You Be the Judge

     I like the new library system where I can search for books right from home. I like to be able to reserve books from my computer. I like to be able to renew books from home. I like to be able to download books and read them on the pad. 

      So I like to  have control of my business with the library. 

      I have a lifetime library card which I was given after I had served six years on the library board.

     In general I'm a big library user. I've always been a library user. I read a wide variety of genres. I'm not reading much fiction now which bothers me. I tend to find an author or a series and read most of the books. Lately, I haven't found the author or series. 

     I like to be able to see the books I have signed out and when they are due to be returned. I can get a book from any library in Alberta.

     Okay, so far you have nothing to make a judgement on. 

     Yesterday I had two books that were due. Neither one of them had been renewed so I should have been  able to renew them. Well, one of the books came up that I could not renew it as there was a hold on it. In other words someone wanted the book.  Now if I didn't get it back there were library fines. Not an issue for 25 cents a day. 

     The issue is that I was blindsided by having the demand to return the book when I thought I could finish reading it. What if I'd taken my book to Toronto and decided to renew it on WiFi? I would be stuck paying a fine when I thought I would be able to keep the book. I very rarely have to pay a library fine as I like to follow the rules and get books back so someone else can read them.

     It's the principle of the issue that bother me.

     So here's my question. Should the library be able to demand that you return a book you are reading before it is due because somebody else wants it?

The major portion of the library is to the left. I wanted to get the entrance. The red brick part was built as an armory and then used as a fire hall. 

Don't Pop My Balloon

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?
Would you like to glide in my beautiful balloon?
                                             Jimmy L. Webb

     This morning right after breakfast I looked out and there was a balloon floating by! I'd seen the same balloon a few days ago and it was right over my house. This time it was a little further away.

     One of the things in my bucket list is to go on a balloon ride. This might just be the trigger to get me going.

     Then I thought about all the sayings about balloons. There are sayings for many occasions and moods. And then there are songs. My head feels like a balloon!

     Then I looked at the photos I got of the balloon. When I started looking over the photos the balloon was gone so I couldn't try making different shots. Obviously I have to include something in the shot that is a reference point. It was fun to work with the zoom on this one. I'm a little wiggly when it comes to handling a zoom.

       Sometimes you get the unexpected in a shot. I saw something on the right of the balloon. When I blew it up I noticed it was a sea gull!

    What's your favorite balloon saying or song?

      

A Visit With the Owls

      I belong to the Red Deer River Naturalists (RDRN) which is a group dedicated to all things about natural history in the Red Deer river basin.

     We have just completed a project to produce a birding trail map for Central Alberta. It was a huge project but well worth the money and effort. We learned much from the experience. We had done a birding trail map for the city of Red Deer a couple of years earlier. 

     The next step in the process is to set up a website that allows you to copy one particular section of the map such as Dry Island Buffalo Jump .

    Last Sunday was the day we chose to show our new map off to the press and get some local publicity. 

    We had an afternoon session where the public could come and visit the owls and see the new maps and take one if they were interested. In the evening we had a speaker who is an expert on owls and falcons. He's a government biologist who worked on the project to bring the peregrine falcon back after the DDT tragedy. His experience is out in the field.

     Now the three owls and male peregrine falcon were on display for the evening session. People were able to touch the birds. All of these birds have been injured and are not candidates to be released into the wild.  Otis, the great horned Owl, is blind. Otis has been around visiting people and making presentations long enough that he has written a couple of kids books.

Otis, great horned owl

barred owl

male peregrine falcon

                                                                                                                                                                                            

    

Lilac Time

     Flowering trees and shrubs are at their peak here in Alberta. Early wild flowers are also in bloom. I found 10 species yesterday while I was doing the spring bird count. I had binoculars and no hands to look after the camera.

     In my sparse yard,  the lilac is the leader of the pack. My lilac has a very deep purple and is popular with my neighbors who like to get a bouquet. One time a neighbor decorated a wedding with my lilacs.

    Now I learned a few thing about photography and light. I hope it sticks with me. So light conditions were bright but poor for taking pictures.

I couldn't get this one in focus as there was too much light somewhere else.

Would a Little Standardization Help? Me?

      I drive a 2014 Honda CRV. It's got lots of bells and whistles. I'll never discover or use half of them. The car gets me where I want to go and that's all I need.

     A few weeks ago I got another ding in the parking lot so this week the CRV was in the body shop to get repaired. Insurance gives me a rental while my vehicle is getting repaired.

    The rental agency really messed things up.  My insurance made arrangements for the rental car. The rental agency was to pick me up at the body shop. They weren't there. The body shop phoned the rental agency and they said they would be there right away. The rental agency phoned a few minutes later to say they were running behind so the body shop took me to the car rental agency. 

     Well the car agency acted as if they'd never heard of me and didn't have a vehicle close to what I wanted.

      The only thing they had was a large pick up. They said we'll phone you as soon as we get something. Of course, they phoned a couple of hours later. 

     I went out to start the truck and go back to the rental agency. I looked at the key! There was no metal part sticking out! How was a supposed to start the truck if there was no metal piece on the key. I puzzled. Finally, I said ah ha. The blunt plastic end is what fits into the slot. Voila! The truck started. I didn't have to embarrass myself and phone the rental agency.

    Now at the agency the truck had been started. When I got home somebody was on my yard. I quickly stopped the truck and got out to talk to the people on the yard. I did not have a chance to notice that this key was different until I got back in to start it..

     Now the next vehicle had just a plastic oval with lock, unlock on it. No key again. This time you had to have the oval plastic thing in the vehicle and put your foot on the brake and push a button to start!

     Now you'd think there could be a little harmonization in this world when it comes to starting vehicles. 

    So is it just me or is there a problem? Should I know how to start every dang vehicle that's out there? Should car companies puzzle their brains to come up with different ways to start vehicles?

    There has to be an easier way. After all, it's not too long before we have cars that drive themselves. Now how will I start the car that drives by itself?

Dull Images

      In Alberta we have a mix of atmospheric conditions right now. We've had a mix of shower and thunder clouds through the afternoon and evening. We have about 70 forest fires burning at this time. Then we  have our regular brown atmosphere from the oil industry.

      I looked at the skies and saw some possibilities for photos. It was very dull and cloud formations were not sharp. So I decided to take some photos and see what I got. When I first looked at them I was disappointed. Then I saw that I got exactly what was out there. It was just plain dull.

    I took these a few minutes before 7:00 Pm. Today our sun sets at 21:38 or 9:38 PM. The second photo faces west and there should be some brightness. 

    So for some just "try it" shots I learned a couple of things. I am satisfied that I got what was there.

To the west

An Epiphany!

       A few weeks ago I posted "We Threw the Bums Out" . We had an election and a party that had been in power for 44 years lost the election.  Election results were shocking. A party that held only four seats in the last session won 54  seats. It was a major change.

      Yesterday, our new premier, Rachel Notley and her cabinet were sworn in. 

      This ceremony was like no other. It was held outdoors. The weather was perfect for the day. 10000 people came to the event! There were families with young children, young people ... a wide variety of people. There was no dress code so tee shirts and shorts and many other variations were seen. The ceremony was brief and not too quiet or solemn. After the swearing in the new Premier and her cabinet immediately went out in the crowd and mingled with the people. People were not expecting this and were surprised. Many people had photos taken with the new premier and lots of photos were selfies. What a sport! There were several bands that played . There was free ice cream! People had a great time.

     Now before this we had old , rich white men in suits who were sworn in. Not that there's much wrong with old white men. I'm one of them. The ceremony would take place in the Lieutenant Governor's mansion. The premier and his new cabinet would move to a swanky hall where a sumptuous feast took place. Only the bigwigs attended.  Ordinary people were completely excluded  from this government event.

     Yesterday's event got me thinking. We are always complaining about so many people who don't vote. We know few young people vote. 

    So my epiphany is that if we involve citizens in political events instead of excluding them , we may increase voter turnout. 

     I think yesterday's event should have some influence on increasing voter turnout. Young people were exposed to a government function. It was fun!  

     I hope that many of these people will become voters because of a positive experience with an important political event.