out and about

Social profiling at Mtl Berri-UQAM métro station

lagatta4 — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 07:59:12 +0000

http://montrealgazette.com/news/this-isnt-how-you-solve-the-problem-fenc...

As the old saying goes, neither the rich nor the poor are allowed to sleep beneath bridges. The STM (Société de transport de Montréal) has blocked of a corner at east- central Berri-UQAM métro station (an area where many homeless people congregate, as they also do at Atwater in west-central Mtl. At the latter, the STM dismantled a bus shelter where itinerants congregated.

At Atwater, most of the itinerants are Indigenous people.

A housing activist friend thinks there will be an upsurge in « social cleansing » in the lead-up to the 375th anniversary events.

Used to go to the USA.

jambo101 — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 13:53:35 +0000

IMO America has gone nuts to the point we no longer enjoy excursions to the country.Living in Montreal we always took our long weekends and vacations south to the USA usually Plattsburg/Burlington/Lake George and a big Florida trip once a year but for the last year or so we have been instead exploring more Ontario and Quebec ,from Kingston to Gaspe offer some wonderfull weekend getaways,the big Florida trip was replaced with a trip to Vancouver this year. This weekend we are off to Gananoque for a 1000 island boat cruise and looking forward to some German food at the Maple leaf restaurant.,first week in October a 4 day run to the Gaspe.

Anyone else exploring more of Canada than the USA?

enMasse 10th anniversary

Tehanu — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 21:13:36 +0000

Hi all!

I was going to post and say come on by to say hello, as today is EM's 10th anniversary.

But unfortunately when I was trying to send a-once-in-10-years email, I seem to have killed it. (Anyone know much about SQL/phpBB? PM me?). A tad ironic.

Anyway, hopefully we'll get it back up soon!

Cheers, Tehanu

Jane's Walks 2016

lagatta — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:31:37 +0000

I'm sure we've discussed Jane's Walks here before, but I could only find one thread here, on Occupy.

Here in Montréal, one of the walks will be about Les Pionnières de la grève, Léa Roback, Madeleine Parent and the history of women in the union movement:

http://www.ecologieurbaine.net/fr/component/eventbooking/promenade-de-ja... This is in the old garment district in the southwest of Plateau Mont-Royal.

Any other notable walks in your village, town or city?

A refugee's journey

lagatta — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 02:22:28 +0000

Hashem's long, difficult and terrifying journey from Syria, to Egypt and then on to Europe, with Sweden as his ultimate goal. A multimedia Guardian story:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2015/jun/09/a-migrants-j...

Moving....to Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland?

scotter — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 11:53:34 +0000

So I am inclined to move to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland to connect with the sea and the people.I like to start in some place new, to leave behind the present place of sorrow, a place in Ontario, after things get settled.

Public toilets

lagatta — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 11:12:32 +0000

Everyone has to go. Pregnant women and all of us as we get older, a bit more often. Yet there has actually been a decline in truly "public" toilets in many cities. http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/montreal/412104/le-retour-de-la-toilet... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_toilet

http://www.francoischarron.com/iphone-trouve-la-toilette-la-plus-proche-... Ça presse: guide to toilets compiled with the help of the Inflammatory Intestinal Disease Foundation: http://www.ca-presse.ca/ (site seems down).

Cross-Canada public (and public-accessible) toilet map: http://www.powderroom.ca/fr/cross-canada-bathroom-map This has a very limited number of entries.

texting while...

lagatta — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 19:34:04 +0000

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/texting-walking-injuries-... This piece is about texting while walking; it came to mind because I was on the Beaubien bus heading west (towards St-Laurent) when I guy sauntered across the busy - and very icy - street while texting on his phone. The bus driver had to slam on his brakes. He told me this happened all the time, and he constantly saw drivers texting as well when he looked down from his perch. I've also seen cyclists texting, and even motorcyclists have been seen doing it.

Is this a Darwin award requirement, given the fall in DWI rates?

Moving to Winnipeg

PrairieDemocrat15 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 09:01:31 +0000

So I'm moving to Winnipeg this week to pursue a Masters degree in public administration. I know there are a couple Winnipeg-based Babblers and I was hoping I could get some advice on the city.

Where are the best places to eat and drink?

Can anyone recomend places to buy groceries and bank (I will be living near the university)?

How cold does it get (I'm from the Edmonton area, so I don't think Winnipeg will be much of a change in this department)?

Any other tps or comments would be great!

Heatwave!

lagatta — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 15:20:04 +0000

No, not out of passion like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3x3mv_martha-reeves-and-the-vandellas-...

A heat and humidity record for Montréal on the 1st of July - which as you know, is Moving Day in Québec (as well as Canada Day for those so inclined). Very exhausted movers.

Normally the large Norway Maple in front of my home office window keeps me cool, but yesterday was too much for it, despite a large intake of chilled tap water and a bit of fizzy mineral water to settle my tummy.

Enforcing 5 metre rule in Montreal - no cars parked at corners

lagatta — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:15:16 +0000

According to Québec's Code de la route (Highway safety code) it is illegal to park within 5 metres of an intersection. However, this law is little enforced. This creates great danger for pedestrians (especially those "shorter" than a car, such as a child or a person using a wheelchair) and cyclists, since fast turning is practically the rule.

Verdun borough (formerly an independent city) in southwestern Mtl has taken the easy and inexpensive solution of simply painting the no-go area bright yellow (see photos).

http://ici.radio-canada.ca/emissions/le_15_18/2013-2014/chronique.asp?id... This has greatly reduced the number of injured pedestrians and cyclists.

Cloudburst over Montréal!

lagatta — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 01:38:34 +0000

I knew rain was expected in Mtl this afternoon, but thought I could dodge it, doing a few errands late in the morning after finishing some work.

My last stop, after watering a friend's plants, was the newly moved Supermarché PA, the famous Greek emporium that manages to combine low prices and generally high quality. I'm allergic to cow's milk and they always have goat and ewe cheeses I can consume - well, so does Milano near me in Petite-Italie, but not at the same prices. But once at the cash, the sky went dark, and I just hoped I could get home in time.

Happy day to mothers and others!

lagatta — Sun, 11 May 2014 18:43:37 +0000

Beautiful spring day here - hope everyone enjoys it. Mothers, and all others!

Spring is here -- official announcement

DaveW — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:32:51 +0000

To all and sundry,

by virtue of the Powers entrusted in me by Her Majesty the Queen and Her representative in the Dominion, the Governor General, and pursuant to Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution Act 1982, and the recent forecasts of Environment Canada,

http://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/qc-147_metric_e.html

I here by declare it SPRING ....

winter closing in

lagatta — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 00:50:04 +0000

Shit. We might get some snow showers tonight, but that shouldn't be dire. However, by this weekend, we may well get some accumulation.

I age 40 years then, from 20 years below my actual age to 20 years higher. I can cycle everywhere for hours, skilfully, but when arthritis kicks in, the amount of walking needed to do one's errands, visit clients and friends etc gets painful. And this is essential to stay in shape.

I don't know how to cope with this fucking crap every year. Grrrrrrr.

Unrelated: the "Issues Pages" are hopelessly out of date.