What a great summer we have had. Enough sun to keep us warm through the winter I reckon.

Woww nearing the end of August :(

I think the city is set for a failure of opportunity with the games. Seems we have no planning on how to manage the media and the perceptions the outside world will project of PG while the city is in the spot light.

Sherri Green won’t be mayor, so maybe in her mind its not her problem managing the Canada Winter Games file to maximize its potential. The problem is all lot needs to be done prior to the games and the next mayor will only have a couple of months of winter to prepare.

One of my concerns is how we manage the viewscapes that will highlight the best the city has to offer. We know the unfinished Delta project will be an eye sore at one of the main venues… how can we work around that… has anyone cataloged potential viewscapes for out of town media so they know where to set up their background shots?

PG has some iconic potential, but we are over grown with trees everywhere. UNBC use to have phenomenal views from the parking lot prior to it being over taken by trees blocking the view… why can’t we have those trees trimmed back?

Some spots around the Cranbrook Hill crest or along the cut banks would make great background shots for the national media, but shouldn’t these sites be prepared prior to the games?

A prime example of an iconic viewscape of the city lost to trees is the off ramp to Massey Drive from highway 97 across from Pine Center looking Northeast towards the downtown skyline. It shows significant sporting infrastructure in the foreground with probably the best perspective of the city skyline on the horizon. Any other city would show this off by cutting down all the over growth and planting some lawn to keep the sight lines open. Even if we don’t plant some lawn this year, why not cut the trees down at least, so that come winter time when its covered by snow no one would be the wiser, but a fantastic potentially iconic view can be had of the city… something that would instil a bit more pride in our city like the people in Vancouver must feel crossing the Lions gate bridge on their commute.

I don’t think a lot of thought has gone into this issue or even the issue of presenting the city to the outside world through outside media in a year when we should be all geared up for that. I think its a failure of leadership and something that would have to be addressed by this council, and not something that can wait until after the next election.

If we leave the presentation of our city to the outside media… we will have stories about murder, rape, missing women, property crime rates, violent crime rates, images of Queensway and the Hood as our neighborhoods, and images full of trees, snow, and potholes as the lasting legacy to the rest of the country… given the chance national media never gives PG the benefit of the doubt and presents this city in a good light, we will need to work for that if we want it, otherwise we should know by now how they will present us to the world.

We need to be thinking now of a list of prime locations for their images of PG, and we need to be thinking about how we want the national media to present us to the world. I don’t see that happening.

Time Will Tell

I ordered cable, for my new place,,With in 6 hours after setting up an account,,I get a call, from a 3rd party, wanting to better my cable package, He has all my info I just gave to cable,( even my bank info).. So I called cable back, and asked if this deal is real, they said no, its not them,, so I asked him, how much did you sell my info for,,he would not answer that question. they sold my info,, faster than they could hook me up.. sure nice to know that our info is not safe with all these company’s. crooked is, what crooked does..

With the hostage decapitation this week, I read that Qatar denounced it. That was the only Arabic quote I found about it.
By their silence, it would seem that Muslim countries and Muslims the world over, are condoning it.
Am I wrong, or is just because Western media hasn’t reported any of this?
Just wondering.

I hope everyone’s weekend is a good one.

Eagleone there are two hoods in PG , the Hood North and the Hood South , work should have been done years back but didn;t ever seem a problem to the city if it wasn’t on their door step . So why bother now , the Winter Ganes will not amoubt to anything more than a raise in taxes again

When TSN came here to do the Cougars game, city council dropped the ball on that also, so what is the difference now. They will screw up this opportunity again. Small minded people which don’t know how to seize an opportunity.

Why is there so much stench from industry in the bowl of late? I thought that their emissions were to have been reduced. Any ideas?

I believe the subject of cutting the trees along highway 97 by the Massey ramp and replacing them with some landscaping which does not obstruct the view of the city was brought up before – it is a good one and now the problem is to get somebody at the Hall to listen.

The new hotel will not be seen as an eyesore as long as it is actually being under advancing construction. Tall construction cranes and rising new construction are usually seen as signs of progress and commercial activity – a positive thing!

Perhaps some Prince George logging outfit will do the work of removing all the trees and shrubs as a voluntary no-cost contribution to the Winter Games?

The city is completely out of money, apparently. All tapped out. Every penny is already spoken for. Tough times…

Is Muslim really evil, or is the work of western politician and media. I believe every religions foundation is about giving and caring. There are always radicals which like to twist the “words” around and believe they are doing it for their gods.

I am sure the Muslim world leaves in fear of what we do in western world, and we are evil people. Are we evil people.

This world will be a lot better off if we all take the time to understand our neighbours.

Give more: “By their silence, it would seem that Muslim countries and Muslims the world over, are condoning it.
Am I wrong, or is just because Western media hasn’t reported any of this?
Just wondering.”

Actually, a CBC TV report quoted a couple of other middle east Muslim countries as denouncing this atrocity, one (can’t recall which) going so far as to say that this sort of action was the number one threat to the religion and the region. There are extremists in every religion, it’s just that extremist Muslims are getting all the bad ink at the moment making them the current bogyman under the bed.

HeSpoke go have a chat with isis and tell us how that works out for you. But bring a horse and a pumpkin with you and maybe a lantern

What is up with the meridians on highways , they spent a lot of money with all that fancy brickwork only to have them overgrown with weeds ! Looks really bad!!

Wow current bogyman under the bed. Isis is a huge threat to the world with the amount of moneymoney coming in and the so called fighters from all over the world even Canada. Their sole mandate is to destroy the infidel. Look at the extreme violence produce. Some bogy man.

Then there is trudeau handshaking in the mosques that preach and produce extremists, for cheap votes.

Trees can be cut down for developments or a sidewalk that is not required but not for views.

You are so right Seamut , leave it to Trudeau another Libera; Looking for votes no matter what it might do to the country ,and people will be stupid enough to vote for this looser

A half a dozen 5 and six story buildings hardly make up a skyline unless you are arriving from Barkerville circa 1899. Plus chopping down trees does not send the right message for the “Spruce Capitol of Canada”unless we change to the “MPB Capitol of Canada” with tree stumps aplenty.

Keeping the road up Connnaught Hill plowed would provide a better backdrop as from the closer vantage point it looks like there is actually something there.

P Val

On BCTF thread you stated last night ” when all these teachers went through school the class naked up was completely different.”

Question. Freudian slip or the reason you no longer work for school district?

yes, slinky. All people that practice Muslim, are murderers.

I’m not a religious man at all. But I believe the radicals out there makes it bad for the whole religion.

A few naughty Catholic Priests in Northern BC, has undermined a lot of good work done by other priests.

This is a unfair and cruel world. Don’t let the bullies and the ignorant people undermine who you are. 99% of the population are Gentle, kind, caring and understanding people.

Sometimes, these bullies (cowards) who hide behind the religion needs to be ousted out by their own religion and then set for open execution by the population.

Stolen from another thread because it bears repeating – Truer words have never been spoken:

“Posted by: weaksauce on August 21 2014 9:28 PM

The great flaw of trade unionism and the communist model that it’s based on is that it simply deplores productively and innovation and outright encourages and rewards mediocrity and, in some cases, total incompetence.
Anyone who has ever touched on a union environment will know this to be an absolute truth whether they care to admit it or not.”

Isis..lol..no late night post :)

Having reviewed the mid-east issues over a great number of years, IMO it boils down very simply. If Israel were to lay down its arms, it would cease to exist as that is the oft stated goal of a number of Arab countries. If Hamas and the other militant forces would lay down their arms, it would result in peace as Israel has demonstrated time and time again that they will defend themselves if attacked; therefore, no attacks = no defensive actions. Probably may of the posters will disagree as I am sure they are more informed on this issue. Have a great weekend

I agree with you Riverview as I have noticed the smell from pulp mills this summer is worse that pass years. Except back in the 70tys

I’m not a meteorologist, but I would hazard a guess that the weather conditions, particularly the lack of wind for most of July and part of August contributed to the pulp mill odours hanging around the bowl area. On the plus side, less wind makes for less fuel for forest fires.

It’s not only the Pulpmills. Husky is a culprit as well..

I know they have all done emission upgrades ..but need more.

Yes P Val and our tax dollars most likely paid for the emission upgrades through the carbon tax.

“Plus chopping down trees does not send the right message for the “Spruce Capitol of Canada”unless we change to the “MPB Capitol of Canada” with tree stumps aplenty.”

There are few if any spruce trees in that location. This is about landscaping, not about leaving stumps! Why bother to improve the appearance of the city? Beats me!

Spruce Capital, not Capitol!

And nobody is practicing a “Muslim” religion! It is actually called Islam.

Is the Teachers Strike still ongoing?
Hard to tell-no picket lines.
I hear they are Partying in Kamloops this Weekend.

Man is smoky hollow all over the place this Friday.
The City will not be organizing the winter games. Doesn’t it have a CEO and staff to do the planning and organizing of the games?

And then there is the middle east problem they have been at war for ever and you think that religion may have something to do with all their problems.

Why not stick with potholes and bad drivers. Your lost with the other stuff.

And if your worried about a view for the winter games why not take a drive up Connaught hill park. But I guess your to concerned about other stuff that you would know what gives with your City.

You guys have a nice day down there in Smokey Hollow.
Cheers

“Space” critters found:

http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/russian-cosmonauts-report-sea-plankton-outside-iss

I would far sooner look at a natural landscape with all the native trees, shrubs,berry bushes, grasses and other plants that would provide a home for birds and small mammals than another lawn that is a field of yellow for a month or two in the spring, has to be constantly mowed and watered almost daily to keep it from turning brown when the sun comes out.

The city has enough on it’s plate trying to look after the fields we have already, and as mentioned above the weeds poking out everywhere of the boulevard brickwork and paving. It is like the old joke it has gone from tri-weekly to try-weekly and what we have currently try-weakly!

Eagleone comparing the Vancouver skyline to PG’s is like comparing Kate Upton to Twiggy(not much to see for those under 40).

Oldman, you got that right.. They make millions, get millions on tax breaks.. Then get millions to do upgrades, the carbon tax is a joke.. Just a scam.. There are actually carbon tax brokers who buy and sell carbon credits so companies can buy enough so they can violate their emission targets but on paper they are legal.

Article from Globe and Mail on BC’s carbon tax

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/the-insidious-truth-about-bcs-carbon-tax-it-works/article19512237/

Retired02 Just in case Abbotsford-the armpit of the lower mainland-is running out of water I’ll flush twice this afternoon. Enjoy.

I find it interesting that some will mention and criticize tax breaks and/or tax credits when these are applied to some sectors of the economy, yet remain quiet about the numerous generous tax breaks and tax credits that are extended to other sectors.

Are tax breaks and tax credits ok when they are given to one industry and not ok when they are given to another?

Our BC Film Industry is doing very very well at the moment and yet it receives tax breaks and tax credits.

Are tax breaks and tax credits ok, or not ok??

isis, you even lack information on Abbotsford.
Cheers

HG – if they are for arts, entertainment, tourism or unions they are good. If they are for resource industry they are bad. Its in the NDP handbook, chapter 2, paragraph C. ;)

Oh yes interceptor, the NDP handbook! I’ve heard about that but unfortunately, for some reason the NDP won’t let me see a copy, haha!

Recently the CRTC proposed new regulations that would allow consumers to pick the individual channels they want from cable and satellite service providers, on top of a trimmed-down basic service.

Now a TV Industry Watchdog named “Friends of Canadian Broadcasting” is warning that if the CRTC plan goes through, that up to 19 stations would close their doors, 31,000 would be out of work, and cost the Canadian economy $2.9 Billion by 2020.

That is some of the biggest fear mongering pile of bull-crap I’ve read in a while.

A note to the TV Industry Watchdog… listen up Sparky. The reason those 19 (or so) stations would close is because they are not viable. Nobody is watching. We’re sick of our money being donated to these media wasteland stations.

Bruce Springsteen was right, there’s 57 Channels and Nothing On.

HG – the handbook will be released to the public once it is finished. They are working on the chapter entitled “how to fund social programs after the shutdown of evil coorporations”
Its a bunch of blank pages so far.

Is that like the commenting 101 guidelines course recommended by johnnybelt?

I think they are stuck on understanding the liberals environmental plan… How to destroy all of bc in 8 years

In the most recent Stats Canada report half of the top most dangerous cities / towns in Canada are British Columbia cities / towns! Not much has changed since 2010, it would seem.

“PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. Police and municipal officials in some of British Columbia’s biggest cities are promising to do better after a national survey named five of them among the top 10 most dangerous in Canada.”

“Maclean’s Magazine released their annual ranking Thursday and put Prince George as the most dangerous city out of 100 it surveyed. Victoria came in second place, with Kelowna in sixth, Surrey in eighth and Chilliwack in ninth. Another five B.C. cities rank between 11th and 20th. By contrast, much-larger Ontario has only one municipality in the top 20 and Quebec has none.”

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2156791-five-b-c-cities-in-top-10-of-most-dangerous-list/

Interesting that half of the top 10 most dangerous cities in Canada are in British Columbia, and at the same time we have an idiotic Provincial Government that is actually cutting $4.2 MILLION dollars from the RCMP’s budget! I remember a 250 News story just a month or two ago that mentioned how northern BC communities, in particular, were even harder hit with high crime rates. Hmmm… just our government looking after our best interests I suppose!!! *sarcasm off*

http://www.castanet.net/news/Poll/121371/RCMP-budget-cut-by-4-2M

I wonder if there are any comments from the Lib-Con lackeys who happen to live in one of these most dangerous cities / towns in Canada. While Prince George is no longer number one, number 14 out of almost 300 cities is nothing to be thumping our chests about either! Way to go BC Liberal Government, let’s give organized crime a fighting chance in this crime ridden province. ;-) Hmmm… I wonder what crime fighting “handbook” these Lib-Cons are operating from?

And yet the NDP can’t get elected. Such a shame.

BeingHuman, criminals commit crimes without giving the slightest hoot about which party is in power!

Please note the report in today’s PG paper that the cuts will not have any effects on the PG unit! The PG team will remain uncut (Sgt. Lindsay Houghton).

PG has made a lot of progress and I feel a lot safer here than in some of the other places mentioned who have a better statistical rating.

I have read many times that there is a bunch of habitual lawbreakers here who make the rest of the law abiding population look bad statistically! If it would be possible to run all of them into the hoosegow at the same time and keep them there for a while our statistics would make us the safest town in the country just like that!

Right on PG, I was going to comment about how we should maybe keep the minority of people who do the crimes in jail longer, but that’s not the kind of thing Peeps likes to hear.

Who cares what some like or dislike to hear? Fact based statements often provoke negative reactions! Too bad!

It is a fact that when these known serial offenders are locked up they can’t commit crimes in the community! Ever heard of three strikes and you are out? If anybody has a better idea let’s hear it!

From another post
“A few naughty Catholic Priests in Northern BC, has undermined a lot of good work done by other priests.”
What good work? I wouldn’t allow my children near a catholic school or church. Where is God if there is one, allowing a religion that hurts kids?

God’s too busy helping various American sports teams win. He’s gotta make that point spread.

this is to slinky ,,,,”whats the big deal” about the creep at bear lake , the guy was showing inappropriate and aggressive behaviour to children, that’s okay with you by the sounds of what you wrote ,, wow , unreal and I will flush twice for 02 also … must lead a pretty sad and boring retired life ,, and yes you do live in the armpit of the valley :) find a hobby, Cheers

Everybody’s really slow on the draw today.

Nobody has complained about their utility bill yet.

a move to the country would put an end that J B

Perhaps if we are worried about media coverage for Prince George during the Winter Games, we could contact Grande Prairie who hosted the games in 1995, or White Horse Yukon who hosted them in 2007.

On the other hand perhaps these cities and the games have lost their glitter, and are now nothing more than vague memories.

Some city in Alberta will host the 2019 winter games, then the NW Territories in 2023, and then back to the Yukon in 2027. I am starting to get excited about these locations already.

On the other hand perhaps these cities and the games have lost their glitter, and are now nothing more than vague memories”

================================

Not so sure about that. I’ve used the Canada Games Centre in Whitehorse a number of times (beautiful facility BTW) and it was always very busy when I was there. It was apparent to me that the community certainly utilized it.

The housing that was built to accommodate the athletes for the 2007 games is also now used as residences for Yukon College. It’s another very tangible thing from them having hosted the games.

Will PG have some sort of legacy to hold onto once the games are done? I’d suggest that largely up to the people and what they choose to do.

Today is stunk like the Pulp mills, but a lot of time it is Husky that stinks. Also, today in the bowl it smells like poop, and that is from the raw sewage plant…it is a very unhealthy smell. Maybe time for a move.

isis and Retired you both miss the point completely with your Connaught Hill comments. Yes that would be great if it was opened as well during the games this winter… but there as well the trees are blocking all the viewscapes… its about sight lines so people can see things other than over growth and unkempt road sides.

Every city with pride has its iconic viewscapes built into its roadways and parks. Burnaby has its skyline from Deer Lake Park, Vancouver has its skyline from Stanley Park or West Van, or coming into the downtown from Grandville… Calgary has the Macleod Trail, and Edmonton has Jasper Avenue.

Vancouver became what it is because its attention to viewscapes and sight lines even in its bylaws for building heights and locations.

PG states; “BeingHuman, criminals commit crimes without giving the slightest hoot about which party is in power!”

Then states; “PG has made a lot of progress and I feel a lot safer here than in some of the other places mentioned who have a better statistical rating.”

So which is it PG? Parties in power having no control over crime rates, or that Prince George has made a lot of progress against the crime rate? In one sentence you infer nobody can control crime rates but the criminals, yet in the other you congratulate PG for making a lot of progress against crime.

PG, you actually think your comment is “fact” based? How nice that you “feel” a lot safer here than in some of the other places mentioned who have a better statistical rating! So when has it become acceptable to state your “feelings” on a certain matter and describe it as fact based comment?

Later on in your comment you mention “if” as in “If it would be possible to run all of them into the hoosegow at the same time and keep them there…” Let me break the news to you that it is NOT possible, and you are engaging in wishful thinking… yet that you would consider wishful thinking as “fact based” comment is unsettling! You must be a Conservative, replacing statistical evidence with your “feelings”, and then having the gall to call it “fact based” comment. *shakes head*

It seems expressing your “feelings” and engaging in “fanciful-wishful thinking” is now considered “fact based” comment in La La Christy World. No wonder things are getting so a$$ backwards and screwed up these days, PG and JB’s way of thinking, and train of thought, runs our governments!!! Simpleton ideology has replaced evidence based thinking and decision making and that seems to be OK with most of you, I am here to say it’s not OK!

Get smarter, get more informed, become independent critical thinkers, it’s time to wake up sheeple!

Hart Guy asks, “Are tax breaks and tax credits ok when they are given to one industry and not ok when they are given to another?”

Yes that is about it. The problem is money in politics is the determinant and not the elasticity of the industry to absorb costs, nor the ability of an industry to employ people through sustainable economics at a lower level of taxation.

Should microsoft be paying the same tax rate as a local artist? Should tar sands profits be taxed at the same rate as solar power profits… should organic foods be taxed at the same rate as sugar candy?

I think one of the biggest problems with our tax system is that it is to macro over a wide range of industries, where as each industry should be assessed based on its own ability to produce surplus value within vertically, as well as horizontally throughout the economy.

Its the difference between a progressive free enterprise economy of equal opportunity, and the flat tax on revenue type of monopoly capitalism that these tax policies influence.

Eagleone, you ask “should oil sands profits be taxed at the same rate as solar power profits?”

That’s a really good question!

Recently I read a report about a California solar power station burning, killing birds in mid-air! OUCH!!

We have also read about the negative effects of wind farms on bird populations!

So not only are wind farms killing birds and bats, we now have solar panel power stations cooking birds as they fly over!!

Perhaps we need to encourage more oilsands developments before we “wind mill” all the birds and bats to death or “solar” fry-on-the-fly them!

http://globalnews.ca/news/1513420/california-solar-power-station-burning-killing-birds-in-mid-air/

I think ISIS is evil. Pure evil.

What a lot of people don’t understand is that ISIS is a spawn of Israel, Saudi, American, and Qatar for the purpose of creating havoc in Syria. They were trained in Jordan as the saviors of the Syrian people, but rather than fighting for the Syrian people they displaced the Free Syrian Army and began to go rogue killing anyone that got in their way including the huge zionist ally, the Kurds. The leader of ISIS spent time in an American prison in Iraq, and was trained by Mossad upon his release. Even their hatchet man is a British elite.

Western interests released ISIS on the world, and then sat back as it became clear ISIS was committing mass atrocities against civilian populations first in Syria, and then in Iraq. Obama is clearly responsible for ISIS and its atrocities for his policies that allowed it to metastasize into a cult of death spanning across the cradle of civilization.

Harper shares responsibility for ISIS as well for allowing our allies to engage in this kind of third party warfare, and then staying silent in the face of these atrocities until the whole world was up in arms in disgust. A war is coming on ISIS and maybe it was all part of Harpers plan (allowing it to get this bad) to justify Canadian involvement in bombing Syria for the ‘great’ ally of his.

Why does the west allow the Saudi’s to get a pass, and why does Qatar get a pass on their state sponsorship of one of the most threatening terrorist organizations in modern times?

The real benefactor of ISIS is Israel with its northern neighbor effectively destroyed as a fighting threat, their Eastern neighbor split into three, and their Kurdish allies being armed by the west to take a leading rule in eradicating the problem they created that now has to be solved.

Problem is ISIS is a real threat to the world, and probably the greatest threat to world stability since WW2. Even the Pope feels action against ISIS is justified. In all likelihood an air war from the west will have to be waged on both sides of the Syrian Iraqi boarder and it will likely be a NATO led action.

Best case solution I think is if Iraq and Syria are united again into a rebirth of the United Arab Republic. Syria’s majority Sunni population and the Iraqi minority Sunni population would be on equal footing to the Syrian Alywite Shia population combined with the Iraqi Shia population… with the Kurds, Christians, Palestinians, and Druze making up the balance of power. Make it a federal government with highly autonomous regions and one could have a country internally well balanced, rather than two chronically unbalanced countries in civil war fighting oppression. I think in the end this is what will happen anyways as it is the logical end game for all involved, other than maybe Israel that wants to see diminished waring neighbors, and not well balanced neighbors.

Time Will Tell

Well Hart Guy I guess we could find something bad about just about anything. I am not sure how a bird getting fried by a solar panel in California has to do with justifying tax cuts for the oil sands though… you lost me on that leap of logic.

I think if we have an export or means of creating exceptional value that can be taxed at a flat tax rate, then that can not justify a similar tax rate on a means of production that has lower margins for profit, but a greater development of human capital and benefit to an economy.

If taxing a business process or industry out of business is the game plan, then tax all industries at an equal rate and only the most profitable industries will be left. If a business has value beyond its tax revenue to government, then maybe let it survive so as to bring benefits to society in other forms other than taxation… like a non profit society of volunteers wouldn’t get taxed on its revenue the way a petroleum company would on its gas station revenues.

I think Harper stooped to a new low with his support of the Ukrainian forces…
– first blocking access for investigators to the flight ML17 crash site
– then resupplying the Ukrainian military as it besieged the rebel cities.
– then stood silent as the Ukrainian military used artillery fire on the hold out cities targeting civilian infrastructure like housing blocks, water mains, sewer infrastructure, and hospitals… and today a museum on Donetsk celebrating its 100th anniversary.
– then agreed with the Ukrainian assessment that a humanitarian convoy is actually an invasion… yet all the refugees fleeing the fighting are fleeing to Russia, and not the Ukraine or Europe.

What a mess Harper’s self serving foreign policy is. Whether its Ukraine, Gaza, or ISIS… its nothing but a huge failure and chicken hawk war mongering that shows no appreciation for Canada’s historical role as a peacemaking nation, and has zero moral clarity that can be explained in light of the facts on the ground.

Harper’s foreign policy is dangerous to world peace.