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Cigarettes and Climate and the Power of Doubt
“Doubt is our product.” So said an internal memo among cigarette manufacturers and their communications consultants back in 1969. We’ve written before about the parallels between cigarette misinformation campaigns and campaigns to discredit climate science, and about how doubt about climate works in funny ways on the human brain—even the brains of Climate Nerds. As it turns out, sowing and manipulating doubt has proven time and again to be an...Read more » -
Weekend Reading 9/9/11
Alan: Like many, I watched with acute interest the tar-sands pipeline protests in Washington, DC, which wrapped up last weekend. (Photos here.) “Last week, nearly every major environmental group in the country signed on to a letter demanding President Obama deny the pipeline permit. “There is not an inch of daylight between our policy position on the Keystone XL pipeline, and those of the protesters being arrested daily outside the...Read more » -
Home, Home on the Lane
There’s an alley renaissance going on around the world. It was born of a renewed love for urbanity that came along with the droves of young, artistic types shunning the ‘burbs and re-populating North America’s inner cities. They brought with them a desire to turn what have traditionally been neglected and ugly inner-city dumping grounds into vibrant, art-adorned, pedestrian-friendly public spaces. Vancouver, BC—the city that has served as a North...Read more » -
Alley, Alley, in Come Free
Editor’s Note July 2016: We’re bringing back this popular photo essay to highlight the hidden world of alleys. As cities grow, more people are transforming alleys into viable community spaces. Check out how alleys are becoming a bit brighter (and greener) below. And take a peak at Citylab’s recent article for a look at more revitalized and repurposed alleys. Once a stinking strip of menace that was friendlier to rats and crime than to hummus and dancing,...Read more » -
Weekend Reading 8/26/11
Alan: Maybe it’s because I am a product of public schools, the father of two public school students (and one public school graduate!), and the son, brother, and ex-husband of public school teachers—two of them with jobs currently insecure because of state budget cuts (while ExxonMobil is reporting record profits)— but I was moved deeply by Garret Keizer’s essay, “Getting Schooled: The re-education of an American teacher” (subs. required) in...Read more » -
Unchain Bike Sharing
Imagine for a moment that cities around the world are rolling out fleets of magic carpets and that those carpets are having truly wizardly effects: improved public health and safety, reduced traffic congestion and carbon emissions, and reduced dependence on foreign oil. City dwellers can check them out or drop them off at stations everywhere, and they are free to use for up to 30 minutes. After that, they cost...Read more » -
Pavement to Parklets
Courtesy of Streetfilms, here’s a video on the trend of converting pavement (parking spaces, awkward roadways, etc.) into little parks (h/t to Matt Lerner). It’s a great idea—one that many cities are catching on to. The benefits are numerous: better street life, additional space for businesses, more green space to filter stormwater, and they’re just plain fun. (Back in March, the New York Times catalogs some of the downsides.)Read more » -
Weekend Reading 8/12/11
Eric dP: Are rich people meaner and more selfish than the rest of us? There’s social science evidence that they are. Can cities be the cure for what ails us environmentally? In a recent TED talk, Alex Steffen says yes. Is this guy the worst person in the world? I’d say he’s a contender. (Don’t click unless you want your day ruined.) Why are restaurant websites so horrifically bad? Slate...Read more » -
Freeing Taxis, Addendum
Last week’s article on the way taxis are regulated in the Pacific Northwest has generated a lot of attention and raised a lot of questions. (We’ve seen some conversations on Reddit feeds for Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver; been on the front page of 24 Hours Vancouver; and been heard on several radio and TV stations.) It’s a complex issue, and I’d like to revisit a few points that could have...Read more » -
Food Labels Of The Future
Do visual symbols of nutrition help us eat healthier? With the USDA recently replacing the confusing and unhelpful food pyramid with a more streamlined plate logo, it’s clear that the way we represent food matters. The food plate’s simple depiction of what a healthy diet looks like has the potential to be extremely effective—it allows people to rate their plate against a healthy standard at a glance. An effective food...Read more »