Saturday, 01 May 2010 05:46

(With the approach of the major camping season, please note the following rules provided by the Aspen Ranger District.)

• Self registration is required at the trail heads in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass and Holy Cross Wilderness areas. There is no fee for this registration.

• Camping groups are limited to 10 persons, 15 stock while in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. Group size limit is 15 people and a maximum combination of 25 people and stock while in the Hunter Fryingpan Wilderness. Group size limits in the Holy Cross and Raggeds Wilderness Areas are 25 people and/or stock animals; and 15 persons and/or stock in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area.

• Dogs must be on a leash less than six feet long at all times.

• Camp 100 feet from water to protect stream banks and lake shore vegetation. Do not wash or bathe in lakes or streams. Use biodegradable soap and wash in camp. After using water, pour it out well away from water sources.

• Camp in wooded areas, not in open meadows. Use existing campsites when available.

• Gas stoves are encouraged in all areas and required in some. If you wish to build a fire please check what fire restrictions are in force at the time you are camping. If fires are allowed, keep them small and use an existing fire ring if available.

• For human waste, dig a small hole 6 to 8 inches deep and cover hole with loose soil and sod after use. The hole should be at least 100 feet from a lake or stream. Pack out soiled toilet paper.

  Read more: Wildernes Ethics and Rules:

Saturday, 01 May 2010 04:42

• Beware of Phishing Attacks. Phishing scams occur when a con artist impersonates a bank, credit card company, or online retailer and sends you an email asking you to provide your personal information. Although these emails may appear to be real in every way, they aren’t. If you receive a suspicious email, don’t click the links or attachments included in the message as doing so usually will have a detrimental result.

• Shred or Destroy. It is wise to shred or destroy paperwork that contains personal information before throwing it away, especially preapproved credit card offers.

• Strange Phone Calls. If you receive calls from collection agencies regarding debt you did not incur, remain calm and find out more information about the charge. Document the call and check into the charges immediately. Don’t give the caller your bank or credit card information to pay the bill because doing so could cause additional problems if the caller is not legitimate.

• Opt Out. To limit the disclosure of your personal information, contact your banks, mortgage brokers, and the three major credit bureaus to tell them you want to opt our of programs that share personal information. The Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service lets you register to receive less commercial advertising mail.

• When It’s Too Late. If you become a victim of identity theft, take immediate steps to correct your records. Make sure to document telephone calls and follow up in writing using certified mail, return receipt requested. Never send original documents and always keep a copy of letters refuting charges. Examples of documents you can furnish are debt collection letters, credit reports, or a copy of your printed ID Theft Complaint.

• Tell The FTC. Filing a report with the FTC helps with fraud investigation and can help with investigations across multiple jurisdictions. The information can help policy makers and businesses create better remedies and prevent identity theft. An ID Theft Affidavit from the FTC may also help in disputing charges

                                   PC Today, Joanna Safford

Saturday, 01 May 2010 03:15

The spring-blooming bulbs are beginning to make their display this month, and can begin early if temperatures climb and the days stay consistently mild. However, plan on fluctuations in weather patterns when a snowstorm rolls in. Have sturdy 5-gallon buckets or wax-lined boxes ready to cover bulbs that have started to bloom. The heavy, wet snow can collapse the stems and smash the flowers.

To tidy up the bulb garden, pinch off the faded or spent flowers as soon as they finish their bloom cycle. Cut back the stems to where the leaves begin, but never remove the foliage. The leaves are the food factories that build up energy for next year’s blooming cycle.

Thursday, 01 April 2010 06:19

DID YOU KNOW…

• Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.
  

• In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, not one case was recorded where an ostrich buried its head in the sand, or attempted to do so.

• Ice always melts at 32 degrees F, but water does not always freeze at 32 degrees F. It must freeze onto something. However, at -40 degrees F, water freezes spontaneously. If you poured a cup of water out of a window with the outside air temperature at -40 F, the water would freeze before it struck the ground.
  

• It takes only about eight minutes for the Space Shuttle to accelerate to a speed of more than 17,000 miles per hour.

• Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
  

• The word “toast”, meaning a wish of good health, started in ancient Rome, where a piece of toasted bread was dropped into wine.

• Vikings used the skulls of their enemies as drinking vessels.

Thursday, 01 April 2010 05:01

Hoary Cress (Cardaria draba)

Hoary cress, also known as “White top,” is a member of the Mustard family. It was probably introduced from Europe as a contaminant in alfalfa seed. It is a creeping perennial, which means it reproduces by seed and creeping roots. The extensive root system spreads horizontally and vertically with frequent shoots arising from the rootstock. The aggressive nature of this plant allows it to out-compete and displace native species.
It grows erect from 10 to 18 inches high and has a bluish green colored leaf. The flowers are white and numerous in compact flattop clusters which give the plant its name. Hoary cress is one of the earliest perennial weeds to emerge in the spring, producing flowers in May or June. It grows in waste places, cultivated fields, and pastures, and is capable of vigorous growth. This plant is rapidly spreading throughout Pitkin County, especially around the Shield-O Mesa and surrounding areas.

Read more: Weed of the Month - White Top

Thursday, 01 April 2010 04:31

It started when a few Post Office co-workers and Old Snowmass neighbors ignited a viral planning effort for a stupendous send-off for Mike Gonzalez -- the world's most revered Postmaster -- as his March retirement was approaching.  It was our own March Madness and within weeks became the event of the season.  

Close to two-hundred "81654'rs" crowded into the warm and rustic barn at Julie Wyckoff's Old Snowmass Cabins on the banks of the Roaring Fork, just above its confluence with Snowmass Creek.  An old fashioned pot luck was publicized as a 5-to-7 pm drop-in event on Saturday, March 13th.  When the day arrived waves of neighbors started arriving early, bringing scores of sweet and savory delights to share.  Then nobody wanted to leave, and the party was still going strong at 9 pm with a bonfire and plenty of desserts and libations.  

SnoCap Caucus stalwart Bob Throm lead a singalong of American the Beautiful, and spontaneous toasts and proclamations followed.  Commissioner Jack Hatfield recognized the neighborhood of Old Snowmass as the best example of community in Colorado, and his Board later presented Mike with a formal plaque at their next BOCC meeting.  To recognize Mike's love of auto mechanics and his uncanny talent for keeping all the mail carriers' clunkers running, Jimmy "Midstate" Hunter presented Mike with a hilarious plaque from the International Brotherhood of Shade Tree Mechanics.  Finally, thanks to generous contributions from all who so appreciated Mike's "Just Say Yes" attitude -- to always go the extra mile with a smile -- Katie Kitchen presented Mike with a hefty retirement bonus.

Read more: Old Snowmass Neighborhood Rallies

Thursday, 01 April 2010 03:28

Thursday, 01 April 2010 02:24

• Give thought to color and don’t mix cool and warm shades. If your house is painted a warm color then use walls, gravel, mulch, plants and other accessories in warm tones; do the opposite if you have cool tones.

• If it is too hot in your backyard, then put in a water feature and plant cool colors so your body will perceive that it is cooler. Use fuchsia, blues, purples and pastels.

• If you have a lot of trees in your yard, and it is very cool then you may want to add a fire pit and plants in warm colors.

• If you have a modern home, then use clean lines and jewel or primary colors. Pastel shades are used for mid-century architecture.

• Even number of plants should be used for a formal home with an even number of windows on each side of front door. If a house is asymmetrical, the use odd number of plants on each side of front door.

• You don’t always have to use flower color to make an impact. Concentrate on leaf color, using appropriate shades of gray, blue or yellow.

Thursday, 01 April 2010 01:41

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Having to get up during the night to urinate
• Presence of blood in urine or semen
• Feeling pain or a burning sensation while urinating
• Inability to urinate
• Painful ejaculation
• Urine dribbling
• Unexplained back pain

Monday, 22 February 2010 16:41

• The blue whale can produce sounds up to 188 decibels. This is the loudest sound produced by a living animal and has been detected as far away as 530 miles.

• The human jaw muscles can generate a force of 200 pounds on the molars.

• It takes approximately 12 hours for food to entirely digest.

• An inch of rainwater is equivalent to 15 inches of dry, powdery snow.

• The longest living cells in the body are brain cells which can live an entire lifetime.

• The greatest tide change on earth occurs in the Bay of Fundy. The difference between low tide and high tide can be as great as 54 ft. 6 in.

• Velcro was invented by a Swiss who was inspired by the way burrs attach to clothing.

• It takes 70% less energy to produce a ton of paper from recycled paper than from trees.

• It is energy-efficient to turn off a fluorescent light only if it will be off for an hour or more. This is because of the high voltage needed to turn it on, and the shortened life this high voltage causes.

Monday, 22 February 2010 16:35

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications): This cellular network offers the best global coverage and provides coverage for T-Mobile and AT&T users. GSM phones use a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, which users can swap in and out of different phones. Your GSM-based cellular plan (including minutes and data rates) is tied to the SIM card rather than a single mobile phone.

3G: Representing third generation mobile telephony technology, 3G offers increased data rates and better security than 1G and 2G technology. It also provides the technology for multimedia applications (such as mobile TV and videoconferencing), and the concurrent use of speech and data services. The maximum download speed for a 3G network is approximately 2.4 M bits per second (bps). The newer 3.5G technology, which is slightly better than 3G, can reach download speeds up to 14.4Mbps.

4G: As the next step in mobile technology, 4G will deliver quicker data transfer speeds than its predecessors (up to 100Mbps download speeds), as well as tighter security features. Users can expect 4G mobile devices to stream and access Web content seamlessly from anywhere.

Bandwidth: This represents the capacity of a network, or how much data a network can transfer. Bandwidth is often measured in bits per second.

Read more: Technology - Wireless Terminology

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 13:05

(From Greenhorn Horse Facts)

There are some simple, everyday changes that we can make around our homes and barns, that will make us more eco-friendly. Here are a few going green tips that can get you started.

• Replace regular light bulbs with florescent bulbs. They use one quarter of the energy that regular bulbs use.

• Choose green horse products, like natural fly sprays without pesticides.

• Install skylight panels in your barn roof. This not only adds light, but also helps to heat the barn in those winter months.

• Cut back on pesticides and fertilizers. Try using fly eliminators or fly predators instead.

• Try using straw instead of sawdust or shavings. Straw breaks down more quickly in the compost pile.

• Buy the largest bottles of shampoo and other horse care products that you can find.

  Read more: Tips on Going Green in Your Barn

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 20:00

Hypothermia is the mental and physical collapse that results from a lowered inner temperature of the body. It commonly develops at 30-50 degrees F when the victim is wet. It is enhanced by water and wind. If you are planning winter camping trips or cross country skiing, be aware of the following.

Symptoms to watch for:

Shivering
Slurred speech
Forgetfulness
Irrational behavior
Clumsiness, fumbling hands, and tumbling
Drowsiness or exhaustion
Lack of concern about physical discomfort

Watch your partner: Hypothermia symptoms are usually noticed by others before the victim is aware of it.

Prevention of Hypothermia: Stay dry and out of the wind. Take clothing suitable for the worst weather expected. If you are unable to stay warm and dry, give up the trip goal, get out of the wind, make camp, build a fire, and drink hot fluids. Make camp while you still have energy left. The fact that you are moving about may be the only thing that is preventing you from becoming hypothermic. Also be aware of wind, chill, dehydration, frostbite, altitude sickness, and hyperventilation.

Read more: Did You Know?

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 19:36

Thanks to Barbara J. Sullan  RDH, BS, MS for writing and providing this article!

Did you know that your oral health could be affecting your overall health? This diagram depicts various ways that poor oral health can affect your overall health.

• Preterm low birth weight babies: Preterm, low birth weight babies refer to infants who are born prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy and weigh less than 5.5 pounds at birth. These births account for 60% of babies who die in infancy. Pregnant mothers with active periodontal infections are at high risk of delivering preterm low birth weight babies.
• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)/Atherosclerosis: Patients with Periodontal Disease have an increased risk of myocardial or cerebral infarction. Areas under study include:
  • Hyper Coagulation: A thickening of the blood as a result of bacterial byproducts.
  • Thrombogenesis - an increase in platelet aggregation which can lead to clot formation.
  • Atherosclerosis - thickening of the blood vessel wall which can narrow the vessel lumen and dramatically decrease blood flow.
• Diabetes Mellitus:  Studies have shown that patients with periodontal disease have a difficult time with glycemic control.
• Respiratory Diseases:  The lungs and air passages of patients with respiratory diseases have been shown to be contaminated with organisms found from the teeth and gums.   Areas under study are:
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Acute respiratory infections: Pneumonia - as found in community-acquired or hospital-acquired infections. These infections are caused primarily by inhalation of infectious aerosols or by aspiration of oropharyngeal organisms.

Read more: Periodontal Disease and Your Overall Health

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 18:00

On January 20, 2010 Pitkin County Community Development hosted the valley’s Caucuses at roundtable discussion concerning possible amendments to the Land Use Code involving agricultural issues. Each Caucus was represented by two members on the panel. Residents were also invited to give their input on the proposed changes as well as voice opinions on matters associated with the growing greenhouse push related to individuals and commercial efforts to produce food locally. During the three hour discussion many ideas were presented and noted by the Community Development staff. Because the proposed changes to the Code presented by the Snowmass/Capitol Creek Caucus apply to “traditional” agriculture (See September “09 minutes), it was concluded that “greenhouse” agriculture be defined separately. A committee of those attending the roundtable will be formed to define and address issues particular to that type of agriculture to be presented at an ensuing meeting. The proposed changes recommended by our Caucus will be reviewed by the residents of the other Caucuses, and that feedback will be presented to the County who will then act on the collective recommendation of the entire network of Caucuses. Initial response to our recommendations was positive. As mentioned previously, our Caucus has also formed a committee to study renewable energy guidelines. Community Development will host a roundtable discussion on this topic at a later date. We look forward to working with the other valley Caucuses on future issues common to us all.

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 17:30

In conjunction with last month’s article on “cloud computing” it seemed it would be helpful to present some of the new terms associated with the technology. The cloud community will continue to refine these definitions, but for now here they are.

Cloud provider - Any company that creates a cloud computing environment, including storage, software, and other resources, and makes it available to users over the Internet is a cloud provider. The connotation is also that the cloud services are provided via a public cloud rather than a private cloud.

Private cloud - Private clouds are also sometime referred to as “internal clouds”. A private cloud occurs when a company sets up and manages a cloud-like IT environment running on its own equipment, thereby enabling it to offer cloud services internally, to its own company, and typically not to any other organization or individual.

Public cloud - In contrast to a private cloud, a public cloud is available (usually on a pay-per-use type of service for businesses) for use by the general public.

Cloudburst  - One of the more clever cloud puns in the cloud computing world, a cloudburst is any disruption in data availability that originates with the cloud service provider, such as power loss, a security breach, or a spike in demand that crashes a provider’s servers

Cloudstorming - Cloudstorming occurs whenever more than one cloud computing environments connect. Although “storming” tends to have a negative connotation, in this case it’s a positive event as in “brainstorming”.

Sunday, 03 January 2010 12:21

Mount Sopris is named in honor of Captain Richard Sopris who in 1860 led a prospecting expedition up the Roaring Fork Valley. He was the first man of European descent to soak in the hot springs of Glenwood Springs and is generally credited with discovering the hot springs. He later went on to gain prominence as the Denver’s Mayor. He commissioned the creation of Denver’s City Park.

Did you know the Colorado River was once called the “Grand River”? This name gave rise to Grand Valley, Grand Junction, Grand County, Colorado and Grand County, Utah.

Did you know the reason Chicago is called the “Windy City” is because the bombastic local politicians who were trying to secure the Columbian Exhibition for their city were deemed “wind bags”? Most people incorrectly attribute the name to the lake breezes generated by Lake Michigan.