Yes, we’re still awake. Yes, we did a podcast tonight. In all honesty, it’s one of my favourites to date – despite the fact that we were totally missing DaveO.

Good day, and welcome to episode fifty. This is a long overdue one, and there were some technical difficulties that occurred before this episode saw the light of day. Regardless, we push forward, sadly without our good pal Dave, but he shall return. Alanah actually joins us about twenty minutes in, and hilarity ensues.

Record as of this episode: 5-8-0
Northwest Division: 4th
Western Conference: 14th

The basic lowdown to this recording is that we are just as baffled as you are about our beloved team. There is no easy answers other than trying to pick ourselves up and work hard at being a better team on the ice. The recent 3-0 loss to Nashville is fresh on our mind, and it hasn’t been that much better before that. [TheCrazyCanucks]

Visit the site for show notes, links, or to download and listen. Hopefully things can only get better from here, eh!?

When writing about strictly-Vancouver content I often have to chose between publishing on my own site or on Metroblogging. I have been involved with Metroblogging Vancouver for over a year and am actually one of the City Captains – meaning I get to sit in on all the global blogging domination chats every month, which is kinda fun. If you’re missing some content, think I haven’t updated or posted about a certain topic it may be useful to get your Rebecca fix over at Metblogs. For instance, I’ve had a few people ask me about Google Transit and why I haven’t written anything about it – rest-assured I have, it’s just over there.

My fave/top posts on Metblogs include:

Why share my content with another site? I don’t know, I usually find myself asking that same question and wondering why I’m contributing, free of charge, to a site that makes money that I don’t see. I think I just like the idea of contributing, period. Getting different perspectives, different audiences etc. Am I a sucker then? Maybe, but it’s still pretty fun to be a part of such a neat group of authors, locally and from around the world. BTW – we’re almost always looking for more authors so if you’re interested just drop me a line.

Update November 27, 2007: The mascots have been revealed, read more here.

A big huggable bear? A bird of some kind? Perhaps a giant inukshuk come to life? Just what exactly will the Vancouver 2010 Olympic mascot look like?

It’s a closely guarded Olympic secret! The designs have been drawn and redrawn for more than a year, and tested and retested before special audiences across the continent. But finally, later this month, we’ll get to see the 2010 Winter Olympic mascots. [News1130]

I’m seriously scared, I have no idea what to expect but in my opinion Vancouver’s got pretty great mascots so far. Fin is charismatic, full of energy and just plain crazy. Then there’s Jack, he’s pretty lovable and has some great dance moves and who can forget Expo Ernie – he rules.

To view what has passed for an Olympic mascot in past years they have an archive gallery available.

I gotta say, it might be hard to top “The Friendlies” for Beijing 2008. I personally like HuanHuan’s fiery spirit and can-do attitude.

But have Vancouver 2010 organizers found their true creative genius to come up with an image we’ll all come to know very well over the next few years? I guess we’ll all find out soon enough.

I enjoy comparing our region’s transit options to other cities’ when it comes to fares and donuts in their stations. More than half the time I’m using the other systems as examples of what we should be doing but I think the latest developments in Boston have stopped me in my tracks.

The MBTA has launched T-Radio, which will play a mix of news, weather and entertainment for riders waiting for trains. The pilot program is playing at North Station, South Station and the airport station. If it’s popular enough, the T will expand it and add commercials. [Boston.com][via Boston Metblogs]

Yikes. Even though the MBTA has an efficient system, an award-winning website, and delicious baked goods in their stations I’m still not sure I could endorse a T-Radio-like system for the Skytrain.

Sure, the people of Vancouver love to be informed and up to date on the latest happenings and traffic info in the city, hence the popularity of AM730, but I’ve seen the dirty looks. Glaring daggers at those playing their ipod music cranked up to 11, blasting through their ear buds, or at the chick in the corner talking at full volume on her cell phones. People like quiet, undisturbed commutes – just get in and get out.

Photo credit: squarewithin on Flickr

This is reasonable enough, so I won’t jump to the conclusion that Boston commuters are welcoming this idea with open… ears… either.

Tonight at 7:30, after my 11 hour day at work, I walk into the train station in a grouchy mood and I hear blasting at me from all directions: the Counting Crows. I look around for someone with a huge boom box, I see no one meeting that description, just a man staring suspicious at an empty plastic bag left on the platform.

Then I hear the announcement: This is T Radio! And now for some news on the lighter side. The bubble above my head says: T Radio? Oh no. What is this “News on the lighter side”, you ask? Well, I learned there is a guy attempting to break the record for longest leg hair. He’s got it up to several inches, but he wants people to know it’s only 1 hair – he’s no ape man. I feel my mouth opening and head tilting to the side as I stare at the ceiling in disbelief…

…I realized it’s ad revenue for the T (at least I hope it is). Perhaps they can use that money to get their act together. [Living Reflections From a Dream]

84% of readers who answered my last poll thought it would be a good idea to have kiosks in Skytrain stations that sell coffee. So how about taking it a step further in making your train experience even more like driving into work in the privacy of your own vehicle… with a hot beverage, some swanky tunes and news updates. Only thing is, you’d be sharing that experience with the other 50 people pressed up against you on a packed Westbound train car.

I admit, I’m a sucker for a good ghost story. Although I have never experienced any paranormal activity (that I’m aware of) a good chilling tale will put me on alert and make my pulse race.

Best way to take in a story about hauntings and messages from beyond the grave? Take the Ghostly Walks tour in Victoria, the West Coast’s most haunted city. As for Vancouver, well there are haunted trolley tours and a few walking tours but they just don’t have the same effect since I’m fairly familiar with the ‘same old stories’… the Lady in Red at the Hotel Vancouver and the mysterious passenger in the trolley car inside the Old Spaghetti Factory… but are there any more tales out there? Something new, something recent?

Blood Alley – Photo credit: kk+ on Flickr – Static Photography

Matt from Metblogs wrote about the Century Restaurant last year and this morning I saw a little write up in the Metro about the Irish Heather in Gastown. They could just be rather timely marketing ploys, but who knows.

Here’s a quick write up I’ve heard before about a place I honestly never plan on visiting:

The Irving House Museum was the former home of the Irving family from 1862 to the 1950s. Staff and visitors have seen the ghost of Captain William Irving, the man who built the house, sleeping in his old bed where he passed away. Sometimes, the imprint of a body can be seen on the bed. Footsteps can be heard for no apparent reason and some staff members have heard a voice calling their name. Several visitors have reported animal heads on display turning their heads. [suite101]

If my aunt read my blog she could probably say a thing or two about working at Woodlands in New West. Just thinking about it makes me shiver.

Since it’s the day before Halloween and I’m all costumed-out, lets share a few stories. Leave your best personal experience with eerie happenings in Vancouver (and surrounding cities) in the comments below, and I’ll be sure to read them all tomorrow night, by candle light, with a baseball bat on standby.