Lambourghini Vancouver

Lambourghini Vancouver group drive for 2009!! You can tell it was going to be a beautiful day. I was quite refreshed in anticipation and they did not disappoint.

I counted as many as 15 Lambourghinis, 1 control and 2 guest cars when we first dispatched. As expected for such an event, there was a delay from the get-go and immediately there were some Lambourghinis that got lost from the group.

However, things started picking up and we got on our way to Cypress. I never really quite knew where were the best places to run while with these babies but Exit 8 up towards Cypress Mountain has to be among the list. The road was fairly long and straight thus allowing the power race-cars to do their magic. It is really quite the scene to hear the engines roar and the cars zipping by. First stop. There we had our first group photos.

About 20 minutes later, we were off to Squamish. It seemed like there were 3 cars that did not continue the drive. No matter, this group was enough to make some noise and grab attention. In fact, at one point, 2 of the guys were racing so fast (has to be faster than 160km/h) that the police got on our tails. They got away even though the rest of us were stopped for questioning. At first, I really thought we were stopped for group racing but I was well within the speed limit. Nothing will dampen our day, we got away with a little license check and some lost time.

So an hour or so behind schedule, we made it to the Squamish Starbucks. It is almost 1 in the afternoon and everyone was tired, thirsty and famished. We quickly grabbed A&W for some replenishments and continued to Nicklaus North.

After lunch, it was free for all and we were ready to depart sometime around 4. Anyways, we finally made it home at a quarter to 7 and a little less than a quarter tank of gas left in the Lambourghini. (Below: My parents, me and my GF, Sharon.)

And how was my first real driving experience of the Lambourghini LP 640? Well, let's just say I can get used to the driving but it will take a lot more for me to get used to the attention it brings. Oh, and during traffic jams, it is really quite irritating to rev up every few seconds, not to mention how much gas it eats up.

Man, it has been fun. What a day!!

楊怡Tavia Yeung - TVB actress

Name: Yeung Yi (楊怡)Tavia Yeung
Profession: Actress
Birthdate: 30 August 1979
Birthplace: Zhanjiang, China
Height: 166cm
Weight: 45kg
Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, and English

June Greater Vancouver Stats

July 3, 2009 - June Stats

Market conditions drive strong June housing sales VANCOUVER, B.C. – July 3, 2009 – The combination of low interest rates and more affordable pricing helped propel Greater Vancouver home sale numbers to the second all-time highest total for the month of June. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that sales of detached, attached and apartment properties increased 75.6 per cent in June 2009 to 4,259, from the 2,425 sales recorded in June 2008. The figure is just short of the record-breaking 4,333 sales which occurred in June 2005. New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined 17.9 per cent to 5,372 in June 2009 compared to June 2008, when 6,546 new units were listed. However, new listings increased 13.5 per cent from May to June of this year. Total active listings in Greater Vancouver currently sit at 13,252, down 27 per cent from June 2008 and 2.9 per cent below the active listings count at the end of May 2009. “Price reductions and low interest rates have created an improvement in affordability, which is causing the number of sales to rise to levels comparable to 2003 to 2007,” Scott Russell, REBGV president said. “Many people who were reluctant to purchase a home last fall and earlier this year are returning to the market because they see conditions that appeal to their personal and financial needs,” Russell said. “However, the current marketplace is such that buyers are more inclined to walk if they don’t like the terms of an offer.” Residential benchmark prices, as calculated by the MLSLink® Housing Price Index, declined 8.2 per cent to $518,855 in June 2009 compared to June 2008. The number of sales of detached properties increased 81.6 per cent to 1,667 from the 918 detached sales recorded during the same period in 2008. The benchmark price for detached properties declined 8.4 per cent to $701,384 in June 2009 compared to June 2008. The number of sales of apartment properties in June 2009 increased 69.3 per cent to 1,790, compared to 1,057 sales in June 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property declined 8.2 per cent from June 2008 to $356,880. The number of attached property sales in June 2009 increased 78.2 per cent to 802, compared with the 450 sales in June 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit declined 7.3 per cent between June 2009 and 2008 to $441,620. BRIGHT SPOTS IN GREATER VANCOUVER IN JUNE 2009 COMPARED TO JUNE 2008: Detached: Burnaby up 109.7 per cent (151 units sold from 72) Coquitlam up 122.2 per cent (160 units sold from 72) Delta - South up 107.7 per cent (56 units sold from 27) Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows up 54.3 per cent (162 units sold from 105) New Westminster up 104.8 per cent (43 units sold from 21) North Vancouver up 96.2 per cent (153 units sold from 78) Port Moody/ Belcarra up 120 per cent (33 units sold from 15) Richmond up 77.4 per cent (204 units sold from 115) Squamish up 107.7 per cent (27 units sold from 13) Sunshine Coast up 33.9 per cent (75 units sold from 56) Vancouver East up 71.2 per cent (238 units sold from 139) Vancouver West up 85.2 per cent (200 units sold from 108) West Vancouver/Howe Sound up 117.8 per cent (98 units sold from 45) Attached: Burnaby up 81.8 per cent (140 units sold from 77) Coquitlam up 80 per cent (54 units sold from 30) Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows up 48.6 per cent (55 units sold from 37) North Vancouver up 121.2 per cent (73 units sold from 33) Port Coquitlam up 82.6 per cent (42 units sold from 23) Port Moody/ Belcarra up 77.3 per cent (39 units sold from 22) Richmond up 84.5 per cent (155 units sold from 84) Vancouver East up 118.5 per cent (59 units sold from 27) Vancouver West up 121.8 per cent (122 units sold from 55) Apartments: Burnaby up 60.4 per cent (239 units sold from 149) Coquitlam up 93.9 per cent (95 units sold from 49) New Westminster up 57.1 per cent (121 units sold from 77) North Vancouver up 71.4 per cent (120 units sold from 70) Port Coquitlam up 58.1 per cent (49 units sold from 31) Port Moody/Belcarra up 128.6 per cent (48 units sold from 21) Richmond up 54.1 per cent (225 units sold from 146) Vancouver East up 58.7 per cent (165 units sold from 104) Vancouver West up 87.2 per cent (627 units sold from 335) West Vancouver/Howe Sound up 155.6 per cent (23 units sold from 9)

Bongkoj Khongmalai - Thai Actress

Thai name: บงกช คงมาลัย
Birthday: 15 April 1985
Height:168 cm

I don't think she is that popular in Thailand but she does strike me as someone with a certain unique quality.

Imagination Suicide

I listened to the screams of silence, smelled the stench of soaked vomit and watched the woman hang herself to death.

It sparked a question in my mind and awoken an urge that hasn't been felt in a long time.There she was, swinging back and forth, legs slightly jerking and fingers twitching as the last bit of regret is choked from her.

I sat on the couch with a tired brain and a tired body. I imagined you sitting here with me, watching the woman's last moments, rhetorically commenting on ‘How can I watch this?’ The light in the room ran off with the scene of the crime. I smiled weakly at my mind's feeble wishes for company besides the sad echoes of reflection.

There it began again.The migraines cramped up as I buried myself in the cushions, there's no harm in pretending to not be alone... It only works if you are truly alone because if someone (flesh and blood) happens to walk in and find you talking to a empty seat… well then you would just be another crack case. Let me emphasize. I'm not. Not. Crazy. It is just that for some reason, you catch me in my weirdest moments.

Then I caught the mirror staring at me. Ghastly. This man had not a wink of a sleep in that many days. I thought of changing my physical appearance. There's no harm in changing one's appearances especially if it gets boring looking at the same old reflection in the mirror... Always green, always pale... Always wearing that tired expression giving away that I've been up with my bad dreams again.

If you were here... If only. I think you could understand how when something makes you happy and it isn't quite the same as before... Warm cloth on a winter's day.

I can half imagine you offering to be my stylist. Maybe dye my hair, change my wardrobe, start me on a cologne and make me new glasses.

I look over at the phone. Dust sleeps on it. You should have called awhile ago... I should have called you a long time ago.

Then there is that empty seat next to me... But like most people, they just don't care anymore, don't give a shit. And that's the worse... When your the only one trying to fit the pieces of fragments together and there's millions of little pieces scattered every where.

Peering up the wall and towards the window... the pale morning beginning to form and I wonder if a vampire feels like this at dawn. Exhaustion, regret and relief?

You hang the rope around your neck and gave one to me.

Your pretend silence says it all.

U.S. Bank can learn from Canadian Banks

U.S. Banks can learn from Canadian banks

A few noteworthy differences:

• Superintendent of Financial Institutions: A single, powerful regulator;
• Industry Concentration: 5 banks have 85% of assets in Canada;
• More conservative executive-suite culture: Bankers are more like Accountants;
• Canada’s version of Glass Steagall repealed in the 1980s.

Canada also has a very different corporate culture, less driven by pursuit of option riches instead focuses on sustainable and long term corporate profitability.

One of the main factors affecting long-term profitability is inflation which leads to many turning to real estate, which is considered a hedge against inflation. Couple that with low mortgage rates and you have a strong real estate market.

Vivian Hsu 徐若瑄

Born: March 19, 1975

Blood Type: A

Height: 161 cm

Measurements: B-85 W-58 H-85

爱情并非完美

爱情并非完美。无论在你心里想象得如何，一段感情难免有不快和不顺之时。

值得欣慰的是，经历了种种波折后的情侣学会更加尊敬与珍惜彼此。经过考验的爱情因此而坚固。一个人的笑印在俩人的眼眸，一份眼泪由两颗心来体味，一次一次的谅解加深了彼此之间的默契。脚步虽不一致，却谁也没有抛下谁，手拖着手，一起克服困难。

多久以后，经辛历苦的每个回忆成为彼此刻苦铭心的爱情故事。没有电影神话般的火花，完美的结局，却有细水长流淡淡之味，是真实的一种信赖，那两颗心融在一起的细细甜蜜。

爱情并非完美。世上也无完人。但是有些爱情故事，我们会回味一生。有些人，我们会一生迷恋，一生呵护。

June 26th House Party

I apologize for the late post as I have never been active with a camera. Many of these pictures are provided by coutesy of Manuel. I will try and get more pictures up.

Many thanks to the wonderful musical talents who graced us with their music, in particular Adam, Lester and Monica. Also many thanks to the guests that joined us and livened up the party. Then there are those who worked behind the scenes such as Manuel and Judy of Showcase Pianos who are always enthusiastic and provided the chairs. If you like the Fazioli we played on, they are the ones you want to call.

Anyways, this is to celebrate my sister being back in Vancouver and her soon-to-be in-laws guests visiting from Taiwan. The next one will be on the 12th July, where more music merry-making will occur.

Man. I feel old.

Airpod Car

MDI AirPod

The AIRPod is a zero-emissions vehicle capable of reaching 50mph and requiring only air. Yes, that is the same air we run on.

The AIRPod is currently on a trail run by Air French. It will be going for $7,500, and word on the street is it can travel up to 140 miles on a single 46-gallon tank of air. According to MDI just 8 hours in an AC outlet, or 2 minutes at an air station will replenish the sir supply of the vehicle.

The Proposal

Last Friday, I rushed from work to catch the release of “Transformer 2” only to find ridiculous lineups at Silvercity, Riverport. Upon investigation, there was no online ticket purchase possible because the network was experiencing technical difficulties. So everything has to go through the 5 ticket counters. Funny (unless you are among those lining up).

Anyways, I am not one to push my luck so I selected to go for another movie “The Proposal” instead. Released June 19, 2009, I have heard good reviews for the show and when I entered the theatre, I was pleasantly surprised at how many great seats were available which also raises wonder why there were not more audiences.

There has been an increasingly number of comedies based on idiocies or spoofs mockeries transcending into BroRomance nowadays. While a few still possess the classical aspect of fine-tuned humor, it has severely diverted the movie audiences to action-packed and special-effects blockbusters. “The Proposal” however, is a refreshing old-school humor between two talented actor and actress, Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock that should pull some of the audiences back. Sometimes you even forget that Sandra is in her mid-40s.

The plot is old even for Tracy and Hepburn. Two people, who hated each other, somehow warm up and fall in love in …… 3 days. Seriously, 3 days? I can’t get a wardrobe change in 3 days let alone completely change my perspective on someone.

Sandra Bullock is the shrew, Margaret, a cold, high-powered New York book editor (Imagine “Devil wears Prada”) and Ryan Reynolds is Andrew, her do-it-all under-appreciated executive assistant, a younger man who accepts abuse as a media-industry hazing ritual. Then the news hit! Margaret work visa has been denied and she is to be deported back to Canada. (Oh, sweet irony. Where are the friendly and nice Canadians?) Pressured by this predicament, Margaret blackmailed Andrew to marry her in a green-card wedding. He, in turn, blackmails her into getting him the Editor job he has been trying so hard for. (Sexual-harassment lawsuits do not reap the same benefits as a counter-blackmail) But of course, they would need to be like a couple to actually be able to fool the immigration officer, thus a visit to the groom-to-be's family in Sitka, Alaska. Oh, and the adventure begins.

The thing I appreciate most about the movie is the pace of the jokes which helped the story move along quickly while not rushing. The boisterous family dynamics. The fish-out-of-water humor. Bottom-line fun. Oh, and who can forget supporting actor Oscar Nuñez. He plays Ramone, a man who, it would seem, performs virtually every job in Sitka, Alaska, from stripper to convenience store cashier to the priest. Oh, he is good. Then there is the persistent immigration officer asked stupid questions, such as “Which side of the bed does she sleep on?” then “And which side do you sleep on?”.

Overall, a quality rom-com. I give it 4 stars out of 5.