, I caution you to refrain from playing this game in the presence of small children (if you’re anything like me that is). As I mentioned in the beginning of this review, the music/soundtrack is truly the star of this game and works well even as the background music at your next shin-dig! I now have a new appreciation for the guy running the beats up in the little booth at the clubs. Next time you’re out, shakin’ it like a polaroid picture, buy the guy in the booth a drink would ya?
Reviewed & Written By: Holly LaRue

Silo Direct Link to Wikipedia History of Turntablism

Earth

Southern Ontario Four Hundred Billion Years Ago

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Phacops rana roughly translates to “frog eyes”

Picture yourself swimming in the shallows of Lake Erie over 400 million years ago. You might come up with all kinds of ideas of what primitive life was like. Some might imagine archaic sharks and bony, lobe-finned fish, but I bet very few would conjure up Phacops Rana.

Great Eyesight

This specialized trilobite can be found throughout Norfolk County in shale deposits and occasionally on our beaches, embedded in fossilized chunks of coral. One member of The Silo team discovered a beautiful specimen preserved this way, but it takes a keen eye to recognize them. That’s because the only way to find them is to identify the one feature of Phacops Rana that is its namesake: phacopid eyes. You see, this trilobite had two large eyes that were full of round, swiveling lenses, giving the creature an advantage when it came to escaping predators.