At some point in the winter I told myself that I should start thinking about experiencing some of the cultures that exist here in Vancouver. What good is multiculturalism if it only means that your passport is in French and English? I started out by visiting Vaisakhi on Nelson and 49th, but judging by my wanton/won ton disregard for proper spelling in my last post, I must have had some Mandarin on the mind which means Keefer St. and the Chinatown Night Market. Where else can you get some chow mein, and new iPod case and a Cantonese jigsaw puzzle you'll never build all for under 20 bucks?

Highland Valley Copper Mine, Harrison BC, photo courtesy of infomin.com

What with everyone and their dog talking (and talking, and talking) about Vancouver's real estate market, another Vancouver based boom has been, so far, mainly lost within the 25-35 age demographic amidst the hubbub about what sort of mortgage rate you have in your stable. For many years Vancouver has been the home to a lot of different things; Expo 86, environmentally minded groups effecting real parliamentary change, gay-rights. But another thing Vancouver is home to (besides what the name would lead you to believe) is something called the TSX Venture Exchange. Beside the brief bubble of internet geeks in the late 90s, a stroll into any of Vancouver's Financial District skyrises will show you that at any given point any of these buildings is home to several dozen exploration companies. If you don't believe me head down to Canada Place today to check out the World Gold Conference.

Commodities are booming, and so is Vancouver. But, like everything, there's them pros and then them cons.

There's an interesting article in the Westender this week surrounding Critical Mass, the massive bike ride the roves through Vancouver's downtown core every month. If you don't already know what it involves is a few hundred bike enthusiasts getting together for, what they claim, is raising awareness for biker's rights. Beyond Robson has dealt with the issue before. The article asks if it's really just pissing people off. Me, I'm not pissed, but maybe a little annoyed. Here's why...

First things first, watch this. It aint pretty, but the truth sometimes isn't.

Unsettling? I'd hope so. But now watch this.

Vancouver's Anti-Poverty Committee has a right to be angry. But while you might think they could use a better theatre coach what they really need is legitimate way of effecting real change.

For anyone who wasn't aware of the latest APC demonstration, it came at the expense of BC Premier Gordon Campbell's Vancouver office. The footage aired on all the local news networks the other night and shows at least two APC members dumping water on the floor, scattering papers and throwing couches into the hallway. Generally doing what the APC does best, putting on a good show and further relegating their entire organization into something akin to Reichstag-arsonists and Grand Duke assassins (or left wingish anarchists for non-history buffs).

Confessing to anyone that you're a writer can be a harrowing experience. Laughter, faked enthusiasm, and even something akin to ridicule are just some of the things a would-be writer can face. And that's just from family members.

But while New York and Montreal do seem to have the prettier pedigree when it comes to the pencils of Mordechai Richler or Tom Wolfe there's still a few notable resources here in Vancouver for any aspiring professional liar, er, writer.

Read on to find out where...

First off, watch this (Translink Driver Spits on Passenger) Hail to the bus driver?

I've taken public transit my whole life. I depended on it to get me to class on time while I was at school and now it gets my ass into the office so I can pay back those student loans. It hauls me and my groceries home on Friday afternoons and my pre-hangover head early Saturday mornings. I've had good and bad experiences, like anyone, while making good use of Translink's services.

That said. They suck.