Morning Brew: May 9, 2008

Whalley to be designated Metro Vancouver's second downtown core. Looks like they're well on their way... Whats their dog boutique and "dollar" pizza count? I know they got Starbucks. (Thx to miss604 for those second two links.)

People in Vancouver would choose more transit over more roads, and apparently they want that transit free. Re:place re-posts this well written, in depth article, which includes a list of 17 reasons why transit fees should be covered by taxation. The Tyee originally published this series in 2007, but I missed it the first time around; kudos to re:place for resurrecting an idea that deserves renewed attention. Any thoughts in the wake of climbing fees and taserings?

How about a footbridge underneath Burrard instead of that expensive expansion?

The press is all over Salvia Divinorum lately. An extremely intense and mysterious psychoactive herb that's evaded criminalization. This was some seriously hot stuff five years ago at UBC, when people were picking it up from the (now relocated) 'Urban Shaman' out on Commercial Drive. I did it once, and never again. Not recommended for anyone but the most schizophrenically-inclined. Although I'm against it, I'm a sucker for a good link: videos of people smoking the stuff. Oh how glad I am we didn't have YouTube in my dorm days.

So Wal-Mart is looking at some mega Canadian expansion. Well, you might want to consider the environmental cost of shipping all that shit around. Essential viewing: Where do Wal-Mart products come from?. A list of Wal-Mart resources, including an article on how the business 'caught the China bug.' Update: they've announced a new Wal-Mart at Grandview and Boundary.

How conscious are you of buying locally? It's something I only really hear about when it comes to food...

Kim Collier's adaptation of Sartre's 'No Exit' is truly a sight to behold. I didn't have time for a review, but see this one before it's done on Saturday.

Been awhile since we linked to Only's Credit Check, but they got my Tim Hortons story covered:

Out there in wherever the fuck Ontario, some Tim Horton's employee got fired for giving a baby a free Timbit, and while this might have nothing to do with Vancouver directly, if Timmy Ho-Ho's is tripping over 16 cents then we are probably definitely in a recession. Seriously, go out and buy something quick; Ladies shoes, that Mickey Rooney DVD box set you've been putting off, a Teen Burger, anything.

Better than linking to one of the endless recession pieces in the mainstream media. You get the idea.

Madonna is coming to Vancity. Sometimes you just have to be the bigger man and refrain from the sarcasm or the Youtube. I heard the new album was awful. Go see Seventeen Short Films About Breasts tonight instead of worrying about tickets.

See, even an 82-year old will survive a tasering. Please, put the toys down.

one of the only photos tagged Whalley in flickr, by peterandringa; guess the place ain't that photogenic...