Bill Maher on the economic systems of sports
Bill Maher - Irritable Bowl Syndrome from Fraser Davidson on Vimeo.
(via Stellar)
/
As the soldiers inexplicably repel down from the arena rafters
Brian Burke, quoted on Maple Leafs.com
“MLSE and the Leafs are committed to being leaders in the community and initiatives such as Canadian Forces Appreciation Night help reinforce this value.”
Displaying military power and throwing jingoist "appreciation nights" does not reinforce a commitment to community values, it makes you look like macho buffoons.
If you really want to show a commitment to the community how about having a community appreciation night, where inner city kids and blue collar hockey fans can actually afford tickets. Season ticket holders could opt to give up their tickets so an immigrant or refugee kid could see a real hockey game.
Hockey doesn't have to be about machismo and militarism. I hear a lot of language comparing hockey tilts to battles and wars, but when I think of hockey I think about a community centre rink on a chilly January night. I think of cold beers, jerseys worn over hoodies, 3 on 3, and shooting for the posts.
/
The Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg—Planning Division April 1, 1969
The effects on the Downtown of the flight from the central city have been to leave behind as the residual resident population the poor and the aged of the city; to leave a high proportion of floor space either vacant or occupied at very low rentals by, in many cases, marginal tenants; to leave large site areas either vacant or used as surface parking lots; to create serious over-congestion on the Downtown streets and on the major arteries between the residential suburbs and the Downtown employment centre, particularly at peak hours; and to spread a general air of deterioration and neglect, even of abandonment, over the entire central business district.
…
The plan for the Downtown is based on two premises: firstly that there are certain key areas which, if appropriately developed, will determine the function and character of the Downtown, and secondly, that if these keyareas are appropriately developed, whatever occurs in the rest of the Downtown can be accommodated without undue concern as to whether it is “planned” or not.
/
UWinnipeg looks to buy downtown Bay building
CBC News Manitoba:
The university has also spoken about the possibility of building a housing complex adjacent to the Buhler Centre, consisting of 80-100 suites of two to three bedrooms each.
I can’t speak for what it’s like to be a student at U of W, but I’m glad the University is bringing some excitement to the western part of Portage Ave.
Drawing more people into the Bay building could be good for the lackluster area surrounding it. Increase traffic could eventually increase the possibilities for the Graham Ave. pedestrian corridor idea mentioned recently in the Free Press.
(via Justin P. Johnson)
Update on 2012-01-14 08:42 by Greg Gallinger
One Man Committee wrote about this in more detail except with more emphasis on the ramifications for the Bay and Downtown retailers.
/
Climate as Proxy for Capital within the Minneapolis Skyway System
Bill Lindeke, writing at twin city sidewalks:
In my experience, the present shape of the skyway system creates a two-tiered city landscape in downtown Minneapolis that divides the urban population along class lines, and serves the interest of private ownership at the expense of public space within the city.
Winnipeg has a similar skyway / underground system that has also fostered a class divide in the Downtown landscape. Just take a stroll through Winnipeg Square followed by a chilly walk down Graham Ave towards Vaughan and the difference will be obvious.
Bankers and white collar workers could theoretically drive Downtown from the suburbs, park in one of the many parkades, and walk from their car to their office without ever stepping foot outside. Meanwhile students, transit passengers, and pedestrians not going to the bank, a hockey game, or a concert, have to deal with the elements and the barren storefronts of Portage Ave. and the surrounding area.
(via Kottke)
/
10 New Year’s resolutions for designers
Mike Monteiro, writing at .net:
We have more processing power, affordable tools, and combined intelligence right this very minute than at any point in the history of design. We are using it to build shit. It’s time to aim higher. Let’s find problems to solve that actually improve people’s lives.
Most of the resolutions on this list can be applied to almost any occupation, not just graphic design. Think about what you are working on, does it have any real meaning? What are you contributing to society? Do you care about your work?
I'm not saying that I'm an authority on the topic, because I'm far from it. I do, however, think about what I'm contributing and what I'm getting out of it in return (that's not necessarily monetary compensation). If something isn't clicking then it's probably time to make a change.