Amsterdam

Here are some photos of last summer's trip to Amsterdam. It rained for just about 85% of the trip. The last two are from Brussels... Ray and i took a day trip there.






notice how the buildings are all angled differently...

Wilderness

Here is a paper i wrote in my second year. It's about how the perception of wilderness has changed. The 'idea' of wilderness. Something like that. I miss only having to write short papers. I think this one is about 6 pages.

Montréal vs Toronto #1 (the continuing debate)

Okay, so it seems that metropolitan Montréal is once again trying to get more money. But now in a different way: they want to have more taxation power. And this is real, the Mayor delivered some sort of ultimatum. The city is tired of funding things like the metro and road system that is used by residents of municipalities that don't pay their share.

This is where Toronto comes in. Apparently, Toronto was given unlimited taxation powers from January 1st. Basically, they can charge whatever they wish unless it involves income tax. So while Ontario has a metropolis that is mutually benefiting and sharing financial resources and municipal assets, Montréal is crumbling under a deficit that nobody wants responsibility for.

Farmers' Markets and the Eco-City

Here is a paper i wrote a while back. It explains some concepts of a sustainable city with regard to farmers' markets. It also proposes a site in downtown Montréal for a new market. What's interesting is that i just found out that the city was actually considering putting a community centre on the site i had chosen.

Poo-Teen in NYC

So, i was walking home from my Dad's place last night and saw the front of the National Post had a giant poutine with the headline 'will poutine take over Manhatten?'. I wanted it sooo badly.... Realising that i didn't have a loonie and scratching at the glass wouldn't suffice, i rushed home eager to find the article online. I really wanted to know how the poutine would take over Manhatten. And did this mean Québec could take over all of the US east coast, or better, the west coast too?

After being locked out of the house all night (on, of course, what felt like the coldest night this season), i found the article. Who pays for news anymore anyways?

The restaurant that is opening up doesn't sound very interesting. Actually, it sounds kind of cheesy. Shelves made out of canoes? a 'maple' bar downstairs and the 'canoe club' upstairs? Waiters wearing antlers? ok. i made that one up... but come on!

The Cross

Has anyone else noticed what happened to the cross? The southern pointing part of the crucifix is lit up purple.

I imagine some old guy in a cushy job who's put on 'cross duty' has had a heart-attack. Half his face is in his poutine and the other half is on the button labelled 'mauve.'

Poor Jacques. Hopefully someone finds him before the poutine starts to smell... The cross has been like this for almost a week. I'll eventually get a decent picture of it once i figure out how to take a good night shot with my digital camera.

Varennes. and farmers

I don't know if it is often publicised, but it is interesting to note that there are 20 Montréal municipalities that have applied to the Québec Agricultural Protection Council (or some name to that effect) to de-zone agricultural land for residential development.

Which surprised me only because i had no idea that agricultural land was so strongly protected in the Montréal region. Varennes is such a town. Apparently the town is going broke and needs to develop more land for tax revenue.... Um.... hmmmm..... how about a plain 'NON!'

If you ask me, what is happening in Varennes (and possibly in many of the 20 municipalities) is inevitable. Many have been saying that suburban development based on low-density residential development and low taxes is unsustainable. It's about time a community realises this, and begins to plan what they call 'smart growth.'

I just hope this becomes a wake-up call to the Québec government and those bureaucrats in MMC municipalities.

Ecologez

I just wanted to mention that Équiterre and the ETS will be having their second annual Ecologez green building competition. I've applied to enter, and am still waiting for a response. You should check out last year's competition.

Behind the Faubourg

Ah. The icy frigid Montréal winters i thought i had forgotten.
This makes me also reflect on what the fuck is happening to the Faubourg.
A gigantic Dollarama? Yeah, the management much be rolling in the dough now that it's returned to a vibrant commercial centre.

Art Review

Montréal's metro is full of art. It stands out among only a couple cities worldwide in terms of accessible art. Many people have noticed this piece of art (shown above), in the Guy-Concordia metro station. It is a very fine example of post-deconstructionist mixed media art. The resolution of the photo is not superior, but you may notice stalactites. The artist used this to explore the mobility of mankind (taken in its context -the metro). From low-mobile cavemen (hence the mineral deposits) to the fast-and-efficient metropolitan dweller.

It seems that there was quite some controversy surrounding this piece, as the Canada Council for the Arts apparently forked over some 20 000$ to the artist. The artist's name was not made available by the STM. The only indication is the initials 'MC' in the upper-left corner.

Summer in Montréal

Back when i lived in Massachusetts, i used to try and come to Montréal twice a month. I missed my friends and family, but most of all i missed home. I think this photo was taken back in 2002.

Bush should drink the water

The United States plans to make it legal to spew tonnes of toxic untreated water , but this doesn't seem to be much different than what's happening in Montréal during really rainy periods, though there are initiatives at correcting this. Seems our two countries are heading in different directions...