Looks like summer is coming to an end rapidly.

That little stick on the left side of your steering column is supposed to be used for your turning intentions in advance, not when you are turning the wheel for your turn.

Happy Friday all.

Thanks to City Hall for acting positively in respect to a problem I had with daily litter accumulation on our propert due to a bus stop. After asking that a litter disposal container be installed the crews installed one in the spring and the problem has been taken care of almost completely.

Thanks to the people as well who are doing their part by depositing litter there rather than just dropping it on the ground.

I’ve really noticed all the pot hole patching the city crews have been getting done so far this year. Good job guys. ;-)

Why would Adrien Dix want to do an environmental review of the Enbridge pipeline if he was elected premier?? Is he saying that he thinks the current review is corrupted???

There is no provincial environmental review. The review being done is federal and looks at things from the federal perspective. Dix wants it looked at from the provincial perspective, but the Liberals have castrated the province by agreeing to accept whatever the federal review says without quibble, i.e. build the pipeline.

There can be a Provincial review based on constitutional Provincial responsibilities such as forestry related issues. The reason the Feds review is the most important is because water and Native issues are Federal issues. And since these are the issues most likely to stop a pipeline the Fed review becomes the most important review.

I always love it when some uninformed person tries to make it political but FYI the current Liberal Government had very little to do with the rights of the Provinces agreed to in the Constitution. So maybe ‘castrated’ is just political sensationalism used by the uninformed to push their own agenda.

Do you hate it when people complain? It turns out there’s a good reason: Listening to too much complaining is bad for your brain in multiple ways, according to Trevor Blake, a serial entrepreneur and author of Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life. In the book, he describes how neuroscientists have learned to measure brain activity when faced with various stimuli, including a long gripe session.

“The brain works more like a muscle than we thought,” Blake says. “So if you’re pinned in a corner for too long listening to someone being negative, you’re more likely to behave that way as well.”

Even worse, being exposed to too much complaining can actually make you dumb. Research shows that exposure to 30 minutes or more of negativity–including viewing such material on TV–actually peels away neurons in the brain’s hippocampus. “That’s the part of your brain you need for problem solving,” he says. “Basically, it turns your brain to mush.”

But if you’re running a company, don’t you need to hear about anything that may have gone wrong? “There’s a big difference between bringing your attention to something that’s awry and a complaint,” Blake says. “Typically, people who are complaining don’t want a solution; they just want you to join in the indignity of the whole thing. You can almost hear brains clink when six people get together and start saying, ‘Isn’t it terrible?’ This will damage your brain even if you’re just passively listening. And if you try to change their behavior, you’ll become the target of the complaint.”

So, how do you defend yourself and your brain from all the negativity? Blake recommends the following tactics:

1. Get some distance

“My father was a chain smoker,” Blake confides. “I tried to change his habit, but it’s not easy to do that.” Blake knew secondhand smoke could damage his own lungs as well. “My only recourse was to distance myself.”

You should look at complaining the same way, he says. “The approach I’ve always taken with complaining is to think of it as the same as passive smoking.” Your brain will thank you if you get yourself away from the complainer, if you can.

2. Ask the complainer to fix the problem

Sometimes getting distance isn’t an option. If you can’t easily walk away, a second strategy is to ask the complainer to fix the problem.

“Try to get the person who’s complaining to take responsibility for a solution,” Blake says. “I typically respond to a complaint with, ‘What are you going to do about it?'” Many complainers walk away huffily at that point, because he hasn’t given them what they wanted, Blake reports. But some may actually try to solve the problem.

3. Shields up!

When you’re trapped listening to a complaint, you can use mental techniques to block out the griping and save your neurons. Blake favors one used by the late Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros during a match against Jack Nicklaus–a match the crowd wanted Ballesteros to lose. “He was having difficulty handling the hostility of the crowd,” Blake says. “So he imagined a bell jar that no one could see descending from the sky to protect him.”

Major League Baseball pitchers can sometimes be seen mouthing “Shields on!” as they stride to the mound, he says. He adds that his own imaginary defense is “more like a Harry Potter invisibility cloak.”

A related strategy is to mentally retreat to your imagined favorite spot, someplace you’d go if you could wave a magic wand. “For me, it was a ribbon of beautiful white sugary sand that extended out in a horseshoe shape from a private island,” Blake says. “I would take myself to my private retreat while people were ranting and raving. I could smile at them and nod in all the right places and meanwhile take myself for a walk on my private beach.”

Blake first saw the picture of the island in a magazine, and the image stuck with him. Eventually, he got a chance to try it for real. “It turned out the island was for rent, and it was the same one I’d seen,” he says. “So I rented it for a week. And I got to take that walk.”

Further to acrider54 point: when you see the red blinking light on the back of a vehicle, it means that I am turning/changing lanes. Not an invitation to speed up or block the lane change.

What a lovely summer we have had thus far.
Warm and sunny, whats not to like?
metalman.

Provincial and federal environmental reviews are mostly a duplication of efforts, very time consuming and adding significant costs to projects, money which is better spent on healthcare and education.

There has been no castration. Dix is pre-judging the outcome of the federal review. His posturing is purely political and designed to score points with people who don’t make the effort to keep informed.

Besides, a promise (or vaguely disguised threat) is not to be taken too seriously if made by politicians. Once elected they usually find ways to NOT keep what they promised, like: now that we have seen the books we realize that it is very expensive, too complicated, now it’s too late, etc.

That’s politics.

Am I ever excited got a letter from the Mayor yesterday . If you recall the posts that where on 250 about the famous Leaf and its cost to the PG tax payers. I sent the six pages of ideas to Mayor and Council.

Scary Sheri tells me that the tax payers of PG did not pay for the Leaf. Rather the Federal government provided the funding with money from the carbon tax. Strange part is that this was never mentioned in the media when we were given the information on this great project. I believe there was mention that the Federal government paid the $5000.00 bucks for the charging stations.

Its even stranger that the Federals are not that environmentally friendly having rejected the Toyota Accord and here they are providing funding for this Leaf that will never be used as major means of transport for City Hall. I guess when we comment on some of the great initiative undertaken by City Hall we must do our own research rather then depending on the media for information.
Gus get on it.
Cheers

“… having rejected the Toyota Accord…”

Too funny.

Counting on the media to do the research is exactly what you’re expected to do. How else do they expect to pull your strings?

Noticed that the water fountain has been installed at the Duchess Dog Park. It’s nic to see so manyhappy four legged and two legged creatures are enjoying the park.

Following in the footsteps of “ilike2boogy” and the latest version of the “power of positive thinking”.

At the moment I am having nothing but positive thoughts about getting some better grass or comparable green stuff into the center of the dog “park” so it looks more like a park. In fact, it is so strong that I can see the positive aura, especially when I walk around in the dark.

“The brain works more like a muscle than we thought”

So there is some truth to the saying of where men have their brains then?

Speaking about the power of positive thinking, I could not help but notice when watching the Olympics from England of how many people crossed themselves and looked up at the sky for devine intervention. The same with professional spectator sports.

Perhaps athletes are discovering a more potent power than positive thinking and are looking for that “treat me special” influence.

Hey Ilike2boogy,,,,another good stategy is to tell them to pull their big boy/girl panties up and deal with their crap…Good theories though thanks

Good idea willyj

I’ll try it ….

Here is goes

Hey, City Hal, pull you big boy/girl panties up and deal with your crap.

There, that feels much better, thanks!

City Hal, for those who did not know it, is the big computer on the 6th floor of City Hall.

Gus< Im short of muscle so do some research for me on this Leaf thing as I hve prviously requested. Never mind the smart cracks about dog parks. It appears its the only project that our City knows how to manage. Is that a good muscle thought?
Cheers

Jim13135: have you driven down east Central recently, between 15th and 18th? Quite awhile ago the patching crew started at the 18th end and worked a little way north. I thought they would be back the next day to do the rest. Nope.

What a nice welcome for people coming off the highway, looking for a room for the night! The travelling public as well as a lot of commercial travellers use that street. Travellers take stories of their journeys with them and spread them far and wide.

Advertising by word of mouth always has been the most effective. Makes me wonder what stories they’re telling about Central street?

The patching crew has been doing a lot of good work, in SPITE of their supervision.

Also, if you access Central from the Johnson Street using the alley beside the Camelot, beware of a HUGE pothole about halfway in.

Enjoy the weekend everyone! Have a safe, fun one!

And opinionated your just trying to show us your muscle. All dogs should be on a leash at their owners side on a sidewalk and the owner carrying a plastic bag for remove of stuff left behind by doggies and Parks are for people.
Cheers

“There has been no castration. Dix is pre-judging the outcome of the federal review. His posturing is purely political and designed to score points with people who don’t make the effort to keep informed.”

Maybe Dix is reading the articles about the scientific review can’t possibly be done in the alotted time frame because there is not enough scientists to do it! Either way the extra review should be done and send the bill to Enbridge. If they are so confident everything will be approved they should have no problem footing the bill.

@Retired 02
Maybe you should remind Green Cherry that the citizens of Prince George pay federal taxes!

Great pavement jobs on Domano and Ospika Blvds! Thank you to all those that made it happen !

Been to Red Deer lately? They have unmanned radar hanging everywhere. Traffic is moving and no idiots racing around. For those that choose to speed it is user pay tax revenue. You can tell Red Deer does not need the cash but traffic is reasonable. Prince George needs the cash and too many fast drivers! Maybe we should follow Red Deer’s lead.

I went to Zellers last Friday to check on some black plastic planters for sale there. They’re along the wall. The price last Friday was $24.95 each. Yesterday (Thursday) I went back to check on said product on their “clearance sale”. I kinda got astonished when I read the price tag on those $24.95 planters. The tag read, “Regular price $34.95 marked down to $24.95. I bumped into the liquidator hired to rid the store of it’s stock. He said he was from West Virginia. He said to keep coming back. Logic being the price will drop accordingly just to get rid of the stuff. I offered ten bucks each. Didn’t get them. Will try again soon. 300% to 400% mark ups are not uncommon here in overpriced Canada. That’s why I’m sooo cheap. Other than that I had a good week. How ’bout you?

Gus, athletes are among the most superstitious folks on the planet and region, god, and divine intervention are just as much a supersticion as anything else, like not having a black cat cross your trail or throwing salt over your shoulder. Some athletes have to wear a special pair of socks, some look skyward and cross themselves – no difference.
Is it annoying or just amusing?

So next time you come back they will be $20 off …..

The new sign will say

“regular price $44.95 marked down to $24.95”

I ws in the USA recently and the only real bargain I found was the expected dairy prices … and the prices on Mexican style food …. cans of refried beans as low as $0.80 instead of $2.00 for the least inexpensive ones around here…. tortilla chips for a third of what they are here a places like superstore.

Chicken was less, pork the same as here and beef more expensive …. seafod was also generally more costly than here…. 6 cobbs of corn for $5 …. strawberries almost double the price ….

filled up my 55 litre gas tank for $52 instead of $70.

Krusty …. yes I was aware of that, but the outward signs are the only ones I am reminded of that.

If I watched more spectator sports I think I would find it annoying. It is something new to me. Not something one could see a few decades ago. Why is it annoying to me? I think because I tend to think it is not real devotion/appreciation. I am sure some are, but I have this feeling that others are for show. I guess to me religion is a private affair.

Maybe someone should start doing a druid dance or two … oh wait …. I think the football players were doing that when they made a touchdown … LOL

hey gus, I was recently in vegas and found a wal mart….36 budweiser cans for $20.00 with a $4.00 of coupon for hot dogs and buns, so lets say $20.00…..Start the frickin car….man we get the %&@# end of the stick living in this province/country.

“Speaking about the power of positive thinking, I could not help but notice when watching the Olympics from England of how many people crossed themselves and looked up at the sky for devine intervention. The same with professional spectator sports.”

I had a glass of wine last night. Does that count as “devine” intervention?

I get a laugh out of athletes who thank god for helping them win. Makes me wonder why god hates the other guy so much?

36 budweiser cans for $20.00

Headache in a can. After pounding them back you are Older Bud wiser ;)

Born in BC decries a provincial environmental review, implying that I am an uninformed person because I disagree with his stance. I was referring to the fact that the Liberal government of BC gave up their right to an environmental review on the Enbridge pipeline and agreed to rely only on the Federal review. If that isn’t castration, then certainly qualifies as self abuse! BC needs, repeat, needs its own review to protect its own interests.

Positive Thinking? Law of Attraction? What you think about comes about? An invisible Path to Success? Or giving thanks to your Creator?

Every day you have thoughts. You have feelings. Things happen to you. How much is caused by you and how much by someone else? How much is fate, destiny or the result of invisible forces you know nothing about?

Most good success or personal development approaches pretty much say the same thing: “You create your own reality,” They tell you. “Your thoughts, feelings and expectations cause everything.”

What does it matter if their faith or belief is what makes a difference to them?

Doesn’t affect us. Does it?

“THEY tell you ….. “

THEY tell us God has given us freedom of thought ….

and THEY tell us so that we do not have to strain ourselves too much to take advantage of that freedom of thought, just believe in the wisdom they have accumulated … :-)

Sort of like Government …..

The leaders …. the followers ….

Catch 22 …

Beer and nachos …. such a cheap feast States side, eh?!

“Born in BC …implying that I am an uninformed person because I disagree with his stance.”

What? That never happens around here.

Sparrow……..How long will you be in exile down there?

Is there an Opinion 360?

I see dead people

Some real justice!

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/08/23/self-defence-ruled-in-calgary-home-invasion-death

Blake should change his name to Flake.

I’ve had to walk on the street a lot recently. Why? Because several locations have chosen to block sidewalk access completely. Examples: Burger King, where the construction fence is on the wrong side of the sidewalk and completely blocks it on both 10th and Central. Fifth Avenue near the firehall, has had broken sdiewalk every since the construction started there and now it’s blocked off too. I know that both of these locations have been mentioned to the city on numerous ocassions, in fact I let them know myself and I know others have too. Nothign has been done and nobody can get any answers. This is a serious safety risk. We are the “good” pedestrians. We follow the rules of the road, only cross when legal and safe to do so, etc. and yet we are forced to walk on teh road to get around sidewalk obstructions. Is this not illegal? Nobody would be allowed to block the road for several months without a city permit so why is it ok to blcok the sidewalk and not offer a safe alternative? Or, why dig up the sidewalk on 15th Ave frontage road and then just leave it undone. Why not dig it up and fix it right away. I could go on, as there are examples all over town. It’s a disgrace with the ever-increasing number of seniors.

I’ve had to walk on the street a lot recently. Why? Because several locations have chosen to block sidewalk access completely. Examples: Burger King, where the construction fence is on the wrong side of the sidewalk and completely blocks it on both 10th and Central. Fifth Avenue near the firehall, has had broken sdiewalk every since the construction started there and now it’s blocked off too. I know that both of these locations have been mentioned to the city on numerous ocassions, in fact I let them know myself and I know others have too. Nothign has been done and nobody can get any answers. This is a serious safety risk. We are the “good” pedestrians. We follow the rules of the road, only cross when legal and safe to do so, etc. and yet we are forced to walk on teh road to get around sidewalk obstructions. Is this not illegal? Nobody would be allowed to block the road for several months without a city permit so why is it ok to blcok the sidewalk and not offer a safe alternative? Or, why dig up the sidewalk on 15th Ave frontage road and then just leave it undone. Why not dig it up and fix it right away. I could go on, as there are examples all over town. It’s a disgrace with the ever-increasing number of seniors.

Hey, Palopu. Get with it. Think positive.

http://www.threesimplesteps.com/about/trevor

I am going to order his book; read it; and then change my life forever. I mean, I have had such a chitty life so far, I need someone to tell me how I can turn it around.

As he says on his web site ….. “Want to connect with Trevor on how to redefine your life and find success or increase your company EBITDA through outsourcing?”

You know, it is not about all this BS of how to be successful through postive thinking and all that ….. the proof in the pudding of what one value positive thinking has is in its application …..

outsourcing, eh?! … well there goes another inappropriate application of positive thinking …… just another money grab …. just another snake oil salesman …. a sucker born every minute … and they know it …

——————————–
I wonder if I moved to India, I could outsource to Prince George? ;-)

Jim I for one applaud Adrian Dix for his call to implement BC’s sovereign right to have a provincial environmental review. Regardless of the outcome, the important part to remember is that BC does have sovereign rights under our constitution, and to ensure we will retain our sovereign rights into the future we must do our own environmental review… or as Steven Harper says if you don’t use it you loose it.

BC needs to protect its right to make its own informed decisions on projects so critical to so many BC interests that we simply can not rely on politicians from way out East with a far different relative perspective making the decisions for us.

I would have never voted ndp to this point… but short of running myself I think the only option next election is to vote for the only party that will protect BC’s sovereign rights.

I just hope the ndp doesn’t get all funny on the other issues prior to the next election or claim to have a mandate for the funny issues after the next election.

Iliketoboogy shouldn’t you cite your source. Pure cut and paste and no original comment. At least provide a link. This is suppose to be the free for all… original thoughts and opinions.

Listening to Complainers Is Bad for Your Brain

http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/listening-to-complainers-is-bad-for-your-brain.html?nav=pop

Minda Zetlin is a business technology writer and speaker, co-author of The Geek Gap, and president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. @MindaZetlin