Category Archives: culture

World’s largest cities with three (3) letter names

Below is a compilation of the world’s largest cities with only three letters in their names. These cities represent a total of 35 nations. Interestingly, none of the cities on the list are from the United States, Canada, Australia, or … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, Asia, Cities, Communications, culture, fun, geography, Latin America, North America, Oceania, place names, Russia, South America, toponymy | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Pumpkins return with a “Smashing” good record

Back in the 1990s, the Smashing Pumpkins were among the elite rock bands rotating on MTV. They also released one of the most infectious and enjoyable tunes of the decade with “1979.” Since the turn of the century, their starlit … Continue reading

Posted in art, Communications, culture, entertainment, fun, history, music, music reviews, songs, video, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Scaling peaks of stone despite achy bones: A memoir and and an aspiration

I wish I had discovered my passion for peak hiking earlier in life. Not realizing it until my early 60s has left me with less time to explore summits than I would have preferred. Despite the delay, the rewards often … Continue reading

Posted in art, book reviews, books, culture, deserts, ecosystems, entertainment, environment, family, fun, geography, Geology, health, hiking, history, infrastructure, land use, logistics, Love, Maps, Mining, mountains, natural history, nature, peace, pictures, placemaking, planning, pollution, psychology, reading, recreation, rivers/watersheds, spatial design, Statistics, sustainability, topography, toponymy, tourism, trails, transportation, Travel, visual pollution, walking, water, Wilderness, Wildlife, Women, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ten favorite and least favorite state capital cities

Provided below are lists of favorite and least favorite state capital cities across the country. These are based on impressions obtained from visiting and in some cases, living in those cities (Indianapolis, Columbus, and Lansing). The list is not based … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art, branding, business, cities, civics, civility, colleges, commerce, culture, demographics, diversity, downtown, economic development, Economy, education, entertainment, geography, government, health, historic preservation, history, Housing, humanity, inclusiveness, industry, infrastructure, land use, marketing, mountains, natural history, new urbanism, place names, placemaking, planning, politics, pollution, racism, recreation, revitalization, rivers/watersheds, schools, skylines, social equity, spatial design, sprawl, States, sustainability, third places, topography, toponymy, tourism, Trade, traffic, transportation, Travel, urban design, urban planning, visual pollution | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Los destinos divinos de Latinoamérica: Ciudades con nombres religiosos más allá de San/o, o Santa/o [Latin America’s divine destinations: Cities with religious names beyond San/o, or Santa/o]

A continuación se enumeran las ciudades y pueblos de América Latina que tienen nombres religiosos, pero no incluyen San, Sao, Santa o Santo en su nombre. Esto también sería no tener Saint en su nombre en inglés o francés. Como … Continue reading

Posted in Caribbean, cities, Communications, culture, fun, geography, history, Language, Latin America, Maps, Mexico, place names, Religion, South America, Statistics, toponymy, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ten dreamy planning lessons from cruising Michigan’s Woodward Corridor

The following are ten planning lessons from the quartet of amazing Detroit area suburban cities situated along the famous Woodward Corridor, home of the annual Dream Cruise each August. Those four Southeast Michigan cities are Birmingham, Ferndale, Pontiac, and Royal … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, advertising, Alternative transportation, architecture, art, bicycling, Biking, branding, Bus transportation, business, Cars, cities, civics, commerce, Cuisine, culture, density, diversity, downtown, economic development, economic gardening, engineering, entertainment, fun, geography, government, health, highways, historic preservation, history, Housing, inclusiveness, infrastructure, land use, landscape architecture, Maps, marketing, new urbanism, parking, Passenger rail, pictures, placemaking, planning, rail, recreation, revitalization, skylines, social equity, Statistics, theaters, third places, tourism, traffic, transit, transportation, Travel, urban design, urban planning, walking, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Twelve planning lessons from the Interstate Highway System

The following are 12 planning lessons learned from America’s Interstate Highway System. Just as the network continues to expand with the addition of new routes such as I-11 in Nevada and Arizona, I-14 in Texas, I-42 and I-87 in North … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, adaptive reuse, Advocacy, Alternative transportation, bicycling, Biking, business, Cars, Cities, civics, Civil Rights, commerce, culture, downtown, economic development, ecosystems, engineering, Environment, geography, government, health, Highway displacement, highways, history, infrastructure, land use, logistics, Maps, Nature, new urbanism, Passenger rail, pictures, placemaking, planning, politics, pollution, product design, racism, Railroads, revitalization, social equity, spatial design, sprawl, Statistics, technology, topography, tourism, Trade, traffic, Transportation, Travel, trucking, Uncategorized, urban design, urban planning, visual pollution, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Best TV, music & movies seen/heard in 2023 May

The following are my favorite television shows, movies, and music seen/heard for the first time in 2023, as ranked through May 22nd. TELEVISION – Comedies Ted Lasso – Season 3 (Apple TV) Reboot (Hulu) That ’90s Show (Netflix) The Ranch … Continue reading

Posted in art, civics, Communications, consumerism, culture, entertainment, film, fun, movies, music, music reviews, pictures, shopping, songs, Television, theaters, video, Women, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Being seen: Furthering pedestrian safety at crossings

When crossing a street or roadway on foot, pedestrians must make sure that drivers are aware of them. Eye contact is especially important. Otherwise, pedestrians risk being added to the sobering pedestrian traffic death statistics in the United States. Even … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, Advocacy, Alternative transportation, bicycling, bike sharing, Biking, Cars, cities, civics, civility, Communications, culture, education, fitness, geography, government, health, Health care, highways, hiking, humanity, infrastructure, land use, Maps, pictures, placemaking, planning, product design, recreation, spatial design, Statistics, technology, tourism, traffic, trails, transportation, Travel, urban design, urban planning, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Twelve planning lessons from Durango, Colorado

There are few cities in this country that can grasp your heart and soul as quickly as Durango, Colorado. From the moment of arrival, the city quickly absorbs you into its charming aura. It may be the snow-capped mountains drenched … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, adaptive reuse, Advocacy, Alternative transportation, Animal rights, Animals, archaeology, architecture, art, bicycling, bike sharing, Biking, branding, business, charities, cities, civics, civility, climate, climate change, colleges, commerce, Cuisine, culture, diversity, downtown, economic development, Economy, ecosystems, education, entertainment, entrepreneurship, environment, fitness, fun, geography, Geology, government, health, hiking, historic preservation, history, homelessness, Housing, humanity, inclusiveness, infrastructure, land use, Maps, marketing, Mining, mountains, Native Americans, natural history, nature, Passenger rail, peace, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, politics, pollution, psychology, rail, Railroads, recreation, revitalization, rivers/watersheds, schools, Science, social equity, spatial design, Stairway networks, Statistics, sustainability, third places, topography, toponymy, tourism, Trade, traffic, trails, transit, transportation, Travel, urban design, urban planning, walking, water conservation, water trails, Wildlife, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment