http://www.bikefurniture.com/

For those in need of inspiration!

Last night, I walked up to the Orpheum just after 7:00, spoke to a lady working in the ticket office, and purchased row 5 tickets to see Dave Brubeck at 8:00. What an amazing show.

I've been sent a few links by my lawyer regarding recent court cases involving bicycles. For those interested in reading this particular case summary, I point you to courts.gov.bc.ca for the lowdown. While I think this rider was begging for trouble when he rode after dark, all in black, with no hi-vis gear or helmet, this excerpt may be of interest to two-wheeled folk.

The use of "highway" in legalese seems to refer to paved roads as a whole.

Rights and duties of operator of cycle

183 (1) In addition to the duties imposed by this section, a person operating a cycle on a highway has the same rights and duties as a driver of a vehicle.

…

(6) A cycle operated on a highway between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise must have the following equipment:

(a) a lighted lamp mounted on the front and under normal atmospheric conditions capable of displaying a white light visible at least 150 m in the direction the cycle is pointed;

(b) a red reflector of a make or design approved by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia for the purposes of this section;

(c) a lighted lamp, mounted and visible to the rear, displaying a red light.

Things Younger Than John McCain is a blog you may find amusing.

I want to credit the friend who recently posted this to their LJ, but have forgotten who it was. Speak up, and claim thy glory!

Edit: glory has been claimed by scratchdaddy.

As if pulled down from the heavens at an opportune moment, I give you...

Lesbian man sues lesbian group over use of the word... Lesbian.

Theoretical astrophysicist? Heck naw, he's a slangin' rapper.



"What the fuck is entropy?", I hear the people still exclaiming,
it seems I gotta start the explaining.

You ever drop an egg and on the floor you see it break?
You go and get a mop so you can clean up your mistake.
But did you ever stop to ponder why we know it's true,
if you drop a broken egg you will not get an egg that's new.

Gratuitous YouTube posting this week. This one courtesy of my pal Dan.

Question: What exactly is the Easter Bunny doing the other 364 days of the year?

A Star Wars approach to organic food. Reposted via scratchdaddy's lj.



So good.

Yes, this is an ad. But hey, it's my first solo wine event and I'm stoked to be doing it. Come as ya like or don't if ya don't. It will be a great chance to taste through a tonne of what France has to offer, and the ticket price is the lowest I've ever seen.
There, that's my sales pitch. Thanks for reading.

Hosted by Liberty Wine Merchants: Wine in the West End - A Spring Tasting with a French Flair.

Date: Wednesday, March 19th.
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: Zin Restaurant, 1277 Robson St.

A two hour tasting of French vinous delights, chocolate, liqueurs and more, all in the open-concept lounge at Zin Restaurant. Come learn a bit about your own palate, pick up a few new wine words to take home, and celebrate the arrival of Spring.

The tasting is a non-profit fundraiser, with all proceeds donated to the Doctor Peter Centre (http://www.drpetercentre.ca), which provides continuing care for people living with HIV/AIDS. So dust off those summer dresses and sun hats and toast to life in the West End!

Tickets cost a paltry $19.99 and are available at all Liberty Wine Merchants locations. For more information, call Liberty Wine Merchants Robson St. (11:00am to 11:00pm daily) at 604-633-1922.

Not gay as in happy, but queer as in fuck you.

I started a quick web search for the image of a 50's style, gun-toting gal, and ended up at the linked blog post instead. This is going to be a blog I read much more closely, methinks, particularly seeing as it's written from a Canadian perspective. Not that I think Canadians have all the answers, but there's relevance.

Much of what's written in that post expresses more clearly some of the unfocused thoughts that I've had regarding this increasingly popular image. Well, that and she writes with a level of understanding that I don't have. In any case, I got much from reading Sex Geek's post and thought some of you might find it worthwhile as well. In particular, what she says about acknowledging who's gotten us here, and respecting that effort, as we proceed in our own direction rings true with me.

This film, She's a boy i knew is being shown at the Vancity Theatre on Thursday, March 6 at 9pm. Does anyone want to come check it out with me?

Edited to show the correct day of the week. I was bitten by the stupid.

An e-mail sent to me through our local Business Association. Spread the word, if you feel inclined to do so.

Vancouver businesses need to be heard

How property taxes impact your business

On your behalf, the Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition (VFTC) - a volunteer group representing more than 43,000 local businesses through member organizations - has been working to ensure Vancouver businesses pay a fairer share of property taxes.

In the last two years, the VFTC has made an impact by saving Vancouver business owners and operators an estimated $24.5 million in property taxes through rebalancing the tax load. But city council needs to hear from you and others in the business community to keep up the momentum.

Businesses are paying an unfair share of the tax burden and pay property taxes at more than five times the rate of residents, the highest in the Lower Mainland and in Canada.

Mayor Sam Sullivan and the NPA caucus have recognized the seriousness of the problem and have begun to correct the inequity by voting for two previous tax shifts to residents. Council applied a one per cent shift in 2006 and voted to hold commercial taxes at 2006 levels in 2007. In both years, COPE and Vision Vancouver councillors voted against the shifts.

In 2006, the city formed an independent Property Tax Policy Review Commission to recommend a long-term fair tax policy for commercial taxpayers. The commission confirmed the tax share is unfair for business and has proposed an annual one per cent tax shift over the next five years until business pays 48 per cent and residents pay 52 per cent of the tax share. Following the five-year shift, the commission recommends the city fix the tax share for another five years.

This annual one per cent tax shift will mean relief for every business in Vancouver and millions of dollars in tax saving going forward.

But, this will not happen without your support and your voice.

Vision Vancouver has signalled they will vote against relief for businesses and the adoption of the tax commission's report. Mayor Sullivan and the NPA are in favour of the report and the shift but are counting on your support.


What you can do...

Tell your story. Send a letter or email to the mayor and city council about your businesses, your contributions to the community and what high property taxes mean to you.

Email: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca

Plan to attend one of the three scheduled public meetings, to show support for the tax commission's recommendations.

Saturday
February 16
9 am to 12 pm
Van Dusen Gardens
Floral Hall

Wednesday
February 20
7 pm to 10 pm
City Hall
Committee Room #1

Saturday
February 23
9 am to 12 pm
Killarney High School



About the Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition

The Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition (VFTC) is a non-partisan volunteer group of business improvement associations, small business owners and managers, industrial and office property owners and business associations, which represents more than 43,000 local businesses. VFTC members work to ensure businesses pay a fair share of property taxes and contribute to the sustainability of Vancouver.

Two weeks from now I'll be taking part in a bid to become an elite member of society. Money will fall upon me as water from Heaven and my life will forever be on easy street. Thirty-two of us vinophiles will be lined up, cameras from 15 news agencies upon us, and we will simultaneously saber thirty-two bottles of Champagne to earn ourselves a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

I can think of no better way to accomplish this amazing feat than to do so dressed up as a life-sized bottle of bubbly.

Except, none of the companies around town seem to offer such an outfit. So, here's my plea to my f-list. If you know anyone, think you know anyone, or by some sixth degree of Kevin Bacon have a connection to someone in costume, film, or a related profession, could you please ask around? I will pay. I will barter. I will do most any reasonable task to go down in history as a walking, talking, cannibal bottle of Champagne. And I will be forever grateful!

I..

Oh, Lord...

I never thought my life would come to this, I swear.

I actually enjoy a Phil Collins song.

So much so, in fact, that it makes me look at my old, unused instruments again. Not quite enough to make me blow at 11:00 at night, but almost.

This may or may not be a staged publicity gimmick, in which case, good on them. Music is great when it's organic and spontaneous, and this video captures that for me.

Apparently there's a Unitarian manifesto out there, and it inflicted serious giggles this morning. This speaks to so many of my formative years.