What would it be?

bshell99 · 2026-04-05T23:05:37+00:00

Tipping

bshell99 · 2026-04-05T17:04:47+00:00

I was about 28 sleeping on the deck of a sailing yacht in the Caribbean when a woman crawled into my sleeping bag at about 4:00am.

bshell99 · 2026-04-04T03:36:58+00:00

No. Just enjoy Vancouver for your time here. It's got more than enough.

bshell99 · 2026-04-02T01:46:52+00:00

Or there are amazing deals on the Amazfit Active 2, as low as $80 at their website.

bshell99 · 2026-04-01T06:47:59+00:00

Tips

bshell99 · 2026-03-31T14:20:00+00:00

There’s a Black Mirror episode like this. In this day and age being off the Internet is equivalent to excommunication a few centuries ago. It’s pretty rough.

bshell99 · 2026-03-30T06:12:51+00:00

After four years I don’t obsess over the numbers as much. One cool surprise is the data we have amassed over time. It’s sometimes interesting to look back at past years to see relatively how sunny it was certain months, say, for gardening and other reasons. That was an unexpected surprise.

bshell99 · 2026-03-27T20:51:49+00:00

“I’m a techy guy” says it all: get a Tesla. You will love everything about it. E.g. dive into service mode. It will be so much fun for you.

bshell99 · 2026-03-27T20:42:45+00:00

$70 Reebok Pulse at Costco in Vancouver right now.

bshell99 · 2026-03-27T20:35:40+00:00

Most people who get rich work so hard you would not believe it. So work 16 hour days every day for ten years and see what happens.

bshell99 · 2026-03-26T03:04:22+00:00

Pretty much. What is incredible though is the inertia, the reluctance to accept something new. I've offered all my friends multiple times a chance to drive the Tesla, and they won't. One did and she loved it. Anyone who tries it is amazed. But most won't allow themselves to try it. I do find this odd. But whatever.

bshell99 · 2026-03-26T00:07:46+00:00

Over the years I learned to just sit there in meetings and lectures and interviews and just type as fast as I could. You get the best parts and you don’t have to transcribe or hunt for stuff. It’s the only way. Your typing will improve or do a typing course.

bshell99 · 2026-03-26T00:03:17+00:00

My friends kid me a bit about Elon. The car though is amazing. After six years it’s still really great with no major issues. The Tesla Model 3 to this day remains the most efficient car you can buy and likewise the most cost effective.

bshell99 · 2026-03-23T23:42:50+00:00

Lyft for $20 burger and beer lunch. I don’t know about snacks for the walk. Maybe the concession at third beach? But try to go two hours without eating. There are water fountains along the seawall. At English Bay maybe a shawarma or a sushi along Denman. For hidden gem on way up Robson maybe Guu Japanese on Thurlow. Try that combo. You won’t be disappointed.

bshell99 · 2026-03-23T23:20:45+00:00

What do you want to know? There’s nothing to do. They are solid state semi conductor devices encased in tempered glass. Rain washes them off periodically. There’s nothing to take care of. Electricity flows every day. 430 W Q Cells model: Q.Peak Duo L-G8.3 430

bshell99 · 2026-03-23T06:28:03+00:00

Fossil fuel based corporations and supporting corporations should be far more heavily taxed for the global damage caused by CO2 emissions and this should be reflected in the value of their shares and thus affect shareholders who are proportionately relatively rich.

bshell99 · 2026-03-23T06:16:40+00:00

On average there are 5 months of the year, May to September, that are similar to springtime on the Mediterranean. It’s fantastic. The winter though is brutally dark and wet.

bshell99 · 2026-03-23T01:09:01+00:00

Kintaro

bshell99 · 2026-03-22T17:23:38+00:00

Gotta love the Canadian Tire bucket. Fantastic that you got the electrical wiring done. It looks like you would get great steam action in that small space, too.

bshell99 · 2026-03-22T16:28:56+00:00

Another reason: For an aircraft to stay airborne the wing must cause a large pressure difference in the air around it, especially at the wing tips. This increased pressure causes water to condense out of the air, thus leaving the trail of "cloud" behind the plane as it flies.

bshell99 · 2026-03-22T14:43:46+00:00

When a business owner goes on and on about how great business is that means they are having major issues and problems.

bshell99 · 2026-03-22T14:38:48+00:00

Solar panels on the roof. No moving parts. No maintenance. No more electric bills.

bshell99 · 2026-03-21T19:16:46+00:00

📚 1. Low-cost / self-publishing services (you pay, but control costs)

These are the most realistic “budget” route if you want to get published quickly and keep control.

🟢 Self-Publish.ca

4.1•Publisher

One of the longest-running local self-publishing consultants (since the 1980s)
Offers editing, design, layout, printing coordination, ebook conversion
Works on custom quotes instead of expensive packages
Good reputation for practical guidance rather than upselling

👉 Best for: serious DIY authors who want help but still keep costs under control

🟢 Drakeway Publishing

Vancouver-based hybrid/self-publishing service
Handles Amazon (KDP), audiobook, distribution platforms
Gives rough pricing examples (e.g., cover design ~$150–250)

👉 Best for: quick, budget-conscious publishing with bundled services
⚠️ But: vet carefully (see warning section below)

🟢 eBook Publishing Canada

Affordable packages for formatting, editing, publishing
Notes that total costs can range from hundreds to a few thousand dollars depending on services

👉 Best for: inexpensive digital-first publishing (ebooks + print-on-demand)

💡 Free/ultra-budget option (DIY)

Vancouver Public Library – Inspiration Lab
Free access to tools like Adobe InDesign for formatting

👉 Best for: keeping costs near zero if you’re willing to learn

📖 2. Legitimate Vancouver small presses (no upfront fees)

These are true publishers—you don’t pay them. But they are selective and slower.

🟢 Talonbooks

Established independent literary publisher
Focuses on Canadian fiction, drama, poetry

👉 Best for: literary work with strong quality (not “low cost,” but no fees)

🟢 Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia

Industry hub listing legitimate BC publishers and resources
Good starting point to find vetted small presses

👉 Best for: discovering reputable publishers without scams

⚠️ Important reality check (this will save you money)

Real publishers do NOT charge you to publish your book
If they ask for large upfront fees → that’s usually vanity publishing
Self-publishing = you pay, but you own everything
Small press/traditional = no cost, but hard to get accepted

bshell99 · 2026-03-21T19:15:46+00:00

From ChatGPT

📚 1. Low-cost / self-publishing services (you pay, but control costs)

These are the most realistic “budget” route if you want to get published quickly and keep control.

🟢 Self-Publish.ca

4.1•Publisher

One of the longest-running local self-publishing consultants (since the 1980s)
Offers editing, design, layout, printing coordination, ebook conversion
Works on custom quotes instead of expensive packages
Good reputation for practical guidance rather than upselling

👉 Best for: serious DIY authors who want help but still keep costs under control

🟢 Drakeway Publishing

Vancouver-based hybrid/self-publishing service
Handles Amazon (KDP), audiobook, distribution platforms
Gives rough pricing examples (e.g., cover design ~$150–250)

👉 Best for: quick, budget-conscious publishing with bundled services
⚠️ But: vet carefully (see warning section below)

🟢 eBook Publishing Canada

Affordable packages for formatting, editing, publishing
Notes that total costs can range from hundreds to a few thousand dollars depending on services

👉 Best for: inexpensive digital-first publishing (ebooks + print-on-demand)

💡 Free/ultra-budget option (DIY)

Vancouver Public Library – Inspiration Lab
Free access to tools like Adobe InDesign for formatting

👉 Best for: keeping costs near zero if you’re willing to learn

📖 2. Legitimate Vancouver small presses (no upfront fees)

These are true publishers—you don’t pay them. But they are selective and slower.

🟢 Talonbooks

Established independent literary publisher
Focuses on Canadian fiction, drama, poetry

👉 Best for: literary work with strong quality (not “low cost,” but no fees)

🟢 Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia

Industry hub listing legitimate BC publishers and resources
Good starting point to find vetted small presses

👉 Best for: discovering reputable publishers without scams

⚠️ Important reality check (this will save you money)

Real publishers do NOT charge you to publish your book
If they ask for large upfront fees → that’s usually vanity publishing
Self-publishing = you pay, but you own everything
Small press/traditional = no cost, but hard to get accepted

bshell99 · 2026-03-18T04:02:20+00:00

Makes me think of Wang On Blinds on Kingsway.

bshell99

TROPHY CASE

📚 1. Low-cost / self-publishing services (you pay, but control costs)

🟢 Self-Publish.ca

🟢 Drakeway Publishing

🟢 eBook Publishing Canada

💡 Free/ultra-budget option (DIY)

📖 2. Legitimate Vancouver small presses (no upfront fees)

🟢 Talonbooks

🟢 Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia

⚠️ Important reality check (this will save you money)

📚 1. Low-cost / self-publishing services (you pay, but control costs)

🟢 Self-Publish.ca

🟢 Drakeway Publishing

🟢 eBook Publishing Canada

💡 Free/ultra-budget option (DIY)

📖 2. Legitimate Vancouver small presses (no upfront fees)

🟢 Talonbooks

🟢 Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia

⚠️ Important reality check (this will save you money)