"Old" does not equal "historic."

Not always. This is where the Dinkytown hotel was supposed to go. This is the building that might be "historic."

The City Council denied the permit to build the structure until a study figures out whether the entire business district is in need of preservation. Yes and no. It seems odd to declare everything historic, and by odd I mean "makes little sense, given the diversity of buildings in the area." The McDonald/'s? No. The Varsity? Yes. The old Bridgeman's, now a Potbelly? No. The Old College Inn? Yes. One-story commercial structures are part of a neighborhood's history, and they're bulwarks against projects that change the character or density of a neighborhood. That may be a reason to keep them, but it doesn't make the structures historic.

Is there a point at which large projects would fundamentally transform Dinkytown into something it doesn't want to be, he asked, setting up an answer that won't placate anyone? Yes. Once the historic survey is done, there will be guidelines, and no one will try to knock down the old Grey's Drug. But it shouldn't take a year to walk the blocks and make the proper distinctions. A week, maybe. Two if you can't find parking.

Here's the Google Street View. Turns out if I put the iframe tag in the first 200 characters of the blog, it has an aneurism.

View Larger Map

GOING UP The history of the elevator and the history-making demonstration of Mr. Otis may have been a bit different from what you've been told. Before you go to the piece, a warning: it seems to have a slight case of florid academese.

You've been warned, in other words. It's still worth a read, and applause for not titling it "Everything You Know About Otis' Historical Elevator Demonstration is Wrong" or "Another Man Named Otis Invented the Screw Elevator, and You Won't Believe What Happened Next."

It's cute, but the style is interesting: very high 80s, if my recollection of the era is correct. More of his work is here, and it's unlike the poster.

Speaking of things that actually are retro, Collectors Weekly has a gallery of 28 "Cringe-worthy Vintage Product Endorsements." As usual, the horror of the old ads is overstated. Actual cringes felt: perhaps two. Nothing that reaches this level:

(Author's collection) There's also an article about 40 Outrageous Vintage Ads Any Woman Would Find Offensive. Mostly BO stuff. One of the comments, eager to unfurl his bright banner of virtue, says: "Wow, it seems as if men in 1930s didn't have any "B.O." problem, they all must've smelled like fresh linen and daisies!"

Sigh. Yes. Of course.

EDUMACATION NYPost does a story on a school that lets failing students watch online videos instead of showing up for class. Students are offended by the suggestion that there not lerning and right letters to the paper. Result:

SPACE What's wrong with this piece from NASA?

STOP PLAYING WITH US, NASA. It is or it isn't. Of course, this NASA page tries to have it both ways, and says it's a "dwarf planet." But let's be consistent. Too many people see it called "planet" and get their hopes up, like little kids who want their parents to get back together.

VotD Location: Russia. A short film called "Comin' Through."

That's just the warm-up. Now, the main feature. NOTE: SKIP to 1:50.