Last week, the VANOC introduced the Vancouver 2010 mascots. As I was quite disappointed with their emblem, I wasn't expecting too much for their mascot. I was thinking, "Meh, they will probably just pick a spirit bear couple or go with very stereotypical mascot."
Then I saw these three adorable, cute and cuddly mascots along with their sidekick Mukmuk. Miga is a young sea bear (part killer whale and part bear) who likes to snowboard. Quatch is a young sasquatch who wants to be like Roberto Luongo, a world-famous goalie. Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia.
When I first saw pictures of these mascots, the first thing that came to my mind was this. "Aww, they look sooo cute and adorable. Kids will love this. They could actually sell lots of merchandise and make lots of money. Money money money for the VANOC."
Everyone else, on the other hand, seems to hate these little cuddly creatures. I heard people - including one of my friends- saying how much they hate these mascots. They say how it looks so Japanese, how they are Hello Kitty knock offs, how it is not really a Canadian looking, how they don't represent Vancouver or BC, how they don't have Canadian names or even mentioning that it's all because mascot designer was an Asian and "Chinese lady messed it up". My friend even made fun of Miga for being a weird mutated shit. My gosh, people need to lighten up!
When I first saw theses mascots, I've never thought they looked "Japanese." I just saw cute little things that kids will love and will bring in lots of money for the VANOC. As a taxpayer, I want the VANOC to make lots of money and at least break even. I am also quite sure that many of these whiners couldn't really tell you what "Canadian looking" or "what it means to be a Canadian" really is.
I mean seriously? Is David Suzuki less Canadian because he looks like a Japanese? Is Paul Kariya less Canadian because he doesn't quite look like your typical white male? (Or are you going to call him a weird mutated person, too?) The other thing I should mention is that I actually learned bit more about First Nation's legends of the Pacific Northwest. All these whiners also should look at some of recent Olympic mascots. In my opinion, our mascots looks much better and they are probably one of the best Olympic mascots so far.
More than anything, what some of these people don't get is this. These mascots were created for little kids. The VANOC didn't create these mascots to boost your Canadian ego. They were not designed to please everyone. These mascots were created to sell lots and lots of merchandise and make lots of money. Seriously, who cares if bunch of adults don't like these mascots? So what if they look "Japanese"? I mean who cares? Give me a break! I mean some of these complainers probably grew up playing Nintendo or Sega games. Do you think Oprah really cares what 20-30 years old male think of her show? Do you think the ESPN really gives a damn about pleasing 50 something female viewers?
Whenever I look at these mascots, they make me smile. My only complain would be that they should've made Mukmuk as one of the characters. Mukmuk is also so cute. I know some people will never get this but I do hope that these mascots will continue to be adored by little kids and bring out endless imaginations.
It's been a day since I watched an eyewitness' s video footage of Robert Dziekanski's last moment during last night's evening news. All I can say is that I am still saddened and disturbed by it. This is an embarrassing moment for Canada and we all should be ashamed.
Vancouver International Airport is one of the main hub airport in Canada. It is a gateway to Canada. Then why couldn't anyone at the YVR find a interpreter to help Mr.Dziekanski? As for the RCMP, why did they have to taser him only 25 seconds after they arrived at the scene? Why couldn't four fit RCMP officers calm this tired middle-aged man down? Why didn't they try to save Mr.Diziekanski after he stopped breathing? Don't they know how to perform CPR?
Will these officers stand before the court for their crime? Will they pay for their crime? They should absolutely pay for their crimes and go before the court just like rest of us would've have to. Police officers are not above the law. (Of course, we all know that these criminals will get off free) Unfortunately, it may only be a matter of time before yet another innocent man or woman will be executed by the police. Something must be done and we need to make sure that such tragic event won't happen ever again.
Today, Canada owes a public apology to Poland for killing one of her innocent citizens right on the Canadian soil.
As my close friends would know why, I won't be publicly making any comments on tax issues. Having said that, whatever the federal/provincial government decide to do with your tax money and how they set up the budget will have a big impact on your life and your bottom line.
I read recent news stories and the commentaries on the federal government's recent mini-budget with great interest. I also thought it would be fun to compare and contrast reactions from my two friends. As you can tell, one is not a big fan of Prime Minister Harper while the other loves him.
So stealing a catch phrase from one "balanced" right-wing news station down there, I report and you decide. (Keep in mind that these quotes may not reflect what I really think about this issue.)
I fully support the corporate tax cuts, which ironically Dion proposed quite recently, as this will allow us to be more competitive globally. It will also allow firms to invest more in expansion which will make them not only better able to compete globally, but less susceptible to foreign takeovers. I do agree with the income tax cuts, but feel they were too small and condemn the Tories for raising them in the first place as we are simply back to where we were in January 2006. I am glad to see the minimum tax threshold raised, but I would like to see it even higher. Much like BC has done provincially, the government should set the goal of within 5 years ensuring no one living below the poverty line pays income tax. I do however, think the GST cut was an incredibly dumb idea and wish they had not done so. While I am not against a GST cut per se, it ranks as a very low priority as it is the least effective tax cut for stimulating economic growth. Almost every economist believes this is the last tax that should be cut.
There you have it. I guess it will be interesting to see how this tax issue will change the dynamics of upcoming federal election whenever it will occur...
So we all heard from former US Vice-President Al Gore and environmentalists that we will all die from the global warming if we don't do something about it. Al Gore single handily made it cool to be green. Being green is cool! Even BC's Premier is on that anti-global warming bandwagon and his government is planning to hike up the tax in this province in the name of saving the mother earth.
At this rate, those of us who will be privileged enough to drive cars could only drive something like this in few years. (While living in an environmentally friendly 200 sq ft high-rise condo suite a la 1984) Meanwhile China will continue to produce lead poisoning version of Happy Meal toys...
Ah, I am sure the BC Liberals spin-doctors are having a field day with this latest statement by Carole James. I could actually picture them giggling on West Cordova. What a nice opportunity to show how incompetent Ms. James and the NDP truly are eh?
Lo and behold, the BC Liberals wasted no time to use this opportunity to attack the NDP while congratulating themselves for a job well done. In their e-mail/website news release titled, “The Real Story: Carole James ignores Lower Mainland commuters,” the BC Liberals are not shy about stating the importance of expanding the Port Mann Bridge.
They say…
The BC Liberal government has been moving forward to twin the Port Mann Bridge and expand Highway 1 to help improve transit, move commuters and expedite the flow of commercial goods. The benefits of this project are overwhelming and undisputable for Lower Mainland residents.
They also went on to say…
By saying NO to the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge and the Gateway transportation program during her Thursday address to the Union of BC Municipalities meeting, Carole James is saying NO to all of the project's benefits for Fraser Valley residents.
By saying NO to the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge, Carole James is ignoring the facts.
- The Highway 1/Port Mann corridor is congested 13 hours a day. - Transit has not run across the Port Mann Bridge in 20 years due to constant congestion and inability to keep schedules.
Wow, this literally made me to stand up and applaud them for a job well done. They finally solved this problem. Amazing! They are truly the best government ever!! I (heart) Campbell so much!!! They are the best thing happened since the slice of bread!!!!
And…
Next day, on my way home after a long day at work in my Surrey office, it took me nearly an hour just to get onto the highway one and that Port Mann Bridge. I looked at this car next to me and I could tell that the driver in that car was getting angry. It looked like his blood pressure was rising to the point where he could’ve turn into that Las Vegas crack head. Good thing I drive an Acura.
Sitting in a bad traffic jam that day –and every afternoon/evening- also made me to realize that there is no expanded/twinned Port Mann Bridge. I also didn’t see any construction to build a new bridge as well. I was also able to calculate that there will be roughly about 24,856 hours of congestion on that corridor if the new Port Mann Bridge opens up on January 1, 2013. (87 days until the end of this year + 5 yrs * 365 days = 1912 days * 13 hours / day congestion as suggested by those in power = 24,856 hours. And yes us Asians can calculate this in our heads.)
That is 24,856 hours of commuters' time away from their loved ones, family, and friends and work. That is 24,856 hours + of fumes and frustrations. Guess what? It will only get worse.
Of course, the BC Liberals spin-doctors and loyal members will say that they have a plan to expand the bridge, the Gateway and Campbell is great, For BC, Golden Decade blah blah blah… Thus they are better than you.
Well, you could also say that you have this grand plan to donate $1 billion to a charity. You could make a fancy presentation on how you will give the money in few years. But can you really brag about helping out the charity until you actually donated some money?
The BC Liberals knew about this problem just like all of us. They had resources. They already had few years to expand this bridge. So the question that all of us – including Ms. James- should be asking is then…
Where is the God damn bridge Gordon? Show me the bridge.
Living in beautiful British Columbia. A graduate of Simon Fraser University. Currently works for the Government of Canada, proudly serving fellow Canadians.
Then I saw these three adorable, cute and cuddly mascots along with their sidekick Mukmuk. Miga is a young sea bear (part killer whale and part bear) who likes to snowboard. Quatch is a young sasquatch who wants to be like Roberto Luongo, a world-famous goalie. Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia.
When I first saw theses mascots, I've never thought they looked "Japanese." I just saw cute little things that kids will love and will bring in lots of money for the VANOC. As a taxpayer, I want the VANOC to make lots of money and at least break even. I am also quite sure that many of these whiners couldn't really tell you what "Canadian looking" or "what it means to be a Canadian" really is. 
Whenever I look at these mascots, they make me smile. My only complain would be that they should've made Mukmuk as one of the characters. Mukmuk is also so cute. I know some people will never get this but I do hope that these mascots will continue to be adored by little kids and bring out endless imaginations.
