L E T   ' E R   R I P !!!!

So everyone has been talking so much about the civic elections, and great for that, but what about the school trustee elections ? They have a equally, if not more important role in the overall quality of life for many people than the civic people. Any one following what is going on there ?

What I find intolerable is the morons that drive around in these 4x4 trucks. The ones that have the truck in 4 wheel drive at the first sign of snow. Then they proceed to continue driving as though the roads are bare and dry, because they can take off from that light like a rocket. However when it comes to stopping they have less ability than most other vehicles on the road due to their size and mass,and because they are driving beyond their ability. I watched a woman downtown yesterday nearly slide through a red light with her wheels locked up. Then a few lights later as I waited for a car to make a left hand turn in front of me, this same woman(over driving again)came sliding up behind me nearly smashing into the rear of my truck. When all was said and done and she had come to a stop, she was in the other lane. My advice is always drive with the idea that you may have to come to a stop in a hurry at any moment. We never know what is around the next corner, we can't fore see everything. So please when you go out there this morning drive as though there may be a loved one crossing the road, or be stalled in the middle of the road around the next corner, because there may be some one's loved one there.

I agree misterman, you know I'm so glad I don't need to be driving out there...I'm one of those scared s!@$less ones (I think it was lostfaith who used those words in previous post?). Now I worry about other drivers who don't care to slow down especially around school buses/kids on side of road waiting for bus.....my babies and a lot of other peoples babies. I still wish there were seatbelts on buses. I read an article a couple of years ago that showed some buses in the states had a harness style seatbelt that properly fit over the children. Claimed to be pretty safe.

I find it laughable that some people blame YRB or the city for the icey roads less than 2 hrs. after the first snowfall of the year starts. Maybe there should be sanding trucks on standby at Peden Hill from Nov. 1st so that the road can be sanded at the first snow flake. Maybe the city should have trucks (lots of trucks) so that the main streets can all be sanded within 1 hr of the first snow flake.
If this was the case then those same people would crab about the cost or "why did they do that street before my street". Some people just cannot be pleased. It is like they have 'lostfaith'.

I'm curious what the city has planned when the river jams again, do they expect those homes and business' to go through all of that again? Driving across the Yellowhead bridge you can see just how shallow that area is.

I always wonder if those who are most vocal about the lack of road care are either those who aren't prepared, or those who have been in a bit of a fender bender and are convinced it's not their fault. A claimed lack of road care combined with everyone else being a much worse driver than they are usually results in a big complainer.

I had no problem getting around yesterday in a fwd with good all season tires. Was it different than the snow free roads that we've gotten used to for the past 5 or 6 months? Yes. Was it different than the last major snowfall last year, and the year before and the year before that and the year before that one? Not really ;) Unfortunately the drivers that are fearing the first snowfall the worst are probably the most dangerous ones.

hey reb2 "that was beautiful"

There is a fine balance between economy and keeping the roads safe. However known trouble area such as Peden hill should always be ready to be sanded. If it takes a hour to accumulate the first inch of snow. The sand trucks should be able to mobilize with in 1/2 hr anyway. Its relatively easy. sand it up the hill, turn around at Domano area and sand it down the hill. Do it every half hour.

this tome of year a little salt would go a long way but care and attention go a lot farther

Somewhere above the Artic Circle.

It's a beautiful, sunny and overly chilly morning as I sled the Frontier Trail with my ehuberant team of Huskies. As I tread along enjoying the beauty of the Great White North, I fail to recognize the brown frozen extrusions on the trail, obviously the remnance of another haphazard dog team. Sure enough my canine companions' desire to investigate the essence causes my sled to topple and spill my load all over the pathway. I curse and cuss the local government and pathways maintenance department as I repack my worldly possessions. What the hell am I paying taxes for?

After my rant, I merrily resume my journey and count my blessings as that was an injury free episode. As I navigate the frozen Tundra at a leisurely yet safe pace, I am startled by the hailing of a portable air horn. After depositing my breakfast in my newly purchased Thermal underwear, I rear my head to locate the source of my hailing siren. OMG!! It's Yukon JackAss with his 18 strong team carrying an oversize load. JackAss has that fearful trail determination under his frost laden brows. Always courteous, he red faces a middle finger salute in my general direction.

To my astonishment he attempts the suicide double ice crust pass. JackASS has failed to notice the large pine around the bend, subsequent evasive action results in our teams intermingling. As I pull my head out of one of his Husky's ass, I ponder why I'm not back in PG waiting for the Amphibex Parade.

I note that some of the candidates for Municipal Council are being backed by a certain group of people. If the candidates accept this endorsement (and they are) won't they be susceptable to pressure from this group when it comes to Council decisions? Of course, they will.

lol......You should write children's books pisspulper, now that you're a daddy.

;)

pisspulper great story but shouldn't you be riding a surf board instead of a dogsled up there by now!!!!

Re:reb2's comment-As a driver on Hwy16 west the snow fell early and small town Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof had sand trucks on the road almost immediately. I'm on my way home and won't you know it the hi-way is bare ip to Bednesti then there is that magical snow all the way to Prince George. I don't know why the small towns are prepared but the hiway between P.G. and Bednesti was the worst. All these roads are serviced by YRB maybe it's the management in P.G.

Lamb most of the posters on this site today are to worried about an inch of snowfall to even think about an election.

You make a good point about who serves who. The free Press has given us a sight into the various candidates that are running in the up coming election. What I noticed were that some of the cadidates keep ranting about the economy. So guess who is supporting these people. The most vocal one on the economy is Zurowski.

Zurowski talks about projects like mining the elctrification up highway 37 and on and on. Now what I want to know how can the mayor of our city have any effect on economic developement in other parts of the province. How can he create jobs? What can he actualy do to improve the economy?

The past council has a good record of mismanagement of city affairs by creating a debt of almost 200 million and that is where there focus needs to be rather then trying to drive the economy with our tax dollars.

Cheers

snow and ice on Prince George city streets??? I was born here in 1952, and this is a total surprise to me!! Where the hell did this come from! Get a grip people, stay home if you don't know how to drive on snow and ice. And you a--holes with your SUV'S, happy ditches for you, you are idiots!

I drive for a living, and yesterday I was driving south on Ospika, when I stopped for two young people to cross the street, on a crosswalk no less. As I always do, I checked my mirror, for any idiot that cannot see that the traffic is coming to a halt for a reason! Sure enough, here comes the idiot I am anticipating, screaming along in the right hand lane, in his TOYOTA SUV, paying no attention to the cross walk he is about to blast over, and kill to kids!! IDIOT!!!

I hit my horn, so the kids saw what was about to happen. In the knick of time, they avoided deadly consequences!

Just for the record, the Toyota SUV, was one of those wannabe Hummers, burgandy with a white roof. You know who you are!!!

One more thing!! What is with all you idiots driving around with your HIGH BEAMS on lately! It is bad enough,that we have you morons driving around with your fog lights on, even though, there is no fog,rain or snow!! Sheeeeeeesh, you are not looking COOL, you are looking like a person that isn't responsible enough to have drivers licence!

"Zurowski talks about projects like mining, the electrification up highway 37 and on and on. Now what I want to know how can the mayor of our city have any effect on economic development in other parts of the province. How can he create jobs? What can he actually do to improve the economy?"

It is in my opinion just the usual grand standing and bluster.

He can improve the local economy by running the city efficiently, with as little debt as possible and stop reaching ever more deeply into the pockets of the taxpayers and businesses.

Interest payments on city debt amount to several million dollars per year already. The prospective mayor can reassure the citizens and businesses that in view of the looming global recession no mega projects will be borrowed for and commenced until after the storm has been weathered.

Money does not grow on trees, especially on beetle killed pine trees!

I agree that people have to stop at crosswalks but from my observation I believe the biggest bunch of idiots are the pedestrians. Maybe a driver might be in the wrong but pedestrians also have to protect themselves. How many people do you see once they are crossing only look straight ahead and don't keep their heads on a swivel. I have yet to see a pedestrian cross multilanes and check the second lane. Joggers running two and three abreast not moving over, and at night no less.

re-reb2,s i have been driving between prince george and fraserlake professinaly for almost2 years i find that the road conditions between prince george and bednessti are apauling in the winter just look at the number of deaths that have occured in this strech of hwy.two nights ago i was returning to prince george from fraserlake aprrox.1:30am low and behold there is a yrb sand truck park on the side of the road suprise!!!!!! that night the roads were bare and dry.then the snow comes and were were they know where to be found strange.and the vanderhoof side 4 sand trucks working on the roads.i had spun out on the mudd river hill phone yrb to ask if they could put some sand down they told me to put chains on which i did then after i made it off the hill two more trucks spun outstill no sand. so not a fan off YRB PRINCE GEORGE i do not think it is the workers i belive the problem lies in managment.also the commment about cost what about when TRB was on strike and the company still got paid for there services and did nothing gee i wonder where all that money went.so next time it snows think about the deaths that may have been spared if they used a little sand

FRIDAYS SMILE

The Worlds Shortest Fairy Tale...

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl "Will you marry me?" The girl said "NO!" And the guy lived happily ever after and went fishing, hunting and played golf a lot and drank beer and farted whenever he wanted.

THE END

seamutt:
A pedestrian is not required to obtain a license or use any safety equipment.
They are however required to follow all traffic laws and can be penalized just like any other user of the public roads.
It is because of their size (visibility) that laws are in place to ensure that operators of motorized and non-motorized vehicles are required to be wary of ALL hazards on the roads.
Yes, all users need to be aware of their surroundings, but I have noted for a long time that the majority of urban dwellers are oblivious. We each need to be more aware and with that courteous to other users of the public infrastructure to make up for the oblivious attitude of the majority.

Just curious - are scooters considered motor vehicles? If so, why do they not follow the rules of the road and why are they riding on the sidewalk? Why do they not stop at stop signs and stop lights and why are they not insured? If they are not considered motor vehciles, why is it that the operators do not operate them as if they are pedestrians? Why do they not wait at the lights to cross, why do they not utilize crosswalks, etc. Are they considered to be more like bicycles? If so, why are they not wearing helmets and reflective gear? I find myself swerving around those who utilize motorized scooters, seniors and the physically challenged, more than anything.

Hi Thunder

How about slowing down instead of swerving around. They cannot walk.

Man caused global warming going down the tubes

Al Gore gathered $300 million to share the �truth� of man-induced climate change. He now warns of irreversible damage to the earth if dramatic action isn�t taken before 2020. These echo the overwrought Y2K panacea which cost billions, but vanished overnight. NASA satellite temperature data confirms that atmospheric temperatures have dropped to the lowest values since 1979 when NASA started collecting data. While man-made models guarantee catastrophic global warming due to elevated CO2; recent satellite data show significant and rapid atmospheric cooling. NASA data also shows recent ocean cooling attributed to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

Just posted today-check out icecap.us and all its links

I have no problem driving slow - that's not the issue. I just wonder what the rules of the road are. There are rules for bikes, rules for pedestrians and rules for motor vehicles, are there any rules for scooters? Just a question.

Those scooters are not motor vehicles.
They are electric and are under the weight and weight requirements to be considered a motorized vehicle.
This exempts them from most rules of the road.
They are not a defined vehicle such as a bicycle.

Thanks Loki - for giving me an answer to my question.

Thanks Loki - for giving me an answer to my question.

I think the "Money as Debt" video does a good job educating people about the basics of how our banking system works. It is 47 minutes long.

The following is the link to it:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279&ei=79gUSeS3HoXE-wG_jOzCDQ&q=%22money+as+debt%22+47&hl=en

What a fine collection of opinions today folks! Makes for some good reading. I am somewhat gratified that taxinapothole metions the idiots and their driving lights. I am seriously contemplating getting some nice bright driving lights fore and aft, so I can send a clear bright message to you morons to (please) turn them off when you approach other vehicles especially those of you who need to drive close enough to read the fine print on my rear license plate. A good safe week end to all.
metalman.

Hey, my favorite hair cut shop went bankrupt! Went to go into Great Cuts at Parkwood mall today and the doors they be locked up tight and there's a sign posted on the door "Bankrupt".

And they had just had new flooring put in. They must have known they were in financial trouble a few months back - and they still put money into flooring?

Liked that shop - it was walk-in, no appointment needed, so fit my schedule anytime.

What a fine collection of opinions today folks! Makes for some good reading.

We have a civic election coming up and here you are back on the rant about bad drivers. Well heres my slant on some of the good reading;

I’m going north on Ospika in the outside lane the other day when I catch up to this rig it’s a sleigh that some guy has put wheels under as there is no snow yet. He is wearing a red coat with this peaked hat that has a tassel on the end. And you wont believe this but its being pulled by eight tiny reign deers. He’s on the Cell phone making a left turn at Ospika and 15th. He’s on the center line using both turn slots. People are flashing their lights and blowing their horns.

He cut off the guy behind him making a right turn into Timmy’s. The guy is blowing his horn and shaking his fist but the old guy just keeps on trucking. He’s at the order board still on his phone. The person at the desk doesn’t know if they are being talked to or what’s happening. When he gets to the takeout window the old girl almost hawks up her faults teeth. She hands him his donut and coffee that was finally ordered. He gives her twenty bucks and says keep the change. He mutters something about these Prince George drivers are the mos t stupid in the world all they ever do is whine about my driving habits.

He tweaks his nose and he’s off towards the horse in the sky. He is last seen in the Casino Hotel parking lot with a fist full of money heading for the entrance.

Cheers

I guess my computer is too ancient to view that "Money is Debt" video, Charles. I couldn't get it to play. What is the producer's contention, that there's something inherently wrong with 'money' being 'debt'?

Dangerrous Goods Routed on to Victoria St. Pass a Medical Center a School and the new Senior houseing How Dumb is that??

I hear Obama's energy plan is going to include converting America's highway tractors to natural gas to reduce CO2 emissions and provide energy security to the national transportation sector. Freeing the transportation sector from the foreign oil imports.

I think its a great idea, and we here in PG own our own gas infrastructure in the city as a city... so we could easily facilitate a research facility to open up testing prototype fueling stations to use the area as a test market.

If a company like Canfor got on board with a tax incentive (federal and provincial) to pass on to their trucking suppliers (hundreds of trucks critical mass) and the provincial government were to make natural gas for industrial transportation tax exempt from the carbon tax as well as any other taxes (to induce the early bird investment into critical new emerging environmental improvement industry)... then possibly PG could become a critical center and leader in the new emerging natural gas transportation industry that is expected to create 3.5 million jobs over the next ten years?

Just a thought from an economic strategic perspective. Those that act quickly with a government bureaucracy that is flexible and recognizes the opportunity will be the regions that lead the new economy over the next couple of decades in the way the Silicon Valley and Seattle economies led through innovation... the economic growth of the 90's.

PG could do just that and has all the strategic pieces in place already to be the early leader if we wanted it enough. I don't think we have the economic leadership in place to see the reality, much less act on it, but you never know they could just surprise us if they get the right person writing their study to see if they should look into it....