To kill a song bird, one only needs to feed it one kernnel of corn sprayed with a neonicotoid pesticide. A neonicoid is a class of neuro-active insecticide chemically related to nicotine.

The primary neonicotoid pesticides are Actura and Cruiser manufactured by Swiss pesticide giant Syngenta AG. The other global manufactures are Monsanto, Bayer, and DuPont.

Neonicotoid accumulates in the environment and water table and doesn’t break down. It is being fingered for a bee apocalypse by the Russian Kremlin and Putin this week warned it could ‘lead to world war’.

Putin last week was so incensed that US Secretary of State John Kerry (who wanted to talk Syria) refused to put this issue on their agenda that Putin refused to see Kerry for three hours until Kerry agreed to hear him out.

Also this week neonicotoid was sprayed on a crop in Florida and in one day all the entire bee colonies in the area completely died off at the crop wiping out some large established bee keepers. University of Florida professors claim only one thing can kill the whole colony like that in such a short period.

Russia claims it could destroy our worlds ability to grow enough food to feed its population. Only the very rich could ensure they are not eating food that is contaminated.

In Europe Switzerland, France, Italy, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Russia they all ban its use in their countries. In North America both Canada and the US allow its use and the Americans passed a law last month giving immunity to the companies that make it from liability lawsuits. Ironically Switzerland bans its use in their country, but Swiss companies make over 80% of the global supply.

Last week we had people saying these pesticides should be used to stop the tent caterpillar invasion in PG… I seen people protecting trees with tin foil that was far more effective with none of the collateral damage. IMO a very serious issue not to be taken lightly.

“In Turner Valley, southwest of Calgary, a sour gas wellhead ruptured at the same time as the town dealt with fast-rising flood waters in the Sheep River.

Turner Valley Coun. Barry Williamson said the pipeline was struck by river debris, adding that an evacuation was ordered for residences in the area”

Thankfully, Enbridge has ensured that the proposed Northern Gateway project goes nowhere near rivers that are subject to large scale flooding and blow out ;)

Happy Friday everyone! Thinking about those in Alberta affected by the floods, I hope you see some relief soon.

6 months until winter! “Winter is coming”

Did anybody ever find the $3.1B of anti-terrorism funding the Conservatives lost? I looked under the couch, the bed and under the seats in my car. Nothing.

Funny how that story simply disappeared off the radar. It may well have been spent but weird there is no paper trail for it. Just a lot of “may have” and “might have been”.

Treasury Board President Tony Clement says all the money in question is accounted for in the public accounts. The government just can’t find it.

I just read the BC Hydro story that can be found on 250’s homepage under the “British Columbia” heading. The story is about BC Hydro over-billing residents and then blaming the residents for their own HUGE hydro bills.

I think the CEO of BC Hydro (Charles Reid) should be FIRED. BC hydro is abusing it’s monopoly by forcing residents to pay for over-billing. Only when these stories hit the media does BC Hydro relent and ADMIT it was THEIR mistake. BC Hydro’s gross over-billing has actually caused people to MOVE OUT of their residences.

When the “team” fails then fire the “coach” (a.k.a Charles Reid)…!!!

Reid is one of the highest paid Government workers in the Province, so hopefully we are getting a good **bang** for our buck.

Eagleone:-“Ironically Switzerland bans its use in their country, but Swiss companies make over 80% of the global supply. “
——————————————–
They need the ‘money’, Eagle. And mere figures with the respective symbol of some particular brand of ‘money’ attached to them are apparently more important to preserve than life itself. It’s no different with us and our pushing the export of products we supply that are banned or whose use is severely restricted here. Like asbestos and coal, for instance.

And on a LOCAL note–it’s nice that city hall has a website for reporting potholes-but- Do they read it??? I have reported a couple of times about the same area, and have yet to see any reaction. Three strikes and you’re out! Next you get the angry phone call; or better yet a visit at the office-if I don’t break an axle on my car getting there! Aintree at the corner by Aberdeen Rd. Can I charge the city for car repairs??

sjm – I have had the same issue!!

What’s with the paving of University Way down at end of 15th??? That road is perfectly good.. It’s the other end of Tyner that needs repaving.. This some make work project City Hall made for it’s contractors they hired??

Stillsmokin—it’s like the repaving of 22nd- Why can’t they be like YRB and do the work in evening and over-night? Makes too much sense; or they just LOVE messing with the traffic in the day time.

Interesting stuff, Eagleone! Studies conducted in Australia and France showed that when piglets are fed genetically modified alfalfa and corn they developed significant debilitating inflammations of their digestive tracts, rats raised on GMO corn developed fatal cancer growths. The assertion that GMO feeds fed to farm animals and GMO foods consumed by humans are totally harmless and not any different than animals and plants developed by selective breeding is completely false.

The merchandise found in grocery stores is made with GMO plants and if it was made in the USA it more than likely was made with chemically altered water which had a corrosive and potentially cancer causing component added.

I was very disturbed by what a friend related to me earlier in the week. One day last week they observed a twenty something male person relieving himself against the tire of his black truck with an atv in the back. What disturbed me so much was not that he was relieving himself as we all know that twenty something males usually have bladder control issues, neither was it the fact he was using the tire of his truck as an aiming point, after all it had a goat on the front of it, what was bothering me was that this took place in the parking area right beside a convenience store which, I know for a fact does have public washrooms, and is attitude was, I can do what I want, when I want and where I want. Sure makes me feel good about the future if this person is any example of what is out there. Have a great weekend and I hope that you don’t see amy of these cretens out there.

I just had an outrageous hydro bill. I moved in in late March, got my first hydro bill for 26 days and it was $481. I flipped, called them, they put a hold on the bill said, wait till we read it again in June. They read it, new adjusted bill is $596 for Mar 22nd to now. KWh hour usage is 25 KWh daily from April 17th to June 17th (seems reasonable) but for some reason Mar 22nd to April 17th is 160 KW daily!

Figure that out, with natural gas heat. Guess I’ll be calling them again, I think I’ll make them adjust it to 25 KWh daily for Mar/April too.

1300 sq ft. home, full basement, natural gas heat. Living alone.

What’s everyone’s daily hydro KWh usage?

Hummer, if I’m reading my bill correctly:
May 17 – June 17 averaging 14 kWh/day, amount used would be about $38. Winter months I’m up to about 18-20 with an electric heat dish to keep the gas bill down.
That is a townhouse, about 1800 sq ft including basement. With a roommate who never turns off the TV and leaves lights on all the time.
I’d definitely be talking to Hydro about those amounts.

Hummer

Unless you have a “hydroponic garden” in the house that usage seems unusually high(no pun intended). If you have a smart meter you can create an account on the hydro website and track usage.

This happened to us.
They came and changed our meter to a smart meter.
Next month we had a $2000 bill
because they failled to note the reading on the original meter.
Then the new reading was so different, they charged us $2000
They refused to adjust the bill.
So now, we got screwed hard by BC Hydro, with no recourse.

self-generation is looking better all the time.

I figure that at the current rate of about $80 per month, we could get an adequate loan to purchase the system, then make equal payments for the duration of the loan. No possibility of rate increases, no being dictated to, and hydro can go and stuff site “C”. Eventually the system would be paid for, then it is only a matter of maintenance.

Loki: that is very smart thinking on your part! Wish I could do that.

You must have been a busy person for that week Hummer – 160kwh per day is about the equivalent of drying 40 loads of laundry per day…

On a related note, my hydro has dropped $40 per bill since the smart meter was installed. I cannot think of any other changes except I put 3 CFLs in the bathroom but I dont think that would quite do it LOL

Yes I have an account online but I still have an old meter. Called them again, turns out they didn’t read it, they estimated the bill again…. So I will be reading it this evening after work and calling again.

Last lady I talked to at Hydro sounded good. She advised reading it myself, calling in and then she said they can adjust the bill per my new reading which will give a proper daily average from the reading in April.

Thanks All. I figure they were wrong and I was right.

I averaged about 11kwh/day for May 2012. Last May it was about 11kwh/day

January 2012 was 15kwh/day

This year it is about 9kwh/day for May.

Virtually every light in the house is now high efficiency; even dimmable ones now have LED bulbs in them. High efficiency electric stove as well as fridge/freezer with the only old fixture being a chest freezer. Hot water is gas. Dryer is electric. House is SFD without any party walls. At least twice the area of windows than average house. House volume over 20,000 cf. Heated by gas, air circulated by electricity.

I am in Calgary right now, fortunately on very high ground—still raining. LOTS of flooding— Saddledome supposedly flooded to 8th row—good thing Flames not in Stanley Cup.

I found the “Fighting City Hall in Court” story interesting.

It may be an overly simplistic take, but I think much of the issue around those sorts of things can be traced back to the differences between government and the “private sector”. The former has FAR greater rigour, bureaucracy and legislative oversight, whereas the latter (exceptions could be made for very large corporations) are typically left to be managed in a more “free flowing” way, where decisions can be made more quickly, fewer people have insight into how things are managed and there aren’t people second guessing every decision you make.

As we demand more and more “business experience” to be reflected in government (and especially local government where that “business experience” is likely going to be “small business experience”), I cant help but think that we’ll continue to see stuff like this. The reality of the situation is that these people are put into a completely foreign environment and are basically given the opportunity to make decisions that could be fraught with issues because of their ignorance of the environment in which they operate.

If the people actually heed the advice of the people around them who know the environment, then things could work very well. If they don’t, however, it could be an absolute circus. I can’t help but think we’re seeing some of that in PG and beyond.

Government isn’t like business and in many very important ways, people really shouldn’t want it to be.

Loki there is recourse.

What kind of a self generation, self maintained system are you looking at?

If you want your present convenience minimum cost will be about 40 grand and is not maintenance free, so add in those costs.

I presented a very simple outline.
I don’t have all the answers, but at least I am not just moaning about it, I am trying to actively do something about it.
Now if some arm chair experts have the answers, it would be most appreciated.

Batteries Direct on first avenue is advertizing some sort of system, but their marketing activities are a little lite and their staff knowledge is less.

I would not mind if o-250 did a little “expose” on this option. what is needed, what is available, what is legal, where to get it.

I know BC hydro has been hampering self-generation development by not co-operating with home owners that have invested in the systems. Something to do with back feeding the grid nonsense.

Think about it.
If every structure was covered in solar, and every opportunity taken to capture geo-thermal, and extensive wind generation from milli amps to mega amps, we would not need site “c”.

There are issues with IPP, but I believe they have a place in the over all scheme of power generation.

When one has a single source that is also the single distributor, it is called a monopoly. monopolies bre4ed abuse of power and arrogance. It’s time to take away their monopoly.

Fighting city hall in court, good time to be a lawyer. Could it be that self serving lawyers are instigating these issues in the first place? Naw they wouldn’t do that would they?

I wonder if the Calgary Stampede will take place this year?

It’s god trying to wash all the oil out of Alberta because he doesn’t want Enbridge to build the pipeline either!

Hummer, B.C. Hydro no longer reads meters. It’s contracted out to Accenture. They no longer read the meter when someone moves out and the account changes.

They just take the next reading and prorate it for the number of days each party lived there.

It seems that the people ahead of you had HUGE power usages, so 26 days of that went onto yours.

Everyone who moves into a new place should read the meter on the day they take possession, and record it somewhere for future information.

According to an engineer who works in the pulp endustry, there is enough power that could be producted by the mills that we could power our homes, have hot water heating in our homes, and have massive greenhouses that could grow all our food (including tropical fruits). The system is being used in Europe and it was developed in Canada; and it would get rid of the Canfor lid over the PG bowl. Plus site C dam would never have to be built. Take about taking pollution and turning it into green energy.

There is certainly a significant amout of energy coming out of the stacks. I would like to see the figures to show where the amount of energy being suggested would come from. I believe that the mills are using much of the easily recoverable energy to drive their own processes.

What kind of an engineer is he/she?

It seems that the City has raised the bar for a PAC to enormous heights with the design of the RCMP building probably to the extent that any PAC building based on past functional programs would cost a good 20 to 30% more to build than had been contemplated prior to the palace of a building our fine officers are getting.

I think many of you can breathe a sigh of relief since any PAC building will now be totally out of reach for this community’s coffers.

Time to thank Spitz. ;-)

“They no longer read the meter when someone moves out and the account changes.”

And this is legal?

Having had kabillions of rats as pets (okay, only 20), I’m not sure any real conclusions can be drawn based on rats consuming GMO foods. Rats are generally awesome at developing tumours. I bet a good chunk of them had respiratory problems too. Maybe GMO stuff messes with your breathing? Or maybe it’s just rats being rats. They kind of suck at survival. I mean they do well at scavenging and getting to the age of reproduction (which is insanely young). They are not really built to last. My rats all ate proper ratty diets selected from foods in my cupboard. They are all dead. I’m alive and well. Some of them lived pretty long ratty lives. Others got cancer and died in the first year.

I guess I just need a little more evidence then that. And is definitely want a link to the study. Rats getting cancer doesn’t exactly ruffle my feathers.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2205509/Cancer-row-GM-foods-French-study-claims-did-THIS-rats–cause-organ-damage-early-death-humans.html

If that’s the study – those are actually not uncommon mammary tumours. 50% of female rats can be expected to get them at any time. They are most likely benign but can crush organs and the like. And please note the end of this article where they talk about this guy’s studies not standing up to scrutiny. Don’t believe everything you read.

I’m curious about the accident yesterday between a passenger vehicle and a school bus.

The Citizen reported that the passenger vehicle didn’t merge properly and hit the bus. The paper said the passenger vehicle driver was being held responsible for the accident. Shouldn’t the bus driver have changed his speed to accommodate the merging vehicle?

Memo to self: Do not purchase any new or used vehicles from Alberta. At least in the foreseeable future.

Observed at the Tim Horton’s on the Hart this morning, 19 cars in the drive thru. The lineup inside… 1 person.

Are Prince Georgians really that lazy?

Taxi: Hope you’re high and dry out in Alberta, stay safe.

“Are Prince Georgians really that lazy?”

No. PG people love to have free things whenever they can get them.

Are those lines not free idle zones? Gas used while idling is free…. ;-)

Right gus… and don’t forget to complain about gas prices while you’re in that drive thru lineup, right? ;-)

Merging is very similar to changing lanes. If the driver in the lane being entered doe not give up a spot, then the merging car is SOL.

A lot of courteous driving is need for merging to be done safely.

There are those who move to the inside lane, if they can, in anticipation of merging lane ahead … those are courteous, share the road drivers.

Those who cannot or do not do that can monitor the traffic behind and the car trying to merge and decide which is safest to do, allow the merging car in ahead or simply acceot the fact that getting in behind you is safest way.

If all cars in travelling lane have proper distance between them, a merging car should be able to find a slot to fit in.

Of course, that merging lane is a bit short at about 150 metres and difficult to see car coming from below.

As a defensive driver who is doing the merging, do not assume any action by normal traffic to accommodate you. Be prepared to actually go into a full yield mode.

I consider the merge sign to be an instruction to all vehicles, not just those in the merge lane. A yield sign, on the other hand, is simply there for the car in the yield lane.

lhl:”If that’s the study…Don’t believe everything you read.”

No, that is not the study. I hope that your advice (don’t believe everything you read) includes yourself as well! Actually it is impossible to believe everything one reads as one would then have to believe and find worthwhile diametrically opposed opinions and conclusions all presented as facts. How much sense would that make?

fact …. “a piece of information presented as having objective reality”

At one time it was a fact that the earth was flat. Now it is false …… I think, ;-)

At one time it was a fact that there were non planets in our solar system. Now there are only eight ….. Pluto no longer is …. :-(

As more information becomes available, facts can turn into fiction …. ;-)

So, do not believe everything your teacher tells you.

non=nine :-(

So did anyone see the thick black smoke from the airport this afternoon.

If it is black, they have not come to a decision about a new chair of the Board.

If it is white … we have a new papa. ;-)

Loki if self generation was a great idea don’t you think everyone would be doing it.

Hydro does not hamper home generation, one does has to follow the rules. Home generation will not energise the grid of course but it is possible to energise even momentarily part of the circuit outside your home. Just ask any electrician you may know.

As for using alternative power, just look at countries trying that route, huge increases in energy costs.

I use my time in the Tim’s lineup doing paperwork, emails etc. I used to go in but found they concentrate on the drive thru traffic so it usually turned out to be faster in the drive thru.

“Shouldn’t the bus driver have changed his speed to accommodate the merging vehicle?”

No, it’s up to you merging to adjust your speed.

In keeping with Prince George’s example I am to presume that they have free bus rides in Singapore this weekend and for the foreseeable future. Alas, those poor residents.

“Observed at the Tim Horton’s on the Hart this morning, 19 cars in the drive thru. The lineup inside… 1 person.

Are Prince Georgians really that lazy?”

Some people will whine about anything.

Movie disclaimer: A true story based on a fictionalized account. Would work for me if it had a plot AND a happy ending.

Dragon master.. The strange thing is.. Macdonalds coffee is so much better and rarely a line up :)

Texting while driving Hartly2 will get you a fine and points. Driving includes sitting in a Timmies line up! Turn the freaking thing off!

NoWay, after that stupid statement I hope you have parked your vehicle (uses oil me thinks) Get off your PC, made from plastic (last time I checked plastic is made from oil) Most of everything that makes your miserable life comfortable comes from oil!!

Southern Alberta is in a disaster situation and you make a comment like that!! I’m not aloud to say what I think of people like you on here, but I think you get my drift!!

Thanks Griz, doing well!!

Dragon: “Some people will whine about anything.”

Are you saying you’re too lazy to get out of your truck? Or are you whining about my observation?

gus: “As a defensive driver who is doing the merging, do not assume any action by normal traffic to accommodate you. Be prepared to actually go into a full yield mode.”

I have driven many years and a lot of places and if you can’t merge and are forced to yield, then there’s something wrong with your driving skills. It’s not rocket science.

The driver merging is supposed to get up to speed to enter the flow of traffic—something that MANY PG drivers know nothing about. Specially the ‘come to a dead halt types’ and then they wait for NO traffic anywhere near them!!! Drives some of us others nuts!!

It was not that long ago that Dragon was whining that the air at a gas station had water in it…..and the service station provides the compressed air for FREE, now that takes a Masters Degree in whining Dr.dm:P

Taxi

As to your comment earlier in the week that you are glad you left this dump…..at least god is not trying to double flush(Bow and Elbow) Prince George into Hudsons Bay 0.0
–
Stay safe Calgary

Is anyone at all concerned about the problems with the border patrol on both sides? They seems to go by their own rules.If they don’t like the colour of your shirt they can stop you from entering either side.

Editor’s Note:

As two of the actions mentioned in this story are before the courts, there will be no commenting allowed.

What??? That’s Bull#### No wonder I quit visiting here. Talk about suppressing public opinion! This isn’t even from the socialist government — this is from an “opinion” forum.

Drives me nuts to sjm! The law is that merging traffic and traffic flow have the same right of way. Cars in the main traffic flow must attempt to make space and the merging car is required to be going the posted speed to make merging easier. There is no stopping in a merge lane unless absolutely necessary like an obstruction, not because there is oncoming traffic. It is not a yield, you must merge just like you must allow a merge.

What happened to all the comments under the Aboriginal Day story, and the More People taking government / city to court article? One is suppose to have 14 comments and the other is suppose to have 9 comments…. I don’t see any?

“I have driven many years and a lot of places and if you can’t merge and are forced to yield, then there’s something wrong with your driving skills. It’s not rocket science.”

I have as well ….. and actually it is a bit of rocket science for some. Some simply do not know the capability of their vehicles. That particular merge is about 150 metres of broken line which is the length you have to move to the adjacent lane. One can push it a bit more, but, like a plane taking off that needs to abandon a take off avoid going off the runway, the same happens there.

Leading up to it is a curved road to get up the grade. From the point where it straightens out almost parallel to the highway, but below the elevation of the highway, which is also still climbing, to where the broken line starts, is a grade of about 12%. In addition, vision through the driver side mirror is limited because of the elevation difference. So, looking over the shoulder is required for assurance in knowing what traffic is approaching. So, it is not your average approach to a merge lane which is typically relatively level or even higher than the main road in cases of coming off a highway cloverleaf from a bridge spanning the highway.

Give it a vehicle with low acceleration, an unsure driver, a conversation going on in the car, a driver unfamiliar with the area, etc. etc. and one has a bunch of cheese holes in a number of cheese slices aligning perfectly into a crash.

Not sure where you see the 9 …. I believe there were no comments allowed on that. A reason was given.

The other one shows 14, but there are none right now. That typically happens when someone posts something that is against the rules …. and if it is bad enough … all comments get removed.

“No wonder I quit visiting here”

You did? Do you have any evidence of that? LOL

Not sure what you meant by your comment Lonesome Sparrow, but you are right as the Nechako flows into the Fraser, the Elbow flows into the Bow. But the devastation we are seeing in Calgary and surrounding towns in southern Alberta has never been seen by the likes of you and your buds!

It’s too bad the two rivers in Prince George didn’t breach their banks, may clean the “Dump” up!!

I was born in Prince George, and it breaks my heart to see where”my” town has ended up

And just so you all know, taxinapotholes real name is John Bradley and I’m proud of it!!

I’ve given the shirt off my back many times to help my fellow man, never asking for anything in return! How many of you on this site can live up to that order??? I’m thinking very few!

Have a great weekend everyone!!