It must have happened with bacn but since I got on TechBurgh‘s radar I’ve had a little window in the social networking community that is alive and well in Pittsburgh. As it turns out, I’ve been named their Weekly Tech Girl, which is pretty great.
Favorite thing about technology in general: It makes life easier and has allowed me to have an excuse for being nerdy, thus making me cool in this day and age… even though I just used the word ‘thus’. [Weekly Tech Girl – TechBurgh]
If you have a chance check out their blog and podcast as well. Thanks guys!
The topic of “Umbrella Etiquette” in Vancouver is a dead horse and I’m about to give it another kick. For years now bloggers have published their own “rules of umbrella use” for public spaces, streets, and walkways:
So yes, we’ve all had our share of umbrella etiquette posts, but mainsteam media’s caught up with us. News1130 has just posted their own rules for umbrella use, which echo previous statements and pet peeves:
1. Size DOES matter. Using a golf umbrella walking down Robson street will likely make you a few enemies.
2. Hold on tight. If the wind is blowin’ so is the brolly! Watch you’re not letting those pointy corners knock around your fellow pedestrians.
3. The awnings are off limits, especially is someone without one approaches. Seriously, you’ve got an umbrella.
4. The cross path ‘duck n’ lift’. Taller person raises, shorter person takes the low road.
5. Shake away from traffic. Tossing off the stowaway raindrops towards passersby only leads to awkward exchanges with your fellow man.
6. Use plain ol’ common sense. It goes a long way on a rainy day.
Any more to add to the many lists? Besides, if you’re a true Vancouverite, you’re skin and everything you wear is made of Goretex and you don’t even need to use an umbie…right? I’ll end by using a line from the Craigslist posting, “If these rules are not followed, then any fellow [Vancouverite] has the right to take your umbrella, patio or otherwise, and beat you with it.”
Update: A quote from this post appeared in the Vancouver Sun today, January 14, 2008 – here’s the article in PDF form.
This website popped onto my radar a short while ago when they linked my story about the Surrey Memorial Hospital, even though they’ve been around for the last four years.
Langley’s longest-running and most popular Town Hall forum, hosted by Langley Township Councillor Jordan Bateman and Sam “Politics” Kirk. Featuring more than 150,000 visitors, 500,000 hits, and 9,000 Dotcomments in the past year. [LangleyPolitics.com]
Together the Jordan and Sam have been covering politics in the Township, in some form or another, for the last 10 years and Jordan is “youngest elected member of Langley Township Council, representing 100,000 residents.” They touch on everything from Council meetings, local news, national politics, school board meetings and opinions.
Recently Jordan wrote an article in the Abbotsford Post about a Facebook group of young drivers who admit and boast about speeding along a stretch of road near the border, he also cross-posted this on his site.
A small Facebook group offers a frightening glimpse into the mindset of some of the young drivers who regularly use 0 Avenue.
The “0 and 16th Ave Speeders” are a group of about a dozen people who “admit to speeding on those roads.” Some of their comments should worry you.
“I must admit I like doing between 90 and 100 ks,” wrote the group’s founder, Richard Allegretto. “Speeding is only dangerous if you drive like an idiot while doing it, if everyone is doing the same speed and not weaving in and out of traffic, things should go just fine!” [LangleyPolitics]
Naturally that post has tons of comments, on both sides of the argument, especially seeing as how some Western Canadians feel speed limits should be increased on certain city roads [News1130]
Like I said, these guys have been blogging about Langley Township matters for several years so I’m a little late to the story. Just the other day Jordan was in the Province and on CKNW talking about Aldergrove border issues.
I find what they’re doing is absolutely wonderful. They’re creating a dialog, discussion, forming opinions and letting others express theirs in a local political situation that is, thanks to them, far from closed off from the public – as it should be.
Last month I put out a “Family Edition” of the Best of 604, focusing on parks, playgrounds and kid-friendly establishments. Having never been to one of the parks I recommended I did so solely on my sister’s advice. She has three kids, 7 years old and younger, so she knows a good park when she sees one.
Luckily for a reader of mine, the park proved to be all that and more. She tried to take her family to the pumpkin patch in Steveston last Sunday but it was just way too busy, they even told her it would be over 2 hours to get in and that if she had something else to do, she should do it…
…So, we turned around and I desperately tried to think of something to calm our 3 year old who, at this point, was crying, “Why can’t I go see Corny?” I then remembered a blog of yours in the last few weeks about family things to do around Vancouver and remembered the park in the flight path near YVR that you recommended.
So we zoomed over there, had our picnic and let the kids play. Our 3 yr old had a blast and the day was saved! Thanks – I really enjoy your blog, and saving us from being cooped up in the car with a crying toddler is no small feat!
[Contact Form Email from Naomi]
I’m so glad to get such a nice email, and a follow up on the recommendation for the Best of 604.
On a side note, the Steveston pumpkin patch is mentioned in last year’s “Pumpkin Patch Review“, which was written by my sister – she’s my correspondent when it comes to family-friendly matters, obviously.
Since I’m getting tons of Google hits from people looking for pumpkin patch information, and the post is from 2006, if you do have any updates, raves or reviews, please leave a comment and let us know, thanks!
He isn’t from Vancouver but he loves the city almost as much as I do.
Tony Pierce was a natural choice for my next blogger profile as he’s been blogging for just under a decade on his own site, is a sxsw panelist, takes pics with hotties, can grow a beard like Papa Smurf, bleeds Cubby Blue, literally wrote the book: How to Blog and sends sweets to girls in Canada who fill their tummies til they feel sick.
Who are you?: I am just a typical ugly american gen x slacker loser misspeller pothead cubfan blogger bachelor angry black born again christian with a poetry degree
PC, Mac or Speak n’ Spell: i have two pcs – an ibm thinkpad laptop and a homemade desktop for downloading porn
Where do you write: busblog.com, LAist.com
Why do you blog?: to get laid, and to get paid
What’s your favourite thing to write about?: i like to lie about the girls i got lucky with and tell the truth about the ones i had no luck with
What is the BEST part of blogging?: the freedom to do anything at any time and be read by dozens
Do you write for yourself, your readers or for Google?: i write for the hope that one day a young lady who is concerned that she might be nymphomaniac and has thus hidden herself away in her room, will find me, and know that i wont judge, nor will i judge her outfits, and ways, and needs. theyre natural i will say. and i will photograph her to make her feel more comfortable. and i will love her. and sell the pictures at a profit. and i will love her sister too. i write for both of them. and their friends.
Would/Do you ever censor yourself?: i censor myself constantly. its my biggest flaw.
Blogs you read or would recommend: i’d like to recommend these 6 blogs written by hot babes who write on blogspot blogs: raymi, oakparkmastermind, xtx, smelly, danielle and zulieka
I could sit here and quote some of Tony’s amazingly free-flowing, puzzling, insightful, naughty, and boldly eyeopening posts but then I’d have to truncate this entry with a “Continue Reading”… and I just don’t want to do that. So check out the links below.
– Tony also has a weekly internet radio spot on Thursdays at 5:00pm PT through NowLive.
*removed*
– There’s talk, there’s music, and there’s a chance to call in and whisper sweet nothings. You can read all of Tony’s posts on his busblog or the LAist.
