Month: November 2012

iPad photo: Life size papier maché Mexican parade-style figures of Frida and Diego made for the show by Toronto artists Shadowland (I added the graphic title.)
Bill Byres had a spare ticket for me and we spent a couple of hours at the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibition today. Big show… rooms and rooms of paintings and drawings by both artists, plus many photos of the two of them. It gave us a very good look at the work history of a fascinating couple.

Look closely at the eyes. Notice anything? I did. See the “Read more…”
My first observation is that the Main and Danforth Hakim Optical store does a good job of standing behind the products they sell. Danica took in a pair of 9-month old prescription sunglasses today. The frame had cracked for no apparent reason, and a lens had popped out. She hadn’t dropped the glasses and keeps them in a hard case, but how would the store operator know that?
No problem. To Danica’s surprise (she was expecting some charge), the frame was replaced with a new one in a few minutes, at no cost whatsoever. I have had similar service to polish out minor scuffs and make adjustments. Good service.
My second observation is the curious poster I noticed in one of the Hakim windows.

This was a nicely rendered elephant last time I saw it. I’m not sure if it has been defaced or if the paint-over is part of a planned revision. There were no apparent tags showing through the thinly rolled white paint.
This does remind me of one of the problems with well-intentioned public murals, though. If someone does decide to vandalize them, they are a lot harder to clean up than flat-colour walls would be. More expensive, too.

I feel the same way, Abby, and I live in Canada.

People who actually use public transit on a daily basis shouldn’t expect to see themselves represented on the TTC board. Look who was allowed to apply for the four unelected positions:

“Citizens appointed to the TTC board should have directorship and executive-level experience and have experience with one or more large organizations.”

Interviewed on CBC Radio this morning, one of the new appointees couldn’t think of the name for those paper things we use to transfer between vehicles. Another one claimed to use public transit “not every day, but frequently”. Yeah, sure.
Whose idea was it to create four positions for unelected senior executives on the TTC board anyway? How are these people accountable to the rest of us citizens? How does this do anything improve our transit system?