1722 replies to this topic

[mbjj]

We've walked through the Englisher Garten in Munich with nude folks sprawled around. Also visited naturist beaches in France. It was great, nothing nicer than going into the warm Mediterranean without a clammy tight bathing suit on. As for alcohol, nice to have it in a park in Paris, that's for sure.

[johnk]

^ A lot of single use plastic there, that would never work here.

PC bee-ess getting in the way of enjoying life. The euros are way ahead of us on recycling etc. EU countries generate less than 50% of the landfill trash than we do and they eat and drink to their heart's content without guilt and finger-pointing by the pleasure-challenged.

[johnk]

^ A lot of single use plastic there, that would never work here.

PC bee-ess getting in the way of enjoying life. The euros are way ahead of us on recycling etc. EU countries generate less than 50% of the landfill trash than we do and they eat and drink to their heart's content without guilt and finger-pointing by the pleasure-challenged.

Yeah, but Germans are very orderly and regimented. There's a lot of stuff they do there that if it was implemented here all hell would break loose. Imagine if Beacon Hill Park had a nude section.

Which speaks to our immaturity and general rube-ness.

[Rob Randall]

^Supposedly, Prohibition in the US killed off European-style consumption of fancy ports, fine scotches, apertifs and digestifs and after repeal Americans instead went right to cheap bottom-shelf beers and bourbons and it's only been in recent decades Americans have again appreciated a variety of fine spirits.

[mbjj]

When we've been in Germany, France and the UK, going grocery shopping to do our cooking in apts. we've generated the same amount of waste as here. We have breakfast, pack a lunch, and cook dinner. Seems the same to me.

[Nparker]

The author of this letter wrote into the TC to commend the CoV on new bike lanes in downtown Victoria.

 

 

...Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps and the council have done a good job, more so than previous councils...

Bernd Ziruss

Saanich

Notice where they are from. 

[rjag]

The author of this letter wrote into the TC to commend the CoV on new bike lanes in downtown Victoria.
Notice where they are from.

Sounds like he’s writing verbatim from the song book

[Nparker]

For everyone who has ever dreamed of being both an artist and part of a bureaucracy* here's your rare opportunity:
 

https://www.victoria...t-laureate.html

*Jeremy Loveday notwithstanding

[Bingo]

How long does it take to become effective?

 

A Framework for Effectiveness  

A Report on Victoria & Esquimalt Policing - January 31, 2012

https://www2.gov.bc....lt-policing.pdf

 

[Mike K.]

I had a great chat with Councillor Coleman a couple of days ago.

He had a poignant take on Victoria’s political climate, saying that we’re witnessing complete polarization and the middle ground has all but disappeared (the middle ground being the typical majority that is neither vehemently opposed nor vehemently in support of every issue.

He’s been at this game since 1985!

[rmpeers]

I had a great chat with Councillor Coleman a couple of days ago.

He had a poignant take on Victoria’s political climate, saying that we’re witnessing complete polarization and the middle ground has all but disappeared (the middle ground being the typical majority that is neither vehemently opposed nor vehemently in support of every issue.

He’s been at this game since 1985!

I don't know about the middle ground, but the local political scene is getting stranger.

In many parts of the world, a candidate like Hammond would possibly be seen as a leftie, in other parts of Canada I'm guessing he'd be seen as moderate-centre-left. But only in Victoria could he be painted as a right winger.

Not sure the root cause, but I suspect that the full-on lunatic voices that emanate too loudly from certain parts of UVic have been allowed to first infiltrate and then slowly come to dominate the Victoria political scene. I mean the type of people that even most folks at UVic would dismiss as wingnuts.

Not sure how this happened; but when you let voices like Bernie Paulie, Ashley Mollison,Isitt and others ramble on too much in the local media, perhaps the crazy viewpoints start to become normalized.

I knew a lot of people at UVic when Ben was launching his first mayoral run and there was a lot of eye-rolling and snickering going on at the prospect. But here we are now and he's a popular councillor.

Dear God... what if 10 years from now, I find myself looking back on the Helps era as a time of sanity and thoughtful governance???

[Nparker]

... what if 10 years from now, I find myself looking back on the Helps era as a time of sanity and thoughtful governance???

If that happens hopefully the bright flash and mushroom cloud won't be far behind.

[Victoria Watcher]

I had a great chat with Councillor Coleman a couple of days ago.

He had a poignant take on Victoria’s political climate, saying that we’re witnessing complete polarization and the middle ground has all but disappeared (the middle ground being the typical majority that is neither vehemently opposed nor vehemently in support of every issue.

He’s been at this game since 1985!

it’s not becoming more polar. it’s just that the extremes are heard more often - or easily - now. through social media etc. middle grounders do not start facebook pages organize rallies operate gofundmes or get media coverage easily. yet most people still sit in the middle. quietly.

take for example 15 to 30 homeless people making news every time they move camp. the other 1500 homeless people in town never make news. with every article online about the camp you see dozens of extreme posts for and against them. but hundreds or even thousands of people read the online article and do not comment. the middle. quiet.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 October 2018 - 06:23 PM.

[Mike K.]

Hmmm. And I guess that amplification is what’s becoming a grind politically. I’m sure the last four years were more challenging for the councillor than many other terms, combined.

[Bingo]

Dear God... what if 10 years from now, I find myself looking back on the Helps era as a time of sanity and thoughtful governance???

 

You can apply that logic to some of the former Mayors of Victoria. 

[Bingo]

 

Why Victoria's mayoral race is about the city's changing character

https://www.cbc.ca/n...racter-1.486160

 

[Rob Randall]

CBC screwed up that link; here is the correct story:
 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...acter-1.4861601

 

An overview of all the races. No revelations, more like an introduction for those who haven't been following as well as a primer for interested non-Victorians.

[Sparky]

^ That was a bit of a scattered article. 

 

Keep your head down while reading it...there are bits and pieces flying everywhere.

[Nparker]

A great response letter in today's TC: https://www.timescol...week-1.23481249

[shoeflack]

A great response letter in today's TC: https://www.timescol...week-1.23481249

 

The only thing I disagree with David, as a CoV resident, is the amalgamation piece. I can definitely see his perspective (what Saanich resident in their right mind would want to get grouped into the dumpster fire that is the CoV), but I am desperate to get some of those 120,000 voters to help boot some of the more interesting members of CoV council to the curb. I have to imagine that a joint Victoria-Saanich council would result in, at the very least, a tiny bit more centrist standing.