Made in China - Thanks for the tip, Doug!

Anyone who bought an apartment here sure has a problem.
Talk about a collapsed market!

YES, IT'S An ENTIRE 13-STORY BUILDING IN CHINA LYING ON THE GROUND.


(1) An underground garage was being dug on the south
side of the building, to a depth of 4.6 meters (15 ft).

(2) The excavated dirt was being piled up on the north
side of the building, to a height of 10 meters (32 ft).

(3) They dug right up to the base of the building.
Then the rains came.

(4) The building experienced uneven lateral pressure
from north to south.

(5) This resulted in a lateral pressure of 3,000 tons,
which was greater than what the un-reinforced pilings
could tolerate. Thus, the building toppled completely
over in a southerly direction.


*First, the apartment building was constructed.*

 
Then the plan called for an underground garage to be dug out.
The excavated soil was piled up on the other side of the building.


*Heavy rains resulted in water seeping into the ground.*

The building began to tilt. Then it began to shift, and the
"hollow" concrete pilings were snapped due to the uneven lateral pressures.

 And thus was born the eighth wonder of the world.



If these buildings were closer together, it would have resulted in a domino effect.

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BC Cities Pay Top Officials More than White House Does

By Dermod Travis, Today, TheTyee.ca

Pity Jack Lew, President Barack Obama's White House chief of staff, the highest ranking employee inside the executive office of the president of the United States.

 

Earning a paltry $172,200 a year, Lew's salary pales in comparison to George Duncan, the chief administrative officer of -- wait for it -- Richmond, B.C., who pocketed a cool $267,613 in 2010/11 for keeping the lights on in that Lower Mainland suburb.

 

And Duncan's salary isn't even an anomaly. The chief administrative officers or city managers of cities such as Delta, North Vancouver (City and District), Kelowna, Maple Ridge, West Vancouver, Burnaby, Kamloops, Langley City, Pitt Meadows, White Rock, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria all earned more than the White House chief of staff last year, according to the Vancouver Sun's Public Sector Salaries database.

 

In fact, according to the 30 cities covered by the Vancouver Sun's database, 116 municipal employees in B.C. earned more than Obama's chief of staff and 17 of TransLink's top breadwinners pulled in more than poor old Lew as well.



The overall winner of the B.C. City Hall Pay Sweepstakes? Penny Ballem, Vancouver's city manager, who banked a tidy $324,110, nearly double Lew's salary.
 

Poor Josh, too 



And gold-plated municipal salaries aren't just "a big city" phenomenon in B.C.

 

In the Town of Lillooet, the chief administrative officer is paid $120,316 annually to keep an eye on 2,322 local residents.

 Or put another way: it costs each taxpayer in Lillooet roughly $110 to keep their CAO living in comfort, not even taking into account all of the other town employees they must pay for as well.



Now compare that Lillooet salary to Obama's principal deputy press secretary Josh Earnest, described by the Washington Post as a key member of Obama's message team, who makes $123,000 a year at his White House gig and is perpetually a slip of the tongue away from igniting an international incident.?

Still keeping Josh Earnest's pay in mind, consider the plight of Victoria's hard hit taxpayers.

(more)

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Coldstream Committee of the Whole meeting - July 16, 2011

Agenda package.

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Readers write - Volunteers needed.

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Scientists march to Parliament Hill to protest 'death of evidence'

 

OTTAWA – Hundreds of scientists stepped away from their petri dishes on Tuesday to denounce what they say are the Harper government's sweeping cuts to research.

Flanked by supporters, the white-coated scientists marched through downtown Ottawa to Parliament Hill for a mock funeral marking "the death of evidence."

They carried placards that read "No Science, No Evidence, No Truth," and "Save ELA," referring to the experimental lakes area that recently had its funding cut.

A central theme of the rally was the planned closure of the ELA, a research station in Ontario that produces critical data used to combat acid rain and phosphate pollution in lake water. Without government funding, it is slated to close in 2013.

"The experimental lakes area is a world-class, living, outdoor laboratory where scientists have studied how to protect freshwater for decades," said Maude Barlow, head of the Council of Canadians and a former senior adviser on water to the UN General Assembly.

"The Harper government is shaming Canadians in the eyes of the world and killing a major gift to water science at the very moment we are really beginning to understand the depth of the global water crisis."

Read it on Global News: Global News | Scientists march to Parliament Hill to protest 'death of evidence' (more)

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Readers write - Dad's new I-Pad.

A Daughter is visiting her father and is helping in the kitchen.

She asks: Tell me dad, how are you managing with the new I-Pad we gave you for your birthday? This is in German but that's all you need to know. You'll get the rest:

Thanks, Lilly for the tip!

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Power outage in Coldstream - July 13, Friday!

District of Coldstream Mayor and Council, 

This is being advertised in the newspaper, on radio and on the BC Hydro website, but I also wanted to give you a heads-up that for the safety of the public and of crews we have to shut off power while we conduct important work to improve the electrical system in the College Heights area. The power outage will be restricted to the College Heights area and will be on Friday, July 13th from 9:30AM to 2:00PM. 

It will impact 406 customers on Clerke Rd, Lakeview Dr, Stoneridge Dr, Hofer Dr, Graystone Dr, Whitestone Dr, Kalview Dr, Varsity Dr, College Dr and Kalamalka Slopes on Kalamalka Lakeview Dr.

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Directors Questions Water Costs

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM  Thursday, 05 July 2012 17:05

  A Coldstream politician questions the need for two separate water systems in Greater Vernon.

Director Gyula Kiss told the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, the Duteau Creek system costs taxpayers $1.7 million a year to operate, more than double what Kalamalka Lake does ($650,000), and most of the Duteau water goes into farming and doesn't need to be treated.

He tells Kiss FM, it would be far cheaper to have Kal Lake supply all the domestic customers, and use Duteau strictly for agriculture.

"That way we would only have to pay for one system. Even if we eventually have to put a filtration plant on Kal Lake, that would only be one treatment plant, and the other one doesn't need a treatment plant. None."

He says the costs of Duteau Creek work out to 57 cents per cubic metre, while Kal Lake is 8 cents per cubic metre and produces 75 to 80% of water for domestic, industrial and commercial use.

Kiss says the Duteau system supplies Areas B and C and Coldstream, and provides 14 million cubic metres a year, but only 2 to 3 million CM is used for domestic purposes.

"They would have their own system, the agricultural people, they only use it for five months of the year, not 12 months as we are doing now, and we would only have to pay for our domestic system."

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee will forward Kiss's information to the consultants that are reviewing the area's Master Water Plan.

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Oddities in the news - Whom can you trust?

Apparently the same psychics were used to predict the cost of Greater Vernon's Master Water Plan!

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Friends of Kalamalka Lake Park summer Newsletter.

Dear Friends of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park: 

Attached is the summer edition of our quarterly newsletter.
I hope you are enjoying our green park! 

Harold Sellers,
Editor

 

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Readers write: Discover the health benefits of RAW FOOD

Curious about the RAW FOOD Fad? Is it just a fad?

- Google Raw Food Recipies -

Meet the Raw Food Society of BC Tour for a POT LUCK SUPPER

at Connie & Greig's house 

11410 Hillside Drive, Coldstream

250-260-5877 rsvp

Thursday, July 5th @ 5:00 pm

Press Release:

RawBC: RawTOUR of Southern Interior - July 2 - 13th

During the first two weeks in July, Clive Langton, a Director of the Raw Food Society of BC (RawBC), will be touring the Southern Interior giving health presentations.
RawBC is a non-profit society promoting health through eating more living foods.
RawBC has been experiencing increased growth as people in BC have been realizing that there are beneficial and natural ways to increase one's health by making some simple changes.
Given that our medical paradigm is overstretched trying to deal with the increased sickness and diseases, people are looking to make the necessary alternative changes.
Disorders such as Obesity, overweight, arthritis, cancers, heart disorders, inflammations, can all be diminished by making healthy choices.
At the stops along the RawTOUR route, there will be informal get-togethers of people in the community, who are health interested. At these get-togethers Clive Langton will facilitate an interactive presentation.
The objective of the get-together is to share our health journey, by identifying our health challenges and achievements.
lt will be an enjoyable and beneficial experience.
The event is free.
RawTOUR Schedule:
July 2 - Monday - Ashcroft - Time: 6:00PM Address: Eagle's Nest Retreat Centre, 2315 Hwy 97C South, just a few minutes from Ashcroft on your way to Logan Lake Contact: Jim McComb email: bforganics@gmail.com
July 3 - Tuesday - Kamloops - Raw Food Potluck Time: 5:30PM - eat at 6:00PM Address: 159 Waddington, Kamloops Contact: Mary Dunsdon email: mary@livelovelaughwellness.com
July 4 - Wednesday - Salmon Arm - Raw Food Potluck - (must pre-register, as space is limited) Time: 4:30PM - eat at 5:00PM Address: 2065 Auto Road, Salmon Arm Contact: Sally Scales email: sallys1@telus.net
Call: 250 833 2129 to pre-register

July 5 - Thursday - Vernon - Raw or Regular Food Pot Luck - Time: 5:00 PM - Address: 11410 Hillside Drive, Coldstream; Contact RSVP: Greig or Connie 250-260-5877 or clhull@telus.net; 

July 6 - Friday - Kelowna - Raw Food Potluck - Time: 5:30 - 8:00PM Address: 2055 Benvoulin Court, the red and white building across from Orchard Plaza. You take it from Springfield Road. Contact: Guylaine Lacerte email: guylainehn@yahoo.ca
July 7 - Saturday - Peachland - Time: Address: Peachland Fitness & Health Bar, #50-5500 Clements Avenue (in the Marketplace Shopping Centre off Highway 97, as you come into Peachland) Contact: Wendy: atfitventures@hotmail.com or phone: 250 767 3457 or Cleo: handson1@telus.net or phone: 250 767 7623
July 9 - Monday - Grand Forks - Time: 7:00 - 9:00PM Address: Regional District Building (Board Room), 2140 Central Avenue, Grand Forks Contact: Johnny Popoff email: vanyapopov@yahoo.ca
July 10 - Tuesday - Castlegar - Raw Food Potluck Time: 6:00PM Address: 1916 Brilliant Road, Castlegar
Contact: Mark & Elysia phone: 250 365 4844 or email: homesown@hotmail.ca
July 11 - Wednesday - Nelson - Raw Food Potluck Time: Address:
Contact: Brenda email: brendawiseman@hotmail.com - Brenda will send you the time and instructions on how to drive to Rysheak's place
July 12 - Thursday - Nelson - Time: 6:30 - 8:30PM Address: Kootenay Co-op, 295 Baker Street, Nelson
Contact: Freya email: fshaw@kootenay.coop
Looking forward to sharing health at the get-togethers on the RawTOUR,
In health,
RawBC

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Readers write - Crowd gathers in Cherryville to oppose Spraying

On Saturday June 30th, close to 100 people gathered in Cherryville to mark their opposition to the Ministry of Forests' plan to spray 20,000 litres of pesticides at the headwaters of the Shuswap and to tell the Province they want “Health restoration Programs” not further degradation programs.

“The Upper Shuswap River watershed includes protected areas, the interior rainforest, the Monashee Provincial Park, all of which will be affected by spraying against the Looper moth” said Carla Vierke as she welcomed people from as far as Ashton Creek to Saturday's rally. “The Ministry of Forest tells us that this spray program has been planned since 2008, showing how pesticides have become an integral part of the Province's arsenal to manage forests for the logging industry. Healthy forests that have plant diversity that provide balanced habitat for a variety of species have no need to spray” continued Vierke.
 

Aline Piche, who spoke on behalf of the Cherryville Water Stewards whose motto is “Protect the Source” was followed by Don Elzer who published extensively in MyValleySun.com and said that he worried about the conflicting information coming out of the Province regarding the caribou. “Who is looking after the impacts of what is happening in the forests? BC Parks tell us that spraying is necessary to protect critical cedar-hemlock habitat for Caribou while the provincial government tells us the Caribou herd's low numbers cannot be sustained, so they are allowing it to become extinct. Naturalists argue that numbers are higher than claimed and that abandoning the herd would open the area up to more logging and heli-skiing in what is sensitive Caribou range. What are we to believe?”
 

Of further concern to Bee SAFE is the fact that contrary to the claims made by the Ministry, Foray 48B is no inoffensive to other species and is not a solution to restoring forest health. Huguette Allen: “Working with nature is the solution, not against it. The Journal of Pesticide Reform of McGill University says that large applications of B.t (the active ingredient in Foray 48B) can have far reaching ecological impacts, dramatically reducing numbers and variety of moths and butterfly species, further impacting birds and mammals that feed on caterpillars. And Foray 48B affects mammals including humans, causing corrosive damage to eyes, skin, digestive systems, provoking cancers, allergies, asthma. We don't need the surfactants, sulphuric acid, and other contaminants used as inert ingredients in our watershed. Bee SAFE's letter to the Ministry made it clear that we're concerned that spraying is motivated by economic factors instead of ecological factors.”

As the rain started pelting down on everyone, Priscilla Judd sang a song she'd written expressly for the rally linking clearcut mountainsides, to recent mud slides, and pesticides. As people stood under umbrellas and rain coats, holding up their signs for all to see, Carla Vierke reminded everyone that this rally was only the beginning, hat although 100 people could not immediately stop the helicopters, their perseverance would win out as long as they remained determined to take back the forest.

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Photo gallery - MALE HOUSE FINCH - THE ORANGE VARIETY - Debbie

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Photo gallery - June 26 sunset after the thunder storm. - Debbie

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RDNO Information Bulletin.

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Readers write - Searching for volunteer botanists.

To Friends of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park:

BC Parks is looking for a few keen volunteer botanists!!

Next Friday July 6, a Conservation Specialist and a Range Officer will visit Kalamalka Park to train Rangers on methods for setting up and conducting Long Term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM) in the grasslands of Kal.  LTEM plots track change over time in plant communities, and help identify species at risk. 

  

This could be a wonderful opportunity for the right Volunteer(s) – we are looking for Volunteers who fit the following criteria:

-  enthused and informed botanists

- willing to do technical and thorough work (identifying different plants and grasses in the plots is tricky!). 

-  able to attend the training July 6

Interested people should contact me before Thursday July 5.

Wendy Pope, North Okanagan Park Ranger 

Office:  (250) 260-3041

Cell:  (250) 549-5488

Email:  Wendy.L.Pope@gov.bc.ca

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Guilty Pleas And Fines In Tainted Water Case.

  Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 27 June 2012 16:36

 

The District of Coldstream and a dairy farmer have both received fines after pleading guilty in a water contamination incident more than two years ago.  Manure spread onto a field in Lavington got into the Antwerp Springs source in January 2010 which was caused by a unusual weather event of warm weather combined with heavy rain. The fallout led to a week-long Do Not Drink the Water order for 1,800 residents. There were no proven cases of illness tied to the incident, although one girl got sick, was treated and recovered. Under a joint sentencing deal, Rod Palfrey and his company Pan-o-Ramic Farms pled guilty to introducing waste that caused pollution under the Environmental Management Act. Palfrey was fined two-thousand dollars, and will also contribute 14-thousand dollars to the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund. The District of Coldstream --which operated the water system--pled guilty to failure to provide potable water under the Water Protection Act and was fined 16-thousand dollars. A 30 per cent victim surcharge was also added to the fine, making the total $18,400. In a statement released by Coldstream, Mayor Jim Garlick stated despite the guilty plea and fine, "the District believes that it had acted with due diligence in operating the well and that extraordinary external circumstances interfered with the District's ability to provide potable water. He goes on to say, "It is important that the public know that Coldstream Council strongly believe that we would have been completely successful in defending ourselves on all four of the charges against the District. However, proving our case in a lengthy and complex trial could have cost substantially more. Coldstream Council therefore did not believe that defending this charge in court would be a prudent use of taxpayers' dollars." The Regional District of North Okanagan--which owned and managed the system--is fighting the similiar charges it faces, with a trial set for next January. 

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Readers write - No spray demonstration.

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Some things beyond our control?

http://artificialclouds.com/

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Coldstream Council Meeting - June 25, 2012

Agenda package.

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Genetic engineers publish damning evidence-based report about GMO food

A damning new evidence-based report about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has just been published – and it reveals that most of the claims made by the pro-GM camp are nothing more than hot air. Genetic engineers on genetic modification of food This comprehensive and fascinating report, published by non-governmental organisation Earth Open Source, is entitled GMO Myths and Truths: An evidence-based examination of the claims made for the safety and efficacy of genetically modified crops.  What makes it so powerful is that two of the authors are genetic engineers – Michael Antoniou PhD, of King’s College London School of Medicine in the UK, and John Fagan PhD, a leading sustainability expert in food system, biosafety, and GMO testing, and founder/chief scientific officer of the Global Id Group.    Dispelling the GM myths The report effectively dismisses the “far reaching claims” used as the basis for extensive promotion of GMO crops by the biotech industry, governments and government agencies and proponents of GMO technology.  It reveals that the exact opposite of the pro-GM claims is true pretty much universally.  Most notably, the reports shows that GMOs are associated with hazards to health and the environment – none of which comes as a surprise to those of us who have been following GMO developments closely. Rather than representing the solution to world hunger, GMOs, according to these authors, not only fail to deal with the problem, but they also distract from its real causes: “Poverty, lack of access to food and, increasingly, lack of access to land to grow it on”. Traditional plant breeding outperforms GM The report provides evidence that conventional plant breeding outperforms GM crops in terms of yield, drought tolerance, disease and pest resistance – all of which confirms the findings of a 30-year study comparing organic with conventional farming methods, including GMOs.  GMO-free farming is absolutely able to meet our present and future food needs, without all the risks and damage being wreaked by GMO technology! The new report also echoes the findings of 400 scientists from 60 countries who concluded, back in 2008, that GMOs were no solution to food shortages in the developing world.  This research was detailed in the UN’s International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report. The 2008 report concluded that GM raises numerous contentious issues for developing countries, such as gene transfer, contamination of organic crops, undermining of local practices, reduced food security and unpredictable or reduced yields. The biotech industry and government agencies must now be answerable Opposition to GMO technology can no longer be dismissed as emotional anti-science or pseudoscience.  With every uncomfortable truth and dirty trick now exposed by solid science from genetic engineers themselves, GMO food and agriculture now looks less like an impressive, modern technology, and more like a dangerous and foolhardy con trick designed to secure ownership of the world’s food supply for highly unscrupulous and unethical corporations. *************************************************************************** The most insidious consequence of the GMO food and agriculture is the fact that corporations holding proprietary rights will control prices of seed and production further increasing food prices.

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Please SUPport SPrKL’s SUPporters!

Please SUPport SPrKL’s SUPporters!

See attached poster and join us for movie night 7 pm  tonight – Thursday - at the  Town Cinema!

Tickets $10 at Kalavida Surf Shop or the Bean Scene

Louise

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Phot gallery - SPrKL hard at work! - Debbie.

The above photos were taken of the SPrKL wetland clean-up, next to the RDNO office last Friday.

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RDNO Board Meeting - June 20, 2012

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Water issues to be discussed at Coldstream COW meeting.

The following reports will be discussed at the next COW meeting on Monday, June 18 at the Coldstream Municipal Hall. The meeting is open to the public. Note: right click image and select "view image" then left click again to get best quality image!

Cost of water treatment at the two treatment plants.

 

Analysis and results of the analysis of the above report.

 

Available water licenses in Coldstream and BX Creeks.

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