This week in the Blogerati Files, we're asking new questions with Jay Morrison's artiseverywhere leading the way...

Describe your blog in 10 words or less.
Documenting the lack of respect people have for everything other than themselves.

Why did you start your blog? Blogiversary?
I started my blog in March of 2004, posting my first photo on March 8th. I started it because I truly believe that by looking at the world through with the right kind of perspective, one can find beauty in everything.

How long have you lived in Toronto?
All of my life - 35 years.

What's the funniest/strangest thing that has happened to you in Toronto?
The strangest thing that has happened to me in Toronto was at age 18. I was dating this girl, and after meeting her parents, she informed me that she couldn't see me anymore because her parents thought I looked like the Scarborough rapist. I remember walking around paranoid for months that I was going to be arrested and wrongfully convicted.

What are some of the changes in Toronto that you have seen in your lifetime?
My opinion is that Toronto has been destroyed by poor urban planning. Our parks are being paved over to make more room for cars to park, our beautiful architecture is being buried by the uninspired structures that we continue to build, our skyline has been destroyed by condos and our view of the water has been destroyed by condos.

What era, day or event in Toronto's history would you like to re-live?
I would love to go back to the time when men wore hats.

Who's your favourite Torontonian?
I don't really have favourite things, per se ... but I am a fan of Edward Burtynsky, even though he lives in Oakville. Mostly, it is because of his success in documenting how the world has suffered at the hands of men.

Has blogging changed you or enhanced a personality trait?
Having a blog means that I am a reader and a viewer of other blogs. Before I had my own blog, I really didn't pay that much attention. So, I would say that blogging has opened my eyes to the immense level of talent there is out there.

Do you have a favourite photo from your blog?
I don't really have a favourite, but there was a day I took my kids to Maple Leaf Gardens hoping to sneak in and show them where the leafs used to play. We couldn't get inside, but I took a picture of my 8-year-old son behind the building that I am very fond of. It is called Duncan and I posted it November 21, 2005.

Have you had your 15 minutes yet?
Not really. My photogroup ( http://www.dkphotogroup.com ) will be showing at Steamwhistle during the Contact Photo Festival this year ... maybe i'll get discovered there!

Ever met a stranger who already knew you through your blog? How was that?
I was shooting Lister Block in Hamilton and some of the other members of my group were doing some interviews for a short film by some students at Sheridan College. One of them had been to my site and had nice things to say. I can't think of any other instance.

Lose any friends or muck something up because of a posted photo?
No, but after shooting Whitby Psych, I recieved a fair bit of negative feedback about my excessive use of softening filters ... I learned a lot from that.

Who are your fav blogger(s)?
I am continually inspired by the work of Kendall Anderson. His subject matter appeals to me, and his site is very well put together. I like Tanja Tiziana Burdi's stuff ... even though she seems to think my name is Jim. I have always been a fan of Jon from groundglass.ca and I have really come to admire the portraits of Jay Parkinson.

What's happening in Toronto right now that the rest of us should be watching?
People should care more about the fact that the city is being built without considering the pedestrian. We need fewer cars in the core and we need a better public transportation system. I think everyone should check in with
www.spacing.ca/wire on a daily basis.

You have the opportunity to gather with 5 of your regular readers - who are they, where do you meet and what do you talk about?
I'm not sure who my regular readers are ... the only people who seem to leave comments anymore are people I see on a regular basis anyway. I recently had a comment from legendary local photographer George Dunbar. He gave me some valuable advice and a bit of history ... I wish more people like him would stop by ... then, I would be able to answer this question.

Have you ever had a question you wanted to ask random people throughout the world?
Yes - Why do you need a Hummer.

If you could gather all of the bloggers of the world together into one room and tell them one thing, what would it be?
Be original. There are a lot of us out there ... and frankly, there is a lot of repetition out there. Often it is difficult to be original but I think everyone should try to find some way to inject originality into their work.

Anything else you'd like to add...
Yes - I don't think that it's a surprise to anyone that we are slowly destroying our planet. I believe that photography is an excellent way to document this self-destruction and I encourage all photographers to impose a social message
to their work.