Guardian: <a href="http://tiny.cc/BqpNW

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Entertaining, but one big clanger:

It has become the sine qua non of these shindigs that the aboriginal folk who inhabited the land in the days before Starbucks and 24-hour news channels play a major part, which can feel a little patronising, but given Canada's generally benign – although not untainted – race relations record, it felt more appropriate in Vancouver than it did in Sydney, for instance.

I have a hunch that his only exposure to Canadian aboriginals was at that ceremony. Or perhaps he visited some of our local reserves, which are about as relevant to Canada as a whole as the Beverly Hillbillies were to Appalachia (the locals are sitting on top of huge RE wealth). Just a short walk down to Hastings and Main would have given a taste of the reality for most of the rest.

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http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/sport-n…

Disgruntled athletes and coaches staying at the Olympic Village in Vancouver have hit out at what they say is shoddy accommodation and a lack of basic comforts.

One of the complaints is that the walls of the rooms are so thin that the athletes are struggling to fall asleep – not a good time to have snorers nearby…

Ski jumping trainer Werner Schuster compared the Olympic Village with a boy scout camp. The 41-year-old said: “The living standard is very poor. Five, six people have to share a bathroom and the walls are as thin as curtains.”

Such Spartan living, all in the quest to win gold at the Olympics!

The size the accommodation has also been criticised. A particularly sore point is that there isn’t enough space for athletes to dry their clothes.

A German functionary said: “The Village is good for summer. But now in winter with this weather it’s a problem.

"The German team have especially bought heaters to dry their things which are always getting wet due to the relentless sleet.”

Hermann Weinbuch, Germany's Nordic combined coach, also slammed the fact that athletes and support staff will have to live so far apart.

And having to eat with plastic cutlery off paper plates in the Olympic Village hasn't gone down well with the 49-year-old either.

But despite the problems, most of the Olympic Village residents seem to have come to terms with the inconveniences.

Schuster added: “I think it is enriching for the athletes to experience this. There’s a different atmosphere in a four-star hotel because you have to adjust to the circumstances.”

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In summary the CHMC is the single biggest distortion of thr Canadian housing market, with effects particularly dire for Vancouver (where the share of low down-payment buyers is the highest).

Removing the distortions due to the CHMC would result in a more balanced, stable and affordable market.

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"He suggested that it would be wise for Ottawa to officially give CMHC a mandate to watch over the health of the housing market."

Abolish the CMHC entirely. Not only do they have a problem "watching over" the health of the housing market they are the cause of most of the problems in the housing market.

When they at least did housing inspections and stopped things like leaky condos from happening (they lost that mandate just before the leaky condo crisis of the '80s) they had a purpose but now they're taking taxpayer money and using it to fund a program that hurts taxpaying Canadians! How ludicrous is that!

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"..the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Vancouver, where four giant penises rose slowly from the floor to stand proudly erect in the arena, presumably intended as symbols of a thrusting young nation… (sorry, but does that not look a bit like four huge todgers?)"

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I spent the day today, riding my bicyle downtown and checking out the tourists. I suspect this entire non-event may be the con of the century.

I also took a bike ride and probably went to similar places as you. Yeah, the Art Gallery line, was unmentionable. It almost took 10 minutes of standing. What a bunch of cheap a$$es getting in for taking advantage of the free entrance fee instead of paying the normal $18. There's a couple of paintings inside, alright – a few rough sketches too – Original 500 year old sketches from Leonardo Da Vinci from the Queen's collection that we were able to get within millimeters and see the details of his pen stroke, the texture and thickness of the paper, light construction lines, the edges of the paper that's a bit deteriorated. Who cares? We've got digital cameras now.

Unfortunately, it was sunny in Vancouver – Too bad the visitors get to actually linger around outside instead of jump from one cover to the next. Too bad also that Canada won only one Gold medal today. So sad that the entire Yaletown including boats in the harbour almost blew up from excitement when it was won – what a bunch of losers with low standards, they had home team advantage and should've won at least a dozen Golds by now.

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