[PHOTO] Five photos from the GW General Store, Distillery District (#gwgeneral)

The GW General Store, on Tankhouse Lane in the east of the Distillery District, is a fun antique store with a broad collection of eye-catching items, from old books and dolls to vintage typewriters and violins. The store's Instagram account is here.

[PHOTO] Looking west across Turtle Pond, Central Park

[BLOG] Some Wednesday links

• Bad Astronomer Phil Plait notes that a recent massive flare at Proxima Centauri, one that made the star become a thousand times brighter, not only makes Proxima b unlikely to be habitable but makes it unlikely Proxima has (as some suggested) a big planetary system.


• The Dragon's Tales notes that South Korea, contrary to earlier reports, is not going to ban cryptocurrency.


• Hornet Stories notes that six American states--Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, and Oklahoma--have seen the introduction of legislation replacing marriage with a marriage contract, on account of marriage equality.


• JSTOR Daily reports on the deep similarities and differences between serfdom in Russia and slavery in the United States, both formally abolished in the 1860s.


• Language Hat links to a Telegraph article reporting on the efforts of different people to translate different ancient languages.


• The New APPS Blog notes that, after Delta dropped its discount for NRA members, the pro-NRA governor of Georgia dropped tax breaks for the airline.


• This call for the world to respond to the horrors in Syria, shared at the NYR Daily, is likely to fall on deaf ears.


• At Strange Maps, Frank Jacobs shares some maps showing areas where the United States is truly exceptional.


• Supernova Condensate notes how nested planetary orbits can be used to trace beautiful spirograph patterns.


• Window on Eurasia notes how no one in the Soviet Union in 1991 was prepared to do anything to save the Soviet Union.

[URBAN NOTE] Five Toronto links: architecture, cryptocurrency condos, crime, police

• Toronto Storeys shares the opinions of six architects as to their favourite buildings in the city.


• Why is one condo owner in Toronto only accepting bitcoin payments from potential purchasers? Among other things, it makes things relatively easier for foreign buyers. CBC reports.


• Marcel Theriault, one of the policeman accused of brutally beating Dafonte Miller, is also accused of misleading Durham Region police investigators. The Toronto Star reports.


• University of Toronto doctoral student Sasha Reid identified the pattern of a serial killer at work in Toronto's LGBTQ community, and told police. Their response? They thanked her and moved on. The Toronto Star reports.


• Edward Keenan wonders why Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders possibly thought he could say what he said about the community not helping, especially when the community has been warning about a serial killer while police denied anything. The Toronto Star has the article.

[ISL] Five notes on islands: Iceland, Puerto Rico, Prince Edward Island, Amherst Island, Ireland

• Artsy notes a study looking at the different factors explaining why Iceland's population is so creative. Among other things, an educational system that encourages hands-on learning and experimentation and a relative lack of material insecurity help.


• Reddit's mapporn forum shares a map showing where displaced Puerto Ricans are resettling. Florida is emerging as a particularly important destination.


• Charlottetown's The Guardian reports on a recent presentation suggesting that, with sea level rise, Prince Edward Island could be divided into three islands. I wonder where the dividing points will be.


• Wind turbine construction on Amherst Island, near Kingston, has been delayed by weather and problems with roads. Global News reports.


• Ireland is now making a push to attract television stations from the United Kingdom post-Brexit, with the legal position of television networks with EU-wide audiences being uncertain after Brexit. The Guardian reports.

[NEWS] Five links about space travel: cheap rockets, robots, and war

• Small, inexpensive rockets like the sort we are now starting to see could have a transformative effect on space travel and the global economy. Bloomberg View reports.


• The roboticization of space would leave less to do for astronauts, but potentially more fun stuff. Bloomberg View reports.


• Gizmodo notes that the American military wants more money for a potential armed conflict in space, as does VICE.


• Universe Today notes that, likewise, Russia and China are developing space-based military capabilities.