The Commons

Howard Shaffer's Comment

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:05:43 -0400

With the new diesel, the plant will have 3 diesels to cool used fuel. Only one is needed

JEFFREY Von STETTEN's Comment

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 01:14:06 -0400

Actually, there are several suffuxes of species for the cannabis plant, just like there is for cactus. There are hundreds of different cactus, but only some are good for calcium, or blood sugar regulation, or eating opuntia is the first part, the rest is the second, and it's the same way with cannabis. There are many varieties that have no thc, and are categorically different. It is very safe, quantifiable, measurable, repeatable, and testable. There is an airtight way to make sure it stays that way, even though medical mj is beneficial for humans as well.

Kevin Jones's Comment

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:08:34 -0400

Regulate like tobacco!! Marijuana is smoked and weighed, not drunk and poured. THC does not become more toxic with increased dosage, though more may be more potent. We do not regulate the amount of nicotine in tobacco, and the model is directly correlated when considering intended use of the seller of marijuana to be smoked.

Tobacco is also the only drug model where a demonstrable decrease has been facilitated through a tax and teach model where high taxes and information based on science have effectively reduced use nation wide in all age groups.
The Cannabis Commerce Act should use laws that exist instead of adding new expensive systems and laws. We have laws for all concerns, all we need to do is apply them to cannabis now.

Tom Finnell's Comment

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:32:12 -0400

I've always liked Knotweed. I used to live "Brookside" and most of my yard was Knotweed (I call it Japanese Bamboo). It's actually an attractive bush, especially when it blooms.
The idea of using it as biomass intrigues me. I can see a cottage industry of independent gatherers springing up to generate heat and power locally.

John Sergovich's Comment

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:27:48 -0400

It depends what you mean by sources. I'm told that Agriculture Canada has all the information on the genetics. I doubt that they will release it though. An interesting paper that you might like is "The Biotechnology of Cannabis sativa", by Sam R. Zwenger; April, 2009. Also, you should visit the website of Health Canada to learn about the Industrial Hemp Regulation Program. A good place to inquire about the cost of seeds and other inputs is the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance. It is not easy to get accurate information on the cost of cellulose fiber sourced ethanol. Try to find and download "The Ethanol Fact Book: A Compilation of Information About Fuel Ethanol," that was published by the Clean Fuels Development Coalition. A rule of thumb in the industry is that it costs about fifty cents a litre, plus the cost of raw materials, to produce a litre of fuel grade ethanol using this sort of process. The problem is that no one is using cannabis as a raw material at this time. Farmers can get more money for their crop elsewhere. If you want information on the yield potential and economic considerations of "high THC" varieties of cannabis, you are out of luck. It is rumored that Agriculture Canada has that information. The only way we can know for sure is if at least one country, somewhere in the world, allows a scientist to grow some varieties for this sort of research. On the other hand, if you know where to get some viable seeds, you might be able to do some research on your own but you would be looking at some serious jail time if you got caught. I don't know of anyone who would sacrifice their career by publishing such a paper. If you're interested in alternative fuels, it is useful to know some of the history of alternative fuels. The best place to start is a now famous essay entitled, "Henry Ford, Charles Kettering, and the 'Fuel of the Future", by Bill Kovarik. The essay does not mention cannabis but it does entail the discrimination that ethanol producers faced with respect to the petroleum industry. By the way, which government website claims we are looking into hemp as a source of fuel? That's news to me. So long as farmers are restricted from choosing their own varieties of cannabis, and from possessing viable seeds, the cannabis crop will be priced out of the fuel market. The sources that we've been investigating so far have all been safe dead ends when compared to petroleum.

David G Mattocks's Comment

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:23:42 -0400

Great source of local goings-on!

Cornelius Lehvel's Comment

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 11:16:51 -0400

Thank you. I needed to know why our government websites state that we are looking into hemp for fuel and fiber but do not come up with anything. I will look further into your information. Do you have any sources to offer?

As for the rest.

Unfortunately, if we stay on our current restictive path all of life on earth will be purified within fifty years.

Fortunately, we appear to be fully set for planetary liberation of the most evolved plant, Cannabis Sativa L. which will totally rejuvinate our home and family.

Laura Burdo's Comment

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:50:51 -0400

Thank you, Jim, from the Burdo family. I'm thankful for the start you gave all four boys. Words fail me when I consider your involvement with decades of beginning musicians at three schools! Thank you, Andy, for speaking for us all.

Janelle's Comment

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:33:55 -0400

Lovely!

Terry August's Comment

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:11:49 -0400

Clear cut, easy to understand article that lays out why we sell artisan cheese and like to meet the makers personally. We went to Vermont last year and it was a dairy/food wonderland.
Luckily being in California, we have our epicenter in Northern California with the whole West Coast coming alive.
Big companies have figured there is a buck to make on the word "artisan" so one has to be skeptical but hopefully it will allow more to climb on board and raise it in the consciousness of the American people. I see it in the attendees at the classes we teach at our shop. They are hungry for info (yeah the pun is intended) and we are happy to share it.
Thanks
Terry August
Fancifull Fine Food and Baskets

Bethany Thies's Comment

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:44:15 -0400

Thank you so much, Sherrica! You just made my day. So happy you enjoyed my true tales of Motherhood.

Sherrica Proctor's Comment

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:49:47 -0400

I LOVE THIS!!! Working mom of three (twins - 2; kindergartener - 4) and omg...I have an incredible friend at work that shared this with me and I NOW will follow my first blogger...YOU

John Sergovich's Comment

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:57:26 -0400

It is interesting that hemp is defined differently than marijuana. Sadly, genetically, they are the same species. In fact, there is only one species within the cannabis family and it is cannabis sativa. You can plant low THC varieties, but it is difficult to guarantee that future generations will also be low in THC. I suspect that the Canadian hemp industry is being used as a model. Up here in Canada, hemp seed must be certified that it will only produce non-viable cannabis with unusually low levels of THC. The non-viability means the farmer must always have to buy seed from a supplier and the cost is not cheap. It can be as much as half the value of the harvested crop. The low THC requirement may not seem like much of an issue for industrial purposes until you consider that it arbitrarily eliminates nearly every variety out there. The regulations simply ensure that the crop be too expensive to be economical for many uses such as paper and fuel. Until the 1920's, when the petroleum industry was being developed, people considered all varieties of cannabis to be beneficial. If a farmer could choose a variety to grow based upon real industrial specifications such as yield potential, and if the farmer could use some of the seed to plant for the next harvest, the cost of the harvest would be so little that the plant could even displace petroleum as the most practical source of fuel for transportation. Imagine buying fuel grade ethanol for less than three dollars per gallon. It would be possible only if people were not so afraid of cannabis. I would challenge anyone to prove me wrong but such a challenge would be moot so long as it remains illegal for scientists to experiment with growing different varieties. Even if you did prove me wrong, it would be a felony to do so. Why did the whole world become so afraid of cannabis in the 1920's ? Before the 1920's the world required it. Now, because of this fear, we have to use petroleum and wood pulp and other commodities just to get by. We even use petroleum sources for medicine these days. It makes me sick. Gasoline is a very dangerous drug when poured into a plastic bag and sniffed. It happens often in many northern Canadian communities that have little or no access to ethanol and cannabis. If I had my way, it would be an internationally banned schedule one drug. The stuff is so volatile you can use it to burn on top of water. What a crazy mixed up world that lets children play with gasoline, but forbids even adult scientists from growing their own varieties of cannabis for research. Have the gods become crazy?

Laura Austan's Comment

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 02:44:09 -0400

There is little in life that can't be helped by cheese.

Raphael Dean's Comment

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 22:58:10 -0400

Would it be possible to take part in this and not be in the area?
Is this a mail/internet class or, is one available for non-area students?

Raphael Dean's Comment

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:46:30 -0400

Would it be possible to take part in this and not be in the area?
Is this a mail/internet class or, is one available for non-area students?

Howard Shaffer's Comment

Fri, 31 May 2013 11:14:48 -0400

Mr. Sachs, in his usual manor of focusing only on nuclear power, and comparing to perfection gives a view with blinders on.
Congress didn't do that when it authorized the nuclear power program.
He says Vermont Yankee power will not be missed and it will be replaced. True about replacement. The grid works that way. He fails to say what will replace it. CO2 producing power.
All the agreements Entergy made are within the framework of national policy, and legality. When policy changes or something illegal is done, agreements get put on hold, or may be changed. The Federal court said Vermont acted illegally. That will be sorted out first.

Serena Hickey's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 17:30:31 -0400

The Chair and Vice-Chair are out of bounds accusing the Library Director of financial mismanagement. The Library budget is in good shape, but the renovation had to be taken out of the Trustee's management - money problems. The Chair was denied the job of Director for the Library. She is not suited for the job and should not be allowed to micro-mismanage how it is performed.

Carol James's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 14:16:28 -0400

I believe the trust should be restored. I agree that the interest it has accumulated is not a lot but could be used for some good or at least some food or Christmas time or whatever, Was this even a legal vote to dissolve this trust? It should be reinstated,

Susan Bourne's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 10:32:15 -0400

The very clear, exact wording and intent for the Sarah Burr Howard Memorial Fund set forth in 1895 can be read on page 477 of The History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont by Lyman Simpson Hayes (available as a free download at Google books).

Part of what is written there is that the Bellows Falls Village Corporation will "...keep and hold the same [sums donated by Luther G. Howard] as a fund to be forever known as the 'Sarah Burr Howard Memorial Fund' [... to be used] in aid of the poor who are residents of said village, and who are not supported in whole or in part by the state or by any town or county."

It seems this fund would have been, could have been, should have been, and was intended to be an excellent, appropriate source of funding for, let's say for example, a homeless shelter for residents of Bellows Falls. Such compassionate use would align with the specific intent of the original fund and donation.

I agree that the recent vote and attempt to dissolve the Sarah Burr Howard Fund lacks in compassionate understanding of the nature of the fund -- as well as the nature of the need of some of the poor who still live in Bellows Falls.

I also wonder if this vote can be legally binding, as it contradicts the legality of the fund as it was set up to work. I hope village attorneys will address this issue -- and, hopefully, reinstate The Sarah Burr Howard Fund for the good and benefit of Bellows Falls villagers.

Susan Bourne

Sandy Golden's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 09:52:48 -0400

You misunderstood my comment so I will explain it for you. Ms. Linton is lamenting cuts to programs that help people when she does not strike me as someone in need. She has the advantage of those two college degrees she boasted about in her article; she has a loving family; she is active in the community and has a stable place to live. An awful lot of people can not say the same. If cutting programs to enure that more funding goes to people in far worse situations results in helping more of our truly needy citizens,I feel that is the right thing to do. With her two degrees, Linton has the opportunity to get a much better paying job and has a distinct advantage over someone without the same education. I think we can all agree that any assitance programs need to be targeted to those who need it the most and not those who just feel it makes their lives a little easier.

Sandy Golden's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 09:48:12 -0400

You doun't believe people should count their blessings? I do. I also believe that there are people in far greater need than Ms. Linton who has a loving family and not one but TWO college degrees. She has a distinct advantage over a lot of other people particularly when it comes to applying for a job and earing greater income. I believe that all programs that aid the poor should be reserved for those in greatest need, and it seems to me that Linton is not one of those people. The fact that she has high student debt was her decision, as is the fact that she is not utilizing the two degrees she boasted about having. She comes off as ungrateful for the opportunities she has been given, and I find that offensive especially when there are so many women dealing with homelessness, abuse, etc. Programs should be cut to people like Ms. Linton so more people in greater need can be helped.

Sandy Golden's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 09:32:16 -0400

I think counting our blessings is something we could all stand to do a lot more. Miss Linton was lamenting the cutting of Reach Up and other assistance programs despite the fact that she has a loving family and a college education which netted her two degrees. The point I was making is that she has a lot of advantages over other people who are in much greater need, for example, a friend of mine who is now in a shelter having fled an abusive partner and has no high school diploma to say nothing of a college degree. If capping the programs Linton spoke of ensures that those in a far worse situation than hers get the aid they need, I feel that it should be done. Linton is not "bearing the brunt of the cuts", she is bearing the brunt of the decisions she has made (taking on the high student loans, earning degrees she is now not utilizing to get a better paying job). One of my friends is a single mom who worked for years in dead-end jobs, went to college, earned a degree, fought for a job in her field, and today is getting ready to purchase her first home for herself and her daughter. Ms. Linton could certainly do the same thing. Taxpayers already helped Linton get her degrees; the rest is now up to her.

toner cartridge supplier's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:23:47 -0400

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooool

toner cartridge manufacturer's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:22:48 -0400

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooool

toner cartridge manufacturer's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:22:32 -0400

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooool

toner cartridge manufacturer's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:21:57 -0400

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooool

toner cartridge manufacturer's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:21:07 -0400

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooool

toner cartridge manufacturer's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:20:39 -0400

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooool

toner cartridge manufacturer's Comment

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:20:07 -0400

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooool