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
Urban Inventions: Taking Back the City
What is green, the size of a car, and costs $.25 an hour? A: The parklet. The parklet was created by the design firm, Rebar, in San Francisco in 2005. A parklet is a mini park placed in parking spaces in urban environments. Originally designed as a simple green space with a bench and a tree, some parklets now have Wifi and even a USB port so people can charge their … [Read more...] about Urban Inventions: Taking Back the City
Urban Inventions: To Fliz or Not to Fliz
Statistics show that chances are, if you are reading this blog, you are somewhere in a city – maybe you are sitting in traffic on the 110, waiting for the T, or sipping a cold iced coffee at Starbucks, trying to stay cool in this ridiculous Los Angeles heat wave. In 2008, half the world lived in an urban environment. By 2050, it is estimated that 70% of the world’s population … [Read more...] about Urban Inventions: To Fliz or Not to Fliz
Caring When You Can’t Cure
By Charlie Mach Although recent healthcare reform in the United States aimed to cease rapidly increasing medical costs, the final legislation failed to adequately address one of the greatest contributors to such high costs: excess care received towards the end of life (EOL). Those in their last year of life account for only five percent of patients, yet they account for nearly … [Read more...] about Caring When You Can’t Cure
Harry Potter and The Fandom Menace
by Maya Itah Have you read the Harry Potter series? Do you remember the part where Harry and Hermione decide to ditch Ron and get married? Well, that plot twist does not exist in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter—but it is present in many fan versions. Fans have taken great liberties with Rowling’s texts. They have written stories where Voldemort defeats Harry, Sirius returns to … [Read more...] about Harry Potter and The Fandom Menace