With transportation and traffic congestion being a hot topic with Metro Vancouver commuters, Translink is preparing to launch a new site this November that aims to be an “all-in-one” source for getting around the region.
The website integrates bus, train and ferry schedules along with delays at YVR and the status at the Canada US border. www.i-move.ca is currently in the testing phase and is expected to be fully running by November. [CKNW]
One of the best things Translink could do is come out with a system that’s easy to use and time-saving. Unfortunately no matter how informed we are about a traffic camera being on HWY 1 at the Kensington on-ramp, it still doesn’t solve most problems with our major thoroughfares and lack of public transit options.
I’m certainly willing to give i-Move a chance, and I’ve even been tinkering with it for a while this evening.
The cycling section seems pretty interesting, laying out lines for routes on and off-road travel in all cities (I’m interested in seeing what Paul, Richard and Roland think of this).
“Trip Calculator” estimates 18-25 minutes from Burnaby to Vancouver depending on if you take the bus, or your car (on a day when there are no “events” present) and it also allows you to enter the current price of gas so it can tally how much you’ve used at various points along the way.
The “events” option is useful, displaying reported trouble-spots on the Google Map so drivers can plan alternate routes, although I’m not sure how often it’s updated. The rest of the features (cameras, borders etc.) just add icons to the map with flags containing basic information.
Despite bumping into an error from Microsoft CMS 2002 on the site, it’s definitely got a lot of features. I fully understand this is not the complete version of i-Move but will look forward to exploring it in detail once launched next month.
I must defend my honour as a Canucks fan following my little stunt in my Bruins jersey. All in good fun although some begrudged Leafs fans decided to pounce on the chance to oust a member of The Crazy Canucks Podcast. For this reason, I’m going to pepper this post in “Miss604 wearing Canucks stuff” photos.
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Vancouver businesses are failing to protect my private purchasing information, and they’re probably doing the same with yours too.
How often have you eaten at a restaurant in town, paid by credit card and noticed on the receipt you’re about to leave on the table that your entire credit card number is displayed? If you haven’t next time you should look, because now whoever picks up that receipt will have your private payment information and your signature at their disposal. Establishments should be masking your credit card number so it shows up with only four legible numbers ie. xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-1234.
The other day at Yaletown Brewing I paid with a credit card and I noticed they didn’t mask my number. When this happens, I sign the receipt and always hand it directly to my server. Unfortunately in this case, he was too busy to pick up our bill from the table and when I asked if he could please take it from me he replied rudely that I need to leave it on the table. I replied, I need you to take this.
In the US various states have laws in place regarding card masking, and the issue is a hot one.
…some 50 of the nation’s top retailers—including Rite Aid, Harry & David, Ikea, KB Toys, Disney, Regal Cinemas and AMC Theaters—were accused of printing full credit numbers and expiration dates on printed customer receipts, violating a provision of the FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act) that makes it illegal for a retailer to print more than the last five digits of a credit or debit card number or the card’s expiration date on a receipt. This is known as masking or truncation. The rule took effect in phases, but the latest phase went into effect in December 2006. [PC Magazine, Dec 2006]
Apparently in Canada, 2007 was also supposed to be our year of heightened credit card security, according to our Federal Privacy Commissioner:
…representatives of the retail industry have told her that all equipment used to electronically process credit-card payments will mask the cardholders’ personal information in 2007. [CBC, Dec 2006]
According to the BC Personal Information Protection Act: “The technology capable of masking or truncating numbers on receipts does exist, but many businesses have not yet converted to it. Industry advises us that masking the information of the cardholder on all equipment used to electronically process credit card payments should be in place in 2007.” [PDF]
I’ve noticed this all over town, and I think my main concern is with restaurants more than retailers (right now at least) since patrons are expected to leave their receipts and payment slips out in the open. This happened again yesterday at White Spot for Sunday brunch and I run into this issue at least once a week when I am using my credit card. Although I’m not one who scares easily, when it comes to my hard-earned money I’m going to try and protect what I have.
The next time you’re out dining on the town, remember to check for your credit card number on the receipt. If it is not masked, make sure you hand it off directly to staff. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner also has some tips for savvy consumers, I personally like the one about shredding. Hopefully by the end of 2007, retailers and restaurants in our international city will be up to snuff when it comes to personal privacy security standards.
Apparently Keira-Anne lives in Austin Texas, she has a friend in Vancouver named “Bridg” that loves the Canucks and what looks like Spanish Banks, is actually someplace called “Tribune Bay”. Either that or there’s someone out there using over 50 photos of Keira, me, John, Duane and even Tony Pierce, posing as Keira on MySpace… using Duane’s last name.
This person on MySpace has assumed the role of “Keira-Anne” in a skewed form of flattery and apparently I am “Bridg” and sometimes “Becky” in photos. I suppose it happens all the time, but ya know I didn’t think it would happen to someone I knew. I always think about this especially with all the content everyday people put on the internet (thanks Facebook!)
He/she (MySpace/kastorey) is receiving messages, comments and I assume replying to them all as someone that he/she is not. Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t there some kind of policy on MySpace against this stuff? I do know there’s a license on Flickr about using and redistributing photos without permission. Oh, so many legal violations, so little time.
Hopefully this complete impostor gets caught. Now if you’ll excuse me, Keira-Anne and I are going to walk around Hay Park and look out into Georgia Straights on our way to Helliwell Bluffs to hang out in her Balcony Room.
I’m not talking about the Chilliwack Bruins (sorry Duane). Every hockey fan can have their alternate team they cheer for can’t they? I mean the best part about my duo is that they’re in different conferences. However don’t think for a second that if my two teams meet up in the Stanley Cup finals that I’ll hesitate to toss on my stick in rink and wear it with pride.
When I was little I remember sitting on our couch in Newton, next to the pillow that had such intricate embroidery I swear I always saw a face whenever I looked at it, and watching hockey games. I don’t remember the scores, the action or much about the games themselves as I was about 6 years old at the time. I just recall that there was one team out there with a big “B” on the front of their sweater and that made them cool, cause “B” is also for “Becky”.
Since then, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Bruins and in 2002 when I moved to their hometown they soon became my team. Whenever I was jonesing for some hockey action I’d either gather ’round with other ex-pat Canadians to watch games, catch them on NESN or attend a handful at the Fleet Center.
I still followed the Canucks though, I would tune into CKNW‘s webcast feed to listen to Shorty give the play-by-play late at night. When the Canucks came to town I switched gears and cheered for Vancouver, who won 6-4, which was pretty awesome. At that time they still had Thornton, who was a powerhouse alongside Murray, and I knew the guy who did the music in the Fleet Center for games. I could always tell when he was working when some Tragically Hip would come on before a faceoff.
At one game when everyone stood up to sing the national anthem a girl behind me (who had already had too many beers at this point) proceeded to tip and spill her entire beverage down my back. My shirt was completely soaked so I decided I would just go buy something to wear for the rest of the game. I found a cute little jersey, changed into it, and went back to my seat – reeking of booze.
I haven’t had many opportunities to wear the jersey since then, until recently. The local Vancouver teen who lead the Vancouver Giants to the Memorial Cup as tournament MVP, Milan Lucic is currently playing for the Bruins.
[He] has done everything asked of him so far – skating well, playing two-way hockey, finishing his checks, dropping the gloves…
…If Lucic plays in more than nine games with the Bruins this season, his service time will count toward his three-year entry-level contract, which is worth an annual $850,000.
With some ice time, Lucic, who’s projected as a grinder with some offensive touch, could provide depth at left wing, perhaps allowing the club to make a veteran available for a trade to beef up the back end. [Boston Globe]
Side Note: If you still haven’t heard DaveO’s “Vancouver Giants Day” coverage at City Hall last spring with Pat Quinn, Brent Festerling, Don Hay, Kendal McCardle, and Milan Lucic, I suggest you go listen/download over at HockeyNW.
Best of luck to Milan in the big leagues, and although we’ll miss him at the Pacific Coliseum, I hope he definitely gets his time to shine with the Bruins this year. If he needs any tips on some really cool places to hang out (that you won’t have to be 21 to enter), he should give me a buzz. I know of all sorts of wholesome activities in Boston, even though they mostly involve bowling.
For me, I know there was nothing like watching a Habs/Bruins game being thousands of miles away from home but still enjoying some exciting “original six” hockey action. With all the reasons why I hold the Bruins close to my heart, I really hope they’ll have a great season. They are such a dynasty of a hockey club with far more history that I can attempt to compound into a blog post.
