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I made a pilgrimage out to the Eaton Centre on Boxing Day to witness the Eaton Centre's Christmas tree in all of its glory.
[BLOG] Some Monday links
Dec. 23rd, 2019 03:13 pm- Anthropology.net notes a remarkably thorough genetic analysis of a piece of chewing gum 5700 years old that reveals volumes of data about the girl who chew it.
- 'Nathan Burgoine at Apostrophen writes an amazing review of Cats that actually does make me want to see it.
- Bad Astronomy reports on galaxy NGC 6240, a galaxy produced by a collision with three supermassive black holes.
- Caitlin Kelly at the Broadside Blog writes about the mechanics of journalism.
- Centauri Dreams argues that the question of whether humans will walk on exoplanets is ultimately distracting to the study of these worlds.
- Crooked Timber shares a Sunday morning photo of Bristol.
- The Dragon's Tales notes that India has a launch date of December 2021 for its first mission in its Gaganyaan crewed space program.
- Andrew LePage at Drew Ex Machina looks at the Saturn C-1 rocket.
- Karen Sternheimer at the Everyday Sociology Blog considers if the vogue for minimalism meets the criteria to be considered a social movement.
- Far Outliers ?notes how, in the War of 1812, some in New England considered the possibility of seceding from the Union.
- Gizmodo looks at evidence of the last populations known of Homo erectus, on Java just over a hundred thousand years ago.
- Mark Graham links to a new paper co-authored by him looking at how African workers deal with the gig economy.
- io9 announces that the Michael Chabon novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, is set to become a television series.
- Joe. My. God. shares a report that Putin gave Trump anti-Ukrainian conspiracy theories.
- JSTOR Daily considers what a world with an economy no longer structured around oil could look like.
- Language Hat takes issue with the latest talk of the Icelandic language facing extinction.
- Language Log shares a multilingual sign photographed in Philadelphia's Chinatown.
- Paul Campos at Lawyers, Guns and Money notes the document release revealing the futility of the war in Afghanistan.
- The LRB Blog looks at class identity and mass movements and social democracy.
- Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution suggests that, even if the economy of China is larger than the United States, Chinese per capita poverty means China does not have the leading economy.
- Diane Duane at Out of Ambit writes about how she is writing a gay sex scene.
- Jim Belshaw at Personal Reflections reflects on "OK Boomer".
- Roads and Kingdoms interviews Mexican chef Ruffo Ibarra.
- Peter Rukavina shares his list of levees for New Year's Day 2020 on PEI.
- The Russian Demographics Blog shares a map indicating fertility rates in the different regions of the European Union.
- Starts With A Bang's Ethan Siegel explains how quantum physics are responsible for vast cosmic structures.
- Charles Soule at Whatever explains his reasoning behind his new body-swap novel.
- Window on Eurasia notes how the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Paris show the lack of meaningful pro-Russian sentiment there.
- Yorkshire Ranter Alex Harrowell talks about his lessons from working in the recent British election.
- Arnold Zwicky looks at a syncretic, Jewish-Jedi, holiday poster.
Tags:
- afghanistan,
- africa,
- agriculture,
- anthropology,
- astronomy,
- blogs,
- canada,
- china,
- clash of ideologies,
- conspiracies,
- demographics,
- european union,
- evolution,
- food,
- former soviet union,
- futurology,
- genetics,
- geopolitics,
- glbt issues,
- globalization,
- history,
- holidays,
- homo sapiens,
- human beings,
- humour,
- iceland,
- india,
- indonesia,
- journalism,
- judaism,
- language,
- links,
- mexico,
- new england,
- photos,
- physics,
- popular culture,
- prince edward island,
- russia,
- science fiction,
- sexuality,
- sociology,
- south asia,
- southeast asia,
- space science,
- space travel,
- star wars,
- technology,
- television,
- ukraine,
- united states,
- war,
- west norden,
- writing
- A new storyboard in Niagara Falls displays the importance of railways to the city. The Niagara Falls Review reports.
- Niagara Falls city council is considering the idea of linking casinos by aerial car. The Niagara Falls Review reports.
- Global News reports on a drug bust that saw two people arrested in Niagara Falls.
- The Niagara Falls Review reports the number of reported homicides in Niagara Region tripled in 2019, to six.
- The immersive live nativity hosted by a Niagara Falls church sounds interesting. More is here.
- A recent discussion at Niagara Falls city council was dominated by discussion of housing issues and of homelessness. The Niagara Falls Review reports.
- Most revenues from the casinos of Niagara Falls have been directed to the infrastructure of the city. The Niagara Falls Review reports.
- City council in Niagara Falls has approved the construction of a 72-storey hotel. Construct Connect reports.
- In November, the mayor announced the old city hall and courthouse in the downtown of Niagara Falls was scheduled to be demolished. The Niagara Falls Review reports.
- The Bath House Hotel once was intended to be a centrepiece of local tourism. The Niagara Falls Review reports.
- Carrie Bosco writes about the experience of a customer service associate working at the Niagara Falls Public Library, over at the Niagara Falls Review.
- The Niagara Falls Public Library in winter is a happening place for locals. The Niagara Falls Review reports.
- A Chinese developer hopes that a proposed $C 1.5 billion dollar project in south Niagara Falls will still go forward. The Niagara Falls Review reports.
- Niagara Falls is going to have a hard time replacing city historian Sherman Zavitz. The Niagaa Falls Review reports.
- Niagara News reports on the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls.
[BLOG] Some Wednesday links
Nov. 6th, 2019 05:20 pm- {anthro}dendum features a post by Kimberly J. Lewis about stategies for anthropologists to write, and be human, after trauma.
- Bad Astronomer Phil Plait reports on exoplanet LHC 3844b, a world that had its atmosphere burned away by its parent star.
- Centauri Dreams looks at Neptune from the perspective of exoplanets discovered near snow lines.
- D-Brief reports on the new Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, installed at Kitt Peak to help map galaxies and dark energy.
- Gizmodo
- looks at how Airbnb is dealing with party houses after a fatal mass shooting.
- The Island Review shares some drawings by Charlotte Watson, inspired by the subantarctic Auckland Islands.
- JSTOR Daily looks at the late 19th century hit novel Ramona, written by Helen Hunt Jackson to try to change American policy towards indigenous peoples.
- Language Hat looks at how, until recently, the Faroese language had taboos requiring certain words not to be used at sea.
- Lawyers, Guns and Money looks at a proposal to partially privatize American national parks.
- The LRB Blog looks at what Nigel Farage will be doing next.
- Marginal Revolution looks at a speculative theory on the origins of American individualism in agrarian diversity.
- The NYR Daily looks at an exhibition of the artwork of John Ruskin.
- Personal Reflections' Jim Belshaw remarks on a connection between Arthur Ransome and his region of New England.
- Drew Rowsome shares an interview with folk musician Michelle Shocked.
- Starts With A Bang's Ethan Siegel emphasizes the importance of the dark energy mystery.
- Towleroad notes a posthumous single release by George Michael.
- Daniel Little at Understanding Society celebrates the 12th anniversary of his blog, and looks back at its history.
- Window on Eurasia looks at Ingushetia after 1991.
- Arnold Zwicky looks at All Saints Day.
Tags:
- anthropology,
- astronomy,
- australia,
- blogging,
- blogs,
- clash of ideologies,
- crime,
- european union,
- faroes,
- first nations,
- glbt issues,
- holidays,
- islands,
- language,
- links,
- neptune,
- north caucasus,
- physics,
- politics,
- popular literature,
- popular music,
- public art,
- russia,
- separatism,
- social sciences,
- sociology,
- space science,
- technology,
- united kingdom,
- united states,
- writing
[URBAN NOTE] Seven Toronto links
Nov. 2nd, 2019 06:32 pm- Jamie Bradburn shares photos from his neighbourhood's East Lynn Pumpkin Parade, here.
- Sidewalk Labs is going to release details of all the data it wants to collect. The Toronto Star reports.
- NOW Toronto reports on the controversy in the NDP riding association for Parkdale-High Park over the nomination, here.
- There is a napping studio in Toronto, offering people the chance to nap for 25 minutes at $10 per nap. The National Post reports.
- CBC reports on a film about Little Jamaica, a neighbourhood along Eglinton Avenue West that might be transformed out of existence, here
- Daily Xtra looks at the legacy of the Meghan Murphy visit to Toronto.
- Spacing notes that the Toronto Reference Library has a large collection of Communist newspapers available for visitors.
- The idea of Metrolinx paying for the repair of damaged Eglinton Avenue does make a lot of intuitive sense. CBC reports.
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[NEWS] Ten Halloween links (#halloween)
Nov. 1st, 2019 06:03 pm- Jamie Bradburn took a look at now-effaced Toronto cemetery Potter's Field, here.
- Kingston, Ontario's Skeleton Park is a remarkable legacy. Global News reports.
- CBC Saskatoon reports on the origins of Halloween in harvest events.
- The Hong Kong protests took on a new tinge this Halloween. CBC reports.
- The Vancouver tradition of Halloween fireworks may be dying out. The National Post reports.
- Guardian Cities looks around the world, from Derry to West Hollywood, at local celebrations of Halloween.
- Gizmodo shares an image of a ghostly collision of galaxies in deep space.
- Dangerous Minds shared some album covers inspired by Halloween.
- CBC looks at the very low rate of candy tampering in Canada over the past decade.
- JSTOR Daily considers how the Great Pumpkin of Peanuts came to be so great.
- Will a pedestrian death at Yonge and Eglinton lead to an easing of the nightmare for people faced with Eglinton Crosstown construction? blogTO ,a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2019/09/yonge-eglinton-construction-pedestrian-nightmare/">reports.
- An automated shuttle is set to pilot in 2020 in east-end Toronto. Global News reports.
- Jamie Bradburn writes about the Labour Day celebrations in Toronto in 1929, here.
- blogTO notes the construction of a much-needed pedestrian bridge in Liberty Village, here.
- Guardian Cities notes official skepticism in Toronto over the Sidewalk Labs proposal in the Port Lands, here.
- Andrew Wheeler, writing in the Toronto Star, notes that the appearance of institutionally homophobic Chick-fil-A just a few minutes walk from Church and Wellesley, poses a threat that needs to be fought.
- It has been one year since the disaster at 650 Parliament. Global News reports.
- The Star looks at how, after the 650 Parliament disaster, St. James Town is coping with the loss of a tenth of its population, right here.
- A community group opposed the idea of the Ontario Line running vehicles through their neighbourhood every 90 seconds. The Star reports.
- For one man, Wayne Malley, being lost at the CNE as a child was an unforgettable adventure. The Star reports.
- Toronto Life interviews people in Cabbagetown to see what they think about their neighbourhood's safe injection site, here.
- NOW Toronto interviews six Torontonian musicians who left their city in search of affordable homes elsewhere, here.
- Global News reports on the strange story of a retired TTC streetcar found in the middle of the forest.
I attended the Church and Wellesley components of the Nuit Rose LGBTQ art festival last night. I have plenty of photos, images needing processing when I have time later this week. For now, please enjoy these short video clips I took of the Light Parade at different stages along its route, the first two on Alexander Street, the next at Church and Wellesley, and the last at Barbara Hall Park.
- Transit Toronto reports on the first electric bus in the TTC, now running the 35 Jane route.
- Toronto Life takes a look at the history of 592 Sherbourne Street, now the restaurant Maison Selby.
- NOW Toronto interviews people in Parkdale protesting against the cuts of Doug Ford.
- John Lorinc at Spacing looks at the many problems with the Doug Ford alteration of city and provincial planning.
- blogTO observes that this year's iteration of Ford Fest is going, inevitably, to be very political.
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- The city of Montréal continues to oppose the controversial Royalmount project. Global News reports?
- Will communities in the flood-prone West Island get protective dikes? CBC reports.
- Are the bike paths of Montréal getting sufficient investment? CTV News reports.
- French-language schools in booming north-end Montréal are facing overcrowding. CBC reports.
- CultMTL takes a look at what is up this year for Piknik Electronik on Ile Sainte-Hélène.
- Reddit's r/toronto shares this photo of the level of Lake Ontario having risen above the level of the boardwalk at HTO Park. Are we in for another year of flooding, on the Toronto Islands particularly?
- This CBC Toronto article from a week ago notes how Lake Ontario is getting close to 2017 levels.
- Changes in the Presto system have left many people who use the Union-Pearson Express to commute in a financially costly situation. CBC Toronto reports.
- This court case, besides setting boundaries on what planning boards can and cannot do, will also determine the fate of the Rail Deck Park. I hope it will survive. The Toronto Star reports.
- Stefanie Marotta at the Toronto Star reports on a Jane's Walk led by MP Adam Vaughan and Bianca Wylie of the waterfront, inspired by their criticism of the Sidewalk Labs plans.
- Shazlin Rahman writes at Spacing about the prejudices that push Muslim women away from the TTC, and what can be done to protect these women.
- Urban Toronto shares the news of Open Doors 2019 in Toronto on 25 and 26 May, with more than 150 buildings being opened to the public.
[BLOG] Some Tuesday links
Apr. 23rd, 2019 03:10 pm- Bad Astronomer Phil Plait notes the many galaxies in the night sky caught mid-collision.
- Centauri Dreams reports on the plan of China to send a probe to explore near-Earth co-orbital asteroid 2016 HO3 and comet 133P.
- Gizmodo reports, with photos, on the progress of the Chang'e 4 and the Yutu 2 rover, on the far side of the Moon.
- Joe. My. God. notes that Bill de Blasio hopes to ban new steel-and-glass skyscrapers in New York City, part of his plan to make the metropolis carbon-neutral.
- JSTOR Daily notes a critique of the BBC documentary Planet Earth, arguing the series was less concerned with representing the environment and more with displaying HD television technology.
- Language Hat notes the oddities of the name of St. Marx Cemetery in Vienna. How did "Mark" get so amusingly changed?
- Language Log looks at how terms for horse-riding might be shared among Indo-European languages and in ancient Chinese.
- Lawyers, Guns and Money notes the grounds for the workers of New York's Tenement Museum to unionize.
- The NYR Daily notes the efforts of Barnard College Ancient Drama, at Columbia University, to revive Greek drama in its full with music and dance, starting with a Euripedes performance.
- Starts With A Bang's Ethan Siegel shares some iconic images of the Earth from space for Earth Day.
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- CBC Toronto reports from the Daily Bread Food Bank drive, held this past weekend, here.
- CBC Toronto reports on the decline of small business in the Beaches, and the efforts of community leaders to reverse this decline.
- CBC Toronto reports on the Beaches Easter Parade, held Sunday. Perhaps next year?
- Listing Ontario Place on Toronto's heritage register, giving this site protection, is a fine idea. CBC Toronto reports.
- Christopher Hume at the Toronto Star notes how, one year after the North York van attack, coming up with policies which protect the public while keeping the city open is difficult.
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- Le Devoir wonders if excessive tourism will make Vieux-Québec unlivable for locals.
- Sam Sklar at CityLab, native of the New Jersey community of Fort Lee, wonders when it will burst out from the shadow of New York City.
- The question of how Vancouver in the era of legalization will celebrate 4/20 remains actively contested. The National Post reports.
- CityLab reports on how the 2024 Paris Olympics may help regenerate Saint-Denis.
- The story about how resettled refugees helped revive the Italian town of Sutera, on the island of Sicily, needs to be better-known. VICE reports.
- In a guest opinion at The Guardian, Stephen DeGrace makes the argument for PEI to vote for a mixed-member proportional electoral system at the end of April.
- 14 thousand voters, 13% of the electorate, cast votes in the advance polling on PEI. CBC PEI reports.
- CBC PEI reports that the Sikh holiday of Vaisakhi was widely celebrated by the Island's growing Sikh community.
- The Guardian notes the creation by Charlottetown of a registry of secondary and garden suites, the better to grapple with the housing crisis.
- Peter Rukavina links to Harry Holman's blog post explaining why there is a cannon lodged in the sidewalk at Queen and Grafton.
[BLOG] Some Wednesday links
Apr. 3rd, 2019 03:15 pm- Bad Astronomer Phil Plait shows four different images of nearby stellar nursery NGC 1333.
- Centauri Dreams looks at the hot Saturn TOI-197, and the way it was detected.
- D-Brief notes how galaxy NGC-1052 DF2 has been confirmed as the second galaxy apparently lacking in dark matter.
- Gizmodo notes new confirmation, from an orbiting probe, that Curiosity detected methane emanating from Mars back in 2013.
- Hornet Stories tries to correct some misconceptions about the Burning Man festival.
- The Island Review links to a New York Times profile of post-Maria Puerto Rico.
- Joe. My. God. notes that Martin Shkreli has been tossed into solitary confinement.
- JSTOR Daily notes the work of psychologists in the 1930s US who profiled individuals who did not fit the gender binary. Would these people have identified themselves as trans or non-binary now?
- The LRB Blog notes the fondness of Jacob Rees-Mogg for extreme-right German politicians from the AfD.
- Language Log shares a written ad in Cantonese from Hong Kong.
- Lawyers, Guns and Money compares China now to the Untied States of the past, and finds interesting correspondences.
- Marginal Revolution notes the deep and significant commitment of China under Mao to providing foreign aid.
- The NYR Daily looks at the complex, once-overlooked, life and career of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, writer of "The Yellow Wallpaper".
- Out There notes that, while dark matter is certainly real, "dark matter" is a poor name for this mysterious substance.
- Jason Davis at the Planetary Society Blog considers the challenges to be faced by Hayabusa 2 when it fires a sampling probe into asteroid Ryugu.
- Starts With A Bang's Ethan Siegel considers how into the universe a spaceship could travel if it accelerated consistently at one gravity.
- Strange Company examines the life and adventures of Jeffrey Hudson, a royal dwarf in 17th century England.
- Daniel Little at Understanding Society builds on the work of V.K. Ramachandran in considering the ethics of development ethnography.
- Window on Eurasia notes the new identification of Azerbaijanis as victims of genocide by neighbours, and what this means for the relations of Azerbaijan.
- Arnold Zwicky has fun, in a NSFW fanfic way, with figures from comics contemporary and old.
Tags:
- asteroids,
- astronomy,
- azerbaijan,
- blogs,
- cantonese,
- caribbean,
- china,
- chinese language,
- clash of ideologies,
- communism,
- disasters,
- england,
- ethnic conflict,
- european union,
- fan fiction,
- feminism,
- former soviet union,
- gender,
- genocide,
- germany,
- globalization,
- history,
- holidays,
- hong kong,
- islands,
- links,
- mars,
- national identity,
- oddities,
- physics,
- popular literature,
- puerto rico,
- separatism,
- social sciences,
- sociology,
- solar system,
- space science,
- space travel,
- technology,
- united kingdom,
- united states
- HuffPostQuebec imagines what an Expo held in Montréal for 2030 would look like, and what effect it would have on the metropolis.
- The Alaska Life notes the near-ghost town of Hyder, a community most easily accessible from Canada.
- Guardian Cities reports on a recent expulsion of street traders from a district in Buenos Aires.
- CityLab notes the growing unacceptability of a group parading in blackface in Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
- Guardian Cities explains how through, among other things, canny property investments, mass transit in Hong Kong is self-supporting financially.
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