They should change the name of this city to Pothole Central!!And I am being nice,I have other names I do not think would make print.
Lots of damage done to Heather Park,little Bastards PARENTS should be made to pay the bill.
As for this no talk/no text I do not see a lot of enforcement,what I do see is a lot of ppl still talking on there phones WHILE driving.gotta be sumpthin in the air here for sure!braindead!!
GW Harper is here for the big show even gave a
speech in the house,anyone figger out which gets on top,I do hope and pray that it rains every single day of these oLyMpIcS,yea.I will not watch this,nor support in any such manner,what a waste.Anyone up for a recall,I say we recall Bond and bell.

Good Morning

I do not support VANOC or the IOC, however I feel sorry for the athelets for being drug through this 3 ring circus called the Olympics. I wish them well.
The potholes in this town are large enough to eat your car and no fixing done.
The clean project is a good idea to put the homeless and wefare bums to work and earn a little bit of money, see what it feels like to have to work for a living, everyone else has to.
What the hell raising out taxes so they can put a ATM machine in the CN Centre,if you don't have money, then you don't have money to use it. Like a poster said on here "you can't fix STUPID"

For those that think it is not in the realm of possibilities for the arms industry to be involved in funding the AlQuada 'threat' should read the attached article closely....

I've pointed this Al Yamamah case out years ago and it was called 'conspiracy' at the time... turns out it is now acknowledged fact. Biggest news of the year so far IMO.

-----------------------

BAE and the Saudis: How secret cash payments oiled �43bn arms deal

BAE admits wrongdoing after US justice department lays out how British firm used intermediaries to hide money

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/05/bae-saudi-yamamah-deal-background/print

Good luck for the athletes and hopefully everything goes off without a hitch. Can't wait for the hockey games....

Will be so glad to hear the end of this Olympic hype...
it seems to have been a total, either lie, or withholding of information from the onset...
How many millions of the Sea To Sky highway...now you either have a permit or take transit to use it?
Sign up to carry the torch and they seem to have given that to out of country self important types or headline makers...do much for the average joe getting the chance....
Now no snow in Cypris (sic) Mountain....well we have lots up here...hope dirt works....
I feel better, now to figure out how to pay for this mess...

We've already paid for it once, BCRacer, through the rise in prices (of virtually everything)that's ensued during the nine years of its construction. (And just WHO, of all the people in BC, REALLY benefitted from that? NOBODY. We ALL lose ~ for in general, "prices" continue to outpace the "incomes" necessary to liquidate them, and a further growth in unrepayable debt bridges the gap. )

Now we get to pay for the circus at least twice more by the time the specific principal cost and interest charged on it are finally done with.

The question we should be asking ourselves is, "What's next?" For we never fully 'financially' pay for anything from what we've done, only from what we're doing, or are going to have to do.

You'd think more people would notice this disconnect between 'finance' and the physical 'reality' it's supposed to be an accurate reflection of. Since it surely must be obvious that whatever we do is 'physically' fully paid for as we do it, or it couldn't be done. You can't eat tommorow's meal today, not without it becoming today's meal. But that's not the way finance currently represents it.

We don't take notice of this. So we'll undoubtedly be treated to some new megaproject that'll now be necessary to enable us to pay for the Olympic one.

We can only hope it will be more useful and long lasting than the two weeks of hoopla associated with this effort. Recent history, however, seems to indicate that whatever is coming, it won't be. We've gone from half a year with Expo '86 to two weeks with Olympics 2010.

Maybe that's the advantage for those who delude themselves that we're somehow 'profiting' from this increase in velocity. Like those of the land-pimp mentality, such as our beloved leader.

But all we're really doing is destroying the remaining purchasing power left in our currency ~ and no one, not even the 'money lenders' can ever truly profit from that.

Now is the time to support the athletes! Goooo Canada Goooo.
I will get back to bashing government for their corrupt ways after this is over.
A lot of homeless people can not help the situation they are in. They were either abused as children having to fall prey to very bad people or they are sick. Remember when government closed down all the metal hospitals? Maybe some of them made bad choices on their own over drugs, alcohol or whatever but.... When we can not show compassion anymore then we ourselves become sick.
I believe the biggest job mere Canadians have ahead of us is TAKING BACK CONTROL OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

America, Canada , all of Europe need a President or Prime Minister like this.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.

Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.'

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the Language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'
Maybe if we circulate this , Canadian and American citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

Good thing we have 18 youth from the area going to the games to represent our city rather than our mayor!!!

Anyhow enjoy kids....once in a lifetime

Thumbs up to Sleep Country Canada who donated all the mattresses to the athletes village, and after the games they will go to the less fortunate!

We need to remember during the awe of the games that there are a lot of people in BC and Canada that are without a roof or even a bed.

Go Canada Go!!

makes you want to move to Australia..
No politition in Canada has the balls to say such a thing.
I agree if you move to this country learn the language and the culture Dont try and make Canada like your home country...If that is what you want stay at home.

here u go wavoes:

Canadians see Olympic benefits
Fewer B.C. residents see positive aspects
Last Updated: Friday, February 12, 2010 | 2:06 AM PT Comments245Recommend62
CBC News
The Olympic Oval in Richmond, B.C., where speedskating events will be held, will be one legacy of the Games for Metro Vancouver.The Olympic Oval in Richmond, B.C., where speedskating events will be held, will be one legacy of the Games for Metro Vancouver. (VANOC)

Canadians outside B.C. are more likely than British Columbians to believe the province and Vancouver will benefit from the Olympics, a poll conducted for CBC News suggests.

Non-residents of B.C. are also more likely to find the cost of the Olympics appropriate.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/11/bc-olympics-benefits-costs-environics-poll.html?ref=rss

I wish all the Worlds athletes a great time...not everyone gets this chance. I hope they have fun make friends and excel.

Excellent post Loki,on the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. I and Most of my friends So totally agree.

Yes the olympics cost terrible amounts of money... the cost goes to extremes. We are lied to about the costs and then they usually overrun the original extimates.

Yes we have homeless people who the government should be using olympic money to help.

Yes this... and yes that... and the list of bad things about the olympics (for some people) goes on and on and on...

But let's get down to the real reason we have the olympics. We have them to watch the best athletes in the entire world compete against other countries. It is truly one of the first sports (and longest lasting) ever!

The athletes are NOT the ones who have made this such an undesirable spectacle. All they do is commit unbelievable amounts of their lives and dedicate themselves to their sport so they can achieve something truly great.

THAT IS WHY I WATCH THEM!

And if you are one of the thousands of people who hate the Olympics because of all the government crap (and other stuff) then I challenge you to put all your differences aside and watch these amazing athletes compete for who they are.

You will be both amazed and entertained...

Sorry, Loki, but stories like that (regarding the Australian Prime Minister) usually aren't true, and this one is no exception: http://www.snopes.com/rumors/thisisamerica.asp.

great post lokki,maybe campbell should read it at the great olympic opening speech that he will be making.
i'm not against immigrants,but they should adapt to our life style.like pm rudd said,
you have the right to leave.

blue_sky_blue: alas, these are usually found out in very little time in our office. How this slipped through without being debunked is a surprise.
Apparently the sentiment is appreciated though.

newtechie:
I don't think that anyone has ever said anything negative about the athletes themselves. The railing and ranting has been about how our government and VANOC have brought this here.
I disagree with your opinion of why there are Olympics. I believe it was originally about the athletes, the spectators just provide the audience and the encouragement.

Go Canada, Go athletes!
Politicians and VANOC, just go away.

PROUD to be a Canadian today.

WELCOME to the world and the Olympics to our beautiful province.

A way to fight ICBC. Every now and then I run into someone who settled with ICBC for peanuts because the claim was too small to get a lawyer involved. You can take ICBC to small claims court and sue for up to $25,000.00. The whole procedure takes up to a year. So if they offer you anything less than that, and you don't want to get a lawyer, $100.00 and some paperwork can get the whole thing before a judge.

Loki - need to check your facts on that one. That was said by John Howard who is no longer Prime Minister of Australia and according to Snopes.com is only somewhat accurate. John Howard was defeated in the following election. However, Australia does seem to have a do it our way or don't come here policy. Not sure I disagree. Everyone comes to Canada because how great it is, and then do their best to change Canada into where they came from. If I lived in India and wanted to join their police force and there was something about the uniform that offended my religion, I wouldn't even think about trying to change the uniform - I just wouldn't be a policeman.

People escape horrible living conditions to a safe place like here, and then screw with how Canada works to make it like where they left. Canada's a great place to be - let's try to leave it that way for our children.

Lol. Loki got Pwned.

it is,it is not, it sort of is
How is that pwned?

At least I try to encourage productive dialog.
At least I offer an alternative view mostly with a positive spin.
At least I have something to say.
At least I am not simple, right Simon?

Loki and those that think what the Australian Prime Minister (didn't) say:

I'd like to point out that if the PM thinks Australia should stay the way it is, with no changes made for immigrants, well.... why should he pick the date to start that?

I say Australia was founded by Aborigines who did NOT speak English, did not follow the laws currently in place, etc, etc.

His (John Howard's) whole premise is moronic. You can not lead a country if you think everything should stay the same, always.

I think we need to go to a numbering system here:
#1 could be City Hall
#2 could be potholes, etc, etc, etc., because there are only about 25 topics that we re-hash on a regular basis here, (and I am as guilty as anybody else). O-250 could have a drop down menu for topics, and another, 1 - 10 for range from completely happy to completely outraged. Once this system is in place, we can log in, look at the numbers and see that so-and-so is beating this or that same old dead horse, and we can gauge there mood, too. The only text would then be new topics. One could save allot of time by eliminating re-reading the same old thing.

And before the outrage starts, this post is meant to be amusing.

Maybe hizzoner Dan the man down at city hall can read some articles in the National Post (not The Citizen or The Province) about how Greece is doing financially. Maybe he can draw some parallels.(Hopefully) Small town mayor learning a lesson from the EU? Ha ha ha . What a stretch. Greece ain't gonna be bailed out by the EU. Who's gonna bail PG out if the bottom drops out? Don't count on Shaw. He has his fingers in the Canwest Global pie. Maybe Rogers Cable et al can help PG if it is about to go under? Money, money, money. Pay yer bills, Dan and don't live beyond our means. This includes the oldest civilization in the world, right up to our modern "little gritty mill town". Got that, Dan?

The EU is going to help Greece??? Happy Friday All!

Even the city hall parking lot personifies the conditions of our roads here in town.Will the DBIA allow the public to snoop through their books sometimes to see that the collected (tax dough) is being spent properly? Or will that be a "private" company allowed to keep their books closed? Maybe some citizens should form a residential association to lower taxes. If not, why not? I'd join an association even if it had a glimmer of hope even trying to lower my taxes.

The EU is NOT gonna help Greece. Pick up a National Post. Spain and Portugal are hanging by a thread too. Read! A bit more important than potholes.

L&M engineering charging $883 dollars an hour for their services? I will make a note never to take my car there. Did that sum include "shop supplies?" Ha ha ha.

Loki under Rudd Australia is almost a dictatorship.

How come the city allows hudge monolithic houses to be built that cover the whole lot with only a little patch of grass left. Take a drive to the top of St Lawrence and see the hudge grey structure being built covering the whole lot. There is another one on Southridge just south of the threeway stop on the right.

Can anyone tell me what's going on with the new Sandman hotel? It seems to be stuck in construction...what's going on?

Sorry Harbinger. As of yesterday they seemed like they were going to help them. That is why I put ???? Thank you for the update. :} I hope this does not cause trauma in the markets. Fingers crossed!

The family that own that Sandman I believe are filthy rich and are in no rush to open doors. I drive by and notice that there aren't very many tradespeople working on that project.

I guess my initial post was a high flyer because it seems to have gone over the heads of anyone that has posted an opinion about it.

I really don't care if Rudd's leadership is tyrannical, nor do I care how a country that is literally on the other side of the world is dong economically. Those are other topics. No, Australia was not founded by the aboriginals, they did inhabit that Continent as a collection of independent tribes, very similar to North America. It was the European Expansion and designating the seventh continent as a penal colony for the British Commonwealth that was the foundation of the country known as Australia. It was the penal residents that formed Australia, and I understand that Australians a kind of proud of that fact. Talk about a successful rehabilitation program.

Whether it is yet another bogus internet report or not, the point is that immigrants come to our country for a variety of reasons, yet it seems that we are under siege to adjust our laws and customs to what they left behind. As it happens, I agree with his statements.

In no way was there any racist or derogatory comments in the article. Nor was it stated that they (immigrants) are not welcome. All that was said was, if you want to emigrate to our country, you must adopt your new Countries laws and customs. No where in that post does it say that they must also leave behind their own culture or customs, just leave ours alone and we will leave yours alone.

Pretty fair statements in my opinion and something that needs to be expressed and something that I think others are thinking if not wanting to express.

This Political Correctness BS is now going to far. Initially, I thought it was an indication of a strong modern society with a strong moral core that was willing to accept other nationalities and cultures and their ways. It has now gone to the point that we are so bent out of shape trying to accommodate these new arrivals we dare not speak out in public for fear of being labeled racist, homophobic or xenophobic.

In case no one has noticed, I freely admit when I err, and I always seek the correct information. If something I post is incorrect, feel free to provide the correct information. Leave the personal attacks for your buddies and foes.

"Can anyone tell me what's going on with the new Sandman hotel? It seems to be stuck in construction...what's going on?"

That Sandman, he wise old dude. Him not hire those greedy local contractors, HUH!, they only want make profit, that no good!!
Him only hire inexperienced lackeys to putumup hotel, then trick unsuspecting bonded electrical, gas and refrigeration contractors from other places to produce permits and sign off on not so good work.
This strategy results in long construction time. I hope they check for mould.
metalman.

Loki and Australian Prime Minister comments ....

Please identify the source of the words you quoted .....

read snopes ...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/australia.asp

Harbinger- Sorry you got that one wrong on what L&M Engineering charged out an hour of their time for.
If you look at the Citizen today you will notice buried in the bottom of page 5 is “gee we got it wrong” all involved in the matter, one would take from that, the Citizen, apologizes; the billing was not for 1800 hours but rather in excess of 16,200 hours of work. That makes the $880.00 dollar an hour figure completely wrong. How about $ 97.77 an hour the way I calculate it.
Never let the facts get in the way of a story

Loki, Generally, I am red neck. But I think you have to realize that 80 percent of our population, has roots in Canada less than 4 generations. You wouldn't think that we would be called wing nuts to follow the direction of the current regime of Australia. Our country is a collection of different cultures and understanding of tolerances. As long as these tolerances does not impede on another ones culture so be it.

#1 we are Canadians
#2 we are British Columbians
#3 respect each other
#4 Protect our canadian culture
#5 Help and protect those who can not
#6 Shut and pay your taxes

Christian Society, Hmmmm, What did the Catholic Priests do to the first nation people. What does believing in religion give you..... possibly go to Haiti and kidnap children thru to the Dominion Republic. Makes you want scream, to believe that there still are gullable people, who will do these things to apease their gods.

billm ... obviously another defender of the LM Engineers awkward bid award from their buddies at the City... For those that didn't spot it, a post from a 250.com comment line on consultants fees the other day was obviously from this company as they detailed a split in the 1.5 million win of $700k to subs (geology and electricians?) and thier own for $800k. Unless this was from the City. Not suprisingly it was along the same lines as defending the miscalculation by the Citizen and saying how a retraction was coming. Either way you look at the bid - whether the math is right or wrong, the small town good old boys with obvious direct ties to the City and to the developers who put "private money" into the project won the job on an incredibly daring report by the city purchasing staff report to council that because they said it would take longer they must do a better job? And this win was over some out-of-town companies? So out of touch were these out-of-town companies that low bidder just finished 2 bridges in the City? Either way you look at this it smells. Let's wait for the good old boys to come back with cost over-runs that will likely only be weighted on the tax paying contributors to the overall deal and not on the private companies that put money up. Then heads will roll - if they haven't already. Does anyone else smell a deal similar to the bingo hall - I do.

Furthur to the post from Loki, and that certain groups and individuals are quick to point out is "bunk" using Snopes as a source of "proof", of that claim, I suggest they also check into just who is editing Snopes, and providing opinions on whether or not virtually everything you can think of is "true" or not.

From what I read somewhere awhile back, Snopes is none other than a simple Mom and Pop team, that started Snopes awhile back, using information from a variety of sources available to most of us including getting it off the internet, and still continue to edit to this day !

I'm not sure if its true or not, about the origins of Snopes, but its something one should check out before using it to "prove" everything that suits them to support their owns views on a given subject.

" No, Australia was not founded by the aboriginals, they did inhabit that Continent as a collection of independent tribes, very similar to North America. It was the European Expansion and designating the seventh continent as a penal colony for the British Commonwealth that was the foundation of the country known as Australia. It was the penal residents that formed Australia, and I understand that Australians a kind of proud of that fact."

They did to the Aborigines exactly what they are compalining about now. They HAD a system of government, a language, their own laws, etc. The British moved in, and made changes.

I'm not debating whether what was done was right or wrong - just pointing out the hypocrisy of the original speaker and those that agree with him.

He spoke:
That was a long way around an agreement.
I always say there are 3 responsibilities of every citizen in a free society.
1. Be able to care for yourself (self -supporting)
2. Be able to care for another (children, invalids, aged)
3. Contribute back to the community (volunteering)
One must give at least twice as much as one receives.

Gus:
It was received in email, normally someone else that receives the same email will snope it out in short order. I waited a day to allow for this, I was lazy and did not verify the legitimacy myself, my apologies.

IMO the sentiments are still valid.

IMHO, the e-mail that Loki posted sounds like the toned down messages that the KKK or Aryan Nation uses to gain support from ignorant folks, only to expose them to their "real" beliefs once the people are completely brain washed.

Canada is a country that has developed to where it is now because of immigration, plain and simple. That is an undeniable fact. To now draw an artificial line in the timeline of our country and say "we are going to shift to a country based on assimilation", is extremely hypocritical and to be blunt, offensive.

I would encourage people with that view to move south of our border or even pack their bags for some other place that supports that belief, because my Canada doesn't and I'll do everything in my power to ensure that it stays that way. Given that the bulk of our new population growth comes from immigration, I suspect I'm also not in the minority on that one.

What is it in human nature that causes some people to expect the continued right to benefit from something, only to advocate denying that same benefit to someone else?

Despite all the cost and all the things that we don't like about the Games, watching our Canadian team walk in to B.C.Place sure makes me proud to be Canadian. Wow.
Go CANADA!!!

Well I thought I would watch the olympic opening ceremonies. At first I thought I was on the french channel, after going to another channel, I found I was not on the french channel after all. Turned channels and watched the NASCAR truck race at least I could understand what was going on there first time around.

Loki.

#1 At least I research facts before I post them.
#2. You seem to crave attention so I am going to stop giving it to you.

I just watched the opening of the Olympics and after the way our national anthem was sung, it almost made me ashamed to be Canadian. Oh Canada was just fine they way it's always been sung and I don't need it to be Amaricanized. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Go Canada Go.