ok.. story itself is dumb and a waste ... but i like his coat.
Everybody loves Drake, and Drake loves Toronto. Therefore, everybody loves Toronto. Right? Well, maybe not, but it’s clear that Drizzy has helped boost the city’s reputation far more than any tourism campaign ever could.
In appreciation, The Toronto Star asked researchers at ZenithOptimedia to crunch some numbers and calculate exactly how much the 6God is worth to the city. They took into consideration Drake’s YouTube views, his 32.5 million Twitter and 23 million Instagram followers and his appearances in conventional media, such as his recent hosting of Saturday Night Live, which was littered with references to his home city. The grand total? A cool $3 billion.
The figure was calculated by reasoning that, in order for the city of Toronto to buy that kind of exposure, it would cost an estimated $300 million in advertising. They then multiplied that $300 million figure by 10 because of Drake’s endorsements and the fact that he is considered an A-list celebrity. The math isn’t the sharpest, but the point is that it’s a lot.
Toronto city councillor Michael Thompson said:
“We knew there was a value to what he was doing, but we hadn’t put a dollar figure on that, but I guess we’ve seen that the price of cool is priceless.”
Watch Drake speaking about his love for Toronto below:
Stairs are such an important part of your renovation. It’s a topic that comes up on all my projects — well, at least the ones with multiple floors. Whether you have the budget to rebuild your stairs or just refinish them, this is a part of your home that shouldn’t be ignored. Here are some ideas to consider...
Phil - i just heard about this race from one side of Sweden to the other. Have you ever heard of this race? They start at the Norwegian line and end up at the Finnish line.
Fútbol fervor is at an all-time high right now thanks to the convergence and overlap of two of the larger and well-known international contests – besides the World Cup – which sees the best of Europe and the titans of the Americas square off in knock-down, drag-out affairs that are the Euros and Copa América.
With stadium locations ranging from the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France to Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, the diversity of pitches highlights the regional differences in architecture and construction which makes each match feel like you’re viewing an artist’s masterwork from a new angle.
While the mention of historic institutions like Old Trafford, the Bernabeu, Estadio Azteca, La Bombonera, The Maracanã, and Camp Nou evoke thoughts of wonderful victories as well as crushing defeats for both club and country, the popularity of the beautiful game has allowed the sport to exist in unique places other than simply in the city center in major international destinations.
For those looking for some of the most truly unique locales to take in 90 minutes of sheer bliss, look no further than these five pitches.
Built in 1989 to serve as home stadium for the NK Imotski football club who play in Druga HNL, Croatia’s second level, the Stadion Gospin dolac is truly one of the great wonders of the fútbol world thanks to surrounding hints of bygone relics of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, rocky cliffs, and a jaw-dropping 500-meter drop into the Modro Jezero (Blue Lake) just behind the grandstand.
Home to Brazilian side J. Malucelli FC – who has been known both as Malutrom and as Corinthians Paranaense in their tenure playing in Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série D – the Estádio Janguito Malucelli is often referred to as “Ecoestadio” after it became the first eco-friendly pitch in the entire country.
Since the club is named after an energy-producing company, the thought was to to cause the least possible impact to the environment, and also looked to enhance the majestic beauty of nearby Barigui Park which had already been a landmark in Curitiba.
Highlights include bleachers that have been dug into the ground, reclaimed wood, and iron for the infrastructure from disabled railway sleepers.
When one thinks of awe-inspiring rooftop venues for sport, your first thought is probably the tennis court atop the Burj al Arab luxury hotel in Dubai where Roger Federer and Andre Agassi notably squared off for a friendly match 211 meters off the ground.
Although majestic, the Dubai location will never host any matches of any real importance – unlike Voždovac Stadium in Belgrade whose elevated perch atop a shopping center is the home ground of FK Voždovac who play in the Serbian SuperLiga which is the countries primary football competition.
First opened in August 2013 after two years of construction, the result is one of the few rooftop pitches in the world that meets the criteria for matches of both the Europa and Champions League.
Carved from the face of Monte do Castro by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Eduardo Souto Moura in 2003 as the home pitch for Sporting Clube de Braga – who most notably earned a UEFA Champions League bid in 2012-13 – the Estádio Municipal de Braga has earned the nickname A Pedreira/The Quarry thanks to its integration into the terrain and notable flares like a canopy-style roof that is connected by a dozen steel strings that harkens back to South American Incan bridges.
Even President Barack Obama was in awe of the stadium, commenting, “Perhaps Eduardo’s most famous work is the stadium he designed in Braga, Portugal. Never one to settle for the easy answer, Eduardo wanted to build this particular stadium on the side of a mountain. So he blasted out nearly a million and a half cubic yards of granite from the mountainside, then crushed it to make the concrete necessary to build the stadium. He also took great care to position the stadium in such a way that anyone who couldn’t afford a ticket could watch the match from the surrounding hillsides. Kind of like Portugal’s version of Wrigley Field.”
Although the Faroe Islands doesn’t immediately scream thoughts of memorable fútbol moments, the Svangaskard Stadium has been home to several international clashes after serving as the home stadium for the national team for several years before they relocated to Tórsvøllur in the city of Tórshavn.
Perched precariously on the edge of rugged rocks that frame the Atlantic Ocean down below, rumor has it that a man in a boat is often down below to retrieve any balls that have fell off the edge of the world.
As ESPN noted, “[it] provides a serious world’s-edge vibe.”
Swiss village side FC Gspon holds the distinction of playing at the highest football pitch in all of Europe, Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium, near the resort of Zermatt, which is carved into a mountainside 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) above sea level which forces players and fans to travel by cable car to reach the grounds.
Employing artificial turf because natural grass won’t grow at this altitude, the field is relatively tame in terms of altitude in comparison to the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia which sits 3,600 meters above sea level and was once unable to be used after FIFA enacted a rule where no matches could be played at altitudes greater than 2,750 meters.
Although there is no official club attached to the grounds on the waters of the Marina Reservoir, in Marina Bay, Singapore, the pitch is the world’s largest fútbol floating stage which makes it truly a gem.
Created as a temporary location for events while the Singapore National Stadium was refurbished, engineers used a seabed of six pylons which act as the structure’s foundation and heavy-duty rubber rollers that are used to keep it from being rocked by tides and current.
In November 2008, the Singapore Cup final between SAFFC and Woodlands Wellington FC was supposed to take place at the stadium. However, problem relating to the metal beams casting a shadow on the pitch forced the match to be played elsewhere. The first football match to be played on the platform was a Sunday League ESPZEN amateur match between Tuan Gemuk Athletic and VNNTU FC.
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer was joined by Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano, Council President Jen Giattino, other members of the City Council, and local business owners to cut the ribbon to inaugurate Hoboken’s new Newark Street plaza.
“Streets make up the vast majority of our public space, and this project reclaims a portion of the street to create a dynamic public space for residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “This project builds upon Hoboken’s reputation as one of the most walk-friendly cities in the country by creating safer intersections, wider sidewalks, and new gathering space. The new plaza will be a great place to relax, read a book, or enjoy an outdoor lunch from the many great nearby food options.”
The plaza is part of a safety redesign of Newark Street between Washington Street and Hudson Street. The new plaza includes street trees, bistro tables and chairs, and Adirondack chairs and creates a new public space at the busy corner of Newark Street and Washington Street.
“Hoboken’s unique vitality and livability is tied to a great extent to its outstanding streetscape,” said Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise. “That is why we were so pleased to work in partnership to add this new plaza to Newark Street, which is actually a county road right in the heart of downtown Hoboken.”
Other project features include:
• A widened sidewalk on the south side of the street to accommodate more than 3,000 pedestrians during peak periods.
• Curb bumpouts at corners to improve pedestrian safety by extending the sidewalk, reducing pedestrian crossing distances, and improving intersection visibility.
• Restoration of the historic Belgian block roadway to emphasize the street’s historic character and naturally calm traffic.
Funding for the project was secured by Senator Robert Menendez through a $240,000 federal appropriation and through $118,000 grant from the NJ DOT through the Transportation Enhancement Program. The project was managed by Hudson County and designed in collaboration with the City of Hoboken.
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In the Lombardy region of Italy, the artist Christo has unveiled his latest installation, “The Floating Piers,” a walkway stretching nearly two miles to connect two small islands to each other and to the mainland.
The floating walkway is made from a puckered yellow-orange, waterproof nylon fabric, crafted to change color depending on the time of day and the weather. When it rains, it becomes splattered with bright orange blotches left by footsteps treading on the soaked fabric.
“It’s actually very painterly, like an abstract painting, but it will change all the time,” Christo, a Bulgarian-born American citizen, told The New York Times about his installation.
The route loops the small island of San Paolo before entering pedestrian areas in the towns of Sulzano, on the mainland, and Peschiera Maraglio, on Monte Isola, an islet rising out of the lake. The project, he said, “is all this” — the piers, the lake, the mountains, “with the sun, the rain, the wind, it’s part of the physicality of the project, you have to live it.”
“The Floating Piers” will be open and free to the public between June 18 and July 3, after which it will be dismantled and recycled. “The important part of this project is the temporary part, the nomadic quality,” Christo said. “The work needs to be gone, because I do not own the work, no one does. This is why it is free.” Read the full piece over at The New York Times.
i thought this said "how to bring cold beers into a room"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDFn-984DTw If you’re drawn to daring shades like canary yellow and aquamarine, but you’re daunted by the prospect of working one into your existing palette, let the Houzz Shop be your guide to the colorful side. Whether you want to make a big change or just mix things...
You might think stairways are just about getting from one floor to another. But they can be so much more. Apart from being architectural features, staircases can provide space for storage, display, reading niches, secret hideouts and more. The following examples from around the world will have you stepping...
New Zealand is one of the most breathtaking places on Earth and attracts hordes of young thrill-seekers on an annual basis. In YouTube sensation devinsupertramp‘s latest hair-raising visual, he and his team plunge head-first into the trip of a lifetime, taking part in everything from commercial bungee diving to kayaking along New Zealand’s scenic coastline.
To see more, check out the internet star’s remake of Mad Max: Fury Road using go-karts and paintball guns in the video below.
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In following up on the 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint, McLaren now presents the MSO Carbon Series LT. The Carbon Series LT is based on the 675LT Spider, featuring 40 percent additional body parts that have been constructed from carbon fiber — all with a unique gloss finish — in comparison to the standard car.
The design focus was placed on lightweight and optimized aerodynamic performance, with the front bumper with larger splitter and end plates, front under body, side skirts, side intakes, lower side intakes, rear bodyside lower, rear fenders, rear deck, rear bumper, diffuser, and “Longtail” Airbrake all being comprised from carbon fiber. To further complement, the Carbon Series LT has then been outfitted with a gloss-finished, carbon fiber, electrically retractable roof and tonneau, A-pillars, bonnet and rear deck, side blades, complete front and rear wings, and fuel filler flap.
Under the hood, you will find a 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 powertrain, accounting for roughly 666 horsepower and delivering 516 pound-per-feet of torch. This will take you from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 2.9 seconds, before topping out at 203 mph.
The MSO Carbon Series LT accounts for just the third model to wear the LT badge, as the first, the 675LT Coupé, arrived last year.
Lastly, the MSO Carbon Series LT is limited to 25 units globally, all of which have already been sold.
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Italian luxury car manufacturer Maserati has given its flagship model, the Quattroporte, an elegant and stylish new makeover.
The changes are perhaps minor to average car enthusiasts, but a new bumper design with a matte black profile is sure to please Maserati aficionados. The new front grille gives the car a more imposing and pointed feel, and new chrome elements add to the shark-like aesthetic. Other distinguishing details of the new Quattroporte are the matte black side skirts and the exterior mirrors, both of which have been sleekly restyled.
Performance wise, an electrically adjustable air shutter has been fitted in the front grille between the air vents and the engine’s radiator. According to Maserati, this provides better control of the engine’s temperature and, together with the optimization of the new front and rear bumpers, air conveyor and flat bottom, improves the aerodynamic drag of the car by 10%. The range of engines and transmissions available remains the same, however the Italian car manufacturer is also bringing a 350ps (345hp) variant of its V6 engine to some markets.
Inside, the cabin features a redesigned central command system that accommodates a high resolution 8.4” screen with multi-touch function and an infotainment system that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The new Quattroporte will be offered in two editions, each are uniquely different but stay true to the brand’s DNA. The GranLusso (seen in blue, above) focuses of comfort and luxury, while the Gransport (seen in white, above) underscores the sporty and aggressive side of the Quattro.
The new Maserati Quattroporte is available to purchase now, with prices starting at $120,000.
Out in the real world news is happening and here are the highlights.
Clinton clinches Democratic nomination
Well, that’s it. Hope is over. After taking New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, and currently enjoying a double-digit lead in California, there’s no use pretending anymore that Sanders has a chance of taking the Democratic nomination. A historic moment, but one that’s difficult to enjoy when you consider what could’ve been. – New York Times
Meryl Streep impersonates Donald Trump
Since he can’t be beaten politically, all the world can do to Trump is mock him in the futile hope that he might get mildly annoyed. Meryl Streep was the latest to lampoon the demagogue-cum-presidential hopeful, lathering herself in fake tan and imitating The Donald at this year’s annual Shakespeare in the Park Public Theatre Gala in New York City. – The Daily Telegraph
Scientists can’t find a single spot on Earth untouched by humans
A recent expedition by researchers at the University of Oxford attempting to locate a single pristine spot of the Earth’s surface unsullied by the human hand yielded no results. None. Not one. If the planet were a giant rug, there isn’t a single point that our race hasn’t trampled all over with our crude oil-stained shoes, which makes our planet’s long-term prognosis bleak. Nice one, humans. – Gizmodo
Arctic Sea ice hits lowest levels ever
Manmade climate change just set a new record for plunging levels of Arctic Sea ice to new levels of evaporation. The previous lowest monthly record for May dates back to 2004; back then, the Arctic Sea had a level of ice covering that amounts to a surface area larger than the size of California. Putting things into perspective, between 1981 and 2010, an area equal to three full California’s has disappeared from the Arctic Sea. – Washington Post
More journalists officially working in online media than print now
Perhaps the only industry to adapt to the digital revolution worse than the music business, it has officially been confirmed that more journalists work in online media than in print these days. That’s in America at least, but where America leads the world follows. Print is wheezing on its deathbed. – NiemanLab
Manchester City in talks to sign Aubaumeyang
Borussia Dortmund striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubaumeyang, has been coveted by some of Europe’s top clubs in recent seasons and it appears that Manchester City will be his destination this summer. Although nothing is confirmed yet, when rumors appear this solidified they usually happen, and if it does go through that would make him the second Dortmund player to defect to Citeh this summer, following in Ilkay Gundogan’s footsteps. – SkySports News
