Winter storms pounding the North Spit continue to whittle away at the foredune that once encased the remains of a mysterious wooden ship. As of Wednesday afternoon, the dune behind the ship revealed that only the bow section and a wooden mast are all that remain on the beach about half way between the wreck of the New Carissa and Coos Bay's north jetty.-World Photo by Lou Sennick .

Coastal Post Online

The West Marin Medical Center in Point Reyes Station is one of the things that makes present West Marin what it is for the rest of us. Dr. Molly Bourne has been one of the best things around West Marin. Not just because she is a really nice lady, but because she embodies what is good and true here in West Marin. She IS what medicine SHOULD be all about. She was always open to new ideas and added her creativeness to our need for health care. She cares and takes more than the proscribed 10 minutes allowed by Managed Care, per patient. She seemed to actually know each of us as a human being. She is/was a gift to West Marin. One we are losing.
Molly Bourne got broad-sided by Managed Care and the crazy reality of our nation's for-big-profit-to-stockholders health system. An excellent and caring physician is leaving us because the overall system of health care in this county is a travesty of unfairness to doctor and patient alike.

Ottawa moves to emulate U.S. on new fuel mileage standards

That we don't speaks more for the average Canadian than the car companies or our rules.
I had 2 Pontiac Fireflies, one was actually a Susuki Forsa and the other was a Susuki Swift.
Both were 5 speed, 5 passenger, 3 cylinder, stationwagon types. Each of them got 64 MILES to the GALLON. From 1988 thru to 2000, I car pooled using them (32 miles each way) and made a killing. I totally loved them and was extremely disappointed when Pontiac stoped selling them.
Granted, they are the 'SECOND CAR' but they were my main car - the wife didn't like them and drove a much larger vehicle that I didn't like. Posted 17/01/08 at 4:32 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment .

I've caused a stir

If you ladle it out, you've got to take it, as the old saying goes.

Mr Kilfoyle posted his comments below yesterday's blog in which he describes as "outrageous" the suggestion that some MPs are too afraid to condemn the Speaker because he'd abuse his position in the chair to punish those that did.

The Fountain Pen

A new electronic voting system has been installed at Guelph's city hall. The new system allows members of council to vote in favour or against a motion by pressing the appropriate button. An overhead screen then displays how each individual voted. All votes other than procedural motions are recorded, and the meeting minutes show how each member voted.

Previously, votes were only recorded when requested by a member of council. Non-recorded votes were taken by a show of hands and not listed in the minutes. Thus, there was no record of how councillors voted. In the case of recorded votes, the Clerk had to call each member's name and manually record his or her vote. The electronic system will enable members of Council to vote simultaneously. The system also eliminates the potential to mis-hear voice votes or mis-count hands.

Roadworks put brakes on drivers' first toll-free crossing of bridge

The tolls were an ideal way of ensuring that those who used the bridges paid for them. When the Tay Bridge tolls were introduced, the half crown cost was equivilant to the price of getting in the boys gate at Dens Park. Now, the cost of crossing would purchase half a programme. Can you imagine the furore, if free rail travel were introduced for all, with the cost to be borne by the taxpayer? It is a cheap stunt, which in the grand scheme of things means little - and something free from politicians? Don't make me laugh! .

The Insider

George Eliot signed up for membership, and Dickens used the library to research A Tale of Two Cities.