#Burrard Landing

[rabbitcruiser]

Leaping

What do you think about my pic?  

[sherrylephotography]

@sherrylephotography May 19, 2022

Canada Place is on the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

We ate lunch at a Irish Pub and watched the water planes take off and land.

Posted December 2022

[infodumpingaboutnature]

Here’s some good news I just learned about one of my favorite animals: PANGOLINS!!!

(Photo credit: African Wildlife Foundation)

The Giant Pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) is one of the four pangolin species found in Africa and as the name suggests it’s the largest of the eight (potentially nine) living pangolin species. Sadly, pangolin scales are a highly sought after item on the wildlife black market since they’re used in a variety of Asian folk medicines despite having no medicinal value since they’re literally made out of the same thing our hair and fingernails are made out of (keratin). Pangolin meat is also considered a delicacy in many places. Due to the massive decline in the populations of the Asian pangolin species, poachers have begun trafficking the African species and between this and habitat loss the Giant Pangolin went regionally extinct in Kenya in 1971.

(Photo credit: Mark Boyd)

But here’s where the good news comes in! In 2018 giant pangolins were once again being sighted in Kenya! However, since they are solitary creatures and mostly active at night it’s hard for conservationists to get an accurate estimate of how many pangolins might have returned to Kenya. Sadly, the pangolins aren’t out of the woods yet. A lot of forests and woodlands in Kenya are being turned into farmland and farmers in the region must use powerful electric fences to keep animals like elephants away from their crops and these can pose a threat to pangolins who just want to pass through while foraging for bugs. Many of these farmers are pangolin conservationists themselves but their livelihoods depend on them being able to grow and sell their crops in order to feed their families.

(A pangolin being measured and tagged by researchers at night. Photo credit: Will Burrard-Lucas/Pangolin Project)

So, the researchers, farmers, and conservationists who form Pangolin Project came up with a solution. In 2004 over 23 landowners, who represent around 60 households, each set aside a bit of land in order to form the Nyekweri Kimintet Forest Trust. The conservancy covers around 5,000 acres and in addition to providing habitat for pangolins, the Forest Trust also provides job opportunities for local youths and seeks to educate the community about pangolins and overall wildlife conservation.

This story just makes me really happy since I love pangolins and where I work we try to inspire the public (especially local farmers) to get involved in wildlife conservation and adopt more sustainable farming practices so it’s nice to see that happening all over the world. Also, I hope to one day cover the mysterious ninth species of pangolin as well as all the other species. However, right now I’m visiting my bf in Florida so expect some posts related to that.

[figureoutthesea]

I’ve been papparazzi-ing this male Anna’s Hummingbird since it staked out the bushes south of the Sunset Beach dog beach, in the shadow of Burrard Bridge. Yesterday he happened to land super close by, letting me take my best photo ever. And then he took off again, as they do. That was the first photo here, the next few were taken an hour or so later.

[yvetteheiser]

Yvette Heiser - The Best Books on Wildlife Photography Nature Photographer Should Read

Wildlife photography is a tough challenge as wildlife photographers need to have a good knowledge of fieldwork and photographing skills. For instance, it helps to understand an animal or bird's behavior to predict what it will do because some animals and birds are easily frightened. When being photographed, some species may even require stalking methods or a hide or blind for disguise. There is no dispute in the adage that "experience is the best teacher," but you should also read and educate yourself before taking any action. According to Yvette Heiser, everyone interested in wildlife photography, from beginners to experts, should study these books.

Land of  Giants by Will Burrard-Lucas

In collaboration with the Tsavo Trust and the Kenya Wildlife Service, Will Burrard-Lucas spent months taking pictures of elephants around the Tsavo Conservation Area. This book offers a message of hope: these giants are still alive and may still be protected. They are the last of Africa's enormous tuskers, and they still roam deep within a vast wilderness, making them among the rarest mammals on Earth. 

Wild and Willful by Neha Sinha

We meet fifteen iconic Indian creatures in this book that need our help and compassion for conservation. The author investigates the requirements of these species and how they exercise agency and decision-making. Wild and Wilful portrays the magic of the wild in our everyday lives with an equal emphasis on humans and animals, science, and superb prose. 

 Light  on the Landscape: Photographs and Lessons from a Life in Photography by William Neill

In addition to covering in depth the fundamentals of photography, such as light, composition, camera angle, and exposure choices, Light on the Landscape also skillfully addresses several topics that are less frequently covered, such as portfolio development, marketing, printmaking, nature stewardship, inspiration, planning, and self-improvement. The result is an in-depth and comprehensive investigation of that mysterious intersection of light, land, and camera.

 Wild World: Nature Through an Autistic Eye by Alfie Bowen 

This book depicts Bowen's intense sensory experience anytime he is immersed in nature, from his account of his effort to get the ideal image of a cheetah to his gorgeous portraits of some of the most adored creatures on the planet. Red pandas, chimpanzees, monkeys, and colobus monkeys are among the species shown, in addition to elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, zebras, deer, flamingos, eagles, and other birds.

 Journeys in the Wild: The Secret Life of a Cameraman by Gavin Thurston

Gavin invites you to enter the cameraman's secret world and learn about the long hours spent patiently waiting for the animals to appear, the risks that are evermore present and the difficulties that must be overcome, as well as the heartwarming and affirming moments that the cameras sometimes miss.

That is all for Yvette Heiser- the best 5 books on wildlife photography that every aspiring nature photographer must read. You can also read "Tips You Need to Know While Photographing Wildlife" by Yvette Heiser to learn more about wildlife photography.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 6.17 (after 1930)

1930 – U.S. President Herbert Hoover signs the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act into law. 1932 – Bonus Army: Around a thousand World War I veterans amass at the United States Capitol as the U.S. Senate considers a bill that would give them certain benefits. 1933 – Union Station massacre: In Kansas City, Missouri, four FBI agents and captured fugitive Frank Nash are gunned down by gangsters attempting to free Nash. 1939 – Last public guillotining in France: Eugen Weidmann, a convicted murderer, is executed in Versailles outside the Saint-Pierre prison. 1940 – World War II: RMS Lancastria is attacked and sunk by the Luftwaffe near Saint-Nazaire, France. At least 3,000 are killed in Britain's worst maritime disaster. 1940 – World War II: The British Army's 11th Hussars assault and take Fort Capuzzo in Libya, Africa from Italian forces. 1940 – The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union. 1944 – Iceland declares independence from Denmark and becomes a republic. 1948 – United Airlines Flight 624, a Douglas DC-6, crashes near Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, killing all 43 people on board. 1952 – Guatemala passes Decree 900, ordering the redistribution of uncultivated land. 1953 – Cold War: East Germany Workers Uprising: In East Germany, the Soviet Union orders a division of troops into East Berlin to quell a rebellion. 1958 – The Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing, in the process of being built to connect Vancouver and North Vancouver (Canada), collapses into the Burrard Inlet killing 18 ironworkers and injuring others. 1960 – The Nez Perce tribe is awarded $4 million for 7 million acres (28,000 km2) of land undervalued at four cents/acre in the 1863 treaty. 1963 – The United States Supreme Court rules 8–1 in Abington School District v. Schempp against requiring the reciting of Bible verses and the Lord's Prayer in public schools. 1963 – A day after South Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm announced the Joint Communiqué to end the Buddhist crisis, a riot involving around 2,000 people breaks out. One person is killed. 1967 – Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon. 1971 – U.S. President Richard Nixon in a televised press conference called drug abuse "America's public enemy number one", starting the War on drugs. 1972 – Watergate scandal: Five White House operatives are arrested for burgling the offices of the Democratic National Committee during an attempt by members of the administration of President Richard M. Nixon to illegally wiretap the political opposition as part of a broader campaign to subvert the democratic process. 1985 – Space Shuttle program: STS-51-G mission: Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Arab and first Muslim in space, as a payload specialist. 1987 – With the death of the last individual of the species, the dusky seaside sparrow becomes extinct. 1989 – Interflug Flight 102 crashes during a rejected takeoff from Berlin Schönefeld Airport, killing 21 people. 1991 – Apartheid: The South African Parliament repeals the Population Registration Act which required racial classification of all South Africans at birth. 1992 – A "joint understanding" agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II). 1994 – Following a televised low-speed highway chase, O. J. Simpson is arrested for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. 2015 – Nine people are killed in a mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. 2017 – A series of wildfires in central Portugal kill at least 64 people and injure 204 others. 2021 – Juneteenth National Independence Day, was signed into law by President Joe Biden, to become the first federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

[romantic-ideas-for-a-honeymoon]

Romantic Ideas for a Honeymoon in Vancouver

Vancouver, the jewel of British Columbia, offers an enchanting blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for honeymooners. This vibrant city boasts a variety of romantic experiences that cater to every couple's taste, from tranquil park strolls to exhilarating seaplane tours. Let's explore some of the most captivating honeymoon ideas that Vancouver has to offer.

Ride a Horse-Drawn Carriage in Stanley Park

Step back in time and indulge in a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through Stanley Park, one of North America's largest urban parks. As you snuggle under a cozy blanket, the gentle clip-clop of hooves will transport you through the park's lush, ancient forest. Admire the towering cedars, hemlocks, and Douglas firs that have stood for centuries, creating a fairy-tale ambiance. The carriage will wind along the seawall, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Lions Gate Bridge, and the North Shore Mountains. This serene journey provides a perfect opportunity to hold hands, share intimate moments, and create lasting memories in one of Vancouver's most iconic settings.

Take in the View from Prospect Point

For a panoramic view that encapsulates Vancouver's stunning geography, head to Prospect Point in Stanley Park. This elevated viewpoint offers an unparalleled vista that will take your breath away. Watch as massive freighters and cruise ships navigate the Burrard Inlet, framed by the majestic Lions Gate Bridge. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Vancouver Island and the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. As the sun sets, the sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples, casting a romantic glow over the cityscape. Prospect Point is also home to a charming café where you can enjoy a warm beverage or a light meal while basking in each other's company and the awe-inspiring scenery.

Tour Vancouver by Seaplane

For an unforgettable honeymoon experience, take to the skies with a seaplane tour of Vancouver. These intimate flights offer a unique perspective on the city's diverse landscape. As you lift off from Coal Harbour, right in the heart of downtown, you'll immediately be struck by the juxtaposition of gleaming skyscrapers against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Soar over Stanley Park, getting a bird's-eye view of its dense forest and winding seawall. Follow the coastline past beautiful beaches and exclusive waterfront homes. Your pilot will point out landmarks like Grouse Mountain, where you might spot skiers in winter, and Deep Cove, a hidden gem in North Vancouver. The tour culminates with a graceful water landing, an exhilarating end to a romantic aerial adventure.

See the Northern Lights from the Spanish Banks

For a truly magical honeymoon experience, venture to the Spanish Banks on a clear winter night to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights. This stretch of beach in Vancouver's west end offers an unobstructed view of the northern sky, far from the city's light pollution. Bundle up in warm layers, bring a thermos of hot chocolate, and spread out a cozy blanket on the sand. As you lie back, gazing at the stars, you may be treated to nature's most spectacular light show. The Aurora Borealis dances across the sky in shimmering curtains of green, pink, and purple, reflected in the calm waters of English Bay. This ethereal display, visible on dark nights between late fall and early spring, creates an incredibly romantic atmosphere, perfect for whispered promises and shared dreams.

Visit the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Gardens

From late November to early January, VanDusen Botanical Gardens transforms into a winter wonderland with its annual Festival of Lights. This enchanting event is a must-visit for honeymooners seeking a romantic holiday experience. As you stroll hand in hand through the 15-acre garden, you'll be surrounded by over one million twinkling lights artfully arranged to showcase the garden's natural beauty. Walk beneath glowing archways, past illuminated fountains, and through a sparkling tunnel of lights. The highlight is the Dancing Lights show on Livingstone Lake, where colorful lights synchronize with festive music, reflecting off the water in a dazzling display. Throughout the garden, you'll find cozy fire pits where you can warm up and enjoy roasted chestnuts or s'mores. The Festival of Lights offers a magical setting to celebrate your new life together, surrounded by the beauty and warmth of the holiday season. Vancouver's diverse attractions cater to every couple's idea of romance, whether it's the tranquility of a horse-drawn carriage ride, the thrill of a seaplane tour, or the enchantment of the Northern Lights. After each day's adventures, you'll appreciate returning to the comfort of your chosen accommodation. While this guide focuses on romantic experiences, it's worth noting that there are numerous hotels at YVR Vancouver Airport, providing convenient options for your arrival or departure. However, for the most romantic atmosphere, consider staying closer to these captivating attractions in the heart of Vancouver. Each experience offers a unique way to celebrate your love, making your honeymoon in this Pacific Northwest paradise truly unforgettable.

[goingplacesfarandnear]

On the Path to Discover Vancouver’s Revived Indigenous Heritage

The view from the seawall at Stanley Park across Burrard Inlet to West Vancouver, where indigenous peoples had lived for thousands of years taking advantage of rich fishing and hunting before being forced out of land considered “unceded.” Expression of indigenous culture was banned in Canada for more than 100 years © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com By Karen Rubin, Travel Features…

[college-girl199328]

When you name your YouTube seawall video How Vancouver’s Waterfront Became So Boring, subtlety is not your aim.

Even so, Uytae Lee‘s 11-minute mini-doc on one of the city’s world-famous gems got under a lot more people’s skin than the urban-planning filmmaker anticipated.

“It generated a lot of controversy in some circles,” Lee said. “I’m friends with quite a few urban planners in the city and I think there were some feathers ruffled.”

The short film, posted in mid-February, has garnered more than 120,000 views and more than 750 comments.

Lee, who graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax with a bachelor's degree in community design and urban/regional planning, was inspired to make it after watching a debate last April sponsored by Urbanarium, a non-profit platform for community planning and design discussions that partnered with Lee to make the video and UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

A poll before the four speakers took the podium — two of them yay, two of them nay — showed 73 percent were against the idea of more commercialization along the seawall, which runs uninterrupted from the convention centre downtown to Spanish Banks in Point Grey.

After the four speakers were done, another poll was done of the 50 or so people in attendance at Robson Square and another 400 or so viewing online, and the results had inched more toward commercialization: 61 percent con, 39 percent pro.

“There’s so much potential there for people to come down other than just walking or riding a bike,” Lee said. “That’s what struck a chord with me.”

Lee’s video contrasts the seawall, which he admits is perhaps one of the “most celebrated waterfronts in the world,” with attractions in other waterfront cities: Harbourfront in Halifax; Porto’s restaurants in Portugal; Hat Yai’s floating markets in Thailand; Oslo’s Harbour Promenade in Norway; Coney Island’s amusement park, New York.

“I see all these unused spaces in some of the most prime real estate in Vancouver. I can’t help but think there’s a missed opportunity here,” Lee said. “Other cities’ waterfronts make Vancouver’s look like a snoozefest.”

The seawall, at 28 kilometres, is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path, according to the City of Vancouver. It passes through more than 20 parks and a dozen or so restaurants.

Case in point, he said, is Cultural Harmony Grove at the south end of the Burrard Bridge.

“A patch of grass with trees and a few benches. I guess one way to create harmony is to make a park so boring everyone agrees not to use it.”

Then there’s the unlikely Existential Alley, next to the David Lam dock at Homer Mews.

These are just two of numerous examples of boring public spaces, he said, and that includes the seawall.

And to see the difference between the Halifax waterfront, say, and Vancouver’s seawall, wait until the sun comes down, Lee said. After dark, Halifax’s boardwalk still bustles while the seawall after dark is “basically shut down,” he noted.

“It’s like the city doesn’t want anybody to be out here after sunset. There’s no lighting, very few people, it’s no man’s land.”

A popular restaurant at Kits Beach next to the tennis courts had to deal with local outrage. A proposed beach volleyball court at Sunset Beach was rejected in part because West End neighbours complained it would create dust.

In 2001, when Coal Harbour was being developed, the B.C. Restaurant Foodservice Association proposed turning it into a “mecca for fun and food,” but the city council of the day kiboshed the idea because neighbours protested.

The next year the park board proposed developing what became the Boathouse. “The result? Raucous public meetings,” Lee said. “There’s a long history of people opposing all sorts of activity on the seawall.”

Even bikes were not always welcome. In the 1970s, cycling was illegal and the Vancouver Sun noted that police would “perch at various key locations along the seawall, nab cyclists and write $100 tickets, about 3,000 in total by 1976.”

Not to be outdone, Vancouver Sun columnist Allan Fotheringham wrote that widening the seawall was a “genuinely idiotic” plan “to accommodate goofy cyclists to bash into all the peaceful pensioners and sane pedestrians who enjoy a quiet stroll.”

Even today it’s a challenge to get a daycare installed in Coal Harbour without neighbours complaining about the potentially ear-splitting noise coming from pre-schoolers.

But it’s more than NIMBYs at work, Lee said. There is a pervasive ideology at play, as well.

“It turns out there are a lot of park planners and policy-makers who want public spaces without much else to do other than walk,” he said.

Across Burrard Inlet, Vancouver’s seawall falls under two jurisdictions, the city and the park board, and earlier this year the board lifted a moratorium on new commercial initiatives in the city’s parks, directing staff to prioritize a “Think Big” revenue-generating strategy.

“This strategy may lead to recommendations to the board to explore opportunities along the seawall for increased commercial operations, attractions or other installations, but at this stage, it’s too early to speculate on what this might look like,” David Harrison, a park board spokesman, said by email.

Recognizing that, she said she thinks of the seawall like a bracelet, not just strung with pearls or diamonds.

“With a bunch of different kinds of jewels on it,” Long said. “Each one is uniquely different.

[jminter]

VMF Winter Arts brings Land and Light to the City February 16-26

The dark and dreary winter days are about to get brighter as VMF Winter Arts returns February 16-26, 2023.  Transforming downtown Vancouver into an interactive open-air gallery and celebration of public art and entertainment. Produced by VMF (the team behind Vancouver Mural Festival), the free, 3rd annual festival brings together local and international public art with live experiences—including music, tours, talk, dance parties, food and drink—to connect, reflect and celebrate our city and its diverse communities.

VMF Winter Arts 2022 - Hub - Photo: Credit VMF/Gabriel Martins With the theme of Land and Light, VMF Winter Arts 2023 is bringing together art, technology, and celebration.  Light becomes a creative force in the city and an invitation to consider the relationship to the land—as stewards, settlers, immigrants, visitors, and guests. In the hands of artists, light becomes a medium to illuminate, transform, and share their individual and collective visions for a shared future. Over the festival’s 11 days, free art and entertainment can be discovered along the VMF Winter Arts route from the Vancouver Art Gallery, along Burrard Street including Bentall Centre, to Canada Place. The festival’s central live celebration site will be the Winter Arts Hub. Located at šxw???n?q Xwtl'e7én? Square (formerly known as the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza), the Winter Arts Hub offers an inclusive, free, family-friendly outdoor space featuring a licensed bar, rotating food trucks, interactive art, and a covered festival stage featuring daily live performances. Additional art can also be experienced while enjoying the Robson Square Ice Rink next door. New this year is VMF After Dark, a series of late night pop-up parties in a fully-transformed creative space at Bentall Centre. Dubbed the Bentall Centre Gallery, the site will host art and a licensed all-ages NFT Gallery and Lounge by day, then transform into a 19+ event space on weekend nights. Each of the five ticketed After Dark parties will feature entertainment curated by a different group from the local music scene, providing festival goers with an opportunity to continue dancing after the nearby Winter Arts Hub closes for the night. The festival’s public art highlights will include laser light animation, augmented reality, sculptures and more by local and international artists. At the core of VMF’s values is a commitment to supporting and showcasing diversity in all its forms. Through art and events, VMF creates inclusive experiences that connect and reflect our city’s many cultures and communities, while inviting all to participate, regardless of background. This commitment is woven across Winter Arts’ visual and performance artist line-up and programming. This winter, multimedia artist Tafui will curate Present, an exhibition bringing together audio, visual and spoken word artists. Through laser animation and live performances, ‘Present’ will tell stories that highlight the creativity of the African and Caribbean diaspora.

VMF Winter Arts - Blanketing The City - BC Place - Photo Credit VMF/Gabriel Martins Blanketing The City: Lighting The Way is the continued evolution of the Blanketing The City series with acclaimed xwm??kw?y? ?m (Musqueam) weaver and designer Debra Sparrow. This February, iconic landmarks across the city—including BC Place and Canada Place—will once again be illuminated with large-scale light displays featuring transformed Coast Salish weaving patterns. Adding to the Winter Arts experience will be a range of special programming including daily Guided Art Tours across downtown, a Curator Talk, plus more to be announced. “VMF holds a vision of Vancouver as an international destination to celebrate art that lights up our downtown core. Our Winter Arts festival brings top local and international art and artists together with food, music, live performances and a West Coast vibrancy to create a unique experience that welcomes all to celebrate and connect.” - Andrea Curtis, VMF Executive Director Visit winterartsfest.com details about VMF Winter Arts 2023. Read the full article

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"$50,000 Fire On 'CREEK'," Vancouver Sun. May 19, 1933. Page 1. ---- RAT PORTAGE PLANT BURNS ---- Fire Captain's Minor Injuries --- Fire swept through the old Rat Portage Lumber Company mill, south shore of False Creek, near Granville Street Bridge, at 4:40 p.m. Thursday, and within two hours reduced the rambling structure to a mass of smouldering ruins.

Damage estimated at about $50,000 was caused.

Believed to have originated from an acetylene torch used by a crew of five men employed in salvaging machinery from the engine room of the mill, the blaze swept through the plant, and within a few minutes the entire structure was a mass of flames.

Firemen and apparatus from seven halls fought the blaze for almost two hours before it was brought under control. Captain Locke Livingstone sustained minor burns about the legs and was removed to the General Hospital for treatment.

Attracted by the screech of sirens,about 7000 persons thronged the roadways and Granville and Burrard Bridges to witness the blaze.

Fanned by a fresh southerly breeze the fire flashed along the tinder-like wood until the whole rambling structure was a roaring mass of flames.

FIREBOAT IN ACTION Captain Livingstone at the head of 3 group of men plunged into the roaring inferno with their hose line. Before the men had time to escape a hole opened up in the floor and flames belched upward, burning Livingstone's legs. He was removed to the General Hospital.

Meanwhile, the city fireboat, J. H. Carlisle, arrived on the creek side of the fire and with all turrets spurting water under high pressure went into action.

Later hose lines were run from the boat to the shore crews who were unable to reach certain parts of the blaze with their own hose.

Damage has not yet been officially set, but it is believed to have been comparatively light, inasmuch as most of the machinery had been removed from the structure some time previously.

Observers placed the damage at be-tween $30,000 and $50.000. No insurance was carried on the building, it was stated.

QUIT YEARS AGO Almost two years ago, the Rat Portage Lumber Company, one of the oldest in Vancouver, ceased operations at the plant and since that time crews have been employed salvaging machinery for sale and storage. Only a small quantity of machinery remained in the building when the fire broke out, it is stated.

The property is owned by the Provincial Government.

Photo caption: BATTLING THE FLAMES Vancouver fire fighters battled the flames which destroyed the old mill buildings of the Rat Portage Lumber Company, south shore of False Creek, near the Granville bridge, Thursday, from both land and sea.

Top picture is a view of the ruins after the fire swept through the structure. Two firemen are shown directing a hose line from the floor, which is also the deck of the mill wharf.

Lower picture shows the fire- boat, "J. H. Carlisle," in action alongside the dock.

The property is owned by the Provincial Government.

Photograph by Red Williamsen, Sun staff photographer.

[rabbitcruiser]

Vancouver Seawall (No. 3)

The Burrard Street Bridge, opened July 1, 1932, was built to provide a high-level crossing from Vancouver to the southwestern neighbourhoods in Kitsilano, by connecting Burrard Street to Cedar Street. After completion, Burrard was extended through to the base of downtown and Cedar Street disappeared.

A snip of a pair of golden scissors in the hands of Mayor Louis D. Taylor, and Vancouver's $3 million Burrard Street Bridge was opened to the public Friday afternoon, July 1 ... Hardly was the ribbon cut in front of the devouring eyes of movie cameras, then thousands of pedestrians and hundreds of cars surged across the magnificent white structure in a procession of triumph, celebrating another step in Vancouver's progress

At the opening ceremony, entertainment was provided by two bands, the Kitsilano Boy's Band and the Fireman's Band. An RCAF seaplane flew under the bridge and later a sugar replica of the bridge was unveiled at the civic reception in the Hotel Vancouver.

G.L. Thornton Sharp, of Sharp and Thompson, was the architect responsible for the distinctive towers on the bridge and its middle galleries. "Both central piers," Sharp told a reporter, "were designed and connected with an overhead gallery across the road. This helped to mask the network of steel in the truss from the two approaches, and has been treated as an entrance gateway to the city." Along their other axis, the full height of the piers above the water also serve to frame a sea entrance gateway, notably for pleasure craft: "by sea and land we prosper". The piers have provision for a rapid transit vertical lift span beneath the highway deck, never installed.

Source: Wikipedia

[rjzimmerman]

Kenya's F_MU1 seen shortly before her death from natural causes at the age of 60 in 2017. (Photo: Will Burrard-Lucas in partnership with Tsavo Trust)

The queen towering over other members of her herd in Kenya. (Photo: Will Burrard-Lucas in partnership with Tsavo Trust)

Each of the queen's tusks is estimated to have weighed more than 100 pounds. (Photo: Will Burrard-Lucas in partnership with Tsavo Trust)

Excerpt from this Mother Nature Network story:

The moment British wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas first encountered the majestic "tusker" elephant quite literally took his breath away.

Officially classified as F_MU1, the towering giant was more reverently nicknamed Kenya's "queen of the elephants." For days in August 2017, Burrard-Lucas and a research team from the Tsavo Trust had scoured an area the size of Switzerland looking for this legendary creature. When she was finally spotted and Burrard-Lucas got into position, her grand entrance was like something torn from the pages of a natural world long since lost.

"When I first saw her I was awestruck, for she had the most amazing tusks I had ever seen," he wrote in a blog post. "If I hadn’t looked upon her with my own eyes, I might not have believed that such an elephant could exist in our world. If there were a Queen of Elephants, it would surely have been her."

[the-anxiety-ridden-writer]

knives on my body, blood on my hands

Chapter One: The House At The End of The Street, The Cabin Buried in the Woods

THE CLOCK HAS BARELY TICKED PAST NINE O’CLOCK when the last light flickers off. Ink black shadows swell in the thin backstreets whilst gray storm clouds obscure any light coming from the shining moon.

The old town plunges into darkness and hidden within it, a little girl revels in it. Tilts her head back and let’s the beginnings of the storm wash over her, as if the rain water that begins to seep into her very being can wash away the red that has stained her soul.

(It can’t, the blood on her hands will transcend lifetimes)

A bright clash of lightning brings her out of her thoughts. She melts into the shadows and continues on her way, making her way down the street with eerie silent footsteps.

Perhaps a lesser man would have stumbled down the street, unable to walk the burrard street without tripping over himself. But the little girl moves with a silent grace in her step, weaving around the bumps and cracks even when she can barely see the boots on her feet.

The training of her handlers, years spent in the Hydra and The Red Room overcoming her. She could walk the streets - could walk a path around the world and still carry the deadly grace and efficiency that they had beaten into given her.

Besides, the little girl was just The Asset to her handlers, Hydra’s own personal Angel Smerti. She was no man, much less one of low value.

The house at the end of the street is quiet when she enters it. The screams of the lightning hide the soft whine of the window when she opens it and the creak of the wooden floorboards when she lands on them.

The Asset squints her eyes, letting them adjust to the darkness and trail over the bookshelf lined walls. She stepped towards the oak desk, lifting one of the files scattered on the surface. She let her eyes scan the pages within before setting it down, letting the words winter soldier, car crash, two victims and serum mull over in her head before filtering it away for later, a loud clatter pulling her attention to the doorway.

A poison slick dagger is already soaring through the air and embedding itself in the figure before she can fully get a good look at them. The figure - a frail, old man with thinning white hair - stumbles back from the force of the knife, dark eyes widening in fear as the Asset stalks over to him.

She gives him quick once over, letting her eyes roam over the man as his muscles begin to tense up until he can’t move at all, until he is nothing but a mere puppet that the Asset can pull all the strings of. A puppet that the Asset can cut all the strings off of.

She carefully ignores how those last thoughts bring a small sense of dread and horror that pools in her stomach. Turn her head to the voice telling her ‘what’s one more body to add to the pile?’ And the voice asking her ‘just how monstrous have you become?’

(too much, far too much for someone her age)

The man finds his voice, previously lost in a sea of gasps and whimpers, “Please.” he begs, eyes wide, a wrinkled hand pressed to the dagger buried within his stomach.

“Please don’t ki-“ the Asset cuts him off, yanking the dagger out and shoving it into his throat. It doesn’t take long for the old man to leave these mortal planes, drifting off to be judged by an otherworldly being that can distinguish a saint and a sinner and never the between. To the otherworldly being that thinks he has any right to judge the actions of a human being trying to survive.

No, Death has never discriminated between the saints and the sinners.

‘And neither shall I’ the Asset thinks, ripping her dagger from his throat to slip back into the many holsters that cover her clothing.

She lugs the old man into the study, manhandling his body into the smooth leather chair, resting his head upon the oak desk, staining the folders with his blood. She stepped back, observing her work with a critical eye. It almost looked like the poor man had fallen asleep at his desk, if you - you know - ignore the blood.

The Asset eyed the scented candles perched atop one of the bookshelves, promptly labeled Cinnamon Sugar! Warm Spring Sunshine! and Peach! The Asset raised an eyebrow, an idea coming to mind.

An idea that would end in the echoing cries of firetruck sirens throughout the quaint street, the horrified muttering of neighbors and the ashes of an old man's study.

•☽○☾•

IT’S DAWN by the time the Asset makes her way back to where her handler—a sleazy, middle aged man that she hadn’t taken the time to remember his name—is currently based.

The sky is a disarray of colors, the sun spilling a cup of bright yellows and exotic oranges over the previously dark canvas. The Asset finds herself staring up at it, and feels a deep longing begin to stir. For the sky ran everywhere. It ran through the deepest of forests and the driest of deserts and over the endless waves of the ocean. The sky ran everywhere, demanding to be seen and heard and free and the Asset found herself envying it.

Truth be told, there used to be a fire in the Assets soul, before she was called Asset and went by the name that had been sewn into a velvet blanket by a woman that may have cared. It would burn through her veins, close to her heart and on days when her trainers would be harder on her than the rest for her heritage or when one of the girls - a pretty blond who went by Rowena - would make a cruel remark about the shape of her eyes, she’d let the fire consume her, let it burn through her and come out of her mouth, searing into them, until Rowena wept ugly tears into her hands and the trainers unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks before demanding an apology. The Asset can’t remember if the girl with her name sewn into a blanket had ever apologized, had never wanted to dwell too much on those memories.

(she hadn’t, the girl took all the pain and torture with her head held high. she refused to apologize for the fire in her soul. )

The Asset shook those thoughts away as the cabin her handler—Ivan Vanko—had holed himself up in came into sight. Just the sight of it, and the thought of facing Ivan had her straightening her posture, wiping any sign of weariness and schooling her face until there were no cracks in her porcelain mask, nothing for Ivan to dig into to expose all her thoughts.

There’s no noise when she enters, the door shutting silently behind her. She tenses, tilting her head to the side before pulling out one of her knives. Moving down the hall, she keeps her senses sharp, With no idea who she’s up against, she waits, muscles wound tight and her mouth a hard line, eyes darting around the slim hallway walls. She doesn’t have to wait long.

A hand thrusts out of the first doorway to her right, a strong pull has her flying through the air and losing the grip on her knife. Pain erupted in her shoulder but she didn't give it the time of day. Instead she rolls to her feet, springing up and throwing every ounce of her strength into the flying kick that sends her assailant slamming into the wall with a yell of pain.

The Asset lets herself breathe, if only for a second. Her eyes assess her assailant — a well dressed man with balding hair — cataloging every weakness she can find, from the way he favors his right side to the fading bruise on his right temple, while he lay recovering.

This time, when he lunged for her, she is ready.

She side steps his attack, digging her knee into his injured side, and sends a sharp elbow into his already bruised face. A loud crack echoes in the room, and when he stumbles back, a scream of pain that can only come from deep within himself, a small twisted part of her is pleased to see his nose is far from the correct position.

Adrenaline thumps through herself, a synchronized sympathy that plays in tempo with her heart. When both he and his little friend that had been waiting, watching in the shadows of the room lunge at her, she already knows who the victor of this battle will be.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is where their dance begins. Or rather, her dance begins.

She dodges his friend's attack, turning and arching her leg in the air, slamming it into assailant number two — a short woman who was barely taller than The Asset — side. It leaves her stumbling back, groaning as she falls like a corpse into the glass table in the center of the room.

The Asset grunts as strong arms encircle her, lifting her up, up, up. She grunts, moving her arm up and once again digging her elbow in his face. It connects with his eye this time, the action leaving him stumbling back, clutching his hand to his eye. The Asset doesn’t give him time to recover, doesn’t have enough sympathy, enough empathy, enough mercy in the body that has been crafted with the fists and guns and needles of the men and women who have used her, trained her, killed her.

It’s why the dagger slips so easily out of its concealed holster and into the man's chest. A cry of agony is silenced with the arc of her leg, her foot connecting with his Adam's apple. He toppled over, hands held to his chest as if he can relieve the pain that she has brought to his body.

She stared him down, the soft creak of wood under her foot echoed like screams around the room. She plants one foot on his chest, pressing down as she pulls the dagger from his chest, baring her teeth behind her ninja-esque mask as he screams.

She leaves the man there, bleeding, beaten, broken and goes to find her handler.

AN: I don’t know what this is, but it’s dumb. I’m also dumb tho and I’m thinking of adding on.

Special thanks to @unmaskedagain , @nightlychaotic and @nobodyfamousposts for introducing me to maribat. I love all of your maribat posts.

Tag list: @avengerthewarrior , @nightlychaotic

[allthecanadianpolitics]

For Tsleil-Waututh Nation Elders and members, it’s obvious what increased marine vessel traffic in Burrard Inlet has done to their waters and lands.

Charlene Aleck, spokesperson for TWN’s Sacred Trust, says members have watched for years as erosion on the foreshore has coincided with more marine traffic, compromising important cultural places, damaging archaeological sites, and degrading key shorelines and beaches.

“Seeing the erosion happen before your eyes – it’s a piece of your history – it’s like having your grandmother's quilt and watching threads of it being pulled and torn,” she said.

Now, new research released in February has reaffirmed what the nation has been saying for decades – that marine vessel traffic is having a significant impact on overall wave energy in the inlet. And, it’s only going to get worse once the Trans-Mountain Pipeline expansion is operational.

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[solarpunkbaby]

The Squamish Nation is a Coast Salish Nation whose territory includes Burrard Inlet, English Bay, Howe Sound, the Squamish Valley and north to Whistler.

The Trans Mountain Expansion calls for new pipeline routes through Squamish Territory, 13 new tanks and one replacement tank at the Burnaby Terminal, the dismantling of the current Westridge Marine Terminal and the building of an entirely new, much larger marine terminal, and at least a seven-fold increase in tanker traffic per month to travel past Squamish reserves and through to the Salish Sea.

The Project poses a serious threat to Squamish’s home, to their continued reliance on the marine and aquatic environment for the practice of their rights, and to the survival of the Southern resident killer whale – a species of cultural and spiritual significance to the Nation that is recognized to be in a critical state.

The Squamish assert a strong claim to Aboriginal rights, including title and self-governance rights, within the areas to be impacted by the Project pursuant to s. 35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982. Further, since a time before contact with Europeans, Squamish regularly travelled to and fished in the Fraser River and they assert Aboriginal rights to fish in the Fraser River, including at its mouth and on its tributaries. The Squamish continue to occupy, and be stewards of their territory, including the Capilano River at the entrance of Burrard Inlet, Seymour River, the Fraser River, and Howe Sound. These lands, waters, resources and activities are central to their way of life, culture and identity.