recent reads

- U.S. gas: So cheap it hurts - this right here is why Clinton lost my vote with this 'summer gas tax relief' baloney. I did the math: my family refills the tank once a week. A tank of gas is 12 gallons, times 18 cents a gallon is $2.16 per fill up or $8.64 a month. Figure four months of summer and that's just under $35. You know what? I would much rather have our $35 go to developing alternative energy and high efficiency transportation than actually giving it back. And compared to other countries, we are still so lucky at $4/gallon, we should be thankful, not complaining!

- Outdoor 'Living Rooms' Bring Touches of Cheer to Central Los Angeles - now this is a cool idea. It is something I would like to do as an art/architecture project around town - to build shelters and/or seating at bus stops. Could be a wonderful way to encourage our city to be colorful, funky, and beautiful. There are a number of hurdles - money is a big one, then volunteers, liability... but what a cool idea.

- Sprawl belies Oregon's rep for planning - this pretty much sums up my impression of the urban growth boundary. It seemed like the boundary was supposed to be a distinct line where a city ended and nature began, but in reality I just saw most cities sprawling as far out as the boundary would go first - and in some cases started at the boundary and filled in with very low development to the city. The actual built form has not changed in the suburbs of Portland, and that's the problem.

Comments

[Philip Proefrock]

Hey! Welcome back to posting!

[The Architectress]

thanks! I'm trying to get back in the habit of writing, in practice for writing for Green Building Elements. :-)