The Finished Book Questionnaire

1 . Do you keep a list of the books you have read?

You bet. I use Storygraph, Primarily. I just personally love the granularity of control over the user experience. I am also still on Goodreads because that's how my reviews get on this blog. I also use Librarything, which is super amazing and  a great place to get reviewer copies. before these services existed at least once a year or so I would accidentally pick up a book I previously DNF'd and start reading it again only to realize I still didn't like it.

2. If you record statistics, what statistics do you record?

Librarything likes you to track physical dimensions and weight of your books, so I do that over there. Storygraph provides me with stats on genres, how many books by which author, pages read, total books read, all by the year or the month.

3. Do you give star ratings for books and if so, what do you score books out of and how do you come about this score?

Yes, I do:

My rating System:
* = I got through it, but it barely held my attention
** = It was just okay
*** = I Liked it quite a bit
**** = I really enjoyed it/it made me think
***** = Phenomenal, outstanding, author on my automatic library list.

I also have certain author's I will automatically by at thrift stores or Friends of the Library/charity book sales, or garage sales. I never buy something new without reading it first.

4. Do you review books?

Absotively, but you already knew that. *wink*. This is a book blog after all. I post my reviews here, Librarything, Storygraph, Goodreads, and tumblr.

5. Where do you put your finished books?

I usually return them to the library. If they are a review copy and I disliked it, I follow the instructions from the provider. Either recycling it or donating it as appropriate. for audiobooks that are Advanced Listening copies I delete them when finished/DNF'd.

6. Do you have any other rituals for when you have finished a book?

Aside from writing that review, not really. Though I am considering making a book bandana, or scarf maybe.

Credit to the Twirling Book Princess for the idea to do this post

Crown Villa Repairs

 

A Go Fund Me has been launched on behalf of the residents of the Crown Villa. This property has fallen into extreme disrepair. A circumstance that befalls many who are low income. A local news paper the Vernon MorningStar has independently verified the offer from a business that wishes to remain anonymous. The organizer is one Rhonda Poffenroth, a concerned citizen.

Poffenroth will steward the fundraiser and ensure all donations go directly to the company for repairs. The fundraiser is not in any way for the landlord, whom many feel has been negligent. This is the latest development in a saga of woe for the residents. 

As of this writing the fundraiser has raised $1900. The need is $80,000.

Things to do in BC to Celebrate Autumn

 Looking for some fun in the autumn sun?

Well, look no further. Below I have compiled some of my personal favorite harvest season activities.

First up is visiting your local pumpkin patch. This works for outings with friends and family alike. It also works as date opportunity, too. Basically any time you want to get some fresh air and have some great photos. 

Of course picking out your own pumpkins from a local, organic grower has great benefits for the local economy as well. I've Included some ideas to get you started:

1. The Pumpkin Patch in Armstrong
   
2. McMillan Farms in Kelowna
3. Greendale Acres in Chilliwack 
4. Davison Orchards in Vernon
5. Glacier Valley Farm in Brackendale

Next up, corn mazes and Corn picking. This is a great one for atmospheric pictures, and for some fun, and frustration, while honing navigation skills.

1. Greendale Acres in Chilliwack
2. Field of Screams in Vernon (Halloween horror themed)
3. Cariboo's Corn Maze north of Williams Lake

If you prefer your autumn fun a little more structured, many communities have harvest festivals:

• Armstrong
• Feast of Fields
• Nelson

AI vs Algorithmic learning: What's the Difference?

     Lately everyone, and I mean everyone seems to be claiming to use AI. Are they, though? The short answer; no. Let's expand that.

    

    Above you see a poster for the movie AI: Artificial intelligence. The movie is about AI. The definition of AI is clear: AI is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity and autonomy.

    That last bit about autonomy is key. Both in the film and in the definition. The last part means that once you build it you no longer have any control over what it does, or doesn't, do. This is why Asimov made his rules.

They are:

(1) Don't HARM HUMANS 

(2) OBEY HUMANS 

(3) Protect robots unless it conflicts with rules 1 or 2.

I am paraphrasing for conciseness. IF we think back to the definition of AI, it can learn and it has autonomy. This means it can decide to ignore it's programming. Basically Asimov's rules exist to try and nullify AI.

    Can today's technology do any of this? It CAN solve problems depending on complexity. IT CAN'T do any of the rest of the list. It can't think for you, it isn't creative, it can't decide things for you, and it doesn't have autonomy.

 

   Algorithmic learning, in the context of artificial intelligence, refers to the process where machines or algorithms learn from data to improve their performance on a specific task.

 

   So algorithmic learning is best illustrated in action by Alan Turing's ENIGMA machine used during World War II. This complex beast of a machine was programmed to try and crack codes used by nazis. The machine required a human to program it. 

 

   It ran day and night trying all possible combinations of letters and numbers to break this code. On it's own it may have taken decades to break the code, had someone not realized the same length grouping of letters was always at the bottom of each message. Once a human figured out those words. they could program ENIGMA to break the code every time it was changed.

    While algorithmic learning is the foundation of AI, it is not AI. Not by a long shot. Could you imagine what may have happened if ENIGMA had autonomy and the capacity for decisions. It may have refused to do it's job, started making up answers to spite its' bosses, or maybe even given bad Intel due to sympathising with nazis.

 

   It's a very good thing all it could do was solve a problem. Today's algorithms have complex capacity to solve what they are programmed to solve. That is not AI. Not yet.

Wildcard Wednesday: Independent Bookstore Day

    This Wildcard Wednesday is dedicated to Independent Bookstore Day! What is that you ask? It's an initiative designed to uplift independent bookstores.

    So, today April 26th, go forth and read! look up and enjoy your nearest independent bookstore. bookshop.org can help you on your way to greatness. They help indie shops in the US and UK to bridge the gap to provide online sales.

If you are, like me, hailing from Canada a quick online search on indiebookstores.ca will help you find your new favorite haunt.

The two I want to highlight are; Ebenezer's and Expressions of Time. The former provides access to a plethora of comics, collectibles, books, movies, CDs, toys, cards, video games and more! Expressions of Time has new and used books, crystals, jewelry both vintage and new, as well as bookmarks and trinkets.

Definitely worth the trip to the Okanagan. Expressions of Time is right near the beach too! Beach reads, anyone?

So, get out there and Enjoy Independent Bookstore Day!

Okanagan Entertainment

 

The Divya Sutra Plaza Hotel & Conference Center is the new home of the Winter Farmer's Market in Vernon, BC.

If you love getting farm fresh produce and artisanal products year round, it's the place to be. Until the End of October, weather permitting, the Vernon Farmer's Market will be held outdoors at the Kal Tire Place parking lot from 8AM -1PM Monday and Thursday. 

In addition, Saturdays from 9AM-2PM at the Divya Sutra parking lot, have been added to the remaining outdoor season. The Market moves all its days indoors at its new location beginning in November. Check out the Market at their socials on Instagram and on Facebook to keep up with any schedule and vendor announcements.

Also worth mentioning are the markets in other Okanagan communities:

Click here to learn more about all the markets on offer and their dates of operation.

As long you're in town take in a movie or intimate concert at The Towne theater. This venue has been a staple of the downtown core for decades. First as a dance hall, then as a cinema. In its latest iteration, the theater plays host to all manner of events. Upcoming is a concert featuring Darby Mills and PressPlay.

Tipping 'Culture' in Canada

           This article threw me off, and more recently this one. They both presuppose that tipping is a standard practice and even required across Canada. This is not at all the case. In the part of Western Canada I'm from, tipping is still seen as a slimy way that an employer is getting out of paying their staff fairly. 

In most circumstances, lots of us that live out here don't even see the prompt any more. We are well practiced at skipping right over it. Whether or not we tip is largely based on what we can afford and if the service was better than expected.

We've even had advocacy groups lobbying government to improve server wage minimums to make them match everyone else. Tipping culture in the eastern part of my country must be contributing to the high cost of living out there. By no means has tipping become entrenched in our society. Nor should it. 

What should become entrenched is that people deserve to be paid a living wage. Minimum wage was never meant to become 'wage'. It was meant to be a starting place for someone needing to gain work experience. The standard of care needs to return.

P.S. Tipping at places were you are not receiving a service is ridiculous. Tipping somewhere you do receive a service but you know the staff a re well-paid, such as your mechanic isn't necessary at all. In these places the machine only has tip prompts because the companies providing the machines charge to remove it.

Starting Seeds Inside

 

    This season I experimented with Jiffy brand seed tray greenhouses with peat pucks. This product claims to improve success rates for seed germinations. As far as success rate for germination the mini greenhouse certainly did its job.

    I chose to start from seed green zebra tomatoes, peppermint, dwarf snow peas, and rainbow chard. So far the peas liked the peat the best, and are growing strong as transplants into pots. While every seed pod I planted for chard did sprout they never formed roots and couldn't survive transplanting. I ended up re-sowing these directly in a pot. 

    The mint did not like the moisture in the mini greenhouse even after adding ventilation. These will also be getting direct sown into a pot. Three out of four of my Tomato seedlings survived the transplant process. Here's hoping they root well and prosper.

    All in all, I would use the greenhouse again sans peat. I would add a layer of potting mix and start the seeds in that with the lid for added warmth. Something else I've noticed is the tendency for seedlings to be really leggy. This is typically blamed on poor lighting strategy. though I think it is more likely to be the lack of nutrients in the peat coupled with the depth of possible seed placement. Hopefully this will be rectified by eliminating the peat in future uses.