Google Earth is Cool

OK, So I was playing in Google Earth today and decided to fly to different stadiums.  First I flew to Fenway Park in Boston ... then to Coors Field in Denver.  Both times I was pleasantly surprised with the 3D modeling of both stadiums.

So out of curiosity I searched for Hartford.  I figured that there was going to be nothing, as I am used to Hartford being a hole where everything closes early and is ignored by Google.  Of course I had forgotten about how Google Streetview finally included Connecticut.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised.  Not only was the XL center drawn in 3D, but the Hartford 21, other buildings downtown, and the capital building (shown here) were also drawn in 3D.  Hartford still stinks ... but GO GOOGLE!

The State of Affairs in Hartford Hockey

I don't know why it took this long for this article to come my way ... Must be the travel schedule.

I must say that I love it when Jeff Jacobs of the Hartford Courant decides he wants to talk about the Hartford Wolf*Pack. The only time there is any good coverage about Hartford's AHL team in the Courant is when the team loses ... It always seems they are the front page of the sports section when they have a defeat, rather than a victory. This year the Wolf*Pack set a record in points for the team, which meant they didn't lose all that often ... which means they did not get front page coverage all that much.

The media coverage of the Hartford Wolf*Pack is terrible. When I was an intern for Madison Square Garden-Connecticut, I had the opportunity to work during the Big East Women's Championship Tournament at the Hartford Civic Center (now the XL Center). After UConn defeated Rutgers in the championship game, the Director of Public Relations mused, "If I could get half of this media to come to when the Wolf*Pack won the Calder Cup in 2000, I would have been so happy."

Jeff Jacobs is one of the Hartford media culprits. The only time he talks hockey is when there are rumors of an NHL team coming to Hartford, or something to do with Whalers reunions, or how poor attendance is at Wolf*Pack games. With that said ... I agree with everything Jacobs says in this article.

Promotions of the Wolf*Pack, and every other event at the XL Center has been very poor since Northland/AEG took over management of the facility. This is disturbing, considering the partnership has taken on all financial risks associated with their occupation (which is why they got the management agreement from the CDA to begin with). Their complacency, partnered with the utter joke of the Hartford Whalers Booster Club (yes, a hockey team that doesn't exist still has a booster club with dues paying members), it seems as though the people in the greatest position to make a difference in Hartford are not the best people to do it.

This post will probably cost me a job with Northland/AEG or the XL Center ... I sent them my resume ... I maintained connections with the spillovers from the MSG-CT management team, and nothing came of it ... I have tons of ideas, that they have no desire to hear anyway.

Hartford Fireworks

In case you were a loser and didn't come out for the Riverfest downtown, here is the last 15 seconds of the fireworks.

New England's Rising Star

Let the love/hate relationship I have with Hartford, Conn. continue. Today, I began my quasi-daily routine of walking around Hartford over the summer to burn some empty calories and get some much needed fresh air. I went for a stroll down to the Riverfront, where there is a wonderful amphitheater, vendors and such ... as well as around the block from the Connecticut Convention Center and under construction Science Center.
The United Church of Christ was having its annual meeting at the Hartford Civic Center and its Exhibition Halls, so the streets were packed with people for the first time I can remember on a Sunday afternoon. I just hope that they spread the word of all of the great things we have around this town to their friends and family and they come back real soon.
No I am not a paid blogger ... I post this for the information of anyone who decides to read it. Come to Hartford ... It's fun, I swear.

UPDATED: New England's Rising Middle Finger

You know, I move to Hartford, partially to support the revitalization efforts of the city. I support the town's efforts to rebuild after the departure of the Whale, big industry, etc.

But then, over the last two weeks Heather and I's cars have been towed under two separate occasions. No we were not parked in fire lanes. No we were not double parked in the middle of the road (like many people) ... we are simply victims of authorities deciding to randomly enforce stupid rules.

1) Heather's car gets towed FROM OUR RESIDENT LOT, after she forgot to hang her resident sign from her rear view mirror. Yes, that is a failure on her part ... but consider the circumstances.

• She has been parking there since December.
• She has never NOT had her window hanger before.
• The towing company told us they "know which cars belong and do not belong (obviously not).
• There are a couple cars that had expired window hangers from back in November that were parked there until last month.

Tell me how it is fair that she forgets to hang her tag ONCE and doesn't get a warning?

2) Last night I parked my rental car from work on the street in front of my building (where I park my rental car all the time). This time, I got a spot that is directly in front of our door, which is usually taken for obvious reasons.

This morning, the car was towed. I look around and notice a sign "No Parking 12 AM - 6 AM". Again, I was in the wrong ... but how in the wrong was I? Take into account:

• There has been the same car parked there for 2 weeks at a time prior to this.
• I have parked there a few times before.
• This rental car happened to have New York license plates.

What a load of crap, Hartford. I love how policies are selectively enforced when it is convenient. New England's Rising Star? I rise my middle finger at you. In December ... it's goodbye Hartford.

Of course, after further review. My car was not towed because it was illegally parked. It was towed for "Safe keeping", as the passenger side window was smashed RIGHT outside of the club downstairs. So I am still mad at Hartford, but for a different reason.

Stay classy, Hartford.

No More Billboards Mr. Perez

In an article in today's Hartford Courant, courant.com | Raising Money With Signs, it was pointed out that Mayor Perez is considering erecting a handful of new billboards in Hartford to fund new bus shelters.

I live in Hartford. I can honestly tell you that from my apartment window, I can see two billboards for sex shops. Now I am not one to discriminate against people's choices, but how is a family supposed to come downtown to enjoy a Hartford Wolf*Pack game, UConn basketball, a Monster Truck show or any other event if they have to worry about what their young children will see in the sky. The article does clarify:

The city would receive an upfront payment as well as an annual fee. Also, to avoid billboards that boast sex shops and adult cabarets that have drawn recent criticism, the city would have a right to regulate the content of the billboards.

Quite honestly though, it is not enough. There are a number of high and mid-rise apartments going up downtown. A new tenant will be attracted by the view. Let's use the tax revenue from new residents to pay for these bus shelters.