Neil
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Post by Neil on Aug 8, 2009 11:01:45 GMT -8
Nagasaki, August 9, 1945. Before and after. From 'Earth Then and Now', by Fred Pierce. Firefly Books. Well worth buying for stunning shots of natural and man made changes to cities and geography.
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Ferryman
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 12, 2009 23:16:05 GMT -8
Tonight, around 6:00pm, Nanaimo was full of thunder, which was coming from every direction. This was because the Snowbirds were in town, and put on a show for everyone to see. I was amongst the thousands of people near the shoreline of Nanaimo harbour to get a glimpse of the famous acrobatic jets fly over. Traffic in Downtown Nanaimo was terrible, with every street lined with cars on both sides of all the streets from South Nanaimo to Departure Bay. This made me nearly miss the show as I was stuck in traffic, as jets were flying close to the ground, and veering in and out of the tall buildings of Nanaimo. People were driving extra slow just to catch a good look at what was going on. Nanaimo harbour was also completely locked down by the Harbour Patrol and Coast Guard. The Quinsam was even stopped while en route to watch the show. Turns out, she would have been the best viewing platform in all of Nanaimo. Anyways, I'll shut up, and share my photos. Just before the show, at Nanaimo Airport, 10 mins away from my house. Had to get a good shot of all 9 of them lined up. Let the show begin Since this is in the Why the sky is blue thread, might as well be random.... Walking back to my car, this intimidating biker chick buzzes by me with her electric moped.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Aug 13, 2009 6:52:21 GMT -8
Here's a real "why the sky is blue" commentary: Panama Canal Hosts Canadian Prime Minister
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) hosted Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper today, during his first official visit to the Republic of Panama.
Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, Panamanian Vice President Juan Carlos Varela, ACP Board Chairman and Minister for Canal Affairs Romulo Roux, along with ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta, greeted the Prime Minister and briefed him on the latest developments surrounding the waterway’s historic Expansion Program – which continues to progress on-time and on-budget, to-date. “We are honored to welcome Prime Minister Harper,” said Alemán Zubieta. “His visit underscores the importance of Panama’s strategic partnership with Canada, and we look forward to increased trade and more opportunities in the years to come, particularly with an expanded Canal.”
Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships.
The latest ACP trade statistics through July for fiscal year 2009 (October 2008-September 2009) show that more than 5,349,000 long tons transited the Canal originating from Canada, while more than 1,768,000 long tons transited the Canal destined for Canada. Key segments include coal and coke, petroleum and petroleum derivatives, and containers.
Additional highlights from the Prime Minister’s Canal visit included tours of the Miraflores Locks and the Control House.
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Post by Scott on Aug 13, 2009 18:17:22 GMT -8
Tonight, around 6:00pm, Nanaimo was full of thunder, which was coming from every direction. This was because the Snowbirds were in town, and put on a show for everyone to see. Nice pictures, Chris. That's a great location for the show they put on - other than the traffic problems they create;) Is that an annual event?
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Post by BreannaF on Aug 14, 2009 11:20:01 GMT -8
OK, something different.... People from Vancouver are Vancouverites. I know Seattleites, Tacomans, and Portlanders. (I am presuming that people from Victoria are Victorians, but I would want to confirm that.) Even people from smallish towns have names. Folks from the area where my Mother was from are Astorians, Seasiders, and Newporters. Anyway, I was evaluating a business opportunity in Port Angeles this week, and when I got back, the subject came up of what people from there are called. People in Los Angeles are Angelenos, but I have not heard that term used for residents of the Olympic Peninsula town. (And Mrs. K said she would never want to take the chance of being a Sequimmer, if that's what it were called!) Yes, Bellingham (home of Bellinghammers, not Bellinghampsters ) might be a more practical place to live, but I digress. Anyway, since I'm really curious, I'll probably make a call or two on Monday to figure out this question. In the meantime, What IS a person from Port Angeles called? Or one from Sequim? For that matter, now I'm wondering what you would call a person from Nanaimo. OK, everybody. Inquiring minds want to know. Before I start having to bother local reference librarians on Monday.
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Post by EGfleet on Aug 14, 2009 11:56:22 GMT -8
OK, something different.... People from Vancouver are Vancouverites. I know Seattleites, Tacomans, and Portlanders. (I am presuming that people from Victoria are Victorians, but I would want to confirm that.) Even people from smallish towns have names. Folks from the area where my Mother was from are Astorians, Seasiders, and Newporters. Anyway, I was evaluating a business opportunity in Port Angeles this week, and when I got back, the subject came up of what people from there are called. People in Los Angeles are Angelenos, but I have not heard that term used for residents of the Olympic Peninsula town. (And Mrs. K said she would never want to take the chance of being a Sequimmer, if that's what it were called!) Yes, Bellingham (home of Bellinghammers, not Bellinghampsters ) might be a more practical place to live, but I digress. Anyway, since I'm really curious, I'll probably make a call or two on Monday to figure out this question. In the meantime, What IS a person from Port Angeles called? Or one from Sequim? For that matter, now I'm wondering what you would call a person from Nanaimo. OK, everybody. Inquiring minds want to know. Before I start having to bother local reference librarians on Monday. I lived in PA for a while...I think I remember people from Port Angeles being called "Port Angelian." I won't swear to that though. Squim...I think was "Sequimite." I won't swear to that either--or even if there is a right answer to that. And I wouldn't want to hazard a guess on "Nanaimo."
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 14, 2009 12:15:48 GMT -8
For that matter, now I'm wondering what you would call a person from Nanaimo. Eich bin ein Nanaimoite
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 14, 2009 14:23:56 GMT -8
Herr Flugel: Ihr antworte richtig enscribe ist: " Ich bin ein Nanaimoite" Milbanke, not Milbank. ;D ;D
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 26, 2009 17:53:30 GMT -8
Mr. & Mrs. Horn were enjoying a trip to Victoria this week. They decided to walk to the legislature lawn, hearing that there would be a parade and a visit by the Lieutenant Governor. Here's what we saw: ==================== ....meawhile, back at the hotel, all was peaceful:
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Mill Bay
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Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Sept 7, 2009 20:42:29 GMT -8
Just a random occurance, but it now seems as though BCFerries is not the only organization using slugs as its mascot. PBase photohosting site seems to have hired some slugs as well. One at least is working as their customer service rep at the moment, according to the page load error message I just saw:
We'll be right back in about 10 minutes. The main database choked and is restarting now. Sorry for the inconvenience. -slug
Maybe BCFerries is farming the slugs out for hire by third parties.
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Post by Scott on Oct 17, 2009 18:21:12 GMT -8
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Post by Kahloke on Oct 26, 2009 8:10:40 GMT -8
This YouTube Video is rather interesting. It is a simulation of what could happen with the Alaskan Way Viaduct and seawall during a moderate size earthquake (7.0 magnitude) along the Seattle fault line.
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Post by Scott on Oct 26, 2009 21:40:56 GMT -8
Interesting link. I've been to Seattle only once in memory, and that's the exact spot where we spent the few hours we were there. Scary to think that every time you drive or walk down there, you're taking a chance that something like that could happen while you're there. I'm sure there are similar videos that could be made of parts of Vancouver.
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 30, 2009 22:29:10 GMT -8
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Post by Kahloke on Nov 2, 2009 12:19:19 GMT -8
Is Vancouver going to become Fort Vancouver? Some people think it's a good idea. Read on.... No more confusion? State's Vancouver might become 'Fort Vancouver'
By Associated Press VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP)
A campaign to change the name of Vancouver to Fort Vancouver is gaining support.
The Vancouver Columbian reports Tuesday's election could put a majority on the city council in favor of sending the proposal to voters.
Supporters of the name change say it would avoid the long-running confusion with Vancouver, British Columbia.
Opponents include Mayor Royce Pollard, who says there are no other Vancouvers in the United States.
A customer relations coordinator for the Post Office in Portland, Ronald Anderson, says changing the name to Fort Vancouver would cause minimal problems because mail is distributed by zip codes.www.komonews.com/news/68625962.html
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Post by lmtengs on Nov 2, 2009 15:28:40 GMT -8
Is Vancouver going to become Fort Vancouver? Some people think it's a good idea. Read on.... No more confusion? State's Vancouver might become 'Fort Vancouver'
By Associated Press VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP)
A campaign to change the name of Vancouver to Fort Vancouver is gaining support.
The Vancouver Columbian reports Tuesday's election could put a majority on the city council in favor of sending the proposal to voters.
Supporters of the name change say it would avoid the long-running confusion with Vancouver, British Columbia.
Opponents include Mayor Royce Pollard, who says there are no other Vancouvers in the United States.
A customer relations coordinator for the Post Office in Portland, Ronald Anderson, says changing the name to Fort Vancouver would cause minimal problems because mail is distributed by zip codes.www.komonews.com/news/68625962.htmlOoh! Is there a petition I can sign? ;D Moderator Edit: Removed comment from quote.
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Post by BreannaF on Nov 2, 2009 23:44:33 GMT -8
Is Vancouver going to become Fort Vancouver? Some people think it's a good idea. Read on.... There is a much lengthier (and pretty interesting) article in Sunday's Vancouver Columbian about the issue. This actually comes up as an issue occasionally, I've heard about it many times before over the years. I have actually thought it is a good idea. Yeah, it does solve the confusion problem, but the greater issue is a historical one. Fort Vancouver, now a National Historic Site, was originally the Hudson's Bay Company outpost along what the HBC asserted was the Canadian border. The town of Vancouver grew from what was then originally Fort Vancouver. So from that standpoint, in my humble opinion, Fort Vancouver is a perfectly reasonable name for the place. That, and it would finally solve the confusion problem. Or did I say that?
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Post by SS San Mateo on Nov 3, 2009 12:45:27 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 3, 2009 19:18:43 GMT -8
Historically, Vancouver Washington has a much better claim to its name than does Vancouver, BC. As stated above, the southern Vancouver started out as Fort Vancouver, and it was not just an HBC 'outpost'. It was in fact the headquarters of what the Hudson's Bay Company called their 'Columbia Dept', which included all lands west of the continental divide that drained to the Pacific. They chose the site on the Columbia's north bank as it was assumed that this was British territory and would stay that way. By the mid 1840's it was clear that the boundary west of the Rockies would follow the 49th parallel to the Pacific Coast. As such Fort Vancouver was in American territory and the HBC decided to move their headquarters north.
In 1849 the HBC chose the southern end of Vancouver Island, at a spot they chose to call Fort Victoria. Technically they were still south of the 49th parallel but the agreement on the boundary between British & American territory recognized that all of Vancouver Island would remain as British. Only the boundary through the Salish Islands had yet to be 'fixed'.
Jump forward to November 1885. Canada's first national park is established at Banff, Louis Riel is hung, the Canadian Pacific Railway is completed from Sea to shining sea. The following spring transcontinental passenger service is established from Montreal west to Port Moody, on Burrard Inlet. The CPR decides to extend their tracks a little west. They desire a better harbour and room to plan a large 'terminal city'. They choose Gas Town (or Coal Harbour). CPR general manager William Cornelius Van Horne, however, decides that these names won't do. As I understand it, he decides, of his own accord, to call his new city 'Vancouver'.
The good citizens of Vancouver Island (and I expect, Vancouver, WA, also) are not happy that their name has been stolen.
Now is the time to correct this historical wrong and rename the CPR terminal city. Might I suggest Salishville...
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Mill Bay
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Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Nov 3, 2009 20:32:37 GMT -8
The obvious accusation to be made over the whole name thing, is the traditional, and ever popular, "dictionary the CPR."
Blame Van Horne for it. When the CPR decided to extend its terminus from Port Moody to Coal Harbour, there were a variety of names to choose from in various town plans that had been drawn up for the areas surrounding the waterfront, including Granville, Hastings, Gastown, of course and New Liverpool. Van Horne thought none of them sounded attractive or large enough to suit him, so he personally chose the name Vancouver because that name was already strongly associated with the region because of Vancouver Island.
Or we could rename ourselves after Jose Maria Narvaez who was the first European to visit the future site of Vancouver when he attended the famed meeting of British and Spanish off the Spanish Banks in 1792. Do I hear a vote to see if we want to be renamed Narvaez, BC... or possibly, Port Narvaez, to add an extra syllable ;D?
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Post by lmtengs on Nov 17, 2009 17:00:01 GMT -8
This is an odd trick you can do on any facebook page, based on the Konami code: type in this sequence: 'up arrow' twice, 'down arrow' twice, then left arrow, right arrow, left arrow, then 'B' 'A' followed by the 'enter' key. It produces a lens flare effect when you type, click or scroll. It can be stopped by refreshing the page. It's kind of weird, and i'm wondering why the facebook people decided to do that, and if there are any more weird tricks... there's an article about konami code on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konami_Code
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Post by BreannaF on Nov 18, 2009 1:23:37 GMT -8
Wouldn't "The Fibonacci Sequence" be a cool name for a new movie??
Cue the deep voiced guy from the movie trailers:
A group of scholars is looking to solve deep mathematical puzzles (pause - pause - pause) TO SAVE THE PLANET! After plotting an escape from Pascal's Triangle, our heroes must cross the mighty Pythagorean Theorem in an effort to find Cassini's Identity. They are attacked by the polynomials, only to be left for dead while searching for clues on the Isles of Langerhans. After a gratuitous mention of Leonardo DaVinci, find out whether they will find (pause - pause - pause) The Golden Ratio!
The Fibonacci Sequence, coming soon to a theatre near you!
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Nov 18, 2009 5:43:27 GMT -8
Wouldn't "The Fibonacci Sequence" be a cool name for a new movie?? Cue the deep voiced guy from the movie trailers: A group of scholars is looking to solve deep mathematical puzzles (pause - pause - pause) TO SAVE THE PLANET! After plotting an escape from Pascal's Triangle, our heroes must cross the mighty Pythagorean Theorem in an effort to find Cassini's Identity. They are attacked by the polynomials, only to be left for dead while searching for clues on the Isles of Langerhans. After a gratuitous mention of Leonardo DaVinci, find out whether they will find (pause - pause - pause) The Golden Ratio! The Fibonacci Sequence, coming soon to a theatre near you! lol...Let the Mathematicians unite! I just hope the Fractals are as friendly as the Fraggles...
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Nov 21, 2009 0:06:20 GMT -8
I noticed a new product on the toothpaste shelf at Superstore today.
It's a kind of mouthwash, with a variety for grownups and another variety with a more fun looking label for kids. It's blue, and when you put it in your mouth, it supposedly turns all your plaque and food particles that you have stuck in your teeth blue. You can see just exactly how much crud you need to brush or floss out, and the label tells you cheerily that when you see all that stuff in the sink after you brush, you know your mouth is clean.
Kind of disgusting I know, but hey, that's what it does. I can see kids trying to gross each other out by stuffing their mouths with crackers and having tooth brushing parties. Maybe if you use enough of the stuff, your mouth will light up like a glowstick.
There might be unintended benefits to this. Could you go to MacDonald's again after you see shreds of blue quarter pounder meat in the sink? Ewww.
Just goes to show the magic of modern marketing. There are no frivolous products; just ones we weren't aware we needed.
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Post by Barnacle on Nov 21, 2009 7:47:19 GMT -8
When I was a kid they used to give out those odd little red tablets that did the same thing only in red. I would think the blue would be a much less frightening color, as I suppose if you were a germophobe you could keep brushing and brushing and getting red...
...where did that thought come from? I think I'll go have more coffee. It's a shame there aren't any doughnuts lurking about the place.
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