source | cbc.ca Homelessness on the rise in Metro Vancouver, says report

Now maybe it’s because I live on the lip of the downtown Eastside or maybe its because Im one of the poor masses with unbleached teeth but this doesnt surprise me at all. Vancouver has been in denial about this for awhile. A couple of years back I worked downtown and was a good observer of Vancouverite’s behaviour towards the poor and destitute. Now I like to be left alone when Im out and about and on my way to something but if anyone talks to me I try to talk to them like a person. This seems to be the exception rather than the rule though. I’ll be honest we need to lose our tude before the Olympics or we’ll reveal our little yogawear covered secret: Vancouverites have a tendency to be myopic self important assholes who rarely rise above holistic mediocrity except when it comes to the moral pulpit. Food for thought next time you look down on someone for not being up to snuff. Oh yeah and if you keep pushing it will take your plasma TV and BluRay DVD player.

Okay folks this one was hard. I dont think Ive come across a skin tone so complex in such a long time. Still, Im disappointed as I thought he was going to be far scarier than Flaherty. For those of you that ask why no Stephane Dion? Well…his eyebrows are about as impressive as his leadership.

One annoying thing about looking for a job in Vancouver is something called the stress interview. A fad of the 80’s, it seems that some Vancouver businesses can’t get enough of this interview. Here’s the deal: if the interview starts out real well, almost too well - just wait and the switch will happen. Ive had interviews where all the windows in the room were open allowing the street traffic to drown out questions, having the interviewer read other resumes or not listen to the questions, argue that your answers arent complete even though they are. I know that this has been claimed as a good way to find out how a candidate behaves under pressure but to be honest its a shite way to make a first impression.

This morning on the way to work I decided to try something different. I was in line for the b-line bus at Broadway and Commercial where the lines are long and the patience is short. I’m about 10 feet from the bus when this person with fluffy poodle hair and double bubble pink leg warmers and a coat walks up to the door and starts fluffing her hair more in a poorly masked attempt to jump the queue.