The Hook

High Noon

Coming up in a few minutes, noon.

The Provincial Emergency Program recently issued their 3rd bulletin on this earthquake. The 1st was issued at 4:15am PST. That was about three hours after the earthquake hit. Not too bad considering that was more than twelve hours before any effect is likely to hit BC.

By contrast, 'Hawaii Tsunami' is run by blogger Troy Fujimoto who works for Oahu Publications, Inc, who own the web site as well as publish the Honolulu Advertiser daily newspaper.

Incidentally

"Thursday, February 25, 2010

Oahu Publications to Acquire Honolulu Advertiser

Honolulu, Hawaii -- Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) and Oahu Publications, Inc. (OPI) announced today they have reached an agreement for OPI to acquire The Honolulu Advertiser and related assets including website, non-daily publications and Gannett's interest in Hawaii.com.

"We are pleased to be able to purchase The Advertiser, a strong and excellent newspaper. We will endeavor to continue the tradition of good Hawaiian newspaper stewardship as exemplified in modern times by Twigg Smith and Gannett," said David Black, chairman of OPI

Black Press
818 Broughton St.
Victoria, BC
V8W 1E4

"Those affected would be the

"Those affected would be the first to know and it would be hours before CBC picked it up."

Not nessesarily. The West Coast was placed on Tsunami Watch. has nothing to do with the CBC.

"Maybe all sources have to wait for spin doctors - after all: public panic can cause problems itself. "

Anyone who believes that is a fool, and would be the last to leave a potential disaster area.

"I would still expect P.E.P. to be a bit more prompt even on a week end. Disasters don't seem to worry about overtime nor Stat holidays."

Actually they were if the poster paid attention. The website is not an immediate response medium, and is not designed to be.

Disasters and seismic incidents can easily
take out ADSL services immediately if the environment manifests itself.

The Nisqually Earthquake was felt in Vancouver and temporarily knocked out cell phone and internet service because of user overloading.

There will be a big one in Southern British Columbia.

Be here when it happens.

editors

BC Boy is violating the rules again:

Guess you got my attention,B.C.Boy

This here "fool" has been in a disaster area (or three).
Where have you been when the rubber hits the road?
Don't get me wrong - I'm just behaving like any bonehead who gets a response to his/her comment -
When the news of the Haiti quake began to filter through I thought to myself:
"What would I do if "The Big one" hit here."
I would attempt to contact my close people - family and friends (after running out of the house).
I have thought about this stuff and been in fairly ugly situations.
I hope my comments reflect that

Not really. Get with reality folks.

"Fool" is a generic term not attributed to any person directly.

"This here "fool" has been in a disaster area (or three)."

You're technically in one right now as
is anyone who lives in the Vancouver area
and in particular Delta and Richmond.

"Where have you been when the rubber hits the road?"

Travelling on Highway 1 today.

"Don't get me wrong - I'm just behaving like any bonehead who gets a response to his/her comment - "

Sure.

When the news of the Haiti quake began to filter through I thought to myself:
"What would I do if "The Big one" hit here."

"I would attempt to contact my close people - family and friends (after running out of the house)."

If the disaster is severe, good luck on that one since the phone and cellphone
services would not work. Guranteed.

You'll be on your own for at least 72 hours with no means of communication except for what's offered by the emergency
management agencies. This won't be a slight
wiggle-waggle and then trying to phone
Mpom or Dad or your girlfriend. You also
wouldn't get far by road since most major
routes would be cut off as Vancouver is dependent on bridges to go anywhere outside of the city (you could get as far
as Port Coquitlam and the Pitt River, but that new bridge would be choked with traffic too.

"I have thought about this stuff and been in fairly ugly situations."

Sure.

I hope my comments reflect that

They don't but nice try anyway. Take another spin at the wheel.

G West has violated rules too

"BC Boy is violating the rules again:

Quote:
Anyone who believes that is a fool,"

A generic term. Used collectively. Not attributed to you directly or anyone else.

and just how many times have you disparaged other people? Quite alot.

@ G West

G West - "editors BC Boy is violating the rules again"

-----------------------------------------------

Get a life man. You come across like a kindergarten kid crying to his teacher.

Who cares about one's political persuasion. You also sound like one of those NAZI Gestapo secret police agents from an era gone by.

In all probability, you were also one of those "NARCS" in high school that pissed everyone and every student off as well.

Do you feel good about yourself now?

Real Cool. Get over it.

Hey GW

Looks like we are dealing with "Elvira".
I'm backing off!

I gotta say B.C. Boy performs like "Elvira"

So does the Matt person.
Dang! I was out, clean and then incoming garbage from these two. They can type - gotta admit- but I do not notice any form of thinking.
For their information:
Elvira was a simple computer algorithym which takes your comment and asks you another question.

Yeah so?

Some sez:

"BC Boy performs like 'Elvira'. Interesting. A direct disparging comment.

But boys, when it comes to politics, try
to think of the basic rule learned when
it comes to politics.

Never sweat the small stuff.

You're not compelled to read The Tyee
or even comment.

You're doing that because you want to,
not because there's really any important need to do so.

Enjoy tomorrow's Hockey game, the balance of 2010, and please try to turn those frowns upside down.

and don't forget to take out a membership
in the NDP and get involved in your local riding association's campaign efforts.

it's the only way we'll defeat Gordon Campbell.

G'nite folks. You've been the best thing around here since McDonald's introduced
curly fries.

doggone

Actually the program was ELIZA.

But you're right otherwise.

Thanks Frank

The tsunami hit Japan at 1 meter so I guess we did not really need to get our shirts in knots.
However: there have been over 100 aftershocks in Chile - the latest being Mag. 6.1
The original article here laments the fact that "early warning" systems are somewhat deficient.I guess I'll just take BC boy's advice. Maybe the NDP would use the internet for something other than obstruction (I was going to try to spell obstrufication but I'm not really sure what the word means let alone spell it)

When the Alaska earthquake

When the Alaska earthquake caused a big wave down the west coast of the Island and up the Alberni canal, we were sent out a bout a hundred miles at sea to watch for the second wave. It never came but the first one sure did a lot of damage. The odds of one coming into Victoria harbour this time was most unlikely. If authorities don't warn folks they look stupid and when nothing happens, well they look stupid as well.

Crawford needed to do his homework

Crawford Killian needed to do his homework a bit. The "HawaiiTsunami" website is not a government agency website, but one which has been run by a private citizen since 2004 (registered to him since then).

The Provincial Emergency Programme works
mostly by local radio and local emergency
services which was done yesterday in Tofino, Ucluelet and other West Vancouver Island Communities.

It was also pointed out by the Pacific Geoscience Centre that the possibility of a large tsunami hitting the southwest part of Vancouver Island was remote.

They were indeed monitoring weather buoys
out in the north Pacific region.

The provincial government had much informaiton last summer about the wildfires
in Kelowna (Westbank) and other locations.

Politics does not enter the picture when it comes to emergency management. That's
the last thing on management's minds if at all.

But this has been fun to read the constant
"whoaaaaaas" and complainers, and to watch people like Killian not getting the big picture and continue to focus on the political stuff, true to NDP thinking.

Enjoy today's game, kids.

Yep- Feel great Matt T

The rules have been cited to me too numerous times to mention; I try to abide by them - so should everyone else.

Rules and the willingness to follow them are what make civilization possible.

Pretending that isn't true even for anonymous boys or girls on a site like that is ignoring the obvious.

That's why we have the irresponsible government here in BC - because people who ought to behave with honour and trust have thrown away the rulebook.

And, editors, BC Boy is now violating your rule about slagging your journalists.

And, editors, the poster called Matt T

Is also in violation of your comment code of conduct.

Please note.

"The rules have been cited

"The rules have been cited to me too numerous times to mention; I try to abide by them - so should everyone else."

Sure and that includes everyone. Including the poster (emphasis added)

"Rules and the willingness to follow them are what make civilization possible."

Tell that to the protestors who damaged property or those who disparage other
opinion writers.

"Pretending that isn't true even for anonymous boys or girls on a site like that is ignoring the obvious."

Huh?

"That's why we have the irresponsible government here in BC - because people who ought to behave with honour and trust have thrown away the rulebook."

So have those on the other side of the equation. The current government is not
irresponsible.

And, editors, BC Boy is now violating your rule about slagging your journalists.

Jut pointing out that this "journalist" should have done some basic homework. It's called research.

Very easy to handle research.

A few minutes as I did with whois, would have easily shown the HawaiiTsunami website is not government and therefore was not a correct comparative.

if "journalists" want to show their stuff on this topic they also should be a little more conversant on how emergency management works. It's not Social Studies, but it's not neurosurgery either.

In other words a journalist worth his or her sodium chloride would do the basic research rather than comparing applies to
blueberries, or oranges to banannas.

It's been fun. Enjoy the game.

Sorry bud

I didn't make the rules - I am FORCED to abide by them nonetheless...as, in my view, should you and everyone else.

As I've said to other posters who flaut the rules here, you're easy to ignore.

I think you should be redacted but I can understand that the editors and journalists are busy.

As for the comment code of conduct, I'll post it one more time for you:

What are the rules of conduct for commenting on Tyee stories?

The Tyee exists to inform, enlighten and spark constructive discussion.

We ask you to reflect this spirit in your comments, to relate your comments to the subject matter of the preceding articles, and to refrain from personal insults towards authors or other commenters.

The Tyee is not responsible for the content of posted comments.

We reserve the right to delete comments we deem vulgar, personally insulting, libelous, racist, or sexist, or for any other reason harmful to the quality of the Tyee forum. In addition, we may delete excessive postings from one commenter to give others a chance to comment. Regular violators of these rules will be blocked from further commenting on The Tyee.

Although The Tyee will attempt to apply these rules equitably and consistently, it is impossible for us to review all messages.

And really

Try to master the html code - your posts aren't worth reading because you don't distinguish your words for the quotations you've copied from others.

square brackets and the word quote....

Yet annother Black Kettle!!

G West, on a another Tyee thread, this week yet!:

quote:
"If you actually knew anything about the role of the street in creating positive social and public spaces you wouldn't make such a foolish claim."

More fool you?

So I take it you're a big fan of Bobby Peru's

I'd suggest there's a huge disconnect involved here - I was making a point about people abiding by the rules here.

Normally, as much as I disagree with your philosophy and your point of view, I'd have to say you usually try not to be personally offensive.

I'm sure you know there's a rather large difference between saying someone has made a 'fooling' statement and suggesting someone is a 'fool'.

But then again, given what you've just posted, perhaps I'm wrong.

@ G West

"And, editors, the poster called Matt T Is also in violation of your comment code of conduct.

Please note"
___________________________________________

Grow up little fella.There are too many quasi 14-year old posters on here, like yourself, who always go crying to MOMMY.

Do you deliberately have a fetish to embarrass yourself? LOL

field inspection

this sunday afternoon i strolled along boundary bay between 96 and 104th st. in delta; there was quite a bit of seaweed swept over the tops of the dykes, but no damage as such. relax, it's all over in bc.

Thanks for the responses

I appreciate the responses to this item. BC Boy, I should point out that I didn't say the Hawaiian site was a government site--I said it was a US site. It turned up very quickly with a search, while the BC government site was almost unnavigable.

Not many of us might instinctively turn to that site, but it would be helpful in future emergencies if warnings were available--especially via links on familiar sites like CBC, the Sun, and The Tyee.

We were lucky this time, and if the provincial government improves its website we could be (relatively) lucky in a serious disaster. That was the point of my post.

Crawford - me too

When something goes sideways (like a significant earthquake any where in the world) I search for references. Usually BBC has some mention but it takes hours for canadian sites to show. At some point I tried Wunderground which is often quite good. You have to dig through all the comments to find anyhing.
I was impressed that you and Thetyee fairly timely article.
Still hoping

Matt T

Anyone who can't make a point respectfully and within the bounds of the rules here or elsewhere doesn't have a point worth mentioning.

Bullying and offensive name calling is a childish affectation and I'm not in the slightest embarrassed by pointing out who's behaving that way.

If you like name calling I can direct you to several sites where you'll be more comfortable.

I trust you can check the comment code for yourself - just click the link below the comment composing pane.

And if you don't like the rules, please don't come crying to me - you should direct your comments to the editor.

I try to abide by the rules and I'll take no lessons or advice from someone who apparently couldn't care less.

@ G West

Kindergarten childishness and running to your MOMMY, which seems to be your modus operandi, is not a commenters role here on the Tyee.

Go find another site to post on with your childish antics.

The Tyee editors will decide what's right and what's wrong. Not you. Again, too many 14-year olds, like yourself, posting here on the Tyee.

Go back to MOMMY and hopefully she will give you a well deserved scolding regarding your disrespect of adults, little fella.

Have you got their age yet G.West?

I'm guessing maybe 17 years or so. I was an a**H#$*
at that age too but there was no internet.
T'anks God

@doggone

"Dang! I was out, clean and then incoming garbage from these two."

___________________________________________________

G West will also find that comment to be offensive and report you to the high school principal.

And you liked those high school narcs?

Tell me, how many time did those high school narcs get you into trouble? Or were you also one of them?

BTW

Nobody likes nerds or narcs fellas. In fact, you guys are despised in high school. Get a life or continue to be social outcasts.

Matt T.

High school? Are you 15 or are you some kind of Al Bundy type who peaked in high school and wishes it didn't have to end?

Gee, a high school kid on the Tyee, who'd a thunk it?

Ride the Wave

A poster named Kilian sez:

"I appreciate the responses to this item. BC Boy, I should point out that I didn't say the Hawaiian site was a government site--I said it was a US site."

This U.S. site was directly compared to
the BC government one, which was incorrect.

"It turned up very quickly with a search, while the BC government site was almost unnavigable."

Immediate reporting of these emergency incidents is uslaly done via local radio, not internet. Also consider that the U.S.
website relied on established webcams which
are very few and far between along the west coast.

"Not many of us might instinctively turn to that site, but it would be helpful in future emergencies if warnings were available--especially via links on familiar sites like CBC, the Sun, and The Tyee."

Not efficient. since someone has to set those links and in a major disaster or incident, there would not be time to do so
since the building itself would be evacuated.

If there is a major emergency in this region, the website services may not be instantly available, since they rely on telecon systems which will cease due to
overloading, and equipment failure. The
best thing is to rely on local radio.

The Tyee would be a last resource for updated information about a major incident
within the incident zone itself.

"We were lucky this time, and if the provincial government improves its website we could be (relatively) lucky in a serious disaster. "

The webite isn't the primary means of getting messages out to the public in regards to major disasters, it plays a secondary role. Depending on whether it is
active, situational reporting will be done
on the website but those are after a point when reporting is completed.

Again local radio is the primary means of getting situation reports out to the public.

Example: In the fast moving fires in Lilloet, the websites were not used as a primary medium, but rather secondary, since the fast moving fires required evacuation managed by local emergency personnel. The BC Forest Service posted
updated situations on fires, but they were
updated the following morning, not exactly
during the real time progress of the fires.

Example: Nisqually Earthquake in Seattle, felt here. The cellphone and internet system in Vancouver ceased because of overloading caused by too many people using it at once.

Example: Fraser River Flooding. Updated reporting was available once each hour
and daily reporting was made available, but rise in river levels vs. time meant that frequent updating was made available
for locals.

The website from the provincial government provide a means of education about what to do before and when a disaster strike, and updates once the siutation has stablised.

"That was the point of my post."

A C- for the post.

Maybe

Maybe Kilian is buddy-buddy with David Black who, along with Black Press in BC owns the US web site company he pointed us to when he scribed, "By contrast". But Kilian is right, private industry usually does these types things better in the age of instant media. I mean, suppose there were to be an urgency for one to tune in here at 2pm on a Saturday, or a Wednesday. CBC radio would be running a feed from Tronna. It would take them a while to get up to speed as opposed to 1130 or CKNW who are there all the time.

I clicked on Killian's link to the Provincial Emergency Notification System and one click below where it took me (since the link was to a Google>PDF) I was on the BC Government site and reading the 4:15am Bulletin. I though that was pretty good, especially for government. What it meant was that at some government station someone was monitoring the situation as it happened in the middle of the night and someone there had the capability to upload data to their web site in HTML and PDF formats, and alert other emergency authorities if necessary.

Actually

I know something of the folks in the PEP office - they're not bad people - but, like every other aspect of the public service in this province they're strapped for cash. Furthermore, the actual SARs techs and SAR groups who'd be called upon to do actual work in the case of a real disaster response are being left hanging just now because the province will not support SAR societies or their directors in the event of a claim against them because they have no legal relationshipwith them.

Therefore, Directors and SARS groups must look to third-party insurance to cover them up to the amount of that insurance - but after that's used up the Directors would be individually liable for any excess.

Maybe you could get your friends in private business to look into this and provide the insurance coverage that PEP seems unwilling or unable to do.

Not much point making a call in the middle of the night if there's nobody around to respond, so, - when can we look forward to privatizing the Fire Department and the Paramedics? You might care to check how well that’s working in the United States.

Good suggestions above

That is why I come back to Thetyee now and then. I don't expect much positive response from the ensconced government in B.C. But maybe we can vote the drunk drivers out at least
Maybe B.C. voters like drunks?

Doggone it should have voted NDP

"That is why I come back to Thetyee now and then. I don't expect much positive response from the ensconced government in B.C. But maybe we can vote the drunk drivers out at least
Maybe B.C. voters like drunks?"

So what happens if an NDP MLA or Minister
drinks and drives?

and where was the above poster during the last provincial election.

Seems that many who usually don't like the BC Liberals didn't come out and help the NDP win in a big way, resulting in the
BC Liberals being government once again.

Writing opinions to third level news sites
such as the Tyee isn't going to get any NDP government elected.

Have to move your behind too.

So kwitthebeefin' and get goin'. Take out that NDP membership and get involved in your local NDP riding association.

Just do it.

I dread that you will pick up my comments

But sometimes you are correct.
So what happens if an NDP MLA or Minister
drinks and drives?
Nail the buggers to the wall!
Remember the "Higher Standard" discussion?
As far as I'm concerned a legislator (any member of public office) has greater responsibility than I!
What's his name in Serbo/Croatia figures God is on his side after genocide. I'll get you the link

well that did not work

But if you google "war crime" this cowboy shows up

Voted last election

and the ones before that. I'll even vote in the next.
B.C. Is Socred country. They call themselves Liberals.
They are rich and fat and do not care at all about anything beyond being rich and fat
Looking back though I hated him at the time- I think WAC Bennet (though a shyster) was not too bad for the province. My friend Bill Vanderzalm did a better job than the current bozo.
"Bring it Back!"
Led Zep

Doggone it, voted

"and the ones before that. I'll even vote in the next."

Good for the poster. Make the trek to the poling booth and be sure to vote NDP.

But why stop there? Your local NDP candidate will need your help. Writing to a comment column in a third level news source such as the Tyee isn't going to get any NDP candidate elected.

"B.C. Is Socred country. They call themselves Liberals."

pretty laughable. The Social Credit Party hasn't existed since 1993. Very few, except
maybe one or two MLAs are actually ex-Socreds. Many are actually federal Liberals
such as Hansen.

"They are rich and fat and do not care at all about anything beyond being rich and fat"

Yeah sure. There's lots of small business
owners, teachers, nurses office workers, truck drivers in the BC Liberals.

Just like the NDP doesn't care about small business but only the boys in the union
hall, right?

Looking back though I hated him at the time- I think WAC Bennet (though a shyster) was not too bad for the province. My friend Bill Vanderzalm did a better job than the current bozo.

VanderZalm was the absolute worst Premier this province ever had. WAC Bennett built
up BC in a way that no other premier has
done since.

"Bring it Back!"
Led Zep

"Politics is too serious to be a hobby.
On with the show!"

- Jim Nielsen.

Quoting Jim Nielson

Now that is desperation!

Desparation is paying attention to Glen Clark

"Now that is desperation!"

Yeah so?

Many would say supporting Glen Clark as
Premier was desperation.

One rule in politics -- don't sweat the small stuff.

Be busy and help the NDP become government next time. There's tons of time to get ready.

Writing opinions to a third level internet news source isn't going to get any NDP candidate elected.

BC boy

You should take your own advice and buzz off because no one here who's actually serious can be bothered with your nonsense and inability to actually construct a logical argument and a decent sentence.

Last time anyone mentioned Jim Nielsen in public was when he got the shit kicked out of him in 1986 when the former Socred health minister was punched out by the estranged husband of a woman with whom he was having an affair. Some reputation.

Glen Clark has nothing to fear from such comparisons.

He only had to contend with a bought and paid for manipulated media and a compromised justice system - the black eye those institutions got after falsely accusing Clark was far worse than the damage ole Nielsen suffered.

Clark’s done just fine and his record in government compares very favourably with the clowns who are in power now.

The election's over my friend and the idiots are still in charge - that's nothing to crow about but it sure as hell is something that's easy to criticize.

As I've said before, I'll take no advice from someone who calls himself a 'boy' and behaves similarly.

is this something folks, or what?

"You should take your own advice and buzz off because no one here who's actually serious can be bothered with your nonsense and inability to actually construct a logical argument and a decent sentence."

and just how is the previous poster to judge? Is this previous poster some kind of 'representative' elected by the contributers?

Is he a primary owner of the Tyee??

"Last time anyone mentioned Jim Nielsen in public was when he got the shit kicked out of him in 1986 when the former Socred health minister was punched out by the estranged husband of a woman with whom he was having an affair. Some reputation."

Yeah so? About the same as David Stupich
being caught with his hand in the cookie
jar or Robin Blencoe getting sent to court.
Nielsen paid for his transgressions as did
everyone else.

"Glen Clark has nothing to fear from such comparisons."

Of course not.

"He only had to contend with a bought and paid for manipulated media and a compromised justice system - the black eye those institutions got after falsely accusing Clark was far worse than the damage ole Nielsen suffered."

Sure.

"Clark’s done just fine and his record in government compares very favourably with the clowns who are in power now."

He has done fine, and has wised up too. Originally he hated the capitalist system
as he was a union business agent, but now
he is firmly entrenched in that same capitalist system he hated originally.

"The election's over my friend and the idiots are still in charge - that's nothing to crow about but it sure as hell is something that's easy to criticize."

Sure. Criticise and not actually do anything to fix the problems, right?

"As I've said before, I'll take no advice from someone who calls himself a 'boy' and behaves similarly."

Well works the other way too.

David Stupich

You clearly know 'nothing' about that incident either.

Simply another example of Campbell's immoral manipulation of the justice system - he loves picking on people who are down on their luck - or folks who have diminished mental capacity.

However, like all bullies, the 'rules' don't apply to him and he cries like a baby when he's caught and asks everyone – including his ‘wife’ – for forgiveness.

The NDP governments in this province have a better record of fiscal management than any right wing government. PERIOD.

They also, most of the time, gave a shit about all the people of the province and not just their own personal friends.

Your last statement is incomprehensible - you're the one who calls him or herself 'boy'.

And I actually thought maybe you were one - a boy - and was prepared to excuse the childishness. But, I've checked, you've been around here longer than I have and your writing and logic haven't improved one bit.