Monday, January 26, 2009
Artist Spotlight: Kim Dorland
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Spacing Contest
In an attempt to improve Toronto's public space, Spacing Magazine came up with the ThinkToronto urban design competition. My favourite ideas included the following:
* Giving eyes to the PATH - for those unfamiliar with the downtown financial centre of the city, the PATH is a large, convoluted underground mall that connects clothing stores, coffee shops and food courts with banks, law firms and other prestigious Bay Street offices. It's great in the winter but can be quite confusing for those who aren't regular PATH-takers. By placing convex reflective surfaces (known as oculi) above the PATH, pedestrians will have a better idea of where they are in the downtown core, as the PATH is extremely easy to get lost in. The oculi will also offer rays of sunshine to those suits & ties who don't get out much.
* 5 Minutes - this winning entry helps locals and tourists decide where to go within 5 minutes of getting off the subway. It proposes using red touchscreen signs at transit station exits, that tell users where they can find the nearest bakery, record store, park, museum, etc. I think that this concept should be connected to toronto.com's website OurFaves, which features the favourite local places of Torontonians, in order to make the system even friendlier.
* Facebook for the Subway - Springboard, is an online social network for subway riders, that would show the profiles of other passengers in your car who subscribe to the service. Their profiles would include a photo, which stop they get on & off at and their interests which can be matched up to yours, offering an easy method to chat up that cute guy you always see on your morning commute. I love this idea as it makes riding the subway more exciting and interactive.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Atlas Shrugged vs. 24
I recently read a fascinating article in The Wall Street Journal that pointed out the similarities between Ayn Rand's classic novel, Atlas Shrugged, and our current economic/political situation. You can read it right here.
For those of you who have not read Ayn Rand's work, I urge you to so immediately - it will change your life!
To briefly summarize, Rand believes in a theory called Objectivism, which emphasizes that a person's happiness should come from personal hard work. Communities will flourish when they are filled with creative, determined individuals who are true to their own beliefs and ambitions. Rand, who lived through communist Russia, was not a fan of big government, as its power can be stifling to individuals' creativity and progress.
The author of the WSJ article argues that the themes in Rand's masterpiece novel, Atlas Shrugged, which was published 52 years ago, still ring true today, specifically with respect to the current economic crisis gripping America.
The numerous programs, laws and taxes that governments create, end up interfering with the natural progress of its citizens accomplishments' only to weaken the economy and create further damage. This is what's happening now and it happened in Atlas Shrugged.
This is especially true for clever businesses who have managed to succeed during the current economic turmoil. Instead of rewarding them, the government is using their tax money to help bailout the weak.
The theme of corrupt government, is also explored in this season's 24 (season 7). Jack Bauer, who is an American hero, having saved his country from numerous terrorist attacks, is being tried for criminal charges since he broke some laws while trying to protect his country. Like the protagonists in Atlas Shrugged, Jack Bauer is being punished for his hard work, even when his efforts have helped thousands of citizens.
For those of you who watch the show and have read Atlas Shrugged, here are the character parallels that I see:
Jack Bauer = Dagny Taggart
Tony Almeida = Francisco D'Anconia
Chloe = Hank Rearden
Bill Buchanan = John Galt (think about how they both look)
Renee Walker ? = Danneskjold
I have a beautiful vision in my mind of the former CTU'ers living peacefully in the utopic valley that the heroes from Atlas Shrugged (or "strikers" as the book calls them) escape to at the end of the novel.
Only 2 more years till the movie comes out!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Cactus Life
On a recent trip to Arizona, I fell in love with the gorgeous cacti that adorn the State's dry land. Here are some cacti pictures that I took while hiking through the desert. The Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is shown in the above photos.
When people grow old, or are injured, they often rely on canes or walking sticks to help support their stance. Similarly, as cacti age, they grow arms to help support their posture. One can determine the age of the cactus by the amount of arms it has. Cacti only begin to develop arms between the ages of 50-75. Check out the younger cacti pictured below. Notice that they are armless.
Another common cactus that I spotted during my hikes/bikes was the Teddy Bear Cholla (pronounced Choy-ya). Although this cactus (pictured below) may look soft & fuzzy like a teddy bear, it is actually quite dangerous as it's covered with sharp, yellowish spines. These spines serve as protection from rabbits and other herbivores that inhabit the desert. They also provide protection from intense sunshine and can serve as a cooling mechanism for the cactus.
After a long and enjoyable life in the desert, it's time for the cactus to decay and become a skeleton. Check out this ghost of a cactus that I found on the golf course. Scary stuff!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Top 5 of 2008
Although many social commentators on pop culture are lamenting the death of the album, as new technology has made it easy to download just singles, I believe that 2008 was a great year for music albums as demonstrated by my top 5 pics.
These were albums that I couldn't help but listen to from beginning to end, over and over. The different songs were placed in a specific order to either tell a story or create an emotional response for the listener. Most managed to accomplish both, except for Feed The Animals which is too convoluted to tell a story but is brilliant in its thought process, leaving the listener's voice and feet exhausted from constant singing and dancing.
Nat's Top 5 Albums of 2008:
While on the topic of "Best of 2008" here is a list of the 5 movies I enjoyed the most this past year. These are movies that kept you thinking after you left the theatre. Movies where you felt like you knew or wanted to know the characters outside of the big screen. Movies where you forgot that you were sitting in a dark room full of strangers. Movies that gave your emotions a work out.
Nat's Top 5 Movies of 2008:
3) Iron Man
Hopefully 2009 will continue to bring wonderfully entertaining artistic pleasures to our eyes and ears.
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