A few weeks ago I watched an episode of the Nature of Things about the state of cities in Canada but thankfully it didn't include the insufferable David Suziki. Instead, Christopher Hume travels to the largest cities in Canada from Halifax to Vancouver, except he skips over Edmonton which makes the show much more enjoyable. He explores the aspects that contribute to making urban settings livable and exciting at the pedestrian level but he also reveals the many mistakes that cities have made that are detrimental to its sustainability. We learn about the many cultural facilities that have recently been constructed in Toronto that help make the city a destination for its citizen, while also discovering the history of Winnipeg and the factors that led to its demise. Unfortunately, he saves the harshest criticism for Calgary, especially our problem with urban sprawl. Humes does applaud our city for our emphasis on public transportation but he really brings attention to the unsustainable nature of outward growth along the city's border. I'm looking at you Panorama! Anyways, please watch the video here and I truly believe you will find it to be both informative and entertaining.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Cool - Office Supples
I have compiled a list of my most desired office supplies, which combines my love for the Office (the series) and the Museum of Modern Art.
MUJI Aluminum Pencil Case
I think it's eventually time for me to replace my novelty dog/pig pencil cases with this simple MUJI case. It looks great with its clean lines and it also appears to be quite durable so it will survive being crushed in my backpack. Oh and the best part is that it's only $10! Definitely worth the money to store all my supplies for school and audits.
I really regret buying my metal Ikea bulletin boards when I could have had this amazing memo board made of walnut. It looks great on the wall alone but it comes with hilarious looking twig magnets. All my post-it notes would look so much better against this board but I guess I could always save it when I acquire more wall space.
MUJI Tape Dispenser MUJI manages to make a common household item into art. It's beautiful while still remaining functional, which of course is very appealing and all at the low cost of $2.
MUJI Aluminum Business Card Case My KPMG card holder is getting quite full and this will be a perfect replacement. My student ambassador cards would look perfect in this streamline business card holder. Bonus is that it will match the pencil case above.
MUJI Compact Stapler This stapler looks like it would compliment my MacBook very nicely but unfortunately it's compact and I don't think it will be able to staple any thick documents. However, I wouldn't have to borrow Elysse's stapler anymore and it's very affordable so I may reconsider.
MUJI Colored Pencil SetPencil crayons have never been my first choice as a medium for art but I like this set purely for its aesthetics. Something about the boldness of the colors against the utilitarian cardboard is very pleasing. I predict that it would sit on my desk untouched but I will certainly admire it as a piece of art.
MUJI SketchbookBeing an accountant, the only time I really have to sketch is during boring lectures. I should really consolidate my sketches and doodles into a sketchbook but I think it will result in a book dedicated to offensive pictures of my friends and portraits of Irene Herremans with her various outfits. Seriously though, great looking sketchbooks
MUJI Pastel Blue NotebooksI rarely use a notebooks since I favour binders for their efficiency to insert and remove paper but I will certainly make the switch for these notebooks. Covered in my favorite color and accented with white binding so it's literally perfect but I can only take so many notes about how much I loathe Noreen Irvine. Anyways, it's also environmentally friendly because it's produced from disposable materials and is packaged with minimum waste so I can rest assure that I'm being green.
MUJI Aluminum Mechanical PencilI've had my lucky blue pencil since my first year in University so it will be very difficult to part with it for this modern mechanical pencil. I love how it appears very sleek while being well designed with the inclusion of a cap to protect the lead tip. The only problem is that it's $14 which is somewhat overpriced for a pencil if you ask me.
Ippei Matsumoto 10-Key Calculator Hands down, the most ingenious and beautiful calculator I have ever seen. During tax season, I've become extremely efficient on a number keypad but this calculator won't be very handy during exam situations where the thumb is used for punching numbers. It's also able to connect to laptops but it's not compatible to macs so if you have a PC, this might be the perfect calculator for you!
Mika H. J. Kim Dozi Paperclip HolderA clever solution to storing all your paperclips and will allow easy access to your paperclips since it will be on display for all to see. I remember seeing this in a store in the +15 of either the TransCanada Building or Fifth Avenue Place so you can have your very own without paying shipping and customs. Be warned that if you leave this on your desk at work, I'm positive that it will be stolen.
James Burgess I Am Not A Paper CupI know this is not necessarily an office supply but it's a common feature on most people's desk. I'm not sure why I love porcelain cups that are designed to look like disposable paper cups but it will fit perfectly in my collection along with my New York Coffee Cup and Starbucks Cup. It's also constructed from double-walled porcelain with a pliable silicone so it won't burn your hand like my New York Coffee Cup.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
