@StephenRees@mas.to
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

StephenRees

@StephenRees@mas.to

b East Ham, London, England 1949
Used to be a transportation planner and economist but now retired, living in Vancouver, BC
Canada

Definitely Green
Tootfinder

Still use a camera, but I do have an iPhone14
Atheist, omnivore, opinionated

alttext for header: the view out of my window - the North Shore mountains of Vancouver

altext for avatar old white guy, bald, grey full beard rimless specs, smile

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

chris, to spain
@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca avatar

A picture of success. Of reconnection with family roots. Of successful navigation of an unfamiliar bureaucracy. Of obtaining a privilege of our heritage.

My daughter and son got their passports this week!!

This marks the completion of a journey started in October 2021. I missed my first opportunity in my 20s. I wasn't going to let this one slip by, for me or them!

If you are not a citizen of Spain but a child or grandchild of a Spaniard feel free to ask me about the process.

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@chris

This month I got my replacement British Passport. It isn't red, it's blue. It no longer refers to Europe at all. It made me feel really sad. But it will still mean that I don't have to stand in a longer line when I arrive at Gatwick. For everything else I have a so far unused, newish Canadian passport.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

OMG Y'all, I found some of my old Christian Girl writing and I'm cracking up. You can see my terrible handwriting! Feel free to share your own handwriting, it doesn't have to be super embarrassing!

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@RickiTarr

A sample of my handwriting is attached. It comes from the last volume of my plague diary May of 2022

The plague isn't over but my handwritten journalling is

StephenRees, to random
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

The Big Boring Breakthrough for Vancouver's New Rapid Transit Line via @thetyee https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/05/10/Big-Boring-Breakthrough-Vancouver-Rapid-Transit/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=100524

StephenRees, to coffee
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

More good news from The David Suzuki Foundation

grounds could improve farm grounds

People drink a lot of coffee, and some of the six million tonnes of grounds discarded annually into landfills can generate climate-altering methane and carbon dioxide. A study in the Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology finds the grounds could be used to address agricultural contamination.

🧵1/2

StephenRees, to random
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

From Leadnow

🧵1/5

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre might style himself as a “hero of the working class” – but the bald truth is that he’s anything but.

And earlier this week, he tipped his hand. Facing increased scrutiny from the media on how he’d fulfill his promise to “fix the budget” if elected, Poilievre refused to rule out cuts to programs like daycare, pharmacare, and dental care.

StephenRees, to random
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

From LeadNow

infamous conspiracy theorist and founder of the Trump-supporting alt-right show InfoWars Alex Jones just doubled down on his endorsement of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre this weekend. Quote, “he’s saying the same things as me.”

For once, Jones isn’t telling a lie. Word-for-word, Poilievre has been recorded in campaign speeches parroting Jones’s most far-fetched conspiracy theories.

🧵 1/3

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

2/3

It’s chilling to realize that the man favoured to become Canada’s next Prime Minister might be borrowing talking points from someone who believes the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting was a hoax. And it’s a sign of what we’ll likely face if Poilievre comes to power: a political regime driven by wild conspiracies, and fuelled by hate.

That’s why when Jones first made his endorsement two weeks ago, we asked for your help to launch ads exposing Poilievre for his far-right ties.

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

3/3

The Leadnow community showed up — and the ads you helped fund are already in development.

But Jones just doubled down — which means we need to double down, too. We have plans to launch a full second run of hyper-targeted social media ads targeting Poilievre, but we need $5250 to hit go.

https://identity.leadnow.ca/clicks/link/10776/b147f23b-ab1d-4ce0-96b7-68bfd764855d?url=https%3A%2F%2Fact.leadnow.ca%2FPoilievre-Jones-double-down%2F%3Futm_source%3Dleadnow%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dblast2024-04-23&member_guid=d88fa77a-5d1f-42a2-a6e8-8af9021cbffc&identity-signature=0165ce94a9db15a5fadbecfa78a875aac7923a55fc04e4aad589992f4a4b7426

StephenRees, to vancouver
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

We went to the Orpheum last night to see Buster Keaton "Go West" - which I have not seen before as there was no usable print until recently. This trio plays 1920's popular music before the show. I was standing watching them when I noticed that everyone coming up the stairs into the bar and hearing this music broke out into a broad grin.

StephenRees, to random
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

From Leadnow

Pierre Poilievre has been caught in his latest bind – his use of “cash-for-access” fundraisers that serve the rich and corporate elite – while publicly criticizing their existence.

Though Poilievre has railed against the Liberal party for “glitzy” fundraisers and providing paid-access to decision makers, the Conservative party leader's latest hypocrisy is being served on a platter.

🧵 1/5

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

2/5

This January, investigations showed attendees paid $1700 a plate to join Poilievre at the elusive Toronto Club, where membership is limited to those able to shell out $20,000. Dozens of private fundraising events like this have been held since Poilievre became leader.

Where do Pierre Poilievre’s allegiances truly lie? With the corporate elite or with working-class Canadians?

straphanger, to transit
@straphanger@urbanists.social avatar

Here's how to make green even greener. Put the tram tracks on a carpet of grass or sedum. 2 kms of track creates 1.5 football fields' worth of green space, reducing air pollution and urban heat island effect.

A tram-on-the-lawn thread: 🚋🌱🧵

1/ Milan

video/mp4

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@straphanger

And don't forget that the tracks need to be mown regularly

(Paris)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_rees/7183755731/

GottaLaff, to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Why yes, my eyes ARE dilated and hazy weird.

Thanks for asking.

But totally healthy check-up at eye dr. Weeeee!!

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@GottaLaff I think it is very odd that no-one has developed an eye drop to reverse dilation

StephenRees, to random
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

DJDarren, to random
@DJDarren@mendeddrum.org avatar

How is a used hashtag on here, but is not?

Doors can be just as good as windows! !

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@DJDarren

StephenRees, to random
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

From CCPA

Leaked data reveals new threat to BC’s old growth forests

Yesterday, CCPA–BC resource policy analyst Ben Parfitt released a bombshell report that revealed BC Ministry of Forests staff are proposing to reject numerous recommendations from a government-appointed expert panel that were set to protect whatever little old growth forest is left in BC.

https://www.ccpabc.ca/r?u=OuF-hPF3_IqdYUB0aDEMAih__Tv1BEao8wwU6VgaJ0VYgmDEaFFKGcjngPkih6ca&e=bac3b21c1c7605da2994dbb28170a6da&utm_source=ccpabc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=240308_oldgrowth_iwd_bill&n=2

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Okay, let me try to ask this question, in a coherent way!

When we hear certain kinds of music, arrangements and tones, we associate them with feelings and emotions, like this sounds magical or whimsical, this sounds bouncy and happy, or dark and tragic. Do you think that is this is innate, like the combination of certain notes and tones just illicit these feelings in most people or is it because we've seen it related to these kinds of emotions on the radio or in movies and TV?

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@RickiTarr

Has to go back much farther than radio, movies and tv. Composers have been playing with our emotions for hundreds of years. Certainly by the time Classical music was being written this was common.

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@RickiTarr Music was always at the centre of troop recruitment. Drums and pipes featured in marching - and fighting. The horns were also needed for hunting. And cathedrals had choirs and organs for I don't know how long. Plainsong in monastrys certainly. His Majesties Sackbuts and Cornets.

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@RickiTarr Not just battle. Most military activities have bugle calls.

And don't get me started on bagpipes!

heliomass, to vancouver
@heliomass@mstdn.ca avatar

So, thoughts.

Firstly, I’m very disappointed in myself for hardly taking any photos. It was a business trip, but I could have done better.

Secondly, I’ve never been in a city where you can hardly move without seeing a mountain. I mean, check out the view from my hotel in Burnaby.

(1/3)

image/jpeg

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@heliomass As a resident I would say that you are being too hard on yourself. I am very impressed by the pictures you did take.

BTW we are currently enjoying steady snowfall although it does not look like it is sticking.

mastohost, to random
@mastohost@mastodon.social avatar

Mastodon v4.2.8 has just been released.

On this release Mastodon changes the default registration mode to being closed. Meaning that if you have never changed the registration mode for your server, it will be closed by default.

Also, it introduces a feature that will "automatically require approval for new registrations in the absence of moderators". Meaning that if no user with moderation permission has accessed the server in one week, the registration mode changes to require manual approval.

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@mastohost

I am using Mastodon on my web browser (Safari)

it is still v4.2.7

When will it be upgraded?

JamesGleick, to random
@JamesGleick@zirk.us avatar

What does Trump have in store for us? A militarized authoritarian regime; “an agenda of inhumanity on a scale we haven’t seen for generations”; deliberate disregard for the Constitution; dehumanization and cruelty toward the most vulnerable.

Full credit to the Washington Post.

https://wapo.st/48tFoGy

StephenRees,
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

@JamesGleick

Sadly, this is behind a paywall.

So no they can't have "full credit"

StephenRees, to vancouver
@StephenRees@mas.to avatar

Due to the overwhelming success of the 2023 Repair Cafe Series, SPEC and the City of have scheduled more Cafes throughout 2024.

These interactive community spaces encourage individuals to bring one broken small appliance, electronic product, bicycle or item of clothing to be repaired for FREE by volunteer fixers. Participants may be asked to engage with the physical repair of their item, participating in the empowering act of learning to repair.

🧵1/2

josh, to random
@josh@josh.tel avatar

deleted_by_author

    •
    StephenRees,
    @StephenRees@mas.to avatar

    @josh This was also featured recently on Knowledge Network and is available for streaming

    Treasures with Bettany Hughes III - Estonia

    kevinrns, to random
    @kevinrns@mstdn.social avatar

    These cant cost $100,000, and if it wasn't made by Robert Downey jr. and it wasn't being done thousands of miles away, it might even be affordable.

    "Exclusive Interview! How Robert Downey Jr. Is Reinventing Classic Cars"

    "Mission Critical: Robert Downey Jr.'s Dream Cars aim to save the planet one eco-mod at a time."

    https://www.motortrend.com/features/exclusive-robert-downey-jr-dream-cars-show-max-interview-profile/

    StephenRees,
    @StephenRees@mas.to avatar

    @kevinrns

    I really like the idea of prolonging the life of a classic car by converting it to electric drive. This, of course, puts me at loggerheads with people (men actually) who think cars have "souls" (usually the internal combustion engine).

    No, I don't have a spare $100k for a vanity vehicle. But it would be a really good idea to prolong vehicle life and not keep building new cars (CO2 production) just to provide profits for car makers.

    Also make it theft proof!

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