Who hasn’t rolled their eyes upon hearing of grand rewards given to people suing for “emotional distress?” Typically these types of lawsuits are awarded to individuals for untold thousands of dollars, and we dredge up pithy lines around the water cooler about them “hogging up the system” and “wasting taxpayer dollars.”

But here’s one I’ll bet we can all appreciate: A Baltimore court has ordered Fred Phelps and friends to pay 10.9 (Dr. Evil voice) million dollars to the family of fallen Marine Matthew Snyder. More in this Reuters Article

For those not aware, Fred Phelps is the pasty looking leader of Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church, and claims to represent God at various high profile functions informing the public through placards and megaphones that God hates our country. And fags. Phelp’s latest project has been tooling around the U.S. protesting the funerals of soldiers on the grounds that our country is immoral, hence fighting for our country supports our immorality. Or something like that. I never bothered to pollute my mind with the actual details.

Defense attorney Jonathan Katz urged jurors not to award punitive damages because the $2.9 million in compensatory damages was already three times the defendants’ net worth. It’s enough already to bankrupt them and financially destroy them,” Katz said.

Boo Hoo. Let’s hope so. I’m for free speech, and I’m for public demonstrations. From a legal point is there anything technically wrong with what Phelps and crew do outside of funeral homes? I don’t know, but the harassment charge was certainly enough to justify him guilty. Is there ONE person (barring Ann Coulter) outside of Phelp’s family who agrees with and supports his actions? Does this contradict my views that there are no limits on free speech, and free speech should not be conditional? Perhaps, but collectively I think everyone from all political and religious stances would agree that Fred Phelps is nothing more than a self-promoting insufferable asshole. I’d dare say that the overwhelming horrific emotions of Phelps and his history had more clout in the jury room than his free speech rights did.

The church, which is unaffiliated with any major denomination, is headed by Rev. Fred Phelps, who has led a campaign against homosexuality for years. Most of the estimated 70 members of the church belong to his extended family.

Outside court on Wednesday, Phelps and his children waved placards with slogans such as “Pray for more dead kids” and “God hates fag enablers,” while passing drivers and pedestrians shouted abuse at them.

If you do unfortunately happen to be attending the funeral of a serviceman or woman and don’t care for the despicable visual and audio trash of the Fred Phelps clan - then give the Patriot Guard a call. These motorcycle riders have been gathering for a few years now for the express purpose of providing escorts and public and personal buffers to families that need it at the worst times of their lives. The Patriot Guard proves that our country IS full of good people, and when one deranged lunatic takes over the press and public space, thousands gather to silence him.

Further reading: An editorial by Boston Globe’s Jeff Jacoby, and Matthew Snyder’s site at matthewsnyder.org

James Van Dellen

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The U.S. Department of Tourism has released their new video “Discover America.” The video, produced by Disney, will play at airports and points of U.S. entry as well as U.S. embassies.

A member of Lonely Planet posted the link for DiscoverAmerica.com which in March 2008 will become the new U.S. Tourism global portal for those planning trips and searching for travel information about America.

Despite my below nitpickings I like this video overall. It’s an excellent blend of cities, small towns, open expanses of the west, and shows faces from all walks of life. Some parts of course are typical Americana nostalgia with kids playing in tire swings and school buses winding their way around small towns. Kind of reminds me of my old Lionel train set. But there are also modern urban shots of bustling streets and hearty industry and commerce. I like the Harley riders and the Vegas showgirl, who seems surprised to see the U.S. Tourism Department in her dressing room.

As noted in my post below the video also contains an embarrassing scene of the Horseshoe Falls portion of Niagara Falls, which is located entirely in the country of Canada. Even worse, the scenic and misty pan of the falls can only be viewed from Canadian grounds. Not exactly representative of the United States.

One other criticism: Where are all the Mexicans? They make up a large portion of our population, and I find them noticeably absent in this production. They should at least be proportionately represented in this piece. Que lastima.

You can view the video at DiscoverAmerica.com

James Van Dellen

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If I had to pick one place to live in San Francisco, I would certainly want to make my digs right here, above Jumpin Java.  I love tight urban houses like these.  And I love coffee.   Jumpin Java is nestled between a block of row houses at 139 Noe Street, between Duboce and Market.  It’s a quiet street with a leafy canopy of trees providing shade as you pass the day reading books on the history of San Francisco architecture.  It’s the perfect picture and definition of a neighborhood coffee shop.

I usually don’t care to take my laptop when I travel.  For short trips I use a messenger bag with a few clothes and sundries.   If you’re just need a computer to check mail and/or your favorite blogs, (and not giving an important powerpoint presentation,) there’s really no need to carry a laptop to big cities where there’s internet cafes scattered about.  You just need to find a good one.  Actually make one with SECURE computers which aren’t loaded with crapware.  Hint:  if there’s toolbars already loaded on IE turn around and run.  Fortunately I found Quetzal, located at Polk and Vallejo, in downtown San Francisco.   They offer several complete Mac workstations with a view of Polk Street, where you’ll see busy office workers rapidly navigating around the lethargic homeless.  The staff was friendly, and the coffee cake was enormous.   Online at www.coffeeandcocoa.com

I found people really love crepes in San Francisco.  Being the type 1 diabetic I am I usually opt for the less glucose filled yogurt and granola to get me started in the morning, but I did visit Squat and Gobble, a “cafe and crepery” chain located in the peninsula.  I had the Florentine crepe, loaded with spinach and cottage cheese.  Good stuff - and our local breakfast/lunch joint “LePeep” just doesn’t carry the same alliteration as “Squat and Gobble.”  Go ahead and say it.   Find locations (and this photo) at squatandgobble.com

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It’s Sunday, so most likely you’re not at work. For that reason I’ll share this week’s NSFW content! NSFW means Not Safe for Work. Eventually this moniker will take hold without necessitating explanation. But for now it’s just as annoying as Rachael Ray constantly blurting “now add some EVOO: That’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil.” Yup, if you have to explain it every time you should probably just skip the acronym.

Daniel Rhatigan, aka Ultra Sparky, is an accomplished graphic designer and artist, and what drew me to his site was his “Poseable Thumbs” series. As Daniel describes: An exercise in homoerotic imagery that technically isn’t real porn, but very mature themes of a flagrantly, shamelessly homosexual nature. Maybe they’re funny, maybe they’re porn, maybe they’re art, or maybe they’re a little bit of all that. You can figure that out for yourself.

It’s crass, crude, reinforces hedonistic gay stereotypes, and is hilarious. Daniel also has some other artwork and good posts on his blog, and shares my admiration for small prefab houses.

More NSFW you ask? Here’s the latest addition to my iPod: DJ Jose Nunez’s unclean mix of “Bilingual.”

And for those not into tiny gay leather characters and thumping club beats here’s the latest on Christina Kirchner, Argentina’s (almost) new Peronist president.

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Thanks for reminding me that I only have 58 days to purchase cheap plastic crap in order to celebrate the “holiday” season. A season which now apparently commences well before the month of November.

I think for this Halloween I’ll dress up as a retail display full of garbage. Yes, it is garbage - I’m not just being a scrooge. No one should be obligated to spend hundreds of dollars on plastic ornaments, stupid Santa shit, and flammable ragtag easily disposed of mass produced merchandise.

Go raid your grandmother’s attic for some family heirlooms to display this Christmas. Or how about hanging up your kid’s gold macaroni and/or felt nativity scene? Those are far more important, and have far more meaning than any of these gaudy wares. Even if they do sell for the low low price of $20.

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A gushing article about the Airbus A380 and all it’s glory. CNN details Singapore airlines flight between Singapore and Sidney. As stated before I certainly wouldn’t turn down the chance to fly in the A380, but I don’t see this enormous human freighter being useful or practical for many routes except for the most extreme long hauls.
CNN Article

According to the U.S. tourism board the U.S. has annexed Niagara Falls.

In showing the natural wonder, Disney’s filmmakers, however, chose the Horseshoe Falls, the only one of Niagara’s three waterfalls to lie almost entirely on the Canadian side of the border separating western New York state from southern Ontario province.

Making matters worse, a visitor to the U.S. would not even be able to get the same view of the falls in the video because the scene was shot from a vantage point in Canada, according to Paul Gromosiak, a Niagara Falls, N.Y., historian and author.

Also, he said the video leaves out the two cascades that actually are on U.S. territory, the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. This is not the United States, this is 100 percent Canada, shot from the Canadian side,” Gromosiak said after reviewing the video at the request of The Associated Press. “This is an insult.”

A.P. Article

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Been groped on a Tokyo train lately? Me neither. If you do often find yourself the gropee, then maybe it’s time to download some anti-groping messages to your cell phone. At the moment you suspect someone invading your space simply flash, err, show the message “Groping is a crime, shall we head to the police?” to your assailant. Why am I picturing the photo message delivered by a kickboxing spiky haired anime character?

Currently the Rocky Mountain News is running a five part series by reporter Kevin Flynn exploring the development and construction of RTD’s new “West Corridor,” which will run from downtown Denver to Golden as part of the Fastracks commuter rail plan. In every transportation project you read a few short articles about someone’s home or business being snatched up and the need to relocate a select few. Kevin Flynn digs deep into the details of specific plots of land and their owners. He balances the positive future elements such as transit oriented development and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods with the consequences of long time residents enduring construction and drastic changes. Here’s an excerpt:

This was a thriving community back when the Golden trolley line was running.

Just north of the Federal station site, where the sea of Invesco Field parking lots begins, there was a mishmash of businesses and homes, stone-cutting shops and power plants, meat markets and smokehouses, churches and synagogues. All were in the shadow of the old Colfax Viaduct, a spindly steel-and-concrete affair replaced in 1982 with the concrete monster that’s now there.

It was an integrated neighborhood glued together with the common bond of hard work and enterprise.

Steel tracks still are embedded in the intersection of Decatur and Howard. They were part of the Denver Lakewood & Golden Railway, laid out in 1890 by former Rocky Mountain News owner William A.H. Loveland.

Here is Kevin Flynn’s full series, as well as a video portion.

Depending on which way you teeter on border of fiction and reality this is either the most important news of the week, or biggest waste of print/bandwidth: Deborah Netburn of the L.A. Times, gives us seven clues that Dumbledore was gay.

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Who doesn’t love the artwork of Uhaul trucks? Their trucks highlight various scenes of American cities and towns, which provide an interesting and a visual diversion from the often monotonous highway landscapes. Even if you aren’t all that interested in seeing a photo of Lincoln’s birthplace while sweating along side a gas pump at Sunoco, it’s true some Uhaul photos and descriptions are fun and quirky too. I drove the “Roswell” Uhaul from L.A. to Denver featuring a giant alien head on the side a while back myself.

I don’t like this Uhaul however. This “United we Stand” theme features a military helicopter maneuvering towards me ready for instant obliteration via a round of automatic fire. I believe that when you scroll the words “Salute our Troops” on something - bumper sticker, t-shirt, napkin, or Uhaul - you should acknowledge that they do more than just swoop around in flying machine guns. I’d rather see some faces of the military and have us be reminded of the peace that INDIVIDUAL military members attempts to bring, rather than the collective summary of firepower that the U.S. military is often associated with. Especially an anonymous metal face of violence such as an attack helicopter.

To me this Uhaul haughtily screams “Bring It On.” How about Rosie the Riveter instead? She was nice…

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Hey fellow readers.  Apologies for the gap in postings but I decided to escape Rockies fever and visit San Francisco for the early part of the week.

I don’t know anyone in the Bay Area, and during my four years living in southern California I only managed to make it up there twice.  I know, my loss.  It’s a beautiful city with a vast amount to offer.  And at almost 80 degrees it was a nice change from Denver’s early cold spell.

I rode the new BART line that opened in 2006 from SFO to downtown.  I was surprised to read in this ‘06 SF Gate article that ridership wasn’t as high as expected.   I hope it’s improved since than.  Any city that incorporates commuter rail to their airport deserves recognition. I found it a fast (30 minutes to Civic Center) and pleasant ride.  

Note to fellow travelers:  If you find yourself uncomfortable around the homeless.   Actually a LOT of homeless, then don’t pop your head above ground at the Civic Center station.   Lord almighty downtown S.F. has a lot of homeless people.  And what diversity!  Young, old, hippie, punk, shaved, bearded, trannies, and the standard grizzled shopping cart bums.   I’m used to being “spanged.”  It’s really not a big deal, but just a bit overwhelming when seeing the visual aspects of such a large homeless population.  This coming from someone who’s spent many sunny afternoons in Santa Monica and Venice.  And now I live downtown Denver.   It reminded me of this South Park episode “Night of the Living Homeless” which really hammers home how we acknowledge the homeless problem. Fortunately I spent most of my time in the compact neighborhoods near Golden Gate Park, Castro, and Haight Ashbury,  and admired the narrow houses, hilly terrain, and small stores and cafes that dot the area.  

I’ll post on some restaurants and places I visited soon.   But in the meantime thanks for the slew of comments on the below posts.  I appreciate the discussion and comments from fellow bloggers as well.

BART photo from Wikicommons

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Some people don’t like the fact that the Colorado Rockies World Series baseball tickets are only being sold online. Exactly why are people upset?   Do people actually LIKE standing in line or camping out ala Thanksgiving night at the Best Buy automatic door?

Online ticket sales should be preferred.  It’s fair to people that can’t take the day off work.  What better method of purchasing tickets than to take a coffee break at 10am, hover over the refresh button, and have the same chance as anyone else?  People are worried about others snatching them all up and reselling them.  Well they’re doing that anyway, and it can be online or real world.

Here’s a video of Matthew Barnett fearing “What if a Hacker came in and bought 100 tickets.”   And then qualifying his internet prowess by admitting he’s on dial-up.

Hackers?  Please.  People who throw around the work “hacker” have no idea what it even means or the scope it encompasses.  The guys who shut down Estonia’s internet were hackers.  Just because someone has multiple computers and a few credit cards doesn’t make them hackers.   You can control IP addresses, e-mail accounts, credit cards, and number of tickets sold per party.  Together these offer MORE scalper protection than vending them brick and mortar style.  Any unscrupulous scalper could easily recruit a group to purchase their ticket limit individually.  It’s MUCH more difficult to establish a system to do that online.

With the scale of the World Series games I don’t think the MLB and the Rockies are going to sell their tickets via a low rate internet hosting service.  As stated they’ve contracted with a reputable firm which specializes in short term high web traffic.

In other Rockies news, the legal department of the team is now trying to patent the word “Rocktober.”  When they realized that newspapers, advertisements, car dealership, restaurants, enthusiastic fans, and others were all using the newly coined moniker they then decided only THEY should have control over it.  It’s a slap in the face to try and steal a collective term BACK from the public and market to is as your own.  

The Colorado Rockies didn’t create the term “Rocktober.”  The people of Colorado did.   The public had it first.  Leave them alone.

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Last January here in Denver we endured a miserable series of storms and much higher than usual snowfall.  About 45 miles north of Denver on a county road that’s half exurb/half country, high schoolers Tyler Carron and Nikko Landeros had the unfortunate luck of a flat tire on their Isuzu Trooper, and found themselves wrenching off lug nuts in the dark, cold night.  Tragically, classmate Michelle Berra then careens into the back of the Trooper.  All survived, but Carron and Landeros both lost their legs.

Today I read this headline in the Rocky Mountain News: “Teens who lost legs in accident sue Isuzu”

I immediately thought “poor distraught family needs someone to sue” and labeled them as wanting someone to blame and angrily searching for trivial design flaws.   You constantly hear stories of teens driving carelessly, distracted by other occupants, and injuring and killing each other, pedestrians, and cyclists.  To me, the many many teen driving accidents aren’t accidents, but logical extensions of the horrible teen driving rate and lack of experience.

I thought the same thing and mentally labeled Michelle Berra as such, until I read this: 

“The 1999 Trooper was defectively and unreasonably dangerous in its design and manufacture as it was designed in a manner that the rear lights, rear reflectors and rear emergency lights were obscured to approaching traffic when the rear doors were opened,” the lawsuit states.

I looked up a picture of an Isuzu Trooper, then looked at the rear.   From only examining the pictures, (and not wandering around a Safeway lot looking for a Trooper,) I change my opinion, and I easily see that their concern is reasonable and well justified.

Every time I see a driver on a busy interstate working on the right side of their car, or digging in the trunk for a spare tire, I immediately move left or slow down, and hope they get rolling again safely.   It’s a motorists worse nightmare to hit a stationary person or car at full speed.  And of course shattering for the person hit if not an instant death.  I’ve been the roadside mechanic a few times, and it’s frightening feeling cars and trucks whisking up gravel zooming by at freeway speeds.  Unfortunately these two guys were also pushed out into the road by a snowbank during a dark night.

From a cursory glance, The design of the Isuzu Trooper does not give ample visibility to the hazard lights when the rear doors are both opened.   Take a look at the photos below. When both doors are opened, the ONLY thing I see is a small round reflector.  The tail lights, rear lights, and hazard lights are completely obscured by the open doors.  Perhaps some roadside flares and little caution triangles would have prevented this horrible accident, but realistically how many of us carry those?  We all should, but we all don’t.

I frequently talk a libertarian point of view preaching “take care of yourself,” and “get rid of the nanny state.” However in this case I fully agree with the family’s assessment.   I don’t know what if any financial windfall it merits, and of course there’s the standard statement that “no amount of money will make their lives normal again,” but I agree with their view, and I hope it spurs some recognition and change in design by Izusu.
 

Right photo from kustomkrates.com.

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The November issue of Dwell Magazine has a nice feature and photo essay highlighting the (hopefully popular) trend of urban cycling.  It’s light on text but heavy on bikes, bags, and gear to assist any newbie in hammering out the logistics of every day city cycling.  Check out the slideshows featuring commuter bikes, messenger bags, and accessories.  After all, owning a chic little city big is worthless if you don’t have some cargo capacity right?

I’m a big advocate of utilitarian cycling – or the every day use of bikes as transportation.  Whether commuting to work, running errands, or just getting from A to B, in many cities it’s much more convenient than using a car, keeps you active, and often much faster than using transit.

My only contrarian angle would be that some of this gear is, well, way too nice.  Many of us live in environments where we get bombarded with rain, snow, slush, and worse - thieves.  And we share our parking spaces other bikes which can scratch and chip our nice new gear.  It’s often better to just pick up a used beater bike, tune it up, and use that for your daily errands.  I prefer function over fashion anyway.  Still this is a pretty cool slideshow, and a hip way to roll around town.

Don’t forget to study up on “vehicular cycling” too.   Know the rules of the road to protect yourself.

Dwell article by Chelsea Holden Baker and photos by Andy Reynolds.  Pictured left:  Kona Bike’s “Ute“  and the Tektonic Messenger Bag by Silent Revolution.

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I’m a day late getting in on “Blog Action Day,” and failed to write about anything green related yesterday as mandated by the blogosphere lords. But my regular day was in fact mostly green. I biked to work as usual, shopped local, watched a Netflix movie, (if that’s considered green,) and drank some green tea after dinner.

We hear lots of chatter about green products and companies. A LOT of chatter. In the past year the green theme has nascented into an avalanche which seemed to land mostly on the desks of marketing strategists. I don’t blame anyone for being burned out on the green scene: I see green labels at the supermarket, I can purchase carbon offsets when flying, and Mr. TV constantly tells me to “be green.” However every time I see a “green” promotion in retail or online my skepto-dar immediately cranks up and I wonder if in fact the money brought in from the green marketing collection plate is even making it to the green causes they promote.

Maybe I’m annoyed people treat the theme of environmentalism like a new scarf. Or those stupid oversize sunglasses that are so popular for some reason. It’s akin to your favorite band hitting it big, and you fervently reminding me “Hey I was with them when they were playing at…” You get the point. I’ve never mulched or torched a Hummer, but overall I think I’ve always BEEN pretty green.

With so many companies promoting “greenery” I fear eventually consumers will become tired of the theme, companies will shuffle on to the next trend, and the label “green” will once again be relegated to a pejorative for extreme environmentalists living in trees.

I’m FOR environmental awareness. I encourage people to maintain a reasonable environmental footprint. But that goes beyond retail and marketing. For those truly green it’s interwoven into your identity so tight that you don’t consciously THINK “green” with every purchase you make. Hal Taussig, founder of “Untours,” is a perfect example of this. He doesn’t need to concern himself with trendy green purchases because the entire philosophical umbrella of which he lives is life shows concern for personal and ecological sustainability. And I doubt he pontificates it daily.

I ask using Taussig’s example: Do you really need to juggle carbon offsets and weigh farmer over supermarkets if the MAJORITY of your life is already lived in the green? Personally I enjoy biking as a viable transportation method because it’s efficient and healthy. I shop local because it’s convenient and less time consuming, and our household has one car because it saves a ton of money. My motive in those choices isn’t to label myself green. It’s to maintain a simple, manageable, and enjoyable life. Fortunately these decisions end up being green. That however is a dangerous message for companies selling the “green” game, because part of being green is to eschew excess consumption and materialism. (Ok now I’ll disclose I own the Roomba and two iPods.)

Being “green” is more than just buying paper towels labeled green (in a plastic wrapper picturing the earth from space.) It’s about the sum of your individual choices. Your collective life is the denominator of what’s considered “green” or not. Should certain companies even market themselves as environmentally friendly when the products they design can never be considered green in the first place? How can a magazine even consider itself green, when as noted in the Cause Related Marketing blog the entire concept of a magazine - paper, printers, and trucks - is the complete antithesis of what being green is about?

I find it ridiculous for someone to search out green toilet paper when they have a three or four person family living in a 3,500 square foot house with five bathrooms to stock said TP in. It’s as nonsensical as slapping a lemon yellow “for the troops” stickers on a shiny black Escalade.

We live in a competitive and consumptive society. We’re told daily to purchase products we don’t need in order to solve problems we don’t have. The blog “marketing green” even examines and details strategies and methods of selling green. Green products follow the logic and money trail down another avenue of marketing. A company can’t say the REAL green message of “Don’t buy our junk – you don’t need it.” But those that are a different shade of green are astute at making smart consumer choices, limiting their consumption, and refraining from stockpiling their homes with unnecessary cheap plastic crap.

I’m a critic of our country’s suburban design, lack of accessible neighborhoods outside cities, the over reliance of cars for simple community transportation, and the quicksand pits of credit card debt that people gamble wade into. To me these larger concerns often override the efforts to be green on a small scale, and until the issue of larger than life consumption is addressed I’m not too concerned with “White Google versus Black Google.”

When thinking “green” forget about what’s on the store shelf. Examine your consumption, material drives, and balance your needs versus your wants. Scaling down in life, spending less, and making conscious consumer choices beyond whether it’s “green” or not will by proxy make you a greener person. That’s the ultimate green statement. But don’t tell the marketers.

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Yearning to change up the old dishes for your holiday parties and office potlucks?   Who wouldn’t like to serve some alternative fare to the standard gingerbread cookies and eggnog? 

I recently perused Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s book “The New Art of Japanese Cooking.”  This Hiroshima native established his own restaurant at age 25, then moved to Manhattan to become head chef for several restaurants, and eventually opened “Morimoto Restaurant” in Philadelphia.

Although the foundation of his recipes and flavors are based in the traditional Japanese foods, Morimoto adds European and American elements to his dishes to create a blend that’s his own creation and style.  If you want to try something different in the kitchen this book is an excellent primer for Japanese cooking.  It’s well written, easy to reference while prepping and cooking, and the pages are full of sharp designs and colorful food presentations.

More about Chef Masaharu Morimoto at his personal site:  chefmorimoto.com

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Another stop during my rushed stay in Chicago was A.Okay Official. This store opened earlier this year by husband and wife team Jason and Jessica Uzarraga, and is a blend of all things enjoyed and interesting to them. Their primary stock is custom and limited edition sneakers, and collectible and custom modern toys. Their store is clean, sleek, merchandised well, and contains a large selection in the moderate sized space.

Completing this independent business are paintings and works by local artists adorning the walls, which range in styles and prices. The entire establishment has a local, unique vibe which fits the community perfectly. Got some well conditioned stuff to sell? They do consignment too. Check out this Chicago Reader Article for more info and photos.

A.Okay is at 3270 North Clark just north of Belmont. Online at aokayofficial.com

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I like this video. I have no idea what language some of the graphics and text are in, but Robbie Rivera’s “Your Mistake” featuring Marnie is the perfect mix of the driving/thumping club beats I like, and the video is sexy in a futuristic Bourne Identity way, especially for a train geek like myself. Anyone recognize the locations in this track? Pun intended.

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If you enjoy the History Channel’s “Cities of the Underworld” you’ll appreciate this group. Or perhaps not appreciate them. “les UX” is a group of Parisians who not only engage in the urban exploration of a city containing mountains of history below it’s streets, but also repair and restore many of the antiquated relics that they encounter.

Much to the annoyance of French authorities, these subversives break into old crypts, monuments, museums, and catacombs.  Not to vandalize, but rather to meet, converse, observe, and repair and restore.

Whether you agree with their methods or not, these people are bringing forgotten elements of urban history to light. History DOES belong to it’s people. If city leaders and historians are not acknowledging or protecting certain places and another group steps in to do the job - I see no harm in that. It’s quite respectable in my opinion. From UK’s Times Online:

Last year the Untergunther spent months hidden in the Panthéon, the Parisian mausoleum that holds France’s greatest citizens, where they repaired a clock that had been left to rust. Slipping in at closing time every evening – French television said that they had their own set of keys – they set up a workshop hidden behind mock wooden crates at the top of the monument. The security guards never found it. The Untergunther used a professional clockmaker, Jean-Baptiste Viot, to mend the 150-year-old mechanism.

When the clock began working again, officials were horrified. The Centre for National Monuments confirmed that the clock had been repaired but said that the authority had begun legal action against the Untergunther. Under official investigation for breaking and entry, its members face a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a €15,000 (£10,500) fine.

Hey Untergunther: come visit Gary, Indiana! Plenty of venues. Full story at UK’s Times Online.

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