profile post

http://allaboutcities.ca/turning-off-wifi-and-plugging-into-cities/

The author writing it is looking at cities from a personal, professional and academic view, which I think is a good combination for a subject like this. The blog post I'm looking at is about wi-fi offerings in cafe's and restaurants and that many of them are actually shutting off their wi-fi services because they found that what initially drew customer's in, is now deterring other customers from entering. The author writes that "It suggests that this cafe is for food, coffee and socializing, as well as being 'unplugged' and thinking without the distraction of constant information" and that it is "very urban–after all, why are people in cities if not to experience other people." I'm actually writing this at Starbucks right now because they have free internet...

the author of the blog provides research and analysis related to urban economic trends for a large Canadian real estate investment management company as part of her normal "day job" and I think this background is very relevant to the topics she covers (McMansions in historic neighborhoods, race, class and urban sprawl.) Basically, her log aims to dissect how a city works by looking at its economic and social forces. She's ranked 72497 on techorati. There are definitely elements of this blog that relates to my work...mainly the blog post I just cited. However, the author definitely has a more academic/professional approach to cities and a much deeper background in the sociopolitics of how a city functions, which is apparent in many of her posts. I feel my blog will be less professional and based more on personal observations and experiences. However, I think this blog will be a great resource in maybe helping me add a level of intellect to this subject which I really don't possess...