Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

They just got a new camera on the summit of Kootenay Pass; it's been offline for months! It takes a special one because there's no electricity up there, and they needed a solar powered one. This gives an idea of what the smoke is like through the south-central part of BC is like too.
https://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwayc...tml/www/5.html

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Those cameras are my go or no go tool in winter in the rare event I need to travel through the mountain passes, obviously never a guarantee, but helpful. Last time I had to travel over the mountains in winter was Dec 2016, it had been clear in the lower mainland and Kelowna and Hope and Merrit for 2 days and another 3 sunny days in the forecast, so did the trip to Kelowna and back same day, the cameras were helpful to see how clear the roads are.

I am not brave enough to tackle these highways when its actively snowing or at night in the winter.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I see there is an Elko in BC. One learns something new every day. Our Elko is bigger than your Elko, but.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

One thing is certain, without tourists it doesn't appear the big Vancouver attractions like the aquarium and science world can sustain themselves on locals alone.

Science World has reduced their open days Thur to Sun, laid off 40 employees, and may close temporarily. Their visitor traffic is down 88% and not sustainable.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...seum-1.5725003

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Elko, BC is just one place on the long list of scenic and wonderful locations in Canada and the US where my '91 Taurus left me stranded.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

The aquarium in Toronto only opened a few years ago. There always used to be a long queue outside and a dozen or so coaches parked outside on the road. People who had prebooked could walk straight in, avoiding the queue. Now there is nothing, no queues, no coaches...nothing. It is located at the side of the CN Tower...again no queues.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I've never had a VISA debit card in the US and I have had 3 banks over the years. They have always been Mastercard/Debit cards.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Debit#United_States

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I remember the construction of that, I was waiting for my train to Vancouver and wandering around the area, I can't recall how much was built though, I just remember the sign saying it was coming soon, and construction....

It's going to be rough for these types of places for a couple of years, despite what some think, there isn't enough people in Canada to travel and support all these places, they rely heavily on tourists from outside Canada.

Same thing different name, some banks use Visa, some use MC. All the banks I ever used chose Visa, but they do the same thing. Allow you to make purchases where Visa or MC are accepted directly through your checking account, makes life easier when you don't have access to large sums of credit, and need to make a purchase or payment online that exceeds your credit card limit....

And wont need t carry so much cash when visiting the US has Canadian debit cards are largely useless in the US except for taking cash out at ATM's, most stores don't accept Canadian debit cards as payment, although closer to the Canadian border some chains do, but it's like how Wal-Mart near Mexican border will accept peso's but the ones near the Canadian border wont but they accept Canadian cash, but for most of the US such stores wont accept either foreign currency.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I always did wonder why human teeth are so fussy.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I'm such a terrible backseat driver, I would never be able to do this.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...ving-1.5727828

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Idiots.

Some people just shouldn't be driving.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I really like FB comments sometimes, the outrage of people when there is literally nothing to be outraged over.....Silly humans.

Headline of CBC article on FB could be better, but man people don't read articles it seems. Headline says: death of grizzly & cubs big loss to park.

So many commented outraged over the deaths, laws need to be changed, people put in jail.

The 2 cubs are thought to most likely have been killed by another male bear or predator, one has not been seen since June and the other middle of August, the mother beear's death was an accident when she was struck by a train.

There there is the group of, we humans know better, so we should find the male bear and shoot it, so it doesn't kill cubs again.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

This is the whole all.

But then the headline is not supposed to be better. That’s the Internet. It sucks.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Based on the questions asked on a BC Hydro survey, they seem to be testing their customer base to see how well customers may tolerate time of use billing, charging more depending on time of day.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Firework or gunshot? That great neighbourhood guessing game. One at 11:09, the second at 11:11. Sounded like a couple of blocks away.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

When we were living in Vancouver still, everyday almost sometime between 11p and 6a someone would set off a bear banger, went on for months, first couple of times I thought it was gunfire, but then eventually police conformed bear bangers were being set off around the city.

Hopefully just fireworks for you.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Air Canada is really pulling out any idea they can during these times.

Now offering Unlimited travel within Canada, one flat monthly rate. Price seems to vary depending where in Canada you are, from Kelowna starts at 2,100 per month for unlimited travel within Canada. Would be a good deal if no pandemic was going on.

https://www.prpeak.com/air-canada-to...ate-1.24206056

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

A woman leaning out of a car window filming travelling down a motorway in the UK fell out of the car when the door opened. she fell into a live lane as well, fortunately she only suffered minor injuries.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I wouldn't have a clue but I've always worked on the assumption that there would be sirens if gunshot; either from police cars or ambulance. We live close to the hospital.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Sometimes there are sirens (or screaming, or revving car engines and squealing tires) but sometimes not. There's nothing in the news this morning, so probably nothing.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

It susprising that it's only minor injuries.
I'm quite curious to see the filming she managed to capture.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Sometimes it's interesting to to read labels on products.

I bought some razors today, kind to shave face with, anyhow it had an interesting label.

Designed in UK
Handle made in China
razor cartridge made in Mexico
blades made in US from domestic and/or steel from China.

Doesn't say however where its all put together as the final product.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Costco is selling advent calendars and fancy chocolate boxes for Christmas and probably has done for a week or two.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Indeed I have already bought a Lindt Advent Calendar ready for Christmas! Two years ago 17 year old son shuffled around and looked for the Advent Calendar...the fallout and guilt not having one leading to the big day, has haunted me:blink:...there wasn’t one to be found by December 2nd! I’ve now decided that big boys never grow up...and in the world we’re in, that’s no bad thing!

I think we should wait until later. I can only focus on Christmas for 14 days maximum, prior to the event...it’s overhyped, and that takes away from the ‘season to be merry’ when it lasts interminably....No fund raising for Christmas Charities are generally given the go ahead after after 11th November.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I guess it was bound to happen, air traffic isn't going to recover quickly. NavCanada is going to be doing workforce reductions and closing some facilities to streamline operations.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-r...perations.html

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Seems like more effort and expense for the hospital to send not 1 but 2 notices about my CT scan this week, seems email or phone call would be cheaper, quicker and ensure the patient actually received the notification.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

It might be a BC thing. I received a phone call a week or so ago telling me that my appointment (for 3 hours later) was cancelled due to Covid.. but they would 'reschedule my appointment for October - but if they couldn't see me then I could have a PHONE appointment.. but I couldn't go for any testing first" I told her not to bother as I'm not sure what a Cardiologist could do for me over the phone without any bloodwork being done before and no ECG the day of, nor blood pressure taken, nor examination! LOL. perhaps they need the money for 'seeing' a patient :p

I can imagine the conversation..

Cardiologist: "hello - are you still taking the same medications, taking them regularly, not missed any? Any symptoms or changes from when I saw you last? No palpitations, no angina attacks, no dizziness or lightheadedness nor breathlessness?"
Me: "yes - no - no"
Cardiologist " Ok, good. See in you 6 months"
:lol:

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I think it's more specific to this hospital or health region, in Vancouver it was always a phone call, it was always a phone call in Fraser Health as well.

Good thing I paid for Canada Post's overpriced mail forwarding service otherwise I would never have known about this appointment.....because despite me updating my address with my GP, somehow the hospital ended up with my old address....one example as to why a phone call works better, I did my part to update my address but they still ended up with the old one and sent the letter to the old one.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

reminds me of the old Student Loans Company in the UK. I send them a form and documentation for an address change. they send the confirmation to my old address.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Insurance companies are perplexing creatures sometimes.

A month ago they were insuring in BC and renewed the policy, but now that we moved units and need to change the unit number, suddenly they can't provide tenants insurance anymore. :confused:

It's actually getting difficult to get tenants insurance, too many claims in condo buildings I think is stemming from the issue, same as stratas having trouble finding insurance, the insurance companies are tired of condo damage claims, and by default apartment dwellers also suffer even though claims in apartment buildings are far lower, compared to strata condos, so also brings to mind, what are condo owners doing to cause so many claims.....

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

That time is snowed in coastal San Diego in 1967. Had also happened in 1949, and maybe since, but I don't recall it occurring but possibly early 80's based on another post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sandiego/co...college_grove/

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Ever been this drunk?

https://old.reddit.com/r/PublicFreak...ing_to_to_put/

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Are you serious? That's nothing. He didn't even fall.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Quite. And it took him less than 50 seconds to put his shoe on. If that was Canada he'd be heading off to his car to drive home next.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

That's what I was thinking. Back in the 70s after a session in Bristol's Hofbrauhaus we continued after in Scamps nightclub - a dump I wouldn't normally have been seen dead in but it so happened that a cousin of mine was doing his drag act in the Hofbrauhaus and he gave us some free entry tickets.

I quickly left and waited outside for my mates to get fed up and I was leaning on a parking meter for support.

Unfortunately someone kept moving it and I had to keep picking myself up from the gutter.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

I'm one of those drunks that falls asleep after 4 beers. I've never been completely wasted to the point where I cannot walk. Perhaps I will on my Daughters wedding day.

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...b332580f27.jpg

Re: Random stuff - the anything else thread
 

Oh the memories of getting my first PC in the 90's.