Traveling across rural Kentucky makes you appreciate just how amazingly beautiful America really is. The soft rolling hills, the forest on the cusp of autumn, the gentle creeks twisting between farm fields, and the majestic rivers are all timeless. I don’t think things looked substantially different in Lincoln’s day. Then off on the horizon a … Continue reading A Forest of Signs and Wonders
We’re all familiar with the concept of the McMansion: a large well appointed home on a generous parcel of land on the far edge of a metroplex. Very often these comfortable homes are organized inside a private community in a walled compound. I’ve noticed a recent trend in urban infill development that mimics this model … Continue reading The McCity
Yesterday a door-to-door signature collector arrived and I chatted with him for a while, although I declined to sign anything. He was looking for local support for a ballot initiative concerning the future of home sharing services like Airbnb. I’ve also gotten plenty of pro and con literature in the mail recently. And then I … Continue reading Air(bnb) Wars
Back when I was in high school (see bad 80’s hair above) I did the sort of work around the neighborhood that’s typical of teenagers. I mowed lawns, cleaned rain gutters, washed windows, and did a lot of general housekeeping for folks. I earned a bit of money and learned some important lessons that have … Continue reading The Lost World of the Solvent American
As a San Franciscan I get a lot of raised eyebrows when I mention that I recently bought property in Cincinnati. “Huh?” Then I walk them through it. Here’s the mom and pop business district along Hamilton Avenue in the Northside neighborhood during a recent Summer Streets event. This is a classic 1890’s Norman Rockwell … Continue reading Low Hanging Fruit
Every once in a while I’ll be photographing a park or a strip mall parking lot or something of interest to me and this blog when someone will be outraged that I’m taking their photo without permission. I immediately introduce myself, hand them my card, show them the images on my camera, and if they … Continue reading Dude! Why Are You Photographing My Camera?
This afternoon I was riding my bike and observed a fairly common event. An attractive woman in an expensive car kept honking her horn and yelling as she drove. She was frustrated and angry at the slow pace of traffic and the obstacles in her way. These were the people she was yelling at. I’m … Continue reading Bridge and Tunnel
I have conversations with folks all across the country who are concerned about the state of their town’s financial status . They keep coming to the same conclusion. “We’re doing absolutely everything we can to make our town solvent, but it isn’t working.” Google Town X already has a premium outlet mall out by the … Continue reading Build It And They Might Not Come
Granola Shotgun 