Category Archives: Society

Nature, Photography, Society, Streamkeeping, Sustainability

Hatchery Coho Smolts Die in Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC

Well, I was hoping it wouldn’t happen.

I was hoping it wouldn’t rain, because rain flushes all the crap off our roads and into our creeks. Gasoline, oil, antifreeze, metals from brake-lining dust…

But today one of our volunteers from the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society observed 130+ dead coho smolts in the sediment pond, near where they had been released just two days ago. See photos in previous post.

Anger. Sadness. Frustration.

We’ve had years where we’ve counted over 700 dead smolts, or a mortality rate of over 25% of those released, and I’m sure we always miss many morts. Mother Nature cleans up damn quick when a smolt buffet is set for all the birds and beasts who love fish.

The weirdness is that indigenous fish appear to be fine. You’ll see fry and trout swimming about unaffected by the pollutants that kill the coho.

byrne creek dead coho smolts

byrne creek dead coho
You can see live fry on the right-hand side of this photo

dead coho smolt byrne creek

dying coho smolt byrne creek
This one was barely alive. It sat on the bottom barely moving, then turned a few circles, and banged its head into the concrete wall of the sediment pond.

Business, Editing, Society, Technology

OS Numbnuts Need to Take a Break

Earlier tonight I posted in an international editors’ forum about some software I was considering buying. To be clear, the question was about an application, not about operating systems.

I mentioned that I have both Windows and Mac machines, because there are similar apps for both, though in this case I was looking for Windows apps.

One would think that other editors, being literate, professional wordsmiths, would read this and understand it.

No. Of course not.

The first reply (and the only one after several hours) was from someone touting Windows as the ultimate development platform, and by relation, trashing Macs.

Thanks, you just behaved like an idiot, and scared other folks away from the thread. We’ve been there and seen it done so many times. When the  first bozo comment appears, we don’t waste our time on the thread any more.

So why am I wasting time on this blog post? I guess I’m still pissed off at this antisocial behaviour.

Why? Why? Why do adults succumb to such stupidity?

Some of us like Windows. Some of us like Macs. Some of us use Linux. I have machines running all three.

 

Business, Photography, Society, Streamkeeping

Burnaby RCMP Safety Forum Big Draw

Burnaby RCMP sponsored a safety forum today with community partners. The event at Lougheed Town Centre Mall attracted lots of folks. I was out running errands so I dropped by, and enjoyed chatting with RCMP, City of Burnaby staff, and community groups that I’ve worked with through volunteering over the years.

I also reconnected with Transit Police Sergeant Hawthorne, and let her know that Byrne Creek Streamkeeper volunteers would have a registration booth and dumpster set up at the Edmonds Skytrain Station on May 2 from about 9:45am to 11:30am for a community cleanup organized by EPIC.  Everyone is welcome to join in!

Burnaby RCMP Safety Forum

Burnaby RCMP Safety Forum

Burnaby RCMP Safety Forum

Business, Society, Streamkeeping

Streamkeepers to Volunteer for Edmonds Clean Sweep in SE Burnaby

Byrne Creek Streamkeepers will continue a long tradition of participating in the Edmonds Clean Sweep in SE Burnaby. The event is sponsored by EPIC (Edmonds People in Community.)

As usual, streamkeepers will have an alternate registration site from 9:45am on Sat. May 2 in the parking lot of the Edmonds Skytrain Station, and we will clean the area around the station and in upper Byrne Creek Ravine Park.

We will join in the noon-hour lunch and festivities at Gordon Presbyterian on Edmonds St.

EPIC Edmonds Clean Sweep

Society

I Don’t Know You, Ashley, But I Fully Support Your Fight Against Rape

I’m going to bed now, with a very disturbed mind and a heavy heart.

I hope I can sleep.

I’ve been reading recent online threads about Ashley Judd’s painfully personal posts on rape and sexual harassment.

And the heartless, moronic backlash.

And I’ve also been astonished by how many women appear to doubt her, at best, and viciously slag her at the other extreme.

She should have done this, she should have done that.

What’s with that?

I thought it was us men who needed educating.

How blind can we all be?

Business, Society, Sustainability

Restore Canada Rocks!

Thank you Restore Canada, Burnaby location.

The used office chair I bought from you three or four years ago for, if I recall, C$20, died.

So on my way home from dropping off a bunch of stuff at the Burnaby Recycle Center I stopped by your store and picked up a “new” office chair for C$10. Not quite as swanky as the last one, but it still has adjustable height, adjustable arms, lockable back tilt, etc.

Deal!

Business, Editing, Society

Volunteering Professional Time

I was recently contacted out of the blue (the email writer likely found me through the Editors’ Association of Canada database) and asked to do some free proofreading for a charity.  One that I had never heard of, and that was way across the country.

I politely replied that I was busy, and that I already volunteer (not editing, but plenty of board and on-the-ground community hours) with several organizations. Of course I occasionally write/edit stuff gratis for groups that I volunteer with, but it’s the first time to be “cold-called” for such volunteer work.

I posted my experience to the “Editors of the World” group on Facebook, and several editors wrote that yes, they do volunteer on occasion, but as with me, it’s nearly always for some group that they are already a member of, or have some other personal connection with.

So a bit of advice for folks seeking free, aka volunteer, professional assistance. Do your homework. Find someone who already volunteers in your geographical area, and your subject area. Find a friend, or a friend of a friend. Or contact your local community college or university and see if a student studying toward the craft or profession that you’re targeting needs work that they can put on a resume.

But I do not recommend cold emailing or calling, and asking folks to work for you for free.

Business, Society, Sustainability

National Energy Board Shoots Self in Foot Before Taking a Step

You can’t make this stuff up.

Business in Vancouver reported in an article today:

The staff at the NEB’s new regional office will focus on communications work, community engagement and assist with operations, according to a press release.

The NEB did not respond to multiple requests for interviews.

Boy, that’s a great start for an operation tasked with communication and community engagement!

Society

Thanks, Anonymous Grandad

Was on Skytrain today coming home from a meeting, and at one station a little girl and her mom were dashing for the doors when a mini-tragedy struck. The girl made it onto the train, and mom didn’t.

The giggling girl turned around, saw mom beyond the closed doors, and burst into tears as the train pulled away.

A grandfatherly looking gentleman immediately stood up, went to the girl and said “It’s OK, I’ll get off at the next station with you, and your mom will catch up.”

I had two thoughts: admiration at the quick response, followed, unfortunately, by “even grandfatherly types….”

So I unobtrusively got off with them. I don’t think the gentleman even noticed that I was following.  There was a Skytrain security guy nearby, and “grandad” walked the girl over, and jumped back on the train.

The next train mom arrived, and I left. Thank you “grandad” and Skytrain guy!