BITS AND BYTES

iPad Image Resizing

by KEVIN MCISAAC

I really like my iPad. I’ve used one in place of a laptop for years now. I rarely have reason to miss having a full laptop, but there is one area where I do: image work.

Recently I had to do a bunch of work on the Wapiti website and I was away travelling. This was a problem. I wanted to add the bands for the lineup but that entailed getting images from their press kits, resizing / cropping them, and uploading them to the website.

Once the image is on the website the web framework takes care of delivering the images in the correct size for different devices, but I still don’t want to upload 4 -10 MB images as they take a lot of processing time and space on the server. So, I want to downsize them and that’s when I ran into the one problem I have on the iPad – there’s no built-in way to resize an image.

There is a way, which I’ll explain in a moment, but perhaps you’re wondering why I’m dedicating an entire column to such a niche problem. For two reasons: more and more people are using their iPad while travelling to edit, store, and send their photos, and because the solution is just one use of shortcuts. Learning how they work will open a lot of iPad doors for you.

Here’s how I created a shortcut that would let me select the images I wanted, let me resize them all to a specific size or percentage of original, and save the edited photos back to the library from which I could then upload to the website. • Open the Shortcuts app. • Press + to start a new shortcut

• Give it a name like Resize Photos

• Under Media find Get Images from

Input • Click on it to add to the shortcut

• Click on Input on the added item • Click on Continue

• Click on Ask For

• It should change to if there’s no input

Ask for Photos

• Go back to the right side of the shortcut editing screen and click on Media. • Scroll down and click on Resize Image • Resize Images to Size will get added to script • Click on Size then Click on Ask Each

Time • Go back to right side of shortcut editing screen and click on Media

• Scroll down and click on Save to Photo

Album

• Click Done

Now whenever you have images to resize you can go into shortcuts, click on the new Resize Photos shortcut, and it’ll open up and ask you to select photos from your photo library, ask what you want to resize them to, then save the new photos to the photo library.

There are many other options in shortcuts including, flipping, cropping, rotating, combining images, converting images, etc.

I’ll leave you to explore those on your own, but it’s likely that you can avoid downloading third party apps for all but the most complex photo edits and just do them with shortcuts. Stock Photo

Sun conjunct Uranus travelling through Taurus, close in the sky with the north node of the moon (Rahu), Pluto is travelling retrograde in last degrees of Capricorn and therefore revisiting themes of the last several months/last few years. Pluto rules deep transformation and regeneration and Capricorn, the energy ruled by Saturn, rules traditions, restrictions, responsibilities.

The full moon and lunar eclipse create a lot of energy as the Sun sits at 25º Taurus, conjunct Eros, the north node (Rahu) and retrograde Mercury. The moon will strongly affect many aspects of people and society. It’s a very strong full moon and Venus is also tightly conjunct Chiron (in Aries) at this time so I suspect love, and all that we love, can feel painful as major levels of trauma and karma are clearing and cleansing. 25º Scorpio symbolized an X-ray photograph that aides with diagnosis. In other words, all that is hidden is exposed. This is also a lunar eclipse so expect this energy to unfold over the next six months.

The month ends with a new moon in Gemini, which is symbolically aligned with Sagittarius: Spiritual truth – the archer with the bow and arrow being the symbol of the 9th degree of Gemini. Jupiter is also tightly conjunct Mars in the 3rd and 4th degree of Aries, respectively. It’s a powerful time for the truthful lovers of the world to align.

May 2022

by ASHLEY KRISTINA

Aries

Venus and Mars travel through Aries this month, alongside Chiron. The pain body (Chiron) is palpable and this is occurring for everyone at this time. Jupiter enters Aries at the end of the month, where it will travel through all year. This brings abundance and lots of good luck to Aries dominants (Sun, Rising) and the part of the individual chart governed by Aries.

Taurus

Happy birthday! A new beginning and chapter in your life. What are your intentions for this upcoming year? It’s a time to shed and grow all that is not of your highest accord. Jupiter and Neptune

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conjunct in Pisces activates manifestation powers.

Gemini

Happy birthday to the early decan Geminis. Lots of Aries fire is fueling change and growth this Spring however it may also feel like growing pains. Keep trusting.

Cancer

The eclipses of April and May trine your energy bringing positive change into your life. It’s a time of clarity, plans, agreements, and major purchases – truly a pivotal time in your life. It’s also important to be patient and let what is meant for you come to you.

Leo

Contracts are important to be written, revised, renewed – for reasons! Don’t have too many expectations at this time as you might not have all the information you need. Astrology folklore says it’s never a good time to sign a major contact during Mercury retrograde anyway.

Virgo

Mercury is one of your ruling planets, and its retrograde in Gemini means inward thought processes of dual nature for you – meaning you feel/think this way, then the next minute you feel/think the other way.

Libra

This month requires patience, persistence and flexibility. Mercury retrograde in Gemini brings major levels of miscommunication so make sure you communicate as clearly as possible. Pluto retrograde in Capricorn also brings a level of intense pressure.

Scorpio

A major month of change for you as the full moon/lunar eclipse is in your sign, while the north node and south node of the moon sit on the Taurus-Scorpio axis. This is a year and a half of major change for Scorpio and Taurus-dominant charts.

Sagittarius

It’s a fresh start for you with abundance and success. It’s important to have fun this month and keep up the cleansing energy.

Capricorn

Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, retrogrades through your sign giving your own energy a level of intensity. This can particularly be sensed at home and with communications. Be wary that mercury is retrograde so miscommunication can occur this month.

Aquarius

It’s a social month with abundance! An inspiring month and a great time to both learn and share information. A time for writing, poetry, song, and abundance with language.

Pisces

It’s a month to ground yourself and your truth. This includes your finances and also what’s truly in your heart. This includes your self-esteem.

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Community, Through Your Lens

Judy McMahon Photo

The Cardboard Boat Race on Maiden Lake

Onlookers cheer as crews race across the lake in their homemade watercraft with much paddle power, hope and duct tape.

So much laughter, adrenaline, team spirit and pure fun. All the right stuff for a connected community like Fernie.

Vince Mo Photo

FTA Volunteer Crew on Al Matador

It’d be tough to imagine Fernie without its miles of interlinking trails leading from town up to the surrounding mountain summits. At face value, a trail essentially connects a start to a finish. To me they also facilitate connecting us to our environment, and most importantly they connect the vast community of trail users with each other.

Out in the Community:

What do you think makes our community in the Elk Valley so special?

Shea Ferguson

I think the Elk Valley is so special because it is so inclusive! Many of us are not born and raised here yet feel welcomed everywhere!

Jeff Johnson

I believe the Elk Valley community is so special because of how incredibly accepting the people are who choose to live here. We have miners who are accepting of hippy skiers. Environmentalists who are accepting of miners. We accept that Curry Bowl might not open today, or that it could rain tomorrow. We accept that the highway will be jammed Friday afternoon and so will the grocery stores. And I think acceptance comes from people who honestly care about other people and want to do right by them.

Dar Bell

I believe the Elk Valley community is special because we have maintained the small town feel despite growth and development. We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world with the mountains in our backyard for a playground, no travel required. How fortunate is that? Fernie has been a wonderful place to raise our girls and hopefully we can share it with our grandson and future grandchildren as well. This Mother’s Day, there will be a lot of opportunity to treat your mom (or yourself) within the community, including at the Mother’s Day Craft Fair which runs from 10am to 3pm, May 7 at the Fernie Community Centre. Enjoy supporting the 100% handmade items by local artisans and crafters.

Did you know that public are able to attend the Regional District of the East Kootenay meetings and that the zoom links are available online at rdek.bc.ca/ meetings_events/agendas? This started during COVID and is a great way to stay involved and understand process. For example, this May 13 there is a Public Hearing regarding the Galloway Land adjacent to the Mount Fernie Provincial Park. This should be of interest to all Fernie residents, considering the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy submitted a letter stating this property is of interest to BC Parks.

Fore! The Fernie Golf Club opened its driving range on April 14 and has an expected opening to the full course mid-May! Remember to get your membership, with Adult, Senior, Intermediate, Student, Junior, Weekday, After 3 O’Clock, Corporate and Honorary categories available, ranging from $44 to $1366. Also, FGC offers Twilight Rates for $30 as well as other specials, great for those who Fernie Golf Club photo don’t play regularly, are getting into the sport or aren’t sure of their summer schedule! Golffernie.com

Summer is on the way, and with it lots of options for kids to explore while they’re off school. Annually, in the Fernie Fix – Summer Guide we include the Kids’ Guide to Summer, which lists the many camps and activities available for all interests, ages and levels. Pick one up in town, or head to ferniefix.com for the online version.