This week is dedicated to the reappropriation of obsolete urban space. Phone booth libraries are starting to take the world by storm. The community book sharing movement has grown in the United Kingdom, using those iconic red phone booths, as well as in Portland and New York City. New York City founder of the Department of Urban Betterment (DUB) and professor at Columbia … [Read more...] about Urban Inventions: Answer the Phone, Your Favorite Book is Calling
Archives for 2012
Learning 3d: A Simple Story
The drama teacher points at Ryan, the captain of the football team, and says “Come up here, son.” Ryan smiles behind him as he climbs onto the stage. The drama teacher drops his folder and it smacks down on the floor. “Pick it up” he says, without smiling. Ryan looks back at the class once, picks it up and hands it back to the waiting teacher. The folder is barely in his … [Read more...] about Learning 3d: A Simple Story
Urban Inventions: Green Roofs
Parklets create more green space in cities on the street level but what about fourteen stories in the air? Green roofs are becoming a popular addition to many homes, apartment complexes, businesses, and hotels. Similar to parklets, green roofs are an effective way of making ‘green’ already constructed space in an urban environment. While initially very expensive to develop, … [Read more...] about Urban Inventions: Green Roofs
Brain Fodder: Less Stuff, More Happiness
First World Pains – Indulging in a bit of self-deprecating humor never hurt Americans’ humility. “My house has too much expensive stuff in it, so I can’t throw a big party.” “There’s too much food in my freezer for me to be able to chill my wine properly.” “The green light was too short this morning and I was forced to feel guilty for not giving money to the homeless … [Read more...] about Brain Fodder: Less Stuff, More Happiness
Modern Classics: Romeo and Taylor Swift
Let’s be honest: I love a good tragedy as much as the next hopeless romantic. I’m perfectly content grabbing a box a tissues and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, curling up under the covers, and bawling my eyes out to the most recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Although my life isn’t always such a cliché, such occurrences happen a little more often than I would like to admit. I just … [Read more...] about Modern Classics: Romeo and Taylor Swift