Crunchy Ramblings

Ah if only they new...

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:34:00 +0000

According to the Vancouver Sun, the UN has described Vancouver as a paradise with a dark side..

It describes Vancouver as a "breathtakingly gorgeous" city with a sizzling economy.
"But there is trouble in paradise. And nowhere is it more evident than in the Downtown Eastside-a two-kilometre-square stretch of decaying rooming houses, seedy strip bars and shady pawnshops," states the UN agency.
"Worst of all, it is home to a Hepatitis C (HCV) rate of just below 70 per cent and an HIV prevalence rate of an estimated 30 per cent-the same as Botswana's."

The sizzling economy bit has me a bit puzzled. Vancouver has a sizzling real estate market and hence a HUGE construction boom going on. I have little evidence of anything else.

Vancouver is a tourist city...and not the good kind. It attracts lots of overseas business and wealth. They buy up the pretty glass towers that we can't afford.

They drive the 'densification' and 'ecodensity' ideas that we are constantly hammered with.

Vancouver is the home of illegal goods. Goods coming in and out of the city. Knock-off's of Channel and so on are available everywhere. Everyone has a fake YSL bag. Well, a certain demographic of our population anyway.

Vancouver is the home of fake lottery scams that target little old ladies in the US. Vancouver is the city that couldn't keep a stock exchange due to the volume of shady activity taking place on it.

Money here is not usually made in purely legitimate ways.

There are no big industries here. Not many head offices left.
So what is generating all the income?

Who is paying for this image of paradise?

I love living here for the scenery and climate. However, the cost of living rises more every single day.

Our city and provincial governments have nothing but dollar signs in their eyes and only working towards one goal....selling the city to the world for the 2010 Olympics.

There is no concern for the regular citizens that make up this fair city.
Health care is a problem.
Housing is a problem
Business are falling apart ....the death toll on the Cambie Line increases every month. So much for small business

It has finally come out that all the promises for housing made by VANOC are highly unlikely and in my opinion was always just words on paper.

For the rest of the world Vancouver is a nice place to play. Lax laws and a laid back style help off shore investors make some easy cash....at the expense of the rest of us.

There is nothing viable in the economy of this city...nothing sustaining. Nothing long lasting.

We are being told to get out of our traditional homes. We are told that family life doesn't fit in here. WE are told that condos are the way to go.

According to Patrick Condon in the Vancouver Sun, June 26, 85% of new housing needs will be for non family housing.

I disagree with this. I say this statistic is being forced upon us by inflated real estate prices and marketers pushing their condos.

Families are being driven to the suburbs whether they want to go or not. Guilted out for a dream of a home with a yard and so forth.

I am very sad at how Vancouver has fallen. I hope to be proven wrong.

But I doubt it.

Another Reason This Pisses Me Off

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:11:00 +0000

....the blame the individual for destroying our planet...yadda yadda....
Yes we do waste energy and on and on....

But am I the one sending myself massive amounts of junk mail that I just scoop up and shove in my recycling box?

Does this procedure mean something? Would the world end if there was NO JUNK mail and me doing this little job every single day???

The amount of paper and glossy card and heavily inked and coloured stock that gets turfed out is obscene.

The energy expended and waste produced by producing all this garbage is what is burning up our resources.

All these industries created by a culture of largess and excess.

Junk mail serves no purpose. What I mean is ..it doesn't feed us. It doesn't provide us shelter....there is no actual NEED for it.

And I am sure there are far better alternatives for advertising their wares than this old and outdated mode.

Would not our postal workers rejoice if they didn't have all this junk to lug around?

The Police RAWK!! - Paid Post

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:29:00 +0000

Win a New York fly-away to see The Police live

For ages before the Grammy's....there were Police sightings all around Vancouver. Nobody would confirm or deny that the crew were here rehearsing!

Well they were here and they DID announce a tour and it WAS starting out in Vancouver and I got to go and see them. And they were amazing. They did a fantastic job....played everything we wanted to hear and did it well. It was a massive nostalgia trip for all there and I am sure every city they visit will be a massive sell out.

I am thrilled that they have a companion CD with the tour. The music of The Police
shaped my youth and a compliation CD is just what we need! I cannot wait spend my summer driving and belting out Police tunes......ahh the memories.

Every song evokes a memory. Their sound inspired and influenced at least twenty years of musicians.

I don't know if I can PICK one favorite song from the police cd but I sure enjoyed their new take on Walking on the Moon and Every Breath You Take.

Listening to an entire stadium sing along word for word is pretty incredible.
I am glad I got to be part of the experience and I look forward to picking up the new police cd.

Harper Goes up a Notch in my Opinion of Him

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:34:00 +0000

I heard about this this on Breakfast Television where they were SHOCKED that our PM would snub the obviously GOD like Bono during the G8 Summit.

You know what? GOOD FOR HIM!

Seriously. Who the hell does BONO think he is?

He is a bloody MUSICIAN for God's sake. What gives him right to TELL people who to run their countries or allocate their foreign aid.

Why would a leader of a country listen to him more than say the people who elected him/her or the people in his government? Because they dug The Joshua Tree?

For a man who moved his business out of Ireland instead of paying (gasp) taxes...the hypocrisy is a little overwhelming.

This man's wealth alone could probably support a starving nation in Africa.

I am all for celeb's helping bring causes and issues to the public eye...but please, remember who and what you are.

Bono needs to put HIS money where his mouth is. Let's see more WORK instead of jaunting around the world rubbing elbows with world leaders.

If She Can't Get People To Listen...

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:54:00 +0000

who can.....

I hope it was not all in vain...

Tagged!

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:28:00 +0000

I don't usually do those over here..but Angela tagged me at this site..so what the heck.

The object of the game is to blog “8 Random Facts About Myself”. Here are the rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog

- I ain't tagging people....consider yourself TAGGED if you are reading this and you want to share some stuff!

- I am also going to try to keep mine in keeping with this blogs 'theme'

1. During my formative years I was very apathetic towards politics. This despite being surrounded by friends who partook in model parliaments and had one friend RUN for Premier!

2. My irritation towards the stupidity and corruption I see around me is slowing building up inside me to the point where I will have to do more than just bitch. And I don't mean become a vigilante..though that is tempting....I am thinking about running for city council and or starting my own charitable organization.

3. My creative writing has ground to a complete halt. No ideas even....sad.

4. I KNOW I don't give this site enough attention. This is the tricky one. The parenting stuff is easy to talk about. WetCoast is my other baby and I want to see that one grow. This stuff is trickier.

5. I find it hard to read and research the world's going on when my kids don't even let me hear the local news. I feel a sense of accomplishment from just reading the daily paper in one day.

6. I am really scatterbrained.

7. I love a great debate and try to not take them too personally...but feel I am not informed enough to pack a punch.

8. I am NOT Anti American! How could I be with so many on the blogosphere that I consider to be friends...not to mention all the real life buddies too!

Oh Hawaii - Paid Post

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:55:00 +0000

I have never been to Hawaii. I hope go soon.

My mom went there with friends and loved it. They rented a condo in Maui. They loved this. They could relax, make their own meals, and work to their own schedule.

I think this is the way to go for families unless you have the big bucks for an all inclusive resort. My son dreams of swimming with sea turtles and dolphins!

I dream of sipping cool drinks on my lanai.

When we are seriously planning our trip, we will no doubt check out this site - Kauai Vacation Homes for accommodation ideas.

This is a great site filled with a huge variety of condo and rental home options and locations as well as information on flights, car rentals and attractions. The homes range from absolute luxury to a nice little place your sleepy head at night. There is a wide range of prices and locations.

So while we await our passport applications and save our pennies, we will continue to pour over photos of gorgeous Hawaiian condos and gorgeous scenery.

Children Killing Children

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Tue, 22 May 2007 01:17:00 +0000

This weekend a 13 year old boy died of stab wounds inflicted by a 14 year old.
This occurred in a not so great part of town......I would like to assume that the kids were visiting Science World which is nearby...but I doubt it.

But what a world we live in when things like this happen more and more.

I haven't read all the details, but I don't think it was early in the day.....which makes you ask MORE questions.

And the horrid fact that perhaps being a so called 'helicopter' parent is not such a bad thing after all.

How on earth do you let your kids out of your sight no matter what age they are?

Did it REALLY change everything???

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Sun, 20 May 2007 16:53:00 +0000

...apart from those lives lost and the families torn apart by grief and horror......

this is one of the best articles I have read recently on 9/11

Plain and Simple - Fuck 9/11

A taste.....

"What Really Happened on September 11th, 2001

One thing everyone can agree on—from diehard Fox News Faithful to dedicated Infowaris that September 11th, 2001 is a day that changed the world forever. I am of the opinion that all of these people are full of shit and engaged in a circle jerk of mutual delusion. That is offensive language, but I mean it with all of my heart. I would like you to know that I have spent five months working on this article. I am not blowing off steam or throwing a tantrum. I am of the opinion that both sides of the 9/11 debate are full of shit, and here is why: Initiates—

On September 11th, 2001, over 30,000 children around the world died of starvation. Every single day since September 11th, 2001, over 30,000 children around the world have died of starvation.

This is of course a shocking number. The mind insists that it must be exaggerated, distorted, wrong. It is shocking any way you can state it: every 2.4 seconds, a child dies of starvation on planet Earth. Is that any more palatable or less insane? Does it change everything if I say that when you finish reading this article 3-5 minutes from now, somewhere between 70 and 200 children, somewhere on Earth right now, are going to cease living before they even had a chance to find out what “New York City” was?

Doing the math, that means as of today—-- over the past 5 years, while millions of mostly white and middle to upper class human beings with internet connections engaged in arguments about the minute details of a terrorist attack that occured in the United States on September 11th, over 60 million children have died. Because of starvation. I had breakfast today, how about you?"

What really changed?

Our daily lives?

For most of us - no.

For those affected by that day…. I can only guess at their pain.

For those with family and friends currently in Iraq and Afghanistan……I can only imagine the worry. For those who have LOST family and friends in Iraq and Afghanistan….again, I can only imagine.

The terrorist agenda? Has that changed? No…..but they scored a big point didn’t they. First hit on US soil..and it was a doozy. No one will ever forget how they felt that day. No one will forget how horrified they were.

That is a given.

That the people behind it are monsters.

That is also a given.

Whatever ‘theory’ you currently follow….the horror is a given.

Has the political agenda changed – I doubt it.

Has our perception changed?

I think we have been TOLD what to perceive. What to think.

I think we think the world has changed….but really…..

The horror goes on.

No matter how many rock concerts you do…….death and devastation continues across our globe.

This type of thinking scares me...

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Sat, 12 May 2007 17:04:00 +0000

What a nice scapegoat....From this site...

"Is our gas $$ funding the terrorists?

The gas prices here in Omaha were all the way up to $3.09 a gallon. I haven’t checked the prices in the last couple of days but they are predicting that it will get all the way up to $4.00 per gallon.

We are changing how we do things around here in our house. We can not afford to have to pay approximately $100.00 each and every time we fill up at the pumps. (That’s just a rough estimate of where this is probably going to go).

I am setting it up so that we run our errands once a week instead of every other day or so. The very last place to hit on the list will be the grocery store’s cold items for the freezer and the refrigerator. That will take care of the cold stuff.

Where we live we are close enough to the stores that we can walk, ride a bike, grab the jogging stroller in order to pick up items that do not need to be refrigerated. I can invest in one of those big plastic red wagons from the home depot to tote the kids around in if I need to.

It is my understanding that our gas $$ may be going towards funding the terrorists. This has to stop and we as American Citizens need to put our foot down and request that we be able to drill for our own oil so that we are not dependent on terrorists to fill up our tanks."

Are we going to blame everything now on the danged crazy Muslim folks!

In Canada the Oil Companies have been reporting RECORD profits.
These companies are not owned by terrorists...they are Canadian and American companies.....they have already admitted that their dire forcast for lower productivity after Katarina never came to pass..but they set their prices like it did.

Vancouver has been paying around $1.26 a litre. They have said they will charge what the market will bear and being that Vancouverites seem to put up with a lot of overpriced crap....here we are.

The big mega corporations of the world must love it. They used to get blamed for the ills of the world..now you just point fingers at the terrorists and everyone goes 'aaaah....THOSE evil bastards.'

Are we going to blame Global Warming on the terrorists now....is this their next evil plot?

I am Boggled by this.....

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Tue, 01 May 2007 23:09:00 +0000

Really I am...

And Skippy was too.

Apparently people are pissed (US people are pissed) that someone running their OWN country would decide what to do with their OWN oil.

Not only that but who they want to sell it to....the nerve!

This is my favorite quote..."Chavez is playing games with our country’s oil supply and, ultimately, American consumers. Chavez has made it clear he wants China to be Venezuela’s biggest oil customer, instead of the United States. Such a policy,artificial market manipulation when you think about it, would likely drive prices up. "

Don't the American Oil companies do this anyway? Isn't that what most big business does? Isn't that what most big corporations do and their governments pat them on the back for it because it keeps the economy humming?

Is this just because a country might not LIKE the US? Might not want to do business with them and instead focus on another super power?

Chuck around all the rhetoric and propaganda you like...this all boils down to business and money.

*******

Oh and apparently some people really dislike this Code Pink organization. I had actually never heard of them till reading some right winger blogs about it. Apparently they are in the pocket of dangerous commies and even Iraqi insurgents.

Apparently you are a wacko and a traitor to the US for even breathing the words 'impeach' even though it is fact and not fiction regarding the many laws he and his cronies have broken while in office.

But hey...I am just a pinko commie Canadian.
What do I know!?

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.....

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Tue, 01 May 2007 02:08:00 +0000

I have had pile of newspaper articles and notes on meaty issues I wanted to talk about and I just haven't had the energy or brain power.....

I promise....I will get to something soon.

How about you tell ME what you want me to rant/talk about!

Do Left Leaning Folks See More Truthiness in Things?

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:35:00 +0000

Check out The Wonder Years who found this report on a 'study' done!

I mean really...who watches Fox News....and not just for a laugh.
I have read on some sites that people think that Fox is the most NON BIASED news source out there!!!!

There are bloggers out there who have branded me some sort of traitor for not agreeing with them on the wonders of Fox and Bill O'Reilly and their take on Bush and the War!

When Fox thinks that our own crazy Canuck is a good candidate...you gotta wonder.

I love Steve Colbert.

Real Estate in Vancouver

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:03:00 +0000

Despite the fact that we have a pittance for a down payment - we keep looking at places that strike our fancy.

We checked out a couple of open houses yesterday.

The first one was depressing as it was in the same complex and floor plan of a place we SHOULD have bought years ago when the asking price was $329K and not $525K as it was today. The place has a great floor plan and nice big yard. However, for over half a million bucks, you could have done a better paint job on your place? Not to mention that there had been no upgrades done anywhere - kitchen, bathrooms - and the place was over 30 years old.
This is something we have noticed a lot.

The second place was a townhouse that we could actually afford. It was in a great location, with parks and forest trails nearby. It was an end unit with a wrap around yard and in a nice quiet family oriented complex. But again. Not one upgrade. The kitchen was ancient. The carpets old and cheap. The doors and closet doors were made of the same crappy fake wood that is in our rental town home….really old fashioned and ugly. They had ‘finished’ the basement in their own style - faux brick wall for their “wine cellar” - and NO UNDERLAY under the really thin and again cheap carpet.

We would have to spend a fortune to gut the interior of the place to make it livable. We can’t afford that. Not unless they knocked off about $30k of the asking price…and being that they already had two offers coming in, oh well.

The panic buying that is still going on in Vancouver boggles me. People are spending millions on shabby old homes without batting an eyelid. People are rushing to buy not yet built condos.

It has been said by one of the biggest realtors in Vancouver that our fair city is now considered a ‘resort’ town. A place where people buy properties to rent or only stay in for part of the year. So the soul is being sucked right out of this place….it will get worse and worse till after the Olympics and then watch out for all the For Sale signs when the rental condo market drops.

I mean how many people can afford a rent of thousands of dollars?

How many people can pay mortgages of over $3000 a month either? Wages are not rising to match the housing prices?

Just how are people managing?

New Brain Tumour Treatment - PayPerPost

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:35:00 +0000

While I and my family (touch wood) have been largely untouched by Cancer, we know many people who have fought the battle. Some have won, some were not so lucky. The one thing that pulls us all together is a need and a want of the best and newest technology available to aid in the battle.

The Gamma Knife is an amazing piece of technology for aiding in brain tumor treatment with it precise targeting of tumors that can grow in our brains.

The Gamma Knife used in conjunction with a immobilizing head frame, allows the physicians to safely and accurately focus on the tumor without worrying about affecting the rest of the brain.

The system reduces the spread of radiation to the rest of the body with its pinpoint accuracy and shielding of the machinery itself.

I would urge people facing surgery or who know someone dealing with a tumor to visit their highly informative website for more information.

Why I Love BlogHer!

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:37:00 +0000

Seriously...these women rock!

I don't know if codes of conduct for blogs will ever work...but people have to grow up.

I am constantly amazed at the pretense of in your face blogging I see. People calling people out. People harassing people, insulting people.....all behind the safety of their little blogs.

I really do think that bloggings shows peoples TRUE nature. Their inhibitions and ethics seem to go out the window when it comes to blogging.

Terms like Slander and Libel do not cross their minds.

Add to that the cyber stalking and bullying, the plagarism, the copyright theft,.......the blogging world is like the wild west.

It would be nice if people had their own codes of conduct.

I also don't think that you can lay down a blogging law across the board. Forums, fine...but for everyone...you are relying on or hoping for common human decency to show up out there....

I have my doubts.

War and Patriotism

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:39:00 +0000

While children welcomed the Easter Bunny into their homes, and Christians marked the resurrection of Jesus, others were steeped in the midst of darker moments.

6 more Canadian soldiers were flown home in coffins this weekend from Afghanistan. Victims of another hidden bomb.

51 soldiers have lost their lives over in Afghanistan since 2002.

Nothing compared to the 3600 lost at Vimy Ridge in 1917. But we share the enormous pain of their families and friends and comrades.

As the death toll rises and fighting and violence continues in Afghanistan, people naturally wonder just how long we will be there. And yes, some people think Canada should pull out... walk away, after all what is one tiny messed up country mired in civil unrest and violence got to do with us?

Why SHOULD our soldiers risk their lives in that far away place they ask.

And while I abhor war and and the many excuses for it, I think we do need to be in Afghanistan....because the consequences to the innocents would be unimaginable. The Taliban needs to be destroyed and we need to clear up the terrorist cells and those supporting the Taliban and the many other militant groups as soon as possible. This would be a message to all those groups hiding in and around Afghanistan.

I however, don't think that the current strategies are working. There or in Iraq. I think the street fighting and suicide bombings and hidden roadside bombs could seriously go on forever.

It is a war of attrition now in both of these places. Something needs to be done.

I however, have no answers.....what do I know?

And why did I mention Vimy Ridge?

This weekend marked the re dedication of memorial there. A beautiful memorial. A breathtaking honour to the thousands of Canadians who gave up their lives for that one decisive battle so long ago.

In the title of this post, I mention the word 'Patriotism.' Patriotism gets used a lot in conjunction with the military. After all you are or you are told you are..fighting for your country.' That is a very patriotic thing to do.

Patriotism is seen in different ways all around the world. Patriotic feelings are very personal.

Recently, as I surfed around the blogosphere, I have come across a few 'patriotic' sites.....I think all of them were American. Emblazoned with flags and much honouring those who have and are fighting 'the war.' There are sites by actual military personnel. I find these sites fascinating as I know little of life in the military. There are sites by families of those in the military....I share their worry and their pride in their military family members. There are those by ex military and those who are just plain patriotic.

American patriotism seems to an outsider like me way more 'out there' than those of other Western nations. Canadians are no doubt just as proud of their country, but we are not so overt about it. Neither are the British...they tend to be a bit more self deprecating, but their pride does shine through.

What I don't like to read or see is how patriotism can be used to attack someone. I don't like how a person is accused of being 'un patriotic' because they are against the "war" in Iraq. Or that because they don't support said war, that they are not supporting the troops.

I hate this...I find it very distasteful.

Not agreeing in politics and governmental motives has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting the men and women doing their jobs, nor is it unpatriotic.

Perhaps because of the debacle and lack of welcome that the veterans of Vietnam experiences, that this has become such a hot issue.

People have a real fear that Iraq is indeed the 21st Century's own Vietnam. And while it might well be, I really don't think people will take it out on the troops.

I also don't like the idea that you are unpatriotic if you don't fully support the government in their every decision.

Most of our governments are elected. Meaning WE put them there. They work for us. It is up to us to make sure they are doing the job we asked them to do. This goes for all Western Democracies.

I wish we didn't have war. I wish we didn't have the need for war.
But we do. And probably will do for a very long time.
It is human nature.

I wish we could help all the countries ruled by heavy handed monsters. I wish all countries could have the freedom to form their own FAIR systems. Systems that work for them.

And while I think the war in Iraq was for all the wrong reasons and that the world was lied to.....I think we need to figure something out and finish the job. And sooner than later, so that no more men or women are brought back in coffins. And no more innocents lose their lives and livelihoods.

So while I don't have a Canadian Flag on my websites, I am proud of troops.

I actually come from a fairly military family.

My Canadian Grandfather was in the Seaforth Highlanders during the Second World War. My Great Uncle was in the RAF. He was an engineer on the big bombers. My Great Aunt was a WREN. She manned the radios that kept in contact the many ships out at sea. My moms cousin was in the RAF too. My Step-Grandmother was in the Canadian Military. There is some Great somebody too who survived the First War also.

The military and the war have had a profound effect on my family for many generations. It shaped and changed many lives. Many tales are passed on. Memories shared.

Am I patriotic? You bet I am.

Web 2.0....is it better?

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 22:28:00 +0000

The new web or web 2.0 seems mainly to be about making money. Profit seems to be taking over content.

Exaggeration, perhaps...but when you find sites like Digital Point, that host forums where people look for and sell their writing services for sites that need content, you gotta wonder.

Sites like Digital Point cater to the gajillion sites that are there purely for the ads...and there mostly for Google Ads. At least then they are not stealing content.

Another thing that has sprung up and is sort of creepy being that each site looks exactly the same, is money making websites, or sites about SEO, etc.

They all seem to worship at the feet of John Chow and aim to mimic the very look of the website.

wotZcool.com is an example of the clone blogs. There are many more I could link to, I picked these purely because I had found them either through MyBlogLog or SpiceyPage. And yes, thanks for visiting guys. I am intending no insult here.

I mainly find it fascinating. For personal bloggers who also dream (mostly) of earning revenue from their blogs, they work hard at design and themes. They want to stand out, they want to be remembered. For this lot, the effort seems to be to be as similar as the guy next to you and, what? Hope that their luck brushes off onto you?

Are these sites making money? Who knows. John Chow claims to and thus his following.

But how many sites can we have on the same topic, linking to other sites with MORE tips and tricks on blog optimization, that for these guys seems to mean, talk about blogging, talk about ads, talk about traffic? And when does it get boring......how much money CAN be made from these types of site?

More Evidence of why Vancouver Does Not Get It

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:04:00 +0000

I realize these rants are boring to people who don't live in Vancouver or have ever visited, and I really should just stop reading the local paper.

But headlines like: USUAL MAYHEM - Granville Street is like a Ticking Time Bomb from the March 26th issue of the Vancouver Sun just set me off.

Now Granville Street sucked the moment they built an underground mall beneath it, promptly killing all business above. They made sure business was dead by also not allowing traffic except buses and taxi's to drive along there.

But it survived. It was a mix of newsagents, comic shops, books stores, tattoo parlours, arcades and some porn places that valiantly hung on. It was a sleazy street, but a fun one.

Slowly over the years various clubs have come and gone. Bars open and closed, but lately MORE clubs have opened and survived.

This had made this one small strip party central for young clubbers. I emphasize young, because that has been the target market and that has been the root of all the problems down there.

Young folks from the burbs hit downtown and party their little brains out. They get drunk and get in fights. Nothing new, no. But when it is focused on about 4 blocks......it does not work well.

What gets me is why the city has not paid attention to this area properly. Not thought about branding and mareketing the area properly.

I will use San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter as an example.

I LOVED this area. Have had a blast everytime we visited San Diego. Loved the variety and styles of bars, clubs, restaurants, and stores. Something for all ages and stages.

And I realize that they have their share of problems too, no city is free of crime, etc., but at least they have worked hard at turning what could be a sleazy club area into a landmark tourist destination.

What has our City Council thinking?
Everything our city does seem to be based on making money via real estate deals and condo development. No long term planning. No tourist development.

They keep marketing Gastown as a major destination and the looks of horror as the cruise ship crowd pour onto the streets filled with drunks, homeless and addicts is amazing.

Yes, it is the oldest part of Vancouver. Yes the architecture of some of the buildings is nice and yes, there are some great eats and some good stores. But not much. Gastown had its day.

And sure it could be great. If there was consensual planning between the City and developers and retailers. But there hasn't been. And their won't be for Granville Street either.

The Olympics will be a huge wakeup call for the City. If they have ignored the tales from tourists horrified by the homelessness and mess so far....THAT will be the reckoning.

In the meantime we watch our city turn into sleazy party central

Second Chances - PayPerPost

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:34:00 +0000

I am a firm believer in 'second chances.'

I am a firm believer in people having the opportunity to get the help they need.

That is why I support places like Stone Hawk.

I can only imagine what a dark pit drug addiction must be. Having people who have been there and understand help you climb out of that dark place, must make fighting the addiction a bit easier.

And the people who created Stone Hawk have been there. They know and they want to help.

Stone Hawk has an 76% plus success rate. This is amongst the highest in the US.

Their goal is to make you clean and healthy, both mentally and physically. They want you back out and living the life you deserve.

Stone hawk is located in Michigan with locations in Albion and Battle Creek.

Vancouver - City of Corruption

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 01:07:00 +0000

Vancouver in the papers again.....just not OUR papers.

Wow….

(I hope this link works)

Washington Post

“Vancouver prefers to revel in politically correct politics, a squeaky-clean environmental image, and a laid-back mood fostered by persistent melancholy rain. But it also is a haven for some of the most wanted fugitives in the world and for con men working scams in the shadow of the law.”

They used Lai Changxing as an example. Sitting here in his luxury condo while the ‘wheels of justice’ grind away.

Rakesh Saxena has been under house arrest in HIS luxury home for 11 years now. “But he insisted, “This isn’t a great life. With due respect, this is not the place I would choose to live. From my perspective, it’s a backwater.”

Great huh? So you can see what the people who come here to just exploit our laws and so on really think of it here! This is why we have a crummy real estate market.

This is why there are hardly any head offices here. Did we not HAVE a stock exchange at one point?

Again, Vancouver is pretty on the surface……but man oh man….there are so many people out to make a buck at any cost. This includes the business men, city hall, the provincial government…the list goes on.

No wonder joe average doesn’t stand a chance.

Who Blogs and Why?

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 04:05:00 +0000

HBM and her mom stirred up quite the discussion all over the net these last few days.

The words 'Narcissism' and 'Privilege' have been thrown out there and the reactions and discussion has been really amazing.

Life of Pie sums it up the best, so I will let you read her take on it.

It boils down to judgements and perspective I think.

True. We in the Western Civilization where computers are affordable or accessible and the concept of freedom of speech is still more fact than propaganda ARE lucky and more privileged than others.

And how the hell is it spelled? I always went with Priviledge but I guess I am totally wrong and Privilege is right!!

Anyway....I don't really think Bloggers DO fit into one class. Not here or in the rest of the world.

As soon as free services like Blogger, and Wordpress showed up, you opened the opportunity to have a website to ALL not just those willing to spend money on hosting and web design and development.

With computer prices getting lower and lower and more and more people of all stripes surfing the net.....gone were the days of techie elitism.

So who blogs?
Everyone? Everyone with access to a computer that is. And anyone with the inclination.

I don't think it is all navel gazing.
There are all kinds of blogs out there.

Parenting blogs get picked on a lot because we are not supposed to be so angst or whiney or even have the TIME to blog if we are parents.

Others get picked on because they use their blogs as journals.

People seem to be affronted that we might want to share or that people might want to read our opinions.

I love it.

I love that the world is a smaller place because of the internet.
I love that we can read personal perspective on issues we see in the news.
I love that we can find other people with the same values or ideas or humour.
I love that we can be entertained.

I love that the internet IS for all and not controlled by governments or corporations (yet).

I blog because it keeps my brain working and helps me focus on my world.
I read blogs because it is better than the tv and better than the papers.

I feel that I am communicating with people.

What a gift.

Why do you blog?

Get Savings Online - Paid Post

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 04:01:00 +0000

Shop Online? I certainly do. I would not have had Christmas last year without online shopping.

When you have two small children underfoot, being able to peruse the selection of books, cd's and dvd's at places like Amazon.com from the comfort of my computer, is a lifesaver. And when you discover that there are discounts available in the form of online coupons? Even better!

CouponChief.com is your one stop shop for a dizzying array of discount coupons from stores like Amazon.com, Target, BestBuy, Travelocity, Expedia, and the list goes on.

It really is a great way to find out about new special deals, discount coupon codes and promotions. From now on, I am going to check these guys first before starting my online shopping or even when I start planning our family vacation this year.

online coupons

My Moment of Fame...

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:29:00 +0000

Over on Crunchy Carpets

Check it out!

PayPerPost Keeps Getting Bigger and Bigger - Paid Post

noreply@blogger.com (Crunchy Carpets) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 19:03:00 +0000

I signed on with PayPerPost a while ago, but messed up my opportunities with all my 'redevelopment' of my blog world.

I finally qualify now and am very interested in all the opportunities for pay posts, affiliate deals and so forth.

Quite a few of my favorite blogs are doing really well with their PayPost program, and I have to say that they have NOT taken away from the quality and content of the sites.

If you already have good and frequent content, some interesting ads do not spoil it. In fact, I end up reading and clicking on a lot of the ads.

Word at the PayPerPost home base says they have some big news up their sleeves and they cannot WAIT to tell everyone! I wonder what it could be? Their program has been expanding so rapidly and they have getting bigger and better. They are offering more and more opportunities for you to monetize your website. Could they have some fun news about PostiCon07? Could a brand new partnership be in the works? Could they have more incentives for their referral program? Or perhaps some exiting opportunities for those interested in Review My Post! Visit the PayPerPost website in the next few weeks and sign up yourself to find out!