Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Windshield service

Went and fill at an Esso station today. While there thinking it would be a good idea to clean the windshields, front and back, of the salt and chemicals they used on the road. Surprise, surprise! They had removed the squeegees and the containers were emptied. The only reason that I could think of is they don't want to bother with addictive to keep the water from freezing during the recent cold spell. Service indeed!Es


Nike store

Sale, the oldest and most used trick in book for retailers to entice customers to enter and hopefully buy. Nike is no exemption in today's economy.


Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Snow banks

Heavy snowfalls result in snow banks. Last year after a more than normal heavy snow a home owner in Quebec was looking at the pile of snow his backyard. As a lark he decided to auction it off at eBay. Don't remember the exact final bid but it was over $5,000. Apparently the winner didn't realized he was buying a huge amount of snow. Eventually a kind heart soul stepped in purchased the snow when word went out that the entire proceed was for charity.






Monday, December 29, 2008

Flood & mist

Mild temperature after heavy snowfall always produces fog and mist. Rapid melting snow and rain results in floods.










Sunday, December 28, 2008

Public transit

When there is a heavy snowfall the advice always has been "Don't drive take public transit". Public transit, however, don't always come through. Take the current cold spell and snowfalls as an example. A faulty switch at the Columbia Station had disrupted services for days. Why can't they get it fixed? Or is it more than they let on? Also why can't they inform transit users better? More often than not words didn't come till the passengers almost arrived at the affected station.

How about some screens on the platforms informing passengers so they can take alternate routes before spending precious time on the train and needed to head back?




Datsun 260Z

Saw this in the snow the other day, a Datsun 260Z. That's right,a Datson. This must be over 30 years old. But... look at the condition!!


Saturday, December 27, 2008

Fraser River

It has been so cold that even surface of the Fraser River shows some signs of ice.










Friday, December 26, 2008

Keep warm

It started to snow again! This young couple demonstrated one way of keeping warm.


Boxing Day

Judging from this morning's crowd at the mall the merchants hoping for the normal Boxing Day high volume will be disappointed. There were very few lineups and short.










Solar lights

Finally came across one after seeing all the ads on TV. Hard to imagine doing the entire house with this.


Thursday, December 25, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

It's snowing

The weather has turned warm, just warm enough for the snow to be the wet moist type. Consequently the roads had become slippery. This bus was stuck on a not all that steep incline. Think of the people at the bus stop were from that bus.

















Christmas lights






Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas shopping

For some reason I think somebody is expecting a lot of guests over the holidays.


More snow

As you can see other people had the same idea, take some photos of the snow. Saw this family on the path and i wasn't going to let such a good opportunity slip by.










Monday, December 22, 2008

Snow and cold

It not only snowed but cold also. Cold enough for the snow to stay around. We have a fresh batch on top of this. More is on the way.

As you can see some people like the guy aren't leaving anything to chance. Notice he carried a shovel with him as he made his way on foot.












Sunday, December 21, 2008

Tragedy

A tragedy happened on a Vancouver street the other day. Tracey, a street person, burnt to death trying to keep warm. She rejected a bed in the local shelter because they wouldn't allowed her cart inside. Leaving it outside means losing her entire worldly possession, what little she had.

The Globe and Mail reported this tragedy on Saturday, December 20. The report, however, appeared right next to a Royal De Versailies ad, advertising diamond rings. I find this very ironic in that we are seeing the two extremes of Canadian society. One of these rings is worth how many times Tracey's entire worldly possession?

Was this intended or just an accident on the Globe and Mail's part?


Saturday, December 20, 2008

Noodles

The window of a noodle shop on Kingsway. It reminds me of a hand carved seal or chop.