Hopping into the wayback machine let’s explore late 2005. John had just moved to Canada to be with me and decided to add me on his podcast, RadioZoom as co-host/local expert. At the time he was immersing himself in podcasts and connecting with interesting hosts all over the globe. One person that he had been corresponding with was Dave Olson, who did several podcasts and made appearances on Clubside Breakfast Time. I’d often hear stories from John about the ultimately cool Uncleweed and Cosmo G Spacely.
After meeting in 2006, we ventured out into the hockey podcasting realm in October of that year with the great Uncleweed. Since then it’s been a non-stop adventure with The Crazy Canucks along with our co-hosts JJ and Alanah.
Photo credit:
Raul on Flickr
On top of being a mentor in podcasting, Dave is also an inspiration to bloggers having coined the now internet-famous “F*ck Stats Make Art” motto at this year’s Northern Voice conference.
Here is a small sample of Dave’s Podcast and Blog Portfolio (not including his Raincity and happyfrog works): Choogle on with Uncleweed Podcast hi-jinks / Blog, Canucks Outsider Hockey Podcast / Blog, Out n’ About with Uncle Weed Travelin’ man vidcast, Postcards from Gravelly Beach Literature Podcast / Blog, Olympic Outsider Winter Sports-Culture / Blog, Mountain Highway Writer’s Notebook / Blog, Ephemeral Feasthouse Miscellania & Notes
Personally, Dave has always been a great friend to both John and me. He gives straight up advice, helps us cross promote our projects like crazy, and is always there to offer an inspirational word when I feel like the blogging world has got me down. I think what makes Dave even more cool in my books is that he went to high school in Surrey, just like I did. Even though there are a few years between us (I won’t say how many since this is supposed to be a very sweet tribute) we can still reminisce about the old days, the old hood, the things Whalley has seen and where it’s going. We know this place; we’ve formed ourselves through our experiences in Metro Vancouver and I hold his opinion of my site, and its integrity as a local blog, in the highest regard.
Even though we couldn’t get away to camp with Dave this weekend we’ve enjoyed many good times like watching the Canucks, talking Whalley Little League, promoting green living, playing golf, and most recently hiking in Lynn Valley.
It’s today that I raise a pint of tasty fermented beverage in honor of my bro Dave’s birthday. Here’s to many more years of grassroots media making and good times on and off the grid.
One of the first things I do when I find me seat on an airplane is open up the seat pocket in front of me and check out the the safety cards. Since I’ve flown so much over the last 15 years it’s not so much to brush up on my safety procedures as it is for entertainment value. For example, the back of the card that reads, “this page is intentionally blank”, gives me a little giggle (yes, I am that easily amused) but most of all, it’s the airtoons that are priceless.
I first discovered Airtoons.com about ten years ago, it’s a airline safety card cartoon parody site that adds in often-amusing captions. Although some of the captions on the site are just plaid crude, here’s a sampling of a few of my favourites for a little Saturday morning fun.
Safety on an airplane is no laughing matter however, perusing crudely coloured images from the mid 70s with characters in all sorts of positions is far more entertaining on a 2 hour flight than the SkyMall magazine… at least for the first 10 minutes.
Unfortunately the fitness room advertised by our hotel in Kansas City was invisible or at least it must have been tucked away in a dungeon somewhere because I couldn’t find it. After a week of BBQ meats, enchiladas, tortillas, and whatever breakfast sandwiches we could find at 11am, I thought I was going to have a rough time at the gym this morning. Luckily, I found my stride pretty quickly and I think I’m almost back on track.
I think some of my momentum came from my new workout gear that I got at Target. A super cute tennis-style skirt (with mini shorts built-in underneath), a new bright blue sports bra and a great Champion top. Before I was pretty much just piecing together an outfit and although that seems like one of the least important things when it comes to physical health – believe it or not it has boosted my confidence a little.
I have found that my heart rate is no longer skyrocketing as soon as I start any cardio program, I’m pushing myself more, and I’m more willing to get out of bed at 5:45 am with minimal nudges and shoves from John.
We’re only about a month in so far but I’m looking forward to further detoxing myself from the culinary events of last week (although they were spectacularly delicious) and continuing on with my training.
Disclosure: In an effort to lead a more healthy lifestyle, John and I have teamed up with Fitness World who will be sponsoring our workouts and nutritional plans for the next 12 months.
It was almost two years ago that I first met Casey and Benji. We spent an entire evening together when Matt was doing his living room show, I threw a chew toy, Casey would retrieve it, I would get slobber on my hand (while live blogging) and the rest is history. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Victory Square to me means remembrance as each year on November 11th the city gathers to remember and honor those who gave their lives for this country. However while searching through my favourite local source, Vancouver History, I found out a bit more about this monument.
“April 27, 1924: The Cenotaph at Vancouver’s Victory Square was unveiled in a ceremony presided over by Mayor William Reid Owen. A memorial to Vancouver’s soldiers who died in France, its inscription reads: “Their name liveth for ever more / Is it nothing to you—All ye that pass by.â€
The site was originally outlined in 1886 by Lauchlan Hamilton who surveyed much of Vancouver and named many of its streets. The cenotaph itself is 33 feet high and made of Nelson Island granite [War Monuments in Canada]
Over the years it has hosted numerous events, and has seen many protests and demonstrations.
In 1931, during the Great Depression, the British Columbia Government established work camps for single, unemployed men throughout the province. In these isolated camps, workers laboured for 44 hours a week, 6 days a week, for 20 cents a day plus room in board, often in substandard conditions. Frustrated with the work conditions, these workers organized and formed the Relief Camp Workers’ Union in 1933, which struggled for the rights of the workers…
…In April 1935, approximately 2,000 workers left the camps and congregated in Vancouver, beginning a general strike to protest the low wages and camp conditions. Throughout the General Strike, Victory Square was a frequent rallying point for the workers. On April 23, 1935, workers demonstrated at the Hudson’s Bay store and were dispersed and arrested by police. The workers assembled in Victory Square. From the steps of the Daily Province Building at 198 West Hastings Street (where Victory Square Law Office is located), Mayor Pat McGeer read the Riot Act to the crowd to disperse them. [Victory Square Law Office]
On September first the corner of Cambie and Hastings will be alive with entertainment during the Victory Square Block Party [Only Magazine] [Facebook Event]. It will be worth checking out this site not only for its historical significance but also to celebrate the community around it.
