Western Expresso

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

how long is the term of the loan they could just take longer to pay

That works counter to prudent risk management. The longer a loan is outstanding, the more likely it is to default in some capacity. There's also the issue of the obligation expanding with everyday that no interest is paid. In effect your suggestion is that the institution holding the financing should allow a party that's already admitting to issues with repayment to have their only risk mitigation measure - the collection of interest - removed while they extend the payback period. So: more money over more time underwritten by the same poor likelihood for repayment.

And this is on financing that the city is already guaranteeing. That's why the Convention Center is playing chicken with the city. They know that it's politically untenable to allow a default given that the city has to pay it back anyway. It would be admission that the whole project was poorly conceived and it hasn't even opened yet.

[VANRIDERFAN]

I discovered this pair of cyclists from France travelling from Montreal to Vancouver. They have been stuck in Brandon for 2 weeks waiting for a new bike frame to arrive from France. Now for some, being in Brandon for 2 weeks would be death sentence. But these two have discovered what a great place Wesman can be.

BY ASHLEY ROBINSON
Two weeks ago when Caroline Labrunye and Maeva Barband were dropped off at Stream ‘N’ Wood in Brandon, they had no idea what they were going to encounter — considering they never thought they would even be here. Since then, the two visitors from France have been embraced by Wheat City hospitality and they’ve seen a good chunk of Westman. They arrived in Montreal on April 7 in order to bike across Canada to see the country and meet new people. “We were living in Paris together, where we were studying,” Labrunye said. “So I said to Maeva, why not Canada? And she said yes. Because we love challenge and sport ... we say let’s do it by bicycle.”
Starting in Quebec, the women travelled down into the United States and around Lake Superior. On June 6, they had just re-entered Canada and were about 10 kilometres from Boissevain when Labrunye had an accident.
“The front rack of my bike broke.Iwas riding 25 kilometres like really fast. And it just came on the wheel and the bike just stopped straight away. So I flipped over my bicycle,” she said. “(The bicycle) just came back on me and broke ... the fork fell off the front. So it’s not safe to ride anymore.” The girls then got a ride into Brandon and were dropped off at Stream ‘N’ Wood to get the bike fixed.
“(The girls) had a bike issue and we knew that it was wrecked and they would have to get warranty from France,” said store owner Shawna Brown. Labrunye and Barband found out they would have to stay in Brandon for a few weeks while they waited for the parts to be shipped from France. Through friends, the girls had found a place to stay. But then Brown took on the role of being their tour guide and social convener. “I just offered to take them to our kayak demo because it’s kind of fun and out at the lake instead of being in the city,” she said. “I was just thinking about them staying in town and what we could do.” Brown started taking them on outings to places such as Clear Lake and the Swinging Bridge in Souris. She introduced the girls to other people and before they knew it, they had tons of stuff to keep them occupied. After a week, the girls started staying at Brown’s house.
“We never sleep in the hotel,” Barband said. “We try not to pay for a night because we are still studying. So we don’t have too much money to spend.”
The girls have been receiving help from others along their trip, but are particularly grateful for how nice everyone has been to them in Brandon. Brown had to work yesterday and was trying to think of things for the young women to do when she had the idea to contact some friends who are teachers. Through them, she got in contact with Jane Milne, the French teacher at J. R. Reid School.
“We’re so glad to welcome these women into our school and share their story with our kids. It’sapretty unique opportunity,” Milne said. Labrunye and Barband spent Tuesday morning visiting with students at the school, telling them about their travels and what their lives are like in France.
The women then spent the afternoon at École Harrison speaking to students there. They are hoping to be back on the road next Wednesday, and expect to make it to Vancouver by September. But they are currently enjoying having a rest in Brandon. “We take every opportunity we have because we don’t know what happens. It’s nice to enjoy everything even if we didn’t plan this,” Barband said. If you would like to follow their travels, you can visit their Facebook page “La vie c’est comme une bicyclette.”
» arobinson@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @ashleymr1993

[steveosnyder]

http://globalnews.ca/news/2081845/qu...drivers-waltz/

I can't be the only one who loves the log driver's waltz...

[Cyro]

Ahh.. Medical weed dispensary opening July.1st on Main St...I can smell the success already..medical photo ID card required...

[alittle1]

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

____George Carlin_____

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by alittle1

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

____George Carlin_____

George Carlin didn't write this...

[The Jabroni]

Originally Posted by alittle1

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

____George Carlin_____

-- Michael Scott

[DLLB]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

I discovered this pair of cyclists from France travelling from Montreal to Vancouver. They have been stuck in Brandon for 2 weeks waiting for a new bike frame to arrive from France. Now for some, being in Brandon for 2 weeks would be death sentence. But these two have discovered what a great place Wesman can be.

BY ASHLEY ROBINSON
Two weeks ago when Caroline Labrunye and Maeva Barband were dropped off at Stream ‘N’ Wood in Brandon, they had no idea what they were going to encounter — considering they never thought they would even be here. Since then, the two visitors from France have been embraced by Wheat City hospitality and they’ve seen a good chunk of Westman. They arrived in Montreal on April 7 in order to bike across Canada to see the country and meet new people. “We were living in Paris together, where we were studying,” Labrunye said. “So I said to Maeva, why not Canada? And she said yes. Because we love challenge and sport ... we say let’s do it by bicycle.”
Starting in Quebec, the women travelled down into the United States and around Lake Superior. On June 6, they had just re-entered Canada and were about 10 kilometres from Boissevain when Labrunye had an accident.
“The front rack of my bike broke.Iwas riding 25 kilometres like really fast. And it just came on the wheel and the bike just stopped straight away. So I flipped over my bicycle,” she said. “(The bicycle) just came back on me and broke ... the fork fell off the front. So it’s not safe to ride anymore.” The girls then got a ride into Brandon and were dropped off at Stream ‘N’ Wood to get the bike fixed.
“(The girls) had a bike issue and we knew that it was wrecked and they would have to get warranty from France,” said store owner Shawna Brown. Labrunye and Barband found out they would have to stay in Brandon for a few weeks while they waited for the parts to be shipped from France. Through friends, the girls had found a place to stay. But then Brown took on the role of being their tour guide and social convener. “I just offered to take them to our kayak demo because it’s kind of fun and out at the lake instead of being in the city,” she said. “I was just thinking about them staying in town and what we could do.” Brown started taking them on outings to places such as Clear Lake and the Swinging Bridge in Souris. She introduced the girls to other people and before they knew it, they had tons of stuff to keep them occupied. After a week, the girls started staying at Brown’s house.
“We never sleep in the hotel,” Barband said. “We try not to pay for a night because we are still studying. So we don’t have too much money to spend.”
The girls have been receiving help from others along their trip, but are particularly grateful for how nice everyone has been to them in Brandon. Brown had to work yesterday and was trying to think of things for the young women to do when she had the idea to contact some friends who are teachers. Through them, she got in contact with Jane Milne, the French teacher at J. R. Reid School.
“We’re so glad to welcome these women into our school and share their story with our kids. It’sapretty unique opportunity,” Milne said. Labrunye and Barband spent Tuesday morning visiting with students at the school, telling them about their travels and what their lives are like in France.
The women then spent the afternoon at École Harrison speaking to students there. They are hoping to be back on the road next Wednesday, and expect to make it to Vancouver by September. But they are currently enjoying having a rest in Brandon. “We take every opportunity we have because we don’t know what happens. It’s nice to enjoy everything even if we didn’t plan this,” Barband said. If you would like to follow their travels, you can visit their Facebook page “La vie c’est comme une bicyclette.”
» arobinson@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @ashleymr1993

What a neat story. Good old Manitoba

[rypinion]

https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/06/w...-in-the-world/

Re: Minneapolis

The city boasts 189 km of what they call "on-street bikeways" and 147 km of off-street. The latter is less interesting for urban cycling but Minneapolis is quickly becoming the go-to city in America for building infrastructure.

http://copenhagenize.eu/index/18_minneapolis.html

[vid]

I started drawing this five years ago. It literally took longer for them to build it than it did for me to draw it. But I only put about 4 hours of work into it over those five years.

Glad it's finally done though.

This was the tallest undrawn highrise in Winnipeg's diagram.

[blueandgoldguy]

So a refinery goes offline in Indy and gas, which I'm sure was brought quite a bit prior to this immediately increases 20 cents to 1.22/liter. Apparently, it's expected to rise further to $1.30/liter for the next 3 weeks.

So how's that $43 a barrel treating y'all?

[wacko]

What's up with the U.S. having continually tight oil refining capacity? Build more refineries. You'd think some redundancy would be a good thing in case something disruptive happens, like just occurred in Indiana.

Also, Western Canadian Select oil is currently being sold at about USD $23 per barrel. There's a glut of oil here because we just can't export our product to other markets fast enough. The shutdown of a couple of pipelines in the U.S. certainly hasn't helped.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by wacko

What's up with the U.S. having continually tight oil refining capacity? Build more refineries. You'd think some redundancy would be a good thing in case something disruptive happens, like just occurred in Indiana.

Also, Western Canadian Select oil is currently being sold at about USD $23 per barrel. There's a glut of oil here because we just can't export our product to other markets fast enough. The shutdown of a couple of pipelines in the U.S. certainly hasn't helped.

The same reason why you don't generally see capacity expanded here... It's an outlay of billions of dollars for some fairly thin margins at times. We are at the mercy of both the supply issues in the states and the exchange rate since we have to import refined gas. Good combination for us...

[cllew]

Its also the NIMBY syndrome. Can you imagine the crowds at the Manitoba environment hearings if Shell and Imperial Oil said they wanted to rebuild the St. Boniface and East St. Paul refineries on the old refinery grounds. At one time both were out in the middle of nowhere and now you can see the residential from on top of the storage tanks.

[cheswick]

Latest list of top 5 richest neighourhoods in each province.

Heubach Park tops Manitobas list.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/list...manitoba-2015/

[esquire]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Latest list of top 5 richest neighourhoods in each province.

Heubach Park tops Manitobas list.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/list...manitoba-2015/

Interesting. I would have expected some of the wealthier exurbs like East St. Paul or Headingley to be represented on that list, but it's all just different parts of Tuxedo.

The funny thing about that is, while no one will ever mistake Tuxedo for the Brooklands, apart from a few blocks immediately east of Assiboine Park, Tuxedo doesn't really exude the kind of poshness that makes you think "wow, this is clearly the wealthiest neighbourhood in town".

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by esquire

Interesting. I would have expected some of the wealthier exurbs like East St. Paul or Headingley to be represented on that list, but it's all just different parts of Tuxedo.

The funny thing about that is, while no one will ever mistake Tuxedo for the Brooklands, apart from a few blocks immediately east of Assiboine Park, Tuxedo doesn't really exude the kind of poshness that makes you think "wow, this is clearly the wealthiest neighbourhood in town".

I'd really be interested in the methodology of this study. There's simply no way that the average person living on Bower has a net worth of almost $5MM. There are just as many people living in Tuxedo mortgaged to the hilt and cutting it close with 2 big car payments and a few toys as there are everywhere else.

I don't doubt the income numbers are closer to reality, but the 'wealth' component is highly dubious.

[esquire]

^ I find it hard to believe that a few of those Tuxedo neighbourhoods belong on Canadian Business' list of 25 wealthiest neighbourhoods in Canada... I mean, given the sheer number of wealthy people in places like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver (and the resulting size of their wealthy neighbourhoods), I would expect the list to be dominated by those cities.

The homes in much of Tuxedo are nice, but by no means palatial... go down Newbury and it looks like the kind of place that maybe a vice president of a reasonably successful SME, or an accounting firm partner might live... prosperous, but not really truly wealthy on a national scale. Or is this just a case of that Winnipeg understatedness where a millionaire is probably more likely to drive a six year old Camry than a new luxury car?

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I'd really be interested in the methodology of this study. There's simply no way that the average person living on Bower has a net worth of almost $5MM. There are just as many people living in Tuxedo mortgaged to the hilt and cutting it close with 2 big car payments and a few toys as there are everywhere else.

I don't doubt the income numbers are closer to reality, but the 'wealth' component is highly dubious.

These are averages, not medians. Therefore all you need is a billionaire and a few 100 millionaires and voila, the average is very wealthy.

CRA/StatsCan publishes bulk averages for income, but you don't report your net worth to CRA so this has to be a guess.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by Stormer

These are averages, not medians. Therefore all you need is a billionaire and a few 100 millionaires and voila, the average is very wealthy.

CRA/StatsCan publishes bulk averages for income, but you don't report your net worth to CRA so this has to be a guess.

Yeah, I was sort of wrestling with the concept of how this could be more statistically robust, but I don't think there's any reasonable way given the privacy of this information. But to Esquire's point about this, I think what you're saying is the exact reason that places like Assiniboine Landing, Wellington Crescent, Headingly, etc... should top that list. Hell, George Richardson would have made his entire municipality the richest in Manitoba just by virtue of his worth alone.

I think the study is mostly full of shit, to be perfectly candid