Friday, September 30, 2022

When Is A Smart Electric Car Not So Smart?

 When It Won't Start

And The Mechanics Can't Fix It!

The following two images are taken from a local city forum where I live. The text says it all.


 


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Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Inflation Hits 41 Year High People Going Hungry

 

The Toronto Star reports that Canadian annual food inflation rate has hit a 41 year high and people are going hungry. 

While the 'advertised' rate of inflation is said to be 7.0% in August that rate doesn't seem reflected in the grocery store.

I noticed at the first of the year that although a low inflation rate was being claimed that staples such as eggs,butter, milk, rice, and flour all took about a one third price hike. I do most shopping at Costco and am very familiar with their prices. 

Many regular fresh produce items were simply priced out the food budget. Meat on the other hand seemed to be less effected but still was edging upward.

There doesn't seem to be any real explanation being offered but disruptions in supply (said to be Covid related) would be having impact. Government policies are likely contributing factors with some questioning the impact of carbon taxing on agriculture production and of course everyone feels the pain at the pumps.

The huge rise in fuel costs have impacted everything from personal inflation to increased trucking costs. All of these increases are finally born by the end consumer, and that is you and I friend.

Those seated in their ivory towers may be orchestrating some grand society reset which is even evident on Nanaimo City Council and for the short term are not feeling the pain of their elitist decision making.

There seems nothing on the horizon that would suggest food prices will come down anytime soon, and in fact heading into winter could continue to climb.

Pressure being put of food production in North America could make this year look like the 'good old days' come this time next year.

Op-ed

Jim Taylor
One more thing ......If you think we are in bad shape, think again. You have to look no further than Argentina to see the results of inept government policies. They are reporting a 100% inflation rate and their banking system has now raised interest rates to 75%!


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Saturday, September 10, 2022

Downtown Business Safety Challenges


The above screengrab taken from Facebook was posted by a small mom and pop business trying to make a living in downtown Nanaimo.

Read what this owner has to put up with and ask yourself "how did this city council allow downtown to get like this?".
 


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Wednesday, September 07, 2022

Maffeo Sutton Park Stabbing Victim Dies

Suspects Apprehended


The local press is reporting a stabbing death on Monday evening (Aug. 5) which saw one person being stabbed an another bear sprayed.

Apparently security guards made RCMP aware of an incident in the park at 11:30 pm which was reported as a group of youths harrassing the guards. The victims of the crime were not the security guards.

Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson said this did not appear to be related to homelessness or drugs, but a random violent act.

Two suspects were arrested and a third is being sought.


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Sunday, September 04, 2022

Nanaimo Safety Rally Sept. 14 Nanaimo Court House

If you are concerned about the state of public safety in Nanaimo, particularily in downtown Nanaimo come out on Sept. 14 to the Nanaimo Court House. Come and add your voice to a growing number of concerned Nanaimo citizens who feel unsafe in their own hometown.
 


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Downtown Nanaimo Makes CHEK News

 And Not In A Good Way

Listen to the full CHEK broadcast HERE

"Business owners in downtown Nanaimo are speaking out as more drug use and social issues surround the area.

Lainey Pires and her daughter opened a new record and witchery store downtown on July 1, and even though they knew the area had its troubles, they never expected the impacts would be so great.

“It’s a really sad sight to see on a daily basis and it really was a shock to our system to experience this moving to Nanaimo moving downtown and opening our business. We never would have thought it would’ve been to this degree,” said Pires.Business owners in downtown Nanaimo are speaking out as more drug use and social issues surround the area."




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Clots Not Formed By Blood??

Several embalmers across the country have been observing many large, and sometimes very long, “fibrous” and rubbery clots inside the corpses they treat, and are speaking out about their findings.

This article in the Epcoh Times raises some questions about the origin of strange clots being found by embalmers.


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Friday, September 02, 2022

Nanaimo Election News Website

 Website Offers Nanaimo Civic Election News



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Mayor Krog Running On His Record

THIS COUNCIL'S LEGACY

Handrailing foot of Georgia Park

Millions and Millions on Bike Lanes To Nowhere

While downtown goes to the dogs

Safety & Maintenance Are Abysmal

Since it was the last night market of the summer my wife and I decided to take a run downtown to see what it was like this year. Neither of us have been downtown walking on Commercial Street for several years ever since the feeling of safe and secure was no longer a reality. Our official TD branch is the one next to Port Place but we never use that branch simply because of the safety factor. This incidentally was the branch a customer at the ATM was robbed from with the assailant using a needle as a weapon just recently

Neither of us felt comfortable with using either of the downtown parkades so we opted to park at Maffeo Sutton Park and stroll along the waterfront. Something we both used to quite enjoy before the past four years.

We meandered along the waterfront which was surprisingly not buzy at all given it was a beautiful summer eve. We used the stairs from the parkade that leads up to the square where the Bastion is located. This was the first sign of how this council has neglected the state of downtown. The metal handrails leading up from the parkade were filthy, with peeled paint and rust seen everywhere. This was in sharp contrast to the well painted railing along the waterfront which belongs to the Harbour Commission.

The square in front of the noonday cannons was absolutely filthy near the point of unbelief. I couldn't imagine that city hall with all the money they have to spend, and the enormous staff on payroll taxpayers fund could let what used to be a premier tourist attraction fall into such a state. I am not exaggerating when I say my stomach nearly turned at the sight.

For those newcomers the noonday cannon firing by the Bastion was one of the few regular downtown events that was considered tourist-worthy. I would be ashamed to take an out of town guest to see a bit of Nanaimo history next to our iconic Bastion in it's present state.

From there we went across Bastion Street to Commercial and walked the length of Commercial which was wall to wall people and as many vendors as the street could hold. Whether it was a commercial success for all the vendors will be seen next year when it comes time to do it again. This event is put on by the local Chamber and I think the local BIA plays some part in this event. The event itself however is divorced from city hall which probably explains why it appears to be a success.

The filthy state of the sidewalks was appauling with what appears to be several years of grime and filth embedded into the pavers, concrete and tiles. Under every lamppost the amount of bird droppings testified to the perch the lamp provided. 

Not many years ago the city used a small street sweeper to keep the sidewalks clean on a regular basis. Merchants actually took pride in their storefront and sidewalk in front of their business. All of that seems a thing of the past and one has to assume this represents the direction that comes from this city council.

This city council found eight million dollars or so to eliminate a lane on Front Street, add bike lanes etc. but seem incapable of funding regular routine maintenance that preserves taxpayers assets and keeps a good face on the community.

A fair question for anyone on this council asking for your support during this election:"when was the last time you actually took a walk around downtown with the eyes of a visitor, or for that matter with you eyes even open?".

Jim Taylor OP-ED


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