12/31/2015
12/27/2015
Revised Writings by City Planner Pete Pointner
The new fourth edition of “Readings in Urban Planning and Design” has been expanded with 13 new papers. It is now a compendium of 40 published and 11 unpublished papers with over 200 images. This free e-book is available at
readingsinurbanplanninganddesign.blogspot.com
Each of these papers is an elaboration on the content of the chapters of my book “Planning Connections – Human, Natural and Man Made”. These readings complete the proposed study plan for a college level course in urban planning and design described on my blog site:
For more information on the book and author see www.petepointner.com. My purpose is to offer a practical resource on environmentally based planning and context sensitive design to lay persons, students and younger professionals involved in planning, design and development decisions. Please share this reference.
Each of these papers is an elaboration on the content of the chapters of my book “Planning Connections – Human, Natural and Man Made”. These readings complete the proposed study plan for a college level course in urban planning and design described on my blog site:
For more information on the book and author see www.petepointner.com. My purpose is to offer a practical resource on environmentally based planning and context sensitive design to lay persons, students and younger professionals involved in planning, design and development decisions. Please share this reference.
Pete Pointner
12/19/2015
The Legacy Trail - Sarasota, Florida
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Something is Going To Get You, But it Probably Is Not Terrorism
Your odds of dying in a terrorist attack are still far, far lower than dying from just about anything else.
In the last five years, the odds of an American being killed in a terrorist attack have been about 1 in 20 million (that's including both domestic attacks and overseas attacks). As the chart above from the Economist shows, that's considerably smaller than the risk of dying from many other things, from post-surgery complications to ordinary gun violence to lightning.
That said, terrorist attacks obviously loom much larger in our collective consciousness — not least because they're designed to horrify. So, understandably, they get much more attention.
Click to read the full article:
Further reading:
--The Global Terrorism Database is a useful searchable site that lets you search and track terrorism attacks around the world since 1970.
12/16/2015
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Click for our Christmas Newsletter
12/10/2015
11/29/2015
Richard Haas Murals in Homewood, Illinois
In addition to a unique and quaint downtown area, Homewood now boasts the largest collection of Richard Haas murals anywhere in the world. Haas, a world-renowned painter specializing in large, illusion murals, was first invited to Homewood in the early 1980’s. Since that time, Hass has finished 14 murals and is scheduled to complete his final mural in the fall of 2014.
The time-lapse video above captures the magic of one of his recent murals being created. “Homewood has a special place in my 35 years of doing public work,” said Haas. “This project has allowed me to expand my work in many ways. In Homewood, I was given the freedom to design and execute a new series of works that tells an even larger story, not only about Homewood’s history but about the region in general. Homewood now has the largest concentration of my works in one area and I hope people will discover and enjoy these works for a long time to come.” “Homewood is a great home for the arts,” said Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld. “We sought Richard out specifically for his realistic style as well as his artistic and history vision. Residents have given us very positive feedback about seeing the blank canvas of the side of a building become transformed into a work of art.”
These murals are very interesting. I have viewed them and they really catch your attention.
3D Murals Painted on the Sides of Buildings
3D murals painted on the sides of buildings by trompe l'oeil (trick-of-the-eye) artist John Pugh:
Main Street, Los Gatos, California. Even the woman
peering into the ruin is part of the mural.
Taylor Hall, California State University, Chico, California.
The Doric-style columns are actually nothing but paint.
This mural at the Cafe Trompe L'oeil, San Jose, California,
is entitled "Art Imitating Life Imitating Art Imitating Life."
This customer doesn't leave at closing time. And, there
is no doorway or stairs to go through or climb... and the statue never needs dusting.
Twenty-nine Palms, California. Valentine the bull and a patient buzzard are waiting for the artist to awake. No way... yep, way. This is all painting. Check along the base of the wall and you can see the seam between the vertical wall and the paved parking lot. How real can it get. Just outstanding.
Click to go to the web page:
artofjohnpugh.com/murals
Main Street, Los Gatos, California. Even the woman
peering into the ruin is part of the mural.
Taylor Hall, California State University, Chico, California.
The Doric-style columns are actually nothing but paint.
This mural at the Cafe Trompe L'oeil, San Jose, California,
is entitled "Art Imitating Life Imitating Art Imitating Life."
This customer doesn't leave at closing time. And, there
is no doorway or stairs to go through or climb... and the statue never needs dusting.
Twenty-nine Palms, California. Valentine the bull and a patient buzzard are waiting for the artist to awake. No way... yep, way. This is all painting. Check along the base of the wall and you can see the seam between the vertical wall and the paved parking lot. How real can it get. Just outstanding.
Click to go to the web page:
artofjohnpugh.com/murals
High Property Taxes
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| Rate - Percent of Value |
"The Average Rates:
“Confiscatory” is not an exaggeration of some of the rates common in many of these communities. Rates now average 5.23% per year of a the market value of homes in south suburban communities, far more than mortgage interest which today would typically be no more than four percent for a 20%-down, fixed 30-year mortgage. Those tax rates are about 3.3 times higher than the national average effective property tax rate for homes (about 1.5%, in urban areas), as reported in this year’s annual report of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence. (Rural areas have lower rates.)"
Click to read the article.
http://www.wirepoints.com/suicidal-property-tax-rates-and-the-collapse-of-chicagos-south-suburbs-wp-original/
11/28/2015
11/26/2015
Happy Thanksgiving
HappyThanksgiving
The video below from WKRP Cincinnati video on Thanksgiving. No turkeys were harmed in this video.
WKRP "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3mgmEdfwg
Nov 24, 2011 - Uploaded by Epic Houston
WKRP "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly"Thanksgiving.WKRP Thanksgiving Turkey Drop - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p00nBSNIPwg
Oct 13, 2014 - Uploaded by Cuchulainn's Picks
Les Nessman discovers that his station's Thanksgiving promotion just isn't going to fly. For more info ...Watch WKRP in Cincinnati Online - Turkeys Away | Hulu
www.hulu.com/watch/322
Sep 20, 2007
Stream WKRP in Cincinnati season 1, episode 7 instantly. ... This one website, wetpaint, showed 12 Thanksgiving Day episodes, and the ...WKRP "Turkey's Away" - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeCGURWzjwE
Nov 24, 2011 - Uploaded by whoohaaa1000
WKRP "Turkey's Away" .... This was a great old Thanksgivingshow. .... WKRP "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" Thanksgiving ...WKRP in Cincinnati Full Episode (Turkeys Away) - IMDb
www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi254935065/
Watch the latest WKRP in Cincinnati Full Episode (Turkeys Away) on IMDb.