Book Party!

Come to The Beaumont (316 West 5th Avenue, at Alberta Street) at 9pm this Saturday, September 24, 2011 for the release of Mark Loader's newest M.O.R. graphic novel! The $12 entry gets you in, and gets you a copy of the book (limited to the first 100 people)! Plus live music by Katelyn Molgard! There will always be MOR!

citiZEN | Vancouver Edition

Collecting items of interest related to Vancouver.

History

Community: Why the Police Museum rocks! [offthecuff]
Structures: 114-year-old Carleton Elementary is largest of five schools marked for closure by VSB. Adrian Dix lists nine reasons why he thinks it should not be closed. [Gstraight]
Agitators: Past Tense posts excellent article on firebrand anarchist Emma Goldman -- the most dangerous woman in the world, of 1911. [PastTense]
Establishment: Hollywood Theatre celebrated 75 years. [kits.ca] [TomHawthorn]
Structures: Terry Fox Plaza to be demolished and rebuilt. [VanSun]
Establishment: Lamplighter Pub celebrated 85 years. [Miss604] [VanSun]
Respect: Community trying to recognize Hogan's Alley area. [cbc]
Mail Room: A collection of old postcards from John Macjie. [VanSun]
Pinko Files: Past Tense has great article on "Vancouver's Red Army." [PastTense]
Structures: Jericho Wharf slated for destruction. [cbc]

Culture

Navel-Gazing: Vancouver Book Award goes to art book. [cbc]
Book it: The VPL has a new head librarian. [VanSun]
Navel Gazing: Vancouver Foundation releases 2010 Vital Signs report. [ViA] [VFvitalsigns] [ViA]
Establishment: Beyond Robson has a nice post about Red Cat Records. [br]
Repurposing: Yaletown sculpture uses wing span from second Cambie Bridge. [ViA]

Government

Finance: City facing $20.6-million budget shortfall for 2011. [VanSun]
Finance: Mayor "promises" to protect some services and limit property tax increase. [Gstraight]
Political Parties: NPA sets first batch of nominations for 2011 election. [straight] [VanSun]
Special Kind of Idiots: Budget cuts to VPL's Special Collections. [straight]
Political Parties: New group forming. [straight]

MUST READ:
Dirty Tricks Studies: Vision-led City Council holds meeting after midnight to ram through decision but cut down on how many pesky residents might show up to voice opposition. Again. [CityCaucus] Starting to worry I was duped out of my vote into an undemocratic process. Hint: It doesn't matter how long it takes, you listen to all the opinions on the table, then make the decision -- yep, you may end up making the same decision had you not listened to everyone else, but you still have to get everybody's opinion... that's called democracy. And saying the mad rush is because "people are dying in the streets" is idiotic rhetoric and insults my intelligence.

Development

Densification Strategy Studies: Laneway housing policy tweaked but moritorium rejected. [VanSun]
Densification Strategy Studies: Some neighbours are unhappy. [ctv]

Residents

Spenders and Savers: Grants and Rebates for Vancouver Properties. [VanReflections: List 1 | List 2]

Navel Gazing

So Cool File: We're tops again on some other list. [GovBC] [ctv]

citiZEN | Canadian Edition

A collection of information related to Canada.

Self Esteem

Blame Game: First time Canada loses bid for UN Security Council. He-said She-said hilarity ensues: Conservatives blame Liberals. [cbc]
Blame Game: First time Canada loses bid for UN Security Council. He-said She-said hilarity ensues: Liberals blame Conservatives. [cbc]

Culture

CanCon Review: Top 100 Canadian music singles of all time. [AwesomeSound]

Government

Divine Right Studies: David Johnston, new Governor General, sworn in. [cbc]
Divine Right Studies: New Governor General says Canada should "inspire world." [ctv]
Slow Death Studies: Toxic plastic-ingredient BPA officially banned. [cbc]

Economy

Spenders and Savers: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, tasked with improving financial literacy of Canadians, reports increase in online usage. News Flash: Canada has a Financial Consumer Agency. [cbc] [fcac]

Justice

HRH Chong: Dude lights doob in Commons for medical marijuana thing. Mac King rolling in grave. [ctv]
Locked-in-here-with-me Studies: Victimization stats unchanged from 2004 to 2009 at 39% over 15 saying they have been a victim of crime in previous 12 months. [StatsCan]

Environment

Water Wing Safety Refresher: How a 2-degree temperature change will effect Canada. [cbc]

Foreign Policy

Dating Game: UAE dumps Canada's use of air base over commercial flight access to Canadian cities. [cbc]
Dating Game: After UAE spat, flirting with Pakistan begins. [cbc]
Buddy List: Several Memos of Understanding signed with Mongolia. Not very interesting other than the Mongolian Prime Minister's name is Batbold. Awesome. [cnc]

citiZEN | British Columbia Edition

Here are a few of the stories I've noticed about British Columbia over the last while...

Changes: The Queen Charlotte Islands are no more... they are officially Haida Gwaii! [GovBC]
Era-Enders: Dinotown theme park closed at beginning of September. [VanSun]
Remains: 40-year-old mystery solved at bottom of Skaha Lake. [cbc]
Navel-Watching: Six of top ten worst places to live are in BC. [ctv]
Plain Crazy Awesome: BC is Jonathan Swift's "Land of Giants" that Gulliver visited. [knowbc]
Old Is New Again Watch: Challenger map from PNE shown again. [knowbc] [officialsite]

 

Heritage Sites and Issues

FearWatch: Land Conservancy financial practices may put BC Heritage buildings at risk. [VanSun]

Culture

Written Word: Best of BC Books now online. [vpl]
Protocol Statement: Schools say events should begin with aboriginal recognition. [VanSun]
Foodies: Fatabase gives nutritional info on 64 BC restaurant chains. [VanSun]
Magic: BC man won "magic's top prize". No response from Voldemort. [cbc]
Written Word: Mother Tongue Publishing, wow! [tyee] [mtp]

Industry

Reefer Madness: Bud-Biz threatened by Californication legalization, to be voted on in November. [VanObserver] [LATimes]

Government

Budget 2011: Consultation process underway. [GovBC] [MinFin]
Big Plans: Statement on Western Economic Development. [GovBC]
Law and Order: Public opinion of RCMP in B.C. pretty low. [ctv]
PunditWatch: Bill Tieleman analyzes who could replace Premier upon departure. [tyee]

citiZEN | Vancouver edition

Collecting items related to Vancouver.

Chuck Davis
"For the Love of Vancouver": Article from City Caucus and Mike Klassen. [CityCaucus]
Sad News: Chuck is dying of cancer. [VanSun]
Call to Action: Jeff Lee at VanSun.
Call to Action: Crawford Kilian at Tyee.
Call to Action: at Re:Place Magazine .
Call to Action: Rebecca Bollwitt at Miss604.
Action: Writer found. [ctv]
Call to Action Video: The moving message. [TomHawthorn]
Updates: A Message from Chuck [knowbc]



Canucks

Thor!! Report: Thor sells Vancouver Millionaires trademark to Canucks. [canucks]
Geriatric Division: Brendan Morrison released by Canucks. [VanSun]



Culture

To be or to... well, to be: Bard venue proposed for expansion. [VanSun]
Leaping Tall Buildings File: Comic Shop moves further west along 4th Avenue. [kits] [br]
Roller Coaster: Art Gallery move is wild ride. [VanSun]
Roller Coaster Background: A few words about Larwill Park. [VanSun]
Riot!: Gastown Riots remembered by Stan Douglas. [VanSun] [knowbc]
Celebrations: An idea for a new New Years Party. [pricetags]



Education

Written Word: UBC publishes book to celebrate first 100 years. [ubc]
Written Word: VPL Booklist. [via] [vpl]



Historical Items

Gonzo File: How Hunter S. Thompson applied to write at the Vancouver Sun. [VanSun]
Re-Development and Destructions: Capilano Bridge to be demolished. [straight]
Re-Development and Destructions: 70+ years old Jericho Wharf said to be harmful to fish. [VanSun]
Re-Development and... False Alarm!: Park saved from paving, sort of. [kits.ca]
R-D&D: UBC Prof suggests moving PNE to Seawall area. [straight]
Floating Palaces: McBarge has Facebook friends. [VanSun]
Written Word: A list of books about Vancouver. [pricetags] [VanHist]
R-D&D: Canada Post to stay downtown. [meggs]
Glimpses: Vancouver's first traffic light. [knowbc]
Abodes: Bio on James Johnstone. [pricetags]
Two-Face Moves: Kits Point Maritime Museum move funding revoked. [kits]
Mapper: Heritage Properties on a map. [via]
Mapper: Trees in Kitsilano. On a map. [kits] [treeMap]
History for Sales: A Short History of Kitsilano. [reflections]
Living History: A memoir about Duthie Books. [knowbc]
Lists: 124 oddities about Vancouver history. [VanSun]
Past Mayors: Book about L.D. Taylor. [knowbc]
Honouring Places: Lions Gate Bridge designated National Historical Site. [knowbc]
Worthless Paper: Bank of Vancouver billnote auction. [VanSun]
Dirt Digging: Fraserview Cemetary. [VanSun]

Law and Order

Grand Theft Auto: Brazen Oakridge Mall armed jewelry robbery suspect arrested -- age 15. [VanSun]
Signs of The Tipping Point: Graffiti on the rise. [straight]
Big Brother Watch: Volunteers map downtown surveilance cameras. [VanSun]

Navel Gazing

Market Share: Vancouver Brand in middle of the pack. [tyee]
Outside Job: Clinton says to "get in the future business." [VanSun]
Navel Gazing: Best places to "live the life". [VanSun]



Transportation

Future of Cycle: Envisioning the Granville Loops as "next-gen roads." [straight]
Screaming Matches: Pacific Arbour Speaker Series on Oct 24. [replace]

citiZEN | Canadian edition

Collecting items of interest related to Canada.

Self Esteem
Navel-Gazing: List of World's Best Countries. [newsweek]
Statistics: Leading causes of death, 2006. [StatsCan]
Loonie Flights: Russia hoarding Canadian Dollars. [cbc]
Navel Gazing: Nobel prizes by country (Canada: 15). [good]
Navel Gazing: Happiness across countries. [good]
Navel Gazing: Who's thriving World-Wide? [good]
Navel Gazing: America's Favourite Countries. [good]
Spending Power: Difference in Canadian and US income levels. [StatsCan]

Canadian History
Chinese: Online exhibit. [straight]
Collecting: National Archives places moratorium on paper documents. [cbc]
First Nations: Queen Anne visitors as Stamp Portraits. [cnc]
First Nations: Indian status changes for thousands. [cbc]
Forces: Last WWI vet dead. [cbc]
LGBT: Conference marking 1971 event. [activehistory]
Organizations and Groups: Historica Foundation. [KnowBC]
Railway Hotels: The Google Sight-seeing Treatment (Part 3). [gSS]
Written Word: History magazine Beaver changes name. [ctv]
Written Word: Library book returned 110 years overdue. Fine waived. [cbc]

Culture
Irreverence: Apologies for dog communion. [bbc]
Irreverence: Rise of the Religious Right. [straight]
Spenders and Savers: Retirement worries. [cbc]
Spenders and Savers: One-third unprepared for retirement. [biv]
Even-Split Opinions: (1) Marijuana, and (2) Death Penalty. [cbc]

Industry and Innovation
New Product: The Cannabis Car. [cbc]
Recycle: Tim Hortons cups turned into biofuel. [cbc]
Dreams: Many yearn for own business. [cbc]

Security
Command and Control: Majority opposed to foreign control of media. [cbc]
Budgeting: Military spending ranks 13th in world. [ccpa]

Foreign Policy - Afganistan
Tactical Ethics: Special Forces in question. [cbc]
Enemies: Estimate of Al Qaeda strength in Pakistan. [nyt]
Deployment: The 2011 deadline in question. [cbc]

The Arctic
Development: Quttinirpaaq Park most northerly park in Canada. [cnc]
Dispute Mediation (Lomonosov Ridge): The United Nations. [BBC]
Posturing and Policy: Foreign Policy Statement released. [cnc]
Posturing and Rhetoric: Russia predicts conflict. [cbc]
Posturing and Rhetoric: Commons Committee security recommendations. [cbc]
Posturing and Rhetoric: PM says sovereignty non-negotiable. [cbc]
Research and Learning: Energy reserves mapped. [cbc]

citiZEN | Vancouver edition

Here's a round-up of some of the stories about Vancouver that have caught my eye over the last while. It's a bit of a hodge-podge of topics, as is usual with my thought processes...

History

As a result of often being listed near the top of various city-ranking lists [a quick example], Vancouver seems to have a large segment of the population that are little more than resident-visitors. We welcome folks from all over the world, who seem to stay for three or six months, or even for a few years, and then move on to someplace else. Some decide to stay, of course. Either way, I've always thought it was important to learn about where you are, and one of those ways is through the history of that place. When I decided that Vancouver was going to be My Home for the foreseeable future (even though I didn't move here from very far, as a British Columbia-er with deep roots), I felt it was almost like a civic duty to start learning about where this fantastic city came from.

There are lots of great Vancouver History sites, and lots of local bloggers that delve into history to generate some blog content. Rebecca Bollwitt over at Miss604 puts together some of the best (usually with lots of help from Chuck Davis' History of Metropolitan Vancouver site, which is truly magnificent). As an example, here's a post she put together on the Hastings Mill Store.

Oh heck, there's too many pretty good posts of hers to pass up, so here's a smattering:
The 2009 winners of the City of Vancouver Heritage Awards.
Behind-the-scenes at the City Archives.
Stanley Park.
When Vancouver won the Stanley Cup.
Vancouver Flag and Coat of Arms.
100 Years of the PNE.

Another interesting post, presented as a call to action for the present but containing a good deal of interesting history, is Daniel's post at City Caucus regarding Lost Lagoon... which was connected to Coal Harbour a century ago and used to be saltwater instead of freshwater. Daniel proposes re-connecting Lost Lagoon to the ocean. In fact, City Caucus is another local site that I enjoy checking out. They often have a more political perspective underlying the "reason-to-post", but I enjoy the depth in the research and they exhibit a clear understanding of the history surrounding the present situation. Some post topics I've found interesting:
Vancouver Streetcars.
The Waterfront and the cannery.
Bloodied But Unbowed.

The Vancouver Police Museum posted a good article about the collapse of the Ironworker's Memorial Bridge in 1958.

And there is nothing but fantastic things to say about Jhennifer Phabilano at the Buzzer Blog, as she is absolutely fantastic. I have a few issues with Translink (yes, I should list them, but to be honest I am too apathetic and disenfranchised to believe it would do any good at all), but Jhennifer is top-notch in her articles. A couple of my favourites:
The Central Park Line: the very first interurban in Vancouver.
Happy 94th Birthday to the Buzzer.

citiZEN | RSA Animate "The Empathic Civilisation"

citiZEN | Bill Gates at TED Talks

citiZEN | If you oppose Vancouver budget cuts...

This comes from one of my favourite local political watchdogs/advocates, ThinkCity. (My other favourite is City Caucus.) I'm supposed to send this to my "email contacts" (hence the supposedly personal perspective) but already know anybody who's anybody reads it here first. But I did send an email to the Mayor, and I do think it is an important issue... so if you have two minutes available, please pitch in, fellow citiZENs!

Subject: Send Mayor Robertson a message opposing deep cuts to city services before Dec 18!

I need your help right now. I am very worried about proposed plans to make deep cuts to the 2010 Vancouver budget.

The final decision will be made at city hall on Friday, Dec. 18, but it is not too late to show your opposition to the cuts.

I sent an email action message to city council here http://thinkcity.ca/budgetactionemail and am urging you to do the same.

Here's what's going on.

On Dec. 1, city council conditionally approved $20.3 million in cuts to community centres, fire and rescue, libraries, parks, youth programs and other frontline services. The three NPA and COPE councillors voted against the budget, while the mayor and his seven Vision councillors supported the deep cuts.

Coming at the height of the recession, these are some of the harshest cuts our city has faced for quite some time. Plus, this goes against everything the public is telling the mayor and councillors at packed budget hearings, in letters to the editor and at weekly rallies in front of city hall. Even the city’s own scientific polling and online survey show a majority of businesses and citizens were "reluctant to support reduction in specific services.”

Please go here http://thinkcity.ca/budgetactionemail to send council an action email right away -- it will only take a minute.

Nearly 900 messages have been sent to council since last Thursday, so we need to keep the public pressure on the politicians to do the right thing!

CitiZEN | Demise of Democracy in the Days of Swine

The recent Provincial Election returned the ruling B.C. Liberal Party into a majority government for their third term. I voted strategically, and still lost. I had hoped the BC-STV referendum would pass, but lost on that as well. I stopped watching the election coverage by about 9:30pm.

As I lay in bed that night, pondering the state of modern democracy, I sadly admit to feeling a bit bleak about the future. I have often joked, as a descendent of the disremembered aristocracy of British Columbia, of being a Monarchist. (As the benevolent prince I feel I have a strong claim to the throne.)

Is there any wonder that voter turnout is at an all-time low? [CTV] In the tyranny allowable under the political party system is it a surprise free citizens are forbidden from speaking out upon their opinions (with enough caveats to make it seem fair)? [tyee]

I first heard about nowpolling.ca the first time I watched pasifik on Shaw Television. I have assumed the two, the program and the web site, are affilliated with each other, but haven't bothered to look into it.

Nowpolling.ca is an online mechanism for direct democracy.

From the web site: Direct Democracy depends upon your perpetual participation. Nowpolling.ca is a non-partisan, non-profit perpetual voting system which enables you, with your individual password, to register your opinions on relevant political issues. Nowpolling.ca empowers you to change your vote when you change your mind, anytime. This is what perpetual democracy is all about. You are welcome to view the questions and results without having to register. However, the success of this democratic exercise depends on your participation. Create an account and be counted.

I think this is a great idea. I think if we are to preserve freedom from the ongoing decline of 21st-Century Democracy, we need to start looking at what we want to evolve it into. Using technology to leverage direct participation in political issues is a strong candidate for consideration.

If we don't, I fear this idea, "erasing" the US-Canada Border, is closer than we might think.

(There is too much to say on this topic, so I will leave it for another time. Just to say: while I feel this position enjoys strong points both in favour and opposed, I'm sure all can agree this cannot be something either side is forced into by negative circumstance.)

citiZEN | Vancouver

There are recommendations in the works to change the on-ramp "loops" of the Granville Street Bridge. This already happened to the south-east... where the original "loop" was restructured into a park with tennis courts. (The photo in the Price Tags post is very revealing, even if you know what I'm referring to!)

Fascinating post. Read it! (PriceTags)

Benevolent Prince | Trickle-Down Recycling

Image via WikipediaA post by Raul at Hummingbird604 started me thinking about how trickle-down economics is really just political rhetoric for tax cuts. The post was about recycling, which, of course, is a long way off from economics. But the theory of trickle-down, where those with too much pass along "something" to those with less, is to me a concept humanity already is familiar with. I mean, haven't most families been using this concept for generations...? We call them hand-me downs.

It doesn't work so well for items with only conceptual basis, such as money, apparently. Nobody seems to want to just "hand-me-down" some cash without some sort of artificial lever or consideration, like "tax cuts". (Unless you consider my own "Cottagist Anima" which has never yet been spoken of. And shan't be just yet.) But what about "trickle-down" recycling?

(I know, it already exists. But "trickle-down" recycling sounds much sexier than what goes on every day at the local thrift store, wouldn't you say...? Maybe it's time for a "re-branding" of the concept...)

"Hand-me-down" on wikipedia.

The point that got me thinking about it was Raul points out that BC Digital Divide will give donated computers to impovershed recipients. (H.604)

And check out the Electronic Recycling Association of Canada. (era) And the Vancouver page of the ERA site. (eraVan)

And according to this story in the CBC, recyclemycell.ca will show people where to recycle their cell in cities across Canada. (Here's the in-depth look at the cell-recycling issue. (cbc)

For a quick look at what other countries around the world are doing to curb their economic impact, check out this Good article. (good) My favourites: kick the oil habit, save the trees, and increase no-fishing zones along the coastline.

And finally, the best recycling program is the one that doesn't hae to start in the first place... Good brings us a list of five Anti-Consumer Groups... because the best way to save the planet is to reduce one's usage of something to nothing, if possible. (good)

citiZEN | Vancouver

Jackson Murphy over at The Vancouverite has a nice round-up of the Olympic Village debacle that unfolded over the last weekend, along with some insightful insights of his own. (vancouverite)

And for those following along at home, Vancouver recorded the first two homocides of the year on January 8th and the 11th. The first murder last year wasn't until January 19, 2008. (ctv)

Maggie Chandler, on her Vancouver Reflections site, posted the average price graph of Vancouver real estate. Sales decreased by 35%. And while prices are down over the previous year, house prices are up 64% for the Vancouver West Side over the last five years. Maple Ridge comes out on top on "Best Value" for houses, townhomes and condos in Greater Vancouver. (vanreflections)

According to Tourism Vancouver, the number of tourists that are visiting Vancouver has gone down since the Summer of SARS in 2003, for reasons that can be easily guessed: the economy has tanked. But the good news is that more people are choosing to spend their time and money at home, paticularly on local restaurants and attractions. Ticket sales at the Vancouver Aquarium are actually up. (ctv)

Even though I hardly ever leave my warroom, or go out of the bunker, or even step foot off the compound, I'm a huge supporter of local neighbourhood attractions. Even in (supposedly) laid-back Lotus-Land, we seem to forget most of the amazing sights and places that surround us. Sure, Grouse Mountain and the Stanley Park Seawall are all sexy for getting the outdoorsy-types and therefore all the press, but many of us are (particularly the born-and-bred, or close-at-hand born-and-bred) very much like those lifer New Yorkers that have never been to the Statue of Liberty or into the Empire State Building: it's always been there, so we figure we'll get to it eventually. Yet that visit to the Vancouver Police Museum or lunch at the Jericho Sailing Club never seems to come by.

Sean Orr at Beyond Robson has posted an interesting review on the Vancouver Museum's new exhibit called The Unnatural History of Stanley Park. (br) If you have a chance to watch the youTube video and Mr. Orr's Flickr set, please do. The silent video is particularly relaxing.

From the Civic-Duty citiZEN files comes an article via Megaphone, Vancouver's Street Paper, called 50 Ways to Help the Homeless: A Practical Guide to What the Experts Say Can, and Must, Be Done. (megaphone) (tyee)

And more from the General-City-Improvement files, take a look at this bicycle-storage unit that's being used in Japan. It can store up to 144 bicycles at a time. For a view of how it works, here's dannychoo.

citiZEN | Vancouver

The first thing to do is give a tip of the hat to Old Man Winter, who has been knocking these parts around for the better bit of a few weeks now. I think I've heard the word snowmageddon more times than I care to admit. There are a lot of people that went from thinking it was pretty, and lovely to have around during the Traditional Western-Culture Holiday Season that is popularly referred to as "Christmas", to really wishing it would hurry up and melt and allow us to get back to our first love (being driving). Urban Vancouver has some good photos. (UV Pt1) (UV Pt2)

And check this out: during the snowstorm, somebody in Seattle created these snow-sculptures on the windows of parked vehicles. Amazing! (wooster)

Onward. One of the opponents taking on Premier Gordon Campbell in the upcoming Provincial election will be Mel Lehan, punching in for the NDP ticket. (straight)

Lastly, we know you've been waiting all year for this to come back: the 2009 Vancouver Taboo Sex Show will be at the Convention & Exhibition Centre from January 15-18. Tickets are $20 at the door or can be purchased online. (vanBuzz)

Bike to Work Week - Nov 17-23

It's a last minute notice, but here's a reminder that this week is Bike to Work week.

Read all about it on the Buzzer Blog.

2008 Vancouver Civic Election round-up

It's great that Shaw Cable has given time for each candidate in the civic elections of the region to describe their political positions. There are a few crazies out there. The unexpected part is that a several are incumbents.

But to some issues that are circulating the Vancouver race: On his ever-name-changing blog, David Eby reviews a few of the stories about the $100 million back-room guarantee deal to save the Olympic village development. Great title to his post: Vancouver going to hell in Olympic-sized handbasket. Even David Berner agrees that citizens deserve answers to "villagegate".

I just have to point this part out: the controversy resides around unknown concerns to this guarantee from the City's Director of Finance who may (according to Robertson) have been fired or resigned from the City, or may (according to Ladner) be on a regularly-scheduled annual vacation... conveniently returning to Vancouver the day after the election, on November 16th! (CTV)

The Georgia Straight has an interesting review of the "Creative City Cabaret", in which Vancouver's mayoral hopefuls performed in a talent show. If for nothing else, it's an interesting illustration of some of the "crazy" mentioned as being on display on Shaw Cable. (Georgia Straight) And another review, this time by Francis Bula, on the Last Candidate Standing event, which Geri Tramutola won. (Bula)

And based on the Last Candidate Standing results, and my opinion of the afore-mentioned two-minute Shaw Cable ad, Geri Tramutola is now officially added to my "Vote For" list. Only nine more Council candidates to decide on!

Vancouver round-up

Here's some of what I've glanced at over the last while...

A new ground-penetrating device is assisting UBC researchers in finding the graves of missing First Nations ancestors. (UBC Reports)

Vancouver's obscurest election may get an "historic" 1,000 voters this year... while one of the candidates for Director of Electoral Area A says "you couldn't write a better farce." If you live around UBC, you should find out more. (Tyee)

Gordon Price of Price Tags says tonight's all-candidates debate, Last Candidate Standing, will be like politics and theatre all rolled into one. Isn't it already? That aside, tonight does looks interesting: they're going to have musicians and performance artists between rounds. (Price Tags)

Not another bleeding-heart cry-baby group yapping about minimum wage... and in fact, it certainly doesn't seem so: Business in Vancouver is calling on the municipal candidates to make Vancouver a "living wage city." In Vancouver that means a minimum wage of $16.74 an hour. (BiV) I'm guessing Peter Ladner is no longer intimately involved in BiV...? I only say so because this seems like a good idea and will energize the hourly-wage demographic to support the candidate that supports this measure... so if he's behind it he really should be shouting it from the rooftops. (Except around developers or other biz-owner-type folks, I guess...)

Vancouver has decided to go ahead with a trial of the laneway housing development idea. (CBC) Re:Place Mag has a good breakdown and update on the particulars. (re:place)

Plans for revitalization around the BC Place area have been released. (CBC) It includes a new roof for BC Place, a new Art Gallery, and more residential, retail and office space.

Metro Vancouver board members (see that Electoral Area A item above...?) voted unanimously to send a letter endorsing the position that UBC Farms retain its current 24-hectare footprint. (Georgia Straight)

Local poetico Ben Hart's review of Lee Henderson's The Man Game. (Tyee)

More back-and-forth blah blah about the "bikes on Burrard" issue. (Georgia Straight)

And in honour of honour, please get yourself one of those nice new sticker-poppies. (CBC)

And you may know that Vancouver sold some of our old trolly-buses to Argentina. Here's a video from the Buzzer blog showing one of the trolleys being lifted onto a shipping freighter. The original post has a great write-up, and additional photos and videos. (Buzzer)

Save the PANTAGES THEATRE

First, some information on the Pantages Theatre to acquaint yourself with this historic Vancouver... nay, Western Canadian... nay, North American... landmark.

Future of Vancouver's Pantages Theatre in Doubt (CBC)
The Pantages in Vancouver (Chuck Davis' HMV)
Pantages Theatre (official)

And now, what you can do to support the effort to save the Pantages Theatre.

• IF YOU'RE ON FACEBOOK, join Steve Lee's group "Save the Pantages Theatre in Vancouver, BC, Canada" and invite all your friends. (FB GROUP)

• REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE PANTAGES by writing to mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca, and COPY YOUR E-MAIL to the Pantages Theatre Arts Society at cb0bc@yahoo.com .

• SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION...

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.petitiononline.com%2Fpantages%2F

Thanks!

Just say if i were in charge of short-term shelter

Affordable housing is currently a major issue in Vancouver. (CBC) And while what I suggest below is certainly nothing more than a band-aid to a wider major social issue, its implementation might buy time to find a more reasonable long-term strategy.

My left-field short-term solution is to allow those in need of shelter gated access into currently unoccupied city lots (those fenced-off former gas station lots come to mind), and build a planned tent-city, with "streets" and "house numbers."

We could get the outdoor supply companies, such as Mountain Equipment Co-op, to donate a variety of multi-person tents.

We could bring in festival-style portable sanitation facilities, for water and sewage, even showers, perhaps. And how about a central cooking area, with fire-pit grills, like at the beach or in parks?

Each "gated community" could be "managed" by a social-service organization, keeping track of who is utilizing the service, what their needs are, and offering advice and guidance into the civic social system.

There are, obviously, problems to be addressed and solved. Tents offer little protection from the elements, so cold and wet weather could be a problem. It would not be good for these areas to become mud-pits after a rainfall. The suggestion of utilizing former gas station lots brings to mind problems of soil toxicity. Monitoring access requires the participation of service organizations, as well as the coordination with the civic services. City services, such as garbage pick-up, would need to be considered. And my preference would be to limit this option to single individuals and couples. Hopefully this tactic would reduce the demand for other housing provisions, and increase their availability to families that include children.