Category Archives: Religion

Living amid an “Ecology of Fear”

I recently read Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster by the late Mike Davis. It is an intriguing book that switches from whimsical to dark and foreboding at the turn of a page. In fact, the … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Africa, Animals, archaeology, art, Asia, book reviews, books, branding, business, Canada, Cars, cities, civics, Civil Rights, civility, climate, climate change, commerce, Communications, culture, demographics, density, diversity, economic development, economics, ecosystems, education, entertainment, entrepreneurship, environment, film, fun, futurism, geography, Geology, government, Guns, Handguns, health, highways, hiking, historic preservation, history, homelessness, Housing, human rights, humanity, immigration, inclusiveness, India, industry, infrastructure, injustice, land use, Latin America, literature, marketing, money, movies, music, natural history, nature, opinion, planning, politics, pollution, poverty, psychology, racism, reading, Religion, revitalization, schools, Science, Science fiction, Sexism, Small business, social equity, Social media, spatial design, Statistics, sustainability, technology, Television, theaters, topography, tourism, Trade, traffic, transportation, Travel, unemployment, urban design, urban planning, visual pollution, weather, Wilderness, Wildlife, Women, writing, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Enlightened” city planning amid rural Iowa cornfields

In the film Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner’s father asks him, “Is this heaven?” His response is, “No, it’s Iowa.” Well, to some, Iowa may just be their slice of heaven, especially those who reside in and around the City … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, agriculture, Alternative energy, architecture, art, Asia, Astronomy, cities, civics, civility, climate change, colleges, commerce, Cuisine, culture, diversity, economic development, ecosystems, entrepreneurship, environment, food systems, geography, government, health, history, Housing, humanity, inclusiveness, India, infrastructure, land use, landscape architecture, Maps, natural history, nature, peace, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, Religion, Renewable Energy, social equity, solar, spatial design, sustainability, topography, tourism, trails, transportation, urban design, urban planning, Wildlife, writing, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cities with a lengthy formal, original, or ceremonial name

Below are twelve cities around the globe that have very long formal, original, or ceremonial names. Needless to say, these would be tough to include on postage or any document for that matter. The majority have long names associated with … Continue reading

Posted in advertising, Asia, cities, civics, Communications, culture, Europe, fun, geography, history, Language, Latin America, North America, place names, Religion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The planning profession could use some anarchy!

Just before the climatic car race scene in the movie Grease, John Travolta’s opponent turns to him and says the following: Well, in the urban planning field, one can definitely NOT say “there ain’t no rules.” And that’s a problem. … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, cities, civics, Civil Rights, civility, Communications, culture, demographics, digital communications, diversity, education, government, history, homelessness, Housing, human rights, humanity, inclusiveness, Labor, land use, movies, Native Americans, opinion, peace, pictures, planning, poverty, Religion, social equity, Social media, spatial design, sustainability, urban design, urban planning, video, Welcome, Women, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Place” as defined by the graphic artist “Tetsuro”

Currently on exhibit at 516 Arts in downtown Albuquerque are a collection of amazing photographs taken by Nathaniel Tetsuro Paolinelli. Known on social media by the name of “Tetsuro,” his defining images of place depict the spirited residents of downtown … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art, Cars, cities, commerce, culture, diversity, downtown, entertainment, fun, history, humanity, Love, Native Americans, pictures, placemaking, Religion, Social media, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gnarly Native American art on skateboard decks

We had the pleasure of visiting the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This facility is very impressive and includes a variety of exhibits, meeting rooms, as well as a nice restaurant and gift shop. The exhibit that … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, art, cities, culture, diversity, economic development, entertainment, entrepreneurship, fun, history, humanity, inclusiveness, Native Americans, nature, pictures, placemaking, product design, recreation, Religion, Small business, sports, tourism, Trade, transportation, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

World’s tallest Mormon Temples

The following list identifies the tallest Mormon (LDS) Temples in the world. Many of these stunning structures are architectural masterpieces and regardless of your beliefs, one cannot help but impressed and inspired by their beauty. A minimum height for inclusion … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, architecture, art, Asia, Canada, Caribbean, Cities, culture, economic development, geography, infrastructure, land use, Latin America, Mexico, North America, Oceania, product design, Religion, skylines, skyscrapers, South America, Statistics, third places, tourism, Travel, UK, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

15.3 million footsteps from Istanbul to Xian!

Over the course of four years (1999-2002), author and retired journalist Bernard Ollivier trekked the ancient Silk Road on foot from Istanbul, Turkey to Xian, China. He accomplished this monumental 7,500 mile (12,000 km) feat by overcoming aches, pains, illnesses, … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, Advocacy, archaeology, architecture, art, Asia, book reviews, books, China, cities, civics, civility, commerce, Communications, Cuisine, culture, diversity, education, entertainment, environment, family, fun, geography, health, highways, hiking, historic preservation, history, Housing, human rights, humanity, inclusiveness, infrastructure, injustice, land use, Language, literature, Maps, military, natural history, nature, opinion, pictures, place names, placemaking, politics, pollution, reading, recreation, Religion, Statistics, topography, tourism, Trade, traffic, trails, transportation, Travel, walking, weather, Wildlife, Women, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Creating LA’s starlit aura – “The Mirage Factory”

What an outstanding book! Perhaps, my favorite the best city biography ever read. Author Gary Krist simply nails it with The Mirage Factory. It’s entertaining, enthralling, infuriating, and thoroughly engaging to read. You will definitely learn some amazing and eye-opening … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, art, book reviews, books, branding, business, Cars, cities, civics, commerce, Communications, consumerism, culture, demographics, economic development, entertainment, entrepreneurship, environment, film, fun, geography, Geology, government, highways, historic preservation, history, Housing, humanity, industry, infrastructure, injustice, land use, marketing, movies, music, nature, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, politics, product design, racism, reading, Religion, rivers/watersheds, social equity, spatial design, sprawl, Statistics, technology, theaters, topography, tourism, Trade, traffic, transportation, Travel, urban design, urban planning, Women, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The zen of walking labyrinths – UPDATE #7

*Updates since the previous update are shown in bold. One of my favorite pastimes for both relaxation and contemplation is to walk a labyrinth. These sinuous structures are not same as mazes, as the goal is to enjoy the journey … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art, civility, culture, entertainment, hiking, history, land use, peace, pictures, placemaking, planning, product design, recreation, Religion, spatial design, third places, tourism, Travel, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment