Category Archives: Business

Business, Society, Writing

Russian Politicians, Media, Create Windmills to Tilt At

As Russian politicians and media make increasingly weird comments, what strikes me is their collective mass delusion that anyone would want to invade Russia.

Or wanted to invade Russia, or was a threat to Russia.

Nobody wants to invade Russia. And there, perhaps, lies their angst.

They are not invasion-worthy. Whereas Ukraine, a democratic, freedom-loving nation, would be a juicy totalitarian prize.

Nothing makes the unloved and unenvied more satisfied than bashing others down to their self-perceived level.

Business, Nature, Photography

My 2023 Birds of BC Wildlife Calendar

Here’s my first venture into making and selling a calendar to support my photography.

Northern Harrier, Great Blue Heron, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald Eagle, Barn Owl, Anna’s Hummingbird, Baby Barred Owl, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Cedar Waxwing.

Birds of BC 2023 Wildlife Calendar

The printing – ordering – shipping site is in the US. I’ll try to find a Canadian supplier as well.

 

Business, Technology

‘Early Adopter’ Me Appears to be Slowing Down

Funny how “early adopter” me has become “things are running fine, why change?” me. . . 🙂

I wonder if that’s a reflection of age?

I began building my own computers back in the mid-1980s, and in those days I was always tinkering, swapping video cards, adding memory, installing larger hard drives, upgrading fax/modems (remember those?). . .

I’ve had an “upgrade to Windows 11” icon sitting in the taskbar on my notebook computer for many months. OTOH, my tower computer is so old, it won’t run Windows 11.

I’m starting to itch to click that icon on my laptop. . . . At least if there’s a bit of a learning curve, I’ll still have Windows 10 on my tower, eh?

And since my tower and my laptop pretty much have all the same applications and utilities on them, if something breaks, I’ll know what else needs upgrading before going Win11 on a slightly newer refurbished tower computer that I’ve never used yet.
Business, Nature, Streamkeeping, Sustainability

Concerns about BC Tires Being Recycled into ‘Landscaping Mulch’

I saw a post from Tire Stewardship BC float by on my Facebook feed this morning, touting a new product they are producing from used tires — “landscaping mulch.”

When I commented on their post with concerns about 6PPD-quinone in tires, which is known to kill coho salmon, they just told me to watch their wonderful recycling video again.

A second query about 6PPD-quinone was ignored completely.

Runoff from roads contains 6PPD-quinone from tire dust. Wouldn’t this “mulch” also leach it? And what about all those other outdoor products?

Until potential 6PPD-quinone in “landscaping mulch” is addressed, we should keep an eye on this, and contact our municipalities about the potential impacts of such products. And, of course, federal and provincial environment/pollution/fish agencies.

Link to the recycling page here.

If you search “6PPD-quinone recycled tire products” you’ll find plenty of articles and studies with concerns about them.

UPDATE: Tire Stewardship BC has responded to my FB post, and basically are saying the Canadian and US tire industry associations are working on it. Yes, I know, I’ve spoken with reps from both associations over the years, and invited them to present to stewardship groups.

I responded that that still didn’t answer my concern that products being made from recycled tires are being promoted as “eco-friendly.”

Business, Food, Nature, Society, Sustainability

Tackling Food Security in BC Lower Mainland Urban Areas

It’s interesting and concerning to see more threads on food security on various social media channels. With drought hammering many regions around the world that billions rely on for vegetables and fruit, we need to bring this conversation home to BC and the lower mainland.

A key step, in my opinion, would be to halt all further “development” of green and agricultural spaces. All development, for whatever purpose, be it housing or commercial, should be limited to redeveloping areas previously used for such purposes.

And if we can reduce our footprint and re-green spaces, all the better.

We can keep building condo towers, office towers, malls, and warehouses, but what are all those who want to “live, work, and play” in our wonderful region going to eat as supply chains, er, dry up?

We need to dramatically improve our urban/suburban agriculture game.

All schoolyards should have gardens. Lawns should be replaced with a mix of native plants and edibles. Municipalities should support inititatives that match folks who want to grow gardens and fruit with homeowners who have land but who for various reasons cannot garden.

There are many things we could do if we set our minds and muscles to them!
Business, Editing, Photography, Writing

New Blog Page on Writing, Editing & Photography Services

You may notice a new page tab at the top right of this blog: Writing, Editing, Photography Services.

I’ll be adding information on services I provide.

I have decades of experience as an editor and writer, and have been an avid nature and wildlife photographer since I was  a teen. I also do event photography, and have fulfilled contracts with municipalities, NGOs, and associations.

Business, Society, Writing

Rampant Consumerism & $250 Sunglasses for Kids

I was flabbergasted to get a flyer in the mail today from a major sporting goods chain with $200 – $250 sunglasses for kids so they can look “cool” going back to school.

What the hell?

When so many families can barely afford a standard set of school supplies?

When schools in a relatively affluent area like the BC lower mainland need lunch programs so kids don’t go hungry?

The mind boggles. . .
Business, Nature, Society

Found the “Amazing” Brentwood Overwhelming, Depressing

Sometimes I’m not that keen on “progress.”

I took the car in for scheduled service today, and while it was in the shop for about three hours, I wandered up Willingdon to the “Amazing” Brentwood here in Burnaby, BC. Had not yet been in the redeveloped mall.

Yes, it’s impressive in some ways.

But overall I found the ramble along kilometers of concrete sidewalks amid the ever-increasing density of massive new towers diminishing and depressing.

Yes, I know. People need places to live and to work. But the pyramid scheme of “endless” growth on a finite planet is increasingly troubling.

I’ve lived in New York City. I’ve lived in Tokyo. I’ve spent time in Hong Kong. . .

Perhaps I’m sounding NIMBY-ish on a city-wide scale. Perhaps for younger generations oceans of concrete and asphalt are “home.”

But give me lush forests, give me healthy creeks and lakes teeming with life other than human. . . We still have that in Burnaby. But it’s increasingly being hemmed in by walls of glass and steel.