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Study: Pacific Northwest shows warming trend over past century-plus
Inside: Historic pilot project demonstrates the viability of generating electricity from ocean pressure waves while resting unobtrusively on the ocean floor. Photo By: Shayne Morgan
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Canada Opens Floodgates for Marijuana Investments in the U.S Historic pilot project demonstrates the
viability of generating electricity from ocean pressure waves while resting unobtrusively on the ocean floor.
Canada is weighing in on this controversial industry, by changing its production and distribution laws, making it legal for any licensed company to grow and ship medical marijuana to patients, and illegal for patients to grow their own It's a thorny subject, no matter whom you talk to or whether it's in the U.S. or abroad. The debate over legalizing marijuana -- be it medical or recreational -- has raged for decades, and has only just started to see the seeds of fruition stateside. Now, however, Canada is weighing in on this controversial industry, by changing its production and distribution laws, making it legal for any licensed company to grow and ship medical marijuana to patients, and illegal for patients to grow their own. For their efforts, the country is seeing potential backers -- both U.S. and Canadian -- flocking to invest. "It's a much different time than it was a year ago," Mark Gobuty, the chief executive of Peace Naturals Project Inc., told the Wall Street Journal. "Before, it was a reputational risk. Today they're lining up." One company that is gambling that the industry will be as bountiful as its product is Medican (OTCQB: MDCN), a Las Vegas-based bio-pharmaceutical company. Medican is entering the market as a supplier to America's northern cousin, and focusing on developing, distributing and marketing pharmaceutical-grade cannabis to the emerging global market.
"The medical marijuana market in Canada will be worth roughly $120 million in its first year, and by 2024, it could be worth as much as $1.3 billion," says Ken Williams, CEO of Medican. "The time to get into this budding industry is now. If we don't seize this opportunity, we will miss out on what we believe will be a very profitable market niche that is on the verge of exploding in the next decade." In the U.S., the market for legal marijuana -- wherein 20 states currently allow medical marijuana use, and Washington state and Colorado allow recreational use -- could be worth as much as $2.5 billion by the end of this year, according to the marijuana industry research firm ArcView Group. As a side note: Colorado, which allowed recreational marijuana use at the beginning of 2014, took more than $7 million in tax revenue in the first two months. Currently, Medican has signed an agreement with International Herbs, Ltd. and LFG Advisory and Accounting, and it has committed to entering the Canadian market with a significant ownership stake in a large facility in New Brunswick. For more information about Medican and the investment opportunities it presents, visit www.medicaninc.com.
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Astoria, Ore. – M3 Wave LLC announced a successful deployment of their APEX wave energy device at a depth of 50 feet in the ocean approximately 1 mile off the coast of Camp Rilea near Astoria. The deployment marked the beginning of the world’s first open ocean test of a submerged pressure differential wave energy device. “At this very moment, APEX is generating electricity off the Oregon Coast. This is a historic achievement for M3 and for Oregon,” said Mike DelosReyes, Chief Technology Officer for M3 Wave. The APEX device is a 30 foot long, 8 foot wide steel structure that turns the pressure waves under ocean waves into alternating expansion and contraction cycles of an air-filled system which, in turn, drives an air turbine connected to an electrical generator. The system has no exposed mechanical components and essentially only one moving part: the turbine/generator. Electricity generated by the device is measured and dissipated internally. For the purposes of this test, there is no connection to the shore or to Oregon’s electrical grid. APEX is designed to minimize impact and interactions with other ocean users and wildlife.
M3 Wave selected Bergerson Construction in Astoria as prime contractor for APEX fabrication while integration engineering for the critical turbine module was done by Altman Browning & Co. out of Portland. Deployment is in collaboration with Tongue Point Job Corps Center’s Seamanship program and their WWII-vintage 180 foot vessel the Ironwood with guidance from experts from RPS Evans Hamilton. The test is off Camp Rilea and the Oregon Military Department is providing shore operations support in conjunction with their Net Zero program. The project is funded by a combination of private donations and a $150,000 commercialization grant from Oregon Wave Energy Trust. The goal of APEX is to validate technology that will be used in larger “village scale” power systems that will generate 150kW from devices 100 feet long. According to Mike Morrow, company CEO, “These larger systems can replace diesel generators on isolated islands or coastal villages in places like Alaska and Hawaii where cost of energy makes APEX a financially attractive alternative. We want to design, test, and manufacture the systems in Oregon and export the finished products around the world.”
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LONG WEEKEND TRIPS
This is one of those trips you’ll want to take when you have a longer weekend. This is one of those experiences that is truly unique to Oregonians due to the geographic features in this part of Oregon. Our destination the Spectrum mine to hunt for the “Oregon Sunstone” We started our trip on a Friday morning and worked our way over Hwy 20 to Bend. Once you get to Bend continue south toward LaPine. You’ll want to get on Hwy 30 to end up at your final destination, which is near Plush. It’s a long drive but the Oregon Outback is worth taking a peak at. When you get to Plush, Oregon your close to the mines. I recommend you ask the local’s for directions. We arrived late and did have a hard time finding the mine in the cover of darkness. We made it the mining area using our passenger car. The road can be rough at times.There is free camping about 3 miles from the mine and free Sunstone hunting on the BLM land. Some of the campsites have covers and are first come first serve. We camped here for the evening, it is comfortable in a tent but can be extremely windy at times. The drive there is one of the most breathtaking scenes you will ever set eyes on. The
long landscapes allow you to see endlessly through the Oregon landscapes. Another area we wanted to check out was Hart Mountain. You can see this rustic Mtn. range from the hwy on your way to Plush. There is a popular hot springs in those mountains. Next time I’m there I want to stop there first. We spent a few hours gathering some “Sunstones on the BLM area, there’s areas where they are just seeping out of the ground. Most of them aren’t that valuable but they have colors from white to yellow. If you find the right one after it’s been faceted it can fetch a dollar or two. Denise one of the co-owners of the Spectrum Mine met us and was a gracious host. She took us on a tour of the mine and showed us the different ways to mine and the different options to choose from. You can just do some old-fashioned digging or you can order a bucket full and have it dropped on a conveyor belt, where your only job is to pick out the prized stones as they zip by. The pricing is affordable for all budgets. Some of the mining packages come with a free night lodging in one of the cabins or teepees. We really enjoyed the day at The Spectrum Mine and we came home with a few Oregon Sunstones
Wineries Speak Up About the Benefits of Using Natural Cork
NewsUSA - A growing list of leading wineries, including St. Francis, Bogle and Fetzer, are speaking up about the benefits of using natural cork. They recognize that not only does natural cork allow wines to age perfectly, but using natural cork also provides a potential competitive advantage when it comes to marketing their wine brands. According to Wines & Spirits "25th Annual Survey of Top 50 Restaurant Wine Brands," wines finished primarily with cork accounted for 90 percent of the brands selected in these top restaurants. This represents a 21 percent increase from a decade ago, compared to a 39 percent decline in wines with screw caps and a 70 percent drop for those with synthetic closures.
Silva said that his winery discontinued using cork two decades ago, due to inconsistent cork quality. But he and his team kept testing corks on a few cases of wine each year in the hope of returning to cork. They saw a steady improvement, and by 2012 they were convinced it was time to return to cork. He added that using natural cork is consistent with St. Francis' commitment to sustainability. "We are a certified sustainable Sonoma County business that is powered by solar energy, uses eco-friendly packaging, and is active in water conservation and recycling."
Weber continued, "In addition to cork's ro bust sustainability credentials, wineries are also benefitting from the hundreds of million dollars that Portuguese cork "These survey figures are consistent with manufacturers have invested in new the Aug. 16, 2014, Nielsen scan of the Top technologies and improved quality-control 100 Premium Brands, which showed that measures." since the start of 2010, there has been a steady increase in cork's market share -In 2013, the CQC members conducted with a 30 percent positive slope for corkover 30,000 analyses. Their combined finished wines compared to a 9 percent screening records show a steady reduction slope for wines with alternative closures," in measurable 2,4,6-Trichloroanisle (TCA) commented Peter Weber, Executive Direc- levels that are now 95 percent lower than tor of the Cork Quality Council (CQC). the results seen when records were first tabulated in 2001. Christopher Silva, President and CEO of St. Francis, said, "We believe that natural "Using natural cork is an integral part of cork is an integral part of the romance of our message, heritage and culture," Silva the wine experience. There is nothing that added. can duplicate the iconic 'pop' when a cork is pulled from the bottle."
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food & DRINK
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DIXIE CREEK SALOON
HAVE YOU TRIED FRANKIE’S?
Check out The Dixie Creek Saloon on Hwy 99E in Tangent featuring a lunch and dinner menu. The Dixie Creek Saloon at 32994 Oregon 99E, Tangent, is serving up handmade burgers daily. They are also serving a full lunch and dinner menu daily. The lunch menu features fabulous wraps, salads and burgers. The saloon offers local Willamette Valley
microbrews, live music, pool and outdoor seating with karaoke on Friday nights. They also offer special promotions and open mike night on Wednesday. For a current listing of events and live music visit Dixie Creek Saloon on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ pages/Dixie-Creek-Saloon.
Frankie’s in North Albany is serving up “Farm to Table” fresh in every bite. The restaurant was founded by local Cody Utzman, “Chopped Champion”, Owner and Chef, of Frankie’s. Utzman had suc-
cess in New York and attended LBCC’s Culinary Arts Program. The food is some of the best in the “Willamette Valley.” The Sunday brunch is very affordable. The prices fit into almost every budget.
WIN THIS RIDE!
Yes, You Can Win a 1967 CJ-5 Custom with a 350! Only $20.00/ticket. All funds benefit Outside Initiatives Youth. It's more than a Jeep! For more information go to www.facebook.com/events/708581535850319 or www.leadhorse.org. Get tickets for the raffle at these local businesses. ALBANY : Beggs Tire & Wheel EUGENE: JJ's Barbershop ALBANY: Albany Acupuncture TANGENT: Dixie Creek Saloon .TANGENT: J & H Automotive, Clinic BROWNSVILLE: Glen Family Inc. Dentistry
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THE VALLEY EXPLORER
Disease confirmed in local deer population
ROSEBURG, Ore. – Tests have confirmed that deer in the Roseburg area are dying from Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), a disease that has not been seen in deer in this area of Oregon before. Lab results from Oregon State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab tested positive for EHD late last week. This year, more than 100 deer have died in the Roseburg area with similar symptoms. Most of the deer were found in the Fisher Road area west of Roseburg or near Umpqua Community College. EHD is transmitted to deer via the bites of Culicoides gnats (no-seeums). Columbian white-tailed deer are particularly susceptible but it can affect black-tailed deer as well. Both a blacktailed deer and a Columbian white-tailed deer collected in the Roseburg area tested positive for EHD. Additional samples of other deer found dead are being tested.
Study: Pacific Northwest shows warming trend over past century-plus
ODFW wildlife veterinarian Colin Gillin said EHD symptoms resemble those of the more common Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease (AHD). EHD causes weakness, excessive salivation and bloody diarrhea. Deer with EHD also develop a rapid pulse and respiration rate and fevers – which is why they are frequently found lying in bodies of water to reduce their body temperature. Deer finally become unconscious and die. “We have never seen EHD before in this area, and it’s a new threat to deer,” said Tod Lum, Umpqua District wildlife biologist. “Low water conditions and pools of stagnant water along the rivers provide ideal breeding conditions for the gnats that transmit EHD. There isn’t much we can do to prevent this disease other than wait for the rains to come or cold
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DOWNTOWN CORVALLIS
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The annual mean temperature in the Pacific Northwest has warmed by about 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit since the early 20th century – a gradual warming trend that has been accelerating over the past 3-4 decades and is attributed to anthropogenic, or human, causes. The study is one of the first to isolate the role of greenhouse gases associated with regional warming, the authors say. It was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Climate, a publication of the American Meteorological Society. “The amount of warming may not sound like a lot to the casual observer, but we already are starting to see some of the impacts and what is particularly significant is that the rate of warming is increasing,” said Philip Mote, director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University and a co-author on the study. “Just a 1.3-degree increase has lengthened the ‘freeze-free’ season by 2-3 weeks and is equivalent to moving the snowline 600 feet up the mountain,” Mote added. “At the rate the temperature is increasing, the next 1.3-degree bump will happen much more quickly.” In their study, the researchers looked at temperatures and precipitation from 1901 to 2012 in the Northwest, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, and the northwestern tip of Wyoming. They examined four different factors to determine the influence of human activities, including greenhouse gases and aerosols; solar cycles; volcanic eruptions; and naturally occurring phenomena including El Niño events and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Using what is called a “multilinear regression” approach, they were able to tease out the influences of the different factors. Volcanic activity, for example, led to cooler temperatures in 1961, 1982 and 1991. Likewise, El Niño events led to warming in numerous years. “Natural variation can explain much of the change from year to year, but it cannot account for this long-term warming trend,” noted David Rupp, a research associate with the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute and co-author on the report. “Anthropogenic forcing was the most significant predictor of, and leading contributor to, the warming.” Among the study’s findings:
The Northwest experienced relatively cool periods from 1910-25 and from 194560, and a warm period around 1940 and from the mid-1980s until the present. The warmest 10-year period has been from 1998 to 2007, and very few years since 1980 have had below average annual mean temperatures. The most apparent warming trend is in the coldest night of the year, which has warmed significantly in recent decades. The only cooling trend the study documented was for spring temperatures the last three decades and is tied to climate variability and increasing precipitation during those spring months. “The spring has been robustly wetter,” Mote said, “and that has brought some cooler temperatures for a couple of months. But it has been drier in the fall and winter, and the warming in fall and winter has been steepest since the 1970s.” Lead author John Abatzoglou of the University of Idaho said that the study ties the warming trend to human activities. “Climate is a bit like a symphony where different factors like El Niño, solar variability, volcanic eruptions and manmade greenhouse emissions all represent different instruments,” Abatzoglou said. “At regional scales like in the Northwest, years or decades can be dominated by natural climate variability, thereby muffling or compounding the tones of human-induced warming. “Once you silence the influence of natural factors,” he said, “the signal of warming due to human causes is clear – and it is only getting louder.” The researchers also explored but were unable to find any link between warming in the Northwest over the past century and solar variability. A major concern, the authors say, is that the warming seems to be increasing. “Climate is complex and you can get significant variations from year to year,” Mote said. “You have to step back and look at the big picture of what is happening over time. Clearly the Northwest, like much of the world, is experiencing a warming pattern that isn’t likely to change and, in fact, is accelerating. “At this rate, the chance of the temperature only going up 1.3 degrees in the next century is close to zero.” The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
HEALTH
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Even small stressors may be harmful to men’s health, new OSU research shows
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Older men who lead high-stress lives, either from chronic everyday hassles or because of a series of significant life events, are likely to die earlier than the average for their peers, new research from Oregon State University shows. “We’re looking at long-term patterns of stress – if your stress level is chronically high, it could impact your mortality, or if you have a series of stressful life events, that could affect your mortality,” said Carolyn Aldwin, director of the Center for Healthy Aging Research in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU. Her study looked at two types of stress: the everyday hassles of such things as commuting, job stress or arguments with family and friends; and significant life events, such as job loss or the death of a spouse. Both types appear to be harmful to men’s health, but each type of stress appears to have an independent effect on mortality. Someone experiencing several stressful life events does not necessarily have high levels of stress from everyday hassles, Aldwin said. That is determined more by how a person reacts to the stress. “It’s not the number of hassles that does you in, it’s the perception of them being a big deal that causes problems,” Aldwin said. “Taking things in stride may protect you.” Aldwin’s latest research on long-term patterns of stress in men was published recently in the journal “Experimental Gerontology.” Co-authors of the study were Yu-Jin Jeong of Chonbuk National University in Korea; Heidi Igarashi and Soyoung Choun of OSU; and Avron Spiro III of Boston University. The research was
funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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The researchers used data from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. They studied stressful life events and everyday hassles for 1,293 men between 1989 and 2005 then followed the men until 2010. About 43 percent of the men had died by the end of the study period. About a third of the men who reported having few stressful life events had died, while closer to half of the men reporting moderate or high numbers of stressful events had died by the end of the study. Men who reported few everyday hassles had the lowest mortality rate, at 28.7 percent. Just under half of the men reporting a mid-range number of hassles had died by the end of the study, while 64.3 percent of the men reporting a high number of hassles had died. Stressful life events are hard to avoid, but men may live longer if they’re able to control their attitudes about everyday hassles, such as long lines at the store or traffic jams on the drive home, Aldwin said. “Don’t make mountains out of molehills,” she said. “Coping skills are very important.”
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The study gives a snapshot of the effects of stress on men’s lives and the findings are not a long-term predictor of health, she said. Stress and other health issues can develop over a long period of time. Aldwin said future research will look more closely at the different stressors’ effects on health to see if the two types of stress have similar or different impacts on the body’s physiology. Understanding how stress affects health.
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