Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Osoyoos under attack ...
er ... "development" they call it. Lots of new condo "development" going on up there. They are pushing it every day on the radio in Vancouver. I bet they get their very own Wallmart soon. All those new city people need their city services! That's "development."
"Developers" (if that isn't a misnomer, nothing is) are feverishly promoting their "developments," wanting all you rich people to get there now and buy buy buy!
It was way too quiet and serene in Osoyoos. No one was getting rich. That's not "development". Too much water. Too many birds tweeting. There was no reason Canada's only arid biotic zone, desert, can't be just like Reno. That finger of the Sonoran desert needed "development." So now there are going to be condos everywhere!
They're going to "develop" the shit out of it!
Here's a likely map of what "they", are planning ...
click to throw up ... er, I mean enlarge.
"Developers" (if that isn't a misnomer, nothing is) are feverishly promoting their "developments," wanting all you rich people to get there now and buy buy buy!
It was way too quiet and serene in Osoyoos. No one was getting rich. That's not "development". Too much water. Too many birds tweeting. There was no reason Canada's only arid biotic zone, desert, can't be just like Reno. That finger of the Sonoran desert needed "development." So now there are going to be condos everywhere!
They're going to "develop" the shit out of it!
Here's a likely map of what "they", are planning ...
click to throw up ... er, I mean enlarge.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Space Shuttle Dangers
The Shuttle went up. And once again a piece of "foam" fell off something and damaged the underside of the shuttle. How many times has this happened before? What IS this "foam" stuff?
Why does it cause such damage? Why is it always falling off? Anyone ever phone up the Foam company to see what's wrong? How can they fix that? Don't they have glue? Now they
need to try and repair it in space?
Do you imagine, like me, that a Dixie Cup piece is going to cause the shuttle to come flaming to Earth? Chewing a peanut butter cookie with gum will fix anything. But I suppose they don't have any peanut butter up there either.
Now we learn that the shuttles have encountered over 15,000 hits in space causing damage of an inch or more! No wonder these guys and gals need a drink out there. I bet the Russians have a bottle of Stolichnaya hidden somewhere in that space station.
NASA, smarten up, try foam rubber or something, at least it'll bounce off.
The space walk pic sorta reminds me of Dustin Hoffman lying at the bottom of the pool in "The Graduate", to get away from it all.
Why does it cause such damage? Why is it always falling off? Anyone ever phone up the Foam company to see what's wrong? How can they fix that? Don't they have glue? Now they
need to try and repair it in space?Do you imagine, like me, that a Dixie Cup piece is going to cause the shuttle to come flaming to Earth? Chewing a peanut butter cookie with gum will fix anything. But I suppose they don't have any peanut butter up there either.
Now we learn that the shuttles have encountered over 15,000 hits in space causing damage of an inch or more! No wonder these guys and gals need a drink out there. I bet the Russians have a bottle of Stolichnaya hidden somewhere in that space station.
NASA, smarten up, try foam rubber or something, at least it'll bounce off.
The space walk pic sorta reminds me of Dustin Hoffman lying at the bottom of the pool in "The Graduate", to get away from it all.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Skateboarders
Check out the seats, even in ancient times skateboarders and graffiti were a problem ...
Sappho and Alcaeus, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1881, oil on canvas, Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
Sappho and Alcaeus, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1881, oil on canvas, Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
Friday, August 10, 2007
ICBC huge profits
I think I know why.
A couple of years ago I bought a motorcycle. When it was time to insure I was shocked at ICBC rates. The particular rate for my new bike was $2700.00 a year! I got a 40% discount as an accident free DRIVER (not a rider) which brought the motorcycle rate down to $1600.00. No other discounts to apply. Like it or don't ride or drive a vehicle in BC.
Well I happened to have access to information from Washington State insurances. I was again shocked, but at their enlightened attitude toward motorcycles.
I would qualify for a 'Mature Rider' discount because I was unlikely to race around at my age. I also would get a discount for being a non smoker, I suppose meaning that I was less likely to cause the insurance company a cost because I fell off while trying to light up. Although I think it was really for being unlikely to die while riding. Another discount for the type of bike I bought, pure sport bikes cost more because they're likely to be driven faster and perhaps more recklessly. There was also a huge discount in Washington State for taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider training course.
I took two courses before getting my bike, the BC Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Skills course, AND the Traffic Skills course, both expensive but highly recommended for avoiding a disaster on your bike. Then a refresher course too.
Didn't mean a thing to ICBC.
The bottom line is that for comparable insurance to what ICBC covers me for here, at $1600.00, would have only cost me $300.00 across the border! $1300.00 cheaper for the same coverage! And although my bike is aging every year, the insurance rate stays the same!
ICBC say they don't compile statistics or profiles on who causes more accidents. Private insurance companies do. Maybe it should be considered.
But ripping us all off is a sure way to pack in the profits.
A couple of years ago I bought a motorcycle. When it was time to insure I was shocked at ICBC rates. The particular rate for my new bike was $2700.00 a year! I got a 40% discount as an accident free DRIVER (not a rider) which brought the motorcycle rate down to $1600.00. No other discounts to apply. Like it or don't ride or drive a vehicle in BC.
Well I happened to have access to information from Washington State insurances. I was again shocked, but at their enlightened attitude toward motorcycles.
I would qualify for a 'Mature Rider' discount because I was unlikely to race around at my age. I also would get a discount for being a non smoker, I suppose meaning that I was less likely to cause the insurance company a cost because I fell off while trying to light up. Although I think it was really for being unlikely to die while riding. Another discount for the type of bike I bought, pure sport bikes cost more because they're likely to be driven faster and perhaps more recklessly. There was also a huge discount in Washington State for taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider training course.
I took two courses before getting my bike, the BC Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Skills course, AND the Traffic Skills course, both expensive but highly recommended for avoiding a disaster on your bike. Then a refresher course too.
Didn't mean a thing to ICBC.
The bottom line is that for comparable insurance to what ICBC covers me for here, at $1600.00, would have only cost me $300.00 across the border! $1300.00 cheaper for the same coverage! And although my bike is aging every year, the insurance rate stays the same!
ICBC say they don't compile statistics or profiles on who causes more accidents. Private insurance companies do. Maybe it should be considered.
But ripping us all off is a sure way to pack in the profits.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Home Alarm Systems
A company in my town constantly advertises their home alarm system and warns you about other 'inferior' systems. It is a voice system where a real guy talks to you if you're broken into.
I looked at their website for a few niggling things that were bothering me.
However they seem to omit things in their blurb.
Like for the price they advertise, you get ONE DOOR alarm and NO window alarms. You then hope the burglar picks that door? Additional coverage is where they get you. I guess you at least know which door to run out of.
It's a voice system, if the alarm goes off a guy flips a switch and listens to you screaming. OR, can he flip that switch anytime to listen to you breathing hard? Do they mic every room? If you are in the basement when the voice guy calls, does the burglar just say, "Everything's okay?"
Even then, where IS that 'central' voice guy? In your town or in New York, Bombay or Taiwan? He evidently calls the police (authorities) for you if needed but does he just dial 911 and try to explain to that operator that he's calling on your behalf? Then SHE contacts the police? Does he have to call your town first?
Why can't you just call 911 yourself? Much faster and safer. Just tell the cops that the guy has a gun and see how fast they respond.
Way cheaper to just get a mean dog, leave him inside and don't feed him. Maybe give Michael Vick a call to find out where to buy one.
Meanwhile, whisper.
I looked at their website for a few niggling things that were bothering me.
However they seem to omit things in their blurb.
Like for the price they advertise, you get ONE DOOR alarm and NO window alarms. You then hope the burglar picks that door? Additional coverage is where they get you. I guess you at least know which door to run out of.
It's a voice system, if the alarm goes off a guy flips a switch and listens to you screaming. OR, can he flip that switch anytime to listen to you breathing hard? Do they mic every room? If you are in the basement when the voice guy calls, does the burglar just say, "Everything's okay?"
Even then, where IS that 'central' voice guy? In your town or in New York, Bombay or Taiwan? He evidently calls the police (authorities) for you if needed but does he just dial 911 and try to explain to that operator that he's calling on your behalf? Then SHE contacts the police? Does he have to call your town first?
Why can't you just call 911 yourself? Much faster and safer. Just tell the cops that the guy has a gun and see how fast they respond.
Way cheaper to just get a mean dog, leave him inside and don't feed him. Maybe give Michael Vick a call to find out where to buy one.
Meanwhile, whisper.
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