That's What She Said, Vancouver Riots, Plastic Money

That’s What She Said, Vancouver Riots, Plastic Money

21 June 2011 No Comments

By Darling Nicky

Can’t We All Just Get Along

“Vancouver is Canada’s CharlieSheen. #tigerblood” via @darlingnicky999 on Twitter

“Blood in the streets,” the National Post reported. Cars and buildings on fire, windows smashed in, sheer and utter mayhem is what described the city of Vancouver when riots broke out at the hands of overly disgruntled fans when the Vancouver Canucks failed to win the Stanley Cup last week. As many have pointed out, wasn’t this the same city hailed for one of the most peaceful Winter Olympic Games in 2010?

If there is one thing we Canadians are known for, it is our passiveness and good manners. So what went wrong in the city of Vancouver that fateful night of June 15, 2011? I mean, didn’t the Miami Heat lose the NBA Finals just a few days earlier – having built what was believed to be the NBA’s strongest line-up and was even subjected to some very inflammatory victory jabs by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban – but yet no destruction was reported in that city.

As of June 20, 2011, two charges have been laid for a stabbing that took place as part of these “sore-loser” riots. A STABBING? Are you kidding me? 17-year-old Nathan Kotylak had to turn himself in after he was caught on video trying to set a police car on fire. Once his address was published on the internet, his family received death threats and were forced to go into hiding. All of this because a hockey game didn’t turn out the way we would have hoped!

I mean, is it just me, or isn’t a known fact that in every competitive forum there can only be one winner? It wasn’t as though the game was tied, and a bad call was made awarding the Boston Bruins with the winning goal. It was a total blow-out!!! 4 – 0 hardly seems like an unjustified win.

“Acted first – thought about consequences later” via @darlingnicky999 on Twitter in response to @heyhomee when asked to define the Charlie Sheen comparison

#thatswhatshesaid

A Fistful of Plastic

“Got a lot of plastic in your wallet? You’re about to have more. Canada is switching to synthetic bills to replace paper-cotton ones.” via @darlingnicky999 on Twitter

In a very progressive move, Canada will join seven other countries that have (as of 2010) switched to fully polymer banknotes: Australia, Bermuda, Brunei, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, and Vietnam. The decision to make the switch is necessary to fight counterfeiting, according to Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. The bills will last longer and are virtually impossible to reproduce illegally. They are starting the transition with the $100 note, and by 2013 all notes will have converted.

I don’t think I’ve ever held a polymer banknote before. Sure hope the Canadian Mint has put the new notes through rigorous climate testing because if you’re anything like me, you’ve said “Thank You Jesus” a time or two when you’ve taken your jeans out of the dryer only to realize you’ve left $40 in the back pocket that has survived both the rinse cycle and a tumble dry.

I have mixed feelings about the announcement. I’m all about curbing counterfeiting, but the Bank of Canada also stated that the problem of fake bill circulation has been on the decline since its peak in 2004. The production cost of “plastic” money will likely be more than the production of paper money which has me thinking whether this is the wisest (or most important) area of focus for our government to be spending our tax dollars?

I took a look at the new design of the $100 note, and with its even more bold dual photos of Prime Minister Borden, looks even more like Monopoly money than it did before. On the flip side – if it really does impact the counterfeiting problem that has plagued the country – who cares? (Could have a photo of Justin Beiber on it, we’d still spend it).

“This is Canada… better yet Ontario. I don’t have any cash in my wallet. I pay too much tax!” via an anonymous Ontario resident.

Darling Nicky is an entertainment writer, blogger and publicist. Check her out at www.darlingnicky.ca