The House & other Arctic musings

Something light

I do have a more serious matter to blog on, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around that potential post, so in the mean time here's an interesting web page I came across (via BBC news). The World Name Profiler is a cool little ap that if you plug a surname into it, you can see where the names most commonly occur (by country and by delving a little deeper by localities). It searches things like electoral lists to come up with the data, and shows you just how frequently (occurrances per million) the name occurs within populations. They currently have data from 26 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania.  Be aware though that there server is a little overwhelmed right now because of the publicity and it may take several tries before you get your results.

Kines is a pretty uncommon name. It may have started differently elsewhere, but with my family the name changed when my Great Great Grandfather (and family) emigrated from Ireland.  I understand that it was Kyne over there.

A quick look for Kines shows that Canada has the largest density of Kines at 7.11 per million.  Given we have about 33.39 million people that would translate to only about 237 of us.  Seems low, but if it is electoral lists they use it would not include children and would be on the low side of real populations regardless. The US follows with 3.42 fpm and then Norway, Denmark and Great Britain.

By region, Manitoba comes out on top with the largest density of us, not surprising given the smaller population and that it was where much of the family (our family) settled.  Next comes West Virginia and Alabama.  At one time (perhaps it is still the case) the Defensive Coordinator for Alabama's Crimson Tide football team was a Joe Kines.

So there you have it, something to while away a bit of time and ponder on your roots. Or just how common or rare your surname might be.

Mmm... Coffee...

For someone who really isn't supposed to have caffeine I sure enjoy my coffee. And while I'm not yet a full blown coffeeophile I'm probably too far down that road not to end up there. Right now I'm enjoying a wonderful dark roast Ethiopian Yergacheffe (my current favourite) from Equator Coffee, along with some of my mother-in-law's delightful bannock.

Part of my greater appreciation of coffee, and the many incredible coffees available today, grew out of a growing awareness of the havoc that McLarge Brand coffees wreak on the environment, especially on the habitat of birds, especially neo-tropical migrants. When a simple switch to organic, fair trade coffees was made, I discovered that coffee can have a multitude of subtle flavours, and that fresh roast coffee, ground right before brewing, doesn't make my stomach churn after a couple of cups. 

I could go on about fair trade, organic, shade grown coffees, but I encourage you to visit Coffee and Conservation, a wonderful blog about coffee and the environment by the inestimable Julie Craves, for more information. Not only do the large coffee brands pay paltry amounts to growers for their fare, but the farms are barren places for birds, and the coffee not even close to being as good - for a variety of reasons. It behooves you to switch, and really won't cost you that much more. Up here my costs are roughly equal, getting my coffee on line through Equator vs buying Maxwell House or Timmy's at the store.

But back to my cup of Yergacheffe... which unfortunately is empty so you'll have to excuse me for a couple of seconds...  Ahh, that's better.

...My cup of coffee is tasting even better these days, thanks to a simple switch in brewing equipment.  For we now own a brewer that makes coffee at the proper brewing temperature (around 90 - 100C), the Technivorm KBT 741. You see, most home coffee machines, brew coffee at a lower temperature than ideal, and the hotter temperatures extract more flavour (not make it "stronger" but more flavourful). I ordered this coffee maker specifically because of this reason, but I have to admit that I was somewhat sceptical that there would be any discernible difference in taste. Especially to my sugar and cream addled tastebuds (as coffee purists everywhere recoil in horror). We ordered our Technivorm from Transcend Coffee, it arrived quickly and with reasonable shipping rates.

It's easy to set up, there being only a few parts; the brewer with reservoir, a lid for the reservoir, a separate filter basket and lid, the carafe, and a plastic shelf for the carafe to sit on. There is an on/off switch, a switch on the filter basket to stop or restrict the flow, and a cut off switch in case the carafe is not in place. It operates like any other drip coffee maker, fill the resevoir, put a filter and coffee in the basket (there is the additional step of putting the filter basket in place), carafe goes in place and you turn it on.

It is probably about twice as fast in brewing a carafe of coffee as our old Krup, taking about 7 minutes to brew. The brewing arm has several holes so it disperses the hot water evenly over the grounds. There is no timer, so you can't set it ahead of time, but that doesn't seem that onerous. Seven minutes isn't very long to wait for a carafe of coffee, and while you wait you can watch the bubbles rising up the middle of the reservoir like a rather colourless lava lamp.

The first thing you notice is that the coffee is HOT. How hot? Hot enough to get sued if a McDonald's customer dropped some in their lap (and before the lawyers all start shouting at me I know that there was more to that lawsuit than meets the eye. It just boggles my mind that coffee cups at McDonald are labeled "Hot" for a beverage that everyone would be up in arms about if they had some served cold to them). But I digress. I don't have any thermometres that would allow me to see just how hot the water is, but other reviewers have noted that the temperature at the brewing arm fall within the 195-200F range. 

But the main thing is the end product, how is the coffee? After letting it cool a bit (paradoxically while the hotter water extracts more flavour, really hot beverages dull our taste buds) a did a small taste test. Side by side with a cup brewed in the Krup, even I noticed that the Technivorm brewed coffee was more flavourful, and for the first time I noted a hint of blueberries in my Yergacheffe.  And like I said, I take my coffee generally with cream and sugar, and to notice a difference through that must mean something.

But don't just take my word for it, drop by for a cup some day.

Happy Birthday Mr. Peterson

Today marks what would have been the hundredth birthday of Roger Tory Peterson. It can be argued, quite easily I think, that no one is more responsible for the success of birdwatching as a hobby, avocation, or compulsion than him.  He figures quite significantly in my development as a bird lover, for like many people it was the gift of a copy of his Field Guide to the Birds that... that... hmm gave me the skills to identify what I was seeing in the field. Like many people, the ability to name something strengthens my desire to know more about it, to want to be able to name others, and to know more about them. I still own that first copy of his seminal guide, and still take it out from time to time despite its having been updated many times since it was published.

It is fitting of course that Houghton Mifflin, the publishers of the Peterson Field Guides, chose to issue a new edition of his Field Guide to the Birds. Actually it is a new edition to his two Field Guide of the Birds of Eastern North America and Birds of Western North America, for both editions have been included in this book, Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America.

I love the book.  But what can I say, I am unabashedly a fan of the Peterson Guides, and they are the first guide I reach for most birds. Possibly because of early exposure to the Peterson Guides I've always been partial to field guides with paintings of birds, rather than photographs. And quite frankly for North America no one does painted plates better.  So, I imagine you can get more objective reviews than this one is going to be.

So, what is new about the book?  Well the most obvious thing is added bulk and weight. In fact that is probably the biggest drawback to combining the Western and Eastern editions. This is no longer a book that you can slip in your pocket, well without a big pocket. I've been known to carry around several large tomes with me in a back pack while out on an excursion, in Cuba I think it was six but hey I was supposed to be the expert (little did they know), so the size isn't a major issue with me, but it is a consideration that you must make if you're only going to get one field guide. I've heard that there are actually people who only own one field guide, I've just never met one. I can stop buying field guides anytime, really, not now, maybe later.

The larger size means that the plates are larger, and they now include the range maps on the page facing the plates, along with the description. Now my first impression was that the range maps were much too small for my liking, but there is a second, larger version of each map towards the back of the book.  About 40 new paintings have been added, and many of Peterson's original drawings have been digitally enhanced. 

With a nod to the impact the internet is having on birding and birdwatching with the book comes the opportunity to register for some video podcasts, that offer some further help with popular and common species, tips and a biography of Roger Tory Peterson.

I obviously think highly of Peterson's system of field marks, features of birds that are key to the species identification. It is a system that is especially suited, I believe, to the bird watcher who is just starting out. And while I think this book is worth picking up for everyone, its worth is greater for the beginner.

But if you're a birder who is just starting out, or a seasoned veteran, it is probably worth taking a moment to day to give thanks to Roger Tory Peterson, who really got the ball rolling in this grand game.

Arluit Video

As much as I wish I was out in a boat taking these videos, I wasn't. Here are some videos from my brother-in-law of the Killer Whale pod in Arctic Bay. And the second... Number three...

Fill 'er up, again

Our summer shipping season is well underway, as evidenced by this - our second tanker delivering heating oil and/or gas and/or aviation fuel for the year.  We've already had a tanker this year, our first sealift the other day (which was the shortest sealift I've ever seen, I didn't even get down to watch some of the unloading), three Coast Guard ships, a Cruise Ship, and rumours of a foreign submarine.

Still to come is another sealift ship this coming week, and a third sealift ship in October. It is the first time since I've been here that we've had a third ship since I've been here. It is a good thing though, as my tires that were supposed to be on the ship this week are still sitting in Ottawa at the expediters, although it is apparently somehow my fault.

Arluit!

I've just experienced one of those moments, where the unexpected catches you. A first for me up here, and something that I gather is a very rare event in Arctic Bay. A pod of Orca, Killer Whales, or as they are known up here - Arluk Arluit, just spent a couple of hours in Arctic Bay. Leah told me that she has never seen them in Arctic Bay, or heard of them here before. A couple of years ago there was a pod in Victor Bay, hunting Narwhal, but usually they can be found out in Admiralty Inlet.

Arluk Arluit are summer visitors to the Arctic, their tall dorsal fins make them unsuited to life amongst the ice. The pods that visit this area  probably winter in the North Atlantic, and although much is known about their cousins on Canada's west coast very little research has been done on these Arctic transients.  They prey mostly on Narwhal, and although I've never seen it, the description of Arluk Arluit attacking full grown bull Narwhal and tossing them right out of the water is awe inspiring.  They have also been known to attack and kill Bowhead, and of course they take seal when they can.

This group consisted of at least two large males (distinguished by their tall thin dorsal fin), a couple of smaller males and several females and calves.  I took several photos, but they were a long way off, and are mostly what Charlie at 10,000 birds refers to as record shots, pictures that record that you saw something and not much else.

Update:  I've had my Inuktitut corrected, the proper terms are Arlu  = one Killer Whale; Arluk = two Killer Whales; and Arluit = more than two Killer Whales.

Calm waters.

The first of this years sealift has arrived.  This scene is in sharp contrast with the frenzied activity that will soon be taking place down at the shore.

Late night thoughts on an August blizzard

There has been a fair amount posted on our blizzard this past week (although I don't think Environment Canada called it a blizzard, but I believe that is because of temperature). And late the other night I tried to wrap my head around how to present it to the world. Or at least the world that stops by the House from time to time.

The most common reactions to the storm are two fold.  One is the "OMG its a blizzard in August, what kind of a place is this?" and the other is our northern "Ha, its harder to live up here than where you softies are. We have winter all the time and never have the sun for months on end" reaction.  I think the latter is our most common.  I mean we like to lord it over everyone with just how tough and exotic it is up here. Subtly and politely though, we are Canadian.  It is the second take on things that I most commonly employ.

But is a blizzard in August significant? Is it unusual? If it is, then what does it mean? We do, after all, reasonably expect to see snow any month of the year, especially at higher elevations. And the end of August, beginning of September is our gale season.  We often get strong winds around this time of year. Usually a little later, but this wouldn't be out of the norm. 

So then it boils down to a question of was the snowfall unusually heavy for this time of year. I don't have a definitive answer for you but I believe it was unusually heavy. And strangely enough I believe it has to do with Global Warming, or more correctly Global Climate Change.

My personal experience is limited. This is the tenth fall/winter that I've spent in Arctic Bay. My first winter here, 1999, arrived about the same time, August 26th, snow that stayed. But the amounts of snow weren't near this storm's. Generally though it has arrived later. But Arctic Bay lies in what is known, climatically, as the High Arctic Desert. Average annual precipitation is normally only about 6 inches a year, with roughly half of that as rain and half as snow. Over the past several years this has become a much wetter place.

Last year (2007) seemed a more normal year in terms of precipitation, and although the data on line is incomplete it appears as though we had roughly 10" of precipitation last year. Which is still 66% more than "the norm". 2006 saw 18 inches, 2005 even more at 20 inches.  This year, has been a very wet year, but I can't seem to get the totals on line, except by going through hour by hour, something I'm not prepared to do.  We've had two very wet periods this year, with run off streams appearing where I've never seen them before. The past two weeks there has hardly been a plane because of weather. This is an awfully wet desert.

So it would seem to me that if we can expect to see snow at times this time of year, and our climate is changing to be much rainier than traditional, that heavier snowfalls in August are going to be more common experience. Coupled with our gales of fall, we're going to get more blizzards in August. At least until things really warm up.

But just so its not all doom and gloom, much of the snow at sea level is already disappearing, and we have the first real blue skies that we've seen in a while.  Those blue skies combined with the snow that is left, sure makes for a pretty picture.

Update: I received some more climatic data from my friend at Environment Canada.  Normal precipitation amounts, from data since 1971 is 9.5 inches.  And I should point out that all of this data is for Nanisivik as the records for Arctic Bay are spotty at best.  One other record that jumped out at me was a record high temperature of 23C - on November 30th, 1984!! - that can't be right.

This ain't Philadelphia

I'm finding it very difficult to stay away.

One thing I've discovered about not blogging is that I enjoy blogging.  I also blog in my head all the time. A blizzard in August? Well I'd write it like this. Travis' first day of school? Hasn't happened yet because of a persistent sore throat? But I'd write it like this. I miss it, plus I'm feeling pangs of guilt over three books I've received but have yet to review.  I miss the writing, I miss the connections, I miss blogging.

So coupled with the fact that stopping blogging didn't help my time management at all, (I just found other things to take me away from what I should be doing. The good news is I managed to finish a post-consultant rewrite of the screenplay but that didn't take me any closer to getting the stuff I needed done done) I'm going to resume this exercise in vanity. 

As an aside, while I'm talking about vanity, thank you for all of the wonderful comments. I specifically didn't allow comments on my "goodbye" post because I didn't want to turn it into a head swelling plea for kind words. But, of course you thwarted those attempts, and I'm humbled by your words and emails. Of course I'm also aware of the maxim that the best way to have people say nice things about you is to retire, leave, or die.  Now I've done two, and I'm not ready to try the third quite yet, but thanks.

So, on with the post I wrote last night in my head while cooking supper.  While I've never been to Philadelphia, city of Brotherly love... Broad Street Bullies... and Cheese steak sandwiches and all, I do make an enjoyable steak sandwich. One I enjoy more than any of the incantations of steak sandwiches than I've had. This is last night's version.

I slice onion's thinly and half them, so they aren't rings. Sautéed (ideally in olive oil but I haven't had any in awhile) until they just start to caramelize, then I add a large dollop of minced garlic and sauté briefly, seasoning with salt and pepper.  Add thinly sliced steak (I try and use Sirloin strip), season with Roast Garlic and Red Pepper seasoning, and sautée more until the steak is almost done.

By the way, if you leave the steak frozen you can slice it thinner. Thaw before cooking. I added a touch of truffle oil and a generous amount of slice morel mushrooms (these were reconstituted dry ones - courtesy of my wonderful brother) and sauté until done.  Served on toast (subway buns were not an option here this week) topped with blue cheese (courtesy a client who brought some up from Ottawa).  Don't over do the cheese so it doesn't over power the rest of the sandwich. 

I usually serve it with home-made fries, but last night was with my favourite "baked" potatos. They are simple and can be done in the oven or on the Barbeque. For each packet use a couple of hearty slices of onion, and a potato thinly sliced. Place on a sheet of aluminum foil and season with salt and pepper. Add a dollop of butter and grate chedder on top. Fold the foil to make a sealed packet and bake for 45 minutes in a 350 oven. 

Eclipse

I'm trying hard to keep away but it is difficult not to share a once (well twice, I witnessed the 1979 eclipse) in a life time event. Obscuration was 98.33 percent here in Arctic Bay.

4:33 am

4:51 am

5:18 am

5:20 am (a minute away from mid eclipse, the next shots didn't really turn out)