Goodbye Winter, Hello Future

Dog Snow Sliders



Proposal in Washington Square Park



Listening to: Massive Attack - Daydreaming

 

Banksy In Toronto

Previously, I wrote about Banksy new film Exit Through the Gift Shop. For the Toronto premiere of his new film, he created some art in Toronto.



Near near 4th and La Brea



Near 9th and Broadway

 

I wonder if he will leave his mark on Vancouver.

The CBC gallery of Banksy's work around the world.

 

A Sweet Reunion

Conservationist Damian Aspinall raised gorilla Kwibi for five years in England. He released into a conservation park in West Africa. After being apart for five years, Kwibi was attacking humans. Aspinall decided to go to Africa and see if Kwibi would remember him. The reunion is amazing.



 

I Am A Gleek

I think I am officially a Gleek. I recently watched the clips from Madonna episode the Golden Globe winner Glee and was hooked. Jane Lynch's rendition of Madonna's Vogue is outstanding.

The show features a passionate talented group of performance artists (outcasts) in a high school. Each of the show's character's and actors are an inspiration to nerds, geeks, misfits and outcasts everywhere. It is interesting to hear about their high school experiences, usually of being outcasts because they were part of choir or drama clubs.

The Glee cast was also on the Oprah Winfrey show. The cast also performed at the White House for Easter.

Creator Ryan Murphy says the show is about "celebrating the difference in you". He continues to say that at that young of an age you think that's the worst in you, but as you grow older and wiser, you realize it's one of the best things about yourself.

Recently, there was a Glee flash mob in Seattle.

Listening to: Glee Cast - Don't Stop Believing

 

Urban Art Is Here

Finally, Vancouver is starting to showcase and magnify the landscape with temporary and permanent urban art installations. The previous week, I walked with J across the Cambie Bridge and along False Creek North to English Bay. Along the seawall, we saw many art installations and the new park by Granville Bridge.

By Sunset Beach, there is a beautiful aluminum art structure in the shape of a man consisting of letters and symbols from many languages. Another installation is a group of bronze statues laughing at English Bay. The metallic structure at Vanier Park titled Freezing Water is another installation.




These art installations are part of the Biennial Exhibition.

This week, I walked with J again over the Cambie Bridge, past Chinatown, through Gastown, around Canada Place and around the new Convention Centre. The interior of the Convention Centre is stunning. The new center has a living roof, seawater heating and cooling system, on-site water treatment (recycles washroom water) and a fish habitat in the foundation.




The art installations consist of a gigantic blue teardrop (maybe a raindrop) and a Digital Orca by Douglas Coupland.

Listening to: Gorillaz - Stylo

 

Frisky reviews eleven questionable Barbie releases by Matel. I remember having the Barbie MacDonald's restaurant, however, I do not ever recall seeing the Poop-n-Scoop version with dog Tanner.

To celebrate hard-working, under paid Administrative Professionals everywhere for Administrative Professionals Day, here is a list of the best ten movie and tv shows with secretaries, receptionists and personal assistants.

In a society where the spread of germs and viruses is a growing concern, always remember to never try on make-up samples until they have been sterilized. Personally, I always just try it on my finger and wash my finger afterward.

Oh, la la! Where did you get that gorgeous roadkill accessory bag? I would die to have one just like it! Just kidding.

Listening to: Bjork - Big Time Sensuality

 

Banksy's Exit Through The Gift Shop



President Obama mandates visitation rights in hospitals for same-sex couples.

Crimson Collective builds a gigantic solar-powered crane art installation for the Coachella Music Festival.

Adam Savage's speech to Harvard students titled Food for The Eagle.

Listening to: Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle

 

Some BS

Breaking News: Some Bullshit Happening Somewhere

 

The Story of Bottled Water

I personally donate monthly to Oxfam because one of the organization's primary initiatives is to provide clean water for developing countries.

Another organization H20 Africa Foundation was co-founded by Matt Damon.

 

Thank You Canada

Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor of the Daily Nightly sends Canada a thank you note.

Olympic Gold

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, became the first Canadians and North Americans to win Olympic gold in ice dancing.

Watch the video of their exquisite and flawless performance.

 

We Are More by Shane Koyczan



 

Olympics Fever

What a week! Last week I trekked, laughed, gazed and socialized all over the 2010 Olympics bonanza. Last Monday, we saw DJ Spooky from New York mix-mash it up with violinist Daniel at the Yaletown stage.



DJ Spooky provided an amazing performance showcasing his mixing talents off his new album. We avoided the corporate pavilions. After the show, we wandered up to Davie Street for some French Canadian poutine at La Belle Patate.

On Wednesday, Yonderboy and I met at the Olympic Station and walked over the Cambie Street bridge on a beautiful sunshine day. We could see the sea of red at China Creek Park next to Science World for the taping of Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert. I wanted to be at the taping, but I did not want to line up at 7 am for 6ish hours. Although, from the photos online, I see he rode a moose, hoisted up a stuffed beaver and sang O Canada to the music of the Star-Spangled Banner.

We checked out all the live shows and zip trek at Robson Square. It was incredible to watch people zip trek across the square. The ice skating rink looked awesome too. It was so great to walk around the crowds of people from all over the world excited and wearing their nations' colours with pride.



We walked down to the Olympic Flame (Cauldron) and took some photos. We also queued for 30 minutes to see the Cauldron from the viewing platform. The mountains were majestic behind Stanley Park. We also went into the movie theatre housed in double-stacked shipping containers to watch a short-film.



On Friday, I rode the new Canada Line train to Yaletown. I was very impressed with the signage and announcements to assist passengers to their destinations. The train felt like a high-class form of transportation. I met Nic in Yaletown. The streets were humming with young folks. I heard that fans has been lined up for the Deadmau5 evening show since 9 am in the morning.

We walked over the Vancouver Library to meet Y. Her mate has been VJing in the Aboriginal Peoples Pavilion all week. You could see the video displays from the exterior next to Queen Elizabeth Theatre. We went to Roxy Burger on Granville Street for dinner. Granville Street was a mad-house full of youths and people wear the flag as capes. A few more friends joined us as we cheered on Manitoba's Jon Montgomery win gold in skeleton.

We met up with a few more friends on Georgia Street and walked around Granville and Robson Streets. The art installations on Granville Street looked fantastic lightened at night.



Then, we went to see the cauldron at night. It was so beautiful. It was around midnight and the streets were still jammed with people. We headed over to Steamworks Pub to have some beers and bites. The pub was adjacent to Germany House, but the cover was $20. Needless to say, the Germany House was empty and the music played was terrible.
On the way home on the Night Bus over the Burrard Bridge, the male youths broke into song singing O Canada.

On Sunday, we tried to go to La Belle Patate for brunch, but the potato cutter broke and the shop was closed. Plan B was Japadog on Burrard and Smithe, but there was a huge lineup. I like Japadog, but not for a half an hour wait. We ended up with grilled panini sandwiches at IGA Marketplace.

We checked out Robson Square. I cheered as the zip trekkers went overhead. We were lucky enough to see the Squamish Nation's Eagle Dancers perform their songs and dances at the stage. Wow, their performance was so mesmerizing. Then, we watched a bit of the Mascots on Ice. Sumi is my favourite.

The naysayers may still be griping about the Olympics in Vancouver. But they are here, so why not enjoy the special events, live performances, showcasing our beautiful city and welcoming International visitors?



 

Someone Like You

A survey resulting with the top 10 annoying things at work.

Funny signs from the Flickr Blog.

Funny commercial featuring a Japanese Business Cat (thanks JD!).



 

Panda Attack

Shiba Inu Puppy Cam.

Listening to: Naked Eyes - Promises, Promises

 

Starry Starry Night

I recently came across a very cool online art exhibit that features Fashion Faces Clothing Sculptures.



This Lego Pop-up Kinkaku-ji (Temple) is amazing.



Also, the Flickr Blog's feature of starry photographs is lovely.



Listening to: Fleetwood Mac - Say You Love Me

 

Black Friday

“Too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns.”

As quoted, by President Carter’s in his Crisis Of Confidence speech made on July 15, 1979, in Michael Moore's film Capitalism: A Love Story.

Matthew Good's review on Michael Moore's film.

I was wondering how Black Friday unfolded in the United States. Black Friday is typically the first Friday after American Thanksgiving that kicks off the Christmas shopping season. Corporations and economists debate whether or not it reflects how the economy is going and how high is consumer confidence.



Overall, it was general mayhem. There were no deaths, injuries and significant property damage, but there was a lot of fighting and disrespectful behaviour.



In Labour News, Walmart was forced to pay former employees in Massachusetts $40 million in back wages in a class-action lawsuit. The suit was filed eight years ago and claimed the mega-corporation owes the employees fourteen years worth of unpaid overtime, missed breaks, and other uncompensated work.

Listening to: Trooper - The Boys In the Bright White Sports Cars

 

Wal-Mart: The American Dream

I recently read on the Consumerist a story about a couple printing photos for the wife's father's funeral at Wal-Mart. The photo lab wouldn't give her several of her photos because the employee believed the photos may be copyrighted. The woman held back tears as she watched her deceased father's photos be shredded.

The article started whirling my brain to several other media stories I have read that cast a dark shadow on Wal-Mart's polices and practices. I do not shop at Wal-Mart because of all the employee labour laws it violates and all the pending class-action lawsuits.

However, even when Wal-Mart looses a class-action lawsuit for paying women less than men, or paying illegal immigrants less than minimum wage, it can pay the judgment easily because it makes $20,000 profit every minute, and a annual profit of $12 billion.



Articles:

Mother Charged by Police Courtesy of Wal-Mart for Child Pornography

Walmart To Pay $7,000 OSHA Fine In Worker Death

11 Things Banned By Walmart

 

Listening to: Crosby, Stills & Nash - American Dream

 

Meet Kami

Kami is a new 5 year old HIV-positive girl Muppet on Sesame Street South Africa. She also an orphan and is teaching her neighbours and friends some harsh realities of life. She is the new role model for 28,000 HIV-positive children and 1.4 million orphans in Africa.



Kami talks with President Clinton.

 

Colbert Report with Woody Harrelson.

I love Stephen Colbert's mock-journalism news show. Colbert is delightfully hilarious.

He recently started fundraising for the U.S. Speed Skating Team. His campaign raised over $40k. When the site crashed from overwhelming response, he blamed it on Canadian hackers.

 

Rick Mercer Report

Rick Mercer and Rick Hansen Bungee Jump



Listening to Trooper - Here For A Good Time