Virtual Dissent

The folks at Only Magazine, formerly Terminal City, have designed a downloadable riot clock widget in honour of Vancouver's new Olympic countdown clock. Instead of watching the days, hours and minutes count down to the opening of the 2010 Games you can watch a pint-sized version of the original count down to some sort of riot from the comfort of your Mac (sorry PC-users, the widget is only available on Macs). But Only Magazine wants you to know they don't advocate real riots, just virtual ones.

Apparently, the magazine was investigated by the Vancouver police for inciting a riot that took place following the Vancouver Canucks' loss of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1994.

Only Magazine calls their Olympic clock a "replacement" for the "monolithic eyesore" that sits on the lawn of the VAG. The widget doesn't require a 24/7 security guard or anti-graffiti coating and it doesn't come with a hefty price tag. Irony alert! The magazine wants us to think of all the "wondrous" things the Games will be bringing to the city while we watch our widget clocks tick away.

I like the idea of this widget although I'm not sure why...there's something appealing to me about a silent, virtual protest. There have been many effusive comments about the widget on message boards. Lovers of the hyperreal all! The spirit of Baudrillard seems to be permeating my recent posts!

Only Magazine is also responsible for the first all-Vancouver music podcast. You can read about the history of the magazine here.