Hayward

Wow this was occupied last time I went through here.

Another case of premature whatchamacallit by a TV reporter. That newcast was from January 11, and the Bluffton News-Banner on the 12th said that demolition may be necessary, but the owner and engineers will be inspecting it this week. The paper's web site today said that the mayor is pushing for rebuilding. Mayor Ted Ellis is a significant factor in making things happen. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Official cause of the fire was clothing that fell off a bed and became lodged between the bed and a built-in electric baseboard heater. Electric baseboard heat is the cheapest way for a landlord to retrofit an old building so that tenants pay for their own heat, but it's hazardous just because low-rent tenants often don't have the common sense or experience to know how to take care of things. A bed never should have been that close to a heater, and people should know better than to carelessly let flammable items come into contact with heaters. Hazards created by other tenants are the main reason I'll be very hesitant to move into a complex when maintaining a house becomes too much of a burden. My last apartment (1972) was in an old house, on the ground floor. One night I awoke to a house full of smoke and it scared hell out of me. I pounded on the door of the upstairs apartment to wake the drag queen who lived there, and found out that he had put a pie in the oven to take to his family's Thanksgiving dinner the next day, and had gotten stoned and fallen asleep. Could have been worse, but that was bad enough. I don't know, as a landlord I don't think I'd ever install electric baseboard heaters. It seems like such a risk, and I'd prefer to fool proof the place. For the fact that this guy loves to renovate old buildings, he's not afraid to go cheap on them either it sounds like.

The Lafayette building has had some violent collapses lately. The way they are demolishing that building is bordering insanity. I'd keep some distance for anyone shooting photos. I agree with C-Dawg. Detroit needs business. No way these buildings will have a future without someone to fill them.

And that's why the Dubai historic district was thinking "Don't you dare build those towers near us, put it way out there"

My hometown of Saginaw dumps so much chlorine in the water. Taking a shower makes the bathroom smell like a swimming pool and the water does have a noticeable taste.

Just like to say to say this particular theater does. It's not dying, and you have the support of Chicagoans who think Milwaukee is the best city in existence outside of their own.

So over the holidays I went with the family to see Sherlock Holmes at the movie theater back home. I was surprised to see a sign posted right at the entrance with large letters "If your cell phone goes off during the show, you will be required to leave the premises without refund. "Crying children must be taken into lobby spaces during showtimes. If requested more than 3 times by staff to take children outside the theater, you will be required to leave the premises without refund." I thought this was awesome. It turns out they've gotten far more business by kicking people out. It's not a loss of business when it's the 1 annoying person removed for the benefit of 100. I recall the theater giving refunds to customers who complained about disruptions.

Alright, another excellent experience this week. This time inside the grocery store near the ATM....which btw could get them arrested. My friend is about to withdraw money from the ATM which is right next to the coinstar. He was nervous about this shady old white dude throwing gobs of change in so we waited behind. The guy retrieved over $40 something in change since he held the ticket in my face asking where to cash it. After my friend got money from the ATM we are heading out and the dude who just got his cash asks us for 50 cents so he can get on the bus. I say. 'First, I just saw you dump all that change in the coinstar, and second the bus and train costs you [in particular] nothing. Leave this neighborhood before I call the cops." Dude hobbles off down to the subway. I also saw the guy who panhandles in front of our building typically get banned from the Illinois Centre Mall for hassling people at the entry. I saw security haul him out. He was also banned from standing in front of many buildings downtown for aggressive tactics. Keep in mind you can lose your rights to a public sidewalk. I've noticed many panhandlers downtown have been shoved to the bridges or to the underground streets

They already can, the problem is the technology hasn't been all that marketable. People still love to drive their cars. I don't think the research of AHS gets much funding anymore either. It's better that the technology is introduced into the market in pieces rather than all at once, allowing people to slowly adapt.

That old train station is actually a working train station. It would be cool if you got pictures of the passengers boarding. It was pretty busy there after Christmas.

Where is this in relationship to downtown? I've never seen these. I like South Lyon despite that it's overgrown is traditional downtown to become a suburban behemoth.

I love this building, interesting to see pics on the inside. So the 10th floor actually had "an interior?" I've been inside a bunch of old department stores, and the upper levels were sometimes rarely used beyond storage.

Just insane. Another messed up individual burns down a building and kills people. Another repeat of that suicidal freak of nature that burned Forest Arms.

What an excellent public venue for fireworks. Fountain square is a win in my book

. EXPIRED 01.18.2010

I think the buffalo central terminal and MCS are complete opposites. On one hand BCT is controlled by dedicated preservationists with little money. MCS is controlled by a billionaire who refuses to give it up even after numerous proposals float along to get that building renovated. Despite that BCT is in much better shape, I still think MCS will be restored/renovated first.

How long has this ban been in place? I hate panhandling, but I wouldn't be surprised if the ban has been challenged. There are some very vocal advocates for the homeless in Cincinnati, and they are always challenging laws about panhandling. I think they've even sued or threatened to sue the city over some of them. What bugs me is that so many of the panhandlers are actually scam artists, and several of them are not really homeless. There are so many social service places in Cincy that provide free meals for those who are truly in need. I really wish people would give to those places instead of giving to the individuals. Citywide, quite some time. But firmly established by signage in neighborhoods only recently. Since it's a form of harassment, there's very little they can do to challenge the laws...just like any public nuisance laws. The signs virtually eliminated the problem in certain areas. Over on Division and Clark it was terrible. Just walking to the Jewel grocery store there you would at MINIMUM get asked for change by 6 different people. On any day there would be more than a dozen homeless people standing along the railing as you exited the subway. Some would just scream random things at people. Panhandling is legal in the city of Detroit though it requires a license. The license must be presented when requested. Since their panhandlers aren't obnoxious, their system must be working.

I like this:

What kind of new devices do you think will become common by 2020, what will they do? What do you think our computers will be like? How about other technologies in the automotive or healthcare fields? It's incredible to think back in 1999, so few people knew what an MP3 was, virtually an entire new industry rose from it and now we have the ipod Here's a few of my predictions Government puts an official end to dial up internet, replaced with high speed, low cost alternatives Most surgeries are done robotically. Open heart surgery is considered crude and archaic procedure. Our computer monitors become panes of glass with a thin film overtop that is the screen. (I think we are already close to this actually) Most computer circuitry is replaced with optics circuitry. This will make our current computers look about as powerful as a typewriter. "Smarter cars" but nothing like a full AHS. New technology will result in fewer accidents.

Well now, they tore down a warehouse, let's not look that far into it

Wow, I put 6 bags of concrete in the back...though I suppose there is only so much you can do in snowy weather.

I'd take that heavier SUV over the lightweight S10 pickup I used to drive. Excellent gas mileage, terrible handling on snowy and icy roads because the vehicle was so lightweight. Whenever it would get stuck after a heavy snow, My housemates and I would simply lift the truck up and carry it to the alley.

I still think the Eaton Centre is the worst place I've ever seen shoplifting. That SportChek place near the entrance probably regrets putting in that open mezzanine so close to the concourse. I remember people chucking merchandise over the railings where their accomplices would make a break for the exit or subway.

I think it's about 95% of your effort in getting a job out of college is networking. That remaining 5% is the resume. IMO, the numbers switch places once you become experienced and people care less about who you know, but what you can do for the company based on your many years of experience.

That whole incident reminds of what the homeless do in Detroit. During Tiger or Lions games they direct crowds into empty lots and charge them $10. In reality those lots are privately owned or held by the city. If the homeless directed you onto a vacant city lot, your car should be okay since Detroit doesn't give a crap. But if it's privately owned, you come back and find your car has been towed away and what you thought to be the trusty "attendant" is nowhere to be found. It's a good thing few people know the casinos don't charge for parking.....you know where parking is safe and conveniently close.