countdown

hi again,

Ryan Dahle plays the olympic Celebration site on feb 17th---it's coming up!

the olympics start apparently on the 12th of Feb...I have no idea how it will affect my life? I currently walk to work, will I never be able to drive anywhere? restaurants are doing a mandatory 18% tip included on meals...a friend of mine is stocking up at costco so she doesnt have to buy food during the 'lympics...maybe we should all treat it like Y2K. speaking of Y2K, did you know that I played a show at the Anza club on Y2K with my old band, the Salteens, and the new pornographers opened for us!!! I guess they won that fame game...

how 'bout this weather? it'll go one of 2 ways: tourists will think that this is the most amazing and warm and beautiful city and real estate prices and taxes and food and parking will go up more and I will officially move out of this expensive town once and for all. OR, the warm weather will reek havoc on the wintery sports and vancouver will fail...but even if the weather fucks with the games, i guess the vancouver tax payers will just be fronting the bills to come for "snow creation".

so that sounded pretty negative--I am not against the Olympics, i just think this city is a bit of a farce on the "world stage" as we've got some deeper social issues to manage before bragging.

1. You wanna play the world-stage game? wouldnt it be great for vancouver to have a pedestrian bridge over false creek? No more experimental bike lanes cutting into traffic. Think of vancouver more as London or salsburg, with their quiet pedestrian bridges crossing their famous rivers. it would increase tourism, cut down traffic.

2. free transit in the city limits. Wanna play against portalnd, Vancouver? Go free internet and free transit. Wanna go green for real Vancouver? how about free transit.

3. HST. Oh good one BC! make everything more expensive! Kick the people while they are down...reduce GST to make canadians vote conservative but then create a new tax that will cost even more! Groceries and books should have more tax on them afterall! kids shouldnt get books and clothing at a reduced rate compared to an adult! hooray for progression!

hey, topic change: paralympics. what are the qualifications to be a paralympian? discuss.

I have been discussing with my Attic and Cellars friends about finding some tix to the paralympic events. i think it would be interesting as I have little knowledge about these less glamorized sports.

I will be attending some Cultural Olympiad events including:

Kronos Quartet with Inuit Throat singing:
http://www.chancentre.com/whats-on/tundra-songs-kronos-quartet-tanya-tagaq

Anthony Braxton at Christ Church:
http://www.coastaljazz.ca/concert/anthony_braxton_12_1_tet_0


so there!

HNY

HNY to the people. is it a HNY?

- I am starting clarinet lessons in one week (for myself)
- I am going to have more fun
- I am going to do what I want as my top priority
- smart financial decisions!
- I will learn how to make a souffle and other extreme gourmet delights with my Larousse Gastrinomique
- I will buy an aluminium Christmas tree. Most likely a pom-pom
- I will make more stews...preferably vegetarian if possible

how's that for some vacuous resolutions?

F. U. PENGUIN

I stumbled upon a blog today in which the author tells-off cute animals. I laughed and laughed...

for some reason this post struck a particular resonance with me...

http://www.fupenguin.com/2009/08/never-work-with-alpaca.html

I still laugh and laugh...there is something about Alpacas that make me squirm, perhaps their odd body shape? perhaps their ever so warm wool? just the mention of the labyrinth movie put me over the edge (david bowie was in it!! wtf?)

Bloedel Conservatory

I love the Bloedel Conservatory--it is full of parrots, birds, and plants. The pacing is very slow. I guess modern society cannot handle a slow pace anymore and therefore it is being shut down. What will happen to all the exotic plants--will they just be left to rot? Can I adopt Rosie the african grey? Apparently the petting zoo / farm in Stanley Park by the mini train is being shut down as well.

this is the first petition I have ever signed:

http://www.petitiononline.com/4bloedel/petition.html

feel free to join me...

artfully blindsided

double whammy of amazing art this weekend.

1. I got a wicked 1st edition vinyl copy of XTC's Black Sea. It blows my mind. It is perfect pop, perfect performance (pre computers), perfect lyrics. perfect energy--

2. I saw Matthew Barney's cremaster 3 film last night. my petty and simple mind was blown. infact, my brain plopped out of my ear and ran out my nose whilst watching this 3 hour epic (1 in a series of 5 btw). I am no longer capable of forming cohesive thoughts. I wont recommend it--I think anyone in their right mind wouldn't. but I am hooked--I want to learn more about matthew barney--the guy has long term vision.

MUCHO BETTER BETA KING STILTS

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aha,

friendo, moneca made this one! let's make videos
imovie, here I come