Spacial relationships are entirely different in Toronto than in Vancouver. Most of the Lower Mainland's rapid transit is based on the suburbs, so there is a north-south dynamic that entirely leaves out the downtown core/Broadway-UBC corridor. Its as though the Go Train was our only mass transit. We have no subway, so to walk for half an hour is not considered far. The conversion of brownstones into duplexes have allowed the city develop in a more dense, organic, community oriented manner; there are no front lawns and everything looks like it has been slowly added to, giving it a strange look. The resulting network of neighbourhoods makes up the city as a whole. On our first day it seemed every single neighbour was out of their house discussing their new gigantic recycling bins. Speaking of recycling, not only are TO's bins the size of Tie Domi, but they also have composting. And they have these monstrous public garbage/paper/cans bins everywhere. Toronto also appears to be a pretty good town to ride bikes in, but that's mostly because its flat.

The future for Insite doesn't look so bright, a fact made all the more obvious as the Feds beef up their funding for alternatives (i.e hospital beds). A trans-Canada convoy just started to raise awareness for the organization, with the first attention-grabbing stop taking place tomorrow in Calgary.

People want more public art, but the jury is still out on that upside-down church named "A Device to Root Out Evil". I'm willing to try anything at this point.

Apparently, the police have been instructed that candidacy for tasering is a state of "excited delirium". I can't wait for the inevitable mass taserings at the Madonna concert (best mental picture ever). Aside: I keep getting stuck on this: do you tase someone, or taser someone?

In the wake of growing ridership and rising gas prices, Translink cuts all advertising and begins encouraging people to carpool, cycle, and 'telecommute.' Wheres Scotty? And I thought they already encouraged this every time the #99 pulls away with someone's arm lodged in the door. Meanwhile, part two of "Make Transit Free" gets the re: post.

Screw gas costs, this one's for the bikers: have you thought about the cost of the fuel it takes for all that pedaling? I hope you're not buying 'organic' you selfish, selfish hipsters. Okay, to make up for it: cycling makes you a better lover, great Euro bike propaganda.

Last night, as I watched Texas rockers White Denim effortlessly win over an audience who had clearly gathered to see Tapes N' Tapes (watch this video and kick yourself for missing it). I was reminded of the greatest in indie-music highs: seeing an unknown band for the first time and being completely blown away. From a regular concert-goer's perspective, theres nothing nicer than coming home with a new disc and trying to match each track to the songs you heard live, rather than mumbling now nonsensical lyrics to a melody you and every undergrad in Vancouver has listened to online...

29 Productions will try and recreate this elusive feeling for fans once again this year, as from May 14th-19th they present the latest incarnation of the annual New Music West festival; a celebration of up-and-coming, often unsigned local talent. With 265 bands spread out over the next four days, including a plethora of local unknowns and a few international showcases, the schedule is pretty overwhelming. There'll also be free pre and post-show "networking parties," with a festival-covering wristband running you $30.

However... with a list of acts that will leave temples scratched (and beer flowing?), a clear focus on the commercial side of things, and Music Waste just around the corner... for the local gig-lover is this 'festival' really all for naught?

Thanks to Jon for filling in, and now for doing Tuesdays and Thursdays. Good to see Vancouver's still as absurd as ever.

Why I do Morning Brew: Media makes promise to Tourism Vancouver.

BC Liberals set to three peat. How much was that flat in Parkdale again?

What do the Gateway Program and Iraqi reconstruction have in common? Other than the collusion of government and private contractors? Or is that one just assumed?

Bill 42 to Stop Homeless People from Voting in BC Elections. What? They were allowed to vote? Disgusting.

Credit Check:
With all this talk and bullshit about being green, it’s appropriate and timely for the BC Government to use more wood to make slightly taller condos. They’ve just brought so much to our communities, condos. We owe it to them.

First of all, I'm a hater. We all know that. Second, everyone loves to hate Toronto, especially if you're from Vancouver. They even made a movie about it. Third, I didn't hate Toronto. I know. It doesn't add up. Sure, it had some spectacular moments of ineptitude which of course I will elaborate upon, but how refreshing to be in a city with a real taste for all things cultural, not just spirit orcas, and accidentally seeing the Choir Practice at a Canucks game.

Unlike my brief visit to Montreal, and unlike Vancouver it seems, Toronto doesn't appear to have vast segments of population that exist in isolation, or in autonomy, of the wider population. In Vancouver however, this exists in the psyche, manifesting itself in anti-social solitude for fear that someone will ask you for change, for your signature, to buy whatever they're giving out, or to to buy drugs. My god, in Toronto its actually possible to start up a random conversation with a stranger on the bus, or in the street.

Sorry about the lack of a Monday Morning Brew -- with Sean's return from Toronto, the wires got a little crossed. He told me he'd write it, but that was over beers (jet lagged beers, no less)... and the man had a weekend of birthdays and mothers to celebrate. For the time being, we'll be switching it up; I'll be giving you the Tuesday/Thursday lowdown while Sean will keep the sarcasm flowing on all those weekdays surrounding mine.

So the VPD are catching criminals via CrookTube, promoting via Facebook and have tried to round up recruits via Second Life. What's next... viral videos? "The Vancouver Police Department is fucking Matt Damon?" I totally see a Robert Downey Jr. cameo... And what ever came of that Second Life-VPD thing? I find it hard to believe they're still paying some of their men in blue to lurk around a virtual world avoiding item-spam from 12 year olds and unemployed graphic designers. Or do the recruits they picked up in Second Life last year merely explain the force's new love of Facebook? I have too many jokes.

On a more serious note, the RCMP have heavily censored their report on the Dziekanski incident. Meanwhile, on Friday a cardiologist testified that tasers were potentially fatal, while on Monday the chair of Taser International... the guy who probably makes the most money off the damn things... defended them. Maybe the cops just needs to develop a Facebook app to check their agression: "You've just been tased by the Vancouver Police Department! Would you like to install the Vancity-Taser application so you can join in the fun and tase your friends too?"

I'm not gonna link to it, but why is half our media devoted to a dead monkey? I hope these monkey-killers weren't looking for lots of attention/media-celebrity status, cause boy did they get it...