• This is a deceptive story at first glance, because street parking (both in terms of rates and hours of payment) seems to dwarf cities like Toronto and Montreal.  This story represents a huge success for the Mayor and his Greenest City Action plan.  Take a read of this quote from Julian Jones, vice-president of business development for Impark, who “attributes the slowdown to three things: an increase in taxes on parking from 12 to 35.5 per cent, the opening of the Canada Line and that people discovered transit during the Olympics and continued to use it.”  And I don’t care what the usual suspects say – this website and this video is in particular are both awesome.  It is the kind of approach that really has a legitimate shot at getting people engaged and interested in being a part of the initiative.

• From what I have heard, last night’s Vancouver Park Board meeting was quite respectful, all things considered – definitely no throat slashing gestures or middle fingers off camera as was perpetrated by some of the West End residents with City Council a couple of weeks back.  The vote was 5-2 against Stuart Mackinnon’s motion, and while it got a little heated (the anti-captivity crowed were chanting for the Vision Commissioners to resign at one point), it was a healthy debate.  What bothers me is this “woe is me” type of commentary that is now coming out of Mackinnon’s mouth – “I’m very saddened that the chair (Jasper) chose to personalize the debate.  I don’t think it’s good for any politician to stray from the debate.”  Hmmm…here’s a question Stuart:  how is Aaron Jasper’s claims that you were initiating “political mischief with this motion” any different from this:  “Green party commissioner Stuart Mackinnon, on the other hand, told the Straight by phone that he questions the motivate behind the motion. “I think it’s more about government-bashing than altruism,” he said. “I think it’s put forward by people who have political ambitions for themselves. They’re claiming it’s because the HST is going to increase fees for people, yet this board voted unanimously for a four-percent increase [to recreational-services fees] across the board last November. If people were genuinely concerned about people’s ability to pay, then why did they vote for a four-percent increase in our fees?“  Another pot calling the kettle black, me thinks.

• After reading this and this and unfortunately actually having the fortitude to sit through this, I can’t help but be reminded by one of my favourite Ozzy tunes.

• I read Jeff Lee’s column in the Vancouver Sun yesterday, and regardless of whether it is Sam Sullivan or Gregor Robertson that neighbourhoods are rallying against, I was left puzzled.  Is Vancouver a city of neighbourhoods – buroughs, if you will – that have absolutely no interest in anything outside of their vicinity?  Are grand visions for the city – major initiatives that are looking to improve the city, regardless of whether they involve density or increasing rental stock – impossible in Vancouver?  At one time I was a huge fan of the CityPlan and community visions process.  Now, I am not so sure anymore.

• I absolutely love this addition to this year’s fireworks competition.  Once again, I truly believe that it is an extension of what we witnessed during the Olympics.  In spite of a lifetime of tepid civic pride and involvement, Vancouver really has come alive, as witnessed during the World Cup and Canada Day in recent weeks.  I am very happy that this city is finally becoming as active as the lifestyle that this “outdoor paradise” tends to emphasize in its branding.  And no, I am not going to be hanging around downtown Granville Street to document the enthusiasm as some with what must be classified as an active social life might be inclined to try (see above).

• I really want to try and attempt to get courtside seats for this game.  Yes, it is preseason, and yes, the Raptors no longer have any name recognition with Chris Bosh gone, but damn it, I miss basketball in this city and Steve Nash is a Canadian sports legend.  Like I did with UFC 115, I think I might be willing to dole out a little cash to make my second and probably only appearance next to the rich, famous and beautiful.  OK…so I’ll probably be the odd one out with regards to that criteria.

• From where I stand, no need to “improve compliance” with this aspect of policing, boys and girls.  Quotas rather than road safety are the cause of most of the infractions doled out, in my humble opinion.

Alright, that’s it for now folks.  Have a fantastic day.

An absolutely disgusting display by those that likely have no absolutely no depth behind why they hate the Olympics and want to break things

I am overjoyed at the golden performance of Alexandre Bilodeau, who not only carries on a long of tradition of Quebecers excelling in the mind-blowing-to-watch sport of moguls, but who has also taken the weight of the shoulders off a host nation that up until that point had never won a gold medal on home soil.

It was poetry in motion, and a perfect and exciting way to start our gold rush.

But today I am not going to pontificate on the medal count today.  I am going to rant on the idiocy and lack of class shown on Saturday by the assholes that call themselves “Olympic anarchists.”

Purposeful protests are something that I support, respect, and depending on the issue, something I might consider participating in.

This Reuters story details the kind of purpose I am referring to.  Articulate, informed, armed with alternative ideas, and most importantly, peaceful in nature.  These thousands honouring the memory of Canada’s missing women are another perfect example of what I am talking about.

Take 15 minutes to watch the two videos up at the above-posted link, however, and you will see that the word “purposeful” has absolutely nothing to do with the punks that tried to put on a show downtown over the weekend.

These anti-establishment tangos with the police were about “sticking it to the man” and causing anarchy…for the sake of self-centred attention, destruction of private property, and generally for what they consider a good time.

As pointed out by one of the observers witnessing the cowardly (cover up your faces, and attempt to blend in with those who are uninvolved in the violence) acts, there were no slogans, no agendas, no points to get across.

This was about stirring shit up in front of the world.  Period.

I hate to single out those on the left, because I am a political centrist with a left-leaning bent.  That being said, many of those marching the streets and breaking things are the same kinds of people I used to encounter in my globalization classes in university who blamed the ills of the world and/or their personal situations on the government (which level was always irrelevant because “they’re all the same”), corporations and the consolidated media.

What I am saying is that if someone wants to advance an argument that the Olympics are destructive, or that the government is responsible for apathy in the electorate, or that corporations have surpressed individual thought, or even that the media are agents of mass mind control, then great – I would be excited to hear their arguments as to why they feel that way.

But don’t come to me armed with vague generalities – “the Olympics are bad because there are homeless people on the street” – and expect me to respect you for your will to go against the grain.

Furthermore, don’t go and participate in violence and destruction without any meaning and expect to garner respect for your “cause.”

Those marching behind their black clothes and masks might have thought that they were proving a point for the global media to report widely.  All they did, however, was prove themselves to be fools without the courage, knowledge, and know-how to make a real impact that induces thought or debate.

I comment those officers that are able to keep their cool and do their jobs in the face of taunting and disrespect such as being spit on.

To call these anarchists a mile wide and an inch deep would be grossly overestimating their profile.

They are a bunch of know-nothing bums that are not only vacuous and empty on their own, but leave a similarly tinged impression that is merely a blip on the radar.

If it is legacy that these low-lifes were going for, then they sorely missed their mark.