So What Else Is New?
- A sweaty athlete asked me to hold his javelin in the elevator this morning. Seriously. The handsome, variably-facial-haired, 6-foot-2 guy who lives in my building and always manages to be returning from a run at the same time I’m getting back from my sissy elliptical-trainer cardio session at the gym was fumbling with his backpack and asked me to hold his javelin while he did so. I’ve never held a javelin before. It was thicker and heavier than I’d expected.
Jesus Pose: U.S. Olympian Javelin Thrower Breaux Greer - The aforementioned Sweaty Javelin Neighbour confirmed a long-standing theory of mine regarding the elevators in my apartment building and office: pressing the lobby UP button when there’s an elevator on 3, an elevator on 12 and an elevator on 22 results in — I think you know where this is heading — the elevator on 22 descending to the lobby while the other two, which remained motionless until the button-press, start ascending. Inexplicable.
- From Tara comes the news that Toronto’s Cumberland Cinemas will be demolished at some indeterminate future date to make room for yet another uninspired and uninspiring condo development. This marks the fourth or fifth multi-theatre cinema in the downtown core which has disappeared in the last two decades. It also marks the demise of my most hated cinema experiences.
Allow me to explain…
The cinemas themselves weren’t bad and, to be honest, the programming featured quite a few films of great interest to me. It was the patrons that bugged.
So filled with pride over their support of indie cinema, the largely-mature crowd managed to cause injurious eye-rolling before a presentation with their limited — but ostentatious (and loud) — display of one or two tidbits of information regarding the movie, usually gleaned from a Toronto Fucking Star article published the day before. (For the uninformed, scanning The Star on a trendwatch is akin to flipping through People to discover what’s new and edgy.)
Worse, they never hesitated to point out that tidbit, again (and loudly), when the movie was actually playing. I think the last film I saw there was Amelie, and when the stupid garden gnome made it’s appearance every single audience member turned to their companion and loudly “awwww”ed and “isn’t that cute”ed until I started projectile vomiting.
Good riddance, though I shudder to think of what will replace the ugly building, given Toronto’s penchant for unimaginitive architecture. - Speaking of architecture, this time of the imaginitive variety — and technically not in Toronto — I’m excited to see the new Absolute Towers in Mississauga under construction. From the MAD Design website:
In our design, the continuous balcony surrounds the whole building, eliminating the vertical lines used in traditional high rise architecture to emphasize the height. The entire building rotates by different degrees at different level, which corresponds with sceneries at different height. Our aim is to evoke the city dwellers’ aspiration for nature, and get them in touch with the sunlight and the wind.
It looks gorgeous and, in a surprisingly witty move, has apparently been dubbed “Marilyn Monroe” by nearby residents.
- And speaking of an “entire building rotating by different degrees”, how about a building that actually, really rotates? Check out the videos of the wildly ambitious Dynamic Architecture website. The first structure will be built in Dubai.
This project is exactly what I used to fantasize about in (structural) engineering school. I mean, when I wasn’t fantasizing about the track and field athletes practicing inside the running track I ran around at the University of Calgary.
7 comments
I feel you jim, Primus is the worst company. it is very bad that they carry Canada name behind their name “Primus”, I signed up for the VOIP and it was the worst choice I have ever made. then I decided to more to regular phone line and they asked for $50 connection fee. it took them 7 days to transfer the phone. my family lived with no phone or internet for complete 7 days. then they offered me a very good offer on the internet. so they promised me to get the internet and they never did. I lived without internet for about a week again. then I said fuck it and called Rogers and got a phone service and internet from them it took them 1 day to set everything. I rather pay more but not to live in this shit.
Great photos
I agree with Mark. I do not find this movie depressing per say … but simply brilliantly written. I have the whole show memorized too … and I can watch it over and over again. And God bless Leonard Frey … what an actor !
My dear sir:
It has come to my attention by means of my attentiveness that you haven’t said much lately. Ahem ahem. If you let it go to a month, you’ll start to grow the impression that you have to explain, blah blah, and that the post has to be awesome to compensate etc. I therefore must urge you with great urgings to get something up here before November 24th. You can talk about how mustache-growing affects kissing on the part of the kisser (I know about the kissee already). Or the weather. What you had for lunch. I’m just saying, immediate action must be taken to avoid certain disaster. Or something. Please. Pretty please.
K primus is shit..
heres the story..
2008. My modem fucked up randomly, took them 1 month to fix it wdf 1 month? idiots much.
Now 2009,
My modem works all lights are on, BUT INTERNET DOESNT WORK, i call them up im like, why aint my interent working? all lights are on the damn modem. and some indian fucker says TO LOGIN WITH MY PASS AND USER ON 192.168.*.***
I do that still doesnt work, Then he shuts the phone on me,
Well then, im moving to shaw, and im not paying there bills no matter what, They wont let me cancle it since its under my dead wife, So They can suck on it, im not paying for shit. Gg primus, your company sucks, a bunch of kids can overwhlem it.
Soooo…Where the F are you? You can’t tell me that life in Van is so fabulously awesome that there is nothing to complain about! Is that city so perfect, are the roads so pothole free, are the politicians so straight that there is nothing to talk about? Or.. are you sick … that tiresome sinus issue you have? Us loving followers (yes from Toronto) need to know?
@anne & SkippyBoy: Thanks for the votes advocating more posts. They’re coming. Truth is, I’ve been working more hours than usual and diving, headfirst and enthusiastically, into establishing a social network here in Vancouver. Life is good here, very good.
Sometimes, I feel sad that there’s so much negativity on the Internet. Whether or not you like, dislike, or have no particular opinion on someone, I just don’t think it’s very nice to be so mean.
I guess I just wish people were sweeter.
This is terrible. I was on another site http://www.timhortonsfranchise.com and see they don’t treat thier franchisees any better. This is disgusting what a giant corporation can do. Spread the word.
I think it’s JUST adorable! There’s something rather touching about the small pox and polio notes to me. You’re right Brett, it’s become something better than useful, it’s become art.
let me add a voice to those advocating more posts. i miss you too and will keep checking.
hope you guys have great holidays in your new home.
I’m adding my voice to the chorus of people who want, nay, NEED posts from you, Brett. Please post soon! We miss the Canadian snark!
Missing ya, man, but glad it’s for good reasons, not bad. Hope to see you posting again soon!