BeyondRobson | Posts by Jon

BeyondRobson | Posts by Jon http://www.beyondrobson.com/ Vancouver blog Copyright 2008 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:34:36 PDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Friday Art Splatter - September 5th Well, as promised, I'm back to offer up another rundown of the weekend's aesthetic highlights. And if you're not still recovering from last week's musical assault on the city or, like me, needing a heavy dose of solitude after a week spent re-acquainting yourself with the 'educational' life... there's a boatload of good art to be consumed over the next two days, and a variety of potentially 'enriching' ways to spend your time and money this weekend.

Theatre

I would have loved to offer some in-depth coverage of the 2008 Fringe Festival, which runs from September 3-14, but I'm just too busy these days. If anyone would like to see their own show review published here at BR, send 'em my way. Regardless, get out there and support some of the best and ballsiest local talent in Vancouver. There's some highlights from the Straight and some previews at VancouverPlays to get you started. This city has an exciting theatre scene that shouldn't be taken for granted...

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/arts/2008/09/friday_art_splatter_september_5th http://www.beyondrobson.com/arts/2008/09/friday_art_splatter_september_5th Arts Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:23:05 PDT Arts Jon 2008-09-05T16:23:05 Holiday Brew - Sept 1, 2008

Well I've finally returned from my roadtrip down to San Francisco to visit a friend and take in the epic Outside Lands festival (60,000 people each day, 40,000 who apparently took advantage of the 'relaxed' Californian atmosphere to stock up on vending machine goodies before entering). Two other things from the trip that may be of local interest: Black Mountain were a major highlight, and both the festival and city in general had the most impressive recycling program I've ever seen, with everything from napkins to plates to $10 pizza crusts being completely compostable. Here's some new coverage of a Vancouver composting initiative, but we obviously have quite a way to go.

The weekend's biggest local news would have to be the drive-by shooting on Commercial drive, marking Vancouver's 14th homicide of the year. That puts us right on par with Montreal - except they have three times our population. Though at least our targets aren't disabled?

Is the new NPA hopeful David Lee ignorant of the real issues? What will do you help reduce homelessness, Mr. Lee? "In life, everything has been done before..." Totally ripped from Lao Tse. "It's like banking but I feel that my contribution would add to it." Right, approach the DTES with a banking mentality and we're sure to make some progress. I think I like the taoist angle better.

More stuff from the Courier on the upcoming election, as an SFU prof asks if the glut of Vision candidates is ruining the party's chances. Am I the only one who cringes at the phrase "party brand"? And speaking of Vision, the Observer profiles hopeful Andrea Reimer. Mushrooms at 11 and acid trips at 12? Now that's perspective.

If you're upset by the Lions' loss on Friday, take some solace in these hilarious BC Lions print ads. Would the BC version be a geeky Korean businessman with a beer and a hotdog held awkwardly in each hand and a sweater reading "Football are Superfun!"?

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/holiday_brew_sept_1_2008 http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/holiday_brew_sept_1_2008 News Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:51:15 PDT News Jon 2008-08-31T00:51:15 Morning Brew: August 18, FIXED I got this offensive, asinine flyer in my mailbox and figured it was a Yaletown-targeted thing, only to realize they sent it to every home in East Van as well. I was gonna go on a short rant about the the hypocrisy of it all, but Eby does the job nicely. I'll channel that rage into giving you an extra bloated Monday brew, as this is probably all you'll be seeing of me this week. Good for two cups, at least?

The Province has a good piece on the feasibility, implications and outright necessity of a tent city, echoing some sentiments we've heard time and time again about the lack of any real government action when it comes to our city's homeless.

More awesome stuff from Past Tense: Harm Reduction, 50s style. "What's regarded today as the novel philosophy of harm reduction was simple pragmatism in 1952." Even back then, the Sun was reporting that there was "little doubt that the European system of cheap drugs and medical treatment is infinitely superior to our faltering system of straight police suppression."

On the other hand, this one makes Harper's slander seem like small beans: "Vancouver's Chief Constable told the Committee that addicts should all be quarantined on an island somewhere to prevent them from recruiting new users." The 'Salt Spring Solution'?

First dog-nappings, and now dog poisonings in Burnaby. I'm calling a temporary moratorium on small-dog jokes for all the victimized pooches out there. Rent this to escape the canine hate.

And like I said, I'm not gonna add to the pile of Olympic reportage, but I can help teach you how to handspin your newspapers into yarn.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_18_fixed http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_18_fixed News Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:08:50 PDT News Jon 2008-08-17T11:08:50 Friday Art Splatter
This is my first attempt at what may become a regular feature here at Beyond Robson (though I'm away next week), the Friday art splatter - or arts platter, if you will. Aren't I clever? Ahem. Just a little rundown of the artsy stuff I think may be worth checking out for the weekend; there's always so many exciting things going on in this city come Friday that it can be tough to keep track...

It's been a while now since I've profiled any local visual arts or music happenings. It's not that there's been a dearth of great ways to spend an aesthetically enriching Vancouver weekend; it's just that by the time I've finally narrowed down what's worth doing, I hardly have the energy to write a blog post about it. With that in mind, I thought I'd highlight a couple of random events happening this weekend that may be worth your time. I already wrote about some cool Saturday stuff in today's Brew, but here's a few things on the radar and worth highlighting for Friday night.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/arts/2008/08/friday_art_splatter http://www.beyondrobson.com/arts/2008/08/friday_art_splatter Arts Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:06:12 PDT Arts Jon 2008-08-15T09:06:12 Morning Brew: August 15, 2008
The number of major B.C. construction projects keeps growing. Spending some decent time on the streets of downtown Vancouver today, It almost looks like we're in the process of digging the entire city up in preparation for some kind of secret relocation to Mars. Yeah, I lingered too long on the library steps staring at a ripped-up Robson Square while inhaling secondhand pot smoke, sue me.

Vancouver's street people won't be hidden for the 2010 Olympics. Are we just gonna pull a Beijing-style replacement; some sober, cleanshaven lookalikes who sweep the streets and shine our shoes? I hear we've got a lot of under-employed actors kicking around... And are the Vancouver games bound to be overshadowed by the spectacle of Beijing, Mr. Campbell? "No. I think it's... uh... we're going to have spectacular mountains for sure, I guarantee it." Yeah, the view here works wonders for the peace of mind.

Slot machines are a go in Hastings Park. Gov just loves to keep those addictions flowin', so long as they help pad the bureaucratic beer bellies. Um, longterm social costs? These things are a cancer.

Holy Fuck, ya damn conservatives! Never judge a record by its cover.

Wanna see a real life tasering? Friday night might be your best chance: SkyTrain Pub Crawl! P.S. don't wear sandals.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_15_2008 http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_15_2008 News Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:01:49 PDT News Jon 2008-08-14T10:01:49 Morning Brew: August 13, 2008 It's thus far evaded our linking, but Naomi Klein's short piece on how China is using the Olympics as an attempt to create a 'Police State 2.0' is essential reading. You may also want to check out the longer Rolling Stone article from may, China's All Seeing Eye.

A soldier from BC dies, along with a Brit and another four civilians, while the Tyee go all Tyee on the pandering in Afghanistan. If anything, military service does have the potential to harden our citizens into naked 78 year-old vigilantes.

If there's one good thing to come out of China's crackdown on free speech, Campbell's taken a retaliatory hard-line stance on freedom of expression for 2010. It was a 200-year event, ya damn Commies! If someone had mentioned drunk driving, do you think he would've promised free weed?

The Canadian government wages war on arts and culture. Hasn't CBC television been doing that for years?

Closing down Insite will bring out the angel of death. 'Angel of death' - that's 3 parts heroin, 2 parts coke, and 1 part lysol, right?

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_13_2008 http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_13_2008 News Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:56:48 PDT News Jon 2008-08-11T09:56:48 Taxes, Brasstronaut, Language Arts, and David Eby: Great Music and Compelling Local Politics

I complain about our largely apolitical populace on a pretty regular basis in the Morning Brew, and recently drew attention to the fact that in the 2005 election only 32% of us turned out to vote. For most of my life I've been just as guilty as the rest of my peers; living within my own comfortable bubble of school, work, friends, and art while willfully ignoring civic politics. Since covering the Morning Brew for BR, however, my political awareness has skyrocketed, along with my discontent for the state of things in this city so full of potential.

One man who's been key in exposing the darker side of Vancouver's sociopolitical landscape while actively helping to foster a fairer situation in downtown Vancouver is Pivot Legal's Eastside advocate David Eby. He recently announced his intention to seek a Vision Vancouver nomination for the November election, and what better way to round up support from the Jon-demographic of underinvolved twenty-somethings than by hosting a cheap night of local music?

It was obvious Wednesday night's fundraiser had attracted a good crowd as soon as I caught site of the mass of bikes chained up outside the East Van Anza Club, not to mention the group of Eby, Orr, and Edo fans gathered outside...

More...

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/music/2008/08/taxes_brasstronaut_language_arts_and_david_eby_great_music_and_compelling_local_politics http://www.beyondrobson.com/music/2008/08/taxes_brasstronaut_language_arts_and_david_eby_great_music_and_compelling_local_politics Music Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:05:59 PDT Music Jon 2008-08-09T11:05:59 The Films of Guy Maddin - 'Archangel' and 'My Winnipeg'

This post is pretty late coming, as tonight may be your final chance to see either of these films... but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to highlight the work of genius Canadian auteur Guy Maddin while two of his movies are showing downtown. I've seen four of his features now, and caught his most recent "documentary", the hugely acclaimed My Winnipeg, on the plane ride home from Athens (cheers to those fancy new personal screens.)

That film has been playing in Vancouver for a couple of weeks now, and I imagine come Friday the Tinsletown Cinemas could axe it to open up space for another 'Batman' or 'Pineapple Express' screening (I'll update this when I confirm). The other one is Archangel, his newly-restored second feature, screening tonight at the Pacific Cinematheque. A bit more, and a trailer, after the jump...

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/film/2008/08/the_films_of_guy_maddin_archangel_and_my_winnipeg http://www.beyondrobson.com/film/2008/08/the_films_of_guy_maddin_archangel_and_my_winnipeg Film Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:20:03 PDT Film Jon 2008-08-07T12:20:03 Morning Brew: August 8 - Born to Be Kings

The second black bear was shot by police in Coquitlam this week, while the... shit, I'm losing count... one more is dead as another BC flight goes down.

Now a breastfeeding mom complains of harassment from Westjet. On that note, Bitches Are Back.

So those Chinese attempts to play God with the weather didn't quite work. My anti-Beijing '08 sentiments are pretty hardened (though maybe not quite cemented - ch-ching!)... so in the slight chance you're interested in sports or shiny things - sorry. I'll give you this Long History of Olympic Politics photo-essay instead. Ok, and a dash of sports: the Olympic five-ringed bicycle; chasing the Olympic dream 'like a deer running from a panther'.

Vancouver will have its turn under the bad-press spotlights soon enough.

"Not far from here, an Olympic drug lab is in place to test athletes for performance-enhancing drugs, but in the mean streets of Vancouver, you can buy and inject heroin, crack or cocaine without fear of arrest."

Way to get the ball rolling, Mr. Hume... but we smoke our crack, thank you very much. And Canada's aboriginal people used to "roam freely"? Did we send our laziest reporters to China just in case their government decided to summarily execute all foreign media? How bout y'all go find something in Beijing to report about, I heard there's a lot going on this time of year.

The I Am Rich iPhone application. Only $999 for the world's best metaphor.

More...

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_8_born_to_be_kings http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_8_born_to_be_kings News Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:20:18 PDT News Jon 2008-08-06T14:20:18 Morning Brew: August 6, 2008
Real estate prices are officially down. Nice, now you can afford those extra few square feet to squeeze in Poofie's jogadog.

A quick guide to Beijing's extreme makeover; covers all your bases from turtle blood bans to feline extermination to rainfall-controlling silver-iodide-filled rockets. Apparantly they weren't as prepared for the Muslim separatists. Meanwhile, nature responded in style to that silver rocket bullshit. The government was successful, however, in completely eliminating both Ron MacLean and any sign of natural human life from their capital city.

One of the most interesting pieces yet to emerge from the steady flow of Vancouver history-blogging: The Dope Craze That's Terrorizing Vancouver: a look at how the Downtown Eastside has been a drug haven since the '30s -- we just used to keep it all indoors. Great stuff.

One woman plans to complain to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal after she's told by H&M to take the breastfeeding to the changeroom. Uncalled for, perhaps... but I'd say introducing one's child to H&M at such an early age is the biggest human rights violation in this story.

A visual exploration of how the American diet has changed in the last 30 years, including an overall increase in 1.8 pounds of food consumed per person per week. What we've lost in veal and lard we've more than made up for in cheese & corn. You are what you eat?

World's Worst Person Decides to Go Into Marketing

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_6_2008 http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/08/morning_brew_august_6_2008 News Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:25:19 PDT News Jon 2008-08-05T14:25:19 David Eby's Campaign Fundraiser - Language Arts, Taxes, Brasstronaut & Tyler Fedchuk

If you're not too wrapped up in festival fever, debating taser use, or adding to the now monstrous pile of self-indulgent hipster "debate", you'd realize we have a municipal election on the horizon (Novermber 15, to be exact). Barring anything completely out of the ordinary, the team we elect this fall will be our city council during the Olympics, that civically enriching/devastating celebration where our world's nations can come together in beautiful Vancouver and conspire over steroids and figure skating instead of fuel, bombs, or the environment for a few weeks...

Regardless of my cynicism, the next few years will be vitally important to our city, and the way we manage the 2010 Olympics (and all that surrounds them) will have an impact that'll be felt far beyond the upcoming three year mayoral term. This really could be the most important election Vancouver has seen in a long time.

One face we could be seeing a lot of come November belongs to someone who'll be familiar to anyone who keeps up with the Morning Brew or pays attention to DTES advocacy: Pivot Legal's Dave Eby. The lawyer has become an icon for the local anti-poverty movement and the search for affordable housing solutions, and his background could end up proving to be one of our municipal government's most vital assets in the period surrounding 2010. A month after announcing his intention to seek a Vision nomination, Eby will be hosting a Campaign Live Fundraiser at the Anza club on Wednesday night featuring the music of Language Arts, Taxes, Brasstronaut, and DJ Tyler Fedchuk. More after the jump...

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/city/2008/08/david_ebys_campaign_fundraiser_language_arts_taxes_brasstronaut_tyler_fedchuk http://www.beyondrobson.com/city/2008/08/david_ebys_campaign_fundraiser_language_arts_taxes_brasstronaut_tyler_fedchuk City Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:13:17 PDT City Jon 2008-08-04T20:13:17 Morning Brew: August 1, 2008 Monday is B.C. Day, so, uh... long weekend! The Straight has got your festival linkfest. But if you're not aching for another street festival (Wow, Vancouverites still can't walk and, check, dippin' dots are still inedible. Ok, maybe the Jamaican Festival sounds fun...) you could go out to Abbostford and check out/sabotage the North West Skydive Boogie. There'll be "dual plane formations of up to 30 people along with high speed landings." High speed landings? Well, I suppose hurling yourself out of a plane and into the dirt is a fitter way to celebrate B.C than street sushi or homoerotic exhibitionism.

And while we're talking Pride Parade; I'm sorry I didn't link to it earlier, but I hope all my neighbors have already placed their orders at Pride Pup, so all those pugs are properly decked out come Sunday. I'm totally ordering some stuff to flesh out my (most certainly hidden) hipster cache. Who needs a V-neck or shitty beer when you've got a sweet ironic barrette?

So Translink put on their dictator hat and decided we'll be building a new, tolled Pattullo bridge. Whatever, I sincerely hope we're not all driving this much in ten years time.

Meanwhile, the combination of that rock slide and the five-hour drunken drive to Pemberton makes it pretty obvious we need to figure out how we're going to confidently get the masses to Whistler and back come 2010. People were already pretty pissed last weekend and they had Tom Petty & Jay Z waiting for them. All those Olympic fools have on the other end is twiggy guys in spandex and bobsled replays. Meh, I'd rather sit in my car with the radio and cheap beer anyway.

'Plan A' will change the face of Abbotsford. You know what'll really change the face of Abbotsford? When we're all forced to relocate there thanks to rising tides. Dudes better open up one of those cupcake joints stat...

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/07/morning_brew_august_1_2008 http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/07/morning_brew_august_1_2008 News Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:38:18 PDT News Jon 2008-07-31T09:38:18 Morning Brew: July 30, 2008

Drugs are a good business to avoid. But you gotta do what you can to support the the number one city in Canada. Here's more info on Monday's murder from CBC, as well as their interactive map of Metro Van murders in 2008, so you can keep track of how much we rule.

Wanna avoid bike theft? 10 ways to uglify your wheels. Could also double as a guide to increasing your hipster cachet (or cache, even). I so see that fake rust shit catching on around here.

Canadian flight attendants rally to save their jobs. If they start dressing like this again, I'll definitely lend my support. And, needlessly, here's 19,000 airline meals.

One guerrilla gardening Vancouverite has won the 'Greenest Canadian' award. What is guerrilla gardening, exactly? That last link was just an excuse to point out Heavy Petal, a local eco-blog with an irresistible double-pun of a title and lots more info on illicit seeding.

B.Cers prefer to drink... well... ummm... lets just say we like to get drunk and leave it at that. Regardless, we still got nothin' on those Malaysian pen-tailed tree shrews.

American-style helmet law enforcement? Watch one critical mass bicyclist get assaulted by the NYPD. Here's a nice Discover Vancouver thread from the last couple days as well: CRITICAL MASSHOLES. That'll learn ya, you spandex wearing homos. Yep, everyone is online now.

As populations dwindle, B.C has been urged to stop the Grizzly hunt. I'll do what I can by linking to this brand new song by the great NY band Grizzly Bear, as seen on Letterman.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/07/morning_brew_july_30_2008 http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/07/morning_brew_july_30_2008 News Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:47:07 PDT News Jon 2008-07-29T10:47:07 Morning Brew: July 28, 2008

Take a look at Beijing's terrificly creepy Olympic welcoming robots. But don't let them overhear you say 'dictatorship,' or the red one's computer screen turns into a violent, tourist-consuming jaw while the blue one starts shooting lasers outta' the eyes...

The Hells Angels had a huge party in Langley on Friday and Kim Bolan of the Vancouver Sun was covering the event live. That's definitely the type of liveblogging I can get behind (but did they teach her about any cool Wordpress widgets or SEO tricks?? The whole thing feels kinda incomplete.)

With all this talk of the Hells Angels, all I can think about is the money I'd pay for a big budget 'Hells Angels vs Asian Gang' hollywood epic: meth, bikes, kungfu and shotguns... maybe a melee in the middle of Yaletown while Vancouver is hosting BlogHer 2012; shit writes itself. While we're on it, the NYTimes has a writeup of the aforementioned event and a look at "Blogging's Glass Ceiling".

A Vancouver teen was invited up on stage to jam with Peter Frampton. So Frampton saw the only chick in the crowd under 40 and is so irrelevant these days he has to promise 'em stagetime? Only kidding... congrats to Kelly Yu, sounds like a pretty memorable experience. Banging a rock star and all...

Another for the list: Ammunition prices are on the rise. Surrey responds.

Pissed off at hipster hate? Just be glad you're not an emo in Europe.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/07/morning_brew_july_28_2008 http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/07/morning_brew_july_28_2008 News Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:58:05 PDT News Jon 2008-07-27T09:58:05 Morning Brew: July 25, 2008

So last night both me and Sean were at the damn fine No Age show down at Richards (more on that in the near future). Twas the end of a pretty epic day, and neither of us were ready to whip out a brew late last night. Here's a small sampling of news from this morning in its place...

The Olympics security budget will exceed the $175M estimate... but we don't know to what extent. With it costing Salt Lake, Athens, & Turin $500 Million-$1Billion each, I'm sure it won't be by much.

But fear not, as Wrigley Canada will be shelling out $3-15M for Olympic sponsorship rights. I can't think of a nicer metaphor than the thousands of Vanoc sanctioned black gum stains that'll inevitably litter our pavement for years after 2010.

Advocates for the Victoria blind don't want 'silent' electric cars allowed in the city. What? We gonna have chirping mufflers now too? Makes me wonder how the lyre bird would react? Meanwhile, electric cars are selling well in Quebec.

Think iPhone or small-dog fetishists are creepy? They've got nothing on the cult of the mom.

Sorry if you've seen it, but Bert and Ernie + Gangster Rap.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/07/morning_brew_july_25_2008 http://www.beyondrobson.com/news/2008/07/morning_brew_july_25_2008 News Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:42:53 PDT News Jon 2008-07-25T10:42:53