The influence of pop-culture sociology has helped to impart an almost malicious intent onto most ethnic enclaves in the United States. After all, many academics presume, if a district of profound cultural difference exists in hyper concentration while surrounded by a much larger district reflective of the homogenous cultural majority, the only reasonable explanation for
Even in some of the most remote and austere nooks of the nation, it’s possible to find overt demonstrations on hot-button global issues. And why not? All it takes is one person with a megaphone, a can of spray paint, or whatever the instrument of choice may be to impart an inflammatory message. Nonetheless, I
A few lifetimes ago, when I lived in the northern suburbs of Chicago (the “North Shore”) I would routinely drive along Golf Road, an east-west arterial linking the city of Evanston (where they called it Emerson Street) and the seemingly never-ending concatenation of suburbs to the west. Continuing westward, Golf Road eventually terminates in Elgin,
“Signage” has long been the most prominently used keyword here at this blog. Within its respective jurisdiction, a municipal planning community fixates more than the average person—more even than me—on signs: their placement, size, color, luminosity, content, what can exist. The American Planning Association (APA) routinely devotes webinars like this on the subject, and, at
Municipal governance offers the closest most constituents will ever get to direct democracy. Yet it amazingly falls short of achieving what I believe most people would agree is its full potential: to offer a precise reflection of the regulatory environment that constituents seek from the government, and the public services that this government delivers within
I enjoyed creating my first-ever listicle article a few months ago; it was New Year’s Eve, and I didn’t feel like revving up my gray matter. And covering my most controversial blog posts was easy. This time, I’ve decide to delve into something a lot wonkier—a lot more number-crunchy. Sure, it’s just basic arithmetic, but
Many years ago, I met up with a friend in Belgium who took me to the nearby Dreiländerpunkt, where Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany converge, with boundaries lines vaguely resembling the logo for Mercedes-Benz. How appropriately German. The glories of the Schengen Agreement have, since 1995, eliminated the fortified boundaries that straitjacketed these small countries for
For the small handful of people who are this blog’s devotees, the image below may be a tiny bit familiar. I’ve covered this small subdivision in New Albany, Indiana once before. The name is Pickwick Commons, an age-restricted townhome development in which the retirement-age residents retain (at most) a small garden plot to cultivate, but
I made an unusual and subtle discovery during my last trip to Las Vegas. (Let’s be fair now; it was only my second time there ever. I’m hardly a regular, and I was a kid during the previous visit.) Despite my limited experience there, I could tell almost immediately that the powers-that-be were engaging in
The fate of interstate highway rest areas in the 21st century has been checkered, to say the least. As privately owned service stations become larger and posher, state-operated rest areas have found it increasingly difficult to justify their existence. In the eastern US, familiar names like Wawa, Sheetz, Pilot, and Love’s have expanded their convenience
The influence of pop-culture sociology has helped to impart an almost malicious intent onto most ethnic enclaves in the United States. After all, many academics presume, if a district of profound cultural difference
Even in some of the most remote and austere nooks of the nation, it’s possible to find overt demonstrations on hot-button global issues. And why not? All it takes is one person with
A few lifetimes ago, when I lived in the northern suburbs of Chicago (the “North Shore”) I would routinely drive along Golf Road, an east-west arterial linking the city of Evanston (where they
“Signage” has long been the most prominently used keyword here at this blog. Within its respective jurisdiction, a municipal planning community fixates more than the average person—more even than me—on signs: their placement,
Municipal governance offers the closest most constituents will ever get to direct democracy. Yet it amazingly falls short of achieving what I believe most people would agree is its full potential: to offer
I enjoyed creating my first-ever listicle article a few months ago; it was New Year’s Eve, and I didn’t feel like revving up my gray matter. And covering my most controversial blog posts
Many years ago, I met up with a friend in Belgium who took me to the nearby Dreiländerpunkt, where Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany converge, with boundaries lines vaguely resembling the logo for Mercedes-Benz.
For the small handful of people who are this blog’s devotees, the image below may be a tiny bit familiar. I’ve covered this small subdivision in New Albany, Indiana once before. The name
I made an unusual and subtle discovery during my last trip to Las Vegas. (Let’s be fair now; it was only my second time there ever. I’m hardly a regular, and I was
The fate of interstate highway rest areas in the 21st century has been checkered, to say the least. As privately owned service stations become larger and posher, state-operated rest areas have found it