tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59359592012-02-16T12:33:02.889-04:00This is my eclectic blog; environmental issues; art and craft; life in Nova Scotia, Canada; and anything else that interests me.Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.comBlogger991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-77888473205619974582011-01-28T11:53:00.001-04:002011-01-28T11:59:15.414-04:00

I have received two worrying posts via Facebook in the last 24 hours. The first was a link from an acquaintance of mine who traps and does everything he can to promote that activity. He was interested by an article Biodiversity benefits from new snaring scheme - National Park agrees about how black grouse conservation in Scotland is being aided by trapping predators such as foxes and weasels.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-13990669050346556552010-05-26T07:23:00.000-03:002010-05-26T07:23:13.589-03:00

Broomfield, Colorado, has just launched their draft Coexistence with Wildlife Policy, which uses two levels of hazing of coyotes to discourage them from coming into contact with humans, in an effort to avoid the use of lethal control. Full story. A shame the Nova Scotia government is not so enlightened.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-57854879216114629112009-02-01T09:39:00.002-04:002009-05-09T16:27:04.262-03:00

I remember the winter of 1963. School was closed for time when the outside toilets froze up. We thawed our 1/3 pint bottles of milk around the stove in our classroom.On 1 February, 1963, Geoffrey Jones began filming "Snow" which was to win 14 major awards and an Oscar nomination in 1965. Jones was already working on a film for the British Railways Board when he had the idea of making a film

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-65130082555548924102008-11-18T08:03:00.004-04:002008-11-18T09:55:27.429-04:00

National Post columnist Don Martin wrote at length about the mistakes made by the Green Party in the last election. None of this is news, and pales into insignificance alongside his remark that he, and possibly other reporters in Ottawa, could not name another Green candidate.I could excuse this ignorance if it came from Joe Public, but not from a journalist. Surely they should keep themselves

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-63300011332963212212008-10-17T11:36:00.003-03:002008-10-17T11:56:21.088-03:00

Picnic in the Forest happens tomorrow, October 18, 11am-2pm. It is hosted by Friends of Redtail Society to launch their campaign to save forest lands from industrial clear cutting.Redtail Nature Awareness is a nature retreat and experiential education centre located in a semi-wilderness region of northern Nova Scotia, Canada. It offers year round camps for youth and nature retreats for adults

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-73492446585672306262008-10-17T07:56:00.003-03:002008-10-17T10:47:11.970-03:00

Once again an election has shown just how broken our voting system is.Turnout hits an all-time low of 59.1%.The only major party to persuade more people to vote for them than in the previous election was the Green Party, yet they won no seats. The Conservatives got 168,737 fewer votes and gained 19 seats. The NDP got 72,522 fewer seats and gained 8 seats.There were numerous calls for tactical

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-25358185426941413302008-10-09T07:53:00.003-03:002008-10-09T08:11:31.297-03:00

On Tuesday, prominent Central Nova Liberals endorsed Elizabeth May. Senator Jim Cowan said "The country needs her. Stephane Dion needs her, and I ask you to do your part."On Wednesday, CAW announced today that the union is throwing its support behind Green Party leader Elizabeth May in the Central Nova riding, as a part of the CAW's strategic voting approach.Remember, You Have A Choice:

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-53370787774064166482008-10-07T14:47:00.001-03:002008-10-07T15:13:18.681-03:00

Green Party spokesperson Angela Reid talking about the need to vote for candidates and parties with a vision of the future.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-41569344817231611382008-10-07T09:15:00.002-03:002008-10-07T09:25:53.064-03:00

Hamilton Greens have created their own election video called Green Door. It is aimed at voters who are tired of the way politics is done in Canada, and maybe want to know more about green policies and the six fundamental principles underlying everything the Green Party stands for.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-28993109149998813922008-10-05T09:56:00.002-03:002008-10-05T09:59:34.434-03:00

Here is a nice idea for making a recyclable gift box that will cost you $1 in the US, or $5 in Canada!http://members.cox.net/crandall11/money/box/

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-20147625466167776402008-09-26T13:13:00.002-03:002008-09-26T16:15:17.370-03:00

Avaaz.org are organising a grass roots effort to prevent a Harper majority government...Dear friends,For the last two years, the Harper government has done everything it could to wreck the world's efforts to fix climate change. Given the "fossil award" by environmental experts, Canada (our Canada!) has been repeatedly voted the WORST country in the world on climate change. Now, it's election time

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-32448532779261619962008-09-25T10:56:00.003-03:002008-09-25T11:22:33.654-03:00

There is an excellent article in the Globe and Mail today by Margaret Atwood. She is commenting on Stephen Harper's attack on the arts and culture community, in particular his comments suggesting that "ordinary people" don't care about "the arts."One sentence in particular stands out:Every budding dictatorship begins by muzzling the artists, because they're a mouthy lot and they don't line up and

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-90337157253630508532008-05-28T11:18:00.001-03:002008-05-28T11:18:01.109-03:00

Here is Paul Stamets presenting "6 ways mushrooms can save the world". The presentation seems terribly rushed. I had trouble understanding some of it, but found these links useful: Prototaxites, medicinal uses of fungi, mycoremediation, mycofiltration. He even suggests using mycellium to convert cellulose into fungal sugars which can be turned into ethanol.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-73037299328348128352008-05-26T02:18:00.000-03:002008-05-26T02:18:00.855-03:00

More and more people are taking to their bikes as a means of transport. Here is a film by the (US) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on safely driving, fitting and maintaining a bicycle.They also have a leaflet about cycle safety.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-68856531288062521322008-05-22T06:18:00.002-03:002008-05-22T06:18:00.522-03:00

Last weekend I was at Moncton Market and picked up an interesting booklet at a table selling environmental cleaning products. It was produced by the Conservation Council of New Brunswick and titled 'Roadmap to a self-sufficient energy future' (pdf).They report that New Brunswick is already experiencing the effects of climate change. The snow pack in the southern part of the province is only half

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-78597785289197858872008-05-20T11:32:00.001-03:002008-05-20T11:32:00.274-03:00

I heard on the CBC recently that transit companies in both Halifax and St.John are seeing increased ridership. With the cost of gas, this is hardly surprising.Other areas are reporting similar increases. In Colorado, bus driver Chris Gray says he has seen plenty of evidence that people are using transit as an alternative to driving themselves. In Michigan ridership is up 7% this year, and "Gas

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-61212605675428460762008-05-18T09:44:00.001-03:002008-05-18T09:44:00.977-03:00

Do you live in an urban environment full of unkempt vacant lots? Why not seed bomb them and add a little beauty to the 'hood? Here's how.Read more about seed bombing and Guerrilla gardening on wikipedia.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-64759168593803947922008-05-16T08:50:00.002-03:002008-05-16T08:58:45.046-03:00

Climate change is already creating serious problems in Canada. Here is a video of Elizabeth May addressing the Global Greens Conference in Sao Paulo earlier this month.The text of the speech is here if you prefer.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-34531583019410132852008-03-20T07:33:00.002-03:002008-03-20T11:34:02.740-03:00

If you haven't yet realized the environmental consequences of a carnivorous diet, take a pause before your next tasty mouthful and think about the global warming it will cause.In Climate change experts target cow flatulence, the Telegraph reports on research being conducted in Scotland to reduce the amount of methane a cow produces. They report that a cow has the same impact on greenhouse warming

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-63372155540990635992008-03-19T10:43:00.002-03:002008-03-19T11:21:09.628-03:00

I just came across an piece in the Western Standard, Cooling it on Warming.I can't say that I am swayed by Jan Narveson's editorial. He obviously hasn't much of a grip on the subject, as shown by his confusion of weather and climate change. He does make the point that if everybody lived up to Kyoto, the net result in terms of climate cooling over 50 years would be in the order of 0.1 degree

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-5090864141666763032008-03-18T07:18:00.002-03:002008-03-18T07:29:39.213-03:00

I just got this in from avaaz.org, an organization that has over 2 million members, and has begun to make a real impact on global politics. The Economist writes that Avaaz is poised to deliver "a deafening wake up call" to world leaders, the Indian Express welcomes "the biggest web campaigner across the world" and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore says "Avaaz is inspiring, and has already begun to make

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-2383688379855254512008-02-22T09:59:00.002-04:002008-02-22T10:09:01.156-04:00

Here is a treat for you from 40 years ago. "Lady Madonna" was released as a single in March 1968. They don't make 'em like that any more:)

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-37242829748513780612008-02-13T07:18:00.003-04:002008-02-13T07:49:46.256-04:00

A new report from the Royal Society says that gannets who feed their chicks on waste from fishing boats are giving them junk food.The problem they discovered in the western cape of South Africa was that waste from the hake fisheries was too low in fat to sustain chicks. The gannet's natural food is high fat species like anchovies and sardines, but these species have become seriously depleted.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-50041535395639679802008-02-12T09:40:00.000-04:002008-02-12T09:56:57.527-04:00

George Monbiot makes some good points about fuel sources. He cites a recent report that Peak Oil is upon us, and although environmentalists and geologists have being warning of this for some time, this new report is written by capitalists, so perhaps now governments may start to pay attention.Growing biofuels to replace fossil fuel seems to getting a lot of criticism, and Monbiot says that land

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-34164532039323877562008-02-11T20:41:00.000-04:002008-02-11T21:07:02.923-04:00

Last week one of the main news stories in Nova Scotia was the discovery of nearly 100 cats and dogs being kept in appalling conditions at a private animal shelter. This is yet another reminder of the gross overpopulation of cats and dogs, many of which will end up homeless or at a shelter desperately hoping to find a loving home.PETA have two videos on the subject which I'd like to share with you

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-10590676265635563132008-02-05T06:31:00.000-04:002008-02-05T06:47:46.031-04:00

Christians in Britain are being urged to give up carbon for Lent and they can even download a 40 day calendar to help.It's not a bad idea, but why just do it for Lent? But I do hope that it encourages people who don't already take these actions to begin doing so, all year round.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-12105319810314921972008-01-30T08:13:00.000-04:002008-01-30T09:12:38.155-04:00

I first came across Hilary Pfeifer's blog when she took part in the International Turning Exchange 2006. Hilary describes herself as a mixed-media sculptor, making small wood parts that are assembled into larger sculptures.Two years ago she did an installation of 1500 lovebugs at the Fuller Craft Museum and later at the Museum of Contemporary Craft. Now you can get a pair of these lovebugs mailed

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-24136336040396023642008-01-30T07:44:00.000-04:002008-01-30T08:07:17.839-04:00

The content of this blog has been getting a bit depressing lately, so something a little lighter today:Blowing ring bubblesDolphins

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-81785814181683030962008-01-28T08:39:00.000-04:002008-01-29T07:53:57.891-04:00

Coming fast on the heels of the Chalk River nuclear fiasco in which the government overuled then fired the head of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Mr Harper has decided that he doesn't need any advice from scientists. This man is unbelievable in his arrogance. I thought the Liberal party were bad enough, but this regime is totally out of control.No science in the PM's ear: Canada

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-65257478005884003212008-01-20T11:35:00.000-04:002008-01-20T12:04:54.621-04:00

Have you ever thought about how much it costs it costs to advertise to you? Not the cost to the advertiser, but the cost to you?Every weekend a bunch of flyers gets pushed into my mail box. They end up in a blue bag and get hauled off to the dump where I think they get sent on to a 'balefill' facility in another county. I don't know if or when they actually get recycled.This morning the flyer

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-13542101790105555852008-01-15T09:27:00.000-04:002008-01-15T10:15:35.685-04:00

I am pleased that the EU are rethinking their policy of encouraging biofuels.The Royal Society has just published a report (Adobe PDF File, 788kb), which Professor John Pickett, Chair of the study discusses in this video:Wikipedia has a lengthy article about Biofuel, and lots of links to references on the subject, so I won't go into all the details. But do beware of claims that biofuels are '

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-6921828457551213322008-01-14T10:04:00.000-04:002008-01-14T11:30:33.515-04:00

I just read an interesting news release from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme, an organisation in the UK), Food Waste Set to Soar over Festive Season.I find the figures rather hard to believe. It works out at 8.5 pounds per person. The article raises a lot of questions, such as how do they arrive at the statistics, how many days does the Festive Season include, and do the figures

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-80393181978757425732008-01-08T07:02:00.000-04:002008-01-08T07:33:05.959-04:00

The British Government seem poised to start building more Nuclear power stations. Greenpeace UK has many reasons why this shouldn't be allowed to happen. Instead, they suggest The Convenient Solution, and offer this video:

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-82714852069987645442007-12-19T08:16:00.000-04:002007-12-19T08:41:46.177-04:00

Here's a cute little video game and petition to stop whaling.www.whalesrevenge.comI'm not sure how effective petitions are, but at least it is one way to express one's opinion.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-20352193698471212382007-12-18T11:02:00.000-04:002007-12-18T11:04:28.700-04:00

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-91231681970896657722007-12-14T13:29:00.000-04:002007-12-14T14:04:34.264-04:00

One of the likely outcomes of global warming is that the Gulf Stream could stop, thereby dropping temperatures in Britain and Scandinavia. This thermohaline circulation would be shutdown by glaciers melting and thereby desalinating the ocean.Researchers now claim that they have proof that when the glacial Lake Agassiz burst some 8000 years ago and dumped its fresh waters into the North Atlantic,

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-38231754730499353412007-12-14T10:28:00.000-04:002007-12-14T10:36:12.104-04:00

Here's a short little movie about life for young people on Cape Breton Island from two different perspectives.If you are an outmigrant from Cape Breton, visit www.capebretonworks.com and complete the survey to help JCI find unique solutions to out-migration and to the skilled labour shortage in the knowledge sector.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-31217784222414001382007-12-13T17:07:00.000-04:002007-12-13T17:34:44.104-04:00

Right now, a major UN summit in Bali has just a few days left to hammer out an agreement on stopping catastrophic climate change. But instead of helping out, Canada is actually sabotaging the talks! On Saturday, experts gave us the global "fossil" award for being the worst country in the world on climate change.There's still a few days left to save Canada's reputation -- and the climate -- but we

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-71557366267266082732007-05-11T18:42:00.000-03:002007-05-11T19:05:57.453-03:00

Have you ever wondered what happens to a mink once it's fur has gone to make something fashionable?This job posting (May 11, 2007 - the link may expire) for an "Environmental Researcher" may give you a clue:"Spec Environmental Solutions Inc. (SPEC) belongs to the Spectacle Lake group of companies located in Concession, Digby Co., NS. SPEC operates a commercial composting site serving the local

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-22629698332860439302007-05-04T07:25:00.000-03:002007-05-04T07:34:14.136-03:00

When Google Maps created their new feature, My Maps, I wonder if they were expecting the creativity people would have in finding applications for it. One good example is Our Earth as Art, a selection of satellite photographs of our planet. Each one is beautiful in its own right, often in a very abstract sense, and is accompanied by text explaining what we are seeing. In many cases it tells a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1154560256784746622006-08-02T20:10:00.000-03:002006-08-02T20:10:56.816-03:00

Jane Tomlinson blogs about the difficulty of dining out in the UK if you are vegetarian. As a vegetarian myself and being married to a vegan, I can sympathise totally with her situation. And apparently the situation has gotten worse in the eleven years since I left the UK.I remember being told in one pub in Yorkshire to try such and such, "it doesn't have much cheese in it". They obviously just

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1154349829869526782006-07-31T09:23:00.000-03:002006-07-31T09:43:49.883-03:00

Celtic and Jazz singer tereas Doyle is appearing at the deCoste centre in Picto this week, and while checking out her website I discovered that she runs an artist's retreat on Prince Edward Island. Rock Barra currently only offers day time workshops but Teresa hopes one day to be able to offer accommodation. There is a nice studio there, built for the filming of The Ballad of Jack and Rose in

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1153928827750026162006-07-26T12:26:00.000-03:002006-07-26T12:47:07.770-03:00

Alvin Hall debunks the myths of the art world, as he takes a journey from the artist to the gallery, the collector and the critic.Follow the links to listen to each episode. The first is online now (skip the first minute which is the end of the previous program), and looks at how the London art scene has changed in the last few years. "Now it is all sales and no ideas"The next program is on

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1152889927107678222006-07-14T12:12:00.000-03:002006-07-14T12:12:07.123-03:00

The Bluenose is in Pictou this weekend. Read more in the Evening News. Come visit Pictou this weekend and see this historic replica of the original race winning schooner.Technorati Tags: Bluenose, Pictou, schooner, Nova Scotia

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1152792956624779922006-07-13T09:15:00.000-03:002006-07-13T09:15:56.636-03:00

Toni Sikes, founder of The Guild, reports that young artists working in craft media today are seeking respect for their design skills rather than to be recognised as an artist. This is going against the trend of the 80's which saw craft moving into fine art. The blog post is illustrated with 'Leaf Clocks' by Emi Ozawa. Personally I much prefer Emi's "Pendulum Box". It has a really neat idea for

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1152101956736525572006-07-05T09:19:00.000-03:002006-07-05T09:19:16.766-03:00

Last night I went to the deCoste Centre in Pictou to catch the first show in the season of Summer Sounds in Nova Scotia. John 'Spyder' MacDonald hosted the show and was joined by fiddler Fleur Mainville, guitarist Ross MacVicar and multi-instrumentalist Mark Haines. In this ceilidh style presentation all the musicians stay on stage throughout the show and often join in with each other's tunes. I

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1148596503694805382006-05-25T19:35:00.000-03:002006-05-25T19:35:03.716-03:00

I just watched a program on CBC TV about an artist book featuring Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland. They have set up a webpage with links to several wonderful Flash presentations: Artist BookI found this interesting on many levels. First of all there is the art aspect of the book itself, a collaboration between three artists. Then there is the interactive presentations created for this

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1148137133282103002006-05-20T11:58:00.000-03:002006-05-20T12:20:25.640-03:00

Every now and then an artist finds a new way to present their art to the public. In April of 2005 Margaret Nicholson placed 100 pieces of her clay sculpture at spots around the coastline of Nova Scotia. Each one carries a tag directing the finder to the website where they can contact Margaret and tell her about their find. Forty six are still unaccounted for.For those who don't want to search the

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1147095862625000712006-05-08T08:56:00.000-03:002006-05-11T08:56:51.666-03:00

I am just back from a trip home to England where I had the chance to see some recent works of my friend Margaret Micklewright. Working in acrylics and inks, the works I had seen before were largely atmospheric seascapes inspired by her childhood home on the island of Arran.Since then Margaret's work has broadened in style and subject. Perhaps her boldest new direction is the very colourful

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1141685753711265412006-03-06T17:01:00.000-04:002006-10-04T10:28:15.356-03:00

I have tried my best to get to like CBC Radio 1's new afternoon show Freestyle. Admittedly it does give me few chuckles, but nothing worth having to listen to nearly two hours of this inane drivel.So here my tribute to Freestyle in the form of a Tag Cloud:i don't like it latest travesties unacceptable terribleness crap Freestyle

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1141307962926793192006-03-02T09:59:00.000-04:002006-03-02T09:59:22.970-04:00

Welcome to the second edition of Carnival of the Creators, a weekly round-up of blog posts from the arts and crafts community. Each week the carnival is hosted on a different blog. If you missed last week's edition you will find it at The ChipShop, my studio blog. Next week it will be hosted by Wendy Van Camp on Indigoskye Bead Fashions.I'm going to start this week with a request for help from

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1140452442772809692006-02-20T12:20:00.000-04:002006-02-21T12:06:44.496-04:00

Singer songwriter Sarah Harmer is using her art to highlight an environmental conflict in Ontario, Canada.Escarpment Blues is a song about the planned development of a quarry on the Niagara escarpment. The lyrics of the song acknowledge the need for materials from such a quarry, but goes on to say 'The wild ones won’t have anywhere to go' and to ask 'Will the water in the wells still be ok'.The

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1137780458090883372006-01-20T14:02:00.000-04:002006-01-20T14:07:38.103-04:00

This message just in from the Green Party of Canada:Top 10 Reasons to Vote Green on Monday I want to feel good about my vote. I want to vote for someone, not against someone. The Green Party has the best platform. The Green Party platform has earned positive reviews in the media, has done well under analysis by non-partisan organizations. My great grandchildren will be proud of me. I

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1134571695409055432005-12-14T10:48:00.000-04:002005-12-14T10:48:15.456-04:00

There are lots of reasons why people turn to vegetarianism. I came to it from an environmental perspective, and the first thing I gave up was seafood. There are lots of problems with commercial fishing, one of which is the bycatch - Oceana Network :: Report Reveals U.S. Fisheries' Waste. Tags: vegetarian, fishing, commercial fishing, Conservation, Environment, seafood,fish, bycatch

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1134439173315119392005-12-12T21:59:00.000-04:002005-12-12T21:59:33.343-04:00

Once again a consortium of Canadian broadcasters is excluding the Green Party from the leaders debate in the run up to the 2006 federal election. This is not right. Why should a party that is fielding a candidate in every riding and captured over 3% of the votes in the 2004 election not be heard? How can they take second place to a party that only has candidates in one province? For some

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1130372065372514482005-10-26T21:14:00.000-03:002005-10-26T21:14:25.423-03:00

ArtLex Art Dictionary looks like a useful source of information. Art Dictionary for artists, collectors, students and educators in art production, criticism, history, aesthetics, and education. You'll find definitions for more than 3,600 terms used in discussing art / visual culture, along with thousands of supporting images, pronunciation notes, great quotations and cross-references.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1129657077760228412005-10-18T14:37:00.000-03:002005-10-18T14:37:57.790-03:00

ACCESS ART: Interpreting Contemporary Art A panel discussion which will explore approaches to and difficulties involved in appreciating contemporary visual art. Windsor Lecture Theatre - Art Gallery of Nova Scotia 1723 Hollis Street - Bedford Row Entrance, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Thursday, October 27 - 7pm. Organised by Visual Arts Nova Scotia. More details currently on their hompage. tags:

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1129246687257665732005-10-13T12:49:00.000-03:002005-10-13T20:38:07.316-03:00

From Raúl Acero, in his book Making Ceramic Sculpture:I think all human beings are born with the ability and desire to make art. Slowly, over time, and due to our education, we lose those abilities and replace them with insecurities about making and understanding art.I can relate to that. I have always steered clear of being labelled 'artist', largely because of the language that often surrounds

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1128903095684154162005-10-09T20:14:00.000-03:002005-10-09T21:11:35.743-03:00

Elias's work is a fine blend of aesthetics, mathematics and craftsmanship. Assembling complex shapes from simple pieces of wood, each carefully cut, Elias strives to 'show how complexity derives from simplicity.'One can get a first impression of his work from this view of Drumbeg House Gallery. If you have time for a long read, Elias answers the question 'How Do You Make These'? There is

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1128390105736090472005-10-03T13:34:00.000-03:002005-10-03T22:41:45.770-03:00

As a canal enthusiast I was delighted to come across the Coventry Canal Art Trail while searching the web for sculpture related sites.This 5 1/2 mile canal provides a route from the Oxford canal into the heart of the city. The map shows the 26 sites of the artworks which comprises 39 works by 31 different artists. Five categories of work were commissioned: community art, entry markers,

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1128357163962378562005-10-03T13:26:00.000-03:002005-10-03T13:32:43.966-03:00

I have recently developed an interest in sculpture. I want to spend more time exploring woodturning as a sculptural medium. This desire has already manifested itself in Triplets I.So this month I plan to explore the web seeking out examples and information about sculpture and sculptors. I will post my findings here at Acres Wild.Technorati Tags: sculpture, sculptors

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1118857107047943612005-06-15T14:38:00.000-03:002005-06-15T14:38:27.096-03:00

Let me see now. It's not January or February. It's not the fine upstanding politicians. As he so often does, Seth Godin has the answer. It's Robertson screws. These are so damn good they must be just about the best thing about Canada. tags: canada, Politics, screws

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1118621708098275812005-06-12T20:28:00.000-03:002005-06-12T21:15:08.103-03:00

As I stepped out of the workshop a few nights ago I heard a moth battering itself against a light. The spring peepers were going at it, though not as deafeningly as a month ago. But the real treat was the snipe making its strange winnowing sounds from high over head. Last year we had no snipe and really missed its aerial performances, so this years return was very pleasing.The next morning I was

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1118018445513610432005-06-05T21:40:00.000-03:002005-06-05T22:07:27.853-03:00

Boating blogger (say that quickly ten times over) Sue, of Retirement with No Problem, draws my attention to some fairly typical bureaucratic nonsense in her post " River Rubbish - What a farce! "It seems like the town council (someplace in England that I never heard of), the district council and the Environment Agency are passing the buck when it comes to clearing some junk out of the local river

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1112887745316509822005-04-07T12:29:00.000-03:002005-04-07T12:29:05.316-03:00

I got a letter from the UK in this morning's post. One of the postage stamps bore the instructions "RUB FEZZES WITH YOUR FINGER TO FIND PYRAMID". I just had to find out more. According to the Royal Mail, this is one in a long line of trick stamps. It uses body temperature thermachromic ink which becomes transparent when heated to body temperature.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1112882547998171652005-04-07T09:36:00.000-03:002005-04-07T11:02:28.000-03:00

It was such a nice day yesterday that I could no longer resist the temptation to fetch my bike out of the basement and cycle to the village on errands. It's about 7km each way, and the rolling hills make for a good workout.Apart from the exercise, one thing I like about travelling by bike is that you get to see a lot of things that would be missed by car. First thing I noticed was the four inch

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1112572443541438322005-04-03T20:52:00.000-03:002005-04-03T20:54:03.543-03:00

Last night I had the good fortune to see the Tannahill Weavers live at the deCoste Center in Pictou, Nova Scotia. This band has been bringing traditional Scottish music to audiences around the world for several decades.I was a little concerned when Colin Melville came on stage with bagpipes, and more so when he stepped up to a pair of microphones as I have always been of the opinion that the last

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1111941841171284142005-03-27T11:46:00.000-04:002005-03-27T12:47:07.246-04:00

Our first real sign of spring came this morning in the form of a red-winged blackbird atop the power pole in our yard. There is still plenty of snow on the ground here in Nova Scotia, but it's edges are receding. The Northumberland Strait is still packed with drift ice, and that sometimes hangs around long enough to delay the start of the lobster fishing season in May.Out on the shores of Lake

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1111710024710058402005-03-24T20:07:00.000-04:002005-03-24T20:20:24.710-04:00

Everest Post 2005 is the journal of Gavin Bate's solo Everest bid in aid of Moving Mountains children's charity. He leaves the UK on 28 March and should be at the summit by 28 May.In case you have trouble finding the RSS feed for this site, it is : http://www.adventurealternative.com/everestpost2005/atom.xml

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1111669364176898422005-03-24T09:02:00.000-04:002005-03-24T09:02:44.176-04:00

Of all the RSS feeds that I watch daily, the one I look forward to the most is from the blog Retirement with No Problem. Sue and her hubby are retired and live aboard a narrow boat on the English canal system. It seems like Sue doesn't much like going through tunnels, especially if they are inhabited by bats. But today she met her worse fears head on ( Blisworth Tunnel and on to Northampton) and

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1109280717092675632005-02-24T17:31:00.000-04:002005-02-24T17:31:57.093-04:00

It turns out that hydroelectric power is not so green as it might seem. The destruction and fragmentation of habitat is fairly obvious, but it seems that hydro dams are creators of methane, a gas whose greenhouse effect is 21 times more significant than carbon dioxide. The gas is created by the decay of plant matter under water. This is not just a problem when the dam is first flooded, but each

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1107531837489407812005-02-04T11:29:00.000-04:002005-02-04T11:43:57.490-04:00

Does your phone ever ring and there is no one there? And *69 doesn't work? It happens here very often, often daily for a week or more. I have long suspected that this is some sort of auto-dialling from a telemarketing call center, and yesterday my theory was confirmed. I stop what I am doing, set down my tools, switch off the machines that are running and rush to the office to pick up the phone.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1106436903189974282005-01-22T19:23:00.000-04:002005-01-22T19:35:03.190-04:00

Last November our household cat population suddenly tripled. My wife phoned from work to tell me that she had agreed to take a kitten that needed a home. Trixie would be arriving the next day. But that very same night there was a big crash against the screen door. Once we got the dogs calmed down and under control, we ventured out to see what was happening. The sound of flapping wings and a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1106244407464388702005-01-20T13:55:00.000-04:002005-01-20T14:06:47.463-04:00

Just across the road from my grandmother's house was a narrow footpath sandwiched between the cottage hospital and a residential area. My family always refered to this path as the drang. It was walled on both sides, and high enough to stop one seeing over, unless of course you were a small boy who liked climbing stone walls. There was another drang not too far away from my own home, this time

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1105652929253017742005-01-13T17:48:00.000-04:002005-01-13T17:48:49.253-04:00

Marry a Canadian - just make sure it's not this one.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1104769126281163602004-12-31T10:59:00.000-04:002005-01-05T13:20:08.706-04:00

Last night's 60 Minutes feature on Google was bit of a disappointment. I probably wasn't in a very good mood when it eventually started, some twenty minutes late, due to an overun in an NFL match. Does time really run that slow in the USA? There was only 10 minutes left on the clock when we started watching, but it took 20 minutes of Canadian time for it to elapse. Star Trek has nothing on NFL

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1104283018738200462004-12-28T20:55:00.000-04:002004-12-28T21:16:58.740-04:00

With New Year looming, are you ready to sing Auld Lang Syne, or will you be one of the many who don't really know the words, let alone what they mean? Well, help is at hand at worldburnsclub.com. There you will find both the five verse poem and the two verse song. Both include an English translation of the original Scots. The site also includes information about the origins of the poem which

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1104246701739261722004-12-28T10:43:00.000-04:002004-12-28T11:11:41.740-04:00

While searching for information about Canada's relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami, I learnt that tsunamis don't just happen far away. In 1929 a magnitude 7.2 tremor occurred on the Grand Banks, 250km south of Newfoundland, which triggered a tsumani which killed 29 and devasted the Burin Peninsula. The wave was noticed as far away as South Carolina and Portugal. Geological Survey Canada has a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1103994219293294782004-12-25T13:29:00.000-04:002004-12-25T13:03:39.293-04:00

The thing I like best about web statistics is looking at the search terms that have brought visitors to my site. When I wrote the article Calamity Jones, I did not know there was a punk band by the same name. There is also a quarter horse stallion who has sired numerous other little Calamitys. Which of these it is that brings all those visitors to my blog I do not know. I just hope they aren't

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1103992145711976722004-12-25T13:16:00.000-04:002004-12-25T12:29:05.710-04:00

Every year my wife makes sure the cats and dogs don't miss out on Christmas. They each get a little gift wrapped up and placed under the tree. But their sense of smell gives the gave away, and their manners leave something to be desired. The catnip mouse had only been under the tree for a few minutes when Trixie was seen bounding up the stairs with the parcel in her mouth. Jenny soon figured

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1095337742498699842004-09-16T09:03:00.000-03:002004-09-16T09:29:02.500-03:00

Towards the end of last week, Be-el, our big black lab cross, started limping. By Tuesday she was getting worse, so off we went yesterday to the vets. Doctor Brenda gave her leg a thorough going over and told me that the ankle was swollen, but she was unable to tell if it was a fracture. So poor old Bubba had to stay for an X-ray. Turns out that there was no fracture and it is probably just a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1095011367396327632004-09-12T14:24:00.000-03:002004-09-12T14:49:27.396-03:00

I took a day off yesterday and did a spot of walking on the Cape George Hiking Trails. The first trail I took started at Cape George lighthouse and looped inland and back to Ballantyne's Cove. There were some splendid views from atop the hills, due in part to the clear cutting that must have taken place there a few years ago. It is interesting to see the forest is rejuventing itself and I wonder

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1093286358503200502004-08-23T15:35:00.000-03:002004-09-04T15:40:18.216-03:00

I was chatting with the wife about a week ago and had a premature senior's moment. I was wanting to refer to her as that famous landscape gardener, you know, wha'sis name, Calamity Jones? Well, I knew that wasn't quite right, and though Pat knew who I meant, neither of us could come up with the right name. Today, as I was riding around on the lawn tractor, I recalled that conversation and the

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1092323695425698072004-08-12T12:03:00.000-03:002004-08-12T12:26:52.170-03:00

I have gotten used to finding snakes in the garden, usually curled somewhere warm, and often in the compost heap. But today while I was moving lumber out of the solar kiln I came across one under a layer of boards. At 38 centigrade, the kiln must make a nice home for a snake. This Maritime Garter Snake is perfectly harmless, and indeed there are no venomous snakes in Nova Scotia. They have their

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1083092738268676382004-04-27T16:02:00.000-03:002004-04-27T16:09:52.983-03:00

According to this article by Father Andrew Phillips, England has three patron saints. The first was St. Edmund, from about 869 A.D., as a result of his resistance to Danish invaders. After the Norman invasion in 1066, Anglo-Normans began promoting Edward the Confessor as a patron. When Richard I defeated Saladin on April 23, 1192, St.George became the patron of the English Army, and within a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1082836149774772042004-04-24T16:47:00.000-03:002004-04-24T16:53:19.810-03:00

One explanation of the dragon legend involves a large crocodile with wings. Basically the dragon would eat anyone who spent too long outside the city walls. A couple of sheep were sacrificed everyday to keep the monster satisfied. When there were no more sheep, they started on the children. But when it was time for the king's daughter to become the sacrifice, St. George steps in, does battle with

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1082760552639267722004-04-23T19:20:00.000-03:002004-04-23T19:56:01.653-03:00

April 23 is St. George's Day, Patron Saint of England, and slayer of dragons. The Tradition of St. George's Day tells us what little is actually known about the man and the legend. He lived in the 4th century AD and was a Roman soldier. He expresssed his displeasure at the Emperor's persecution of Christians and totally lost his head on April 23, 303. The only connection he seems to have had

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1080223578047973652004-03-25T09:59:00.000-04:002004-03-25T10:09:47.110-04:00

If you have any underwater trees that need harvesting, the Sawfish is the underwater robotic device for you. The Sawfish swims up to your submerged tree, attaches an airbag to it and cuts the trunk with its 55 inch chainsaw. It is estimated that there are 200 million trees at the bottom of lakes created by hydro dams.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1074783948962564212004-01-22T10:30:00.000-04:002004-01-22T11:12:18.936-04:00

It's not unusual for me to come home and find an anatomy lesson laid out on the door mat. Meadow voles, mice and shrews are the usual subject. But last night when I opened the door I was really upset to see a slender but bloodied white corpse laid out to greet me. Although the body had been moved from the scene of the crime, it didn't take long to find the location of the dastardly deed. In the

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1072830413779188202003-12-30T19:58:00.000-04:002003-12-30T20:27:11.370-04:00

According to this BBC report, Guinness can prevent those nasty blood clots that can cause a heart attack. As a long-time drinker of the black stuff, this can only be good news. I'm not so pleased about the fact that these tests were carried out on dogs. Still on the subject of Guinness, I recently came across bottles of draught Guiness in the liquor store with a new widget that allows one to

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1070547991208627452003-12-04T09:31:00.000-04:002003-12-04T10:26:41.916-04:00

Willard Kitchener MacDonald has lived a reclusive life since the mid 1940's in the woods around Gully Lake in Nova Scotia. In May 2003 a flue fire burnt his hut to the ground, along with an area of surrounding forest. He was reported missing earlier this week by friends who haven't seen him since Sunday. Yesterday's snow storm hampered the search.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1067180917422885912003-10-26T10:53:00.000-04:002003-10-26T11:08:38.200-04:00

Last night while I was working at the computer I heard a noise at the window. Looking around, I saw a bird struggling to find a perch on the ledge of the office window. It didn't seem concerned about my presence so I moved closer to the window and saw it was a very small owl. I made a sqeeky noise with my lips and its head swivelled right around to look straight at me with its big yellow eyes.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1066744087690142322003-10-21T10:31:00.000-03:002003-10-21T10:50:25.810-03:00

According to this BBC report, there are only 18 stallions on the studbook for this magnificent breed of horse, which over the centuries has carried men into battle, pulled their ploughs and hauled their timber. Now the Rare Breeds Survival Trust is raising money to preserve DNA from this and other rare breeds of British livestock, some of which are rarer than the Giant Panda. Let me find you a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1066675724627923052003-10-20T15:23:00.000-03:002003-10-20T15:59:23.263-03:00

Maritime Noon today carried an interview with researcher Andre Whittaker who claims there is sufficient habitat to sustain small populations of wolves in Kejimikujiak and Highland national parks here in Nova Scotia. The Eastern Wolf is listed as a species of special concern with only 2000 individuals in Ontario and Quebec. This webpage has some good information on wolf reintroduction. Studies

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1066309662393329652003-10-16T08:41:00.000-03:002003-10-16T10:21:20.660-03:00

There can't be many novels that include much mathematics, but Mark Haddon's "The curious incident of the dog in the night" breaks the mold. My first reaction to the Monty Hall Problem is that there are some errors in the way the problem is solved in the novel. First is shown a purely mathematical solution, which I felt was flawed because it seems to treat the action of the game show host as a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1066230165054841032003-10-15T11:47:00.000-03:002003-10-15T12:02:45.203-03:00

Just a few weeks after hurricane Juan passed by, we have another wind warning in effect for today. Gusts upto 90km/h expected this afternoon. Nova Scotia Power predict more power outages (they only just got everyone reconnected) due to trees that were partially damaged succumbing to the breeze. When are they going to figure out that underground distribution lines would be a good idea. Lets join

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1066066979054378972003-10-13T14:34:00.000-03:002003-10-13T14:44:30.923-03:00

My wife is busy today marking students' assignments. The subject is vector cross products and dot products. Someone in the class came up with some new maths, best described as vector division, which seems to involve lots of canceling out, but really simplifies the work. What is really sad is that half the class has adopted this new math. Apparently its easy to spot the originator of this concept

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1066056460357392732003-10-13T11:47:00.000-03:002003-10-15T11:37:53.676-03:00

This whole blog thing is mind boggling. Maybe blog is an abbreviated anagram of boggling? This looks like a good place to find out more: Google Directory - Computers > Internet > On the Web > Weblogs

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935959.post-1066056215714338322003-10-13T11:31:00.000-03:002003-10-15T11:36:42.863-03:00

Look at this way. If a blonde pastic bimbo can have a weblog, then so should I. It looks like she stopped writing in June. No doubt run out of ideas? Can I do any better than this empty head?

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0