Category: -Photography


Gold Buyers

Filed under: Antiques, Enterprize, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
February 20, 2012

There is another gold buyer in Merritt this week they are coming regularly looking for silver and gold as well as old jewelry.

Canadian Collectors Road Show.

Treasure hunters and second handlers are a reality of many people’s life in a tough economy.

They are at the Best Western of Voght for four this weekend the buying ends today. They advertised free estimates and coffee.

Kevin and Nate a couple of young fellows were well involved this morning giving verbal appraisals on scrap gold and  artifacts. A small disagreement on the plate or silver content of one item in Kevin’s charge drew attention from Nate and seemed resolved amicably. We watched three clients sell small amounts of scrap gold for amounts under 50 dollars ,they were payed by cheque after producing a name  address and photo ID to back it up.

One of the buyers was a  Thailand  national with a long last name: Tungkulbavarodom. ( just want to test my spell checker.)

An assessment on a hard-hat made by McDonald company that had an artistic relieve of the industries wares on it confirmed a 300 to 400 dollar value, when asked if the owner wanted to sell it he said no but he would check with his son the owner for a possible nother day. When a man produced two tobacco tins of high-grade silver ore ” given as a souvenir from a mine site he worked at in the North West Territories , there  was much conversation generated, but no offer from the buyers to take the ore. A table displayed some silver antiques and antique toys with a 1939 Iron Cross, and some other war medals.

Coffee was offered as advertised as well as free appraisals without pressure to buy.

Canadian Collectors Roadshow is from Vancouver, Canada and have a web site:

Collectorsroadshow.ca

Today in history,February 20 1901

The Legislature in Hawaii convenes for the first time.

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Happy Valentines Day

Filed under: Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
February 14, 2012

Valentines Day is the day that sweethearts get to make a comment that is  romantic instead of pragmatic. So before you ask where your socks are better think of some cooing and cuddle. It better be soul to soul and not sensual.   flowers and candy help for appreciation but what really matters is progress. Is your commitment strong and going somewhere, are you passionate about life as a couple are you taking full advantage of the special community that you share with a person. All these things should well up into a word fit for  the pair of you and only good for the sweetness of your moment.

If all else fails an expensive dinner out will bridge till next year…..

Today in History: February 14,842

Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear oaths of Strasbourg in French and German.

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Airstrip

Filed under: Enterprize, First Nations People, Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Technology, Tourists, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
February 13, 2012

There is a small airstrip here in Merritt, Saunders Field. It is on a nice little bench just north-west of town. The local city council was inviting people who would be interested to be on the airport committee to contact the city. The strip is 634 meters at 500722 North,1204450 west. It is a public airfield and yes operated by the city.

About two decades ago a premier visited it in a whirlwind working tour and a 600 thousand dollar grant was given to put night landing lights on it. The money was never used and was returned to the Cabinet. However in the last year there has been a new hanger building built and there is a going concern helicopter company at the field.

The Merritt Flying Club operates a website that updates weather every 5 minutes as well as almanac and moon phase.However the last reading shows 29/1/12 and there is a registration offer from ambient weather.

The airstrip has had scheduled  passenger service in its history never lasting long as small planes are not comfortable to use as passengers and there is commercial jet service in both Kamloops and Kelowna, about an hour and a quarter away.

A city committee is usually chaired by a councillor and is a good precursor to running for elected office.

Every now and then the Federal government lands one of its four engine search and rescue aircraft and gets fuel adding to the legitimacy of the strip.

Today in History: February 13,2008

 The Australian Prime Minister makes a historic apology to the aboriginal people ; the indigenous Australians and the stolen generations

Editors note: tomorrow  February 14, 2012, afternoon 12-1, Dr.Cora Voyageur at the local college will be giving a presention open to the public on trends in aboriginal communities: there is also and evening session.

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Good will

Filed under: Antiques, Enterprize, Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 9, 2012
Alley at night

Alley at night (Photo credit: markhillary)

There is a painting at the Baillie House by the British Columbia Artist of the year in two thousand and eight Norman Kelly is a print 185 of 2000. The work is called River Crossing and features three horses and cowboys crossing a river.

That type of art is popular around here and artists like Arthur Mosely and others have a good constituency when it comes c0wboy to art.

The Kelly print is marked down to 50 dollars from a hundred and its being sold as yard sale donations that come regularly  to Baillie House; a registered charity.

Art is in the eye of the beholder and sometimes the estate holder.

There is a cowboy poet at the Public Library here on March 1st.

Today in history,February 9,1964

The Beattles go on the Ed Sullivan show to be seen by a record 73 million people.

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Today in history

Filed under: First Nations People, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 6, 2012

Free Education, a long time ago when the old now were young an education was a great privilege. In Canada in the sixties and seventies, the criteria for the federal police force was 11-11. Five foot eleven and grade eleven. That still put the members at an advantage over the norm of grade 6; not to many years earlier. At this writing I am at a community college and a public institution that has a first nation emphais.Those north american indians were promised that education and medical attention would be free to them centuries ago. Some of them took advantage of it and used it to be involved in the community as a whole. Indians like Len Marchand were effective Members of Parliament. And a single voice of an elected native in the Manitoba Legislature halted the ratification of a consitutional amendment the meech lake accord; several years and a lot of governments ago.

Today in the hallway of the college,  at writing are some posters of Fidel Castro and some of his revolutionaries, that had some similar aspirations.

There is lots of different ways of funding an education and the onus is on the person. From criminal injury compensation administered by medical practitioner’s, to retraining when the employment people can’t find a person suitable work for the age and experience of a seeker. Rewards in scholarship for various affinities are available and a student loan system that favors the deserving.  The military in particular in the United States has a history of supporting service people to re-education since the end of the Second World War.

The posters in this school come from a site called Trabajadores Sociales and has to do with spanish speaking people in the labour curve.

PS: Happy 60th to our gracious Queen.

Today in history, February 6,1989

The round table talks begin in Poland starting the overthrow of Communism.

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The week in pictures, 28/1/12

Filed under: -Photography, Enterprize, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 28, 2012

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

http://wp.me/PAoul-8D

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TGIF

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
January 27, 2012
Holocaust Memorial Berlin

Image via Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

Have a  weekend!

Today in history, January,27 1996

Germany first observes International Holocaust Day

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Electronic check out

Aside
Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 10, 2012

Today the Merritt public library started using their automatic check out machine. The librarian is busy coaching the patrons on the self activated system.Scan your card , check your account, scan out your books of films and your away.

A source says that they will have a posted instruction eventually.

Today in history, January 10, 1870

John D. Rockefeller incorporates standard oil

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TGIF, THE GUARD

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January 6, 2012

The Guard,the Nicola Valley Film society presents on Monday, January 16th,2012 ,7:30pm. at the NVIT Lecture Theater; The Guard rated 14 a .k comedy on rural police corruption.

It is also out locally at the retail outlet on DVD release January 3rd.
Free parking at NVIT.
 

I agreeTGIF

Today in history, January 6 1994

Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the knee at the US Figure skating championships in Detroit.

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Falling rocks

Filed under: Public health, Tourists, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 22, 2011
Country road in the Yorkshire Dales

Image by freefotouk via Flickr

 A truck was parked at the Desert inn  in Merritt this AM and its side window was smashed out. The hotel owner reported that there had been a rock come down from off the bank  and go through the passengers widow. The truck minus its side widow is there as a testimony to its story. and we can confirm that in the past when freezing a thawing occurs on roads with high mountain or hilly dispositions rocks do fall ,and they have caused at least one fatality as a decapitation. Our advice is to be defensive especially when both lanes are full and there is little wiggle room. In some instances ducking beneath the dash ( passenger especially) may be the thing that will help. To do this effectively you need to can the sidehill for tracks and moving stones.

Today in History, December 22,1965

A 70 Kilometer speed limit is applied to all rural roads in the UK ,before there was none.

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Liquor licence suspended

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Public health, Tourists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 19, 2011

Liquor Licence:

The Coldwater hotel pub had its licence suspended for four days because of a minor being found in the premises back in September. A source says that the hotel took the sanction and not fight. The hotel will be reopening in four days from the Saturday night closing.

A source says that server’s in the hotels use take an online serving certificate course to serve alcohol to the public.

Today in History, December 19,1843

Charles Dickens Story: A Christmas Carol goes on sale.

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NVIT

Filed under: Crime and punishment, First Nations People, Government Works, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 14, 2011
Monument to aboriginal war veterans in Confede...

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The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology is in Merritt BC Canada and has a Campus in Burnaby BC as well . Its roots are in Merritt with a Grand Chief Gordon Antoine who had a vision to educate his people in a way that would keep their culture.

The school is for the  First Nation in Canada and has a policy of admiting others as well.

There is an element of North American Indian Culture in all the courses and it promotes the Thompson and Okanagan language. A confirmed source says that he took a 2 year college university transfer credit in biology, a 4.5 course from a PHD instructor and for a cultural investment of a day also had instruction from some native elders in traditional plant usage including making a pine needle baskets and string from Indian Hemp.

The perseverance of the founders came after the school had been located in store fronts at a distress rental time of the resource community of Merritt . Showing them self serious they eventually got a multi million dollar building that is able to expand to about twice its size .Small in the stature of many universities and colleges; the effort is unique to the way that natives can pursue education.  The institution can give credit’s up to an associate degree. It often has agreements to grant Bachelor of Social Work Workers from chartered universities and colleges such as TRU. Many graduates find work in their own aboriginal communities after completing their degrees. It is also culturally enriching to take Native studies and English courses that include another culture then your own. However the bulk of their student s come from the First Nations Community.

A source estimates that there are about 1200 students between the two campus’ and that most of them are Aboriginal. The source also says  that the new crime bill is a step backward for the aboriginal community that although having a about four percent of the national population they have a huge, out of proportion population in jails in Canada.

NVIT has a number of trades and technical courses offered from time to time. As well as law enforcement  pre seletion courses. The school encourages student democracy and civil harmony.

Accomidateing the local issues of first nations peoples in Canada.

http://www.nvit.ca/programsandcourses.htm?RD=1

 Today in History December 14th,1994

Construction begins on the Three gorges dam in China.

Today in History, December 14, 1903

The Wright brothers make first attempt to fly the Kitty Hawk.

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