L E T   'E R   R I P !!!

Lets see here, a barrel of crude goes up $10.00 to $48 something a barrel for two days in a row, gas jumps 9 cents p/l. The barrel has dropped down to the $38.00 mark for the past week and the price of fuel remains the same. At 07:52 eastern time this morning crude is $35.13. I don't see gas going down to reflect it here in PR Geo or the rest of the province for that matter. http://www.bloomberg.com/energy/

WOW,folks oil is at 35 a barrel and the price at the pumps should be about 52 cents a litre.Not the 95 buck a barrel prices we are paying now.This sickens me that they get away with this.Boycott PETRO Canada

Well my thinking this morning is the Friday free for all is great for people expressing grievances, discussing politics, community events, or publishing ideas... and all that kind of interesting at times commentary.

What I was thinking would be great is if we had some kind of thing for Mondays at the start of the week that is for comments limited to congratulations... even light humored backhanded ones... but mostly just the good kind of stuff. Starting the week on an upbeat note.

This way the 250 reader can get the grump off their chest on Friday and then go and drink a 6-pack and relax... then on Monday the 250 reader can congratulate a politician for a good vote, or a good comment (lol), or a friend for a birthday, or a relative that achieved a milestone, or a soccer team that won a game or championship, or even a person that baked their first cake... I think that would be like a ying to the yang of the Friday free for all....

It seems sometimes we have the ying crowding out the yang, so maybe the two could be separated? Complaints about roads, gas taxes, and speed limits in school zones don't always fit with the other type of community comment, but all are just as valid?

Sorry DAD....boycotting doesn't work in g Canada....it has little or no effect on the the gas companies.
Give them back their credit card has a bigger effect.
Hey Eagle, hope you have a great weekend with your six pack and the monday blahs are non-existant..
To the rest of you, have a great weekend....

I finally found a way to put a stop to the SPEEDERS in the school zones.
My video camera,man does it work wonders,like having a cop in the palm of your hand.If they persist to speed I will post em on the YOU-TUBE..so they can watch them selves..

I called Jay on the HILLs office,my as well have talked to my cat!!About this gas GOUGING and they are still after all these years looking into the collusion aspect,lets see how long has this been looked into 3-5 yrs,maybe more.Way to go Jay,you only have a couple of weeks left on the job anyway.
When was the last time we had a gas war??caveman roamed the earth did they not!!

Suggestion on the gas prices, if about 25% of the population did this, our prices should fall.

We need to train the gas companies. Make them not so buddy, buddy with there competition. Thus we the consumers set the rate as being fair prices. Instead of them telling us what we should pay. This includes the Federal and Provincial Governments dipping into our pockets.

There must be a reason that gas is on the minds of so many people first thing in the morning.

Thunder Bay, ON - 85.9
Hlifax, NS - 77.9
Sudbury, ON - 76.6
Picton, ON - 65.6
Kamloops, BC - 77.9 is lowest, most are 89.9
Kelowna, BC - low 84.9 high 89.9 about 50/50 split
Nelson, BC - 89.9 - one at 87.9
Abbotsford, BC - from 74.9 to 88.9

Looks like prices are going down in a few of those places since the lowest prices are the latest one.

This is a fascinating discussion. Can we talk about the price of Coffee?

Sorry guys/gals. had a brain fart. Started on one thought and realized it wouldn't work.

I think we need to boycott Japanese restaurants, grocery stores, coffee houses, bookstores and shoe stores.

That way we will use less fuel, which will drive (pun intended) prices back down.

I wonder why seeing my car on you-tube is supposed to stop me from speeding? And who is going to care to watch it?

Heres what we should do. Lets pool all our money together (and take out loans and second mortgages) and buy a gas company and then we could all just give the gas away! Who wouldnt want to do that?

In a few weeks the major oil companies will put out there annual reports and they are going to be bleeding red ink, at least in the 4th quarter. So where are all these 'gouging profits.'

I dont love paying for gas either and it was great when I could fill up the car for $20 but the facts do not support gouging. Could they move the prices up and down a little faster with respect to gas movements? Sure.

" Posted by: MrPG on January 16 2009 8:32 AM
I wonder why seeing my car on you-tube is supposed to stop me from speeding? And who is going to care to watch it?"

If anything people will take pride in being posted on youtube and try to get on there by speeding!

I think we need to get the government to identify how much money they are getting for each litre of gas, selling at 80 cents a litre. How much if it is selling at $1.00 a litre.

This will identify, how badly we are being bent over by the very same people we elected to look after us.

Someone should take a video camera into the hood and film some johns picking up some of our local 'sex trade' workers. That would be a situation you wouldn't want to see yourself on YouTube.

If politicians dont tell us the truth, and large business corporations dont tell the truth or give out correct information, and if most advertising on TV is untrue or seriously distorted, how is one supposed to make a correct decision.

Things have got so bad in this Country that one has to start the thinking process with the assumption that most of the available information is BS.

Some examples:
We know that the CN Centre costs us $600,000.00 per year to operate, and that this cost is going to rise this year. We also know that one of the main reasons for this cost is the fact that the Cougers do not pay fees that are anywhere near what other users pay. For some reason we never hear a word from the City as to how long we are expected to pay these costs and subsidize the Couger franchise.

We know that the Charles Jago Northern Sports Centre was to Generate approx $400,000.00 per year in revenue, and be subsidized $300,000.00 from UNBC and $300,000.00 from the City. This facilitie has not attracted enough members to generate anywhere near the revenues that they hoped to and it appears that the City will have to pick up the slack. We never hear a work from the City as to how this facilitie is doing from a revenue ;point of view.

The Prince George Airport is not doing so well, and with the decrease in population, the significant layoffs of forestry workers, and the recession it would be a safe bet to assume that it will do a lot worse in the next 5 years. There has been no specific announcement about any airlines landing here for tech stops. Usually all we get it general information that some airline, will land sometime in the not too distant future. There is absolutly no information as to any growth in air cargo in this area.

The CN Container Terminal for all intents and purposes is a bust. At best they had 50 Containers go to Prince Rupert from this area in 2008, and it doesnt seem that there is anything happening in the immediate future. CN has sold a large number of their container chassis in the last Ritchie Bros auction which would indicate that they feel there will be little or no growth. We get vague statements from IPG about growth in this area, but once again nothing specific.

It seems that these projections that great things are going to happen, in the very near future is just hype put out by vested interests, and those whose jobs depend on the continued use of tax payers dollars.

Hopefully we can get some good information for 2009, so that people can make rational decisions based on fact not fiction.

It's amazing what people will watch on youtube if given the right title/headline.

ATTENTION

If you had JURY DUTY selection on Monday and came out to your vehicle, after doing your civic duty and found a $25 parking ticket on your windshield....

The city will void your parking ticket if you were part of the jury selection!!!!!!

A friday cheer to the reason I've been bumpin onto the Opinion 250 site since day one !!! All the Opinionated opinions on all the stories cross the planet. Heres hopin every one has a good weekend!!

Posted by: MrPG on January 16 2009 9:13 AM
Someone should take a video camera into the hood and film some johns picking up some of our local 'sex trade' workers. That would be a situation you wouldn't want to see yourself on YouTube.


there is someone who is already doing so, but not posting to youtube, taking straight the the RCMP.

Why do people insist on using their auxiliary lights in traffic, in town. They are for poor visibility and not in traffic. A lot of these lights are very bright and blind oncoming traffic.

The other evening I was coming back from Quesnel and was amazed at how many people did not turn their aux. lights off for oncoming traffic on the highway. They would turn the high beams off, but not the auxiliaries, well duh! What gives. Now if I left my four 150 watt lights on I would blow those idiots retinas right out the back of their heads. It was tempting.

Good post Pal. Your information will never be digested on this site. These guys are to concerned about bad drivers and other none issues.

It appears that people are no longer interested in what happens to the community its more about "self". The question is will the downturn in the economy be enough to grab their attention or do they need a good slap on the head.

It sounds like all the good airport news is coming to a halt or lets hope. It is mind boggling to think that they would use 38 million bucks of tax payer money to build an access road to the light industial park that is being proposed.

It appears the dreamers think that we need an infrostucture that will support at least 200,000 or bigger population.

Well keep plugging away Pal. I dont know if you will ever get their attention. I have all but given up.

Cheers

It sure makes you wonder when your reading the local rag {pg citizen} about the plans to spend $52 million on a performing arts centre..and then a short time later read a letter to the editor lamenting the dismal embarrassing attendance at another performing arts venue???

Which is it...is there a demand or isnt there?

Because they are either idiots or they think it's cool. I have them on my trucks and rarely use them. If I do I turn them off when traffic is appoaching. Yes they are a little hard on the eyeballs. I even know some people when I ask them why they driving with them on when there is no need. They say "just to piss people off, like you" :)

Does anyone think the city should invest in flashing cross walks. Just a simple button that putts up amber lights for say 30 seconds or so. Just to warn drivers there is a pedestrian wanting to cross. It doesnt tie up traffic or change the lights to red for a minute or so. Edmonton has lots of these flashing cross walks all around the university campus they work great and couldnt be to pricey to install. The intersection at Ospika and First ave is terrible. Today I almost saw a girl get hit at the cross walk. There is volunteers that go there during busy times, but i think its time for a different solution.

Hey! What happened to the sunny weekend we were supposed to have?

Palopu: "We know that the Charles Jago Northern Sports Centre was to Generate approx $400,000.00 per year in revenue, and be subsidized $300,000.00 from UNBC and $300,000.00 from the City."

Called the NSC for information about using the famous indoor oval track for recreational (Participaction type) leisure walking. Daily fee: Six bucks. No discount for seniors and or being a (property tax paying) citizen of Prince George.

Still looking for a safe place to walk. Oh, alright, there is always the Pine Centre Mall! They don't charge, yet.

For what it's worth, I thought Pal's post was really good too.

Seems like all we ever get is sugar-coated information about the business of PG and anything which might be perceived as 'bad' is either swept under the rug or reported very briefly and quickly gone.

Maybe we have gotten their attention.So lets go a little further.

We have a new council with some new faces. It is a blessing that Zurowski is gone and the mayor. Some think Rogers is a bit of a procrastinator But at least he sould slow things up a bit and that is positive .

However some of the new faces are business pro. So how will that effect the policy of council. One of them has a huge pictue hung in Pinecentre Mall and his smiling face telling us to visit his place of business. The PAC needs to be scraped but will the new council have the balls to shut it down?

There is also a lot of talk about how the crime rates have dropped in the City so do we need more police or maybe we couild do with less. So why do we need a new police building. The list is endless too what our dreamers need and lots of it has to do with the economy.

In our society its up to the business community to drive the economy not the tax payer. The economy is now in a slump.As long as we use tax dollars to try and drive the economy it will forever continue to put us in the position we are in today.

Cheers

Years ago there was talk of a new firehall and police station all in one big building. I wonder what ever happened to the firehall idea. Maybe it will be next on the drawing board after the police station and the PAC. There should be lots more out of town contractors the city could hire.

Bridge- any ideas what "the business community" could do to rescue the economy without using any gov't money?

What is the economy? Is the economy someone's business?

The world economy. Is that the world's business? In other words, one of the measures of how well the world is being run?

So what is the National Economy? A measure of how well the country is being run?

And the Provincial Economy?

And the Civic Economy?

What are those economies a measure of? If it is doing poorly, whose reponsibility is it to fix them? Hopefully not business!!

Sort of like running an airport. If landing fees, rental fees, and other income is insufficient, just put in an AIF (called a tax in government) to make up the difference between revenue and expenses. The benefits or operating a monopoly.

The business community is not going to rescue ANY government. Governments have to do that.

Red2b.... perhaps one could suggest that the firemen no longer want to be in the same building as the police people.... given the past couple of years of public observations about some of the finer moments of that job.

Pal, ... sad, but true... I'm afraid that you make far too much sense. I am all for progress and the advancement of our species... such as it is... but why do we seem to work so hard to get all of our blunders in one little cluster ??

Maybe old Greek guy was right... "we are led by the leaders we deserve."

Blessings .... :-)

V.

red2b. It is up to govermnent to provide the infrostructure , PLANNING, roads bridges, water sewer and so on. It is up to government to provide a community that people want to live in.

The business community also needs a business plan and if they dont have one get out of town.The trouble is most business startups are made to fly by the seat of your pants.When they should do some surveys to see if there is a demand for the service they want to provide. It is up to government to provide them with the stats that they need.

We had an airport did we need to spend 33million to try and boost the economy,
We have a play house do we need to spend 53 million on a PAC? Someone comes along and tells the City we need an industrial park at the airport. It will boost the ecomnomy at what cost to the tax payer? And the list goes on.

We dont have a development plan at City Hall all the city looks at is more tax revenue from development they dont care they will get the taxes if it works or dosent.

There are many in our community that just hate socialism. So when you start to use tax money to boost the economy is that free enterprise or is it socialism. You be the judge.

Cheers

I sure do enjoy this Blog site. Thanks Ben.

I think Pal, is on the right track (ha).... but lets take it further. shut down all these facilities that are not going to make a profit like private industry.


There are somethings in this city that is not designed to make money. Do we shut down the library because we need civic government to pay for the operation of it. Do we have to charge the Spruce Kings and Cougars the full cost of the facilities. We then loose the team and then what do we start complaining about nothing to do. Do we shut down the pools, because it is a money loosing proposition. Do we not build a performing art center because it will not be profitable.

Thats the problem with progress. Two hundred years ago. Most of the waking days were spent just provide for shelter, food and clothing. As we advanced, we needed to look at saving stuff for the future. Than came the need to satisfy our cultural needs. Then came keeping up with
the Joneses. Before you know it, we can live happily by working less than 1/3 of our waking hours and still have resources to spend on periphial items such as concerts and hockey games.

For those who can not imagine life back 200 years ago. Try 30 years ago. How many people would have thought that they could have two vehicles in the driveway, a computer in your own house. A two color tvs, and a cell phone for almost all the members of your family. Seriously, do we really need all the periphials, or are they a by product of having too much income.

Three squares, cot and roof.

In that note of the performing art center. in no means am I in favor of building a $52 million dollar white elephant. A nice facilities for 600 person main theatre and a 150 seat side unit will be all we need for about $25 million. In fact there is one being built in Burlington, Ontario now for a similar budget.

He speaks, you are correct in saying that we don't need to spend over 50 million on a PAC and the people that are putting this together know that. They are similar to the gas companies in this because they will say very soon now that they can do it for 25 - 30 million and everyone will be happy. Just like us paying $1.35 for fuel and when it comes all the way down to 84.9 we are so happy.

We do not need a PAC no matter what cost as far as I am concerned. We have enough buildings for that purpose now that are under utilized. A letter to the editor in the Citizen a while back mentioned the fact that the author of the letter was embarrased that so few people turned out to a performance. Go figure!!!

The library, swiming pools, trail system, golf course and the like are all recreational facilities uesd by the people that live in the community. It is the part tha comes under a place where pepole want to live. And these are the areas were tax dollars can be used.

When you have a PAC or to support a hockey team comes under entertainment and it should be "user pay".

How many people would have thought that they could have two vehicles in the driveway, a computer in your own house. A two color tvs, and a cell phone for almost all the members of your family.

The sad part of this statementt is that people have become engrossed with consummerism. And yes they have more money then they need. Where do they end up at? Eleven people have recently died riding their snow mobiles into an avalanche. We didnt have that thirty years ago did we?

And yes the old greek said unless you take an interest in those who govern you we shall be governed by those worse then ourselves.

Cheers

Some facilities in a City are necessary and I dont think anyone has a problem in funding them, however when these projects are first brought forward they are sold on the basis of incorrect or false information, and after they are built the taxpayers are stuck with huge costs to run the facilities. In addition some facilities such as the Library, and the Art Centre, kite school children and students through their buildings to run up their numbers to support their budgets. Everyone at City Hall knows that the numbers are somewhat bloated, however they act as if everything is ok and pass the budget requests year after year. When was the membership of the Library last purged?

The original cost analysis for the Charles Jago Sport Centre that was presented by the committee, stated that revenues would be in the area of $900,000.00 per year, and operating oosts the same, so that there would be no cost to the taxpayer. This was later revised to revenue of $400,000.00 plus $600,000.00 in funding split between the University and the City. It now appears that even the $400,000.00 figure is incorrect and the City will be on the hook for more money.

The same thing applies to the CN Centre which was built to seat 6000 fans and was home to a WHL Franchise. There was no talk at the time of proposing this building that taxpayers would be stuck with a $600,000.00 a year additional cost.

The same applies to the Airport expansions. Big plans when the money is being spent, and then silence after, as the real cost, comes out.

If we would stick to projects that reflect real needs for the City, using a realistic figure for growth potential over the next 10 or 15 years we could avoid some of these huge expenses, however because this town has a huge inferiorty complex, and cannot help but try to convince the world that we are a big City we constantly get hooked on these projects.

The Police station, and the PAC are the next big fiascos that to- gether could cost us close to $100 million dollars, and you can rest assured that the PAC will never make enough money to cover their operating costs, and that the City will have to pick up the slack.

The idea to build a wood burning generating system to heat water to heat downtown buildings is another example of the daft running City hall. These buildings are already heated by natural gas or electricity, or both. Do we really need to spend this money, tear up the streets, for piping, and tear up the interior of the building for heating etc; and at the end of the day have huge costs that will never be recovered in the lifetime of our grandchildren??

If Prince George didnt have such a huge tax base, commercial, industrial, and residential, it could never look at doing half of these projects.

City council always wants to ensure that it spends every tax dollar available,so that heaven forbid the day should come when they could give us a tax reduction.

Thanks Pal. Your a great help. As you know I'm getting old and need all the help I can get. Have anice day.

Cheers

Yin and Yang Eagleone. I second your motion for a count your blessings day on Mondays. Good to share some positives and may be a bit of fun too!

Born in BC said, "Heres what we should do. Lets pool all our money together (and take out loans and second mortgages) and buy a gas company and then we could all just give the gas away! Who wouldnt want to do that?"
Actually we used to own a gas company, it was Petrocan. I believe it was Molroney who got rid of it. What you could do is set up a gas Co-op. It is done in various places in the province. For a fee, people join up and get a rebate on the gas they buy.

Just got a call from credit services (7:15)
Is that what I am paying $28 per month to Telus? In this electronic age surely to heaven there should be some way to stop these intrusions. It is just idiotic. Anyone got any ideas and don't say Call Display that's another $8 per month plus taxes.

I've thrown in the towel on the whole gasoline price circus. Now I am waiting for the day to come when I can plug my all electric Corolla or Civic size vehicle into an outlet overnight and have the capacity to drive let's say 300 km on one charge.

Problem solved. That kind of vehicle is just a couple of years away from becoming a common consumer reality.

I had a call from Canada Revenue people about a month ago making some inquiries. The thing is they phoned about 7pm I asked them what in the hell they were doing phoning at that time of night, and they stated that legally they could phone up to 8pm week days. So even the Government is in to bothering people after hours.

If they can't open the oval this weekend or soon then it's a real shame to this city.

I think there are WAY too many old cranky people living in Prince George, LOL.

wait until we get the final figures for the olympics from gordon and his henchmen.
gas will be cheap compared to the tax increases that will come in 2011 for this screw up.

Bridge on the flip side of the old Greek was Tactitus - "The mob always accuses others of their own transgressions" lol I laughed when I heard that one.

Sam the Eagle for President...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxNcBLrdZQ8&feature=related