So I’m all moved into my new Loft. I’m not totally settled in yet- still some boxes lying around, and my living room isn’t set up yet – no big deal, since I added television to the list of things I gave up for Sober October.

My office is mostly setup with the wicked desk my dad and I built. I went out looking for filing cabinets today – jeebus h, I didn’t think they were that expensive… I’ll keep my files in boxes for now.

My buddy Steve, who was the designer behind the Hair Salon space I helped build earlier this year, is building a bar for me – which is going to totally rock. Much of it is enclosed in frosted plexiglass which will be lit from behind. I’m so excited to have a space big enough that I can have a bar.

The place turned out great. I’m so happy that I bought here. There are still a few little annoyances that the developer has to finish up – a bit of painting, the phone jack in my office doesn’t work, they still need to replace two of my counter tops (they got scratched during the build)… but whatever, they’ll get to it soon I’m sure.

My dog loves it here. I thought she’d go crazy at every little noise in the hallway, or bumps from the neighbours upstairs… but so far she’s been totally calm – there’ve been guys working right outside our door (much of the building is still under construction) and she doesn’t seem concerned in the least (not a very good guard dog)…

I’m having my house warming next weekend, so I have just over a week to get everything in order. It’ll be tough, but do-able. I’m really looking forward to entertaining here. There’s so much space, and it’s just got a really cool vibe about it… lots of character with the 12′ ceilings, 70-year-old hardwood, exposed pipes and beams, and the sliding doors. I’ll stop gushing.

If you’re in the city and I’ve neglected to send you an invitation, get in touch – the party is Saturday October 30th and it’s going to be an assload of fun.

Oh, and I suppose this is as good a time as any to introduce the new name of my web company – I’m dropping Posativ for several reasons, not the least of which was the difficulty everyone had in spelling it, being spelled wrong and all.

The name I’ve chosen in it’s place is something that identifies me with my new surroundings, that represents a new beginning and a major transition in my life. It’s trendy and it kinda rolls off the tongue. And there will be no way to confuse the spelling. It’s also the title of this post, Suite204. New website coming soon!

Reading this article about the people who visit the Mona Lisa got me to thinking about the value of true experience.

I first began to think about this after my first year of Burning Man – it was a totally overwhelming experience, as it is for all newbies. There was so much to see and do, I just couldn’t stop moving for fear of missing something – and I wanted to remember it all, so I moved from art piece to performance to weird happening to theme camp, pausing only briefly at each, being sure to grab a picture so I could remember it later.

I realized afterward that much of my first year was experienced observed through the filter of a camera lens. Looking back, I’m glad that I have all these great photos, but too often I think the camera got in the way of me being truly in the moment, preoccupied instead with attempting to preserve the experience for later, and not necessarily enjoying the experience in the now.

When I went back the following year, I purposely brought only a small crappy camera, and very little film. Forcing myself to leave the camera behind on outings, I wanted to be more a part of my surroundings than just a casual observer. As a result, memories of my second trip are much more powerful and personal than my first. I also have an overall greater appreciation of the experience the second time around, and a true feeling of participation.

To bring this back to the context of the article, when I was in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City earlier this year, I saw many people doing the same thing described in the article – stand in front of a piece for 15 seconds or so, snap a picture and walk away. I realize there’s a lot of art to be seen in the Met, but what’s the point if you’re not going to really see the piece? Why even bother?

I say all this, but I love pictures. I love taking pictures. I have lots of pictures. So it’s really hard for me to make the decision to leave the camera behind. But I think there’s just some experiences that a photograph will never do justice to, and in those cases it’s best to just be there.

With all the hubub about the flu-shot shortage in the states, Mr. Sun weighs in with some tips for dealing with the flu.

Ontario: Call for the Resignation of Michael Bryant: “In his handling of the investigation into the possibility of banning ‘pit bulls’ in Ontario, Attorney General Michael Bryant has broken the public trust. On this basis we demand his immediate resignation.

In looking into the pit bull ban Mr. Bryant sought the answers that suited his agenda. He did not allow open public hearings or consult with subject matter experts. The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) asked be consulted, and were refused. American canine experts asked to provide input and were refused. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of Canada asked to be consulted, and we received no reply. Mr. Bryant only listened to the people who would support his biased viewpoint. This is not democracy.

In fact, Michael Bryant fueled a media circus that did not allow for intelligent or accurate discussions. He suppressed information and experts who could demonstrate that breed bans do not work. He also did not consult with Calgary, which has had the most success in preventing dog bites of any major city in Canada because they target all dogs, not specific breeds.

In doing this Michael Bryant has deceived the people of Ontario. This is NOT acceptable actions from an elected political official. Michael Bryant has broken the public trust. What is at stake here is our freedom. Our democracy. Our rights.

For these reasons, we demand Michael Bryant’s immediate resignation.”

One of the biggest problems with Breed Specific Legislation is the frequency of breed misidentification. All dog attack statistics are suspect because they rely on media or victim breed identification. See how you’d fare:

The Challenge

The Answers

You may be interested in signing the petition

Also be sure to read:

Linda Williamson: Good Dogs, Bad Law

Gary Dunford: Pit ban reeks like pot plan

There’s a lot of nonsense and hysteria coming out now on this issue in Ontario, and it’s time to bring some sense of reality to this debate.

In my city there have been 900 reported dog bites since 2001. A grand total of FIVE of those bites have been attributed to Pit Bulls.

The province needs to recognize that any dog in the wrong hands can be abused and trained into anti-social behaviour. This ban amounts to Profiling. It won’t work. We should be punishing those that would use their dog as a weapon, not the dogs themselves.

Don’t forget to check out our new store: From My Cold Dead Hands – Show your support for our loveable pets and raise money for a Pit Bull Rescue Center.

Welcome to Ontario, the first province in the country to ban sushi and pit bulls. Do you feel safer yet?

At least, in fairness to Attorney General Michael Bryant, the pit bull ban is in response to a demonstrable problem and widespread public complaint — unlike the silly order forcing sushi to be frozen (now mercifully under review).

But Bryant’s announcement Friday that the province will ban pit bulls is still bad policy, fraught with problems.

For months now, Bryant has referred to pit bulls as the “loaded weapons” of the dog world. So we’re not surprised by his typically Liberal solution — essentially, a registry.

New pit bulls will be banned from the province, but people who now have them will be allowed to keep them for the life of the dog — if they register, neuter and muzzle them.

Yeah, that’ll work. We’re sure all those drug-dealer types who’ve purposely trained their pit bulls to be vicious will rush out and comply. And they won’t try to smuggle in dogs, breed them illegally or turn to other breeds, oh no.

Instead, law-abiding, responsible owners whose dogs are well-bred and trained will be punished for the sins of a few.

That said, Bryant’s bill does contain sensible measures. It imposes tough fines of up to $10,000 and even possible jail time (up to six months) for owners of any dangerous dog that bites, attacks or poses a public safety risk. This is smarter policy, along the lines of Edmonton’s vicious dog bylaw, and — if enforced — poses a strong deterrent to irresponsible and criminal pet owners.

Enforcement, though, is crucial to any dog law.

As it happened, the same day as Bryant’s announcement, an Ontario court ruled on the case of Bandit, the dog who was ordered destroyed a year ago for attacking a toddler. The case underlines two glaring problems with the new law:

First, Bandit is half pit bull, half Labrador. Would crossbreeds be banned? What’s more, the designation “pit bull” is not an actual recognized breed, but covers several breeds. We’ve yet to comprehend how Bryant will police this.

Second, although Bandit was ordered destroyed over a year ago, the Toronto Humane Society, which took him in, refused to do the deed. Where’s the enforcement? (The Ontario court upheld the dog’s death sentence Friday.)

We sympathize greatly with all the victims of horrific pit bull attacks, and share their desire for a safer community. But we fail to see how Bryant’s ban provides a reliable solution. The Ontario Veterinary Medical association, among other critics, shares our concerns.

Maybe the Liberals can try feeding sushi to the pit bulls and take care of both problems. It makes about as much sense as they do.

The Ontario government is in the process of passing Breed Ban legislation banning ownership of Pit Bulls in the province. Tell them how you feel about it! Tell them Breed Bans don’t work! That negligent owners are to blame, not our loveable pits!!

John Battelle weighs in on the Google Desktop beta that Google quietly released yesterday. This is truly a very exciting time for the web.