lonita

May 22

Barton

There was an article today in the Spectator that talked of the failing business in Ward 3, of the barren Barton corridor and why people can’t/won’t shop there, why businesses die and new ones can’t be rebuilt. Part of the problem is perception: that the area is too close to industry. And, part of the problem is economics: that the area is inhabited, in large part, by low income/social assistance types who can’t afford neighbourhood shopping.

There are hundreds of empty storefronts along that depressing ghost town of a street. If you want to talk about improving the city, there’s a major disaster zone that needs seeing to, and fast.

There is a stigma, one I fall prey to myself at times - but more in relation to the bus route that runs along Barton, than in relation to the street itself. I’ve learned, where possible, to avoid the Barton bus (and the King route also) by taking the Cannon.

So what do you do to improve an area inhabited (in part) by people who can’t necessarily afford to shop frequently, other than gentrify it? By which I mean force all the poor out, and entice the more lucrative in. Improvement to a city must include accommodating the economically disenfranchised as much as it means accommodating everyone else. Not that there’s anything wrong with certain aspects of gentrification. It’s just hard to use that word without feeling dirty doing so, because that word also has a stigma to me.

I had a few further comments on my definition of economically disenfranchised, but it might get a bit hairy, so I left them out. Let’s leave it with: people who try, despite circumstances, to improve their lives - not the ones who don’t.

It would be nice to see that area, as well as the rest of the city, thrive. I think getting rid of the sometime “us and them” attitude might go a long way towards helping. (Us and Them: moutain vs. lower city; east vs. west end; downtown vs. not downtown, etc.) We’re all in it together, and what helps one part of the city will help the rest.

May 21

Now there’s a DIY project for every nerd’s front yard.

Now there’s a DIY project for every nerd’s front yard.

(Source: crazycrafters, via diy-revolution)

May 19

21 Brillant Objects Made From Recycled Materials

See the rest.

I’m partial to that, the LEGO key holder and the lampshade made from x-rays.

Links digest

I’ve been having issues with getting my Diigo account to properly crosspost to here then to Facebook, and I’ve finally given up on getting it all to work cleanly. I’ll attack it again at some future point.

So, if you have any interest in seeing those weekly links lists I was posting, you can now get the info from my twitter account, or you can find me on Facebook. Twitter is likely your best bet, unless you have a burning need to know what music I listen to, how frequently I make soup, or what I really thought of that week’s Formula One race. (Note: I’m a little particular about who I add on Facebook, so I may not respond to your request, though ninety-five percent of the time I do.)

May 18

Explaining Complicated Philosophies With Gorgeously Simple Postcards -

May 10

“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.” — Charles Bukowski (via youmightfindyourself)


That’s not the only thing the stupid ones are full of.

Tropical Galoshes

This is the most deliciously surreal thing I’ve received in email to date - outside of the email I got earlier today where the person mentioned Magritte. But I don’t think that counts.
He might unpick bled to cell, mamma! meanwhile did granary do it? And if I didnt denote, it would reside lightly the average.

On the impressive, he elasticity that vasectomy was vivacious, that the tropical galoshes was of imperfect depression, and he saw the spiky softness and wage with emission mind ejected possibly expressing his unfortunate sausage.

Cammywyzru

I think my favourite parts are “vasectomy was vivacious” and “unfortunate sausage”. Although “tropical galoshes” is quite delightful.

May 05

Colossal Street Art by Sainer and Bezt -

Backdrop to Reality: The Brilliantly Colored Graffiti Murals of El Salvador -

Diigogest (weekly)