Putting it in Perspective

Today I heard Pearl Jam’s Even Flow on Q107, Toronto’s classic rock radio station.  I’m not sure how many would consider it classic rock, but it certainly has a better home there than on Edge 102, Toronto’s station that calls itself “new rock” (despite still playing Nirvana 6 times a day).  The time when Even Flow came out is about as far from today as from when Led Zeppelin started making music.

Aesthetic Law

This post inspired by me travelling, and trying to take photographs without radio towers or utility wires ruining the shot.

In Toronto, the view of the provincial parliament building, Queen’s Park, from the south on University Avenue, is meant to be protected.   Sadly, a proposal to build condominiums to the north was approved.

Toronto already suffers from a lack of great buildings, and subpar aesthetic appeal.  We’ve been tearing down historic buildings, rather than preserve them, to make room for condos and office buildings, which could be integrated into those older buildings.  This was like the nail in the coffin.  We really do not care enough about the little history we have.

The best example of preservation I know of is in Paris, where the need for office development wasn’t ignored, but placed outside the historic city centre.  Wikipedia tells me that the same is true for Canary Wharf in London.   I also like the name, which sounds like they’ve defended their culture and history without sacrificing commercial growth.

Ugh, it was even worse to read that part of the reason the Ontario Liberals did nothing was because of Rob Ford’s then popularity and their own upcoming election.  Can’t people take the politics out of government now and then?