Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Generally smoke alarms get more sensitive as they get older and the radioactive source in them decays
if you are stuck with ones that you can’t temporarily silence then a zip lock bag placed over them while cooking will seal a pocket of fresh air next to it
just remember to remove it after

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Ambient smoke can be a factor in the Okanagan during wildfire season as well. I just looked at the highway cams and Kelowna and the next 2 cameras south are kind of hazy right now.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...deae114f01.jpg

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Never thought of a bag over it... Would have been easy in our old place, even at 6'4, I can't reach the smoke detector in the new place. :rofl:

It's brand new building so I can't imagine the smoke detectors are old, they are hardwired type, but only local alarm in the unit, probably takes substantial heat to set off the building alarm I would imagine.

Current fire situation int he southern interior region.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...c7207afd9d.jpg

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Upside to all these door bell cameras is the interesting videos that result.

Tire comes out of nowhere really, flying down the road, across the grass and runs into someone's door and bounces back onto the grass before stopping. Crazy random. No human was hurt, its a work safe video.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Woah! :D

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

This article about an apartment building in Vancouver, its on the edge of the DTES but was not as bad, but the DTES is spreading so more and more areas are being affected, but the article shows a google photo from 2019, and then current photos, and what a difference.

They are micro-suites and look decent inside, rent for 2,000 a month, but the building just isn't in a good location, and now tenants of the building can no longer use the front door and have to enter through the back, the retail space had to be boarded up, and no surprise the owner of the building is now having trouble retaining and attracting tenants.

When we moved to our area of East Vancouver in 2017, it wasn't too bad, then each year got worse, and more homeless and drug addicts and drug paraphernalia all over the ground, increase police activity etc.

I think some who live elsewhere in the city don't really truly understand how bad the problem has gotten, they just think its same ole same ole as its always been.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/burn...omeless-issues

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

The Vatican has (finally!) declared The Blues Brothers to be a classic Catholic faith-based movie.
https://movieweb.com/the-blues-broth...assic-vatican/
"Apparently the pope loves him some Jake and Elwood Blues."

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Today in NB it has been utterly beautiful. The sun has shone, the sky has been a bright and cloudless blue and the humidity is brilliant! The Farmer’s Market was full, but socially distanced, and we all smiled at each other with our eyes, the flowers on my back deck are at their best...but we only saw two hummingbirds and you can feel the change coming...

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Further west...you can certainly feel a change coming. The humidity has disappeared and the temps have dropped 10-20 degrees. Temps at night dropped like a stone to early teens.

I hate winter. Unfortunately due to Covid...we will not be able to escape the brutal winter here this year. Just have to hunker down I guess. :(

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Late summer day here. Warm and sunny a little hazy though from some of the fires most likely.

29c currently, nights get down to 13c or so.

And its dark before 830p again.

During our outing today, we saw 3 different protest groups.

1- Protesting something in regards to So. Africa

2- Group protesting about freedom and COVID and 5G

3- Group only protesting 5G with no mention of freedom or COVID.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

When i visited in late 2018 there was around 2-3 really bad blocks (east hastings street, the 3 or so blocks east of main street) were you'd think twice about walking down a couple of streets off it weren't pleasant (and for me were sketchier, as you could end up 3 on 1 in an area with no traffic) but apart from the odd person there wasn't much hassle, even with that hassle they were still pleasant enough.

The thing that shocked me since Vancouver was the end of our trip, I tried to hand off bags of sweets, crisps, a small amount of liquor, soda etc to members of this community - none of whom would take it, and they were on the whole super nice and friendly.

It would appear that's now doubled if not tripled in size - I'm sort of surprised action hasn't been taken, as its getting rather close to gastown now (which was the awkward bit in 2018, you'd get the odd person or 3 wandering up from DTES to gastown to harass tourists for money). I'm not sure the action taken would be the correct one, but yea surprised there hasn't been a push on it.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Part of the Sea to Sky highway near Whistler was closed for several hours today due to a 3 car accident, 2 seriously injured and 4 less serious non-life threatening injuries.

Crash involved a Land Rover and Lamborghini travelling north and a Toyota Corolla heading south.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...tler-1.5714078


I used to commute this highway Squamish to Whistler for work, this sort of thing was always my worst nightmare.

Spreading it is, we were down near Commercial and E Hastings and from 2017 to 2020 there was a significant increase in drug use, homeless, prostitution and property crime, in 2017 it wasn't bad, but now, oh its worse by the year.

I almost thing the city and provincial governments just don't know what to do about it, they close one park, and another becomes a tent city, and this is repeating throughout the lower mainland and possible elsewhere.

​​​​​​⠀‹

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Some not so happy people in Kelowna re healthcare.

https://www.reddit.com/r/kelowna/com..._times_at_kgh/

Hopefully the person who has been waiting 5 weeks so far for a lump on their thyroid doesn't have cancer.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I liked the suggestion about getting a referral to Vernon or Penticton. They took good care of my sister in Penticton for quite a while. Nice hospital (new addition I haven't seen), friendly wards and small communal dining rooms. 4:starsmile:/5.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I almost wonder if having my CT requisition sent to Kelowna will lead to a longer wait, I had been on the list in Vancouver since May I think but never got called before moving, so transferred it to Kelowna in August.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

5 of 8 doctors at a Sundre, Alberta medical clinic are leaving, appears they don't agree with the Alberta government and are also leaving the province as well as their practice.

The clinic serves 4,000 patients and will try to replace the 5 doctors leaving.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...ucp-government

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Today was the last day the Vancouver Aquarium was open to the public for the indefinite future, they say to be reinventing themselves, but have given no specifics.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Anyone have any idea what this sign would mean on a house?


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...18814bcc21.png

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Devil worshipers? :scaredhair:

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Didn't win the lottery this week?

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Hedgehog worshippers?
Judging by the house in the picture they probably don't need a lottery win


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...34fd458fbe.jpg

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

It's not a sign at all. It's a pattress plate, or a restraining plate, used to hold unstable walls in place. There will probably be another similar plate on the other side of the house, and a long bolt in between them. The bolt, or tie-rod, can either go right the way through the building (usually in the floor void), or be anchored to a stable wall inside the house. Very common in older brick walls. The design you see on the outside is decorative.

Link

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Excellent, thanks.
I asked the question in the general part of the forum too and got the support for unstable wall answer there. When I googled I found some really rough looking examples so the decorative explanation makes total sense for a house like that. :thumbup:

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Woke up to an orange hue and smoke this morning, like living in a campfire. From what I found in the media, appears winds shifted overnight and bringing smoke up from central and eastern Washington, Victoria BC air-quality if off the charts bad at the moment.

Kelowna air quality is still listed as 3 or good, but I have been hacking up a lung this morning, my lungs don't tolerate much smoke in the air.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...07fd9e18f5.png

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I wouldn't want to be the employee who gave this family the passes, while it appears the crew may have been in the wrong, the fact the passengers were on an employee guest pass could get that employee into serious trouble, especially since the entire flight was cancelled.

It's why I never gave out my guest passes, I don't trust anyone well enough to have risked my employment.

Airline say's the crew was only talking about the 3 year old not wearing a mask, family say's they got mask on 3 year old but crew insisted the 19 month old wear a mask, but children under 2 are not required to wear a mask.

Article.


Always fun when a family partakes in a hobby.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Some people eh?

https://news.sky.com/story/julija-ad...years-12069121

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

My insurance policy last time I had one through work, a hand was only worth 50,000, an arm was worth 75,000 only one that came close to $1 million was loss of head which was 900,000 something, but then of course your dead. But if just killed at work that insurance cap was 500,000.

But I prefer having all my body parts.

So she has a bad hand now (seem it was re-attached though) no money, and gets to spend 2 years in prison, yeah so not worth it.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Pretty neat video from 1979 and computers, times have changed.


Then this is a follow up interview 41 years later with the same father and the kid, well man now....

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Wonder if BC is going to have a snap election this fall?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...eens-1.5721723

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I turned on a Rick Mercer Report re-run, and he's in Oliver for the wine festival! :lol:

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

LOL - This was our go to quarantine game :lol:

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

:rofl:

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

So New Brunswick leading the way with Canada's first Pandemic Election :lol:

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...6bff52364.jpeg
We have one coming up as well. Are you going to vote the right way, comrade? :lol:

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Someone had to be first....:lol:

There is some talk in BC a snap election might be called, and why not, an election has to be called by Sept 2021 in BC, and the current government is sitting at all time high approval, seems like a good time politically speaking to have an election.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Anyone any idea how long it is taking for letters to get from Canada to Australia at the moment?

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

This is good news for people at high risk of lung cancer in BC, apparently first of its kind in Canada.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Well blow me down with a feather, I had no idea Clarkson was hosting WWTBAM.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

This couples first wedding plans were sent packing by COVID, so they re-did their plans to have a small wedding outside at the top of the mountain at the Sea to Sky Gondola, but the vandal who cut the line nixed that plan for them, they still plan to marry on Friday however it seems.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...pted-1.5724084

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

The future has arrived at Tangerine Bank :rofl: Finally they are issuing Visa debit cards and coming in modern times, goodness I had a Visa debt card in the US all the way back in 1999.....:rofl:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...e2abdad2c2.png