Harold Steves

 

Harold Steves just received this award.  We lived in Steveston for years and everyone knew the Steves farm.  We would see Harold and Kathy Steves at school functions as their boys attended the same elementary school as our daughter.  The nicest family you would want in your neighbourhood.  

Everytime I pass by agricultural land, I thank Harold for creating the Agricultural Land Reserve in 1973 to stop the development of good agricultural land.  The ALR covers 4,600,000 hectares (11,000,000 acres; 18,000 sq mi), or about 4.9% of British Columbia's land base.  

If you don't know his story, here it is:

For more than half a century, Harold Steves has been one of the most influential voices in Richmond — a man whose life’s work has touched farmland, heritage, environmental protection, and the very identity of the community. His story is not just political; it’s deeply personal, rooted in family, land, and a belief that cities thrive when they honour their past while protecting their future.

A Legacy Born on Richmond Soil

Harold Steves was born in 1937 and raised on his family’s historic Steveston farm, land first settled by his ancestors Manoah and Martha Steves in 1877. The Steves family helped build early Richmond — importing the first purebred Holstein cattle into B.C., establishing a dairy that supplied Vancouver, and becoming Western Canada’s first seedsmen.

That heritage shaped Harold’s worldview: land matters, food matters, and communities are strongest when they protect what sustains them.

The Fight That Changed B.C. Forever: The Agricultural Land Reserve

In the 1960s, Harold watched Richmond farmland rezoned for development without farmers’ knowledge. His own family farm was rezoned against their wishes, taxed as residential land, and ultimately forced to sell most of it. That injustice lit a fire that never went out.

Harold drafted early NDP resolutions calling for an agricultural land bank and helped shape the Agricultural Land Zone policy for the 1972 election. As an MLA, he played a key role in establishing the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in 1973 — one of the most significant land‑protection policies in Canadian history.

Today, the ALR remains a cornerstone of B.C.’s food security and farmland preservation. Harold is widely recognized as its founder and lifelong defender.

Canada’s First Civic Environmental Movement

Long before “environmentalism” became mainstream, Harold helped form the Richmond Anti‑Pollution Association in 1968 — the first environmental group in Canada. It emerged from concerns about raw sewage being dumped from houses built on farmland. The group ran candidates in the civic election, and Harold won his first seat on council that year.

That victory marked the beginning of more than 50 years of public service.

Five Decades on Richmond Council

Harold served on Richmond City Council from 1968, returned in 1977 after his MLA term, and remained there until retiring in 2022 — making him one of the longest‑serving elected officials in B.C. history.

His accomplishments on council are woven into Richmond’s landscape:

• Richmond Nature Park

• Garry Point Park

• Terra Nova Rural Park

• London Heritage Farm

• Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site

• Garden City Lands

• Geothermal district energy systems supporting sustainable development

These parks and heritage sites are now beloved community spaces — places where families gather, wildlife thrives, and Richmond’s history is preserved.

Champion of Food Security and Urban Agriculture

Harold’s agricultural roots never left him. He chaired the Metro Vancouver Agriculture Committee and advocated tirelessly for:

• farmland preservation

• urban agriculture

• local food production

• sustainable farming practices

He even developed new organic plant and vegetable hybrids suited to B.C.’s climate — a blend of science, stewardship, and creativity.

A Voice for Labour, Peace, and Social Justice

Harold’s activism extended far beyond farming. As a young man, he joined the CCF, marched against nuclear weapons and the Vietnam War, and sang protest songs with his guitar. He worked with unions, helped organize firefighters, and played a role in bringing the BCTF into the BC Federation of Labour.

His politics were always rooted in fairness — for workers, for farmers, for the environment, and for future generations.

Freedom of the City: Richmond’s Highest Honour

In October 2023, Richmond awarded Harold Steves the Freedom of the City, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to farmland preservation, heritage protection, environmental leadership, and community life. Mayor Malcolm Brodie praised him for dedicating “most of his life to making Richmond and British Columbia better for everyone.”

It was a fitting tribute to a man whose influence is visible in every corner of the city.

A Legacy That Lives On

Even in retirement, Harold continues to live on the Steves family farm — now an 11‑acre cattle farm surrounded by suburban development — where he and his wife Kathy preserve history, grow food, and welcome visitors curious about Richmond’s past.

His story is a reminder that one person, rooted deeply in place and principle, can shape the future of an entire region.

Canada's largest icebreaker reaches the North Pole

 

News release

August 17, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Coast Guard

Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Louis S. St-Laurent, Canada’s largest, most powerful icebreaker, reached the North Pole on August 16 as part of its 2026 Arctic deployment.

The transit supports Canada’s work to define the country’s continental shelf and map its outer limits under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea. As part of the ongoing 2024-2027 missions in support of Natural Resources Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent is collecting high-resolution geoscience and hydrographic data in the Arctic. The mission demonstrates Canada's ability to operate safely and effectively in one of the world's most challenging environments while advancing important national interests in the Arctic.

Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers are among the most capable and powerful in the world, operated by some of the most experienced crews, and able to reach remote and hard-to-access areas across Canada’s Arctic. Through its enduring presence and operations in Canada’s Arctic waters, the Canadian Coast Guard reinforces Canada’s sovereignty and security in the North.

The Canadian Coast Guard’s summer operational season runs annually from June to November to support Northern communities, carry out services, and support Government of Canada Arctic missions. 

“The arrival of CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent at the North Pole is an important milestone that reflects Canada’s enduring commitment to the Arctic. Supported by the expertise of Canadian Coast Guard personnel, this mission advances scientific knowledge, strengthens our presence in the North, and reinforces Canada’s sovereignty and security.”

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

“Reaching the North Pole reflects the professionalism and dedication of the crew of CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent and everyone who supports our Arctic operations. Our icebreakers enable the Canadian Coast Guard to operate safely and effectively in Canada’s Arctic, supporting northern communities, scientific research, and Government of Canada priorities across the North.”

Kevin Brosseau, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, and Canada’s Fentanyl Czar

A special Dave!

He spent 15 years in prison for violent crimes.  Got out at 43.  Put his mugshot on bread bags.  Built a $275 million company.  Then bipolar disorder hit.  He survived that too.  Dave Dahl's childhood didn't prepare him for much except survival.

Born in 1963, he grew up in Oregon watching his family struggle.  His father Joe and uncle started NatureBake, a small organic bakery.  But stability never took hold in Dave's life.  Drugs found him young.  Addiction arrived before adulthood.  Crime followed inevitably.

By his twenties, Dave was cycling through Oregon's prison system.  Possession.  Burglary. Assault. Each conviction added years.  Each release led to relapse.  Each relapse led back to prison.  Four separate prison sentences.  Fifteen cumulative years behind bars.  Guards at Oregon State Correctional Institution knew him by name.  Social workers recognized his file.  Judges saw him repeatedly.

Dave wasn't unique.  He was statistic—one of millions caught in the recidivism cycle that defines American criminal justice.  Most people with violent felonies don't get redemption stories.  They get minimum wage rejection letters and permanent second-class citizenship. 

Dave's brother Glenn watched it hollow out their family.  He visited Dave in prison. He hoped for change. He watched hope fail, again and again.

By Dave's fourth sentence, Glenn was exhausted.  You can only believe in someone so many times before belief feels like delusion.  But something changed during Dave's final stretch inside.  Maybe it was exhaustion—realizing he'd spent fifteen years of his life in cages.  Maybe it was counselors who refused to give up when everyone else had.  Maybe it was turning 40 in prison and calculating how much life was already gone.

Dave got serious about recovery.  He worked programs.  He faced his addiction.  He prepared differently for release than he had the previous three times.  In 2004, at age 43, Dave walked out of prison for what he swore would be the last time.

The world waiting for him was unforgiving.  Parole check-ins.  "Have you been convicted of a felony?" on every job application.  Society's clear message: you're done.  You don't get to come back from this.  But Glenn made a decision that changed everything. 

He owned NatureBake—a tiny organic bakery in Milwaukie, Oregon, barely surviving in a competitive market.  Glenn offered Dave a job.  Not charity.  Family.  One last refusal to accept that his brother was irredeemable.

Dave started at the bottom.  Mixing dough.  Learning baking.  Hands covered in flour.  Minimum wage.  Parole monitoring.  The typical ex-con job that's supposed to be temporary before the inevitable return to prison.

Except Dave didn't just work.  He created.  He started developing new bread recipes—dense, seedy, whole-grain loaves packed with nutrition and texture.  Breads that felt substantial.  Breads with weight and purpose.  The recipes were good. Really good.

In 2005, Glenn and Dave made a decision that seemed insane: launch a new product line called Dave's Killer Bread.  Most brands hide uncomfortable pasts. They invent cozy origin stories about grandmothers and wholesome kitchens.  Dave and Glenn did the opposite.

They printed Dave's prison mugshot on every package.  Right there on the bread bag: his booking photo, his story, his fifteen years inside.  Ex-con.  Four prison terms. Second chance.

It looked like commercial suicide. Who wants to buy bread from a violent felon?  Turns out: a lot of people.  Because it wasn't just bread.  It was a statement: your worst chapter doesn't have to be your last.  People can change.  Second chances are real.

And the bread was legitimately excellent—organic, non-GMO, packed with whole grains and seeds.  The combination was explosive.  Within a year, Dave's Killer Bread was on shelves across Oregon.  Within five years, it expanded nationwide.  Within a decade, it was the fastest-growing bread brand in America.

But Dave didn't just build a company. He built a movement.  Dave's Killer Bread created the Second Chance Employment program—actively hiring people with criminal records.  Ex-cons who couldn't get hired anywhere else became bakers, drivers, managers.  The company gave hundreds of people the same opportunity Glenn had given Dave: a real job, real wages, real dignity.

Dave became living proof that the prison system doesn't have to be a life sentence.  That people with violent pasts can create value, feed families, build businesses, matter.  He spoke at prisons.  He advocated for criminal justice reform.  He became the face of redemption.

And then, in November 2013, everything nearly collapsed.  Dave had a manic episode.

He has bipolar disorder—a condition he'd managed imperfectly while building the business.  The pressure of rapid growth, constant public scrutiny, and carrying the symbolic weight of thousands of ex-cons' hopes collided with untreated mental illness.

During the episode, Dave led police on a high-speed chase through Portland.  Over 100 mph. Erratic driving.  A crash.  An arrest captured on news cameras.

Not drugs.  Not crime.  Mental illness.

Dave was hospitalized.  Treated. Stabilized.

And quietly removed from daily operations at the company bearing his name and face.

The brand kept his mugshot on the bags.  But Dave—the actual man—was no longer running the business.  Some framed this as failure. As proof that people like Dave don't really change. That second chances are myths.

They missed the point entirely.

Dave didn't return to crime.  He didn't relapse into addiction.  He had a psychiatric break—something that can happen to anyone with bipolar disorder, regardless of their past.

What mattered was this: Dave got help.  He was honest about what happened.  He wrote about it in his book Life Worth Living.  He spoke openly about prison, success, mental illness, and continuing recovery.

He told the truth most redemption stories skip: Recovery isn't linear.  Second chances aren't one-time events.  You don't get fixed and stay fixed.  You keep choosing, every day, to move forward.

In 2015, Flowers Foods purchased Dave's Killer Bread for $275 million.  The Dahl family got generational wealth.  The brand continued growing.  The Second Chance Employment program kept hiring people with records—hundreds more got opportunities they couldn't find anywhere else.

The mission outlived its founder's active involvement.  And that might be the real victory. 

Because the story was never about one perfect redemption arc.  It was about building something that lasts beyond you.

Today, Dave's Killer Bread is in grocery stores nationwide.  The packaging still tells Dave's story.  The company still hires people with criminal records.  The Second Chance program is a model for corporate social responsibility.

And Dave? He keeps living.  Imperfectly.  Honestly.  He speaks about mental health. About criminal justice reform.  About the reality that recovery is ongoing, messy, difficult work—not a destination you reach and rest.

His life isn't a fairy tale.  It's better.  Because fairy tales end cleanly.  Dave's story continues—with all its complications, setbacks, and continued forward motion.  Fifteen years in prison didn't define him.  A $275 million exit didn't complete him.  A mental health crisis didn't erase him.

He's all of it: Prisoner.  Baker.  Builder.  Advocate.  Person with bipolar disorder.  Person in recovery.  Human.

And maybe that's the hardest lesson: Redemption isn't a destination.  It's a direction.  Chosen again and again.  Especially after you fall.

Dave Dahl put his mugshot on bread bags when conventional wisdom said hide your past. 

He hired ex-cons when conventional wisdom said they're unemployable.  He spoke about mental illness when conventional wisdom said successful people don't admit struggle.  He kept going when conventional wisdom said his story was over.

Fifteen years in prison. Forty-three years old at release. Built a movement. Faced a crisis. Survived.  

Still here. 

Still honest. 

Still choosing recovery.

Not perfectly. Just persistently.

That's not a redemption story.

That's a human story.

And those don't end.

They just keep going.

Press release from Canada on Arctic Naval operations

I recently subscribed to:  News from the Government of Canada.  If you want to get this information, it's very informative!

For more Government of Canada news, visit https://canada.ca/news

News release

August 14, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have launched Operation NANOOK‑TUUGAALIK, a serial of Operation NANOOK running from August through October that focuses on maintaining a maritime presence in the Arctic, enhancing regional awareness, and strengthening the CAF’s ability to operate effectively in remote northern environments.

During the operation, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Robert Hampton Gray will be joined by the Canadian Coast Guard and other Canadian government departments as well as naval forces from the United States, France, and Denmark, as they transit through waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago conducting activities including patrols, surveillance, community engagement, and refuelling. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied participation will strengthen interoperability and shared maritime awareness in the region.

Conducting Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK in collaboration with allies and partners will reinforce Canada’s sovereignty and demonstrate our commitment to strengthening NATO’s Arctic posture. Throughout the year, Operation NANOOK serials are conducted in coordination with NATO activities, including the enhanced Vigilance Activity ARCTIC SENTRY which contributes to NATO deterrence and defence efforts, further reinforcing collective security and resilience across the Alliance and the Arctic.

Quick facts

• Operation NANOOK is Canada’s signature Arctic operation, and Operation NANOOK‑TUUGAALIK is one of several serials that will be conducted in 2026.

• Operation NANOOK also includes serials NUNALIVUT, QIMAAVIVUT, TAKUNIQ, TATIGIIT, and NUNAKPUT.

• Operation NANOOK serials are conducted year‑round, supporting near‑persistent CAF operations that are enabled by Canada’s permanent military presence in the Arctic and North.

• Operation NANOOK‑TUUGAALIK focuses on maritime presence and surveillance across Canada’s Arctic and northern waters.

• Royal Canadian Navy Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels such as HMCS Robert Hampton Gray are designed to operate effectively in northern waters and remote environments.

• Environmental stewardship and respectful engagement with northern communities remain central to Operation NANOOK‑TUUGAALIK. Operations are planned and conducted to minimize environmental impact, respect local conditions, and avoid placing additional strain on northern infrastructure and resources.

• NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity ARCTIC SENTRY brings NATO activities in the Arctic together under a single, overarching operational approach. By integrating Allied capabilities, the activity enhances visibility of military movements and enables coordinated planning and execution across the region.

Rogers Scam!

I never answer calls that aren’t in my phone book on my cell phone.  Waiting to hear from a Dr yesterday, I answered my cell phone that came up no name but a local number.   The caller said “Rogers Marketing”.  He will save me 30% on a 1 year special plan.  I said “TV and Cable, I have a contract”.  He said “my internet/tv contract would cancel and this becomes effective”.   I listened.  I could get an iPhone 17 Pro or Samsung S26 for free.  Pick your colour.  I know those are high end phones.  He asked how much I pay Rogers every month.  I said “your with Rogers you should know”.  He said “we can’t access this information as I’m in Marketing”.  Then I said you've got my phone number what’s my address.  He repeated phone number he called me on.  That phone is paid for by King of Floors as I manage the business account.  He was calling about my home internet service and had no idea about any of my personal information!  Again he said  “I'm with Marketing”... I yelled scammer and hung up.  I’m so glad!  

Today, I saw this on Facebook:

Oh did I ever get scammed this last week!!!!! I got a call from what I thought was Roger’s they convinced me to upgrade my phone. The deal was better my bill was going to be 30 dollars less. I agreed the guy transferred me to sales associate. We discussed it gave info and new phone was shipped to me. The sales guy Peter said call me when you receive so we can activate the promotion. What ever ok if this will save on my bill. So I called him at the number he gave him sounded like a Roger’s line. I called him he had troubles activating the promotion so he sent me return shipping labels to return it and they would ship me a new one asap. I said forget it I don’t want it he apologized said they would credit my account 2 months for trouble. I printed out the labels looked legit and mailed brand new phone right to a scammers hands. I was on hold hours with Roger’s to be told they can’t help I need to call anti fraud Canada. Needless to say I’ll never do business on the phone with a non English first language person again I will think everyone is a scammer. I let my guard down once now I’m out 1900. I don’t know how they managed to place phone order on my actually Roger’s account unless it’s inside job I’m so confused and it’s basically impossible to get answers from Roger’s 

Share away I don’t want this to happen to anyone else #phonescams #Rogers #rogerscell #iphone 

Work says I need to sit in anti fraud class for seniors 😂

August 13 -International Left Handers Day

I should have posted this yesterday but it was a challenging day!  So a day late:

My mother was and my nephew is left handed.  When my nephew was small, my mom gave him a ball and said "throw it to me".  He did with his left hand and she was thrilled!  I remember at home trying to cut something with scissors when I lived with my mom and dad.  They were for left handed people!  My mother said she was smacked by a ruler by her teacher and they actually made her put her left hand behind her back.  She could use both hands but much prefered her left one!  She decorated cakes and used her left hand to make the roses and border and when it came time to write, she used both hands!  I'm glad things have changed and we honour it now!

I follow Wayne Cox a former radio personality in our area and he wrote this on his blog:

Thursday, August 13th, is International Left Handers Day. A day that is set aside annually to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of left-handed individuals. I’m one of them, and you may be too? The day was first observed in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, founder of Lefthanders International, Inc.

I wrote this edition of The Word 3 years ago, and in case you missed it, I thought I’d repeat it in honour of this very special day. First, some words about being a lefty down through history.

In the olden days, being left-handed was considered negative, or evil. The Latin adjective “sinister” means “left” as well as “unlucky.” And in French “gauche” means both “left” and “awkward” or “clumsy.” Lefties tend to take a pounding in many languages, including English. The word for the direction “right” also means “correct” or “proper.” And how about a “left-handed compliment” that has two meanings, one of which is unflattering to the recipient.

Studies show 7-10% of the population is left-handed, and because we’re in the minority, it means that everything from a mouse for the computer to scissors and musical instruments are typically designed for right-handers.  If you look hard enough, you can find more and more products that are designed for lefties, but that has only happened in the last 30 years.

In a much earlier time, my mother, who was born left-handed, told me tales of being smacked with a ruler by school teachers for writing with her left hand, and was forced to write right-handed.  Fortunately, that practice had ended by the time I started school.

I do remember when I was a kid, going to a sporting goods store and staring at an entire wall of baseball gloves. A wall of leather, with only a couple of left-handed gloves, and half of those would be pink or blue! And as recently as the early 60s, our Little League Baseball catcher, Morley Langton, was left-handed and had to have a left-handed catcher’s glove custom made for him. There just weren’t any in the stores, and of course this was long before “ordering online!”

When I was very young, my Dad bought me my very first baseball glove, but it was for a right-handed throwing player. Therefore, it was worn on the left hand. When we first played catch in the back yard, I would catch the ball, take the glove off, and throw the ball back with my left hand. My Dad was shocked, and said, “You’re a Silly Sider.” His nickname for a lefty.

Add that nickname to others, like “Southpaw.” That was another nickname I received over the years and always wondered where the name came from. I was told that Southpaw comes from the baseball world. See if you can follow this explanation. In the early days, baseball diamonds were designed so that the pitcher faced in a westerly direction when looking at the batter. The batter would face east, so the setting sun wouldn’t be shining in his eyes. With the left-handed pitcher facing west, his throwing arm would be to the south, hence the name Southpaw!  

We lefties have sad tales about trying to cut paper with right-handed scissors (yes, there is a difference) or having to constantly move a glass or coffee cup from the right side of the place setting to the left. And having knuckles stained blue with ink while trying to write a sentence on a piece of paper. I’d come home every day from school with my blue knuckles that had been dragged across fresh ink all day long. And try writing while balancing your hand on the coils of a coil notebook! Small things, but it’s what happens when you live in a right-handed world. I got lucky though, years ago as a birthday present, my Dad bought me a left-handed hammer!

One more whining story. The other day I paid a visit to a music store that specialized in guitars and was shocked to find it didn’t have one left-handed acoustic guitar. Not one!  Apparently, that very thing happened to the late musician David Bowie. As the story goes, David Bowie was left-handed; however, he taught himself to play guitar right-handed! Why? There weren’t any left-handed guitars in the store when he went to buy one! Jimi Hendrix played left-handed on a right-handed guitar. In the 1960’s left-handed guitars were hard to find, and when you did find one, it was usually expensive. So, he just flipped over the right- handed guitar and re-strung it lefty. And of course, no mention of left-handed musicians is complete without Paul McCartney, one of the most famous bass players who plays lefty.

There’s one advantage to being a lefty that I discovered when I was interviewing NHL tough guy Dave “The Hammer” Schultz. The Hammer was quite the fighter on ice. He wrote a book about his life as a hockey enforcer, and I interviewed him about the book on the Vancouver Show. Dave explained in his book how he won most of his fights, and I asked him to demonstrate during the interview. Dave said, “I reach across and grab my opponent by the jersey with my left hand and use my left arm to block any punches he throws, so go ahead, try to hit me!” I threw a punch and hit him on the jaw! “Hey!” he said. “Dave,” I said, “I’m left- handed.” His theory worked for someone punching with their right hand, but he was wide open for a left-handed punch. Try it at home and you’ll see what I mean. Score one for the Southpaw.

We do have some famous lefties in our ranks. Here’s a short list.  

Barack Obama
Bill Gates
Mark Zuckerberg
Lady Gaga
Julia Roberts
Judy Garland
Whoopi Goldberg
Oprah Winfrey
Albert Einstein
Leonardo Da Vinci
Rick Forchuk
And Juanita, yes, our Blue Frog’s Juanita!

A wise guy once said: “If the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and if the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handed people are in their right minds.”  

And…“Everyone is born right-handed; only the greatest overcome it.” Haha! Left On! August 13th is our day to celebrate!

Parking apps!

On Sunday I was at the Peace Arch Hospital trying to load the parking app on my phone as it was an app I didn't have and I needed to pay for parking.  I already have three parking apps on my phone!  I was having problems getting it to work.  A lady came up and said "forget the app, it's much faster to pay with your credit card".  So I put my credit card in and got my receipt.  One thing about using the app is if your parking is about to expire you can extend without going to the pay station.  

Then I saw this:

The New Westminster Police Department is warning the public about fraudulent QR codes attached to parking meters throughout the city.

Police have received numerous calls from victims who have scanned the QR codes labelled “scan to pay” on the front of the meters, and were directed to a seemingly legitimate site to enter their credit card information to complete the parking transaction. The victims later noticed that they had large amounts of money withdrawn from their personal bank accounts. One victim had $2,000 withdrawn from their account. 

New Westminster Police Department officers are investigating the source of these stickers and encouraging anyone who has used them to pay for parking in the last five days to check their bank accounts and report any suspicious activity to police and their banks.

“Our officers have already removed numerous stickers on meters throughout the city” stated Media Relations Officer Sergeant Andrew Leaver. “We would like to remind the public to be vigilant. While the stickers may appear legitimate, acceptable forms of payment are printed on signs above or on the meter.”

The City of New Westminster does not use QR codes as a payment method for parking. The New Westminster Police Department asks community members to share news of this scam with friends and loved ones.

I wonder if the meter I was trying to scan the QR code to load the app and it wouldn't work was compromised!