Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment

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Raul — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:47:22 +0000

Please update your RSS feeds

Raul — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:33:53 +0000

I used to have a domain redirect purchased for my WordPress.com account. That expired a few days ago, and that’s probably one of the reasons why your RSS feeds show posts that are a year old. I apologize if you’re subscribed to Hummingbird604.com and it’s “Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment” that shows on your RSS. The HB604 RSS button is broken. Apologies for the kerfuffle. I’ll try to fix it if I can.

Mount St. Joseph Hospital and Emergency Health Care

Raul — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:59:45 +0000

Lunacy on emergency

Originally uploaded by Raul P

I was a bit shocked when I first saw this. Does anybody else other than me think this is somewhat wrong? E.g. what happens if I have an emergency at, say 8.15pm and it’s not something that can be treated in St. Paul’s?

“Love is the only label that doesn’t go out of style”

Raul — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:31:29 +0000

Call me a hopeless romantic, but I can’t help but think that this quote encapsulates the way I feel about love. It’s uttered by Carrie Bradshaw at the end of the movie “Sex and The City). I know, it’s a chick flick (and I DID review it on here!). But it’s a movie that has music and a lot of ideas that I absolutely adore.

I am privileged in that I have not 3 or 4 friends. I have LOTS of them, and I do my very best to keep in touch and close with the vast majority. Occasionally I fail to stay in touch with one or a few, but I always come back, and I always have them in my mind and my heart.

I have been heartbroken only once, but I never feel so disappointed in love that I think I will never love again (in the romantic sense of the word). I am pretty sure I will. It just takes time.

Have brunch for charity! AIDS Benedict brunch weekend

Raul — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:02:30 +0000

Vancouver’s 3rd Annual AIDS Benedict brunch weekend is happening this weekend (November 29th and 30th). Participating restaurants include the following (I would have done all the linking but I’m exhausted and have a ton of work to do). Hat tips to Raincoaster who informed me of this event.

I am a very big supporter of HIV/AIDS-related charities (as I demonstrated by doing a 24 hour Blogathon in 2007 to raise funds for A Loving Spoonful). Now I’d like to draw your attention to another charitable event: The AIDS Benedict brunch weekend.

YouthCO AIDS Society and Camp Moomba, two non-profit organizations that support and empower children and youth impacted by HIV and AIDS, have teamed up for Vancouver’s 3rd Annual AIDS Benedict brunch weekend. Collectively sponsored by local restaurants, this “eggsellent” event blends scrumptious eggs benedict with public education to help raise awareness about children and youth in BC impacted by HIV and AIDS.

Donations from participating restaurants will give children and youth impacted by HIV and AIDS access to year-long programs and supports that they might not otherwise have access to. Participation in the two-day eggs-travaganza is eggstremely simple: fill your belly with eggs benedict or other promotional items at one (or more!) of the participating establishments on November 29th and November 30th.

Abigail’s Party 1685 Yew Street www.abigailsparty.ca
Alibi Room 157 Alexander Street www.alibi.ca
Bayside Lounge 1755 Davie Street www.bestwesternsandshotelvancouver.com
Checker’s 1755 Davie Street www.bestwesternsandshotelvancouver.com
Chopper’s 3298 East 1st Avenue no website
Elixir 350 Davie Street www.elixirvancouver.ca
Fish House 8901 Stanley Park Drive www.fishhousestanleypark.com
Fountainhead 1025 Davie Street .www.thefountainheadpub.com
Hell’s Kitchen 2041 4th Avenue www.hells-kitchen.ca
Main Cafe 4210 Main Street www.themainonmain.com
Marmalade 3-1010 Beach Avenue www.marmaladekb.com
Nu 1661 Granville Street www.whatisnu.com
Ocean’s 6 Seventeen 617 Stamps Landing www.oceans617.com
Provence Marinaside 1177 Marinaside Crescent www.provencevancouver.com
Provence Mediterranean Grill 4473 West 10th Avenue www.provencevancouver.com
Raincity Grill 1193 Denman Street www.raincitygrill.com
Seb’s Market cafe 592 East Broadway www.hotstuffcatering.com
Slickity Jim’s 2513 Main Street www.findmycraving.com/icrave/slickity
So.cial at Le Magasin 332 Water Street www.socialatlemagasin.com
Subeez 891 Homer Street www.subeez.com
Twisted Fork 1147 Granville Street no website
WaaZuBee 1622 Commercial Drive www.waazubee.com/main.php
The Whip 209 East 6th Avenue www.thewhiprestaurant.com

I’ve decided that I haven’t tried The Alibi Room for brunch in like, forever. So, if you want to participate, drop me a comment, send me an email or a tweet and let me know so that I can make reservations.

WHAT – Saturday, November 29th, AIDS Benedict brunch
WHY - Because I never celebrated my birthday with the Vancouver tech/blogging community and now I want to before the year is over… Also, because I am a firm supporter of AIDS/HIV charities.
WHERE - The Alibi Room (157 Alexander)
WHEN - Saturday November 29th, 11:00am

Be there or be square. Even if you can’t attend brunch at The Alibi Room on Saturday (for example, if you’re doing DotComPho or some other event), I’d encourage you to do brunch at any other of the participating restaurants. It’s for a good cause.

Upcoming event – Metro Vancouver Sustainability Breakfast – The Opportunities for Urban Density

Raul — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:44:12 +0000

WHEN – Thursday November 27th, 7:30am to 9:00am
WHAT – Metro Vancouver Sustainability Breakfast “The Opportunities for Urban Density”
WHERE – BCIT Downtown Campus.
WHY – Because urban density is a key issue in the future of the Metro Vancouver regional development.

I would have linked to the Metro Vancouver website but guess what? It’s DOWN! Argh. See you there (despite the fact that it’s going to be the second time I have to be at an event at-7.30-in-the-morning). I am SO not a morning person.

Music: Tick Tick Boom by The Hives

Raul — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:21:50 +0000

My very good friend (and next-door-neighbour) DMcN often says that I like “fluffy” music. True, I do have some Top-40 tunes always in my head, and I know that she thinks that deep house music ain’t all that and a bag of chips. But I also think I do have a little bit of an edge in regards to the music I listen to, so I present to you another of my favorites: Tick Tick Boom by The Hives. Surprised? Shocked? Yeah, I *love* this tune.

Six quirks/habits of Raul – Meme

Raul — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:05 +0000

I’ve been tagged by Keira-Anne, so here goes my response (sorry it’s SO late!)

1.- I follow exactly the same routine at night, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
- Check the doors are locked (outside and in my apartment)
- Brush my teeth and floss.
- Drink water.
- Choose my clothes for the following day.
- Go to sleep.

2.- In the past year, I’ve started to check my blogging Gmail BEFORE my personal or research emails. Yeah, I’m first a blogger and then everything else. Weird!

3.- I hate waiting for anyone to pick me up, so I’ll walk outside my house and stand there. I know, if you watch the water all the time will never boil. It’s painful.

4.- I lit candles in my apartment regardless of whether I have company or not. Sometimes I do it just for the sake of feeling calm and relaxed.

5.- I prefer to book slots of time for friends than to have a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of schedule. Makes my life somewhat complicated sometimes as I have a pretty active social life. And the tech community loves to do things in the spur of the moment (on Twitter!)

6.- I say “REALLY?” a lot. I think what I actually mean is “mmmmhmmmm”.

This time, I’m tagging people who may (or may not) expect me to tag them. I can’t tag Rebecca as she’s already been tagged, so here are who I’m tagging.

Andy Peatling
Duane Storey
Tyler Ingram
Gus Fosarolli
Ianiv and Arieanna Schweber
Tanya Davis

There you go! You didn’t expect me to tag you, did you?

Canadian Blog Awards 2008 and a strong Vancouver/BC contingent!

Raul — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:42 +0000

The results of the Canadian Blog Awards first round of voting for 2008 have been just published, and I’m very honored to be nominated in 3 categories: Best Blog, Best Local Blog and Best Personal Blog. Thank you all for the vote of confidence. Of course, I would be happy if you voted for me, but the nomination itself is pretty big in my books, and I’m really flattered.

I am also honored to be in great company this year. Last year, my friend Rebecca Bollwitt was nominated to the Canadian Blog Awards 2007 and won 3rd Best Local Blog (nation-wide). This year, she is nominated again, and a bunch of other colleagues and friends are in various other categories. I didn’t scan them in thorough detail, so if I’ve missed someone, please do let me know.

PARTIAL LIST OF METRO VANCOUVER NOMINEES FOR 2008 CANADIAN BLOG AWARDS
(If I’ve linked to a site once on the list, I won’t repeat the link, but I’ll mention the blog again – you can vote in each category by clicking on the name of the category and then voting on the Canadian Blog Awards website)

Best Blog

Miss604.com (Rebecca Bollwitt)
Hummingbird604.com (e.g. me)
Matthewgood.org

Best Humor Blog

Noise to Signal
aka Rob Cottingham

Best Local Blog

Hummingbird604.com
Miss604.com
Tenth To The Fraser (New West-focused)
Frances Bula
VanCityBuzz
Kitsilano.ca

Best New Blog

VanCityBuzz

Best Personal Blog

Hummingbird604.com
Letters Home to You ( written by Ian in Hamburg, but he is Canadian )
Matthew Good
CreamPuff Revolution

Best Political Blog

Best Podcaster/Vlogger

Choogle On With Uncle Weed
Ephemeral Feasthouse
Row Three

Best Professional/Career Blog

Get Elastic (Elastic Path)
My Name is Kate

Best Sci/Tech Blog

A View from the Isle by Tris Hussey
TechVibes
DeSmogBlog

Of course, there were MANY really worthy and awesome blogs and podcasts in Vancouver that didn’t get nominated. Jodi mentioned on Twitter one that I am particularly fond of, Lip Gloss and Laptops. I was also shocked not to see Beyond Robson nominated in the Best Group Blog category. Sean Orr’s series (Morning Brew) SHOULD have been nominated. The Crazy Canucks‘ blog and podcast should have been nominated.

Many really awesome blogs and podcasts were deserving of a nomination, and I am truly grateful just by the fact that I’ve been nominated and I’m a finalist. Congratulations to my fellow nominees, and let’s hope that there are several categories were Metro Vancouverites are winners!

Twitter and the bi-directionality of Web 2.0

Raul — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:00:01 +0000

While this week (and weekend) has been incredibly busy, I still managed to see Joe Solomon and Jonathon Narvey for a really quick coffee. Both Joe and Jonathon live fairly close to me, and we tend to hang out at JJ Beans. It’s such a cool coffee shop. They were there to play chess, and I just did a mega-ultra-quick visit to catch up with them in real life.

At some point in our conversation a couple of nights ago we discussed the bi-directionality of Web 2.0 and Twitter. I indicated that in fact I DO know many, many of my Twitter friends in real life, and that I’m actually friends with them. Karen Parker and I mentioned it to Shane Gibson at the recent Tweetup: our usage of Twitter is much more social and less business-oriented. Arieanna and Ianiv mentioned this point to Ianiv’s family one night when we were having dinner: we have been able to develop our friendship through the use of Twitter, because it keeps us connected even though we are in remote places.

David Drucker actually suggested this theme as a potential topic for Northern Voice 2009: how to stay connected when you’re far away (if you remember, I was away from Canada this past summer for about 1.5 months to attend a funeral and be with my family). Even though I wasn’t really in Vancouver, I kept my connections with my friends through Web 2.0 tools – Twitter, my blog, GTalk, Flickr, etc.

One element that Jonathon, Joe and I were musing about is the need for bi-directionality in Web 2.0. In the case of many politicians, their use of Web 2.0 was dismal. Broadcasting your very next move is not what Web 2.0 is all about. It’s about bi-directionality. You speak, I answer. You drop a comment on my blog, I respond (or I monitor the discussion so that I can jump into the conversation at some point). You tweet at me. I tweet back. It’s a 2-way street. I just hope politicians and newcomers to Twitter and the rest of the Web 2.0 applications can understand that.