Last week I wrote about the possibilities of job action regarding city workers in Vancouver and surrounding areas. After the word came down on Thursday, several municipalities are coping with the cutback in service.

Vancouver’s outside workers have walked off the job and the inside workers are planning the same. Unionized workers in Delta have rejected a final offer from the labour relations bureau, but haven’t issued strike notice. It’s the same story in Burnaby; the union has a strike mandate, but hasn’t issued notice. The district of North Vancouver on the other hand has unionized employees “working to rule” with a ban on overtime and plans to walk off the job Monday. [CKNW]

Photo credit: famewhore on Flickr – “The morning after”

With outisde workers on the picket lines, inside workers just might join them. What this means for us, aside from garbage piling up in the streets, is fewer recreation options in the city this summer.

The PNE and CUPE are in negotiations for a collective agreement, but the event will go on as planned. Workers at both the PNE and Playland are members of Local 10-04, but they are part of separate negotiations. …the Stanley Park miniature railway and Children’s Farmyard have been closed because of the city strike and five of the six outdoor city pools are being shutdown. City beaches are staying open with lifeguards on duty.

Pools that have been closed include Mt. Pleasant, New Brighton, Sunset, Second Beach and Kitsilano [Vancouver Parks].

Photo credit: famewhore on Flickr – “The morning after”

Furthermore, if you have a child enrolled in a city-run day camp, be sure to check for updates on the Parks Board website.

As for the fireworks, the sunshine should be back in Vancouver on Wednesday to accompany the kick off display by Spain in English Bay as they are going ahead as scheduled. I’m actually really scared to see what downtown will look like on Thursday morning.

Update: Click here to view the official list of the City of Vancouver’s services that are open/closed

My $10 Aero Shorts

Aeropostale is Coming to Canada – more specifically… Surrey.

Aeropostale is one of those shops in which I can always find a good deal AND something super comfy. When we head on little retail therapy outings to Bellis Fair, just south of the border, we usually have a game plan in mind. Target (for inexpensive household items and kids clothes), Victoria’s Secret (to pay off the credit card), Kohl’s, and Express (for those SUPER hot work pants). We avoid the scary places for Village of the Damned children like Abercrombie and Hollister but always stop in at Aero. T-shirts, jeans, cargo pants, sweaters and tank tops all super soft and a good fit for your body and your wallet.

When I was in Guildford Mall in Surrey yesterday with my sister, friend and niece I noticed the “Coming to Canada” sign in front of some store space. H&M now this? Sweet.

Mall locations in Canada: Dufferin Mall, Fairview Park Mall, Georgian Mall, Guildford Town Centre, Metropolis at Metrotown, Oakville Place Mall, Pickering Town Centre, Vaughn Mills Mall, White Oaks Mall.

To find out more about Canadian locations, check out their website.

It’s become a part of almost every conversation I have lately because at some point someone mentions something they wrote, did or read on Facebook. Up until a little while ago if I dared talk about anything computer or internet related in a social setting I was made fun of. Now, social media has allowed for every man, woman and their dog (literally, have you see dogbook yet?) to get connected, online.

Part of the attraction is news feeds: You get that Facebook notification email that someone sneezed so you hop on over to your profile or home feed.

Scenario #1: Love. Once thing that John and I were talking with Duane about was when someone changes their relationship status… “Bob is now listed as single” WOOSH! Everyone rushes to Bob’s wall to ask questions, see what’s up, are there pictures up of his newfound single-ness? What happened to Betty? WOOSH! Rush over to Betty’s wall, she’s got a nasty status update posted: “Betty is thinking Bob should drop dead”. Uh Oh! Suddenly (depending on your privacy settings) your hundred contacts, colleagues and acquaintaces know that you are sleeping on the couch tonight.

Scenario #2: Full Dance Card. Thanks to people sending event invites to everyone on their friends list, I seriously have about 5 different options of ‘things to do’ almost ever night of the week – and I have less than 100 people on my list. I am by no means some super hyper popular person but wow, yeah. Do I formally “decline” events that I cannot attend or do I leave them awaiting approval long past the event date? What if I decline one but then that friend can see that I’ve accepted another? What about those poor SOBs that haven’t started drinking the Kool Aid – they won’t be able to see the event because, it’s *only* on Facebook. Suddenly I feel like we’re put into two classes: total ‘social’ sweethearts or anti-social non-responsive a-holes.

Scenario #3: High school. Now I went to an awesome school with only about 300 people so you pretty much knew of everyone. Unfortunately for some, there were some people that you just didn’t really want to know and now 10 years later… you could seriously care less about them let alone remember the last time you thought of their existence. But this is Facebook and you could a) lurk and see what they’ve been up to/how good they’re looking b) chat them up.

With b), suddenly all past differences are tossed aside (because we’re all adults now, eh) and you are just so happy to write on their wall “OMG I haven’t heard from you in AGES how are you?”… let’s see hmm “…over the last TEN years I’ve…”

Don’t get me wrong at all, like I said, I love my little high school. I just find it funny that ex’s or strangers are suddenly all about contacting folks, just because they *can*, well at least until they get blocked anyway.

Scenario #4: Security. My brother is currently looking for a job. I asked him tonight if he was on Facebook yet, to which he replied that he heard at a seminar that employers will search for you, on Facebook and Myspace, to either learn more or see what you’re really like.

I understand but I have to say … “everybody’s doing it!”. In my case, I have a pretty public blog that even my bossed asked me to help him subscribe to the other day. It’s a non-issue as I’m totally Googleable anyway. My Facebook profile is straightforward and honest, just like this site. I omit a couple names, I don’t post my mobile number and I usually only add people that I have met, know or at least know of (or we have several friends in common). But there must be some kind of censorship going on especially if you know (or don’t know) just who is reading. This opens things up perfectly for Miss604.com poll #3:

Regardless of its use, it’s addictive even if you won’t admit it. Check email, check Facebook – it’s become a part of our daily routines and I’m just wondering where it’s going to go from here.

I heard about WordCamp a little while ago because I have Matt on my Twitter and he mentioned something about tickets.

WordCamp is a 2-day conference for WordPress users and developers. The first day will focus on how to be a better blogger, the second on the development and future of WordPress. …To get WordPress users together, learn from each other, figure out the future of publishing on the web, and have a good time [WordCamp]

Photo credit: byte on Flickr

I’m SO wishing I was there right now, the tickets were dirt cheap and it’s in lovely San Francisco. I suppose I don’t really have an excuse aside from not getting some time off work and not having a (valid) passport – I’d have to do the Bellingham Airport thing again.

I’ve been using WordPress for about 10 months now, I was slow to get started as Miss604.com was Blogger-published since 2004. Since making the switch, which at first was a little scary, I’ve been enlightened and know just how capable WordPress is as a platform. This enabled me to recently single-handedly overhaul my company’s website using WordPress as a CMS. I’m also super excited about a possible new theme or look to Miss604.com, although I don’t really want to stray too far from what it is now.

Regardless, I’ll be keeping on top of the WordCamp action (including WP newbies and veterans alike) through the WordCamp Blog and I’ll also be living vicariously through John Biehler, local Vancouver blogger who is in attendance.

A short while ago Keira told me about the butcher shop/deli at So.Cial, the place I’ve been passing on my way to work for months and always thought it was *just* an oyster bar. But on recommendation from Rod, Keira then checked it out, loved it and passed along the knowledge to yours truly.

Today a co-worker and I wanted to grab a quick bite for lunch and he said the word “sandwich”. I immediately thought of this place and we decided to go check it out. From 322 Water Street, head up the stairs and to the back of the hallway, past the restaurant/oyster bar.

Choose from our selection of local & organic custom cut meats, house made charcuterie, terrines, sausages, bacon and a delicious assortment of condiments. Special orders are also welcome. [So.Cial]

Everyone was right, it’s DELICIOUS. I had the “small” sandwich (which was anything but), choosing from any type of select meat and every delectable topping imaginable. The “small” is a triangle-sized portion of fresh focaccia and comes with a side of house-made chips for $4.50. I have to say, we’ll definitely be back.