Virtual vehicles for the metaverse
Topics concerning that thing known as ‘real life’ and not virtual worlds.
I’m gonna drive all night
Take some speed
I’m gonna wait for the sun
To shine down on me
I cut a hole in my roof
In the shape of a heart
And I’m goin’ out west
Where they’ll appreciate me
Goin’ out west
Goin’ out west
(from Goin Out West by Tom Waits)
Situated at the corner of Robson Street and Bidwell Avenue, this Scottish restaurant emphasizes fast service over all else. The interior was spartan, favouring plastic surfaces and easy-to-mop floors, which seemed to glow under the blue accent of the fluorescent lighting.
The menu’s theme is processed animal product, from which the chefs coax a stunning variety of main dishes. The combinations, though limited, will appeal to the most fastidious processed-animal-product connoisseur: many dishes feature a sandwich with fried (then microwaved) ground and a garnish of potato sticks, deep-fried in beef tallow.
Even vegetarians and the health-conscious can enjoy the Scottish fare, as the animal content of the meal can be reduced to almost nil by ordering the dry, soy-patty sandwich and by avoiding the deep-fried potato sticks. The soft drinks may also contain beef tallow in trace amounts, but the head chef, Ronald, was not available to confirm my opinion.
The Scottish theme is enhanced by the clever menu, which names the dishes in the Gaelic language. Exotic names, such as McChicken, McMuffin, and Big Mac, can stir the heart of any red-haired, yellow-jumpsuit-wearing Scot.
Next week, I’ll continue my reviews by sampling the personal favourite delicacies of the reigning monarch of the Land of Dairy, who apparently owns a great many restaurants.
If you have ever strolled along the fashionable Robson Street in Vancouver, you probably noticed an interesting brick building at Robson and Thurlow. Built just after the turn of the century — er… the turn of the last century — the Manhattan Apartments reflect the architectural style of the period. According to the Hottson Bakker Architects Online website, it is the oldest apartment building in Vancouver.
The Manhattan Apartments at Thurlow and Robson, downtown Vancouver, c.1910 (photo from the City of Vancouver Archives). At this time, the building is surrounded by houses.
The same building, c.1917 (photo from the City of Vancouver Archives). Buildings begin to pop up on the left and right.
As it is now, 2003 (photo from me). The building is surrounded by retail shops and office towers.
Now the building is home to a nice Japanese restaurant, some trendy shops, and a Starbucks. As an aside, this is the Starbucks that’s directly opposite another Starbucks across the intersection.
About a block away is this building, which appears to be in a residential neighbourhood — you can see the houses in the background.
An apartment building on Burrard St. between Robson and Georgia, March, 1914 (photo from the City of Vancouver Archives).
The same building in 2003. Robson and Burrard is in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
In response to the good doctor’s attempt to embarrass me with old photos, here’s one of Dr Destructo, in which he’s performing a routine procedure on the leftover salmon.
Just look at the intense concentration etched on his features!
As I contemplated the wisdom expressed by Adrian Bedford’s poignant “y6h76rtf7708jhlk.j;lkjdfser“, something occurred to me that was somewhat unsettling. In his blog, he wrote: “I knuckled down with a fresh coffee and banged my head against the keyboard.”
Looking at a standard keyboard, the pattern of keys struck by his head looks like this:
Such a pattern could only exist if his forehead had an unusually lumpy appearance. The string of characters could only have been struck by strange protrusions, of which one sticks out beside his right eye and one over his right temple. The locations of such protrusions can be noted by superimposing the key pattern on a diagram of a human face.
My conclusion is that Mr Bedford’s skill as a sci-fi writer comes not from his imagination, but from a deep familiarity with the realities of space travel! He is, in fact, a space-traveller from a distant galaxy!
What led him to settle on Earth? Is “y6h76rtf7708jhlk.j;lkjdfser” actually a naughty limmerick written in an alien language? Am I losing touch with reality?
Or maybe he hit a few keys with his nose. I can’t decide.