Stan Beeler 🇨🇦
@stanbeeler.bsky.social
Professor Emeritus at the University of Northern British Columbia. (English, Comparative Literature, Film & TV Studies)
Today's culininary experiment: Corn & black bean empinadas.
December 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Today's culininary experiment: Corn & black bean empinadas.
Dog Training:
1. Pug notices that phone rings before wife comes home with packages.
2. Pug barks when phone rings anytime.
3. Aus Shepherd barks with pug.
4. German Shepherd is silent, but waits at window.
5. I hide in bathroom to answer the phone.
6. Aus shep barks when phone rings on TV.
1. Pug notices that phone rings before wife comes home with packages.
2. Pug barks when phone rings anytime.
3. Aus Shepherd barks with pug.
4. German Shepherd is silent, but waits at window.
5. I hide in bathroom to answer the phone.
6. Aus shep barks when phone rings on TV.
December 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Dog Training:
1. Pug notices that phone rings before wife comes home with packages.
2. Pug barks when phone rings anytime.
3. Aus Shepherd barks with pug.
4. German Shepherd is silent, but waits at window.
5. I hide in bathroom to answer the phone.
6. Aus shep barks when phone rings on TV.
1. Pug notices that phone rings before wife comes home with packages.
2. Pug barks when phone rings anytime.
3. Aus Shepherd barks with pug.
4. German Shepherd is silent, but waits at window.
5. I hide in bathroom to answer the phone.
6. Aus shep barks when phone rings on TV.
We have been alternating between episodes of Shetland and Stranger THings for the last few day and Karin accessorized Mop-the-pug for Stranger Things. (Would we dress her up like a pony to match Shetland?)
December 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
We have been alternating between episodes of Shetland and Stranger THings for the last few day and Karin accessorized Mop-the-pug for Stranger Things. (Would we dress her up like a pony to match Shetland?)
This morning I read that France is considering changing healthcare for non-EU retirees. I looked up a few of the parameters for long term visas & have some regrets that I let my French slide & focused on German language. (My inspiration is the incipiant blizzard outside my window this morning.)
December 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This morning I read that France is considering changing healthcare for non-EU retirees. I looked up a few of the parameters for long term visas & have some regrets that I let my French slide & focused on German language. (My inspiration is the incipiant blizzard outside my window this morning.)
Today it was -8 and I put new spikes in my winter running shoes before going out. I use sheet metal screws on older Asics shoes (socket screwdriver & pliers). The snow had been worn away from 1/2 the route so I did a 3 K loop 3 & 1/2 times. Here are the handmade spikes:
November 29, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Today it was -8 and I put new spikes in my winter running shoes before going out. I use sheet metal screws on older Asics shoes (socket screwdriver & pliers). The snow had been worn away from 1/2 the route so I did a 3 K loop 3 & 1/2 times. Here are the handmade spikes:
Mopsy in her new Christmas sweater. Karin took this photo as when I tried to get my phone to focus on the dog, the function that puts a yellow box around faces selected the wrong end of the pug. (To be fair, with a pug, the head & tail are quite similar.) I laughed so hard I missed the shot.
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Mopsy in her new Christmas sweater. Karin took this photo as when I tried to get my phone to focus on the dog, the function that puts a yellow box around faces selected the wrong end of the pug. (To be fair, with a pug, the head & tail are quite similar.) I laughed so hard I missed the shot.
The birch just behind my house has a lovely coat of frost this morning.
November 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The birch just behind my house has a lovely coat of frost this morning.
Karin & Merlin won some more ribbons today.
November 23, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Karin & Merlin won some more ribbons today.
I am not a singer, but my espresso machine makes a sustained hum like a Buddhist chant that makes me join in with a harmonic Ommm. My wife does not like this or my efforts in hairdryer harmony. For me it brings back fond memories of choir before I was expelled for the sin of voice changing puberty.
November 22, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I am not a singer, but my espresso machine makes a sustained hum like a Buddhist chant that makes me join in with a harmonic Ommm. My wife does not like this or my efforts in hairdryer harmony. For me it brings back fond memories of choir before I was expelled for the sin of voice changing puberty.
We have been watching the Korean SF show Moving on Disney & it is quite engaging. I like is much more than The Squid Games (less violence). It uses the (Korean?) structure of a main plot with multiple backstory episodes interspersed, but more integrated than others. www.imdb.com/title/tt2464...
Moving (TV Series 2023) ⭐ 8.4 | Action, Adventure, Drama
1h | TV-MA
www.imdb.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:20 PM
We have been watching the Korean SF show Moving on Disney & it is quite engaging. I like is much more than The Squid Games (less violence). It uses the (Korean?) structure of a main plot with multiple backstory episodes interspersed, but more integrated than others. www.imdb.com/title/tt2464...
Yesterday's run was my first with ice spikes for this winter. I use an older pair of Asics with sheet metal screws inset into the tread & they work well for most of the snow and ice conditions we get here. However, yesterday we had slush, snow, and ice so I got wet feet. (~7.5 K & slower than usual)
November 17, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Yesterday's run was my first with ice spikes for this winter. I use an older pair of Asics with sheet metal screws inset into the tread & they work well for most of the snow and ice conditions we get here. However, yesterday we had slush, snow, and ice so I got wet feet. (~7.5 K & slower than usual)
I have been listening to SRF Klassik in the mornings lately as the AI interface on Google home seems to have a problem with requests for classical music. I like the music selection on Swiss radio Classic a bit more than BBC Radio 3. www.radioswissclassic.ch/de
Home - Radio Swiss Classic
Klassik rund um die Uhr. Dezent moderiert. Ohne Werbung. Das Online Radio mit den besten Werken der Klassik aus den verschiedensten Epochen und Stilrichtungen.
www.radioswissclassic.ch
November 17, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I have been listening to SRF Klassik in the mornings lately as the AI interface on Google home seems to have a problem with requests for classical music. I like the music selection on Swiss radio Classic a bit more than BBC Radio 3. www.radioswissclassic.ch/de
This morning the dogs were reluctant to go off the deck into the strangely altered yard. Here is the view from the front of the house.
November 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
This morning the dogs were reluctant to go off the deck into the strangely altered yard. Here is the view from the front of the house.
Retired academics:
K: I want to read about the Berlin Wall history. Buy this book.
Me: It's in English? You crossed the wall to visit relatives. What about a German POV?
K: Too hard to get German books. Shipping delay.
Me: But, your Mom might like it too.
K: She wants to forget it...
Me: Harumph...
K: I want to read about the Berlin Wall history. Buy this book.
Me: It's in English? You crossed the wall to visit relatives. What about a German POV?
K: Too hard to get German books. Shipping delay.
Me: But, your Mom might like it too.
K: She wants to forget it...
Me: Harumph...
November 15, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Retired academics:
K: I want to read about the Berlin Wall history. Buy this book.
Me: It's in English? You crossed the wall to visit relatives. What about a German POV?
K: Too hard to get German books. Shipping delay.
Me: But, your Mom might like it too.
K: She wants to forget it...
Me: Harumph...
K: I want to read about the Berlin Wall history. Buy this book.
Me: It's in English? You crossed the wall to visit relatives. What about a German POV?
K: Too hard to get German books. Shipping delay.
Me: But, your Mom might like it too.
K: She wants to forget it...
Me: Harumph...
Karin & I finished rewatching the 3 existing seasons of the Ku'damm series 56, 59 & 63 and are now anticipating the 77 version that is scheduled for Dec of this year. It has character development & the history of Germany after WW II in a balanced & engaging narrative: www.imdb.com/title/tt4863...
Ku'damm 56 (TV Mini Series 2016) ⭐ 7.6 | Drama
1h 40m
www.imdb.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Karin & I finished rewatching the 3 existing seasons of the Ku'damm series 56, 59 & 63 and are now anticipating the 77 version that is scheduled for Dec of this year. It has character development & the history of Germany after WW II in a balanced & engaging narrative: www.imdb.com/title/tt4863...
Merlin playing ball on an autumnal morning.
November 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Merlin playing ball on an autumnal morning.
My repair on my old iPhone has been working for a week so I did the same work on Karin's phone this morning. Here is a photo of the phone with the larger case screw used in the repair. The other two internal screws are about half this size and I am in constant fear of dropping them.
November 4, 2025 at 5:07 PM
My repair on my old iPhone has been working for a week so I did the same work on Karin's phone this morning. Here is a photo of the phone with the larger case screw used in the repair. The other two internal screws are about half this size and I am in constant fear of dropping them.
Yesterday my car would not start & I had to jumpstart it. This morning it was the same so I bought a new battery and installed it. Karin was doubtful as cars must have mechanics, not retired English profs, for repairs. It works now:I am happy to be a functional member of our technical civilization.
November 4, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Yesterday my car would not start & I had to jumpstart it. This morning it was the same so I bought a new battery and installed it. Karin was doubtful as cars must have mechanics, not retired English profs, for repairs. It works now:I am happy to be a functional member of our technical civilization.
Today's culinary experiment: Yoghurt bread rolls made with baking powder instead of yeast. They take a lot longer to bake than the various recipes I read would suggest, but I suspect that is because we are about 600 metres above sea level here.
October 31, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Today's culinary experiment: Yoghurt bread rolls made with baking powder instead of yeast. They take a lot longer to bake than the various recipes I read would suggest, but I suspect that is because we are about 600 metres above sea level here.
I have a bad left eye and I go to an eye surgeon every 6 months for monitoring. Nevertheless, I put a new battery in an old iPhone 6s today. (my cost $20 parts vs $100+ for shop repair) I am pleased that I can still work on the tiny screws/connectors although swearing is louder now than in my 30s.
October 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I have a bad left eye and I go to an eye surgeon every 6 months for monitoring. Nevertheless, I put a new battery in an old iPhone 6s today. (my cost $20 parts vs $100+ for shop repair) I am pleased that I can still work on the tiny screws/connectors although swearing is louder now than in my 30s.
Winter has started here in Northern British Columbia.
October 28, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Winter has started here in Northern British Columbia.
When Mopsy the Pug gets home from her walk you can just let the leash go and she will run up the lawn and sit by the door until it is opened. Our dogs love their rituals and they protest if "human" circumstances introduce a deviation in the routines.
October 22, 2025 at 3:10 AM
When Mopsy the Pug gets home from her walk you can just let the leash go and she will run up the lawn and sit by the door until it is opened. Our dogs love their rituals and they protest if "human" circumstances introduce a deviation in the routines.
It is a bad idea to have a midi keyboard hooked up to your computer if you scroll through new youtube videos on mornings when you have plans to go for a run. I found a tutorial on Brubeck's Take Five for the piano and wasted an hour on the limits of my incompetence. Afternoon run today, i guess.
October 21, 2025 at 4:44 PM
It is a bad idea to have a midi keyboard hooked up to your computer if you scroll through new youtube videos on mornings when you have plans to go for a run. I found a tutorial on Brubeck's Take Five for the piano and wasted an hour on the limits of my incompetence. Afternoon run today, i guess.
We started watching the RTÉ comedy Obituary and it has an offbeat sort of humour that I rather like. Karin thinks it is a bit morbid as the subject is a small-town reporter who writes obituaries who starts killing nasty people to increase her work. Think Dexter set in Ireland.
October 21, 2025 at 5:26 AM
We started watching the RTÉ comedy Obituary and it has an offbeat sort of humour that I rather like. Karin thinks it is a bit morbid as the subject is a small-town reporter who writes obituaries who starts killing nasty people to increase her work. Think Dexter set in Ireland.
Karin took Merlin to a scent detection event today. (He won a ribbon) It is something like training one of those dogs that sniff around airports looking for drugs and scare the crap out of those of us who know we may have forgotten a bag of dog treats in our pocket.
October 20, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Karin took Merlin to a scent detection event today. (He won a ribbon) It is something like training one of those dogs that sniff around airports looking for drugs and scare the crap out of those of us who know we may have forgotten a bag of dog treats in our pocket.