General Updates and News

[-Harlington-]

Yum, intersection vegetables


on a side note i thought id mention that a building on the corner of North and Windsor was torn down recently, i believe it was a real estate office and now its a big hole .

[skyscraperfan]

check it out: http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=ALT+hotel+...&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=193&ty=73

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by -Harlington-

Yum, intersection vegetables


on a side note i thought id mention that a building on the corner of North and Windsor was torn down recently, i believe it was a real estate office and now its a big hole .

I believe that is owned by Turner Drake. There was a story in the Herald earlier this year about how they wanted to expand their offices next door, but were being held up in the bureaucracy over some planned encroachments (planters or something). Maybe they've secured their approaval or maybe they're just proceeding with the demolition phase. Hopefully they've got their approval as it's good to have business like theirs in the city and not out in Burnside.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by spaustin

I believe that is owned by Turner Drake. There was a story in the Herald earlier this year about how they wanted to expand their offices next door, but were being held up in the bureaucracy over some planned encroachments (planters or something). Maybe they've secured their approaval or maybe they're just proceeding with the demolition phase. Hopefully they've got their approval as it's good to have business like theirs in the city and not out in Burnside.

Something else for the bunch at OccupyNS to protest - that demolition ruined a prime graffiti site for them. "Think of the graffiti artists! We need a venue to vandalize and disfigure!"

[haligonia]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Something else for the bunch at OccupyNS to protest - that demolition ruined a prime graffiti site for them. "Think of the graffiti artists! We need a venue to vandalize and disfigure!"

Please, stop generalising these protesters. It's starting to piss me off.

[Waye Mason]

Originally Posted by haligonia

Please, stop generalising these protesters. It's starting to piss me off.

Keith is not really capable of better, he just doesn't want to change. Don't feed the troll.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by haligonia

Please, stop generalising these protesters. It's starting to piss me off.

Isn't this so called protest generalistic at best.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Something else for the bunch at OccupyNS to protest - that demolition ruined a prime graffiti site for them. "Think of the graffiti artists! We need a venue to vandalize and disfigure!"

Sure. You go tell them.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Empire

Isn't this so called protest generalistic at best.

Generalistic? It is broad, due to the many issues--but it is largely focused on economics. You won't, for instance, hear many protestors talking about issues relating to race, gender, religion, etc...

This protest is about what taxpayer dollars are used for--and who is contributing to this revenue (and just how much).

Every big protest has numerous messages. Time is required for refinement. An example of this is in the early days of the American Tea Party protests. Granted, this was a corporate funded rebranding process of the Republican Party, but it is still a protest nonetheless.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

Keith is not really capable of better, he just doesn't want to change. Don't feed the troll.

I still think he's a funny guy. He's not making me smile right now, however.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Generalistic? It is broad, due to the many issues--but it is largely focused on economics. You won't, for instance, hear many protestors talking about issues relating to race, gender, religion, etc...

This protest is about what taxpayer dollars are used for--and who is contributing to this revenue (and just how much).

Every big protest has numerous messages. Time is required for refinement. An example of this is in the early days of the American Tea Party protests. Granted, this was a corporate funded rebranding process of the Republican Party, but it is still a protest nonetheless.

They have not articulated a position except that they are against everything aside from wanting more handouts from those of us who work to earn a living. Some focus would be useful but they seem incapable of this. Everyone's favorite left-winger, Boisquet of the Coast, is an ardent supporter so that alone is enough to dismiss their cause. In the end they are simply demonstrating that they are incapable of formulating a coherent position and reinforcing the belief held by many that they are a bunch of clueless layabouts.

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

They have not articulated a position except that they are against everything aside from wanting more handouts from those of us who work to earn a living. Some focus would be useful but they seem incapable of this. Everyone's favorite left-winger, Boisquet of the Coast, is an ardent supporter so that alone is enough to dismiss their cause. In the end they are simply demonstrating that they are incapable of formulating a coherent position and reinforcing the belief held by many that they are a bunch of clueless layabouts.

To be honest I sort of agree with this comment. I don't think that this particular protest has been effective. In terms of the overall "Occupy" movement, it was really the Occupy Wall Street one that was the most effective, as it established the brand and had a relatively concise message.

The Occupy NS however has not been particularly effective in getting their message across (regardless of the fact that there are likely some very valid points that they are protesting, they are not articulating it).

[Empire]

I think they need a better platform than banks and corporations are killing people.

[Jstaleness]

Here is something we should all be protesting.

From CNN Money

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Exxon Mobil reported quarterly earnings of $10.3 billion on Thursday, a surge of 41% from a year earlier.
Profit at the oil company soared compared to the same period a year ago, when it was $7.4 billion. Per-share income climbed to $2.13 per share from $1.44 in the prior year.
And revenue rose to $125.3 billion from $95.3 billion in the year-ago quarter, the company said.

Article: http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/27/news/companies/exxon_mobil/index.htm?hpt=hp_t2

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

They have not articulated a position except that they are against everything aside from wanting more handouts from those of us who work to earn a living. Some focus would be useful but they seem incapable of this. Everyone's favorite left-winger, Boisquet of the Coast, is an ardent supporter so that alone is enough to dismiss their cause. In the end they are simply demonstrating that they are incapable of formulating a coherent position and reinforcing the belief held by many that they are a bunch of clueless layabouts.

No. You don't read.

And a problem exists in your desire for this to be simple. It is not simple; therefore, we cannot. Talking numbers, which is what the economy is, is something with which our society has great problems. By in large, the general public is not educated enough in science and math.

Hopefully, Keith, you will someday stop finding excuses to ignore these poor people, and will perhaps read one of their signs--or maybe go talk to one of them, which takes about as much effort as coming up with insulting one-liners does.

Think of it: instead of being a bitch, you could converse about the issues they keep raising, which you keep ignoring. If you cut off all your breath devoted toward insults, more would be understood for you.

The insults imply that you do not have a useful position to express.

THE ISSUES:

- The backbone of our country, the middle-class, has seen wage and salary stagnation. This is because the money has been going elsewhere. Shall we reveal numerical proof as to how well corporations are doing, and how the rich are getting richer?

- Our democratically elected government is controlled via money from corporations. Their lobbyists have louder voices than any ordinary voter. As a result, the majority does not get represented.

We need to stop saying we're so much better off than the USA; Canada is not. Read about Canada's housing market bubble. Read about Canada's employment problems. Read about Canada's low ranking public education. Read about Canada's high student loan debt. Read about Canada's low ranking public healthcare.

And the rising costs of everthing is something only the rich will weather.

[Keith P.]

You sound like Boisquet.

The fact is that the issues in Canada are totally different regardless of how many times you claim otherwise. Only someone who is totally unfamiliar with the situation in the USA could make such a claim. They are screwed down there. We are not. Our system works. Theirs does not.

One has high student loan debt if one chooses to take high-cost degrees at universities and does not make plans as to how to pay for it. Missing classes to attend protests does not help in that regard as it just requires further semesters to get a degree that may ultimately not be useful. We have just landed a lucrative shipbuilding contract. A 2-year trades program at NSCC is cheap and can provide a career if someone gets a job building those ships. But that would probably be bad news for most of these folks.

Funny thing - I seem to remember a federal election just a few months ago. I also seem to recall that our current government won a majority mandate. Of course that cannot stand with the left, so they then try something like this to create a crisis and contend that the will of the people as expressed just months earlier was somehow wrong or corrupt. The left are constantly doing things like this while claiming others are anti-democratic. It reminds me of the old days of the Cold War when the most oppressive Communist regimes always called themselves the "People's Democratic Republic" of whatever. How ironic.

The only point upon which we agree is that the financial system - largely based in the US - is broken right now because the US government has abdicated any role in ensuring it works responsibly. Are the stock markets rigged? Perhaps not overtly, but the lack of control over hedge funds and the like allows artificial manipulation and lets some people benefit to a ridiculous degree at the expense of others who are of the belief the markets are honest. The world financial markets need reform and they need it now.

I would love to engage these occupy types in that, but shouting slogans that say corporations are evil and profits are bad is not the way to have a productive dialogue. Neither is harassing passersby or taking a public space for their own misguided purposes. Criticism is an insult only if it is untrue.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

No. You don't read.

And a problem exists in your desire for this to be simple. It is not simple; therefore, we cannot. Talking numbers, which is what the economy is, is something with which our society has great problems. By in large, the general public is not educated enough in science and math.

Hopefully, Keith, you will someday stop finding excuses to ignore these poor people, and will perhaps read one of their signs--or maybe go talk to one of them, which takes about as much effort as coming up with insulting one-liners does.

Think of it: instead of being a bitch, you could converse about the issues they keep raising, which you keep ignoring. If you cut off all your breath devoted toward insults, more would be understood for you.

The insults imply that you do not have a useful position to express.

THE ISSUES:

- The backbone of our country, the middle-class, has seen wage and salary stagnation. This is because the money has been going elsewhere. Shall we reveal numerical proof as to how well corporations are doing, and how the rich are getting richer?

- Our democratically elected government is controlled via money from corporations. Their lobbyists have louder voices than any ordinary voter. As a result, the majority does not get represented.

We need to stop saying we're so much better off than the USA; Canada is not. Read about Canada's housing market bubble. Read about Canada's employment problems. Read about Canada's low ranking public education. Read about Canada's high student loan debt. Read about Canada's low ranking public healthcare.

And the rising costs of everthing is something only the rich will weather.

Rubbish! You are brainwashed just as the protesters are. The backbone of the economy is the the rich corporate sector and the banks. All of these midsized companies you visualize as the glue that keeps us going come and go like the wind and will always do so. Blame the banks and big business if you wish but if these midsized companies you insist keep us going suddenly become successful from all of the payroll rebates and incentives they receive from the big bad government won't they be the bad guy?

This silly protest is very circular in nature in that it suggests blame for something that works being the cause of the demise of underachieving companies who then get bailed out. The reason the corporate sector makes big profits is because they know what they are doing and provide a stable economy unlike the unorganized Occupy NS Protesters. FYI, I spoke with one of the protesters who said that banks and government kill people. I will let you defend that rationale.

I assume the protesters will repair the grass in the Grand Parade?

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Empire

Rubbish! You are brainwashed just as the protesters are. The backbone of the economy is the the rich corporate sector and the banks.

No. The buck begins and ends with the people; banks are simply management of the backbone's (the middle-class') productivity.

If the middle-class isn't the backbone, then why is it whenever a country's middle-class recedes then so does its economy?

The middle-class is the largest labour force and largest economic consumer.

Originally Posted by Empire

All of these midsized companies you visualize as the glue that keeps us going come and go like the wind and will always do so. Blame the banks and big business if you wish but if these midsized companies you insist keep us going suddenly become successful from all of the payroll rebates and incentives they receive from the big bad government won't they be the bad guy?

And you disagree that small business are the biggest economic driver of the economy? Of course many will fail, that's the nature of capitalism.

And why are you using phrases like "the big bad government"? The government is unethical if it is subsidising businesses that DO NOT need help--when a large number of the country's populace DOES need the help.

The richest are not contributing their fair share.

Originally Posted by Empire

This silly protest is very circular in nature in that it suggests blame for something that works being the cause of the demise of underachieving companies who then get bailed out. The reason the corporate sector makes big profits is because they know what they are doing and provide a stable economy unlike the unorganized Occupy NS Protesters.

The private sector, with respects to corporations and others rich enough to lobby the government, are successful because the tax code favours them; the allowance of shipping jobs overseas favours them; ignoring environmental consequences because it's cheaper favours them.

The few are favoured. The majority, even those with full-time careers, are debt slaves.

Originally Posted by Empire

FYI, I spoke with one of the protesters who said that banks and government kill people. I will let you defend that rationale.

Ok, I will defend something I didn't say:

Whether it be a bullet in the head of an Afghan, during a senseless war of fighting terrorism with an entire army (btw, Bin Laden is dead...and wasn't in Afghanistan), or a Canadian unable to find full-time employment that pays enough to feed their family--I would say banks and government kill people. I, myself, try to stay away from dramatic declarative statements such as this--but nevertheless I am responding to your apparent encounter with a protestor.

The odd thing about a thesis statement is that it requires a bit more digging.

Originally Posted by Empire

I assume the protesters will repair the grass in the Grand Parade?

Sure... Just like the public does after any event on public space.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

You sound like Boisquet.

The fact is that the issues in Canada are totally different regardless of how many times you claim otherwise. Only someone who is totally unfamiliar with the situation in the USA could make such a claim. They are screwed down there. We are not. Our system works. Theirs does not.

One has high student loan debt if one chooses to take high-cost degrees at universities and does not make plans as to how to pay for it. Missing classes to attend protests does not help in that regard as it just requires further semesters to get a degree that may ultimately not be useful. We have just landed a lucrative shipbuilding contract. A 2-year trades program at NSCC is cheap and can provide a career if someone gets a job building those ships. But that would probably be bad news for most of these folks.

Funny thing - I seem to remember a federal election just a few months ago. I also seem to recall that our current government won a majority mandate. Of course that cannot stand with the left, so they then try something like this to create a crisis and contend that the will of the people as expressed just months earlier was somehow wrong or corrupt. The left are constantly doing things like this while claiming others are anti-democratic. It reminds me of the old days of the Cold War when the most oppressive Communist regimes always called themselves the "People's Democratic Republic" of whatever. How ironic.

The only point upon which we agree is that the financial system - largely based in the US - is broken right now because the US government has abdicated any role in ensuring it works responsibly. Are the stock markets rigged? Perhaps not overtly, but the lack of control over hedge funds and the like allows artificial manipulation and lets some people benefit to a ridiculous degree at the expense of others who are of the belief the markets are honest. The world financial markets need reform and they need it now.

I would love to engage these occupy types in that, but shouting slogans that say corporations are evil and profits are bad is not the way to have a productive dialogue. Neither is harassing passersby or taking a public space for their own misguided purposes. Criticism is an insult only if it is untrue.

Although I have been avoiding this debate, I have to agree with everything that Keith P. has posted. Very well put.

Many years ago, I had a room-mate while at Dalhousie University (in Fenwick Towers) who would go to demonstrations just because he enjoyed going to demonstrations.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

No. The buck begins and ends with the people; banks are simply management of the backbone's (the middle-class') productivity.

If the middle-class isn't the backbone, then why is it whenever a country's middle-class recedes then so does its economy?

The middle-class is the largest labour force and largest economic consumer.

Banks don't provide loans to small business?

And you disagree that small business are the biggest economic driver of the economy? Of course many will fail, that's the nature of capitalism.

And why are you using phrases like "the big bad government"? The government is unethical if it is subsidising businesses that DO NOT need help--when a large number of the country's populace DOES need the help.
"the big bad government" is a phrase that the protesters use.

The richest are not contributing their fair share.
The rich don't pay taxes? How much tax would an individual pay for an income of $500,000? Do you get a GST rebate?


The private sector, with respects to corporations and others rich enough to lobby the government, are successful because the tax code favours them; the allowance of shipping jobs overseas favours them; ignoring environmental consequences because it's cheaper favours them.

The few are favoured. The majority, even those with full-time careers, are debt slaves.
The few have made it and the majority are envious. If you are the majority and don't like it then change it by doing something more constructive than negative, draining, unproductive protesting.


Ok, I will defend something I didn't say:

Whether it be a bullet in the head of an Afghan, during a senseless war of fighting terrorism with an entire army (btw, Bin Laden is dead...and wasn't in Afghanistan), or a Canadian unable to find full-time employment that pays enough to feed their family--I would say banks and government kill people. I, myself, try to stay away from dramatic declarative statements such as this--but nevertheless I am responding to your apparent encounter with a protestor.

The odd thing about a thesis statement is that it requires a bit more digging.

I feel for the Canadian unable to find full-time employment that pays enough to feed their family but don't look for someone or something to blame. Alberta has a labour shortage to the tune of 60,000 but don't go there because big business may not be paying taxes....


Sure... Just like the public does after any event on public space.

The public usually doesn't stay there for weeks with tents full of garbage.