Weathervane Sales Canada

Making dad's day a good one

It's hard to believe, but Father's Day is just around the corner. No worries, though, because $hopGirl has hit some of her fave man stores in search of the perfect gift for the dad in your life.

Whether he likes to be outdoors, have the latest tech gadget, is more of a handyman or a sharp dresser (or maybe his clothes just need spiffing up), we've got you (him!) covered. The best thing about these stores? The customer service is outstanding, so whether your budget is $10 or $2,000, you'll find a great gift for Dad.

Bjorn's

Bjorn's, 14123 U.S. 281 N., makes you feel cool just walking in there. The good news for non-techies like $hopGirl is that there's a helper seated at the front who determines your needs and gets you assistance so you aren't wandering around lost.

$hopGirl said “Father's Day” and was quickly led to the most amazing Monster over-the-ear and in-ear headphones. There's the new Dr. Dre series and the Miles Davis tribute headphones, which range from $79.95 to $399.95. Before you choke on your coffee, $hopGirl wants to add that they come with a lifetime replacement guarantee, even if you break them.

Then we went to a demo of the 3-D DLP Sharp front projector (psst ... like a movie theater!) on a 110-inch screen that was able to switch from 2-D to 3-D. The awesome touch-screen universal remote was cool, too. Sorry, $hopGirl's dad, you will not be getting one of these; at $400 to $2,500, it is out of her price range! Note: $hopGirl was advised 3-D is an “immersive experience” so a larger screen (60-inch) is recommended.

In another room, $hopGirl got quite the shock when she sat in a D-BOX seat, a movie started and the chair began shaking, putting her right in the action of the movie. You can purchase a chair with the D- BOX System or purchase the D-Box System with the Motion Platform, which can be added to existing seating (and you don't need special DVDs).

Another fun find was the Internet-based Sonos wireless music system that you can set up for sound throughout the house or backyard. And $hopGirl must give special thanks to audio/video specialist Drew Snedeker , who even managed to fix $hopGirl's phone while she was there — so you really do get great customer service at this fun store.

Note: Are these prices too high? Take dad to see a D-BOX movie and really feel the action — tickets cost $18 at Santikos Palladium, 17703 W. I-10, and $17.50 at Santikos Silverado, 11505 W. Loop 1604 N.

The Geopolitics Of Climate Change In The Arctic - Weathervane: A ...

When thinking of climate change policy in the Arctic, some may conjure up images of melting glaciers and starving polar bears. However, the warming of the Poles will have an effect on the geopolitics in the region and relations on a global scale.

For example, Canada now has the potential to explore new trading routes for longer periods of time. The Northwest Passage, which runs between Canada and Greenland, has opened up dramatically.

(Image by: iStock)

The old saying of Iceland is green and Greenland is icy is also changing. While a cooler Greenland may have driven out the Vikings , a warmer Greenland is resulting in another societal shift. A longer grass-growing season each year paves the way for extended agriculture, and commercial fisheries are expending a larger cod and halibut catch. The tourism industry is growing more robust with longer seasons and better hunting conditions.

More importantly, however, the discovery of oil off the coast of Greenland, and easier exploration due to climate change, eases an independence from Denmark.

Laurence Smith professor of geography and climate change at UCLA recently wrote a book on this topic, The World in 2050