Categories > The Environment

We are just about to hit the gross temperature/humidity levels at the West Coast office of LSW. And any intelligent persons left here are scrambling for a space next to a log at the beach. However, I am practically sitting upon a fan in a small room, at a tiny desk and trying to manifest a life that includes a lake house with a big deck and someone to serve me mocktails until quitting time.

So if you are in a similar situation, let me present some cool things I found on the internet over the last few weeks. Of course, they won’t keep you cool, but they will temporarily help you to stop obsessing over the heat and your lack of insight to get out of the city in the middle of summer.

Take a trip through time, and do some magical messaging with friends from another time (approx 800 years ago). This one is perfect for the kids. But make no mistake about this, I will be using this program perhaps while I revisit the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

“Fauxvacados” – a more sustainable version of the avocado for all the Mexican food you are consuming this summer. Did you know it takes 320 litres of water to grow a single avocado? This version does not. The Ecovado is currently available in the UK – but I’m sure some genius Canadian is working on our version.

And if it’s good enough for potato chips, it’s good enough for popsicles.

If you are stuck inside – and are craving some nature, or at least some nature sounds – have a listen to Earth.fm – it’s like Spotify, but good for you.

Has your Instagram feed become as intolerable as mine lately? Would you instead look at your friend’s vacation photos rather than have to watch random people attempt the latest dance craze? This article from the Washington Post – helps you take back your Instagram feed from becoming the poor man’s Tiktok; my favourite tip is the last one – and I am working towards it right now.

An argument for solo walking. And a different take on the same subject from the lens of the flâneuse. And while we are on the subject of walking – here is a list of what you should take with you on your daily stroll. Of course, don’t forget the chocolate.

Everything old is new again. A productivity expert returns to analog tools – and shows just how addictive they can be.

Is Tom Cruise good at running? Scientists and athletes weigh in.

On your next coffee break, play some minigolf with dumplings. You absolutely will not regret this.

I suppose it wouldn’t be much of a lighting blog if I didn’t mention lighting occasionally. For example, look what lights up a tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu.

I hope you enjoy some of the silly, insightful, fun, and thought-provoking items I have found on the internet recently. I wish you a fun and relaxing rest of the summer. Please be safe. Wear sunscreen!

*Photo -the beach scene at English Bay in Vancouver – credit Vancouver Archives.

I don’t know anything with certainty, but seeing the stars makes me dream.
~ Vincent Van Gogh

This week (April 5-12th) is International Dark Sky Week. A week dedicated to celebrating the new moon in April.  A week to encourage us to turn off our lights and enjoy the beauty of the night sky.  It arrives in between Earth Hour and Earth Day.  The night sky has given inspiration to many: artists, scientists, writers, photographers, cartographers, philosophers, and lovers, just to name a few.

Here are ten ways that you can participate in this week long celebration:

1. Stargaze. Look for the Leo constellation – if you head over to Globe At Night, they outline exactly how to find this constellation.  Leo is this month’s profiled constellation. They will help you navigate your way from the familiar (the big dipper) to the less explored areas of the sky.
2. Put on your mask and go outside at night.  Go to a clearing or a viewpoint and look up.  If you can get away from the city, all the better.  Be safe and aware. Then report back here and tell me what you saw in the stars.  Did you see your future or an ancient history?
3. Visit a National Park.  Here is a guide to help you find one close to you. Or visit an International Dark Sky Place.
4. Read some science fiction.  One of my favourites is The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.  But there are loads and loads of spectacular books out there, and many of them discuss our skies and what could be lurking out there.  Its worth delving into.
5. Turn off the porch light.  Install led lights, motion dectors, timers and controls. Need a solution – contact one of our salespeople.
6. Watch the launch to the International Space Station (ISS) from Russia on Friday (April 9th).  You can view it live on NASA TV.
7. Show us what your night looks like. Take a walk at night with your camera.  Photograph the sky, the streets, and whatever else you come across. Share them with the world. Tag us on instagram.
8. Check out some astronomy apps to help you navigate the portion of dark sky that lives over your neighbourhood.  Two great ones (and there are many others out there) are Starwalk and Skylive.
9. Listen to the sound of a nebula with the space data sonification project.
10. Visit your local science museum.

Without the night sky, we would not have been able to navigate the world, walked on the moon, learned of our expanding universe (watched the X-Files), or discovered that humans are made of stardust (indeed we are all made of stars). We can all do our part to get our starry night skies back. The first step is to acknowledge that we need it.  The second step is to take action.  Let us help you with that action step.

2020 has been the year of physical distancing. We all know how far 2 meters is by now. While physical distancing is critical during these times, there is something equally important that needs to be discussed. The care of our emotional wellbeing. In particular, creating emotional boundaries for staying well during stressful times.

If we are self-aware, we can recognize stress within ourselves.  And as self-aware humans, we recognize that we probably should be finding ways to deal with our stress instead of pouring our emotions all over our empathic friends and coworkers.  On most days, I feel well emotionally. I feel healthy. And when I am like this, I often say, “I stand in the light.”

However, this does not mean that I can handle the stress of another person. It just means that I am feeling empowered.

A few days ago, when a friend of mine came over to visit (responsibly) and then proceeded to unload every single problem of their life onto me.  I was left with a three-day hangover. My friend is not to blame. This is 100% my own fault. Throughout the day, I had the opportunity to gauge my wellbeing. And I chose not to.

To prevent this from ever happening again, I have developed a system based on lamp beam spreads.

The 10° Spotlight Beam Spread (or less)*

Your beam of light hugs your body. It’s faint.  The weather is a bit grey or wet, and it certainly isn’t going to the park weather. Your inner child is practicing their mantra (NO!). Follow suit. Cancel your plans. If you (like me) have a hard time saying no, here are seven email templates that you can use to help you say that word.

The 25º Narrow Flood Beam Spread*

Your light is a little ways from your body. Your presence is warm, calm, and you are at peace with the world. Sharing a cup of tea with someone like-minded would be a nice activity. Have the encounter online through video chat.  Keep the conversation upbeat.

The 45º Wide Flood Beam Spread*

You wake up smiling and jump out of bed. You look in the mirror, and bluebirds are helping you to get ready. The world feels good. Your inner light is shining brightly. You are ready to take on whatever life throws at you. This is when you can deal with people. Life can’t get you down. You are energetic and strong.  Be the force that you are.

Here are a few ways to create necessary boundaries that will keep you emotionally well.

1. It’s ok to be introverted. Suppose the opportunity to see someone doesn’t feel good. Say no. Stay home. Please don’t feel guilty about it.
2. Be clear about what you want.  Then do it.  You get to make the rules.
3. Recognize that you need care. Eat well, drink water, get fresh air.  We all want the cheese – but we need the apples (and maybe a glass of wine to go with it). Moderation is key.  Eat the apple.
4.  Recognize the need for alone time when you need a pile of blankets, pillows, and a Studio Ghibli marathon. Those movies help.  Spend the day with Totoro and his friends. There is a reason these movies are so beloved. They are magical.
5. Dance – music and dancing help you clear away the cobwebs of your mind and get you thinking clearly. This gives you all the power.

*I recognize that I could have used just about anything else as a metaphor (like a traffic light), and it would have been a better and clearer explanation.
But you know, I am human, so sometimes there will be a flaw in the design. I still stand in the light.

About this time every year, I contemplate a move to the middle of a forest.  Not just because I like nature, but because I dislike harsh residential street lighting.  In the summer it’s not so bad.  The lights go on after the sun has already gone down, and the lights don’t seem so bright.  But now that the nights are long, dark and cold, these monsters are on all the time, and they are ruining my life.  And not just the lives of my fellow light-sensitive humans, but they can wreak havoc with bats, nocturnal birds,  insects, and other wildlife.

We can be accommodating creatures, we understand the need for public safety, and of course, we want an energy-efficient light source; the environment, after all, is a great concern to all of us.  But it can affect lives and migratory patterns, and it’s creating a health crisis. Besides ruining our sleep, it can also contribute to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, preventing us from seeing and admiring the night sky.

So what can we do about this?

Cities can do the following: create lighting curfews, put limits on emissions (especially on blue light), demand a reduction of glare for outdoor fixtures, and institute a ban on lasers, sky beams, and lit waterways.

As responsible citizens, we can do the following:

If the street lights interfere with your quality of life, you can call your city’s engineering department. Register a complaint with them, and ask them to put a house shield on the offending fixture. This may require several calls.  We can start turning off our exterior house lights when not in use. These lights create more light pollution than you would think. So we can turn them off and help nature restore itself. If exterior lighting is necessary, use a full cut-off fixture that eliminates uplight. By reducing the amount of light pollution, animals can start to return to their normal and instinctive behaviours, and our skies can start to clear.

This brings me to the benefits of stargazing.

• When we observe the night sky, we become part of something greater than ourselves. It allows us to connect something awesome and awe-inspiring.
• The night sky is ever-changing and can remind us that change is possible.
• It can connect us to our ancestors and history.
• Stargazing allows us to explore, fantasize, question, and search for knowledge.  The answers that can come to us while stargazing are often surprising.
• It alleviates stress.  We breathe deeper and more consistently; it brings a presence to our lives and allows us to disconnect from the busyness that rules our day.
• We connect to nature, which is important considering the Earth’s population stays inside more often due to the pandemic. Just 15 minutes of sitting in nature can help us to feel mentally and emotionally recharged.
• It gives you a feeling of solitude.  Remember, solitude is not loneliness, and it’s actually something that we as humans need (and sometimes crave).
• We get a different perspective.  We all need to shift our lens occasionally.
• And with a new perspective, creativity can spark.  Pick up a camera, start taking photos, create stories about the images you see, learn about the mythological creatures that inhabit the sky, and learn about the moon cycles, astrology, astronomy, or the tides.  It’s all connected.
• Connect with ourselves.  We are as much a part of the stars as they are a part of us.

This is all great.  An opportunity to connect and be mindful.  But is it really that easy? Yes, it can be.  You can sit in your backyard or balcony and lookup. You may or may not need extra viewing equipment.  However, if you cannot see stars because of pollution, you can visit a national park or observatory. And when you are there, it might be beneficial to share a photo of what you can see on social media.  And to ensure that future generations have an opportunity to have a dark sky to look at, you can support programs that protect public lands. For more information on how you can support the Dark Sky movement, and enjoy our night sky, visit the International Dark-Sky Association.

Go outside, look up, revel in the beauty of the night sky.

Dress appropriately (and bring along some hot chocolate).