Author Archives: Andrew Loat

How the iPod changed the World

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This week Apple announced that the iPod has been discontinued. Many have seen this move coming for a long time however as the music and technology world started to outgrow the capabilities of the once-beloved MP3 player.

When the iPod was first launched in 2001, it was a revolutionary handheld device, as was the Walkman, that would let us carry our favourite tunes wherever we went. The iPod let you carry up to a whopping 1,000 songs on it and if you could get your hands on a certain generation of iPod, you could also have a touch screen. Touch screens were a huge step in the development of the iPod as the first generation, the Shuffle, was a simple device with only a play, pause, forward, back, and volume button.

These things are all small little details but all add up to what made the iPod such a special device. Never before were you able to pick any song you wanted, control the order of the songs you listened to, or make playlists. All these were new and exciting developments in technology.

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The iPod continued its progression through the years. Apple would go on to create different generations, there were colourful ones, small ones, big ones, and ones that had enough storage for not only 1,000 songs, but movies as well.

Now as time went on, Apple began to create the iPhone, making equivalent iPods until the 13th generation, but if iPods were solely made for music, why were they discontinued?

Music is an extremely popular thing now in the world and with the creation of streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music, you were given access to over 80 million songs, something the iPod was not made to handle. I guess size does matter.
The iPod changed the world in so many ways and it is hard to imagine what the world would be like without that small rectangle of joy. You will forever be missed but never forgotten. Rest in Peace iPod, thank you for all the great times.

National Nursing Week – #WeAnswerTheCall

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been acknowledging, supporting, and praising our health care workers for their tireless efforts to save lives and support and help those that are sick or injured.

We used to salute our healthcare workers every night at 7:00, clapping, shouting, and banging pots out our windows and on our balconies in support of our Health Care Heroes.

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Recently, doctors and nurses have been extremely overworked and overlooked and are calling for action this week on the shortage of staff and safety for patients. Organized by the B.C. Nurses’ Union, the protest this week is focused on better working conditions as contract negotiations are being held later this year. Union President Aman Grewal said earlier this week, “Nurses everywhere are stretched thin after two years of the pandemic. It’s taking a toll on them, physically and mentally. They are just getting burnt out, they are getting called in on their days off, they are having to extend their shifts.”

Highlighting these concerns seems fitting as it is National Nurses Week this week, which gives us some insight into why our Nurses are using their voices to call for change, not praise.

The theme of National Nursing Week is #WeAnswerTheCall, developed by the CNA (Canadian Nurses Association), its focus is to showcase the different roles that nurses play in the health care system. The week is aimed to bring attention to nurses and bring awareness to the public and government of the many different sacrifices and contributions of nurses.

National Nurses Week first started in 1971, when the ICN designated May 12th, the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale.

Commemorate the anniversary of Florence Nightingale and nurses all around the world this week by showing your support through social media, joining the peaceful protests, or just showing your appreciation to these hard-working everyday heroes.

 

Gastown’s Jewel – The Gastown Steam Clock

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Gastown is one of Vancouver’s popular and iconic areas to visit. It was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 2009. The main reason for this is that it was the first neighbourhood in Vancouver where a Yorkshire steamboat captain named “Gassy” Jack Deighton arrived in 1867 to open the area’s first saloon. Therefore, it is named “Gastown” as it was originally coined “Gassy’s Town”, then evolved into the current name.

Gastown is an area full of tourist attractions, shops, stores, restaurants, and nightclubs. There are also many important artifacts, monuments, and features within the area. From the cobblestone roads to the brick buildings, the area is rich in history. Perhaps one of the most historic artifacts within the town is the famous Steam Clock.

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Built in 1977 by Raymond Saunders and Doug Smith, the clock was originally built as a monument for local merchants as well as to keep local homeless people from sleeping on the warm steam grate it was built on during the cold weather.

The steam grate it is placed on is connected to the underground steam system which leads to the generating plant at Georgia and Beatty. This system not only provides heat to the downtown population but also provides the steam that makes that old clock sing.

The two-ton clock is one of six other working “steam” clocks in the world making this a must visit attraction. Every quarter-hour, the clock will shoot steam and whistle in its version of the Westminster Chime for all to hear. At the top of each hour, the clock will signal the time with a toot of steam from each whistle.

The iconic Steam Clock on the corner of Cambie and Water Street may be old but it is still in good condition thanks to the many local businesses, builders, and Horologist Raymond Saunders that keep it in top shape.

Nat Bailey Stadium – Vancouver’s Beloved Ballpark

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The Vancouver Canadians season is in full swing. The Toronto Blue Jays High-A Affiliate has already played 25 games so far but it is never too late to head down to “The Nat” to catch a great ball game as the weather is starting to warm up. There is nothing better than hanging out in the beautiful Vancouver air with friends and family, enjoying a hot dog, popcorn, and a cold beverage, and watching a ball game at the old but still golden Nat Bailey Stadium.

The official name of the park is actually Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium. The name of a field within a park, you don’t hear that too often, but I think if you ask any local baseball lover, they would call it “The Nat”. It just feels wrong calling it anything else.

Nat Bailey Stadium was not the original name when the stadium was first built in 1951. It first opened as the Capilano Stadium, as the team that first played there was the “Vancouver Capilanos”. The stadium held the name until 1978 when it was renamed, Nat Bailey Stadium in honour of Vancouver restaurateur and founder of White Spot, Nat Bailey, who made great efforts to promote baseball in Vancouver.

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Ownership has significantly improved and modernized the stadium over the years while also restoring parts of the park to their original condition from 1951, making for an extremely authentic feel to the ballpark.

The Canadians are entering the summer stretch soon, hosting home series every other Tuesday to Sunday until September 11th. One thing on my bucket list for certain this summer is to head down to Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium, catch a couple of ball games, have a few hotdogs, and have some good times with friends and family.

The Growing Frustration with Gas Prices

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The pain at the pump has been a continuing theme over the past month or two both in Canada and other parts of the world as the price of gasoline continues to skyrocket along with the price of most consumer goods. But why and how has the price to fuel our vehicles gotten so expensive? As the price of gas hits a record high of $222.9 cents per litre in Metro Vancouver and other parts of the Lower Mainland this past weekend, frustration throughout the public community has started to rise. Whether it is the long lines of the late-night gas run, the second-guessing of a road trip due to the cost of gas for the trip, or just straight up not being able to afford the ridiculous price, filling up your tank has never been more of a hassle.

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Experts say that the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have ultimately “turned a bad situation worse” and the knock-on effect is being felt throughout the country, compounding the inflation toll on Canadians.

“This uptick in price also has a drastic impact on Canadians with lower incomes”, says Sohaib Shahid, an economic innovation director at the Conference Board of Canada, “they tend to spend a larger portion of their income on their basic needs such as transportation, accommodation, and food.” Living in the lower mainland is expensive enough, without raising gas prices!

The price of gas is a very tricky thing to predict. The fact that Canada depends on other countries for fuel makes the situation one that is out of our hands. Hopefully, the gas prices will be back to a certain norm where it does not break the bank to fill up your vehicle. This would be good news for the summer months when many Canadians look forward to a nice long road trip.

Guilty Pleasures Podcast – Episode 2

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Guilty Pleasure – Episode 2 is all about analyzing the differences in guilty pleasures between males, females, and others; as well as how social media and advertisements promote and magnify guilty pleasures in our society today. Host, Andrew Loat is joined by three of his classmates from BCIT to discuss these intriguing topics.

Enjoy!