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.

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.

First of all, let me point out that no, I have not recently adopted the use of Internet Slang nor am I so lazy that I cannot type out 3 letters. I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt here and assume most people are already familiar with 4REAL and their mantra. If this is the case, skip the next two paragraphs. For the rest, 4REAL is a documentary television project turned international success story and this summer they are turning up the good time vibes.

Continuing last weeks Vancouver History, here are the Board minutes from 1920 all the way to 1956 from A Guide to Stanley Park by Lynn Vardeman and Freda Carr. Note the increase in absolutely ridiculous proposals, along with the usual array of Vancouver-specific issues, difficulties, and frustrations - some things never change.

If you build it, they will come.

That's precisely the theory that many active opponents of the Gateway Project are putting forth to warn BC residents of the impending failure of the proposed $3 billion road expansion plan if it goes through. They prophesize that the additional road capacity will simply become congested soon after completion due to new commuters being attracted to the shiny new pavement. At a time where gas prices are the topic of choice at a water cooler near you, this issue and many others relating to our transportation infrastructure have all become paramount to Vancouverites as of late.

Recent SFU Communications grad Ryan Longoz has chosen to tackle this controversial topic and has tied it in nicely with a little bit of economics 101 in a compact nine-minute video. Instead of putting the blame for traffic congestion squarely on the government and (get ready for the "c"-word) corporations, he goes a step further, and essentially points the finger at every single one of us iPod-using, gas-guzzling, fashion-wearing consumers. He mentions that "we are all complicit, because we are all complacent" (my favourite quote from the clip) when referring to our transportation and consumption habits.

It's May 1953 and a man is walking down Burrard Street on a clear night. He sees something and stops walking. To no one in particular he says "hotdamn, what is that sonofabitch!" Then he takes off his hat, runs his fingers through his hair, and stares in amazement for a good few minutes. He takes a step back, and then a step to the right, so as to see it from different perspectives. Thoroughly impressed, he snaps his fingers and grins. "Well if that ain't somthin" he exclaims before replacing his hat and walking off.