Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The need to read

Article in the Tyee
Dismantling of Fishery Library 'Like a Book Burning,' Say Scientists
But this problem is much farther reaching than just Fisheries libraries.
Reminds me of the Provincial liberals shutting down the Provincial mental health library at Riverview in 2010

Nobody was screaming then, and it appears that nobody is screaming now, not that long ago in Europe a similar story was playing out, but in a more ruthless way.  The Nazi book burnings


Just a simple search of the DFO libraries, WAVES catalogue, shows up its shortcomings; some books are under copyright, but many that should, and could be digitized are not, it has been a HUGE shortcoming in the library for many years.  Another frequent issue with digital copies is the quality of them is frequently just terrible.  Digitization of the textural portions is okay, but any pictures, maps, etc, can, and frequently are missing the fine details, which are so important. As the catalogue database is called in French "Vagues" also appears to be an apt term to use in English.

Another vast catalogue is Geoscan, which is everything geological, mapping,, It has been interesting to follow their long path at digitizing; have a peek at the most recent uploads HERE, rather obvious by following the recent uploads that the focus is on the search for hydrocarbons, and secondarily the relentless search for economic minerals in the far north.

It will be interesting to see if they attempt to destroy the National Research Council, (NRC) library
Since that is an eclectic mix of many disciplines, some that would be contrary to the present federal unspoken mandates.

        A resource that I frequently use is the BC Environment Ministries;
Cross-Linked Information Resources, (CLIR) catalogue; often wondered why they need a catalogue for themselves and one for the public though, what do they have to hide?  Many files can be found digitized here, that the DFO lists, but has not digitized themselves. As usual the quality is variable, usually favoring poor.


As usual it takes a volunteer organization to get the job done correctly, the Internet Archive, has many copies of mostly older materials, and some of them are not the best quality. But if you know how to use it, the Internet Archive, just shines ☼  I will give an example below:
 
Re-settlement and cultivation of land in British Columbia [microform] : an address delivered before St. John's Literary Society, Vancouver, British Columbia, January 12th, 1915 (1915)

Click on the HTTPS  link,circled in RED in this example, which will take you to this page:

The file with the ending of jp2.zip is actually a page by page photo file, which has been zipped; and is a copy of what was donated to the Internet Archive, by the donor. Download these files, unzip them, and you will have a folder with each page of the text as an image.  These jp2  photos, can really show up how terrible PDF files are at degrading the originals.

I use Irfanview (FREE) to read them, it can convert them to other formats as needed. And a WARNING, these images can be quite large, but they are definitely much more readable, and hence useful.


Wake up Sheeple !

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Panoramio slideshow

Monkey me

Monkey me

Some of the things that keep me out of trouble

I am involved in numerous environmental groups throughout the Tri-Cities area, I manage the Hoy Scott Watershed Societies,(HSWS) salmon hatchery, and keep the volunteers up to date with a Blog
I am also involved with the Maple Creek Streamkeepers,(MCS).

I have an interest in the history of British Columbia, especially the preservation of the Riverview Hospital site.
Which includes the rebuilding of Finnies Garden with a dedicated group of volunteers.
I love the history and ecology of Minnekhada Park, and have done extensive research on its previous owners.
The elusive, though extensive history of the Pitt River which includes Pitt Lake and the Upper Pitt River is slowly being gathered together, for a future book. Much of this area now includes the Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park, which another group that I am involved in the Burke Mountain Naturalists,( BMN ) worked hard to create for future generations to enjoy.
I like to hike around the area taking pictures, here is a small portion of them in Panoramio and also Flickr

Patricia Gaspar, is a dear, artist friend who has a Blog with a small portion of her work.
. Some of the history of the Coquitlam area, I share in my Coquitlamites Blog.

And I really like the music of Eva Marie Cassidy

Still laughing

Still laughing

Crystal Falls

South Slope / Sterling Loop trails


View South Slope-Sterling Loop trails in a larger map

Knots and Splices

Create some Knots and then, make your own Laneyards

Some free books from Internet Archive

Knots, ties and splices; a handbook for seafarers, travellers, and all who use cordage; with historical, heraldic, and practical notes (1884)

The use of ropes and tackle (1922)

A huge guide for sailors of old. The kedge-anchor, or, Young sailors' assistant :

appertaining to the practical evolutions of modern seamanship, rigging, knotting, splicing, blocks, purchases, running-rigging, and other miscellaneous matters, applicable to ships-of-war and others ; illustrated with seventy engravings ; also tables of rigging, spars, sails, blocks, canvas ... &c relative to every class of vessels (1883)

Macrame design, with instructions .. (1912)

Rope and twine information (1917)

American wire rope catalogue and hand book (c1913)

Full instructions in the art of crepe paper rope basket weaving (1922)

Modern flax, hemp and jute spinning and twisting ; a practical handbook for the use of flax, hemp, and jute spinners, thread, twine, and rope makers (1907)