[CAT] Shakespeare, perhaps equally skeptical of the morning

[PHOTO] Twelve photos of Zones of Immersion, Union Station (#zonesofimmersion)

Perhaps surprisingly for such a high-profile work, Stuart Reid's Zones of Immersion seems to have gotten relatively little attention online since its 2015 unveiling in Union Station at subway level. Before I began posting my better photos from a visit to the site last weekend, there were only twelve Instagram photos tagged #zonesofimmersion. At least I have doubled that. These delicate etchings of poetry and pictures on glass deserve attention.

Torontoist's Mark Mann and the Toronto Star's Ben Spurr each wrote commentary focused on the idea that Zones of Immersion is depressing. The National Post's Rebecca Tucker had a more interesting feature built around an interview with Reid, talking about his interest in getting subway users aware of the presence of others with their thoughts on their commutes. Canadian Architect has a nice overview of the project including the difficulties of installation.

[PHOTO] Five photos of ancient reptiles, including two of one titanosaur, at the AMNH (@amnh)

The ancient reptiles of the AMNH were impressive, for their size and for their state. I was most impressed by the immense fossil of a Titanosaur, occupying the bulk of an entire room.

[URBAN NOTE] Five Toronto links: King Street, Homeless Memorial, Kensington Market, Commerce Court

• The King Street transit experiment could have been much broader, and much more radical, reports The Globe and Mail.


• Emily Mathieu reports on Toronto's Homeless Memorial, remembering the hundreds of people who died on the streets. Dean Lisowick is the latest addition to the sad list. The Toronto Star has it.


• blogTO has some recommendations for people on interested in spending a night out in Kensington Market.


• A development proposal means that the Commerce Court observation deck, in the Financial District, might be reopened to regular visitors some time in the foreseeable future. blogTO reports.


• Edward Keenan has some fun imagining how, in a Toronto winter, some works of world literature might be adapted to reflect the weather. The Toronto Star has it.

[URBAN NOTE] Five cities links: Bay View, San Francisco, Houston, Washington D.C., Montréal. Québec

• The Guardian reports on the Michigan town of Bay View, a community that literally forbids non-Christians from holding property locally.


• Net migration from the San Francisco area seems to be accelerating, with unaffordability being commonly cited as explanation. CBS reports.


• Will rapid wage increases in Houston be enough to protect the labour market of the city if much-needed undocumented workers are forced out in significant numbers? Bloomberg reports.


• Data from smartphones is being used to simulate what might happen if Washington D.C. was subjected to a nuclear attack. VICE reports.


• The tourist agencies of Montréal and Québec City are having a cute little online exchange. Global News reports.

[NEWS] Four First Nations links: Colten Boushie, Poundmaker, Ullivik, statues

• The fact that a jury--carefully selected to have no jurors of First Nations background--found the killer of Cree man Colten Boushie innocent is a horror. The Toronto Star < a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/02/09/hanging-over-my-familys-head-colten-boushies-family-await-verdict-in-gerald-stanley-trial.html">reports.


• MacLean's takes a look at the reasons for Cree sensitivities regarding the inclusion of Chief Poundmaker as a character in the new iteration of Civilization.


• The Inuit of the northern Québec region of Nunavik, when sent south to Montréal for medical treatment, have an enclave in the city, the building of Ullivik. The Toronto Star reports.


• This opinion piece in The Globe and Mail makes an excellent case for the removal of the statue of General Cornwallis from Halifax. Societies evolve; statues, alas, cannot.