What a busy quarter! So, as a result, I didn't write enough to justify a top posts entry for February all on its own. So, here's a special two-month top posts:
#5 Triumph of the City An interview of Harvard economist Edward Glaeser on the occasion of the publication of his book "Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier."
#4 Fracking An explanation of the "fracking" process, its uses, how it may be affecting water quality in various places in the United States, and one way it's used in Spokane County.
#3 Purpose-Driven Planning An introduction to my planning context, that is, the core belief that drives my participation in planning activities. It addresses a short, award-winning essay I wrote entitled The Purpose of Urban and Regional Planning.
#2 Ishmael My review of Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael, a dialogue which challenges "Mother Culture," provides a new view of the interaction between the earth and its dominant human culture, and challenges us to think about how our culture dominates the way we think about the world.
#1 Jefferson Elementary Update In a follow-up to a very popular earlier story, the progress of the Spokane School District to provide a new elementary school for a south hill neighborhood is updated.
Showing posts with label top posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top posts. Show all posts
Top Posts - January 2011
As the new quarter starts up, so too does the traffic on the blog, as more new ideas are inspiring new conversations. So, here are your most popular posts from January 2011:
#5 (tie) Thank you, Inland Empire Section A heartfelt thank you to the planners at the Inland Empire Section of the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association. The IES provided a $500 scholarship for my essay entitled The Purpose of Urban and Regional Planning. I've already purchased three textbooks using those funds, listed in the article.
#5 (tie) Four the Future – Air Quality Four stories including an update on the regional solid waste system's incinerator's mercury emission, what was done to cause an improvement in Mexico City's air, the death toll associated with second-hand smoke, and coal-powered plants' effect on downwind trees.
#4 Four the Future – Water Quality Four stories about decisions which affect the amount of water people use, including changes to the operation of the dams in Washington and British Columbia, water used for flushing, and grass irrigation.
#2 (tie) Four the Future – Housing Four articles addressing housing issues, such as affordable housing regulations, mortgage rules for mixed-use neighborhoods, the rise of the tiny house movement, and the beginnings in the reduction of the home ownership rate.
#2 (tie) The AICP and Exam Study Guides What does it mean to be a certified planner? A quick overview of how a planner becomes certified, and the ethical and continuing education standards to which certified planners are committed. Also, an honor bestowed on the blog.
#1 Housing in Quincy Valley A video (in Spanish and English) about housing conditions for migrant workers in central Washington, and the potential use of the Photovoice technique for planning advocacy efforts.
#5 (tie) Thank you, Inland Empire Section A heartfelt thank you to the planners at the Inland Empire Section of the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association. The IES provided a $500 scholarship for my essay entitled The Purpose of Urban and Regional Planning. I've already purchased three textbooks using those funds, listed in the article.
#5 (tie) Four the Future – Air Quality Four stories including an update on the regional solid waste system's incinerator's mercury emission, what was done to cause an improvement in Mexico City's air, the death toll associated with second-hand smoke, and coal-powered plants' effect on downwind trees.
#4 Four the Future – Water Quality Four stories about decisions which affect the amount of water people use, including changes to the operation of the dams in Washington and British Columbia, water used for flushing, and grass irrigation.
#2 (tie) Four the Future – Housing Four articles addressing housing issues, such as affordable housing regulations, mortgage rules for mixed-use neighborhoods, the rise of the tiny house movement, and the beginnings in the reduction of the home ownership rate.
#2 (tie) The AICP and Exam Study Guides What does it mean to be a certified planner? A quick overview of how a planner becomes certified, and the ethical and continuing education standards to which certified planners are committed. Also, an honor bestowed on the blog.
#1 Housing in Quincy Valley A video (in Spanish and English) about housing conditions for migrant workers in central Washington, and the potential use of the Photovoice technique for planning advocacy efforts.
Top Posts - December 2010
With so few posts in November, I didn't produce a November top stories. But, we were back in business in December, so here is your list the top five most viewed end of the year stories:
#5 Four the Future - December 31 Four (or, really, five) responses to the climate change crisis from various groups: the US federal government, cities from around the world, the international community, and from climatologists who are ready to be proactive about setting the record straight. The article was part two of a series which began on December 29.
#4 Four the Future - December 27 A number of links concentrating on economic development, including possible changes in Americans' spending habits, the problems (and tongue-in-cheek solutions) associated with wealth inequality (though, I prefer the term "wealth disproportionality"), and hopes for success in the local commercial real estate market.
#3 Four the Future - December 20 Stories related to the proposed Spokane County Jail. Jails are highly political capital facilities because they are as much symbols as they are buildings. The article documents the reduction in the need for jails in the northwest, and the failure of the Spokane County commissioners to heed their own studies.
#2 Four the Future - December 22 In yet another article with an uninspired title, a series which tells the story of a number of changes at Riverfront Park with links to its past, its future, and the ripple effects throughout the region. It inspired quite a debate on Planning the Future's Facebook page with Spokane City Councilmember Bob Apple.
#1 Summary and Discussion of "Spatializing Culture" Ah, finally, an article with a good title--and almost twice as many hits as the #2 post! It reviews an article I read for my Advanced Community Development class which describes two open spaces in downtown San José, Costa Rica. The discussion observes just how similar the forces in San José resemble what happens at the STA plaza.
#5 Four the Future - December 31 Four (or, really, five) responses to the climate change crisis from various groups: the US federal government, cities from around the world, the international community, and from climatologists who are ready to be proactive about setting the record straight. The article was part two of a series which began on December 29.
#4 Four the Future - December 27 A number of links concentrating on economic development, including possible changes in Americans' spending habits, the problems (and tongue-in-cheek solutions) associated with wealth inequality (though, I prefer the term "wealth disproportionality"), and hopes for success in the local commercial real estate market.
#3 Four the Future - December 20 Stories related to the proposed Spokane County Jail. Jails are highly political capital facilities because they are as much symbols as they are buildings. The article documents the reduction in the need for jails in the northwest, and the failure of the Spokane County commissioners to heed their own studies.
#2 Four the Future - December 22 In yet another article with an uninspired title, a series which tells the story of a number of changes at Riverfront Park with links to its past, its future, and the ripple effects throughout the region. It inspired quite a debate on Planning the Future's Facebook page with Spokane City Councilmember Bob Apple.
#1 Summary and Discussion of "Spatializing Culture" Ah, finally, an article with a good title--and almost twice as many hits as the #2 post! It reviews an article I read for my Advanced Community Development class which describes two open spaces in downtown San José, Costa Rica. The discussion observes just how similar the forces in San José resemble what happens at the STA plaza.
Top Posts - October 2010
What tickled readers' fancies last month? Well, one was Top Posts - September 2010 which, while virtually guaranteeing the return of this feature each month, didn't seem appropriate for inclusion in this list since it's not actually an October story! So, enjoy the list of the top five most viewed actual October stories:
#5 Four the Future - October 8 Four stories about energy: upgrades for the federal buildings downtown courtesy of the stimulus act, solar panels return to the White House roof, wind in Missoula, and utility-scale solar in California.
#3 (tie) Four the Future - October 15 We used to build dams, now we're tearing them down, but now we have beavers to build dams! And, we used to dump pollutants into the rivers, now we're trying to get them out, but now we have sewer plants to pollute again!
#3 (tie) Four the Future - October 28 Four foodies stories: chickens come home to roost in the Spokane Valley council chambers, underutilized properties being converted into food and community activity, lots of new restaurants being launched, and more diabetes on the way.
#2 Four the Future - October 1 Starting the month off with a high note! Millwood considering speed bumps, light rail produces jobs, slime mold designing transportation networks, and a "Goldilocks" planet discovered inspiring thoughts about human rights.
#1 Synopsis: Planning Theory for Practitioners The main points of Michael Brooks' book trying to bridge the gap between planning theory and practice which proposes a strategy for making planning more effective.
#5 Four the Future - October 8 Four stories about energy: upgrades for the federal buildings downtown courtesy of the stimulus act, solar panels return to the White House roof, wind in Missoula, and utility-scale solar in California.
#3 (tie) Four the Future - October 15 We used to build dams, now we're tearing them down, but now we have beavers to build dams! And, we used to dump pollutants into the rivers, now we're trying to get them out, but now we have sewer plants to pollute again!
#3 (tie) Four the Future - October 28 Four foodies stories: chickens come home to roost in the Spokane Valley council chambers, underutilized properties being converted into food and community activity, lots of new restaurants being launched, and more diabetes on the way.
#2 Four the Future - October 1 Starting the month off with a high note! Millwood considering speed bumps, light rail produces jobs, slime mold designing transportation networks, and a "Goldilocks" planet discovered inspiring thoughts about human rights.
#1 Synopsis: Planning Theory for Practitioners The main points of Michael Brooks' book trying to bridge the gap between planning theory and practice which proposes a strategy for making planning more effective.
Top Posts - September 2010
I do get a bit of statistics about what stories are getting attention, so I've considered posting a story each month about the entries which seem to get the most attention. That way, if you miss out, you can go back to see what all the fuss was about. So, here it is, your top stories of September 2010:
#5. Four the Future - September 14: transportation! A light rail legal challenge, expanding valley highway, fewer youthful drivers, and transit cutbacks.#4. Four the Future - September 12: grass-waste-to-energy plant, energy audits, historical preservation, and an environmental public survey.
#3. Four the Future - September 10: planned demolitions, green building, college traffic, and housing policy.
#2. Four the Future - August 30: moratorium abuse, downsizing housing, Sustainable September's Mariah McKay, and new automobile window stickers. (OK, so I cheated on the date, but I ramped up this blog just before September started!)
#1. Jefferson Elementary Public Forum: A huge public controversy on Spokane's South Hill. After this entry was posted, the Spokane Public Schools board of directors voted unanimously to move Jefferson Elementary.
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