$87 Million Expense for Downtown “Wooden Clam” Structure, Luongo’s 47 Saves Not Enough to Win against Detroit: VancouverIA

by Inveslogic | January 18, 2008 at 12:49 pm

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This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from VancouverIAM where you will find the best blogs from Vancouver, BC as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Granville BIA on the Hunt for “Love Hotel”

In a recent post on Oldtown News, which looks at neighborhood and political issues, Jamie Hamilton reports that the South Granville BIA is hunting for a business that bills itself as a “love hotel.” The hotel advertises in the adult classified section of the Georgia Straight. Apparently Sharon Townsend, executive director of the South Granville BIA, “became aware of the ad and went on an executive man-hunt to track down the offending business.” The business is discreet and only offer a phone number as a contact, which created “logistical problems for the man-hunt,” enlisting help from the Vancouver Police Department.

Hamilton doesn’t understand what’s wrong with people “desiring to connect up discreetly for an adult rendezvous.” She points out that Vancouver “has been licensing gay male steambaths since the 1960's where homosexuals can rent time-limited rooms for making those love-connections.” It seems silly to use scarce resources “to investigate an adult business which prefers to discreetly operate and isn't breaking any laws,” she states in her post.

$87 Million Wooden “Clam” Structure to be Built Over Robson Square

According to Pacific Metropolis, there are plans to erect a “giant wooden clam” over Robson Square, “just in time for the Olympics.” The wooden structure is meant to “arch over Robson Street itself,” from the Vancouver Art Gallery to the Robson Street waterfall. A recent article in the Vancouver Sun claims that “Arthur Erickson is ‘ambivalent’ about the project, while Bing Thom thinks it may not be ‘architecturally appropriate.’”

Apparently, the Clam is “bigger than most people realize, and will radically change the nature of Vancouver's main square.” It’s difficult to judge, however, as not many people have actually seen the design plans. The post states that the estimated cost of this project is $87 million.

47 Saves by Luongo and Canucks Still Lose to Redwings

Alanah writes on Canucks and Beyond that you’ve got problems “when it takes 47 saves to lose a game” and we can now forgive Roberto Luongo “for thinking he’s playing for the Florida Panthers again.” She calls on Ed Willes of The Province for his comment about the Canucks believing that “with Luongo… if management surrounds the goalie with the right personnel, a Stanley Cup is possible.” Alanah says it’s possible, “but when it comes to surrounding the goalie with “the right personnel,” that’s easier said than done.”

In her post, our blogger also points out the “wisdom” of fans on the Canuck’s message board. Apparently, “it’s not that the Canucks can’t score, it’s that they don’t celebrate properly.” One fan states that there never seems to be any excitement from the players. “Nazzy just skates into the circle of players and taps them on the head... We need more enthusiasm in our goals.” She jokes that perhaps someone should start up a solid “Hossa to Vancouver rumor.” Total b.s., but still “cheerful to ponder.”

Is Municipal WiFi Possible in Vancouver?

Peter Ladner, city councillor, announces in his blog that the city’s Request For Expressions of Interest document will go out Jan. 21 “to see who's interested in installing a municipal wifi system in a pilot area downtown.” The goal would be to get something workable by 2010. “The challenge,” he writes, “is to come up with a business model that works.”

He states in his post that “Earthlink and Google are out, but Meraki Networks is planning to build out its mesh technology to provide free wireless broadband beyond its initial 40,000-member base.” Earthlink has also “bailed” in a several U.S. cities, “raising questions about the viability of self-sustaining municipal WiFi.” Recommendations are expected to be back from staff by April.

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VancouverIAM is part of a groundbreaking network of city-focused blog aggregation, user generated media and social networking websites currently rolling out across North America. Each IAM website filters and organizes blog content as well as offering video upload capabilities, social networking, blog authoring, favourites lists and rumours. The IAM Network is a division of SoMedia Networks Inc which also operates Inveslogic.com, Greenedia.com, Healthedia.com and Blabaloo.com. For more information or to register an account, visit VancouverIAM.com.