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Nicola Naturalists host Kamloops Exploration Group: fossils Wednesday March 11th 2020, NVIT lecture theater.

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March 10, 2020
Alan Burger and a speaker discuss a presentation, Nicola Naturalists, Merritt BC ,Ca File Photo KDG

Leafing Through History: Exploring Fossil Plant Deposits in Western Canada.

The Nicola Naturalists Society is hosting the Kamloops Exploration Group and giving the meeting over to them evening.

[Note the change in dates – not theusual third Thursday of the month.]

Dr. Christopher West is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He has degrees in Earth Sciences and Paleobiology, including a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan. He has published research on late Paleocene and early Eocene fossil floras from the Canadian High Arctic, British Columbia, and Alberta. Dr. West’s research interests are focused on reconstructing ancient climates and ecosystems using plant fossils in order to better understand ancient forest ecosystems, and how these ancient ecosystems gave rise to the modern forest biome in North America.

NNS

Doors open at 6 lecture at 7PM

In the lecture theater NVIT top of the hill Belshaw avenue in Merritt. The naturalists say all welcome membership or donation requested. Free parking.

On this Day: March 10th 1865

Last legal female slave execution in the US.

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TGIF- International Women’s Day Sunday March 8th 2020.

Filed under: Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 6, 2020
More than homemakers in the modern age. File Photo KDG

Womens issues highlighted

There are many issues that affect women in particular. That includes personal safety, job equity, rights etc. Women have increased the GDP of the world in recent times contributing to a better life for us all.

Women’s issues our issues

A few years ago, The Economist put forward an assessment that the increase in female employment in the advanced world “has been the main driving force of growth in the last couple of decades. Those women have contributed more to global gross domestic product (GDP) growth than have either new technologies or the new giants, China and India.

Source Globe and Mail.

Personal safety and believability

Social distancing is not only a flu term women need to be careful when it comes to personal safety and social contact. We hope that momentum for their cause will be maintained and they will be well thought of this Sunday, and every day.

On this Day: March 6th 1899

Aspirin is patented.

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Spring ahead!

Filed under: Environment, Technology, time change by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 5, 2020
Eagle eyes Looking for spring File Photo KDG

The clocks go ahead an hour on Sunday at 2AM. Spring is coming.

On this Day: March 5th 1872

The air brake is patented.

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BC Hydro Alliance of Energy Professionals, need a contractor?…

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 4, 2020
File photo KDG

BC hydro has an alliance of contractors for energy projects .They are promising a simplification of upgrades.

Planning any construction or infrastructure upgrade project can be a daunting task. But when you’re implementing new and unfamiliar systems or technologies on an incentive-driven project, it can get especially challenging. So who can you trust to do the work not just properly – but to a standard that satisfies all the building and incentive requirements? Well, if it’s a project to increase your organization’s energy efficiency, then the BC Hydro Alliance of Energy Professionals is here to help.

BC hydro

Hydro has done similar things before where they endorsed contractors for insulation and power smart products. They have a good record for that sort of thing.

Use the force…

The utility is using the catch phrase Use the force to refer to the energy professional they are endorsing.

Crown Corporation

BC hydro is a crown corporation that operates on a not for profit basis. It is one of the basic entities of a mixed economy and is mandated to supply consumers power at the best price possible. As a not for profit they are not allowed to retain earnings from year to year and must return those values to lower hydro costs.

Over time BC Hydro has been subject to water licence fee increases by the province. its something to be watched for. With holding taxes from many employees and consumption taxes contribute greatly to the coffers of government.

On this Day: March 4th 1913

The US forms a department of labor.

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Christmas bird count results.

Filed under: Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 3, 2020
Spring time sees Ospreys return from where they go in the winter File Photo KDG

The Christmas bird count has 120 years of world wide data at the Audubon Society . Good to our feathered friends and be especially mindful of migratory birds as they are protected.

Here are some highlights of the bird count conducted by the Nicola Naturalists Society this winter in the Merritt BC area.

  • American Wigeon 74 up from 50 high
  • Northern Pintail 17 up from a high of 2
  • Greater White fronted Goose 1
  • Northern Shoveler 1
  • Peregrine Falcon 1
  • American Kestrels 6 up from a high of 3
  • Brown Creeper 4 up from a high of 2
  • Black Capped Chickadees 96 up from a high of 58
  • Steller’s Jay 38 up from a high of 37

7 teams of counters were out and had what the club called a pleasant day of counting . A notation that species counts are often effected by food supply an exceptional Douglas Fir cone drop made for a high count in Pine Siskins last year. Siskins were missed this year and joined 2 other species well below average: American Gold finch 9 ( average of 48) and Robins 1 ( average 23).

Source NNA

On this Day: March 3rd 1923

Time Magazine is published.

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March is INTERNATIONAL LISTENING MONTH!

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March 2, 2020
Listen to the silence with your eyes wide open

Don’t yell, listening is not the same as hearing. To be heard timing is more of a factor then volume. A person who wants to hear is at an advantage to one just listening! A person with a response already pre made is not hearing as well. Two ears one mouth is not an accident but a clue to you and me.

On this Day: March 2nd 1961

Peace Corps created.

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TGIF- Leap year February 29th 2020.

Filed under: Space by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 28, 2020
October 1st 1958 NASA open for business...
File Photo KDG

There is a February 29th in 2020. Saturday will add another 24 hours to 2020 as the 29th sees its 4 year visit . There will be 4 year cycles that will not have a February 29th, three of them every every 400 years, but this one is not one of them. The next 4 year cycle that will not have a leap year will be 2100.

On this Day: February 28th 1983

MASH last episode draws over 100 million veiwers.

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Movie production…

Filed under: Breaking News, films by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 27, 2020
Filming going on in Merritt
File photo KDG


There is a filming crew working up town in Merritt until March 4th. Word is that the film is Jurassic World 3 . Ed Hendricks the proprietor of Ponderosa sports says that there have been shots in his store for weeks. Crews and equipment cover Voght street from the Quilchena lights north to Granite avenue at this writing.

Jurassic world three, Chris Pratt.

The super star for the work is Chris Pratt he was interviewed briefly on global ” This Kamloops are is great, look at that sunrise.” Para phrase.

On this Day: February 27th 1939

Sit down strikes made on private property made illegal by the USSC.

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Happy pink shirt

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February 26, 2020

Awareness about bullying

Awareness about bullying!
David Shepard and Travis Price saw a grade nine boy being harassed for a pink shirt and organized support for him and others that were put under undue pressure by dominating personalities.

bells away
A million bells

On this Day: February 26th 1979

The Super Liner rail car goes into service in the US.

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Success 10 years on…

Filed under: Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Public safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 25, 2020

2010 winter olympics

The Vancouver rendition of the winter Olympics is ten years on. The organizers of the event built on the success of the Worlds fair from 86 and the stability of the Gordon Campbell government to have one of the most successful winter Olympics ever.

Star of the show
File photo KDG

BC the best place on Earth

BC is a stable vibrant place to live it has one of the lowest death rates in Canada and quality of life is known around the world .

Amor De Cosmos

The second premier of BC was William A Smith who changed his name to lover of the universe. He was also a member of parliament for Victoria and wanted to head of the executive of both the province and country. He was considered to be an iconoclastic personality and set a reputation for the province to be a place of eccentric leaders. He also earned the credit for being the Father of BCs confederation when it joined Canada in 1871.

The label of eccentric was broken in the dialogue of the press with the election of the Vancouver mayor Gordon Campbell as the BC Premier, it has remained that way since

Vancouver a successful city . Photo KDG

Illegal blockade’s

We hope that the unfortunate use of illegal blockades this week is a wake up not to squander BCs leadership in stability and quality of life (Peace) .

On this Day: February 25th 1954

Gamal Nassar become premier of Egypt.

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TGIF- Last day of dementia awareness week.

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February 21, 2020
File Photo KDG

Alzheimer’s awareness week runs from February 14th to 21st, today is its last day in case you forgot. Perhaps you can remember for next year.

On this Day: February 21st 1925

The New Yorker is published.

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BC Hydro Indigenous culture…

Filed under: First Nations People by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 19, 2020
A sign displayed at a local pre owned shop in the down town of Merritt. File Photo KDG

BC hydro has recommended a number of videos and literature to find out about some of the first peoples culture:

  • A Tribe called Red Ft black bear : You tube
  • Indian Horse : You tube
  • The Road Forward: NFB you tube.
  • The Orange Shirt Story : Good read ( hydro)

The founder of Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad, shares her story about her experience in a residential school. On top of the trauma she experienced at the school, they didn’t let her wear her favourite orange shirt that her grandmother bought for her. Ever since, she’s associated the colour orange with the trauma of living in a residential school. She took this dark history and turned it into a children’s book, transforming it into a story of hope and education.

Source BC Hydro

We all have a culture in our home (one or more) here is an opportunity to understand a point of view of first peoples. If you are interested you may want to check with a local college to see if they over any Indigenous Art History classes.

On this Day: February 19th 1985

The first heart transplant patient to leave hospital.

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