Weekly Report: June 2nd - June 8th 2025
The Week in Summary:
- As we continue the final stretch of the school year, it continues to be very busy at the science centre with end-of-year field trips bringing in numerous schools groups daily. I did not feel very well for a couple days, but I got enough rest to get me back on track through a concerted effort to get better goddamn sleep. I went for Yemeni chai with Rand, got some extra bike rides in, and got a lot of reading done.
- Speaking of reading, throughout much of the week, I have been enjoying Judith Scheele's Shifting Sands: A Human History of the Sahara and I have been learning about the region's history and how this unique part of the globe shaped the various cultures of the Sahara. Despite the content, it is anything but dry.
- No Man's Sky released a new update (Beacon) focused on fleshing out their settlement system, adding different base building options into the game, and finally launching cross-save (which means I can move my save onto the PS5 - Thanks Avery!). I haven't played too much, but if the smoke continues to worsen, I am sure I will find the time to enjoy the new content if I am pushed indoors.
- On Friday evening, Taylor and I joined Ang, Katelyn, Krystal, and Alexis at Hull's Wood down in Fish Creek Provincial Park for an evening fire and picnic. Compared to the last couple times, our picnic options have really leveled up this time, with salmon vegetable soup, charcuterie, garlic bread, and various snacks of all sorts. Krystal brought a frisbee -which I very much enjoyed.
- On Saturday, Katelyn, Ang, Taylor, and I went down to Fish Creek Provincial Park to join the city in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the provincial park! There were lots of stalls with interesting folks to chat with (the lady with the Alberta Community Bat Program comes to mind) and environmental stewardship activities to participate in (specifically planting sandbar willows along the creek). Afterwards, Ang took us to see a nearby spot where a Great Horned Owl was spotted. I was content with seeing a Baltimore Oriole (a lifer for me), but sure enough, we found the nesting site and seen the pair! One barfed up an owl pellet and the other tossed a ground squirrel from a tree. Nature is truly beautiful. Afterwards, Ang and Katelyn took us to Avenida Food Hall and I tried out the award-winning Expat Asia (the Singapore noodles were incredible). Later on, Avery, Dylan, and I played a game of Age of Empires IV against each other (no one "won").
- For Sunday, Taylor, Alexis, Krystal, and I joined Nature Calgary for a spring flower walk through Nose Hill Park. We seen dozens of native flower species, including a few highlights like Striped Coralroot, Canada anemone, Alpine Sweetvetch, and Canadian White Violet. Additionally, I very much appreciated the pungent smell of Wolf Willow - which is apparently a controversial take. Afterwards, we went to Bonjour Saigon for lunch. Much of the afternoon was spent catching up with dishes, playing Age of Empires (Dylan and I lost to Taylor and James), and listening to vinyl records.
The Week in Images:
The Week in Links:
Tuareg life in the Sahara desert – in pictures
A new exhibition at the Royal Geographic Society sheds light on the nomadic culture of Mali and Niger as they fight to preserve their way of life
Photograph: Bernus/Bernus Estate
