|
Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 9, 2016 22:32:09 GMT -8
I'll respond to Neil's Trump post with this.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
|
Post by Neil on Feb 9, 2016 22:39:21 GMT -8
Mr Horn, how did you ever make your voice sound like that? Lotta helium, I guess. Loved it.
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on Feb 10, 2016 3:26:40 GMT -8
The American voting public should start paying more attention to the candidates they elect and send to Congress and the Senate. Start seeking candidates that are willing to work in a more non-partisan manner, because, as it stands these days, it doesn't much matter who they elect as President if Congress or the Senate can't agree on the time of day? Could we see a billionaire Republican squaring off against a self proclaimed Socialist? And we think BC politics is nuts eh?
|
|
|
Post by westernflyer on Feb 23, 2016 1:34:26 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on Feb 23, 2016 5:23:46 GMT -8
I hunted around yesterday through various websites including Goundar Shipping but forgot about the good old FBC folks. Good to hear the two ex-'Queens' live to sail another day, even nicer to hear that Mr. Goundar is providing relief trips for those folks who need to travel due to the cyclone and resulting damage. Nice corporate gesture. Also noticed that several other corporate entities had made 'freebie' offers to their customers. Good on them! The white vessel owned by the Patterson brothers is no looker eh?
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
|
Post by Neil on Feb 29, 2016 23:37:48 GMT -8
I'm trying to figure out if tomorrow is going to be a really horrific day, or if it's going to be the best possible day for democracy in the world's most powerful nation.
It's Super Tuesday, with, I believe, thirteen states picking their Republican candidate for president. Polls indicate that Donald Trump is going to clean up, and perhaps put a Rowdy Roddy Piper sleeper hold on Marco, Ted, John, and Ben. Oh wait... Ben's already asleep, or at least, deep into his fruit salad. I use a wrestling analogy because the Republican race has been the most carny-like political race I can ever remember seeing- the disrespect the candidates have shown for the office they aspire to, judging by their conduct, is astonishing. Mean Gene Okerlund probably could have maintained better control over the last rantfest than Wolf Blitzer did. Good thing there were no folding chairs onsite, but I swear I caught sight of Bobby Heenan pitching lines to Marco, and Mr Fuji backstage nodding approvingly at The Donald.
So, Trump winning is either the sign that the political apocalypse is nigh, or is the best possible thing for a nation that will be comparing him to Hillary, once the earnest but unelectable Bernie Sanders is dispatched. I think sanity still reigns among our neighbors to the south, so I'm betting on the latter.
Hornby's cable company informed all its customers that it was vacating the market as of January 1st, but the channels are still there for now, free, so I'll be glued to CNN, no doubt watching the Orange Haired One be as incredibly vulgar, ignorant, and arrogant as he always is in victory.
|
|
|
Post by Kahloke on Mar 1, 2016 5:44:27 GMT -8
I think sanity still reigns among our neighbors to the south, so I'm betting on the latter. I hope and pray that there is still some sanity in this nation of ours. This political season is truly appalling. Of the front-runners for president (the candidates that actually have a shot at winning) there is not ONE viable candidate, in my opinion. I don't think I've ever voted in an election where it's been this bad before. Trump is a joke, to put it mildly, Bernie Sanders is wacko, and Hillary is a power-grabbing liar of the worst sort. You can't trust anything that comes out of her mouth. What a sorry state of affairs we are in. Why couldn't somebody really worth standing behind run for president, someone like Colin Powell or Condeleezza Rice? I would vote for either of them in a heartbeat if they ever chose to run, but perhaps they are too smart to try their hand at the presidency. Sigh.... so it goes. If it comes down to Trump and Hillary, I will be forced to vote for Hillary, and it pains me greatly to say that.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
|
Post by Neil on Mar 10, 2016 12:54:09 GMT -8
Another maritime information source, particularly for specs of vessels no longer with us.
www.nauticapedia.ca/
Couldn't find a more appropriate thread to plunk this into, so it's here.
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 10, 2016 13:23:08 GMT -8
Another maritime information source, particularly for specs of vessels no longer with us.
www.nauticapedia.ca/
Couldn't find a more appropriate thread to plunk this into, so it's here. A great resource, which is the creation of the fine people who also run the popular Facebook group "BC Nautical History" which many of us enjoy.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
|
Post by Neil on Mar 20, 2016 17:11:52 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Apr 5, 2016 12:35:47 GMT -8
Are BC Ferry terminals bird unfriendly? Are they afraid of a little bird poop? You be the judge ... Rupert cactus Mill Bay Cactus Baynes Cactus SWB Cactus Arizona Cactus
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Apr 5, 2016 14:03:17 GMT -8
It's not just BC Ferries. WSF has those as well and not just at the terminals (some of the vessels have/had them as well).
|
|
Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
|
Post by Kam on Apr 6, 2016 9:56:58 GMT -8
Are BC Ferry terminals bird unfriendly? Are they afraid of a little bird poop? You be the judge ... Yup, and rightfully so. If you have ever had to service those lights you would understand quickly why the effort is put in to keeping the gulls off.
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Apr 6, 2016 12:29:53 GMT -8
Are BC Ferry terminals bird unfriendly? Are they afraid of a little bird poop? You be the judge ... Yup, and rightfully so. If you have ever had to service those lights you would understand quickly why the effort is put in to keeping the gulls off. Is this a wide-spread practice? I have seen these spiny light fixtures only at some ferry terminals.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
|
Post by Neil on Jul 11, 2016 19:59:21 GMT -8
Some advice: If you get a recorded call from one of those 'investigation officers' from the 'Canada Revenue Agency' or the 'Internal Revenue Service', phone the number, and have some fun. It will be entertaining, and while you've got them on the line, you might be saving one gullible senior somewhere from getting preyed on.
I called back this afternoon, as any honest taxpayer should, after being told there were serious legal problems with my taxes. I got a doofus who called himself George something, with very rudimentary English. It took a while to get past the hellos, and the identification. He started his spiel about my unpaid taxes and the action being launched "under my name", but he seemed so confused with his script that I couldn't help laughing, and he actually started laughing too, as he was reading. He regained his serious-tax-enforcement-officer tone, and told me that the action had been filed with the municipal courthouse. I asked him which courthouse, and he said "multiple courthouses". He told me that the action was also filed with the attorney general of my state... to which I replied with a chuckle that in Canada, we have provinces, and not states. That confused him, and I was asked to repeat myself. I told him that I understood he might not know about states and provinces, since he was phoning from India, to which he replied, "Sir, this is nothing to do with India, I am Canada Revenue Agency, phoning from London." To which I asked, "London? You mean London, England?" He answered in the affirmative. "Why would the Canada Revenue Agency be phoning me from England?", I asked, unable to keep from laughing again. A bit more hemming and hawing ensued, and he asked me, "What are you doing?". "Excuse me?", I replied. "Sir, what are you doing?", he repeated. I was a bit confused by this, and so replied, "Well... I'm talking to a guy from India who says he's with the Canada Revenue Agency in London." A bit more confused banter back and forth, and then, slightly to my surprise, he said, "Okay... okay... thank you very much for talking to me, sir." To which I said, ever the polite Canadian, "You're welcome. It's been fun."
And it was. I know... these are criminal organizations scamming innocent people, but there's nothing we can do about it, aside from relentlessly publicizing how they operate, and maybe, having a little sport along the way.
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Jul 28, 2016 21:21:50 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Jul 29, 2016 5:27:19 GMT -8
Does the Love Boat make a stop there?
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
|
Post by Neil on Oct 19, 2016 21:16:20 GMT -8
Watching what was -thankfully- the last presidential debate tonight, I had to conclude that the American election process is waaaaaay, I mean waaaaaaaaaay too long.
Aside from Trump's amazing statement that he might not respect the integrity of the vote, I didn't hear anything that I haven't heard twenty times before. Chris Matthews, one of the few FOX personalities who can actually be called a journalist, did a good job, but even when he tried to introduce a discussion of the federal deficit, which as he said hasn't actually been specifically addressed very often, it devolved into the usual talking points from both sides.
How many debates were there during the primaries? Fifteen at least, on the Republican side? How much yakking and regurgitation of positions and dog whistle politics does one country need? Thankfully, the vote is only three weeks away. It's been eighteen months in the making. And it's between two candidates who have almost set some kind of record between them for failing to inspire the electorate.
I'm a political junkie, and it felt like Christmas when CNN was added a few weeks ago to the modest package of TV channels I have access to here on Hornby Island. But I've just about O.D.'d on this interminable process. I don't think I want to hear the word 'surrogate' again as long as I live, unless it's in connection with a couple having trouble having a baby. Endless panels of robotic political hacks, parroting the line of their favorite candidate.
Although, to be honest, the Trump hacks have been far more offensive. I've got a lot of admiration for the great nation on Canada's southern border, and it appalls me that some Americans would have so little regard for their own country as to trust it's fate to a vulgarian like Trump. But please... just vote. Put this whole thing to rest, and let the Donald go back to his game shows, on TV channels I'm not addicted to.
|
|
|
Post by paulvanb on Jan 12, 2017 20:15:24 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by mybidness459 on Jan 13, 2017 15:52:07 GMT -8
I have a question that I have been pondering for about a week or so now, a Legal Question in regards of Tugs.
Okay let us say the Queen of Surrey has a mechanical breakdown and is drifting towards the shores of Bowen Island with a full load of traffic on its car decks and full load of passengers. Now there is a tug nearby pulling a loaded barge full of Dangerous Cargo, say toxic Chemicals for a pulp mill somewhere.
Can the Coast Guard task the tug to assist with Keeping the Queen of Surrey from running aground? And if so is the Tug required legally to assist?
If the Tug is Legally required to "Drop" its load, Then Who is legally responsible for that Barge if that barge while drifting hits another vessel, or runs aground and causes those chemicals to leak on shore, or some other damage.
My point is is that the Tug boat captain is ultimately responsible for HIS tug and load First and if he is Legally obligated to assist in the other vessel's distress call, then who is responsible for the possible consequences if his load gets into trouble?
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 19, 2017 10:44:02 GMT -8
I am writing this post from Canada today.
Starting tomorrow, I'm not sure if forum members in Washington and Alaska (and anywhere else in the USA) will be able to read this here post, because it's not made in America.
Perhaps you might be able to read this, if you pay a $100-per-post import penalty.
In any case, if this disappears to you after tomorrow, I hope you are well, we'll meet again in January 2021.
Cheers from a foreign land.
|
|
|
Post by BreannaF on Jan 24, 2017 17:30:42 GMT -8
A year late, but something from my old blog I thought of..... Hello. We are the local seagulls who live around the Mukilteo Lighthouse. We would like to show you the latest in devices that people can attach to the roofs of buildings to keep birds from landing on top of buildings and leaving droppings on them. Clearly, as seagulls, we prefer the style of these devices that you see here. Get the brand of bird discouraging devices that seagulls prefer. We will thank you for it. Photo: Taken at the Mukilteo Lighthouse on 10 April 2012.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
|
Post by Neil on Mar 24, 2017 21:25:04 GMT -8
Oh, he was going to make some great deals. He was the master negotiator, and he was going to win every game he went into. Everybody was going to be so proud, because nobody knew how to make deals like him. I mean... look at those hotels, those casinos, those steaks...
So the first test, the very first test of his magical, superhuman deal making abilities... and he crashes and burns. Was he negotiating with the North Koreans over nukes? Nope. Mexicans over paying for the wall? Nope. Palestinians and Israelis over one state or two states? Nope.
He was negotiating with his own party, over a Democratic party initiative that all Republicans pretty much agreed was a sign of the anti-Christ. And he couldn't get the deal done.
Next, the coal miners in West Virginia and the steel workers in Pennsylvania are going to discover that he didn't ever really give a damn about them. That his concern for their livelihoods was as real as his ability to transfer casino construction into nation building.
The illegitimate emperor is going to be shorn of all his ill fitting apparel in shorter order than most of us thought likely, and judging by how he was spilling out of his golf clothes in a recent photo, it won't be a pretty sight.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
|
Post by Neil on May 9, 2017 18:33:10 GMT -8
Can't remember the last time I felt so little mystery about an electoral outcome. I think the Liberals are going to win this fairly comfortably, with the Greens eating into NDP numbers. I'm not expecting much joy tonight, but I will be utterly delighted if I'm wrong.
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on May 10, 2017 5:46:03 GMT -8
Can't remember the last time I felt so little mystery about an electoral outcome. I think the Liberals are going to win this fairly comfortably, with the Greens eating into NDP numbers. I'm not expecting much joy tonight, but I will be utterly delighted if I'm wrong. What the pollsters got SO wrong last election, they got SO right this time around. Andrew Weaver must feel like he's just won the lottery! With 3 seats at present count, and the balance of power, pretty heady stuff to wake up to on a Wednesday morning. Neil, you must be feeling a wee bit delirious this morning, all that angst disappearing faster than a Liberal majority.
|
|