tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58099842009-04-16T11:47:30.971-07:00* diary of an urban planner *Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-91451668132199074822008-03-17T14:15:00.001-07:002008-03-17T14:15:24.876-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-5929614475316473082008-03-03T13:27:00.001-08:002008-03-03T13:27:32.118-08:00

fool in the woods Originally uploaded by Spatial Mongrel I want to tell you about the day I took mother nature for granted, and the day mother nature showed me why that’s a very, very bad idea.Back in 2005, I went winter camping in Wells Gray Park, BC with my then-girlfriend, now-wife, Kelly-Anne. She’s a beautiful woman, a professor at the University, more than up for a challenge, and

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-54828341245733411482008-02-04T14:28:00.001-08:002008-02-04T14:28:42.568-08:00

Something just blew up in North Kamloops, not sure where. Can’t see the actual point of origin from my office window, just the plume of dark smoke heading upwards. All very dramatic.  

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-76016257091893014822007-06-21T11:16:00.001-07:002007-06-21T11:32:51.155-07:00

Project for Public Spaces is a US-based organization that devotes itself wholly to the study of public space across North America, and offers tips and suggestions on how to maximize the best use of this valuable resource. I am a member of this group. The following is an exerpt from an e-mail I received on the issue of car parking within urban parks:U.S city parks have given over large swaths of

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-44798641848228126222007-05-31T16:24:00.000-07:002007-05-31T16:28:39.753-07:00

Being a dog owner, a good, centrally located dog park is a matter of high importance to me. A good dog park provides a safe and secure place to bring your dog to, where he/she can play safely, learn to get along and behave around other dogs, and have a smashing good time.A good dog park doesn't just stop with dog-joy though - it's a great social opportunity for their owners as well! We already

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-25355026825005233332007-05-03T16:19:00.000-07:002007-05-07T14:51:55.332-07:00

This matter has been tentatively resolved.

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-88473262711658570252007-03-27T15:32:00.000-07:002007-03-27T15:32:15.909-07:00

JPL.NASA.GOV: News ReleasesThis is extremely weird! Is this a result of magnetic field lines, torn by the charged atmosphere of the planet into this odd shape? Is it the odd creation of another lifeform - art on a grand scale?

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-9658240392532318862007-03-26T15:03:00.000-07:002007-03-26T15:03:57.260-07:00

Operation Bite: April 6 sneak attack by US forces against Iran planned, Russian military sources warn: "Ivashov noted that it was not to be excluded that the Pentagon would use smaller tactical nuclear weapons against targets of the Iranian nuclear industry. These attacks could paralyze everyday life, create panic in the population, and generally produce an atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty all

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-63472461072608803472007-03-23T13:08:00.000-07:002007-03-23T16:21:32.742-07:00

Podcasting growth slower than expected: studyI wonder if this might have something to do with wmp11's rather shocking continued refusal to play nice with podcasts. I consider myself an advanced user, yet I'm sick to death of the silly hoops I need to jump through just to get podcasts properly and automatically linking from wmp11 to my samsung z5. I download using juice, run a shell script command

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1162410117010811372006-11-01T11:41:00.000-08:002006-11-01T11:41:57.086-08:00

Wow, this is interesting. A real switch by the Democrats to go fully on the offensive! The accompanying video of the press conference is some of the most refreshing commentary yet heard.JohnKerry.com - Press Releases: "Statement of John Kerry Responding to Republican Distortions, Pathetic Tony Snow Diversions and DistractionsWashington – Senator John Kerry issued the following statement in

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1161904160784262122006-10-26T16:09:00.000-07:002006-10-26T16:09:20.840-07:00

50 States - Presented by Addicting GamesThis is a great "Learn your Geography" game to play.

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1160603986190439302006-10-11T14:59:00.000-07:002006-10-11T14:59:46.340-07:00

'Dilbert's' 9-point financial plan worthy of economics Nobel - MarketWatch: "#1. Make a will2. Pay off your credit cards3. Get term life insurance if you have a family to support4. Fund your 401k to the maximum5. Fund your IRA to the maximum6. Buy a house if you want to live in a house and can afford it7. Put six months worth of expenses in a money-market account8. Take whatever money is left

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1159823366428038202006-10-02T14:09:00.000-07:002006-10-02T14:09:26.506-07:00

FCPP Publications :: A Tax’s Time To Die::"Canada lags behind Europe in casting out property taxes, not because property taxes in Canada are any less offensive but because of an accident of history. Our cities are creatures of the provinces, which long ago allowed municipalities the property tax and little else by way of funding. Although many provinces are urbanized, our electoral system gives

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1159552438301641292006-09-29T10:53:00.000-07:002007-03-23T16:22:57.274-07:00

I just became an official member of the Liberal party, out of some inspired reason to want to have a voice in the direction of the country, and the leaders we choose to face up to those challenges. My vote is still torn between Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff, but I know who I'm not going to be voting for. This comment from Joe Volpe's staffer just abouts sums up the kind of attitude we need

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1158084729331200542006-09-12T11:12:00.000-07:002007-03-23T16:24:11.552-07:00

City Councilman Unearths Magical Zoning Amulet | The Onion - America's Finest News SourceROCHESTER, NY—After years spent poring over mysterious and arcane plat sheets and deciphering long-forgotten building codes, city councilmember Mike LaMere unearthed the mysterious City Zoning Amulet Friday.Mike LaMere, wearing the Ever-Evaluating Eye of Surr-Vey."Behold!" LaMere said, holding aloft the

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1157479486777002542006-09-05T11:04:00.000-07:002007-03-23T16:36:15.723-07:00

This fascinating article came through the wire over the weekend. This is a direct response to the issue of massive visual blight casued by the overwhelming prevalence of garages taking over the street frontage of our communities, and the impermeable surfaces (read: driveways) that are associated with them. Hopefully this kind of thinking can make its way into other areas as well.Door closing on '

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1156886500894075722006-08-29T14:21:00.000-07:002006-08-29T14:21:40.950-07:00

Carmen: Artwork EnlargementMy mother is a talented and prolific painter. Have a look at her artwork here.

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1156877610837047072006-08-29T11:45:00.000-07:002007-03-23T16:34:56.831-07:00

I think the lesson to be learned here it to look at how we’re designing the spaces where we actually want people to be walking, enjoying the scenery, looking at the flowers and such – in small town cities this would refer directly to our main streets and commercial shopping areas, and we’ll leave aside the crack dealer alleys for now. How do we make them interesting and compelling places to be?

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1156877132222618702006-08-29T11:44:00.000-07:002007-03-23T16:38:42.324-07:00

Hi DaveI was looking at figure 6, which is from Stockholm. As you know I lived in Stockholm for 10 years and the street is a tourist street. Durning the summer you cannot move more than 5/km not because of the facade, but the novelty of the area for tourist. The authors contrast this with 60km/hr walking, now that is pretty fast walking; walking on crack. I grew up in New York City. Given it was

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1156876212321123082006-08-29T11:27:00.000-07:002007-03-23T16:37:50.982-07:00

Interesting Urban Design Articlehttp://www.palgrave-journals.com/udi/journal/v11/n1/pdf/9000162a.pdfAbstract:What we have are closed, self-absorbed buildings. What we would like to have is open, versatile, interesting and safe cities. The challenge is how to incorporate large buildings in cities where people have the same small stature and slow pace they had hundreds of years ago. There is now a

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1147543428206245872006-05-13T11:01:00.000-07:002006-05-13T11:03:48.283-07:00

Make Ruff Not War Originally uploaded by Spatial Mongrel. Dagmar undertook her first peace walk last weekend, and was spotted by a roving news photographer along the way. She's so cute!It was well attended, with maybe around 100 people there. It was interesting though to compare the mood of this march with the 150,000 march I participated in in Montreal in 2003, in the run-up to th Iraq

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1142103971063184312006-03-11T11:06:00.000-08:002006-03-11T11:06:11.130-08:00

Long day Originally uploaded by erialc_eiram. I've discovered a new young photographer in Kamloops with a horrifying amount of talent. Armed with a Canon Digital Rebel, she is blazing a path through the photo world with some fantastic images! Images here

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1141779591603165892006-03-07T16:59:00.000-08:002006-03-07T16:59:51.690-08:00

YouTube - Monty python - Black knight (star wars)Excellent Star Wars/Monty Python mashup!

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1141432365783897962006-03-03T16:32:00.000-08:002006-03-03T16:32:45.863-08:00

what i put up with for food Originally uploaded by Spatial Mongrel. Dagmar loves to pose. She's by far the most beautiful dog I have ever had, and in the short two months we've had her, she's wriggled herself deep into our family. I don't know what I ever did without her hanging around, chewing on me randomly, and eating my socks!She's going to win me a photo-contest. I just know

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809984.post-1141022764677509082006-02-26T22:46:00.000-08:002006-02-26T22:46:04.726-08:00

Merritt Mountain Music Festival 2003 Originally uploaded by soulstealer. As good an argument for going as any.

Spatial Mongrelnoreply@blogger.com0