(Part 2) Best products from r/vancouver

Happy to help! Ask as many questions as you need. :)
I don't want to make it seem daunting - a good ulock will get you far - so don't let me worry you too much. But in the interest of arming you with the best info:

• Definitely check with your work/office/school to see if they have any kind of bike cage or similar that you can get access to. You'll still want a u-lock there, but it helps to have that extra layer of security.
  
  
• Of course, no lock is theft proof (enough time with a crow bar and saw or a short amount of time with a battery operated angle grinder, and you're hooped) but if yours is at least a little more inconvenient to wrestle free than others nearby, you stand a better chance. Just enough to make it a pain. I like to use a u-lock on my frame and rear wheel (worth more $$ than a front wheel as it has the gears involved) and a secondary cable lock on the front wheel looped through the frame & ulock.
  
  
• A secondary lock (another ulock or cable depending on the circumstances) is especially important if you have quick-release wheels.
  
  
  
  
• How you lock up and what you lock up to matters as much as what lock you use. A really nice u-lock isn't going to do you much good if you're locking just the frame (or forbid, just one wheel!) or locking to a wobbly pole (thieves will loosen the bolts that keep most signs and metal posts in the ground for easy pickings. Throw a hip against anything you plan to lock to to make sure it doesn't wiggle!) Smaller u-locks are safer (less of a gap for leverage with crowbars and the like) but make it harder to find something to lock to if they're too small.
  
  This is a good guide for how to lock up:https://sfbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/locking-graphic-01.png
  And a fun video from a classic series where a guy goes around grading cyclists' locking jobs: https://youtu.be/IR8jdnsP4Tc?t=68
  
  As to the ulock itself? I've been pretty happy with this Krytonite lock It's at the same level as this Abus lock: https://www.amazon.ca/Abus-Ultra-Cobra-U-Lock-cable/dp/B00PHVVKHO/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=abus&qid=1574406052&s=sports&sr=1-4
  If you have a more expensive bike, you can go for something in the $100 lock range, but otherwise this one has served me well.
  
  Good and relatively inexpensive bike repair shops? I've always been happy with the service I've had from Velo Star Cafe (formerly Tandem Bike Cafe) at Heather & 16th (rather near VGH). Fair prices and reliable friendly service. I've also had good experiences and really great deals from the "Bike Repair Centre" on Broadway just west of Main St. Not bargain basement but friendly and honest and you feel like you aren't going to have to bring your bike back to have someone fix something they messed up. For DIY options (with help!) and spare used parts bins galore, Our Community Bikes at Main & Broadway is a solid standby. It's a community space where you can learn to repair things with help. It can feel a bit chaotic in there and there can be a wait to ask questions or get a stand, but sometimes you can't beat learning a few basic things and coming out the other side with a better functioning bike.

Sorry to hear about your situation. I'm not sure on the focus of Infomatics, but by the sounds of your post you are well equipped and looking for a programming (web dev) job. So I'll focus on the job part because realistically it's the only thing I feel I have any (possibly) useful advice for. I'm sorry to hear you haven't found a job yet. But you are quite fortunately (unless I mis-read what you want) looking in one of the most in demand, albeit competitive industries around.

So here is my (hopefully semi-useful) advice. Most are things that I was told to do when interviewing that I thought helped me quite a bit. I hope they help you too. You may be doing all of this already so I am sorry if it is obvious things you've been doing.

I strongly recommend buying this book if you can. Read it cover to cover and do as many of the exercises as you can.

https://www.amazon.ca/Cracking-Coding-Interview-Programming-Questions/dp/0984782850/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Next I recommend applying to any and all tech companies you can find, it doesn't matter if they are asking for a specific framework or language or more experience than you have. A lot of people are put off by the 2 to 3 years in x that most postings have. Usually they just care that you have some experience and seem smart enough to learn. The fact that you have side projects is a giant plus for you, they love seeing that.

These sites are great ways to practice for interview questions:
https://www.hackerrank.com/
https://leetcode.com/

Doing these questions really help with interview questions in my opinion.

From there just cycle, continue to read the book, apply to as many places as you can, do practice problems. Work on your own side projects, the experience gained from them is extremely important.

If you have any public repos on github clean them up. If you do not, register for an account and put your personal projects on some (if you can). That way you can start to include the account on your CV. (If you aren't already)

Practice explaining your projects (what you did and why) and try to think of the questions they could ask you.

In terms of financials/housing/immediate work, I would look at moving out of the downtown core and try to find a basement suite or something affordable. Maybe try to get a roommate. I would try to find a job (starbucks, best buy, london drugs, etc) to support yourself in the short term. If you have a friend that might be willing to let you stay with them while you find a place talk to them now, and let them know the situation. That will help them prepare for you if you can't find a job/place.

Also, don't be afraid to post your resume to subreddits that focus on that sort of thing (remove all personal info!) or feel free to pm me yours and I will be more than happy to try to provide some constructive criticism.

Sorry for the book, I hope at least some of it was useful to you.
Also sorry for the grammar/spelling/shitty writing style I am a programmer, but not a good writer.

aspen has always been a resort town, not a major urban center with natural gifts like a port and geographically close to cali and China, 2 of the biggest sources of global growth in the past 5 decades. OP, If you want some real info thats not some op-ed written to confirm popular opinions please veer away from this sub. please try /r/Economics

if you want to understand real estate pricing theories, here are two pretty comprehensive books for case studies on various types of real estate. You need an ok understanding of probabilities, stochastic calc, and basic finance instruments

• Mortgage Valuation Models by Davidson and Levin
  
• Real estate market analysis by Brett and Schmitz
  
  there is also an consensus in academia on the harms of rent control
  
  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/magazine/the-perverse-effects-of-rent-regulation.html?mcubz=3
  
  https://economics.mit.edu/files/9760
  
  http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/RentControl.html
  
  https://www.richmondfed.org/~/media/richmondfedorg/publications/research/working_papers/1985/pdf/wp85-5.pdf
  
  http://users.nber.org/~luttmer/rentcontrol.pdf
  
  Economic mobility work both ways. Some people got poorer without noticing, and are now fighting through political means to hold on to their privilege

Pricer, but good. 100% worth it.

You can get cheaper ones but it's worth the extra money to be headache free and just set-it-and-forget-it type of ownership.

I'm going to leave these recommended dashcams here for anyone who might need some ideas.

[Yi Dashcam - budget pick for if you park indoors @ 65 CAD] https://www.amazon.ca/YI-1080P60-Dashboard-G-Sensor-Recording/dp/B01C89GCHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523078644&sr=8-1&keywords=yi+dash+cam

[G1W-C - budget pick if you park outside @ 70 CAD] https://www.amazon.ca/Spy-Tec-Capacitor-Resistant-Recorder/dp/B00JJ3SQRI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523078838&sr=8-3&keywords=g1w

[A119 - best image quality you'll find under 300] https://www.amazon.ca/VIOFO-A119-Camera-Logger-Latest/dp/B01M28B92C/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1523078871&sr=1-4&keywords=a119

[Mini 0906 - cheapest acceptable dual camera] https://www.amazon.ca/Blueskysea-Capacitor-Dashboard-Recorder-G-Sensor/dp/B075JHKBR7

[Blacksys CH100B - value dual camera setup] https://www.blackboxmycar.ca/products/blacksys-ch-100b?variant=5191081918497

Y'all might not want to realize the implications of this, but I strongly encourage you to read The High Cost of Free Parking.

First you have to decide what type you want - battery or capacitor?
Capacitor ones are costlier but they work well under heat unlike the battery. (In Vancouver, I don't think I needed a capacitor based cam)
Then you can search for that type, I try wirecutter first: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-dash-cam/
I bought this spy tec for 60$ from amazon.ca which is cheap but works great!

Lost my wallet late Saturday night/Sunday morning 3:00-3:30 am either at Winking Judge pub or in a taxi. Charcoal/brown exterior, red interior 'Articulate' brand.


It has 2 debit, 2 credit cards, Drivers License, Compass and white key card. Looks just like in the link below. Please respond to the Craigslist link if found. Taxi Dropped me off near Broadway/Fraser
Thanks.

📷


https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/laf/d/lost-wallet/6752990199.html
https://www.amazon.com/Articulate-Blocking-Money-Wallet-Charcoal/dp/B01HP2PFQ4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8

> Is it silly to ask a professional for their help on my first trades and pay them for their service?

Not at all, plenty of smart and well-paid people do it.

The thing is, there is plenty of evidence that paying someone to manage your portfolio is just not worth the fees. IMO, internet_poster is right about buying index funds.

I highly recommend this book:

Millionaire Teacher

It is available at the public library.

It's kind of counter-intuitive, but the best plan is actually a US plan that roams in Canada. For example, https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07RHRLZJL/ and https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07TB7R6FB/

I have both of these dashcams.

• They are both good but this one is a little better. A118 https://www.amazon.ca/AUTO-VOX-Dashboard-Capacitor-Internal-Recording/dp/B00UUQD9L6/ (Edit: There is an updated version A119, that I don't have any experience with https://www.amazon.ca/Official-VIOFO%C2%AE-A119-Car-Dashcam/dp/B01KARPKF2/ )
  
• This one is okay. https://www.amazon.ca/Vantrue-N2-Dual-Dash-Cam/dp/B01IHLKZ0I/

Similar style to your friend's shoes, available through Amazon for 70 bucks: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01AYKVNDI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Throw on a pair of thick socks for added warmth, and you're ready to roll.

I walk my cat pretty frequently during the summer. Typically around Pacific Spirit park near Jericho Beach Park to Spanish Banks -basically right next to an off leash dog friendly park.

He'll run to hide under a bush even when people pass. I have to carry him a lot. He'll also never want to stay on the path/trail and do many circles in the same spot to get familiar with his surroundings.

I had to get a pet stroller as a mobile safe space. (https://www.amazon.com/Flexzion-Stroller-Animals-Carrier-Flexible/dp/B01K9FA88E/ref=zg_bs_3024134011_3?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=BJV7DY39TJ0XG1Q5945Y&th=1)

Make sure your cat cannot escape its leash at all! I use an unpadded body harness & tighten it all the way. It's worse if you cat manages to get loose from its leash & run off into the forest.

So I actually buy this!
And you know where from? Amazon of all places.


Unlike most things on Amazon.ca it's super cheap, and you can order it sans pants.

​

https://www.amazon.ca/Mae-Ploy-S312GS-Green-1000-Gram/dp/B002P8AQJ0/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=curry+paste&qid=1572884332&sr=8-6

[Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School] (https://www.amazon.ca/Millionaire-Teacher-Wealth-Should-Learned/dp/0470830069/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481135004&sr=1-1&keywords=Millionaire+Teacher%3A) seriously this has been a bit of a godsend and has changed a lot about the way I think about personal finance.

Not trying to give you a hard time here, but rather give people the best chance to avoid having their bike stolen.

Angle grinders will cut through absolutely anything. Your only defense for a nice bike is to have the greatest amount of hardened steel to cut through to access that bike.

While the 4 series Krytonite is a good lock, it's still only a 14mm hardened shackle. There is significantly less material in a 14mm shackle compared to say a 17mm or 18mm shackle found in the OnGuard Brute series ( https://www.probikekit.ca/cycling-accessories/on-guard-brute-u-lock/11725428.html ), or the Kryptonite New York Lock Fahgettaboutit ( https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-New-U-Fahgettaboudit-Heavy-Bicycle/dp/B06XCMWW9H ). The 4 series, as well as these larger lockers are double bolted, meaning you'd need to cut through both legs to access the bike.

Keeping your bike an a public area where multiple people will always be in view of the bike means that a thief will have to stand there for 5+ minutes or potentially more (a battery operated grinder is likely to die before going through both legs of one of the larger ulocks, requiring a battery switch), creating an extreme amount of noise and sparks in the process.

Having used angle grinders regularly in my industry, I can assure you that they are not likely to go unnoticed by literally everyone in the area while being used. It's not at all like a set of bolt cutters.

I love my Aukey dual dash cam. Cheaper too. https://www.amazon.ca/AUKEY-Wide-Angle-G-Sensor-Dual-Port-Charger/dp/B075VRXRD6/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543073327&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=aukey+2cxh

​

Also previous had the Spy Tec G1W-C which was also very good, but I wanted a front and back camera.

https://www.amazon.ca/Spy-Tec-G1W-CB-Capacitor-Camera/dp/B00YZ5G2GC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1543073403&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=g1w-c&psc=1

This one : https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B01MFAK888/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just look up A119 and you will get a ton of info.

It was pretty affordable.

I did my research on sd cards too, make sure you get one that works for dashcams.

This is the best https://www.amazon.ca/Hario-Coffee-Drip-Scale-Timer/dp/B009GPJMOU

Have a 4-years-old-strong one.

And with any thought at all it should be something that voters are strongly against. It turns out there is a high cost to free parking. Man I hope that idiot doesn't get in.

https://www.amazon.ca/Ty-Cobb-Terrible-Charles-Leerhsen/dp/1451645791/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ty+cobb&qid=1562039219&s=gateway&sr=8-1

​

It's good. Also, somewhere in there I watched the Jays beat up on the KC.

I bought spytec, cost around $60, records HD, works well.
https://www.amazon.ca/Spy-Tec-Recorder-Dashboard-Authentic/dp/B00KZ0J452

https://www.amazon.ca/High-Cost-Free-Parking/dp/193236496X

this is considered mandatory reading in planning circles.

G1WH in my Honda, A119c in my dads Jeep.

There's also the 800 page (text)book by Shoup. Which is a decent read. It does get a bit repetitive after a while. https://www.amazon.ca/High-Cost-Free-Parking-Updated/dp/193236496X