Vancouver Sea to Sky City

NEW Follow Livingsword on Twitter

2011-04-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Follow Livingsword on Twitter?

By popular demand (what are people thinking?) I am now on Twitter (you can see me if you click that fancy Twitter button.

My twitting and tweeting promises revealing insights that may be shocking to some, preposterous to others and sizzling to the uninitiated…

What shall I Twitter about?

Well it will always be the Unedited Uncensored Video of my Mind…I will reveal my inner thoughts like never before…this is personal…and I mean business (what does that mean? Good question says I).

Everything the Blade Vision Network already slashes and burns shall fall victim to my arsenal of wordishness (except much more abbreviated, no not inebriated)…but as I said this is personal…you want the depth of shallowness of my mind this is it! (Somehow that does not seem quite right…but I promised not to edit didn’t I?)

Follow me on Twitter as I expose life as it is and life as it should be…there could be some dirty images for the theater of the mind…my ideas and ideals stripped naked (that should do it for the marketing, I should do product placement for Survivor)…

Beware the Blood the Blossom and the Blade!

Reactions to Premier Gordon Campbell’s Resignation

2010-11-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell today announced his resignation (more here). Gordon Campbell (a Liberal) has a long record of public service as Mayor of Vancouver (1986-1993), Leader of the Opposition (1993-2001) and Premier of BC starting June 5, 2001.*

New Democratic Party leader Carole James acknowledged Mr. Campbell’s service to the province but then displayed a lack of class in that she then attacked his record and policies. Certainly she is the Leader of the Opposition but Ms. James seems to be in want of true leadership as she could not hold her tongue in simple respect to Mr. Campbell’s service.

Debra McPherson (President of the BC Nurses Union) was ugly and un-nurse-like in her attack of Mr. Campbell.* Now I am not one to think that politics is to be only for those with class, sophistication and compassion. However it is interesting to see the vitriol and hate from those on the political left, those who claim to own the turf on kindness.

While the policies of Mr. Campbell may be unpopular to some or even most of British Columbians he was elected Premier three straight times. He has served the province for nine years as Premier and was in opposition for eight years. Carole James as Leader of the Opposition (for the past seven years) should then have respect on a single day, the announcement of his resignation, for a person that has served so long.

On the Canadian national stage when such an announcement is made the leaders of all the political parties show decorum and respect for their fellow elected civil servant.

It is a sad day for British Columbia as a hopeful “Premier in waiting” has proven once again to be an un-leader… For some time Mr. Campbell has been thought of as at the least arrogant by those who disagree with his policies and Ms. James has for long been thought of as incompetent by her detractors.

Perhaps this is a good time to clean house in Victoria, as the Liberal’s choose a new leader our next Premier the NDP should pick a new leader, one who has more class than class warfare in her mind and on her tongue…

Please note I am not and never have been affiliated with any political party…

Play Vancouver Canucks Fantasy Hockey

2010-10-05T01:13:00.001-07:00

Vancouver Canucks Fantasy Hockey is ready to rock you!

Body checks, slap shots, blades, sticks, goals and the penalty box, which do you prefer? Pick your favourite players...

Another season of blogger Fantasy Hockey beckons...

Click the link bellow; you want to join the group (don’t just join Fantasy Hockey but join this exact group):

Vancouver Canucks on the Blade

The password is:

blade

Play Vancouver Canucks on the Blade Fantasy Hockey (click here)

You can follow the season on our blog @ Vancouver Canucks Fantasy Hockey

The Vancouver Aquarium Whale Referendum Question

2010-07-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

Blogging Metro Vancouver...

In Vancouver one does not need to hold their breath for long waiting for the surfacing of a pod of ocean mammal freedom fighters. The usual target of “freeing” the Vancouver Aquarium whales is being podcasted to the minions of the animal equality subculture (also known as the radical left fin political movement) emerging into the popular culture.

Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Stuart MacKinnon of the Green Party (translation: humans evil animals good) is flapping his tail promoting a referendum intended to stop the marine mammal slave trade via a referendum in the 2011 municipal elections.

I am attentive to the British Columbia cell phone driving ban but I am now wondering if radio should also be banned as I was driving along listening to

Michael Smyth who was guest hosting Christy Clark's Show on CKNW. Michael’s guest actually said that whales and dolphins are sentient species and are as intelligent as humans are...does he really believe humans are stupid enough to believe this? The guest was also a strong promoter of whale culture...thankfully Michael rejected this whale of a tale...

Now I hasten to add that I...yes I, also like whales. They are majestic creatures that I greatly appreciate (this appreciation started when I was a child visiting the Vancouver Aquarium)...however for a person to state that whales are sentient and intelligent as humans then to espouse the glory of whale culture is shallow beached whale thinking...

As my dog used to say “if whales are so smart they would have their owners chauffer them to the park for a walk.” We would go for these walks after our vast right wing conspiracy meetings....

Vancouver politics is a circus not an aquarium...

Vancouver Aquarium photos by yours truly…

10 Things I Hate About Metro Vancouver

2010-07-07T09:42:00.001-07:00

Vancouver Sea to Sky City is a gem of a place to live…Metro Vancouver is nestled in a gorgeous natural setting; it has some fine accomplishments and has tremendous potential…yet like all places there are things that are…less than pleasant…thus my 10 Things I Hate About Metro Vancouver List…

10. Vancouver Canucks: To be frank no other team or sport seems to matter to this city and the Canucks have never won it all…for the amount of fan support the team gets it is just plain silly…hopefully the Whitecaps can change things…

9. The Art Scene: Sure we have some nice native art, and certainly we get some good concerts and other seasonal shows but the Vancouver Art Gallery has no good permanent exhibits…I applaud the attempts in recent years in having some temporary exhibits of European masters presented…well done…but the permanent exhibits are very poor…

8. Perpetual Rain: Sure there are times when it is not raining…such as in the middle of the night…yes it is a sunny summer day as I write this, and yes the rain is a nice supply of water and yes it is nice we don’t get the snow the rest of the country gets…but the rain goes on for months and months…and the sky is overcast so much I may build an ark this winter…

7. Big Local Media: With the sole exception of CKNW which is good the rest of the local media is not worth the cost even if they are a free newspaper…

6. Main and Hastings: An eye sore, a travesty of community and to be blunt a scary place to be…it is getting better but is still an unnatural disaster…

5. Vancouver School Board: Absolutely pathetic leadership, they would go bankrupt running a national lottery…More interested in scoring political points than good education merged with economic feasibility…

4. Vancouver City Hall: Politics in the city of Vancouver is a circus…high taxation, ridiculous decisions….polarized perspectives….poor leadership…and it matters not which party is running the freak show…this is a city government that has spent so much time on legalizing backyard chickens that they have dropped all the other eggs they are juggling…certainly they have entertainment value…but it comes at a steep price…

3. Marijuana smoke: In a region where smoking cigarettes is becoming increasingly unpopular and illegal… Marijuana smoke wafts about every neighborhood…It is disgusting and repugnant…and nothing is done about it…The other day I was inundated by the stench polluting my lungs in no less than 4 different municipalities!

2. TransLink: The Metro Vancouver transit super power…A body that although having an elected “mayor’s council” (composed of the 21 mayors of Metro Vancouver) does not have direct elections but has the power of taxation…Transit in the City of Vancouver may be very good but it is horrid in places such as Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley…

1. Toll Bridges: Metro Vancouver already has one toll bridge with the Golden Ears Bridge and soon the Port Mann Bridge replacement will force those on the South side of the Fraser River to pay more…again…and if that is not enough when the Pattullo Bridge is replaced it will also be a toll bridge! Yet when millions were spent on upgrading the Lions Gate Bridge, Ironworkers Bridge and the Sea to Sky Highway no tolls were instigated…

I should add that this list can fluctuate…but for now this will do…

New Vancouver Whitecaps Logo Video

2010-06-08T19:09:00.001-07:00

There it is the new Vancouver Whitecaps logo via video…

What do you think?

The Vancouver School Board Continues Financial Temper Tantrum

2010-06-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver School Board must resign or the Minister of Education should remove them…

The Globe and Mail

B.C.’s education minister has denied a request for emergency funding by Vancouver School Board trustees, saying the cash crisis the board is facing is their own fault.

“This is not an emergency,” Margaret MacDiarmid said after meeting with trustees. “This is a situation where poor choices that the board has made have diverted millions of dollars from the classroom to other areas.”…

…Ms. MacDiarmid encouraged parents to read the report online.

“If I were a parent in Vancouver I would be very concerned because I've been told over the years that there's not enough money and what this report demonstrates is that the money that is there has not been managed well.”

Ms. MacDiarmid said other school boards, including those in the Okanagan Similkameen, Grand Forks and Surrey, have done a relatively good job of dealing with their budgets.

“There's a striking difference in the way that different boards are governed,” she said.

Entirety of The Globe and Mail story...

The Controller General report on the Vancouver School Board released last week which revealed the obsessive compulsive tendencies of the school board and its neurotic fantasy of advocating for children in the district to the abrogation of its duties financially has put on full display why the school board should be dismissed….

The report is clear in its delineations of extremely poor fiscal management which cannot be hidden behind a façade of “caring for children”….Spending into oblivion is irresponsible and not caring…not caring for financial obligations or children…

The Vancouver School Board has done such a horrid job that one must consider that they have either used children as political pawns, are outrageously incompetent…or delusional in their perceived role as a school board…Why is it every other school board in the province has managed to deal with the realities of today’s economy but Vancouver thinks it is Greek government workers? How bad are things…

The CBC highlights of the report:

"Despite management advice to support longer-term decision-making, some of the board's choices have created significant budget pressures of about $8 million this year."

"Up to $11.8 million additional revenue and cost-savings opportunities have been identified, including more opportunities for shared services."

"Excess space is not being maximized. VSB could achieve up to $5.7 million in annual savings by closing and consolidating schools."

"The board focuses on advocacy at the expense of stewardship of the district. The board must focus on fulfilling responsibilities for education services and limit advocacy activities, noting the appropriateness of using district resources to fund advocacy work is highly questionable."

"Trustees have not demonstrated that they have the management capacity to effectively govern the district. Consistent concerns about the ethical and organizational culture at the VSB were strongly evident, as was the perceived lack of trust between the board and district management."

"The board's lack of a long-term vision and plan has led to short-term decisions rather than long-term planning of the district, finances and assets."

The entirety of the CBC story...

Key phrase “advocacy at the expense of stewardship”…and this is indeed an expensive error…

The Vancouver School Board must be expelled…

Read the…Office of the Controller General (Ministry of Finance) Vancouver School Board Report

Vancouver vs Seattle Museum of Glass and Whistler

2010-06-03T21:20:00.001-07:00

Continuing our Seattle vacation...

Seattle is a city that appreciates its art and close by Tacoma lays claim to the spectacle that is the Museum of Glass...

We have previously visited the Museum of Glass but each time the experience is worth the time and this occasion was not the exception. We were very pleased to experience the amazing art of Preston Singletary native art translated with glass...masterfully... You can observe live glassmaking which is like watching molten hot dancing...

The Chihuly Bridge of Glass is by itself worth the visit and its free! The Museum of Glass building is a marvellously unique masterwork by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson...We highly recommend the Museum of Glass...and Vancouver has nothing that can touch it...or does it?

Later we went and visited some Seattle neighbourhoods, walked in some parks and did some shopping...While Vancouver has nothing like the Museum of Glass it does have Whistler possibly the best resort on the planet (great in winter and summer)...Seattle has nothing like that...

Vancouver and Seattle are both excellent cities to visit. Seattle has a clear edge with the arts. Vancouver has a much more impressive downtown core of shopping, towers and liveability. Seattle is exciting leading with Microsoft, Starbucks and Boeing! Speaking of which The Museum of Flight in Seattle, we have visited it in the past and it is fantastic...definitely worth the visit....

Vancouver has the majestic character provincial capital city of Victoria nearby and it is worth a vacation on its own...Seattle has an amazing web of a freeway far exceeding that of Vancouver...

Both cities are surrounded with wonders of nature...Vancouver I would say has the edge there with much superior water front access and the stunning North Shore Mountains at its footsteps...Both cities love sports...but Vancouver seems to have the edge on the outdoors and it did host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Overall I am inclined to say that Seattle is a better indoor city than Vancouver...there is simply more to do of higher calibre indoors in Seattle...However outdoors Vancouver’s outdoors quality and quantity is superb...Seattle is good but Vancouver scoops the outdoors...both great cities to spend time...perhaps as an excellent one two punch...

A dreamy part of the world....

Vancouver vs Seattle Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum

2010-06-02T21:05:00.001-07:00

Today was the day...sure the celebration of my birthday here in Seattle is not for a couple more days but this was the day...my dear wife had agreed to do this...and this was no simple thing as she is not a fan of science fiction...

Today we went to the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum! Now we had visited the Experience Music Project side of the building in the past but she had always outright refused to visit the Science Fiction Museum...obviously this is true love...

The buildings architecture is wondrously stunning and the Experience Music Project is a must see for anybody visiting Seattle. Its interactive exhibits, art and collections are fabulous...

The Science Fiction Museum was everything I was hoping for and more...Star Trek, Logan’s Run, Blade Runner, Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, Dune, Terminator and all the other essentials of such a museum...this collection is to science fiction what the Louvre is to art. There is memorabilia from the start of sci-fi to today...don’t walk or run but beam or warp to the Science Fiction Museum. I will be posting more on the Science Fiction Museum at my Sci-Fi blog Star and Dragon...While Vancouver has its interesting Museum of Anthropology it is not even in the same league as the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum...score one for Seattle...

Later we beamed over to Starbucks to ruminate and converse on what we had encountered...my wife admitted that it was something good to experience with a sci-fi fan...then later related it as good husband pleasing. However I note that when retrieving our umbrellas at the coat check when we were asked if we enjoyed ourselves my wife replied that “it was good.”

We went for another walk in the local park in yet another snazzy neighbourhood and then went shopping...she at Lucy and me at Barnes & Noble...then over to an Asian restaurant with the perfect flavour combos. Comparing shopping between Vancouver and Seattle is more difficult than you could imagine...books cost more in British Columbia than Washington State (although I was just scoping out books to download to my Kindle!). Both cities have the top designers however there is no Lucy in Vancouver. The outlet stores in Seattle are excellent...but Vancouver is also currently cheap for the American dollar...

Next we expand our Seattle excursion and visit a major art attraction...

Vancouver vs Seattle Woodland Park Zoo Golden Gardens Park Ballard Locks

2010-06-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

Our brief vacation to Seattle continues with the Animals in Captivity Tour...

Thus we went to Woodland Park Zoo, we have been to the zoo on many an occasion as is our propensity while traveling (last year we went to the London Zoo which was very disappointing, the Honolulu Zoo was quite good for a city of that size)...

While Vancouver has the Vancouver Aquarium (very good, we recommend visits) and the Greater Vancouver Zoo (not so good) Woodland Park Zoo is very much worth the time spent with the animals...the animals homes are continually being improved with some very nice enclosures now on exhibit and there are some beautiful animals at the zoo...our favourites being the African Wild Dogs, Red Panda and of course the Red Ruffed Lemur...they also have a very good selection of birds...the zoo is orientated towards helping many endangered species and general conservation...

Sadly because of economics the zoo no longer has one of our favourite exhibits...the nocturnal animals has been shut down...still for a city of this size it is a good zoo...it beats Vancouver in the Animals in Captivity section of our survey...we spent over 3 hours at the zoo...time well spent...

We went for a nice walk along the beach at Golden Gardens Park and then to look in shops and for an Indian dinner in the Ballard area...Seattle has many interesting and unique neighbourhoods...the "Ballard Locks" are in the area and very worth the visit...

While Vancouver has a much superior downtown area Seattle is better in the neighbourhood’s category...Vancouver provides much better ocean access but Seattle is still pretty good...both cities has many excellent dining experiences...

Seattle appears to have many more smokers than Vancouver...both cities need to improve their public restrooms...Seattle is a clean city but it seems Vancouver is much cleaner...

As Canadians walking around an American city we fit in almost seamlessly...most take us for locals. Vancouver and Seattle are quite similar so this may seem to be no surprise...we did notice that it seems that many locals refuse to use umbrellas when it is raining while in Vancouver they are frequently an extension of our bodies...

Vancouver vs Seattle Frye Art Museum Pike Place Market Olympic Sculpture Park Washington Park Arboretum Seattle Japanese Garden

2010-05-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

This morning we awoke to an inundation of rain in Seattle...it is Memorial Day which is a holiday and we discovered that the Frye Art Museum was going to be open so we went there as there as we wanted to view the founding collection...some beautiful paintings exhibited in one room in salon-style...

The museum building itself is architecturally interesting...we found the modern art to be lacking but the founding collection though not up to many European standards lived up to our anticipation and exceeded it! Wall to wall, ceiling to floor...allow for some artistic liberty here...the works were hung salon-style.

We particularly liked The Shepherdess by William A Bouguereau along with his Flight of Love...also very gratifying to spend time with were The Coming Storm by Hans Dahl, Sun Maiden by Lillian Genth, Landscape with Snow by Arnold Gorter, Rosario Guerrero by Friedrich Kaulbach and the voluptuous Voluptas by Franz von Lenbach...a room worthy of at least an hour of your time...and it is free! This beats anything similar in Vancouver unless the Vancouver Art Gallery gets in a travelling exhibit...

We then went to Nordstrom’s for the gigantic shoe sale (a must for the ladies, with plenty of entertainment value for the gentlemen)...we walked around downtown Seattle experiencing the cities towers and peoples...including the always busy and exciting Pike Place Market (another must see with fish tossing fish mongers!)...Nordstrom is better than the Hudson Bay Company...I will give Vancouver’s Granville Island the vote in comparison to the market...but it is close...

We walked around the nearby waterfront Olympic Sculpture Park (when the sun came out to play) which provides a nice setting by the water and pleasant atmosphere for walks...English Bay in Vancouver is much nicer...and a must see...

We followed this up with a pleasurable exploration of Washington Park Arboretum and the wonderfully surprising Seattle Japanese Garden (loved it!) nicely cultivated with the care to detail that brings smiles to the face of those who take pleasure in nature deftly touched by human hands...Vancouver’s Stanley Park is spectacular nudging to take the best park pick...and Queen Elizabeth Park is I judge in a draw with its Japanese style counterpart...both great visits...

We recommend everyplace we went today...The Frye Art Museum and Seattle Japanese Garden being our faves of the day...but in fairness we had been to all the other locations before...

A good steak dinner ended the day’s adventures leaving us full but waiting for the coming days of Seattle adventures...

Vancouver vs Seattle the I5 Road Trip Green and Greener

2010-05-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Perhaps no city is more like Vancouver than its nearby American sister city Seattle...and yet the two cities are distinctly different in fascinating and delightful ways...

As we waited in line leaving the country of maple leafs whose motto is “we are not Americans”...we inched forward in the line to enter the nation south of our Majesties territories...and yet the similarities are before our eyes as we “inched forward” we did not “centimetre forward”...

After answering the typical customs questions that seemed cleverly crafted to confuse we drove along the I5 to the Emerald City...a city we have visited often and who continues its call...not just to the outlet malls either (although we saved over 50% on every purchase!) but also to the many surprisingly distinct neighbourhoods...

We found our accommodations (we like to spice things up by staying in a variance of locations) and did some exploring, checking out several locations around Lake Washington. Vancouver has the mighty Fraser River, the magnificent ocean side settings and some nice lakes...Seattle had a nice ocean front...yet it is Lake Washington that provides a fresh feel to the city...it is a wet Okanagan Lake meets Pacific Coast city...its sheer size and proximity to the city are desirable and pleasant...

Both Vancouver and Seattle are green cities...they get rain...plenty of rain, thus have lots of green trees...they both have ocean and lake waters...both are preoccupied with the environment...both are economically successful cities...both have some green envy of other larger cities...

Vancouver Sea to Sky city vs Seattle the Emerald City...which is best? In regards to lakes Vancouver has more lakes but the scope, style and substance of Seattle is perhaps slightly preferable...

The cities are both simply different shades of green and greener...but the road trip is not yet complete...so prepare to become more sensitive to the shades, blends and flavours...which will be followed up with a photo comparison...

Ride like the Wind

2010-05-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Blogging Metro Vancouver…

It was supposed to be a default Vancouver day of rain…but the wind came alive…tree branches littered the roads…and then the wind was gone…never seen but its manifestation evident in its pine scented footsteps…

The sky blue the sun a spotlight on life…and the city came alive!

A city of smiles…the magnificent white capped mountains stood as sentinels framing the horizon to the north…the panorama of glistening English Bay to the west…beautiful Boundary Bay to our American south shone gloriously…Mt Baker our ever present American friend towered majestically to the south east…the jagged teeth of the Coastal Mountains stabbed heavenward along the eastern horizon..

The downtown core sparkled as light played upon towers of steel and glass…reflecting the joy of the people and the effervescent beauty of British Columbia…

Bald eagles soared in the window we call sky…herons moved like dancers upon the stage of nature…

Today I saw it all…and it was iridescently shocking to the soul…today I am ALIVE and I…

Ride like the Wind…

How do you feel alive?

The BC HST is it Good or Bad?

2010-05-12T22:03:00.000-07:00

Blogging British Columbia….

The BC HST is it Good or Bad?

I have waited awhile to comment upon the British Columbia HST (Harmonized Sales Tax)…The provincial Liberal government has taken a furnace of fire over the introduction of this tax. For those of you not from BC don’t be fooled by the name, they are not the far left provincial party that is the New Democratic Party…also the provincial Liberals are not associated with the federal Liberals (who are left wing). In general the provincial Liberals straddle the middle politically…they often take the best and worst of both sides…however the only realistic alternative (that could also actually form government) is the far left NDP….to confuse things even more the federal Canadian government is currently a minority Conservative government…

There is the question of whether the Liberals knew they were going to introduce this tax before the provincial election last year and did not inform the electorate about it…I am taking the position of looking at the tax itself…as unemotionally as possible…without regard to if the electorate was purposely deceived…

After some careful and prolonged analysis of the HST I regret to say that I find it to be a pretty good tax…not perfect to be sure but still overall it is a fair and open tax…

The question is do we need more taxes? We currently cannot afford the lifestyle to which we have become accustomed…do we increase taxes to pay for said lifestyle…keep taxes the same and cut government programs/spending…cut taxes and spending…

What would you cut? Education, healthcare, infrastructure…what?

Learn more about the HST….

The British Columbia Government HST web page

The Official Fight the HST web page

Canada Revenue Agency: HST

Addendum…another helpful source of information on the HST:

Wikipedia: Harmonized Sales Tax

Introducing: Science Fantasy: Star and Dragon

2010-04-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

What is your fantasy?

Speculative fiction as expressed through science fiction and fantasy is a passion of mine. The intellectual and creative process combining to contrive the probable and the possible…as well as the impossible and outright miraculous…

Much of the creative writing that appears in our blogs is seeds of experimentation in speculative fiction. Exercises that have aided me in developing a novel of science fantasy…a yet uncompleted work but one that is well along…perhaps you can help me develop my craft…or maybe you want to watch a train wreck…

Star and Dragon is a logical outworking of that passion. It will boldly go into all aspects of science fiction, fantasy, myth and legend with blends of unique ideas, characters and places…and favourites from the worlds of science fiction and fantasy…

Yet we will not stop there…as speculative fiction is a wonderful launch pad for conversations it will also be philosophical and more…what is the meaning of why we create such characters, creatures, empires, technology and planets?

Beam over to Star and Dragon and have a look.

A Sexy Threesome?

2010-03-03T19:42:00.001-08:00

How sexy a threesome is this…

There were three of them…together…touching…I saw them when I opened my mail box. The lady was a hyphenated Conservative, the other two were men, the Liberal was a no-name brand and the other was an unknown from the NDP. The NDP letter came in an envelope which made me think of the added costs in tax dollars and the environment…never mind the pretensions.

The three major political parties sent me letters that arrived the same day! Imagine my glee as I skipped back to my home with these epistles in hand, celebrities writing me…alright perhaps you also received these mailings or something similar?

The Liberal pamphlet had an image of the Parliament buildings on it with a shiny HUGE chain obscuring it with an equally impressive padlock. The words “Democracy locked out” were emblazoned upon the bottom of the front page. The big issue was Prime Minister Stephen Harper proroguing Parliament…the actual term is not used in the letter (but is implied) probably because most people would be confused thinking it had something to so with pierogies.

For those that think government is the answer to every problem we have and can’t cut down enough trees to print the required magnitude of money to spend on issues that perhaps people could handle themselves if left with a bit more of their own hard earned money in their deflated wallets this is an issue. Personally I am rather pleased when government is not inventing new ways to spend my money. Its cheaper to send them on vacation to the Caribbean like the Senate…

The Conservative letter had images of two $50 bills folded into arrows…the arrow pointing down had the words “Lower taxes” on it and the side with the arrow pointing up said “More savings”. The next page tells us “Lower Taxes. Good for you. Good for Canada.”

For those of us that don’t think the government is capable-of or should have the roll-of trying to solve every challenge that rolls our way this makes the point. I have spent some time trying to think of a witty comment to cut the fancy folded $50’s into shreds for the sake of equal opportunity but alas I have failed. Could it be $100’s?

I left the enveloped NDP letter till last…they are always the best…you always leave the punch line till last…They have four $20’s on the front page! With the caption “Tired of costly bills? Get ready to pay more” (underline theirs).

On the inside there is a woman holding her face like she is having a migraine (the usual position of most that listen to the NDP). She has a nice snazzy short haircut; I am not sure how she afforded it. The point of this letter is that the “Harper-Ignatieff HST” is evil. They have combined the Conservative Prime Minister with the Liberal leader because they have worked mutually to support the HST…the NDP hates the HST…

On Canada Day July the first the HST will start in British Columbia, Premier Gordon Campbell has taken a lot of heat over it. It reminds me of when Prime Minister Mulroney brought in the GST. Many were outraged, disaster was foretold…and it was a brilliant move. Sorry I said it…but it is true….the down side is very limited the upside is quite positive...including transparency in taxation (another nice thing about the GST). It may even help people spend more wisely (doubt it) and as it should cause savings for most businesses they may be passed along one way or another to consumers.

The NDP is screeching that corporations should be taxed not “working people” (translation: union workers that agree with the NDP). Here comes the migraine…you see if you raise corporate taxes what happens? Who actually pays corporate taxes? The consumers that buy their products and/or services…the same people that will pay the HST. Companies pass along costs to their customers…who else is going to pay their bills (unless you are a lousy North American auto manufacturer)…

However, many companies will save money that could be used for growth (including employment) and could use the money to increase competitive advantage against those that choose to not share their savings with their customers. If you really think that corporations are going to get fat off this tax then by their stock.

How sexy is this threesome?

BC Budget 2010 Sticky Debt

2010-03-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

BC politics meets BC money…

The BC 2010 Budget was presented by Finance Minister Colin Hansen and the word war has heated up. The budget throws the province further into the red with increased spending…

“…an unprecedented $40.6-billion over the next fiscal year…That’s a $900-million increase from last years spending forecast”

- - National Post

“…But this year's forecasted $1.7-billion deficit includes a $460-million increase in overall program spending, money that will target family-oriented programs including youth sport, all-day kindergarten and childcare subsidies.”

- - The Globe and Mail

“…Hansen introduced a no-surprises budget that increases spending on healthcare this year by $750 million, and on education by $140 million.”

- - The Vancouver Sun

“The provincial government re-committed Tuesday to a wage freeze in public sector bargaining and to cap lay offs at 5 per cent of the 30,000-member civil service — 1,500 full-time equivalent positions — over the next three years.

Overall the government is forecast to lose about 11 per cent or 3,500 public service jobs by 2013 through layoffs, retirements and resignations, according to the provincial budget.”

- - The Vancouver Sun

Of course NDP opposition leader Carole James is not pleased along with her cohorts BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair and BC Teachers Federation President Irene Lanzinger. The job of the opposition is to put fire to the feet of the government so I have no problem with James disagreements…however she seems awfully weak, certainly not Premier material. Sinclair comes across as so far to the left that he can’t be taken seriously. Lanzinger seems to be a one trick pony. It would be nice if the left got its act together so that we could have a healthy alternative to the Liberals if need be.

The various business organizations are generally very pleased along with economists and accountants. I am not pleased that we are growing our debt as it hurts everybody in the province particularly the neediest ever the longer term. Accumulating debt is not healthy over extended periods however the government is taking steps to mitigate the damage. Their actions in regards to the civil service are helpful and I am hopeful that with prudent fiscal care things will become more manageable. The global fiscal situation is challenging for every political arena these days.

Debt is very sticky…it takes a long time to wash it off…

Reality check, it is easy to complain about insufficient funding for health and education. As long as anybody gets ill and dies or anybody lacks the highest degree of education we have not succeeded in acquiring an “A”. But all the wealth of the planet is insufficient to get an “A” in these areas as they are boundless. Childcare subsidies are outrageous, whatever happened to personal responsibility? Premier Campbell is looking pretty good right now…but please keep your shoe on the neck of the debt…

Vancouver Olympic Glowing Hearts

2010-03-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Olympic Glowing Hearts...an assessment of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Vancouver Sea to Sky City, city by the bay, city by the mountains, city of diversity, city of gold, the city of splendorous glass upon a stage of supernatural beauty...a quiet pride explodes into euphoria city.

The flame came, saw...and conquered. Vancouver happily wed wearing its Olympic rings and boldly proclaiming the maple leaf. We are touched by heart swelling stories perhaps exemplified by the graceful and heroic Joannie Rochette along with breathe holding moments of the men’s gold medal hockey game.

Vancouver has proven to be the gem that all who know it understand it to be. Now the athlete’s parade is over and the flame extinguished the day after is upon us, we own the legacy and have arrived. What is the legacy and where have we arrived?

I have been neither an Olympics denier or Olympics evangelist and now as I reflect upon this spectacle and weigh all the pros and cons I feel some discomfiture.

I am a humbly proud Canadian, British Columbian and Vancouverite. Perhaps that is what configures my mixture of emotions, I love the sports and a good time yet I abhor waste and find repulsive proclamations that are inherently simplistic and ludicrous, declarations that imply sports has a transcending power to save the world...add to that money that could have been spent more sensibly and I am in a quandary. Certainly many in Metro Vancouver would be repulsed by my lack of lustrous hyperbole glorifying the events of our Games.

I loved the rampant patriotism of our Premier Campbell, I have enjoyed the passion, dedication and skill of the athletes, I appreciate the volunteers and work that went into representing my home and native land...I value the labour of the security personnel and our generous guests that spent loads of money to help us pay for this enormous event.

Was this spectacle worth it? We finally within my lifetime received back some of the money we have sent to Eastern Canada for our own infrastructure...but then again...

...my heart is glowing I just hope it isn’t heart burn...

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies the Morning After Riot

2010-02-13T10:49:00.001-08:00

Vancouver Sea to Sky City is a Vancouver blog so when assessing the spectacle of the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games I thought it would be a good thing to read the words of those that are not locals. I checked out the New York Times and found a fair review…but I will give some local flavour…yes we say flavour not flavor…we also say colour not color…we speak Canadian…By the way as I am in British Columbia on the west coast (also called the wet coast or left coast) I looked to New York not evil Toronto….

I watched the Opening Ceremonies on TV as I would not spend a thousand dollars to be there in person...instead my wife and I went to London in September for 7 days (flight and accommodation included). I do not regret that decision.

It was classy the way the ceremony repeated mention of the horrible tragedy of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili who died that day on a practice run. The minute of silence was tasteful and poignant.

The visual effects were spectacular even on TV. The moments of solitary figures on the grand stage had impact that throngs of people can often lack. It also spoke of the integration of individualism and community at the heart of Canadian culture and history.

Speaking of culture poet Shane Koyaczyn provided one of the highlights with his description of Canada the nation of “please and thank you…Canada is the ‘what’ in ‘what’s new’…the surprise the world has in store for you” Here is a similar version of his presentation…

The integration of aboriginal peoples within the spectacle was I am sure impactful for a world audience and was also done in a tasteful way. After awhile I was thinking that most people watching on television may think Canada is entirely aboriginal then IOC President Jaques Rogge spent an eternity speaking in French…Canada is officially bilingual but very few people in Metro Vancouver (or British Columbia and western Canada) speak French (Chinese or Punjabi would be much more popular). The Canadian TV network did not provide subtitles which left one wondering if he was telling those in Quebec to separate…

Governor General Michaëlle Jean looked gorgeous as usual (the best looking GG in the world) but for some reason seemed to be in long sessions of meditating eye closed navel gazing…She is the representative of our Queen that lives in a different country so why all the atonements of sleepiness…a word alone please * Michaëlle were you suffering from jetlag?*

I have to admit that one of the things I dislike about the Olympics is when they spin the yarn about sports changing the world like it is a miracle elixir… John Furlong chair of VANOC did a great job spinning his story of sport but honestly this whole sports changing the world thing is pathetic…the same thing happens at music awards…music will change the world…yeah right…

Nikki Yanofsky’s version of our national anthem “O Canada” was unfortunately horrid…don’t get me wrong she is a very pretty and has a great voice but it is a national anthem not a death dirge or suicidal recital…We have a pretty good anthem if I may say so but she just killed it…A word alone with Nikki please *Nikki please stop doing this style of the anthem its humiliating…now please carry on and have a wonderful career*

The moment of lighting the Olympic cauldron was a disaster…sure not a Haiti-like disaster but still an Opening Ceremonies disaster…and it was not the fault of those carrying the flame…

Canadian hero Rick Hansen rolled into the stadium in his wheelchair to thunderous applause (three Paralympic gold medals and the man that encircled the globe in his wheelchair race logging over 40,000km raising $26 million for spinal cord research). The man in motion an inspiration to all, he then lit the torch of another Canadian hero Catriona LeMay Doan. I have had opportunity to spend time with Catriona and she is one of the most amazing people I have ever met….Genuine humility living in the person of a true champion (two Olympic gold medals, one bronze, and five world championship gold in speed skating). Shocking beautiful on the outside and inside…

The speed skating titan then lit the flame of Steve Nash NBA superstar (two times NBA MVP) and Canadian summer Olympian (a local and global hero). He then lit the flame of Nancy Greene (Olympic gold and silver, gold World Champion in Alpine skiing…plus Canadian Senator). Nancy is a genuine BC hero who has made wonderful contributions to her province…Suspense then hung in the air as everybody wondered who the final torch bearer would be…

Thankfully the wise choice was made…Wayne Gretzky the Great One…the Greatest Canadian athlete of all time…the Greatest hockey player of all time…and perhaps the Greatest athlete of all time…He rewrote the record book in goals and assists…has displayed amazing classy leadership…He fundamentally changed his sport…when you breath the word hockey embedded within it is the Great One…

These five Canadian icons of sport then awaited with their flames alit the raising of the massive torch columns to light the inside cauldron…alas that of Catriona LeMay Doan lay dormant in the floor of the stage suffering from hydraulic failure…After what seemed an eternity the other arms standing they were lit and Catriona stood on guard by hers…

Then Wayne Gretzky runs from the stadium with his torch leaving to light the outside cauldron…a long ride in the back of a pickup truck (very Canadian) with adoring fans running in the streets behind him…Alright I have to say I thought this was ridiculous…just plain silly…

Now this morning after the Opening Ceremonies I hear on the radio that approximately 200 rogues are running through Metro Vancouver’s downtown core wearing masks, kicking in shop windows, spray painting busses and cars and terrorizing people…The radio called them protestors…I call them criminals…this is not freedom of speech it is criminal...this is not freedom of speech it is criminal anarchy…A member of the “Olympic Resistance Network” then comes on the radio defending these actions! Freedom of speech does not allow for destruction of others property…or terrorizing people…

Welcome to Vancouver…

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Drug Testing

2010-02-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games descend upon Vancouver and although the question of drug testing for athletes could be brought forth…the BBC files the following report:

As Vancouver prepares to host the Winter Olympics, the city continues to struggle with a vicious drugs war. Dozens have been killed in escalating turf battles that have spread far beyond the city limits. But it is a war that has its roots even further away, in Mexico.

It rains a lot in Vancouver, but this city's ambition will not be dampened. Olympic organisers have spent nearly $2bn (US$1.87bn; £1.2bn) to showcase a confident, modern metropolis to the world.

But barely a mile from the gleaming stadium that will host the opening ceremony, there is another Vancouver no-one is proud of.

The Downtown Eastside is a clump of rundown hotels and liquor stores. It is teeming with pushers, pimps and prostitutes, and home to one of the worst drug problems in North America.

- - From the BBC

Indeed Vancouver really is a “confident, modern metropolis”…one that has a horrid addictions problem. It is not unusual in Metro Vancouver to smell poisonous marijuana smoke wafting in the air. Even people that may appear “normal” promulgate drugs particularly marijuana. Many, perhaps the majority push the idea of drug legalization.

This is a city where smoking cigarettes in public has become much more difficult to do with laws forbidding smoking in an increasing variance of locations. Yet people want to legalize drugs…and don’t seem to care about second hand smoke from marijuana…this is a city of addictions and broken minds. We shall see if the Winter Olympics creates a different addiction…one of fitness of mind, body and spirit. I will be holding my breath….

Prelude to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

2010-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony is mere days away, and the focus of the media and people is slowly turning away from the ugliness and politics of the “Olympic movement” to the ceremonies and athletic events. The torch relay for some mysterious reason seems to resonate with some people; thousands are attending events around the stick and flame.

The banners and flags festoon Metro Vancouver, buses rented from California and other places have been brought in to supplement local transit for the influx of people and those displaced from their regular commutes. People are waving the Canadian flag at trucks hauling snow from Manning Park to Cyprus Mountain. Vancouver is a city prepared to seize the day.

The usual local determination of “Vancouver is a global city” seems to have taken on the connotation of a city that has arrived…arrived where I am not sure. It seems to me that a city that is continually telling itself something like this lacks security in self. Does London keep saying to itself that it is a global city? Perish the thought!

Vancouver is a city that is very open and seeks fairness and opportunity for all. A city with a dramatic natural backdrop supplemented with west coast architecture and pacific people. It is a young city by global standards, a city with little history but great diversity. What it lacks in the arts it attempts to rectify with mountains and sea.

The stage is set for the cameras and tourists, the athletes and fans…yet I admit I have not yet caught any of this vaunted Olympic fever. I like sports and community as much as the next person perhaps more so…yet I feel a reticence in regards to these Games. I am hoping this will change once the athletes take centre ice but we shall see. Go Canada Go?

Remembrance Day a Video Tribute to the Canadian Armed Forces

2009-11-09T02:00:00.000-08:00

Remembrance Day November 11….

To wake from sleep…And live our lives as sheep…School, work, family and marriage…Our lives are to some an evil mirage…To believe so is justice in miscarriage…Yet we try best to not respond with rage…Or to thus live in a cage…There are those who wish to shovel our souls to the deep…To our brave men and women we trust our freedom to keep…In thus doing many have fallen asleep…For this we weep…And to remember is a promise we intend to keep…

Thank you Team Canada…our Canadian Armed Forces…

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Photo Finish: Vancouver Prepares to Shine and Protest

2009-10-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of protestors in Victoria interrupted the Olympic torch relay (here for more on that). The event was ruined for many that turned out for this celebration. There are expectations that something similar will happen in Vancouver when the torch arrives.

Whether you were originally in favour of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics the fact is the Games are here…Freedom of speech is one thing but disrupting and ruining an event for others is another…hurting other people by disrupting events is not sexy…is does not help your cause…

This is an opportunity for British Columbia and Metro Vancouver to shine and yes it is a free country so go ahead and peacefully lawfully protest if you feel so inclined…but don’t ruin events for others. Let your protest shine in a Canadian way…a Metro Vancouver way…a peaceful harbor spectacularly growing into the future...a beautiful photo finish…a place not just with natural beauty but beautiful people…

Photo by Livingsword

U2 360 Tour Vancouver Concert: Political Agenda: Aung San Suu Kyi, Desmond Tutu, Bill Gates, Philanthropy, AIDS, Political Prisoners and the Olympics

2009-10-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

The U2 360° Tour Vancouver Concert was theatrical spectacle as well as concert…plus more…

Bono and the boys roll into town with a performance par excellence, a show BIGGER than life…but they also unabashedly present a global agenda…they admit that it is crazy that people will listen to rock stars political views but if people will listen then why not try and make the world a better place…

With that in mind they play Walk On while asking for support of Aung San Suu Kyi Burmese political prisoner…

…Desmond Tutu speaks about AIDS and Africa…Bono sings Happy Birthday to Bill Gates (in BC Place for the event) while also thanking him for his philanthropic contributions (to thunderous applause)…

…and images of support for those seeking freedom in Iran were bold and spoke volumes to the crowd…

Many will point fingers at U2 saying they are hypocrites etc…but I have to confess I love it when Bono humbly admits that he is “a mess” and that his walk as a Jesus follower is not as he wants it to be…he is genuine and does not come across as self righteous or arrogant…he admits to being a screw up that is just trying to do his best at making life a bit better…

This shouts into my life as I know I am broken and only being held together by the grace of God…

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games are touted as an opportunity to promote positive lives and the human experience…why not a rock band?

Is it wrong for rock stars and celebrities to promote philanthropic causes? I say no…bring it on…but I prefer the humble broken approach of Bono…What do you think?

Photos by Livingsword

U2 360° Tour Vancouver Concert: The Greatest Rock Band in the World? BC Place Ready to Host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics?

2009-10-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

The U2 360° Tour Vancouver Concert was not mere concert…it was as some called it a “force of nature”…many reiterated that it was the best live performance to ever hit the city…

The performance was spectacle and it was art, it was music and it was an avenue of spirituality, it was a bedazzling light show and a triumph of sound…

As a friend of mine at the concert/spectacle said “why did we have to buy seats…we didn’t use them” as we stood and danced for the entire presentation…

Two hours and seventeen minutes served up in phenomenal splendor…made the audience almost forget the energetic and entertaining warm up act of the Black Eyed Peas.

The line up outside BC Place was outrageous and certainly does not look good if this is what it will be like for the opening and closing ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games…

Many people at the concert kept asking the question…is U2 the Greatest Rock Band in the World?

More photos and commentary from the concert coming soon…

Photos by Livingsword