So the power went out downtown and CBC tells you everything while CKNW give us the existential version. I've heard one too many people pull the "spoilt bastards can't live without power" card over the last couple days. Hello? We live in the society we live in, and this is the core of the largest metropolitan area in Western Canada. The place is practically defined by electricity, and you can't blame the people who live and work here for feeling a little out of sorts. Though I must admit it was fun walking around the Robson & Granville area on Monday morning and watching the chaos of cars and pedestrians completely unable to share the road before the transit cops arrived. And I suppose you couldn't ask for a timelier reminder of our society's consumptive reliance... and the fact that our hearts still keep pumping after the air conditioners die.

Let's just hope no crazies are taking notes with some epic Olympic shenanigans in mind. Meh, the riot clock shall tick on regardless of downtown power levels, though I'm sure as long as the "french quarter" doesn't blow up everyone'll be as happy as an island of inebriated tourists.

Here's my favourite blog-reaction to the event. A few of those lines are definitely getting added to my found-ESL-poetry collection. And this must be the guy who was actually responsible. Cmon', his mood is 'amused' and he writes in a language I can't even confidently identify.

The Happy Frog have a good interview up with panelists form Saturday's Peak Oil & The Media discussion. Some important stuff that you won't be able to ignore for much longer.

So any takers for solar power yet? Though if BC Hydro does decide to embrace it full force, can we stick the inevitable bundle of combustible wires underneath Surrey?

I say you might as well sell the car now and start saving up for that private island, especially since we'll all be living on a bunch of glorified lily pads sooner or later...

Musical theatre is certainly nothing new to Stanley Park. After officially opening in 1940, Theatre Under the Stars fast became a staple of the Vancouver summer. Watching Broadway adaptations in the open-air Malkin bowl is now one of our city's longest running artistic traditions and both of this year's productions, Jesus Christ Superstar and Annie Get Your Gun, have already been given the TUTS treatment before. After taking a year off in 2006, last year's season was met with glowing reviews and expectations were running high for my first outdoor theatre experience in Vancouver (yes, I must make it to Bard on the Beach eventually).

Being the resident theatre critic here at Beyond Robson, I was the natural choice to cover this year's Under the Stars offerings. But, I'll be perfectly honest: I'm not usually a huge fan of the musicals. I've reserved my musical-theatre experiences for situations that seem to demand it (i.e. seeing "Rent" in New York and "Cabaret" while visiting London with my sister, the actress -- both of which I ultimately enjoyed). Soon after donning the theatre hat for BR, I had the chance to take in the amazing Black Rider, and reviewed the Arts Club's wonderful rendition of The Producers. After seeing how well one Vancouver company managed to pull that show off, I was actually kind of excited to check out two more homegrown Broadway adaptations. Would this year's TUTS complete my conversion into a full fledged fan of the song-and-dance storytelling?

At the end of last week, Pivot's David Eby announced he'll be running for Vision Vancouver in the next election, but we were all too busy getting amped up on free frozen corn syrup while scoping out iPhone apps to really say anything or offer the proper congratulations. Whoo Dave! Honestly, all I can think about right now is the man's sweet get-up in the above photo. And am I just way too tired, or is that a Christopher Walken t-shirt? Either way -- screw saving the Downtown Eastside, dude just needs to channel those good looks into landing a recurring role on Stargate Atlantis. Cause then, y'know, he'll have really made it in this town.

Another skytrain station assault, and the police are telling women to forgo stereo sound for the time being. Here's another option: turn your mp3 player into a taser. Doubles as the ultimate in iPod theft protection or as an ironic transit cop defense tool.

The International Energy Agency says offshore drilling in B.C may be key in helping ease the oil crisis. I see it now: Alberta & British Columbia join up and declare independence, only to be invaded shortly thereafter by an oil-hungry but significantly less powerful (though left-leaning) America, who frame a war on Columberta around it having the 'lowest carbon footprint' of all possible invasions. My rant reminds me of this little gem from the onion: How Can We Make the War in Iraq More Eco-Friendly?

I like this: East Van, East Side, East End, West Van, West Side, West End?. And how about adding New West to that list?

Is anybody who reads my sarcastic ramblings old enough to remember the Junior Garbage Gobbler?

So, in no way was I planning to cover last night's Wolf Parade and Listening Party show (hence the Listening Party press photo). First of all, I'm a little skeptical of the value of post-show reviews in general -- who really wants to hear about the greatness of a party they weren't invited to? And secondly, I payed my own way (and I wasn't gonna make the lady take photos of this one), but the evening simply turned out to be too noteworthy to pass up posting on, and the two stellar performances from two amazing bands (one virtually unknown) was only the start...

So after waking up this morning to no brew (hope Sean didn't get mugged pylon-hunting in Surrey), I figured I'd throw something together during an hour of free time.

First up, what everyone really cares about: after endless rumors, the Canucks sign Pavol Demitra and the police release more info on the missing feet; two of them belonging to one man. They also seem relatively confident these murders aren't based on preference in sneaker brand -- unless he's trying to get one of each. If that's case, put the superstars away for the summer...

The Woodlands School heritage building burns down, and the first comment at CBC comes from a dude named sammijean who sounds like the one who did it, or something: "This has been long overdue... may all the haunting and distressing memories also be cleansed away by the billowing smoke." Just a tad creepy.

A woman with a prosthetic leg was attacked in a parking lot on Davie over her desire for the handicapped space. Maybe those guys took it too far, but everyone knows people with prosthetic legs are superhuman.

Written on the city: found poetry. The Vancouver section is pretty lacking, and I know people love to write shit on our city walls. Get to work all you photo hounds.

Is BC Hydro afraid of the sun, or just happy and well-hydrated? Even the Amish are more eco-progressive, apparently (and they already went car-free). And here's 13 Earth Loving Solar Gadgets, but they missed the locally designed SOlo, which according to that Amish-lovin' Sun article "comes with a number of features including: a USB, a lighter, and three electrical outlets." A lighter? To fill a Vancouver creative's every need? I think they meant 'internal lighting.' Not that any of it really matters, since our wasteful asses have already pretty much exhausted the elements we use to make solar panels and the like.

So get your iPhones before supplies literally run out, but don't try going to an Apple store.

The Sun reports on Beijing's pre-Olympic smog problem, which got me thinking of the Lower Mainland's own polluted skies. While things may be slowly improving, those wildfires in California only add more lung-ravaging particles to "one of the worst smog problems in Canada". Second worst, I believe. I get in this argument semi-regularly (half nicotine, half conviction): with all the anti-smoking hoopla, don't we really subject our lungs to a lot of other damage without batting an eye?

Good thing we'll all be able to extend our lives with a pill soon enough, so we can turn it all round... right? Or at least have enough time to order the inevitable replacement screws for our IKEA coffins.

The wonderful animated short I Met the Walrus, which sets a recorded discussion between a 14-year-old Canadian and John Lennon to some nicely done stream-of-consciousness animation, is now available on the youtube...