{"id":783,"date":"2010-03-22T11:12:38","date_gmt":"2010-03-22T04:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/wordpress\/?p=783"},"modified":"2011-07-03T17:45:27","modified_gmt":"2011-07-03T17:45:27","slug":"free-doesnt-mean-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/archives\/783","title":{"rendered":"FREE isn&#039;t&nbsp;forever."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-796 alignnone\" title=\"P1000649\" src=\"http:\/\/vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000649.jpg\" alt=\"A lot of new Canadian coins were introduced to commemorate the 2010 Olympics\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000649.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000649-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Today was the last official day of the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics (and the free stuff events around the city). Vancouver has graciously received visitors from all over the world and the city has a few new &#8216;green&#8217; buildings, a important transportation line\/link, and progressive ideas for the future. From the <a title=\"http:\/\/richmondoval.ca\/\" href=\"http:\/\/richmondoval.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\">Richmond Olympic Oval<\/a>, the <a title=\"Canada Line\" href=\"http:\/\/www.translink.ca\/en\/Rider-Info\/Canada-Line.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Canada Line<\/a>, to reviving downtown with pedestrian friendly boulevards and cityscapes and the innovative <a title=\"Olympic Village\" href=\"http:\/\/vancouver.ca\/olympicvillage\/\" target=\"_blank\">Olympic Village<\/a>, hopefully the changes to the city from the Olympics has improved things in the city for visitors and locals alike.<\/p>\n<p>But there are still short and long-term issues that Vancouver faces pre and post Olympics (i.e. Vancouver still has lots of issues re: <a title=\"Social Housing\" href=\"http:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/news\/national\/british-columbia\/social-housing-conundrum-vision-vancouvers-biggest-test-yet\/article1492051\/\" target=\"_blank\">social  housing<\/a>, poverty, and crime\/drugs, as well as native\/aboriginal rights). If you don&#8217;t believe me, you can find the &#8220;other side of to Olympic coin&#8221; by reading the news and reports on a number of website including &#8220;<a title=\"http:\/\/no2010.com\" href=\"http:\/\/no2010.com\" target=\"_blank\">Resist 2010<\/a>&#8221; and &#8220;<span><a title=\"http:\/\/2010.mediacoop.ca\/\" href=\"http:\/\/2010.mediacoop.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\">2010 Vancouver Olympic Protest Reporting<\/a>&#8220;. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Personally I had a great time and was glad to have made it back to Vancouver for a bit of Olympics&#8230; The city of Vancouver is a progressive place with lots of things happening in the mainstream and at the periphery. If you dig a little deeper, you&#8217;ll find that the city is a dynamic place full of passion not only embracing and inviting visitors to come and enjoy Canada&#8217;s westcoast lifestyle, but also igniting and leading the way for social justice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Some photos from today&#8217;s walk downtown to soak up the Olympic atmosphere before it all gets taken down&#8230;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><div class=\"wc-gallery\"><div id='gallery-1' data-gutter-width='5' data-columns='3' class='gallery wc-gallery-captions-onhover gallery-link-file gallery-masonry galleryid-783 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail wc-gallery-bottomspace-default wc-gallery-clear'><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-1 gallery-item-attachment-796'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000649.jpg' title='P1000649' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000649-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tA lot of new Canadian coins were introduced to commemorate the 2010 Olympics\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-2 gallery-item-attachment-795'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000646.jpg' title='P1000646' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000646-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Olympic Line tram goes back to Belgium after the Olympics\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-3 gallery-item-attachment-794'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000635.jpg' title='P1000635' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000635-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPosters and banners promoting Canada are all over the city\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-4 gallery-item-attachment-793'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000628.jpg' title='P1000628' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000628-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFree events at the Vancouver Art Gallery\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-5 gallery-item-attachment-792'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000627.jpg' title='P1000627' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000627-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPin trading was a important side event and relationship builder during the Olympics\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-6 gallery-item-attachment-791'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000620.jpg' title='P1000620' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000620-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOne of the more popular venues to visit\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-7 gallery-item-attachment-790'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000617.jpg' title='P1000617' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000617-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTrading for new Olympic coins by the Royal Canadian Mint\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-8 gallery-item-attachment-789'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000614.jpg' title='P1000614' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000614-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPeople lining up to trade coins at the Vancouver Public Library\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-9 gallery-item-attachment-788'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000611.jpg' title='P1000611' target='_self'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/P1000611-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMore banners for Canada\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today was the last official day of the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics (and the free stuff events around the city). Vancouver has graciously received visitors from all over the world and the city has a few new &#8216;green&#8217; buildings, a important transportation line\/link, and progressive ideas for the future. From the Richmond Olympic Oval, the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/archives\/783\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">FREE isn&#039;t&nbsp;forever.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[124],"tags":[18,24,3,31,126,53,64,67],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=783"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2229,"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions\/2229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vincentfung.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}