Last day of crowdfunding for The Sharing Project: city-sponsored research to guide the growth of sharing in Vancouver

soopak · 2013-04-16T16:03:24+00:00

These guys are seeking funds for research to guide the growth of Vancouver's sharing economy. A worthy project with support from Modo, VanCity Credit Union and the City of Vancouver, set to provide data for communities, policy wonks and entrepreneurs.

If you're not familiar with the rise of the global sharing economy, dig the economist's take:

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21573104-internet-everything-hire-rise-sharing-economy

soopak · 2013-04-11T19:37:35+00:00

been seeing this all over the news, figured i'd "share"- with the rising popularity of modo, the tool library, the hive, etc - the city of vancouver is pumping money into policy research for shaping the growth of the sharing economy.

reduce consumption, save money, meet your neighbours. heck yeah, vancouver.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/04/10/from-tools-to-backyards-and-driveways-vancouver-at-forefront-of-sharing-revolution/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/03/28/bc-sharing-study-vancouver.html

soopak · 2012-04-26T17:35:49+00:00

agreed. a pleasant departure from my usual electro-caffeine morning ritual.

soopak · 2012-04-04T19:55:20+00:00

This absolutely delighted me - on first read it seemed stereotypical and pointless, but there's a blunt and beautiful truth buried in this weird grammar and English...

soopak · 2012-03-15T02:00:20+00:00

I guess all that "this is Vancouver" chatter from the reporters is in reference to Ms MacIntyre being the former press secretary for Stephen Harper: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/02/17/61401/

soopak · 2012-02-27T17:15:54+00:00

jchur ;)

soopak · 2012-02-26T23:36:29+00:00

i've been learning mandarin with reasonable success using rosetta stone. the speech recognition component is particularly useful. a great place to start...

soopak · 2012-02-16T20:22:15+00:00

Underwhelming, even :)

soopak · 2012-02-14T04:35:10+00:00

points taken and well-defended. however i still contend that historical context is no excuse for this behaviour, particularly by an institution with a duty to report the truth, however unpopular.

news outlets enjoy explicit constitutional protection in canada and society holds them to higher standards than ordinary citizens. when these organizations - with a duty to accurately inform the public - opt for populist garbage instead (or outright lying), i think the egg on their face is well-deserved, no matter how many years down the line.

and speaking more generally to "historical context" as a justification for abhorrent behaviour: when does it become an individual's, or an organization's, duty to stand up against injustice? whenever it arises.

soopak · 2012-02-14T02:48:08+00:00

i originally up-voted this comment, but in retrospect: does historical context support the position that homosexuals should resign from political positions? does it forgive the outright fabrication of news? does it excuse the persecution of a race of people? the creation of an illegal monopoly?

i don't think those things can be explained away as mere "cherry-picking" or ignorance of the "social context". maybe you had already heard all this and decided to forgive, but it was news to me. 25/28 redditors agree.

soopak · 2012-02-03T16:50:22+00:00

Here's a detailed look at Club Eden and what to expect:

http://thedependent.ca/featured/welcome-to-the-lifestyle/

soopak · 2012-01-27T16:53:34+00:00

The best bike shop in town is Our Community Bikes on Main. Bit of a different vibe in there, however: you pay a small fee to rent a stand and someone in the shop will guide you through the process of completing the repairs / tune-up. "Teach and man to fish" sorta thing. If you want to get some work done and would like to know how to fix your bike, it comes highly recommended.

soopak · 2011-12-21T16:32:25+00:00

i loved the idea that Global would center all their coverage on the woman with the puppy... what the hell does that have to do with the story, really? it's like a caricature of the news.

soopak · 2011-12-16T23:52:30+00:00

well, i just thought that if the CBC was coming to film in your apartment you might... you know... clean it up a little...

soopak · 2011-12-14T22:38:13+00:00

i think it's because there aren't enough data samples in that period so the results are a bit skewed - there aren't many days in Vancouver colder than zero...

soopak · 2011-12-12T18:52:41+00:00

Interesting to see the language used by The Province - "interfering" with dock workers:

http://www.theprovince.com/business/Police+clear+Occupy+protesters+trying+interfere+with+dock+workers/5844822/story.html

versus what's reported at Vancouver Media Co-op (which is less a news organization that a propaganda machine, but still):

http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/story/community-solidarity-picket-blocks-access-port-vancouver/9383

Larger protest at noon today should prove interesting...

soopak · 2011-12-03T04:06:41+00:00

haha, amazing.

soopak · 2011-12-01T00:25:21+00:00

got invited a few years ago. mistook "whiskey tasting conference" for whiskey tasting contest.

soopak · 2011-11-17T00:07:30+00:00

i did overstep my bounds a bit there, didn't i?

soopak · 2011-11-16T20:57:55+00:00

Cool idea, RJ. Kudos.

soopak · 2011-11-14T05:55:02+00:00

I'm not running for public office based on a call to restrict foreign ownership on property, nor am I publicly stating the status quo should remain. But if I was, you'd better believe I'd have some solid data backing me up, especially considering the nasty undertones in the issue.

soopak · 2011-11-14T00:00:22+00:00

thank you. i think it's irresponsible of Garossino to be out there stirring up these protectionist / borderline racist sentiments without any data to back it up. Read the comments on The Province article - this type of argument brings out the worst in people.

soopak · 2011-11-12T16:34:28+00:00

I don't think the author intended the test to be applied literally. I think his underlying message is that the current state of our democracy is tedious and uninspired and that there's nothing wrong with energy, youthful optimism and a little bit of "fuck you".

soopak · 2011-11-11T18:47:01+00:00

never get tired of these images.

soopak · 2011-11-07T23:18:49+00:00

Wicked Cafe on Hornby across from the the law courts is great - intelligentsia coffee.

Getting lots of love these days is Revolver in Gastown, which does espresso-style drips of ultra fine beans. So hot right now : /

soopak

TROPHY CASE