Category Archives: books

It was forty years ago today…

Posted on December 24, 2019 by

—– Spoiler Alert – If you don’t want to know what happens in the book, Last of the Donkey Pilgrims, stop here. —– No, it wasn’t “…when Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play.” It was, on Christmas Eve in … Continue reading →

Posted in Active transportation, Animals, book reviews, books, Burros/Donkeys, culture, entertainment, fun, geography, hiking, history, humanity, Ireland, politics, Religion, tourism, transportation, Travel, UK, walking | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Favorites of 2019

Posted on December 15, 2019 by

Below are my favorites in film television, books, and music for 2019, subject to possible additions during the last two weeks of the year. Films Released and Seen in 2019 Favorite Drama Ford vs. Ferrari – favorite overall motion picture … Continue reading →

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Two Towns and Two Death Tales of Billy the Kid

Posted on May 2, 2019 by

Frontier Towns, Chapter 5: Fort Sumner, New Mexico and Hico, Texas Normally, I am skeptical of conspiracy theories. But, I also realize that history tends to be written by the victors. With that, the victors can and will tend to … Continue reading →

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The Old West Personified in a Town’s Iconic Name

Posted on March 21, 2019 by

Frontier Towns, Chapter 2: Pecos, Texas Few names portray a better image of the Old West than “Pecos.” The Pecos River is the natural dividing line between central and western Texas, as to the west of this iconic river the … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptive reuse, architecture, books, branding, cartoons, cities, civics, commerce, culture, deserts, downtown, economic development, environment, fun, geography, historic preservation, history, infrastructure, land use, Maps, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, recreation, spatial design, topography, tourism, Trade, transportation, Travel, urban planning | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Favorites of 2018

Posted on December 23, 2018 by

Films Released and Seen in 2018 Favorite Drama – Green Book Favorite Musical or Comedy– Mary Poppins Returns Favorite Animated – Isle of Dogs A Star is Born Hearts Beat Loud Black Panther Bohemian Rhapsody Roma First Man Incredibles 2 … Continue reading →

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The Beauty of the Contrasting-Chaotic City Form

Posted on October 3, 2018 by

As urban planners we have a tendency to emphasize the importance and efficiency of the traditional grid street pattern. Compared to the disconnected neighborhoods and subdivisions constructed over the past 75 years, the traditional street grid is far and away … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Cars, Cities, culture, density, downtown, Europe, geography, government, health, historic preservation, history, infrastructure, land use, Maps, North America, pictures, placemaking, planning, Portugal, spatial design, sprawl, topography, tourism, traffic, transit, transportation, Travel, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Doomsday Bunker Cities and Towns

Posted on June 27, 2018 by

The following post lists known bunker cities and towns that have been built as a way to survive a nuclear or biological holocaust and/or maintain continuity of government. Many were constructed during the Cold War era, some of which are … Continue reading →

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“Just Mercy” Will Rip Your Heart to Shreds

Posted on June 11, 2018 by

* A small commission is earned from purchases that are made using this visual link to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In all my years, I have never read a more disturbing, yet compelling book. … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, art, book reviews, books, charities, civics, Civil Rights, civility, culture, diversity, history, human rights, humanity, inclusiveness, injustice, literature, politics, poverty, reading, social equity, Statistics, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Tasty Slice of “Tibetan Peach Pie”

Posted on June 1, 2018 by

* A small commission is earned from purchases that are made using these visual links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you want to read a book that will put a smile on your … Continue reading →

Posted in book reviews, books, culture, fun, history, humanity, Language, literature, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Tally of Food Truck Courts, Lots, Parks, and Pods 

Posted on May 21, 2018 by

Here’s my working tally of permanent or semi-permanent (seasonal) food truck courts, lots, parks, and pods that are open to the public on most, if not all, days of the week. The list does NOT include temporary rodeos, events, festivals, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Cuisine, culture, diversity, economic development, economic gardening, Food, food systems, food trucks, fun, geography, inclusiveness, land use, new urbanism, placemaking, planning, Small business, spatial design, third places, tourism, Travel, urban planning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment