Automated post-deploy tasks for Ruby/Rails. Your deployment is the party. This is the after party

Ruby 211 Updated Aug 27

 It never fails to amaze me how third parties react (over react?) to some of my harsh and critical communications with professional liars, whether government or corporate. The more "genteel" letter was just slightly less harsh than the one that I posted here last Saturday. I suppose that I could leave it at that or perhaps while subtlety is not my strong suit I should bluntly tell Woolwich that their attempt at honest communication with CPAC simply is crap. Now of course  I'm speaking for myself right now. As I understand it the conditions are that CPAC get two hours to talk to two councillors plus Sandy Shantz plus RAC and TAG representatives including Tiffany Svensson and possibly Ramin Ansari of Lanxess. Maybe even one of the most corrupt Ontario ministries, the MECP. 

Well guess what Tiffany, RAC, TAG and maybe Ramin? For eight years I, CPAC and the public have not been allowed to ask you questions or make comments at RAC and TAG meetings. Written "Delegations" may be submitted to TAG where they are NEVER discussed, questioned, clarified  etc. Really classy you a*#holes. RAC which meets sometimes three or four times a year allow verbal Delegations. Verbal Delegations to bureaucrats and politicians overflowing with both ignorance and biases. Again never any serious discussion or debate. So RAC and TAG feel free to flock off. You don't want to talk to me for eight years then I don't want to see, smell or hear you pieces of crap at any meeting next week with half of Woolwich Council. I will attend if those others don't. Otherwise go to hell Woolwich. Your legacy will be one of corporate capture of both regulators (MECP) and of local politicians. You've earned what history will accuse you of here in Elmira.  

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Establishing a strong brand identity is crucial for startups to succeed in a highly competitive landscape. To differentiate themselves from competitors and build a robust online presence, new businesses need to understand the needs of their audience, create engaging content, and focus on social media and other channels. I have compiled an infographic highlighting the basic steps you need to take to establish a robust online brand identity. Each step requires effort and input to stand out in your industry. It’s essential to identify what makes your business unique and why your target audience should choose you over your competitor. (Below are more details and links to more information.)

1. Define Your Brand: Clearly articulate your company’s vision, mission, and values to create a strong brand identity.
2. Know Your Audience: Tailor your messaging and branding to understand your target market and their needs and pain points.
3. Know Your Unique Value Proposition: Identify what sets your company apart from competitors and communicate that in your branding and messaging.
4. Develop an Online Presence: Establish credibility and reach potential customers by investing in a user-friendly website, social media accounts, and review sites.
5. Create Valuable Content: Produce informative and engaging content that showcases your expertise and provides value to your audience.
6. Leverage Brand Partnerships: Expand your reach and build brand awareness by partnering with industry influencers.
7. Attend Industry Events: Network with potential customers, partners, and investors and showcase your brand by attending conferences and trade shows.
8. Provide Top-Notch Service: Build a loyal customer base and positive word-of-mouth marketing by providing top-notch customer service.
9. Monitor & Respond: Monitor online reviews and social media mentions to address negative feedback and show that you value customer satisfaction.

For more in-depth information on these startup branding strategies, please refer to the links I have included in this blog post. Remember that building a strong brand identity takes time and effort, but the benefits are well worth it in the long run.

Unlock Your Startup Branding Potential was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I think we’ve all been there with that feeling of either being so busy with other things, not knowing what to read, or not even wanting to read. Sometimes it’s so hard to start back up again and to even find the right book takes time. 

So here is a compiled list of books to help you get out of your reading funk and to have a jumpstart to be excited about.

If you love a good modern day “chick lit” love story with lots of ups, downs and drama, Alisha Rai’s novels The Right Swipe, Partners in Crime, Girl Gone Viral, and, First Comes Like might just be the perfect books for you.

All these books offer the ideal romantic escape, similar to Emily Henry’s novels. Dive into their exciting worlds for a delightful, romantic reading experience.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

If you love an adventure story, the Binti trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor is the perfect fantasy combined with science fiction adventure about a young Himba woman who leaves her home on earth behind and falls into a web of alien intrigue and danger.

Binti is a masterfully crafted gem of adventure, courage, and exploration across otherworldly realms. Nnedi Okorafor skillfully utilizes the short format to take readers on a visually stunning and suspenseful journey. Our fearless heroine, Binti, becomes our guide on a covert mission filled with challenges she never anticipated. As her destiny unfolds, her heroism and vulnerabilities captivate our hearts, ensuring we remain engaged from start to finish.

The series includes Binti, Binti: Home, and the most recent book to complete the series, Binti: the Night Masquerade.

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If you prefer thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, Alice Feeney’s Rock Paper Scissors is a must-read. This mystery thriller delves into the secrets of a ten-year marriage during a mysterious trip to Scotland, with unraveling mysteries that will leave you breathless.

Whenever you’re looking for a light summer romance read, Farrah Rochon has the perfect series to indulge in. The Boyfriend Series includes 3 books: The Boyfriend Project, The Dating Playbook, and her most recently published book, The Hookup Plan.

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If you’re in the mood for something dark and academically intriguing, R.F. Kuang’s Babel is an epic historical fantasy fiction that delves into student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the power of language in the British Empire.

If you’ve never ventured into the realm of science fiction, Blake Crouch as an author is known for curating suspenseful plot twists, mind-bending concepts, and complex characters. He’s not afraid to tackle big ideas, but he also knows how to keep the pages turning with his fast-paced storytelling. Whether you’re a fan of science fiction, horror, or psychological thrillers, you’ll find something to love in Crouch’s work.

Three of his latest books that you may want to read are Dark Matter, Recursion, and his newest, Upgrade.

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With this diverse selection of books, we hope you’ll find the perfect story to reignite your passion for reading! Happy Reading!

Written by Guest Blogger, Elisha

Organise ActiveRecord model into a tree structure

Ruby 3.6k Updated Sep 26

On the first Tuesday of every month, we’ll announce a new Female Founder, including a video interview of them sharing their business story. Want to be featured as a Female Founder? Contact Heather Hutchings for more details. The Female Founders Program would not be possible without our Title Sponsor, Scotiabank.

To learn a little more about the Scotiabank Women Initiative, and why they’ve chosen to sponsor this program, see the video below.

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The next Female Founder we’re featuring is Sarah Mumtaz, Partner and Founder of Sarah Mumtaz Law Offices.

Sarah Mumtaz is the founder of Sarah Mumtaz Law Offices and boasts over six years of expertise in Estates Law where she assists her clients navigate through a diverse spectrum of intricate legal challenges and planning considerations.

Before establishing her own firm, Sarah excelled at a prominent law firm, providing tailored counsel and expertly guiding clients through complex legal matters.

Sarah holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Windsor, an Honours B.A. in Political Science from York University and Psychology with an Honours Distinction in French Studies.

Sarah Mumtaz is an active participant in the legal community, holding esteemed memberships in influential organizations such as the Ontario Lawyers Association, Women’s Law Association, and as an engaged student member of the Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Her impact in the legal sphere reflects a career with an unwavering dedication to the legal profession.

To learn more about Sarah and her journey as a Female Founder, watch the interview below (or read the written format).

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Tell us a little bit about your business.

I founded Sarah Mumtaz Law Offices this year, and prior to that I was working at a Bay Street law firm in Toronto, and prior to that I was working at a law firm here in Cambridge for about six years where I learned everything I know (about law). It was a fantastic opportunity, and I decided to go out on my own because it was time for me to set down my roots and start building a practice based on my vision (of Estates Law).

Where did your business idea come from?

I was working at a law firm here in Cambridge for about six years where I learned a lot of small business skills and I really thought with my entrepreneurial spirit that this is something that I would be really interested in doing for myself. I had a great mentor named Robert McMaster, who taught me a lot about what I know about business today and really inspired me to start my own practice.

How did your mentor inspire you?

I loved the way he ran his practice it was a workplace that not only felt like work but was really like a family as well. There was a lot of great opportunities for mentorship, to be a mentee and to learn a lot about not just the law but also the business of law.

Did you want to pursue something other than law?

When I was in school, I really thought I wanted to become a psychologist which worked out well because a lot of lawyers are also therapists for their clients, so it works sort of hand in hand, especially the way I run my practice. It is certainly a bit more of a compassionate sort of approach and more of a human approach to it. That’s always been a part of me, and I carry that in my practice.

What have been some highlights in your entrepreneurial journey?

I’ve won the “Readers Choice Awards” here in Waterloo Region a few times and that’s a testament I think to how I approach everything with my clients. Going into my own practice alone I think that’s really been a driver for the success of it so far, just being able to connect with people has been very important.

Who inspires you?

More than anything it’s the everyday people. It’s people who especially for their estate planning that have not spoken to a lawyer and had their affairs in place, that would have cost their estate a lot in time, a lot in grievances, and a lot of money. I’m happy to help those people, I’m happy to help people who really need the care and attention to their estate plan.

What have been some of the challenges you have faced?

Our offices have three locations and one of the greatest challenges has been really ensuring that each location is serviced appropriately. We’ve now been able to hire some staff to make sure that there’s service at every level and it’s been a challenge to sort of gear it up. With Covid19 it was a little bit difficult to sort of get the ball rolling but now with the “Law Society” on board as well, there are certain processes that are made easier by virtual meetings and virtual signings, things like that as well that certainly made it easier for us to maintain the practice and to thrive.

What does your firm specialize in?

Our practice is predominantly around Estates, we do estate planning; that’s doing your wills, and Estates trusts, setting out Powers of Attorney, we do a state administration which is when someone that you know has passed away you would call me to help the executor get the estate through the probate process and then through the administration process as well. Lastly, we do some estates litigation as well so that’s when things sort of go wrong and you need a lawyer to help with the issues with the administration. We do some family – uncontested divorces separation agreements, cohabitation agreements, and some corporate law as well.

Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would do differently?

I really like the trajectory of my career so far. I’ve met some fantastic people along the way, I’ve had many people teach me very great things along the way, whether that be in law or business or both, and even just Client Services, networking, and marketing. I’ve had some great mentorship along the way, and I think that I’m very grateful for those experiences that have gotten me here today.

What methods have you used to grow your business?

Growing a business is the one thing they don’t teach you in law school, certainly the business side of things are things that come with time. I think networking is one of the most important things, joining the KW Chamber of Commerce for example, joining these networking associations, joining other sorts of business Referral Services. Things like that are really useful, especially for small businesses just starting out just getting your name out there it is really underrated. It’s very important for the success of a business.

How do you define success?

To me success is the happiness that you get in helping others. I think that when someone comes back and says “thank you so much I’m so grateful for all the hard work you put into my estate” or their estate comes to you and says “thank you for helping my loved one, my elderly parent whoever that may be in getting everything in order this, has really helped the grievance process because everything was in place properly.” That to me is success because then I feel like I’ve done a good job.

What inspires you?

People in general and their stories about where they’ve come in life, what they’ve done in life, and why they have come to our community and where they’ve been in their lives, the connections that I make with people. It comes back to people, stories, life. That’s what I find really makes my business what it is, and the person who I am, because I love listening to people and their stories. And I feel we can all learn from each other’s experiences.

What have been some core values that you have integrated into your business?

Being born and raised in Waterloo, now it’s a big city, but it wasn’t when I was growing up, when it was a small town, everyone knew each other and actually still today I’ll go to Conestoga Mall, and I’ll still run into people that I know but that feeling of community and knowing that the bottom line is not necessarily the most important thing. It is being able to nurture and flourish the relationships with the people in your community, being able to help those that need assistance and doing so with compassion I think have been really something that I’ve grown up with and is a testament to Waterloo Region and the people that live in it. That has really bled into the way that I like to operate my practice and the way that I like to run my business.

What are some of the strategies you use when it comes to building teams and recruiting talent?

I always I make the joke that if I could clone myself then I would be very happy because I would know exactly how everything’s being done but that can be a disadvantage in and of itself because of course when you have a diversity of people that work with you, with regards to their mindsets or with regards to their backgrounds and sort of the experiences that they bring to the to the field. You know sometimes it actually does make you aware of other things that you would have missed because of your own sort of lens and your experiences in the past. That said, looking for talent I think is one of the hardest things but once you find great talent it is one of the most rewarding things, knowing that your practice is in good hands and that you know everyone that comes into your practice and everyone that approaches your services is being handled with care and with respect. That’s what I look for when I add to my team and I think my team currently are very compassionate, very caring, and patient. I think that’s something that I really value in our team.

What have been some benefits of establishing your business in Waterloo Regions compared to big cities like Toronto?

We do have office in Toronto and so I think I can talk to you a little bit about the differences. In Toronto I think that there is because it’s a major city. It’s what’s gone from Toronto if it ever was there – that sense of community and Waterloo region has grown exponentially in the past maybe 10-15 years, but it still maintains that sense of community and I really enjoy that about Waterloo Region.

What inspires you?

I would say certainly my family, my growing family so that’s very inspirational and it certainly is a reason to get excited to wake up every morning. Also, my business, I always say I have a business and a baby on the way, those are the two things that I really enjoy, and they bring me a lot of happiness.

What advice would you give to other aspiring business owners?

I think that the scariest part and the most challenging part of starting a business is just starting it. It is having the guts or having the moxie to say: “I can do this.” Having that confidence in yourself I think is the most important thing I think that once you’ve taken that step to start the business you would be so surprised and pleased with yourself at how well you’ll do if you just have that confidence in yourself.

What audacious goals do you have for your business in the future?

Being that we just started this year and we’re already at a staff of about five including myself. I think next year I’d like to double that; I’d love to have another lawyer on this staff, I’d love to have some more staff in general and really just start to build the practice.

Would you be open to mentoring someone in the future?

Absolutely. I really am a firm believer that the finish line is big enough for all of us. I really like the idea and I think this comes again from the background of the mentorship that I’ve received, you teach the skills, you grow, you do well and then eventually you go out and you and you do it on your own the same way that I have. I would love to be the Catalyst for someone else who if that was their goal and help someone achieve their dreams as well.

How do we find you?

We have three offices; one is in Toronto, one in Etobicoke, and then of course our main office here in Waterloo. You can certainly Google us to find us, and you can visit our website at www.sarahmumtazlaw.com.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The post Female Founder (October): Sarah Mumtaz appeared first on Chamber of Commerce KW.

The post Holiday Hours appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

The post Holiday Hours appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

We are excited to announce that Code Like A Girl has joined the Medium Boost Program!!

The Medium Boost program allows selected Medium publishers to nominate stories for promotion to Medium readers.

A nosy FAQ about nominating stories for our Boost

I am thrilled to announce that as the owner of Code Like A Girl, I have become a member of the Medium Boost Program and have begun boosting Code Like A Girl stories. This is an incredible opportunity for us to amplify the voices of female authors and help further our mission. I am genuinely excited about this new development and cannot wait to see its positive impact on our community. We are always looking for new writers! We want to amplify your voice.

We have already been able to boost a few stories, and I would like to share them with you.

• Mastering SEO with ChatGPT: Four Python Scripting Techniques for Success
• Impact of motherhood penalty
• Breaking the Silence: Addressing Disconcerting Experiences at the Grace Hopper Conference

Code Like A Girl is a space celebrating women in technology. Our mission is to amplify women’s voices and their allies by featuring technical articles and stories about tech. We’re dedicated to showcasing your technical prowess and supporting women and non-binary individuals to navigate the tech world.

We strive to inspire young women to consider a career in technology and to assist parents and educators in cultivating an interest in technology among young girls. We also seek to educate male allies on how they can promote gender equality in the technology industry. Additionally, we aspire to advance the careers of women and non-binary individuals in technology.

Write for Code Like a Girl Updated 2023

We are excited to help share and spread your stories! Let us amplify your voice.

Code Like A Girl is now Part of the Medium Boost Program!! was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Flowcharts are powerful visual tools for representing processes, workflows, and decision trees. They help understand, document, and communicate complex processes clearly and concisely. This article will explore how to create flowcharts using the Mermaid library in Python.

Mermaid is a popular open-source JavaScript library for generating diagrams and flowcharts directly from text descriptions. It supports various diagram types, including flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and Gantt charts. While primarily used in web applications, Python developers can leverage Mermaid’s capabilities through libraries like PyExecJS to create dynamic and interactive diagrams.

Before we dive into creating flowcharts with Mermaid in Python, you’ll need the following:

1. Python is installed on your system.
2. The PyExecJS library to execute JavaScript within Python.
3. A text editor or an integrated development environment (IDE) for writing Python scripts.

First, let’s install the PyExecJS library using pip:

pip install PyExecJS

With PyExecJS installed, you're ready to start creating flowcharts with Mermaid in Python.

Let’s begin by creating a basic flowchart to represent a decision-making process. We’ll use Python to generate the Mermaid code and render the flowchart.

import execjs
# Define the Mermaid code for the flowchart
mermaid_code = """
graph TD;
    A[Start] --> B[Decision]
    B -- Yes --> C[Option 1]
    B -- No --> D[Option 2]
    C --> E[End]
    D --> E
    E[End] --> F[End]
"""
# Create an ExecJS context
context = execjs.compile("""
    var mermaid = require('mermaid');
    mermaid.initialize({startOnLoad:true});
    function renderMermaid(mermaidCode) {
        mermaid.mermaidAPI.render('mermaid', mermaidCode, function(svgCode, bindFunctions) {
            document.getElementById('diagram').innerHTML = svgCode;
        });
    }
""")
# Render the flowchart
context.call("renderMermaid", mermaid_code)
# Print the Mermaid code for reference
print(mermaid_code)

In this script, we:

1. Define the Mermaid code for the flowchart using a multiline string.
2. Create a ExecJS context to execute JavaScript code.
3. Use Mermaid’s JavaScript API to render the flowchart and display it in an HTML element with the ID ‘diagram.’
4. Print the Mermaid code for reference.

Save the script to a .py file and execute it using Python. The flowchart will be displayed in your web browser, and the Mermaid code will be printed in the terminal.

You can customize your flowchart by modifying the Mermaid code. Mermaid supports various shapes, styles, and connectors. Refer to the Mermaid documentation for detailed information on customizing your diagrams.

Creating flowcharts with Mermaid in Python using the PyExecJS library provides a straightforward way to represent complex processes and workflows visually. Whether you're documenting software workflows, business processes, or decision trees, Mermaid's simplicity and flexibility make it a valuable tool for creating dynamic and interactive diagrams within your Python applications. Explore the possibilities of Mermaid and enhance your documentation and visualization capabilities.

That’s it for this article! Feel free to leave feedback or questions in the comments.

Enjoyed the article and found it helpful? If you’d like to show your appreciation and support my work, you can buy me a coffee! Your support goes a long way in helping me create more content like this. Thank you in advance! ☕️

PythonCodeNemesis is Python Technical Articles and Tutorials on Medium

Creating Flowcharts with Mermaid in Python was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Swift is undoubtedly one of the most beneficial languages to learn as someone looking to build an iOS-based application.

Swift is a high-level, general-purpose programming language created by Apple to build iOS, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch apps. Furthermore, Swift is an open-source language with source code, a bug tracker, forums, and regular development builds available for everyone. It also provides object-oriented features such as classes, protocols, and generics.

Paired with the developer application, Xcode, Swift (and SwiftUI) enables developers to build great-looking and highly advanced apps across all Apple platforms.

Here are 7 excellent project-based tutorials from YouTube to help you learn Swift and SwiftUI and get started on your app development journey.

Being able to code a simple tab bar is one of the most valuable skills you could possess as an app developer. If you want your app to have basic navigation between its pages, creating a tab bar is one of the easiest ways.

In this tutorial, you will build a custom and animated tab bar, which will make your app better looking and more unique than the standard tab bar provided by Apple.

Free Source Code: github.com/federicoazzu/Custom-Tab-Bar

This is another excellent project to take on as a beginner. If you want to learn the basics of view controllers, models, views, storyboards, passing data between controllers, and saving data, then this tutorial is an excellent choice. This app will let you add tasks, view them, and interact with them.

Paid Source Code: www.patreon.com/iosacademy

If you want to create an app that offers user authentication, this is hands-down the best tutorial online for learning to do so.

In this video, Stephan Dowless from AppStuff takes you step-by-step through integrating Firebase into Xcode as well as the Swift code needed in your project to manage your database of users.

Paid Source Code: www.stephancodes.com/plans-pricing

Got seven hours to spare? Then this Twitter clone tutorial with Firebase integration might be for you.

This is another excellent project-based tutorial from Stephan Dowless of AppStuff. In this tutorial, Stephan shows you how to build an app that can authenticate users, like Tweets, and send Tweets.

Additionally, the seven-hour-long video is split into 25 sections with labeled timestamps which could be helpful for learners who want to skip the user authentication section to watch the tutorial for the rest of the app UI.

Paid Source Code: www.stephancodes.com/plans-pricing

Are you looking to build an app that can access your user's location? This tutorial is excellent for learning how to integrate Apple’s MapKit and do precisely that.

In this video, Sean demonstrates how to show a user’s location on a map in SwiftUI using MapKit and CoreLocation. He also discusses asking for location permission and handling the various permission states.

Note: This tutorial was created in Xcode 13 and iOS 15 (betas).

Chris demonstrates how to build a Tic Tac Toe game with three modes in this tutorial series. One is where you can play against an opposing player by passing the phone between two players to take turns. The second mode is where you can challenge your phone. The final mode pits two players against each other, each running the application on their own device.

Note: This video is part one of an eight-video series.

This tutorial is excellent for developers who want to build an app with OpenAI integration.

In this video, you will learn how to build a simple image generator app with DALL-E integration in SwiftUI, and by the end, you’ll be able to start creating your own unique images with this powerful AI tool.

Paid Source Code: www.patreon.com/iosacademy

7 Spectacular Project-Based Tutorials for Learning Swift and SwiftUI. was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

 I believe that these two locations represent the worst in environmental cleanup in Ontario and that is saying a lot. Similarities include the largest group of victims being minorities. In the first case it is indigenous Canadians and in the second it is Old Order Mennonite farmers along the Canagagigue Creek. Neither group have political strength although certainly Canadians are becoming more aware of past indigenous injustices such as residential schools, the Sixtys Scoop and more through their organizing and speaking out. Old Order Mennonites on the other hand keep a low profile and most definitely do not speak out on either public issues or on their own issues.

Last Saturdays K-W Record had a front page article titled "Truth and reconciliation calls for perseverance, personal commitment". Author Gary Whetung wrote eloquently about the Grassy Narrows community near the English-Wabigoon River system and the devastating effects of intentional mercury poisoning by Dryden Chemicals Ltd. This assault upon their mental and physical health was inflicted by the disposal of waste mercury, part of the paper production process. 

Uniroyal Chemical purchased their Elmira, Ontario property in the 1940s which sits on both sides of the Canagagigue Creek approximately five miles upstream from its' discharge into the Grand River.  At one point the Creek was almost devoid of all life from the dumping of toxic chemicals by Uniroyal both directly and indirectly into the Creek. To this day successive municpal, regional and provincial governments have pretended to want to clean up both the Elmira Aquifers and the Canagagigue Creek. It has mostly been lots of talk and particularly regarding the Creek, very little action. Uniroyal knew full well that the downstream neighbours would not raise a stink over the mess and stink that they Uniroyal would send to them.  The name of the game has been Delay, Delay & more Delay combined with Lie, Lie and more Lies.

. 

What: Rally for Peace to End the War in Ukraine
When: 5:30pm to 6:00pm, Tuesday 3 October 2023
Where: Waterloo Public Square Map
Location: 75 King Street South, Waterloo, Ontario
Organizer: Canadian Voice of Women for Peace vowpeace.org/
More Info: info@vowpeace.org

• Fund Peace, Not War
• Canada Out of NATO
• Negotiations, not Escalation
• Water Bombers, not Fighter Jets
• Yes to Climate Justice & Peace, No to NATO

Waterloo action organized by Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
More Info: info@vowpeace.org

Coordinated Cross-Canada by:
Canada-Wide Peace & Justice Network

peaceandjusticenetwork.ca

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Today, we have a guest column from Mark Richard Francis. Actually, this is a piece that he wrote for me while he was making comments on one of my drafts of The Cloud Riders. We were discussing the details of the interplanetary trade between Venus and Mars in the post-Silence universe when the Earth has collapsed, leaving its inner solar system colonies to fend for themselves.

In The Cloud Riders, Venus has adopted a cooperative society amongst huge Zeppelins flying 50-55 kilometres above Venus's surface, where average temperatures are actually close to Earth normal. You can see some of the descriptions of this concept here, here, and here (the latter from NASA itself). Mars has been colonized by Tech Bros, which have put together a capitalist/mafia-like society with a nominal central government. And yet the two colonies work together and trade more than you'd think.

While Mars has some obvious advantages for colonization (you can build on the surface, for one), Venus has a number of advantages you wouldn't think about, and Mark detailed them for me in an e-mail, that I will excerpt below. Thank you, Mark!

Mark writes:

For now, accept that Venus wants electronics and building materials. It sends back pharmaceuticals, wood and food like jam preserves. "Savour the sensuality of Venusian Strawberry..."

Oh, and honey. Venus has honey.

Bear with me.

Why colonize Mars? 

A second Earth. To plunder. Or to colonize. Except, unlike Venus, it's a bad place to live. The low gravity messes with the body, as you know. The environment is cold, sunlight weak and the air no good for us.

But, there are accessible resources, as you know. There's got to be rare metals there. Hopefully copper. We're running out down here...

Mars is a hub to access the asteroid belt. It's small twin moons would help with that, as would its less dense gravity well.

So, as you know, there are reasons to live there.

Mars would, in time, value-add on its exports by manufacturing what it exports. They'd probably pollute the outside environment with abandon, giving them some competitive edge in manufacturing using whatever plentiful raw materials they have compared to Earth.

They make their own transport vehicles and ships, so they have a good command of metallurgy and electronics. 

They also make weapons, by the looks of things. The families need them. They may export them.

Anyway, basically, it's another Earth. We go to Mars to repeat.

Why colonize Venus?

Talk about not being an obvious choice! (Geoffrey) Landis makes the argument as to how, but not much as to why.

Mars, is where you go to make money. It's the gold rush!

Venus is where you'd want to live.

With energy being cheap and easy with all that sunlight, and gravity 90 percent of Earth's, the only challenge would be building the initial settlements in the clouds. After that, you maintain a self-sufficient closed cycle and expand only when you can afford to.

Venus would focus on preserving humanity and biodiversity. It would be a place of learning and knowledge. Of perpetuating humanity. You don't go there to acquire money or things. You go to preserve humanity. Your reward is the social status you gain, and the slight increase in resource share you get. It's proto-Star Trek Federation.

I picture not just farms, but Earth-like forests with animal life in them. At least, that would have been the ideal to work towards before Earth went silent.

But trees. They have trees.

And good schools. And universal health care. Peace and good government.

Sounds like a good place to live. 

A future Venus would mine the asteroid belt -- it's faster to go from Venus to the belt than it is to go from Mars (Landis).

A future Venus would mine its own surface using telepresence (Landis). 

The Silent Earth Interplanetary Economy

After Earth goes silent, the desperate colonies quickly learn to trade in order to get essentials from each other. And some luxuries.

As mentioned, Venus needs building materials and electronics. No problems. Mars can send those. But what does Venus have that Mars wants?

Venus, with its great health care, and plant and animal biodiversity, has a pharmaceutical industry which Mars largely lacks. Rich Mars was just importing drugs from Earth. Venus made its own.

Sure, Mars grows its own food, though it's an energy-intensive exercise given the need to heat the plants, melt and pipe the water possibly great distances through constant sub-zero temperatures, and to provide them with proper light on a world that gets half the light Earth does.

So, Venus would send food. Likely, as I said above, processed foods like preserves. The rich would love to show off their Venusian fare.

Grains last a long time and ship well.

And trees. Yes, some wood could be harvested and sent. Likely softwood sent in small quantities. The rich families would also use it to show off. "Don't you just love this coffee table made with real Venusian balsa?"

And Mars has meat? Well, in one-third gravity, it would be hard to get much meat on those animals. Perhaps Venus makes a drug that helps? (NOTE: I fixed this in the subsequent draft. Clearly, no, Mars shouldn't have home-grown meat. Protein loafs abound! Maybe jerky imported from Venus -jb)

And Venus, having crops, has pollinators. Venus has bees, which means they have honey.

This would keep both colonies going for a while.

In the future, Venus would use the asteroids and local surface mining to gain all the materials they need to become self-reliant. Living with 90 percent Earth-normal gravity means the race would be preserved mostly as-is and would be able to endure high-gravity acceleration better than Martians.

In a few generations, Venus will investigate Earth. Unlike the Martians, they will be able to stand up. They may bring civilization back to the surviving humans. A more enlightened one.

The future belongs to Venus, not Mars.

CPAC wanted a meeting with Woolwich Council to discuss the failure of RAC & TAG over the last eight years. In fact RAC has been beyond useless the entire time whereas TAG has not. The first fifteen months of TAG's tenure (Sept.2015-Dec. 2016) TAG performed reasonably well despite their Elmira inexperience and lack of knowledge. Dr. Richard Jackson was their Chair and he had a wealth of experience both north and south of the border. He quickly took the measure of the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conestoga Rovers and Chemtura. Overall he found their handling of the Elmira cleanup to be shoddy and amateurish (my words). His words were and are both in the TAG Minutes between Sept. 2015 and December 2016 as well as in the Elmira Advocate Blog, usually the morning after a public TAG meeting. Some of those Minutes are still on-line, others possibly not. I have many printed out and frankly his criticisms and words towards those running the Elmira cleanup were often harsher than mine. After about a year he realized that TAG members simply didn't have the necessary fortitude to take next steps (Environmental Commissioner, media campaign etc.) and he handed in his resignation as Chair. It may or may not be speculation about any further reasons or pressures causing his resignation.

I have looked at and listened to RAC and TAG public meetings for the last eight years. Some of the topics have been worthwhile, others not. TAG in particular do not permit verbal Delegations much less any comments or questions from the public. That is both disgraceful and idiotic if the purpose is to learn about the contamination and or to educate and inform the public. Quite frankly despite individual knowledgeable persons on TAG, by far the most knowledgeable members of the public have been kept at arms length for eight years much to the shame of the Woolwich Township liars who orchestrated the removal of CPAC in 2015 along with Sandy Shantz and Mark Bauman's disgraceful leadership.

In speaking to Woolwich Council about RAC & TAG uselessness I would focus on four areas of gross failure. These are the UACTS (Upper Aquifer), the Municipal Aquifers (drinking water aquifers) 2028 failure, the Stroh Drain, Ditch & Berm and how blatantly Lanxess lied to TAG in order to avoid proper investigation of this major off-site route of flowing liquid contaminants and lastly the self-serving, beyond hopeless, psuedo science and error riddled Risk Assessment of the Canagagigue Creek. Dr. Jackson in 2016 accurately predicted the results of any such Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment done by Lanxess, CRA/GHD and the Ont. Min. Of Environment. .

This new Woolwich Council , just like past councils have been indoctrinated by a conspiracy of self-serving politicians both municipal, regional and provincial who have never wanted to admit the difficulties of properly restoring the Canagagigue Creek which flows into the Grand River nor fully restoring the Elmira Aquifers to drinking water standards and then keeping them there. This has all been music to the ears of the local, corporate polluters including Uniroyal Chemical and successors. It has proven to be much easier to lie to the public than to pull cleanup dollars either from the dirty polluter or from government coffers.

      RAC & TAG WERE MANUFACTURED BY WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP TO  SUPPORT THOSE GOVERNMENT & INDUSTRY LIES

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• Legal Expertise.
• Food Insecurity Exposure (Sector or Lived Experience).
• Not-for-Profit Leadership Experience.

• Act in a governance capacity, respecting the boundaries in accountability between management and the board;
• Assure the long-term viability of the agency by understanding and approving the strategic plan and annual operating budget, while monitoring ongoing performance against both; become familiar with the food insecurity landscape in Calgary, and how BB4CK can best meet its mandate;
• Participate in Board and assigned committee meetings through regular attendance and with appropriate preparation;
• Help communicate and promote BB4CK’s mission and programs to the community;
• Play a central role in enhancing the reputation of BB4CK, advocating for its mission and networking with the public and media;
• Become familiar with BB4CK operations by participating in lunch preparation sessions;
• Attend special events;
• Review and understand the bylaws, policies, and Board structure, and recommend changes as required;
• Ensure BB4CK is complying with all legal and regulatory requirements;
• Approve the hiring and release of the Executive Director, and contribute to the annual performance evaluation of the Executive Director;
• Support the recruitment and onboarding of new Board Members;
• Demonstrate personal and professional values consistent with those of BB4CK; and
• Assist in developing and maintaining positive relations among the Board, committees, staff members, and community to enhance BB4CK’s performance towards its mission.

• Board Members are to participate in quarterly Board and Committee meetings, with the occasional ad hoc meeting between scheduled sessions. Meetings typically last two hours and occur late afternoons or evenings.
• Board Members are expected to participate in two standing or ad hoc committee of the Board.
• Board members are expected to attend the annual day long board retreat.
• Board members are encouraged to attend the occasional special event throughout the year.

• Act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Society; and
• Exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable and prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.

• Adhere to the Society’s Code of Conduct, making all decisions in the best interests of the organization and avoid personal conflicts of interest.

The post Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids appeared first on Capacity Canada.

Grand River Hospital is working together with Grand River Hospital Foundation and our community supporters to lead the way in bringing health innovations to our community. In this type of collaboration, everyone has a role to play to help enhance the hospital experience for local patients, staff, and health care students. Providing the highest level of care to patients and investing in the best resources and tools for staff and students are also important in bringing our vision — a world class health system supporting healthier lives — to life. 

In 2022, dietitian and professional practice lead Hannah Marcus was working to understand how her team could better personalize care to meet the nutritional needs of patients in Grand River Hospital's intensive care unit, and throughout the hospital. And, when Hannah learned about donated funding available to the clinical nutrition program from Grand River Hospital Foundation, she put together a case for support to purchase the Hospital's first indirect calorimeter.

An indirect calorimeter is a non-invasive medical device that dietitians use to measure the amount of energy a person's body expends while at rest. This information is important in helping them make accurate and personalized recommendations about a patient’s nutritional needs. 

Currently, dietitians use calculations called predictive equations that determine patients’ estimated energy requirements when an indirect calorimeter is not available. However, this method of determining a patient’s energy needs is much less precise. It can also be really challenging for dietitians to accurately determine the needs of certain patient groups using this method; it's a skill that often requires years of experience.

“There are more than 200 predictive equations, and in many cases those generally work, but there is a whole subgroup of patients in the ICU and across the organization where it’s really difficult to figure out what they need [using these equations]. We’re not really clear on what their true metabolic rate is, and as a result, we’re either overfeeding or underfeeding them,” explained Hannah Marcus, Professional Practice Lead, Clinical Nutrition, Grand River Hospital. 

An indirect calorimeter, on the other hand, determines a patient's precise energy requirements based on the rates of oxygen they take in and carbon dioxide they produce. This invaluable tool, when combined with a comprehensive nutrition assessment, helps us ensure we are accurately meeting patients’ nutritional needs, which in turn can help prevent malnutrition and promote wound healing; it is also known to reduce a patient’s length of stay in the hospital and to lead to better outcomes for patients. 

Until recently, however, indirect calorimeters were not typically found in community hospitals like Grand River, as previous versions of these devices were inaccessible and too expensive for community hospitals to afford. But as new versions have become more accessible, reliable, and easy to use, our clinical nutrition team saw an opportunity to step up as a leader in our community.

As the first community hospital in our area to adopt this important piece of equipment, Grand River Hospital is positioning itself not only as a leader in patient care but also as a place where students are eager to come to learn. Having the newest tools and resources like the indirect calorimeter will help us attract and recruit top students and staff to our clinical nutrition program, ultimately building on our 51+ year history of training dietetic students. It also elevates the quality of education we can provide to our students, which enhances their competence, confidence, and skill set. 

However, it would not have been possible to invest in this type of equipment without the support of our community and Grand River Hospital Foundation. Even as newer indirect calorimeters become more affordable, this type of leading-edge equipment, while incredibly impactful, is often still not within reach for many community hospitals. 

This is in part because of how hospitals’ medical equipment is funded in our health system. Our hospitals and communities are actually responsible for certain costs like medical equipment and a portion of associated renovation or construction costs, while other costs are funded by the government. This means hospitals often must turn to their foundations and community supporters to be able to afford to invest in these kinds of innovative tools. 

Farm Boy is a long-time supporter of Grand River Hospital Foundation that is dedicated to making a difference, with a charitable focus on nutrition education and support that encourages wholesome eating. When the clinical nutrition team learned of funding donated by Farm Boy and our community members that aligned with their program, they worked closely with Grand River Hospital Foundation to determine the most impactful way to use these funds. By working together, they ultimately brought indirect calorimetry to the Hospital, and our region, for the very first time.

“Donations from [our supporters] really bring the Hospital up to the standard that it’s able to operate at,” said Jason Da Maren, Registered Dietitian, Grand River Hospital. “Staff are really grateful for donations in support of the equipment we need to provide the highest level of care for our community.”

As a part of our commitment to creating a world class health system, Grand River Hospital and Foundation are dedicated to investing in the future of local care. Having the community’s support is incredibly important because it helps us invest in education, new equipment, innovation, and more as we plan for our future — this then elevates the care we can provide and the hospital experience for patients and their families, staff, and students alike. Innovation ultimately takes all of us, and as the first hospital in our area to have an indirect calorimeter, we are proud to have come together to bring this leading-edge technology to our community. 

September 29, 2023

Monitoring seaweed growth has the potential to accelerate regenerative seaweed farming and ocean restoration, and scale blue carbon initiatives, presenting important opportunities in the fight against climate change. 

To bring key data about what’s happening below the surface above water, Velocity company Coastal Carbon received $1.6 million in funding from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) to undertake the AI-Driven Sensors for Seaweed Measurement Project.

In collaboration with seaweed farmer HoldFast NL, the AI-Driven Sensors for Seaweed Measurement Project, will enable Coastal Carbon to develop its small, non-intrusive sensors to remotely measure seaweed biomass and quantify that data using artificial intelligence.  

“The ocean is a huge resource to fight climate change, but crucial data is largely inaccessible,” says co-founder Thomas Storwick (BASc ‘19). “This project will advance our sensor and measuring technology and bring this important data from underwater, which stands to accelerate the regeneration of our oceans’ ecosystems and bring added confidence to stakeholders in the blue carbon credit market.” 

Read full story on Waterloo News.

The post A fight against climate change is happening under water    appeared first on Velocity.

I invited my friend Suzanne Wertheim, PhD, to write today’s newsletter. Below, you’ll read five actions for better allies drawn from her new book, The Inclusive Language Field Guide, to be published on October 3, 2023. Each action is based on a question from a client, colleague, or friend.

Regular readers of my newsletter will recognize Dr. Wertheim’s name — I deeply value her guidance and quote her frequently. I’m excited to share more of her insight with you and to explore her simple principles for avoiding painful mistakes and communicating effectively.
–Karen

Q: After I added celebrations of Diwali, Pride and Women’s History Month to our corporate calendar, some employees told me they wanted “more neutrality in the workplace.” How should I have responded?

A: This is an example of masking language. And it goes against the first of my 6 principles of inclusive language: language should reflect reality.

Masking language is used by a dominant group to mask a social reality. (In this case, to hide that a workplace is not as inclusive as it could be.) People use this language to support and maintain a status quo when it benefits them. Common phrases include:

• “We should stay neutral.”
• “We need to keep it professional.”
• “That’s just PC.”

They all signal that discussions of and actions against bias are being framed as “out of bounds” or inappropriate or unnecessary.

If you witness masking language, push back. Point out that these conversations are critical to creating a more inclusive workplace.

Q: At a networking event during a conference, someone handed their empty plate to one of my Black coworkers. Why did they assume he was a waiter?

A: This is what I call an unconscious demotion. It goes against another of my principles of inclusive language: language should show respect.

When someone is unconsciously demoted, a person has made a snap judgment about them and assumed that they hold a different job than they actually do. One that is lower status and lower in expertise. And usually lower paid.

Here are some other examples:

• Cameron Bailey, who is CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, reports that he is sometimes mistaken for a security guard or a parking valet. To the point where, as an event guest, he is sometimes handed another guest’s car keys.
• Prominent investor and business leader Mellody Hobson was hosting a political fundraiser in Chicago. When she arrived, all dressed up, she was mistaken for catering staff and taken to a back room to change into her uniform.
• Yen Ha has to remind someone every single day that she is an architect. People on job sites regularly assume she is the assistant, decorator, or intern.

Workplaces and professions have hierarchies. And in unconscious demotions, people with professional degrees and high-prestige jobs are consistently assumed to work in lower-prestige jobs.

In my research, I’ve found that in the US, the recipients of unconscious demotions are most often women of color, other people of color, white women, and people with perceptible disabilities.

To avoid unconsciously demoting someone yourself, ask open-ended questions when you meet someone. For example, “So what do you do?” Or, “What brings you here?”

Q. My teammate Shirin got mad at me when I called her “exotic” the other day. She’s told me a few times that it bothers her. But I wouldn’t mind if someone said it to me! Isn’t she being oversensitive?

A. Oh, I still remember times when I myself said, in response to a complaint, “But I wouldn’t mind if someone said it to me!” But through my research, I’ve come to learn that comments like these go against another principle of inclusive language: we should incorporate other perspectives into our language use.

Perspective taking is a cognitive skill that actually has two components. We’re most familiar with Component 1, the role switch. “If it was me in that position, how would I feel?”

But to be truly inclusive, we need to also incorporate Component 2, and take into account lived experience. What is the other person bringing to the table in terms of experiences, norms, and values? Now the question becomes, “If I had had that person’s experiences and I was in that position, how would I feel?”

Asking Shirin why exotic is a word that bothers her would give insight into the unpleasant ways it has been used to describe her. And why it leaves a bad taste in her mouth.

When a word or phrase that seems ok to you bothers someone else, look for insights into why it’s a problem. You might ask directly, “This seems ok to me, but I see it’s landing badly on you. Do you mind explaining why?” But it might be better to research on your own, in case the topic is too painful or irritating for them to talk about.

Q. My new hire, Antonio, has been with us a few months. But some coworkers keep calling him “Miguel.” (Miguel used to be the only Mexican person on our team, until he left for another job.) The other day, after yet another meeting where someone called him Miguel, Antonio messaged me and said, “What, are all Mexicans the same to them?” I am mortified.

A. I call this “the other one.” It’s an incredibly common problem and violates another principle of inclusive language: we should work to prevent erasure.

When a team or department or company has just two people from the same underrepresented group, those two people are often confused for each other and called the other one’s name. They often end up feeling like their individuality has been erased.

And when people are misnamed at work, there are negative outcomes that go beyond how disrespected and excluded they feel.

For example, what happens when it’s time to evaluate a misnamed person’s work performance? Is someone getting the credit they deserve? Or should it go to “the other one”?

And if just one misnamed person is saying or doing problematic things, how do you know who to give critical feedback to? Can you trust the reports of their colleagues?

If you have a hard time correctly naming people who are coworkers, make a list of things that distinguish them. (For physical features, avoid sexualizing them.) Then put in some extra effort when you interact with or talk about them and make sure you are using the correct name.

Q. I was at a conference with my colleague, who happens to be a wheelchair user. After our panel, someone came up and said to him, “You’re such an inspiration!” My colleague made a sour face but then quickly covered it up. Can you help me unpack what happened here?

A. Here we have a pseudo-compliment. On the surface, it looks like a nice thing to say. But it’s actually hiding an implied insult. Pseudo-compliments violate my final principle: inclusive language recognizes pain points and avoids them whenever possible.

People who are perceptibly disabled deal with all kinds of problematic language, including intrusive and inappropriate questions. What’s more, they are often “presumed incompetent.” The lowered expectations that come with being presumed incompetent sometimes show up as pseudo-compliments.

Disabled people are often called “inspirational” or “brave” just for doing regular, everyday things. When a disabled person does something a “typical” person does, like give a conference talk, this can feel like a surprise for many. And this surprise is often expressed as comments like, “Oh, you’re such an inspiration!” This tells us that the commenter didn’t expect a disabled person to be competent or capable.

Avoid giving pseudo-compliments that suggest you’re surprised that someone is actually competent.

If you want to give a compliment, focus on something genuinely remarkable. “Hey, I enjoyed your panel contributions and really learned a few things.” And avoid telling people they are inspirational just for going about their day.

That’s all for this week. Many thanks to Suzanne Wertheim for writing this week’s newsletter. Interested in learning more about inclusive language? I highly recommend ordering a copy of her new book. It’s fantastic.

— Karen Catlin (she/her)

Copyright © 2023 Karen Catlin. All rights reserved.

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Harnessing the Power of Inclusive Language was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

As presented by Detective Michael Payne of the WRPS as part of Gather at The Gallery.

The post Recap: Elder Abuse and Fraud Prevention Presentation appeared first on The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery.

Everyone of a certain age will likely have their own memories of Terry Fox and the Marathon of Hope. Whether you watched from afar or were one of the people standing at the roadside to cheer him on, no one, during the summer of 1980, could have missed the story of this remarkable young man and his dream of raising $1 million dollars for cancer research.

Bill Vigars, who had recently begun a new job with the Cancer Society, was sent to New Brunswick as an emissary of the organization and to see what was happening on the ground with this young man and his mission. This was April 1980 and the Cancer Society’s Daffodil Campaign was in full gear leaving the organization with little capacity to get involved in an ‘unknown’ fundraising campaign. The book, Terry & Me, is Vigar’s accounting of his time with Terry during the Marathon of Hope. As a representative of the Society and an advocate for Terry, his role was often conflicted. But as the countless miles rolled on, Vigar began to realize that his one real job was to take care of Terry, at whatever cost to his own welfare.

There have been many stories, movies and documentaries about Terry Fox but this book may be the first time that a true glimpse of this remarkable young man, hero to many, has been offered. We see a soul who is driven from within towards a goal about which he is very clear… to raise money for cancer research. He was driven by the memory of the children that he was with while undergoing treatment for his own cancer, which ultimately cost him his leg. We observe him through Bill’s eyes… a young man with a huge but compromised heart who had the tenacity and spirit of a bulldog. His sense of humour, generosity, kindness and focus are revealed throughout this story of Terry’s journey during and after the run.

This is not a great work of literature insofar as the quality of editing is concerned, but it is a story that will, as it did to me, bring you to tears. 

Image source: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-bill-vigars-terry-fox-1.5729022

Catalogues have long since been used by artists for both public and commercial exhibitions, ranging from simple to complex. Some are plain numbered booklets of works in a show, others elaborately illustrated with plenty of descriptions and reflections on the related artworks. Over time, these catalogues become useful for studying where and when artists displayed their work, and sometimes include interesting insights in the form of artists’ and curators’ remarks.  

Homer Watson House & Gallery’s collection has a selection of these exhibition catalogues that focus on the career of Homer Watson, spanning from his earlier life to memorial shows that took place after his death. They’ve proven to be a handy tool for doing research!  

For example, this catalogue from a travelling memorial exhibition shows numbers alongside the titles of paintings and their assigned sale price.  

Some of the paintings in the Gallery’s collection still have labels on their backs that match these numbers – allowing us to confirm that it was a part of this exhibition as well as a piece of its provenance information. 

This exhibition was organized by Ross Hamilton through the Waterloo Trust & Savings Co., which owned many of Watson’s artworks after the artist’s death in 1936. The catalogue also includes a forward written by Hamilton reflecting on Watson’s life and career. 

♦

These catalogues were likely distributed at various stops along the trip, which took place across Ontario. Besides traditional art galleries, Watson’s works were displayed in schools, libraries, and even Masonic Temples.   

♦

While many of our catalogues are from Toronto and other Ontario–based locations, this catalogue shows us some of the paintings that Watson exhibited while he was abroad in England.  

November in the Clearing is one of the works in the Gallery’s collection, letting us know this painting once traveled across the Atlantic Ocean.  

♦

♦

Though some of these catalogues may look a bit plain on the surface, they still contain some important connections to items in our collection as well as the history of Homer Watson’s shows. The use of catalogues for research demonstrates that sometimes little pieces of ephemera that were meant to be thrown away end up being relevant in the long run. Next time you’re at an exhibition, have a look to see if there’s a catalogue. Beyond the basics, it may tell you more than you’d think! 

 That quote in the title above was a quote in today's Waterloo Region Record by provincial Opposition Leader Marit Stiles in reference to the Greenbelt scandal and Doug Ford's Conservative Party. Now of course from a partisan standpoint I might point out Mayor Shantz's political preference (Conservative) however truth be told the provincial Liberals were also no slouches when it came to scandals (remember the gas plant scandal?)

So right now the Citizens Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) continue to wait for a firm date to sit down apparently not so much with Woolwich Council as we had requested but more with the people they hide behind. That would include Tiffany Svensson (TAG Chair), Dave Brenneman (CAO), plus inevitably the mayor. Only two councillors, Cadeau and Schwindt are named to be present. Geez if the mayor and friends really want to "handle" CPAC why don't they hire Ramin Ansari of Lanxess Canada to attend and represent Woolwich Township. He may as well as he's been in charge of the pretend cleanup for years anyways.

It won't be a public meeting. Dave Brenneman and even Sandy aren't that stupid. It also won't be any kind of open and fair meeting. Again they aren't that stupid. While I do not remotely trust Woolwich Township to fix the mess of RAC and TAG, which Sandy and former councillor Mark Bauman initiated, I do hope that whatever councillors are present have an open mind. Which I guess is why at the moment only two (Cadeau & Schwindt) are scheduled to attend.

Woolwich Township have a long and despicable history with the Uniroyal Chemical/ Elmira Water Crisis file. Maybe the new blood on Council will see the light but to date not so. I'm no longer even counting on this meeting ever happening which is exactly what Sandy and Dave prefer.

Will Stoltz is leaving a gift in his Will to House of Friendship, as a way to share the blessings he’s received with others.

“I want to share what’s been a part of my life with others. You only get to keep what you give away.”

That’s the philosophy that Will Stoltz lives by. At 82 years old, it has served him well.

Growing up, Will was a self-described introvert, and struggled to connect with others. That changed with the love of one special person. “Jean was the first – and last – woman I ever dated.

“She helped me discover out how important it is to have unconditional love in your life, to build confidence, because if you’re a loner, you wall out the pain of being hurt again, but you also wall out a heck of a lot of love,” said Will.

Jean helped Will discover the joy of being part of something bigger. For the first time, he understood the importance of a community.

 

It’s important that we all have a place of belonging, and we feel good about who we are.

 

Will was inspired to give back, so he got involved with Big Brothers. The experience moved the Stoltzes to volunteer at the KW Big Brothers camp for kids whose fathers weren’t a presence in their lives. Jean endearingly became known as “Cookie.”

“I had a strong pull to be with and empower those who didn’t feel they belong, because I knew it from my own childhood,” Will explains.

He got active with church agencies, and even went on to become an ordained church minister.

One night, Will led a retreat for men at House of Friendship. Something special happened. “The guys were very responsive, enthusiastic and curious,” he remembers. Will was so affected by the impact he made, that he decided to focus on society’s most isolated individuals, serving as a chaplain in prison ministries.

These days, Will loves spending time with his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Thinking about their future, he created a Will that includes both his family and House of Friendship.

He feels good knowing his decision represents his core values: “I get great joy out of my future gift to House of Friendship, and also, helping my kids and their kids.”

“My legacy is taking the unconditional love I received, and using my gratitude to say, ‘Hey, I want to share what’s been a part of my life with others.’”

The post Finding A Place of Belonging appeared first on House Of Friendship.

Three of Jenkins’ seminal films will be screened in The Apollo’s historic theater in honor of his much-anticipated conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates

The exceptional filmmaking of Barry Jenkins takes center stage 

[at] The Intersection, The Apollo’s festival of arts & ideas with the Barry Jenkins Screening Room on Friday, October 6 from 12pm – 7pm. 

[at] The Intersection Festival pass holders will get to experience Medicine for Melancholy, Jenkins directorial debut; the critically acclaimed If Beale Street Could Talk; and the Academy-award winning film Moonlight transforming the iconic historic theater into a cinema for one-night-only. 

These screenings mark the beginning of the festival, October 6 – October 8,  and is a precursor to Barry Jenkins’ much-anticipated conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates on Saturday, October 7 at 11:15am – 12:00pm.

[at] The Intersection curated by critically-acclaimed thinker and writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, will bring together Black artists, intellectuals, creators and cultural movers who are shifting the landscape in music, theater, film, television, food, and more to explore the incredible range of Black creativity shaping our world.

For the full [at] The Intersection line-up including talks, performances, and workshops from October 6- October 8: intersection.apollotheater.org/full-schedule

Friday, October 6 from 12:ooPM –  7:00PM

The Apollo’s Historic Theater(253 W. 125th Street between Frederick Douglass Blvd. and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.)

[at] The Intersection tickets and festival passes are available for purchase at www.apollotheater.org. Tickets start at $45 with the code APOLLO. 

Academy Award winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins has directed three highly acclaimed features, Medicine for Melancholy, Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, as well as his award-winning television series The Underground Railroad. Most recently, Jenkins produced Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun and Raven Jackson’s All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt. Upcoming work includes the 2024 theatrical release of Mufasa: The Lion King.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is a writer, currently holding  the Sterling Brown Chair in the Department of English at Howard University. He is the author of the bestselling books The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, The Water Dancer, and Between the World and Me. He is a recipient of a National Magazine Award, a National Book Award and a MacArthur Fellowship.

The legendary Apollo—the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding, The Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world. In 2023, The Apollo will open The Apollo’s Victoria Theaters, which will include two new theater spaces, and begin the renovation of its Historic Theater, marking the first ever expansion and renovation of The Apollo in its nearly 90-year history. Read more about the project here: www.apollotheater.org/renovation-restoration-and-transformation/

With music at its core, The Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, spoken word, and more. This includes the world premieres of The Blues and Its People and the theatrical adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me, and the New York premiere of the opera We Shall Not Be Moved; special programs such as the blockbuster concert Bruno Mars Live at the Apollo; 100: The Apollo Celebrates Ella; and the annual Africa Now! Festival. The non-profit Apollo is a performing arts presenter, commissioner, and collaborator that also produces festivals, large-scale dance and musical works organized around a set of core initiatives that celebrate and extend The Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens, including the Women of the World (WOW) Festival as well as other multidisciplinary collaborations with partner organizations.

Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, The Apollo has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at The Apollo are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, and Miri Ben Ari; and The Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. For more information about The Apollo, visit www.ApolloTheater.org.

For more information, please contact:

Sydney Edwards
The Apollo
press@apollotheater.org

The post The Apollo to Launch the Barry Jenkins Screening Room as part of [at] The Intersection Friday, October 6 12pm to 7pm appeared first on Apollo Theater.

CSS 69 Updated Sep 6

Get ready to spookify your space with the most tasteful Halloween decorations that will send shivers down your spine. These ideas will help you transform your home into a haunted haven that will impress even the most discerning ghosts and ghouls.

From eerie yet elegant candle holders that cast an enchanting glow to bewitching wreaths adorned with creepy crawlies, this inspiration board will add a touch of sophistication to your spooky celebrations.

Image your guests’ faces as they walk up to your haunted abode and are greeted by this stunning setup!

Add some simple details to an existing seasonal wreath. It will send shivers down your spine!

Rather than using the same old cliché decorations, go for some haunted vibes by setting a spooky scene that will leave everyone spellbound.

Cute little ghost candlestick holders are an easy way to add some eerie elegance to your table setting.

Moody colours can be hauntingly beautiful.

You’ve worked hard to style your home, so look beyond the traditional Halloween decorations and find pieces that can tie into your existing decor scheme. Create an atmosphere that is both hauntingly beautiful and stylishly spooky.

Subtle touches like this will delight anyone who notices them! Swap out some of your non-seasonal details with spooky surprises.

 I really doubt that there are. Back around 2016 they sent a knowingly false letter to residents living on farms along the downstream Canagagigue Creek. They claimed that the toxic contaminant levels were decreasing when they weren't based on the latest information. Woolwich Township asked them to install warning signs along the Creek to the effect not to eat any fish that were caught. The MOE/MECP refused.  TAG voted in favour of requesting the MOE/MECP to rewrite the letter they sent to residents this time indicating that toxins such as DDT and dioxins/furans were still present at concerning levels. Again the MOE/MECP refused.

This same Ontario Ministry has stood back and allowed the polluter and their consultants to constantly minimize the extent of downstream contamination via numerous means. These include shovel samples versus core samplers being used to collect sediments in the bottom of the Creek as well as the convenient and self-serving use of high Method Detection Limits in order to increase Non-Detects of Lindane and DDT compounds. 

Finally the MOE/MECP themselves check for concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants (dioxins/DDT/PCBs etc.) in fish tisues from parts of the fish least likely to have the highest concentrations (fillets vs. fatty areas & the liver). Just speculating but do any senior MECP personnel have homes or cottages way out of their financial means? Are any senior MECP personnel able to financially send their children to world class, prestigious universities? Lastly are either the Liberal or Conservative party receiving large sums of donations to their political cause from Lanxess Canada ?

All these are questions that need to be asked and answered based upon the MECP's decades long behaviour towards Uniroyal/Crompton/Chemtura/Lanxess Canada in Elmira, Ontario.