BITS AND BYTES

Bits and Bytes THE ANSWER GUY

Picture This

by KEVIN MCISAAC

If you’re anything like me, when you first got your smartphone you were downloading apps like crazy. I was constantly amazed at what my phone could do.

Then the fascination waned. Eventually, I found I was only using a dozen or so apps with any regularity. And these days I only download an app when it’s to operate something like my Sonos speakers or patio lights.

That is until recently when I downloaded the Picture This app. But before I get to that I want to talk about 20 Questions, the game we all played when we were kids. You ask 20 yes or no questions and based on the answers try to guess what the other person is thinking of.

Way back in 1988, a developer name Robin Burgener was experimenting with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Yes, AI has been around for more than 30 years. He built a website that could ask you questions and guess what you were thinking. After millions of games, it became extremely proficient at guessing. Because it wasn’t programmed with answers but instead guessed based on how people answered it could even guess correctly when people answered yes or no incorrectly. It was pretty astonishing.

Coming back to Picture This, which is a plant guessing app that also uses artificial intelligence. Picture This lets you take a photo of any plant and within a few seconds will tell you what kind of plant it is. Seems simple but when you think that it knows over 10,000 plants which people are going to photograph in a wide variety of circumstances: low light, windy, early in growth, old, bright sunshine, weird angles, etc., it is nothing short of amazing. It uses artificial intelligence gleaned from many researchers and millions of tries to become extremely proficient at identifying. If it does guess wrong, and you know the correct name, you can submit the update and make the app even better.

I wandered around my property and took it on dog walks. I was very impressed with its ability to differentiate between the many different types of spruce trees we have in the area. Most of them look pretty similar, but it had no problem.

Out in the garden, it was a whiz at telling me that the “carrots” I thought were coming up were weeds. It easily identified all the plants in the garden, the flowers in the yard, the trees around the property. It was genuinely fun. It also gives you loads of information about each plant such as edibility, toxicity, etc. It even has a services button that will help you determine when to water and fertilize your plants.

You can get Picture This from the Google Play store and the Apple App Store. When you install it it will tell you that you have a one-week trial and then it will charge you a subscription after that. If you don’t want to do that, look for a small x-icon in the upper right corner and close that window. Now you can use it for free. The free version limits the number of plants you can identify.

If you opt for the trial, you can cancel the subscription within six days and pay nothing. A good way to check it out.

A full subscription is $40 a year. Which is pretty inexpensive if you’re a serious gardener or plant nut. V Croome Photo

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Bits and Bytes ASTROLOGY

Expansion is the major theme of the month, with the full moon (07/23) creating a mobilization of energy. It’s time for a new land, a new calling and to take matters into our own hands. May and June had both a lunar and solar eclipse which brings life-changing energy. July and August create momentum for this cycle.

The Sun travels through Cancer and enters Leo on 07/22. Venus and Mars travel together all month in Leo adding a fun, romantic and happy energy. They enter Virgo 07/21 and 07/31, respectively. The Sun and Mercury close in on each other towards the end of the month which makes communication still a major theme. The conjunction of the sun and mercury on 07/31 is in opposition to retrograde Saturn creating tension.

Saturn, Pluto, Jupiter and Neptune are all retrograde (as are Eros, Juno, Pholus and Nessus). At least they are no longer all retrograde and conjunct like what occurred in the first lockdown. These retrogrades are the astrological explanation for this time on earth. Again, everyone’s best choice is to be patient as the inward, slow, restricted time is not ending anytime soon.

Chiron travels through Aries and enters retrograde 07/15 —> 12/19: we all have a wound and it is being felt strongly. Chiron is the wound and Aries is the epitome of the “self.” It is a purging time where deep emotions, wounds, and anything buried comes to the surface for release.

Aries

Your ruling planet, Mars, travels in Leo all month which means that everything you do this month will be taken well by others and create a happy, joyous vibe. Chiron, the asteroid that represents the wound (and the healer) travels through your sign and sensitizes you.

Taurus

It’s both a nourishing and fun month for you with expansion occurring in your sector of business, work and employment. The theme of business and working with groups of people will be your main mission over the next several months.

Gemini

It’s a period of launching: new businesses, new homes, new lands, new investments. You name it. It’s a bold time to begin and the time to do it is now as the planets support this energy into September.

Cancer

Selling houses, buying houses, investing are major themes. The eclipses of June effect areas of your life into 2022, shifting the trajectory of life. Opportunities with inheritances, investments, and money in all forms.

Leo

Lots of clarity comes this month as mercury is direct and out of shadow. This clarity brings momentum. It’s a social time with a theme surrounding agreements and life-changing experiences: major endings, major new beginnings.

July 2021

by ASHLEY KRISTINA

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Virgo

Big changes to your personal relationships are occurring, including your relationship to yourself. This continues into May of 2022. Radical shifts and issues surrounding co-dependency are the theme that requires a healthy separation of self from (a) care-taking role(s).

Scorpio

A time of fun, love, romance, creativity and children. The theme of true love is enhanced in your chart over the next year and felt strongly this month. Additionally, Pluto-oppositions may bring power struggles where there are underlying issues.

Sagittarius

Travel, study, wisdom, spirituality and connection to foreign lands, people, places, foods are a theme in your life. It’s a year and a half of many life shifts for you, alongside a clearing of karma.

Capricorn

A summer of change especially surrounding homes and investments. Pay attention as themes that arise this month will be revisited in 2022. Communication is paramount.

Aquarius

Saturn is currently travelling retrograde through your sign bringing two major themes into your life: restriction and discipline. Towards the end of the month, retrograde Jupiter also enters your sign and gives a sense of expansion.

Pisces

Retrograde Jupiter travels in the beginning degree of Pisces this month truly amplifying the energy of Pisces, which is that of the divine and union with the divine. A month of creation, bold leadership, and emotional energy.

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Bits and Bytes THROUGH THE LENS

Discovery, Through Your Lens

Photo by Red Flannel Photography Photo: Exploring the Kootenays

We visited one of my best friends in Procter BC, just 40 minutes outside of Nelson. It was a cool, rainy day and we spent it exploring the rock beaches near her home, finding the perfect skipping rocks and watching the eagles that had nested in the tree there. I had to capture them in their element doing what they love to do!

Photo by: Jashan Tamber Photo: Fly Fishing in Fernie, with Troy Sapara

The arrival of summer has marked a new chapter in the pandemic, bringing the alltime favourite sport of fly fishing to action. In the peaks of beautiful British Columbia’s Rockies, Fernie holds a special place in Troy’s spirit. An abundance of Westslope Cutthroat Trout paired with natural waters, navigable rivers, and crystal lakes make it one of the most beautiful and fertile dry fly destinations worth exploring. Troy spends his summer discovering hidden hotspots around the Elk River. According to him, the stretch from Morrissey to Elko houses log jams that provide perfect habitat, thus making a worthy spot to spend some time.

Bits and Bytes SOCIAL PAGE

Out in the Community:

Q. What do you most look forward to discovering this summer?

Alesha Thompson

I’m looking forward to discovering more of myself. COVID has been hard and I’ve had to make some changes, which has made me look at myself and my life a bit differently.

Troy Nixon

We’re looking forward to discovering BC with our family and friends… yay summer!

Claire Smallwood

I look forward to enjoying some of Fernie’s low hanging fruit. In terms of adventure! I’m recovering from knee surgery, and there are tons of really easy and accessible ways to get outside… stuff I normally would blast past on my mountain bike.

FYI

The return of run club is official! Stag Leap Running Co., a non-profit organization that likes to help local and visiting trail runners to find their footing, a trail buddy or their new favourite trail! Their Thursday Night Run Club is a popular staple, and its return has many runners, new and old, excited to get back out there and explore. All they ask is you become a member of Stag Leap (which is free), purchase your Fernie Trails Pass, and adhere to their COVID safety plan. Find out more at stagleaprunning. com/community.

Have you missed escaping the heat on a hot, summer’s day by taking your kids to a matinee? Us too! The Vogue Theatre held their grand re-opening June 25th with two great summer hits, and was met with great community enthusiasm and support. See you at the movies!

This summer, the Fernie Heritage Library has a lot going on to challenge all ages of readers! For ages 7-12, there is the Crack the Case Reading Club, ages 10-12 a journaling club, and for all ages the Read Outside the Box challenge! Email information@fernieheritagelibrary.com for more details or to register, and have fun all of you book worms!

Have you heard? Fernie Legend Troy Cook has a new art exhibit hitting the Fernie Museum gallery space, July 1 – Night Rambles in Shadows with Liquor Store Blues, this collection of work explores travel and the nexus between art and music. Perspectives formed through examinations of subject matter and environments during a unique set of circumstances. Open Thursday to Sunday, 11am-4pm. The Fernie Museum is also running an online fundraiser 50/50 Raffle! Visit ferniemuseum.rafflenexus.com – the draw date is September 12.

The Fernie Pride Society celebrated pride month with some crosswalk painting this June. Over a dozen volunteers came out to colour one of Fernie’s busy intersections at the corner of the Heritage Library, Post Office, City of Fernie and the Scotia Bank. These crosswalks help to increase visibility for the LGBTQ+ community and have great support from the City of Fernie. They are a bright and loved addition to Fernie!

The Fernie Arts Station has a lot going on this summer! From Art on the Deck with local artists, to Plein Air Pod each week with a new inspiring location to evening workshops focusing on different mediums with demos and facilitation led by experts. They are also hosting camps for kids, including Teen Dumpster Art Camp and the popular weekly Club Cr8! Stay up to date with all things Arts Station at theartsstation.com.

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