Comments on: I went to a hockey game…

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:30:35 +0000

My navigations skills are greatly aided by having a map. And being in air or on ground. On water … not so hot.

At least I never tried to steer you into a building :p

By: Shane

Shane — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:35:33 +0000

Forgive the K in traffic..I blame the lack of coffee.

By: Shane

Shane — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:01:40 +0000

Next time Kelly, since I haven’t been to a game n a couple of years, and of course to avoid the traffick just give any spare Vancouver tickets to your nephew

I love the new uniforms colours, but they can get rid of that stupid whale logo anytime now

By: Oblivions

Oblivions — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 07:15:35 +0000

From Metro town to GM about 10-15 on train and 10 minutes walk from station to Bun.

By: Kelly Adams

Kelly Adams — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:05:46 +0000

Re: taking transit

Yeah, I thought about that- problem is, I had to go to work first, and wasn’t wanting to guess exactly how long it would take to get from Metrotown or whatever to GM Place.

Re: GPS

I think the military gets access to some time correction bands that increase the accuracy to about 4 cm. Plus I believe newer GPS receivers (I.E.: made since 2006) are using more capable processors/signal manifest logic. But yeah, the concrete stuff seems to cause it some difficulty, that’s for sure.

As for the prison- I figure it was just trying to make a statement about us And I’d *still* rather have a GPS any day than the navigation services of Kalen, you, or myself

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:14:43 +0000

“My solution was to drive far enough away (three or so blocks) to allow the GPS to get its “bearings”. Interestingly, about the exact time that the navigation system figured out where I was, so did I. Darn technology :)”

Makes you take with a grain of salt all those claims about the pinpoint accuracy and infallibility of GPS targeted weapons doesn’t it?

Between it sending us to prison and trying to drive you into buildings, are you sure that maybe your GPS hasn’t got it in for you?

By: Oblivions

Oblivions — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:08:46 +0000

Ahh the Hot Cross Bun! When I was living in Burnaby a friend lived in a tower right next to it. The scary factor does indeed go way up around there in the dead of night especially. Might I suggest you just take the Train next time? I won’t anywhere near downtown Van unless its on the train or bus. I’ll be the first to admit the walk from the station of the Bun can be interesting if alone and dark but still a better option than trying to brave the Parking Gestapo set up.

By: Kelly Adams

Kelly Adams — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 07:54:19 +0000

Yeah, single use structures have a deadening effect on the area outside their normal usage windows.

Interesting factoid: my GPS went nuts around the GM Place/BC Place concrete maze. I’d speculate it was the massive amount of concrete and steel interfering with the satellite signals. For a while, my GPS thought my car was driving off in strange directions and going *through* buildings. This is particularly bad since all the roads there circle around and run at various levels, which meant I was already a bit disoriented.

My solution was to drive far enough away (three or so blocks) to allow the GPS to get its “bearings”. Interestingly, about the exact time that the navigation system figured out where I was, so did I. Darn technology

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 05:27:17 +0000

I seem to recall Davie as being quite “lively”. I guess the lesson to be learned is that the key to downtown revitalization is not to build a hockey arena but to bring in gay guys

The fundamental problem with all big single use buildings is that they are empty most of the time. A big office building is only occupied 8 hours a day or so, an arena is even worse. I think any mono-culture is not what you want downtown. I wouldn’t want all retail, all office or even all residential.

By: Kelly Adams

Kelly Adams — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 04:32:59 +0000

Yeah, and Vancouver has one of the most “vibrant” downtowns in Canada, possibly in North America. Lots of people live there, but its not like a street party every night. People go to their club or whatever, and stay there until 2:00 am, then they walk two blocks back to their apartments. Huge crowds don’t wander around from quaint little street shop to quaint little bistro all day long, I guess. At least not outside of certain areas: the office buildings and so forth certainly don’t attract much of that sort of vibe. Neither you nor I are really the sorts of people who go “clubbing” or even go to the areas that attract such activity, so the areas we might look at in a big city, like museums and stores, sort of shut down after dark.

I find the area around GM Place and BC Place to be…cavernous. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but it is all gigantic slabs of concrete, and barricade fences topped with razor wire, and elevated roads/walkways blocking out the sky. Not exactly inviting…but I suppose edifices intended to house and manage 50,000 people for “events” can’t really avoid being massive and intimidating. When the events are over, they become particularly disconcerting to be around, or at least they do to me. I don’t think massive stadiums belong in a downtown core, but…I guess it is convenient when they are.

I imagine that the bars and nightclubs around stadiums also get a rush of traffic before and, perhaps, after a big event. But I don’t really see much else in the way of commerce impacting the surrounding areas from them. I mean, you don’t go shopping for clothes or groceries just before or after the big game or concert.