Category Archives: futurism

Should Struggling Cities Be Renamed?

Posted on July 7, 2019 by

Everyone loves a good comeback story like is currently happening in Detroit. However,there are some cities that have languished in a depressed economic state for so long (some for 100 years), that their very name can evoke a negative impression. … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, branding, business, cities, civics, civility, commerce, Communications, culture, economic development, economic gardening, Economy, futurism, geography, government, history, infrastructure, land use, marketing, place names, placemaking, planning, politics, spatial design, Statistics, sustainability, topography, tourism, Travel, urban planning, Welcome | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Must modern houses resemble office buildings?

Posted on April 21, 2018 by

A housing trend I’ve noticed in Traverse City is homes being built that look more like an office building rather than a dwelling. I’m all for architectural freedom, but personally it’s not an appealing trend, at least in the manner … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, architecture, art, cities, culture, deserts, environment, futurism, geography, historic preservation, history, Housing, land use, landscape architecture, planning, spatial design, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Samples of Brutalist Architecture in Michigan

Posted on January 29, 2018 by

Posted in architecture, art, civics, Communications, futurism, geography, government, historic preservation, history, land use, planning, skylines, spatial design, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Favorite dystopian literature and films – update #3

Posted on January 11, 2018 by

Dystopian literature is my favorite genre of fiction and dystopian films are one of my top choices in cinema. Below, I have listed my favorite classic (25 years or older) and modern (less 25 years old) dystopian stories. They are … Continue reading →

Posted in art, book reviews, books, Communications, culture, family, feminism, film, fun, futurism, history, human rights, humanity, literature, movies, pictures, Science, Science fiction, technology, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Time to say goodbye to large commercial signs?

Posted on November 22, 2017 by

With approximately 77 percent of all Americans now owning a smartphone, is there really a need for large commercial signs? One only needs to use the mapping software and GPS directions on their phones or built into their cars to … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, branding, cities, Communications, Economy, entertainment, futurism, geography, infrastructure, internet, Maps, marketing, pictures, placemaking, planning, signs, spatial design, technology, tourism, transportation, Travel, zoning | Tagged | Leave a comment

My Amazon HQ2 prediction

Posted on September 21, 2017 by

Ever since Amazon announced they would be establishing a dual headwaters, a virtual cottage industry of predictions and analyses has developed. Everyone has an opinion on what metro will be selected. Here are my thoughts on the subject: My heart would … Continue reading →

Posted in air travel, airports, Biking, branding, Bus transportation, business, Canada, Cities, civics, Climate Change, commerce, Communications, consumerism, culture, economic development, education, entertainment, entrepreneurship, Environment, fun, futurism, geography, Housing, inclusiveness, infrastructure, land use, logistics, marketing, North America, placemaking, planning, recreation, revitalization, shopping, social equity, spatial design, sprawl, States, Statistics, sustainability, traffic, transit, Transportation, Uncategorized, urban planning | Tagged , | 9 Comments

“A Handmaid’s Tale” – Is fiction becoming reality?

Posted on May 22, 2017 by

Though written 32 years ago, the dystopian theocratic society described in Margaret Atwood’s striking novel bears an uncanny likeness to what is (and has been for some time) being preached and advocated by far-right political and religious zealots in our … Continue reading →

Posted in art, book reviews, books, Canada, censorship, civics, civility, Communications, culture, feminism, futurism, human rights, humanity, Labor, literature, Love, Religion, Women, writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Candidate cities for orange clown’s future lie-brary

Posted on January 27, 2017 by

Here’s a list of candidate cities for the new president’s future lie-brary or alternate fact-ory. Given that he doesn’t like to read, one assumes it will be filled with decrees, rants, tweet-storms, and love letters between him and Vladimir Putin. … Continue reading →

Posted in branding, cities, civics, Communications, fun, futurism, geography, government, history, humanity, land use, place names, politics, racism, satire, Travel, visual pollution | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is this America’s future?

Posted on December 30, 2016 by

A landscape of homeless sleeping on the streets beneath the ever-watchful eyes of their wealthy “benevolent” dictator.  It doesn’t have to be this way, folks, provided we stand up, speak out, and skillfully and peacefully combat the evil forces of … Continue reading →

Posted in futurism, government | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Portland Conundrum 

Posted on June 20, 2016 by

Below is an eye-opening summary of the housing market in Portland, Oregon from the perspective of a new resident to the region, who also happens to be an urban planner and a friend of mine. The parallels to what we … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, cities, civics, civility, climate change, culture, demographics, diversity, economic development, economics, environment, fitness, food systems, futurism, gentrification, geography, health, holiday, Housing, inclusiveness, infrastructure, land use, logistics, Maps, new urbanism, placemaking, planning, politics, revitalization, social equity, spatial design, sprawl, Statistics, sustainability, transit, transportation, urban planning, walking, zoning | 1 Comment