2006-04-06, 11:53 AM — first spring trailwalk
I have to watch myself. I keep referring to the kingfishers that nest along the creek next to our apartment as "my" kingfishers. In addition to the fact that this is not remotely true, it also leads to a very warm, fuzzy, proprietary feeling for that particular stretch of trail.
If (when) we move away from this apartment, I'm going to miss that trail very much. It led to a surprising pang of sadness this morning as I was walking it for the first time this spring.
In addition to the kingfisher, I saw a muskrat, chickadees, a white-breasted nuthatch, starlings, robins, a song sparrow building his nest, golden-crowned kinglets all over the place, goldfinches, mallards, and squirrels. I think that's it. I'm not including the clouds of gnats which seem to be back in force. Which would be why the kinglets were everywhere, I'm guessing.
2006-03-20, 08:58 PM — fund this, John Tory
I have to write about this here, because I cannot express how deeply this particular story distresses me.
If nothing else, it is a giant, flashing red warning to anyone who researches something John Tory doesn't feel is important. If you vote for this man, say goodbye to research grants.
I suspect he wouldn't have been interested in funding my lichen research, either, because it was a little removed from the air quality work Dan was doing.
He probably isn't so interested in the effects of urban noise and light pollution on screech owls. I doubt he gives a damn about dendrochronology.
Frankly, the ignorance that is painfully obvious behind his dismissive statements is appalling, and terrifying. I can't imagine how any biological researcher is going to feel safe if the Conservatives come into power in Ontario.
All this said, I do know that healthcare is important. I know that our resources are stretched. But it's so frigging hard to get funding for any sort of research that's not directly connected to human interests these days. And by "directly" connected I mean "having expressly to do with human health and welfare." The thing that John Tory is missing is that all knowledge, no matter how distant it seems from human interest, is in the human interest. The more we know, the better off we'll be in the long run. That kind of snarky, short-sighted attitude is absolutely abhorrent.
I think I'm going to write that researcher a letter of support. And if I can control my outrage, I might send John Tory a strongly worded letter of condemnation. Unfortunately, I suspect they tend to throw out letters that include the words "You and your small mind can go to hell."
2006-02-15, 01:34 PM — I'm on my way...
I have only a "few" more days of work here, which is kind of exciting. It's only kind of exciting because they haven't hired anyone to replace me yet, so I'm going to be coming back just to make sure they're not entirely screwed. Just for the record, there are two reasons I'm doing this: 1) I'm a very nice person. 2) My father owns the company. Both of those things make a difference.
However, my other job will take presidence.
Oh, my other job, you say?
Yes, I'm now a full-fledged interpreter at the Grand River Conservation Authority, which is a job I have wanted for a long, long time. I'm really excited about it and it's going to be fabulous. The people I will be working with are very, very nice and extremely talented; and I'm once again going to be doing the sort of work that I am really interested in. It's made such a huge difference in my outlook on life. I was so excited after my first evening of training that I couldn't sleep. I woke up at 6:00am with a whole bunch of craft and activity ideas jumping around in my brain. I didn't think I liked crafts and activities that much. Apparently I do.