BITS AND BYTES

Browser Extensions

by KEVIN MCISAAC

It’s been years since I’ve written a “utilities” article. And in the intervening years, a lot has changed. One significant change has been how much I do in the browser window now that I used to do in standalone applications. So, this month’s column is on some of the browser extensions I use and how they might be helpful to you too.

To open extensions in Chrome, click the three vertical buttons in the top right corner to get the drop-down menu. Click Settings -> Extensions. A new tab will open up. To add new extensions, click the three horizontal bar in the top left corner and then look way down at the bottom for Open Chrome Web Store. This is the best place to get Chrome extensions. There are other places, but generally, these are vetted by Google as responsible. From here, you can search for whatever extension you want.

Also, be aware of the extension pins in the top right corner of the browser, just right of the URL bar. There’s an icon there shaped like a puzzle piece. That opens up extension management. The pin icons beside each extension let you pin or unpin a particular extension from the bar. It’s very useful when you have a bunch of extensions but want to see just the ones you use regularly.

The first one from me is Grammarly. Grammarly helps you write better. In this age of emojis, shorthand, and slang, good writing may seem a bit quaint. But if you’re on the receiving end of communication which is part of an important decision, you want the writing to be clear. It also has a browser extension that, once installed, will make grammar and spelling suggestions in real-time. It’ll do this for whatever website you’re typing into, whether it’s google docs, Twitter, or a dating app. How many potential suitors have you lost because your profile said, “I love travelling to wherever their is a beach?” The horror.

Next is uBlock Origin. This is the modern version of an adblocker. It’s fast. It blocks most of the stuff you don’t want on websites. It very occasionally can block stuff you do want. If you find that a particular website isn’t working right after you install this, you can go into the extension settings and choose Trusted Sites and add the website to the list. I do this for my banking sites for example. I haven’t noticed problems myself, but others have reported that it can be a bit aggressive in blocking.

Another one I like is Google dictionary. This one does what it says. You double click on any word on a web page and it pops up an overlay with the definition of the word. It also, and I find this incredibly handy, has an audio button so you can hear the pronunciation of the word.

I’m a Twitter reader for news and politics so I use Minimal Theme for Twitter. It does a good job of stripping out all the stuff you don’t want to give a nice clean interface to Twitter.

If you’re like me and still get and send a fair number of PDF documents then you’ll like the Adobe Acrobat Chrome Extension. It gives you quite a few tools to deal with PDFs right in the browser.

Checker Plus for Gmail is an extension that checks your email and shows you an icon with the number of new emails. Clicking on it brings up a dialogue bog showing your emails and lets you quickly deal with them without opening Gmail. And it will deal with multiple accounts! This one requires a bit of setup if you have multiple Gmail accounts but just follow the menus. It’s not complicated.

There are plenty more but don’t go hog wild. Be selective. Too many extensions can use a lot of memory, slow down your browser, and cause weird problems that are hard to pin down. So, be selective.

“How many potential suitors have you lost because your profile said, ‘I love travelling to wherever their is a beach?’ The horror.”

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July 2022

by ASHLEY KRISTINA

Happy July! The sun passes through Cancer and enters Leo this month and the planets align to give the major theme of loving communication and change. You may have been processing a lot of emotions the last several years and are finally in a place of clearance, in regards to communication and clarity.

The full moon occurs July 13, 2022 at 1pm at 21º of the Cancer-Capricorn axis. The sun is also conjunct (within 5º) of Mercury while the moon is conjunct Pluto. This is an intense full moon with themes of virtue, self-actualization, dynamic interchange -meaning two or more people are involved in the karma of this full moon. There is also an underlying theme of a mountain pilgrimage or a spiritual pursuit.

The new moon of this month occurs July 28, 2002 at noon in Fernie. The sun and the moon sit at 5º Leo which is the “leaping into the void” degree of the zodiac. The astrology is indicating there will be change this month, and how it manifests in you depends on where Leo falls in your birth chart. Interestingly, Mars is conjunct the north node meaning you must trust the process. It’s a step in the right direction for progress.

A list of the planets and asteroids in retrograde this month, and in brackets the sign they are retrograding through: Pluto (27º Capricorn), Saturn (23º Aquarius), Neptune (25º Pisces), Chiron (Aries), Juno (Pisces), Nessus (Pisces), Vesta (Pisces).

Aries

Jupiter continues to travel in your sign all month so expect to feel these aspects of Jupiter: optimism, luck, joy, spiritualconnection, expansion, exploration. Be aware that Chiron, the wound, also continues to travel in your sign meaning: we are all feeling our own wounds at this time on earth and doing the necessary processing of that.

Taurus

On January 18, 2022 the north node entered Taurus where it will travel until July 12, 2023. This is some of the best support you can have in the zodiac so use it! You have another year to attain and do and build everything you need- and you will be supported to do so.

Gemini

The start of the month is fluttery and social for you as Mercury and Venus travel in Gemini. It’s a month of friends, family, home, gardening and cooking. Have fun and enjoy!

Cancer

Happy birthday. It’s a month to truly follow your heart and let it guide you. Also, a month to build the hearth and spend time in the garden. The summer is a time of cleansing. Let the sunlight enhance your mood, sense of self, and allow your true nature to shine.

Leo

Happy birthday to the early decan Leos! The beginning of the month is busy and a time to get things done with Mars travelling in Aries. As the summer progresses, more of a theme of enjoying the sun and grounded, slower building occurs as Mars enters Taurus.

Virgo

Energy goes to the home, caregiving, cooking, cleaning, gardening, organizing the home and the family. As the sun enters Leo, it’s more of a time to enjoy the sun and not work so hard. Spend time outside and have fun.

Libra

Jupiter is opposing your energy and bringing balance into your life. It’s a lucky time for you so be receptive to what the universe can bring. Practice the path of least resistance.

Scorpio

It’s a time of jumping the gun and exploring. The old and worn and mundane can sometimes become painful when the soul has the urge to experience and try something new. Trust this time. It’s a time to move and explore and venture into the unknown.

Sagittarius

A month of nurturing! A time to take care of yourself and others. How do you show up for yourself first? The amount we can nurture and love our own self is truly the amount of love we can show to another. It’s a great month to focus on health, love and nurturing.

“You may have been processing a lot of emotions the last several years and are finally in a place of clearance, in regards to communication and clarity.”

Capricorn

A balancing month for your energy and a very important full moon to check in. We have all made a lot of spiritual leadway the last few years as literally everyone on this planet was forced to spend time with self. The manifestation of this progress is showing up in material ways.

Aquarius

Saturn is in retrograde in your sign until October. This means this is a time to buckle down, do what needs to be done and you literally don’t have a choice about it. Karma is a truth of this reality.

Pisces

Neptune travels in your sign, in retrograde until December. Neptune is your ruling planet, so this ultimately means you are looking to the past and doing lots of spiritual cleansing in order to move forward in life eventually. Keep doing the good work.

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In the Mix, Through Your Lens

DM Burak-Young Photo

All (some) of the things we like to do in the summer: float down the river, have a BBQ with friends, swing a golf club or baseball bat, cut the lawn, run through a sprinkler, guide a horse along a trail, have a lemonade stand, hike or ride a bike up a mountain, canoe and SUP on a small lake, waterski and wakeboard on a big lake, read a book, let a popsicle drip down your wrist, grow some vegetables, smell the flowers, wash the car, churn some ice cream, fly fish, cool our toes in a babbling brook, or just relax and enjoy the sunshine, like Paul.

Jamie Hide Photo

One summer day at Silver Springs, the boys took a break from jumping in the water and swimming to explore the shallow water and the fish that live there. The boys demonstrate curiosity for its own sake - the seed of discovery.

Out in the Community:

How do plan to participate and manage being ‘in the mix’ of all things summer in Fernie this July and August?

Vee Quinonez

This summer, I’m looking forward to Wednesday Socials, and hitting all of the patios Fernie has to offer. I always love seeing Oscar and his crew of Elk Valley Cruisers doing hot laps in the summertime. I hope I can get a seat one day...

Rikki Christie

I am excited for our community events to return! Some fun Fernie events and activities I am looking forward to are Wapiti Festival, the Wednesday Socials, and of course hiking, biking, trail running and after work river floats!

Karen Clemens

We’re going to be busy with an addition renovation project, that I don’t think we’ll be in town participating too much!

Frankie Koran

I am super pumped for after work rides during the summer evenings to reset my brain from all the stress of managing my companies. I love that I can ride out my yard all summer long and be in the depths of the backcountry in seconds, no phone calls to answer, no problems to solve. Just family, friends, nature and me... only in Fernie. This July 1, Fernie is celebrating Canada Day starting with a Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall with Yaq?it ?a·knuq?I ‘it First Nation, followed by a Reconciliation Walk to the Aquatic Centre. This will be followed by welcome speeches, Yaq?it ?a·knuq?I ‘it traditional drumming and dancing, and Canada Day cupcakes. The Mountain Market runs from 10am-2pm, there is free swimming at the Aquatic Centre, live music from 11:30am as well as kids’ activities! Be ready for bike decorating and a 1pm parade, potato sack races, obstacle course, and more. Please note, due to the high risk of fires in summer, there will be no fireworks.

Photo Courtesy of Tourism Fernie

The Wednesday Concert Series is back, and we are all ready. This weekly, live concert in the heart of downtown Fernie at Station Square has become a community staple. The lineup is in, and it’s fantastic with the series kicking off July 6 with ENATA, an Edmonton-based rock band who creates music which is equal parts poetically bittersweet and rank rock and roll. The following week, local favourite Wild Honey hits the stage, with Trio Svin and the Northern Quarter playing the last two shows of the month. See you there! theartsstation.com

V. Croome Photo

The Fernie Museum has a new exhibit opening in its gallery space: In This Together is a collection of new works by Michael Hepher which is a colourful retrospective on the complexities of community. The exhibit opening takes place July1. ferniemuseum.com Fernie Heritage Library also has a fun and exciting event taking place this month – the fifth annual Splish, Splash, Sploosh. Imagine bubbles, music by DJ Jay Ray getting all of the kids dancing, the Book Bike and storytime, splash park and more. A wonderful way to celebrate summer in Fernie. fernie.bc.libraries.coop

Things are in full swing with biking and running events for everyone! The Fernie Mountain Bike Club is hosting its popular Little Critter Series, with one coming up this July 12. They also are running the 2knee Tuesday Race Series this summer with the next one up on July 5 on 48 hours. To participate in FMBC events, you need a membership which you can get at bikefernie.ca. Stag Leap Running has had great turnouts at their weekly Thursday night group run, offering shorter and longer routes and usually a post-run social. They are also busy planning the Elk Valley Ultra, which takes place July 23, and the Lone Wolf taking place in September. stagleaprunning.com

Fernie Alpine Resort is open for the season and hosts weekly Scott Downhill Race Series for both youth and adults. Wednesdays at 4:30pm, kids and youth race to the trails and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm it’s time for the adult and master races. Additionally, for something a little mellow there are regular guided hikes. Head to skifernie.com for the full details.