Back to Archive Index   Back to Today's Entries

Sunday, October 31st

Vacancy--Your Opportunity To Make Real Changes In The Urban Landscape
There's a neighborhood just East of I-279 on Pittsburgh's Northside. An excellent local within walking distance of downtown and the Strip District. The streets of this dense, at least in terms of buildings, neighborhood are lined with some of the city's oldest structures--some dating to the 1840s. In fact, residents in two standing buildings in very poor condition along route 28 may have once viewed mules pulling boats up and down a long forgotten transportation canal.

The neighborhood doesn't have a name everyone can agree on. Some call it Deutschtown, some call it Spring Garden and some prefer East Allegheny. I'll call it by a new name I came up with myself, Brewery Village, after the Penn Brewery, which casts the shadow of its tall tower over the asphalt rooftops.

The more time I spend in the neighborhood, the more I learn about it. Here are some details.

1. A large percentage of the homes there are unoccupied.
2. Few are listed for sale.
3. The ones advertised "for sale by owner" have generally been inherited.
4. Many properties were purchased by individuals when they thought a highway project would take the neighborhood through eminent domain. That never happened.
5. Empty and under-occupied units have led to an increasing number of wild animals as the neighborhood is slowly taken back by nature.

I noticed the other day that several structures on Peralta Street were scheduled to be demolished. These are structures that could be renovated and utilized, yet seemingly there is little interest in the home-buying and home renovation circles in calling this neighborhood home or making it the site of a new project.

I'm not sure I can figure out why.

If you're interested in a home, most likely a fixer-upper, I'll be glad to go on a walking tour with you and show you some of the homes I have spotted. I can't renovate them all myself, but if you're interested in helping to make real changes in our urban landscape, send me an email.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.31.04 @ 16:55PST

Thursday, October 28th

Chicago Area's First Non-Profit, Organic Farm Trains Homeless, Low-Income
Growing Home, a regional agricultural program for homeless individuals, will graduate eight program participants at a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Su Casa Catholic Worker House, 5045 S Laflin, Chicago, Ill.

Growing Home's training program integrates job readiness skills and life skills instruction into a curriculum for low income people focused on growing, marketing and preparing organic produce. Interns are paid to attend class, work at Growing Home's urban garden and at a farm in LaSalle County and to market harvested crops to restaurant chefs and the public at farmers markets.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently certified Growing Home's 10-acre farm in LaSalle County organic, and it is the only operation of its type in the country

"Program participants provide a high demand product to local buyers," said Harry Rhodes, executive director, Growing Home. "Growing Home is one of only a handful of certified organic farms in Illinois at a time when the organic food market is beginning to take off. In Chicago, experts estimate that the sector generated $60 to $80 million in sales in 2002. Less than five percent of organic produce available in Chicago is grown locally,"

This year the farm sold more than $30,000 worth of vegetables to Chicago area chefs and restaurants and at local farmers markets.

Growing Home harvests more than thirty crops at its LaSalle County ten-acre farm. In 2003 the farm utilized only three acres of land growing rotating crops (e.g., spring raspberries are replaced by fall raspberries), perennials and plants and flowers that grow well in outer areas.

On the half-acre urban farm at Su Casa, Growing Home grows high demand, high price point crops such as arugula, baby arugula, salad mixes, spinach and herbs.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.28.04 @ 13:32PST

Corner Coffeehouse
Raindrops fall and shatter
on the concrete sidewalk, on the asphalt streets.
A wet, flat world reflects
the color of sky, but never
curves of cloud, rags of wind.
Passing cars parade unreal colors,
tires shred the ever-healing water.

Footsteps click outside
the cafe window; inside,
music from another country plays
in my childhood's language.
In a dark corner here,
I may have misplaced paradise.

You must never ask yourself
if it is so, but in any case
you will always wonder.

Richard Risemberg (rrisemberg@newcolonist.com), on 10.28.04 @ 10:46PST

Wednesday, October 27th

The Seattle's Best Scale
Just this evening I imagined I was still in San Francisco, grabbed my new book (Devil In The White City) and headed out to find a coffee shop where I could sit and read. There still isn't one on East Ohio Street (although a new bakery where I could buy coffee to go recently opened). I thought about heading to True on Western Avenue--a sometimes coffee shop, bar and restaurant. On second thought it might be the case they are serving dinner tonight and if so, that would make me feel awkward reading with my coffee. I headed for downtown.

On the way I remembered the Andy Warhol Museum Cafe. This is where I would go, except one small detail. It closes at 5 p.m. on Wednesday's. There's a coffee shop a few block's away, but then again while it had opened a few year's back as Seattle's Best, they had divided it up and opened an ice cream shop, later lost the Seattle's Best moniker and renamed it Java City. Anyway, an image of screaming kids with ice cream entered my mind and I headed downtown instead.

I headed to Liberty Avenue. I was surprised to see it pretty busy with folks wandering, waiting for buses and whatever else they might be doing. La Prima Espresso was my destination--located beside the Harris Theater I know it's quiet and bright enough to enjoy, plus has good coffee. I got to the Harris Theater and found it open. One storefront further, however and --drum roll please,La Prima was closed. Not for good I imagine, but almost as bad, not now.

I remembered a Starbuck's in Market Square, then immediately one closer at Penn and 6th. On the way to Penn and Sixth I remembered Curtain Call, a curious little store that sells items aimed at theater and concert goers, which also has a cafe. This was my destination, and a fine one at that. I had a good cup of coffee and enjoyed my reading (except the manager talks too loud making it a bit hard to concentrate.)

On the way home I walked over the Roberto Clemente Bridge and passed Java City, only Java City wasn't there anymore. I remembered back to the Starbuck's Scale and a conversation with Geoff Kelley, then the editor of PULP, a weekly paper in town. According to the scale, the neighborhood's well-being could be measured by the number of hours the coffee shop stayed opened. Well, this one had opened, changed names and closed in a relatively short period. More, PULP, the newspaper we discussed bringing up the idea of the hour scale in, is gone too. There can only be improvement from here.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.27.04 @ 17:14PST

Evidence May Be Used Against You
Any federal law enforcement agency may enter your home or business when you are not there, collect evidence, not tell you about it, and then use that evidence to convict you of a crime.

"They won't spy on me!" You might be thinking. "Those laws are made for really bad people." Unfortunately it seems you don't have to do much more these days than to get onto the radar screen of some politician or law enforcement bureaucrat looking to stamp out "bad people" in order to have your life turned upside down. I wish I was wrong about this. It's not American.

In this election, there are more than a few reasons why you may not want to vote for George W. Bush, and frankly not too many reasons you may want to vote for John Kerry (though if your main issue is the environment, it would seem Kerry is the better choice). I am alarmed at the number of people who are not concerned or not aware of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, regardless of how or whether it has been used thus far. (More than twenty U.S. cities have passed resolutions openly opposing the multiple civil liberties violations in the 2001 Patriot Act.)

When you go to the polls this year, remember that Any federal law enforcement agency may enter your home or business when you are not there, collect evidence, not tell you about it, and then use that evidence to convict you of a crime. That wasn't true before George Bush was president.

Oakland City Council passes resolution opposing Patriot Act

The Eugene City Council Passes a Resolution Opposing the USA Patriot Act

Albuquerque Council Passes Resolution Opposing Patriot Act

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.27.04 @ 12:31PST

Monday, October 25th

All Wet
The much-vaunted human capacity for adapting to new situations sometimes seems rather one-sided. All too often we adapt to a change without having the foresight to consider that what changed once may change again...and again and again. One of my favorite examples of this forgetful conformity to circumstance occurred again today, the first workday of wet weather in Los Angeles in eight or nine months, when I was once more treated to the sight, simultaneously amusing an dismaying, of well-dressed and presumably intelligent businessfolk, both male and female, walking in the rain without umbrellas.

Now LA is a generally dry town, weather-wise, but it does rain here each fall at least a little, even in this time of drought. In fact, it has done so for several millions of years. So, it shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone that it rain again. But apparently it is.

Perhaps it is our pathologically cloistered existence that is partly at fault. We live, for the most part, moving from house to attached garage to car to office parking structure to cubicle and back again, and, thanks to the remote garage door opener, not needing to breathe free air even to open what has become for most US denizens the main entrance of the house. And we forget the world still exists out there, so that when we venture forth for whatever reason into the unconstrained colloquys of earth and sky outside our walls, we dodder about like imbeciles, spotting our fine silks and cursing the life-giving rain.

How can one not have an umbrella and a raincoat? They're cheap, they're available everywhere, they can even be stylish--just look at any Manhattanite, Londoner, or Parisian. And they let us enjoy the perfume of the rain, the music of the puddles and the curbs. We miss so much when we devote ourselves to cars....

Richard Risemberg (rrisemberg@newcolonist.com), on 10.25.04 @ 19:51PST

Only So Much Without The Mall
I fear that living in Pittsburgh this past year has made me a bit more suburban. The lack of retail outlets in the city has sent me with increasing frequency to the suburbs. Take book stores for example. There is a Barnes and Noble downtown, but it closes quite early. A fine counterpart graces the busy Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill, but that's quite a distance from Northside. Instead I find myself traveling to the suburban Border's location.

Likewise just today the barber I usually go to was on vacation. I decided November 5th was too far into the future (on the other hand I may end up pulling it out on election day). I decided I would try to find a Cost-Cutters. This sent me to Northway Mall, only there wasn't actually a Cost-Cutters there. I asked at Borders and was directed to a location across from Denny's. This turned out to be Super-Cuts, but let's not be picky.

Last night I went to the Oriental Super-Buffet. Again in suburbia. I have to say that the Super Buffet has not only quite a diversity of food, but the people appear more diverse than most anywhere inside the city of Pittsburgh.

Don't get me wrong. I still walk more than I drive. On any regular month, I walk to the barber. If there was a bookstore nearby I'd walk there too. Not much of what I buy in the suburbs is available around me. Take the new John Fogerty album I picked up today. I tried to buy it at Stedefords, the local store, but they didn't have it.

In San Francisco, I lived most days without want of shopping opportunities and without using a car. San Francisco is built for the pedestrian. At one time (and perhaps once again) Pittsburgh was and will be built for the pedestrian, but for the most part in immediately preceding decades, we've built for the car. Without the environment built for the pedestrian, there's only so much a consumer urbanite can do without making rubber wheeled jaunts to the mall.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.25.04 @ 13:40PST

Thursday, October 21st

In Fond Memory
I was very saddened to hear of the death of perhaps my favorite college professor today. I received a card notifying me of his memorial service in the mail. When I went to the computer later this evening and discovered he had been murdered, it made it all the worse.

I remember Dr. Doug Shaw as an especially interested professor. I was never quite sure if the viewpoints he presented were his own or used to stimulate thought. He was very good at stimulating thought and presented topics from a variety of vantage points. I remember someone bringing up a Preservation magazine "most endangered" list one day. His comment was "endangered from what?" He always took the time to talk and looked to engage all of the students in the class. One article I read online presented a quotation stating he was "kind of the center of the department." I suspect this is true and I really can't imagine the department without him.

Dr. Douglas Shaw taught public administration for 30-years at the University of Akron, but was also a tireless advocate for environmental and planning issues in his hometown of Kent, Ohio. Dr. Shaw was 61. Apparently there are no suspects or explanation for his murder. Contributions can be made to the Dr. Shaw Memorial Fund, University of Akron, Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies, Polsky 265, Akron, Ohio 44325-7904.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.21.04 @ 17:31PST

Something On Your Mind?
Interested In Being A Blog Contributor? The New Colonist is searching for additional contributors to our web log. Interested parties should send an email to editor@newcolonist.com

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.21.04 @ 16:37PST

Tuesday, October 19th

Be Urban and Meet the Hackerman's
Looking out the window of the Hackerman House, an 1850's mansion housing the Asian art collection of Baltimore's Walter's Art Museum, I couldn't help but note that little but a window pane divided me from any casual stroller in the popular public square of Mount Vernon Place.

Whoever the Hackerman's were, I am sure they were wealthy to afford such a beautiful house. I felt sort of like an uninvited guest peering out their parlor window into the square, the scene seemingly unchanged from the 1850s. In an era of gated communities and suburban McMansions separated from public thoroughfares (which it turns out are only for cars), by large expansive lawns, the Hackerman's seemed unusually close to the Polowski's.

The mansions of Mount vernon Place, the really big ones anyway, are few in number. Counting down row houses away from the square, the homes become smaller. It is clear from this observation that the classes had much more opportunity to mingle a century-and-a-half ago than today. The Hackerman's would have had the opportunity to meet similar characters as I met when I left the museum and entered the square.

This experience brought me to think more about how the way we lived has changed since the 1850s.

I recently toured a home from the same era. The people who had lived there had owned it for fifty years. Several rooms didn't have electric service. Most everything in the house was functional, but nothing sparkled. I imagined a family eating dinner in the kitchen, watching television--or in earlier times gathered around a fire--in the living room (or parlor in earlier years). It was clear there was no perceived need by these occupants to spend money on consumer items and gadgets. Life here was quite simple--and, so it seemed from a meeting with the couple--very happy.

Another recent experience that had my mind wondering back to a time I can't remember was during a bike ride on a trail. The trail had been a railroad, but was converted for recreational use when the rail line had been abandoned. At one point the trail wandered far enough from the roadway that the sound of automobiles could no longer be heard. A recreational trail like this is a modern amenity or course, but I found it odd that in say 1850, this might have been a rather ordinary way to travel (minus the bicycle). If I was traveling on this road by foot, and there were no cars, I imagined I would need a gun in case I needed to scare away or kill a wild animal, and I would need to be able to reach a lodging house before sunset.

I am not suggesting our modern consumer society is bad. In fact, any reduction in it is likely to cause certain hardship for many people. Modern means of travel are not necessarily bad either (except for the over-use and subsidization of the automobile and a failure to develop high-speed rail). The over-reliance on the auto does rob us of many rewarding and beneficial experiences, however--beneficial both to our personal growth and to the benefit of society and civilization.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.19.04 @ 13:48PST

Monday, October 18th

Report From Houston
On January 1 of this year, the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authortity opened a 7½ surface mile light line with 14 stations from downtown Houston at Buffalo bayou to the south side of town. In September, weekday ridership of the line exceeded 32,000 per weekday.

This is almost 50% more than the St. Charles streetcar in New Orleans and more than 150% of the Market Street-Fisherman's Wharf streetcar in San Francisco.

Downtown retail businesses along the line have seen a 150% increase in receipts due to the increased accessibility the light rail line has provided. The line is very popular, effectively doubling the speed of a bus. Traffic signals are coordinated with the rail cars. Surface light rail in Houston is essentially a limited-stop streetcar line, with 50-ton Siemens light rail cars built in Sacramento, with a seating capacity of 150 and 50 standees. The light rail cars run every six minutes during the day, and every twelve minutes on weekends. The low-platform cars are accessible to wheelchairs and bicycles.

In November 2003, Houston voters approved a $620 million local-fund bond referendum for light rail construction. A 5½-mile northside extension for the will be completed in 2009 and a 7½-mile extension to the southeast side should go into service in 2010. Other lines are planned for the eastside on Harrisburg St. and the westide on Richmond Ave. Federal funds will match
the local initiative.

Contributed by Mike Harrington

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.18.04 @ 17:28PST

Saturday, October 16th

If Not Now, When?
Glaciers are melting, seas are rising, freeways are parking lots, and parking lots are sitting on some of the most valuable land in the world when there's a shortage of space for homes and good jobs...car addicts call for boycotts of "high priced" gas while simultaneously decrying the taxes that subsidize their (rubber) tired old habits...New Yorkers and Tokyoites live longer than anyone else in or out of cities because they walk to the train stations while Midlle America grows fatter and fatter and wonders why it spends so much on doctors...conservatives shout down a half-billion dollar subsidy for Amtrak while grinningly paying out 60 billion for roads...soldiers and children die in Iraq while loudmouthed cowards tool around in Humvees in Bev Hills...Tuvalu vanishes under the Pacific while lost towns re-emerge from the muck of dwindling reservoirs in the Great Southwest...suburbanites finger their garage-door openers and cable remotes and wonder why they're so lonely and their children bitter...when will they figure it out? When will they figure it out?

Richard Risemberg (rrisemberg@newcolonist.com), on 10.16.04 @ 16:05PST

Wednesday, October 13th

Debate is Almost Over
...and still little mention of oil or oil depletion. I also just noticed George Bush's left ear is significantly bigger than his right. Let's hope. Ugh, Kerry is on his right.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.13.04 @ 19:18PST

Tonite's Debate and the End of the Suburban Dream
Almost one-third of the way into the debate and John Kerry said gas prices are up. To watch “The End of the Suburban Dream” you’d think it was clear this is just the beginning, yet I suspect the topic of oil depletion won’t be mentioned tonight or at any other time in this campaign.

The New House television lounge at Carnegie-Mellon University was overflowing tonight (I passed out New Colonist stickers and if you’re visiting for the first time tonight, welcome), for the showing of “The End of the Suburban Dream.” I suspect from my e-mail inbox, and from the gathering tonight that the possibility of a depleting oil supply is entering the general conscience.

That said, I doubt it will enter the conscience faster than the oil will deplete, if indeed that is the case. In one sense, a new era will be ushered in with or without urban depletion through demographic changes (more single households that favor dense, city style livin). More, not only is the subject not being discussed in the general media or in the political arena, but an alarming number of people sounding the alarm bells are living in the suburbs and driving SUV’s.

Indeed, it is very hard to live in many places today without a car. On my way to Oakland (in a car because I wanted to be home in time to watch the presidential debate) I got a call from a friend who was waiting for a no-show bus in the rain holding more bags than seemed possible to hold and asking for a ride. I complied, as I imagine hundreds of others were doing at the same time because of the inadequate transit systems even in dense urban centers like the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland.

I watched the well-produced movie tonight with great interest. My issue has been urbanism. To the extent that oil depletion will spur urban revitalization, I am exited (though I do not wish the ills such a phenomena if it exists will cause on human life). If it was real and we knew it was definitely on the horizon, I suspect more people and companies would be grabbing up inexpensive urban properties.

First, I suspect if oil depletion is happening, it will happen slowly, with prices rising gradually. More, demographic changes are already changing the way people live and the way communities are built. That will continue and be accelerated, lessening the calamity that could be caused by decreased oil supply. It could be happening, but beware of such alarmists.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.13.04 @ 18:44PST

City Life's Accessories
I can't get over stores stocking full of holiday items before Halloween. I can't find Halloween items because the shelves are stocked for Christmas. So, with only a little lag time, I'll tell you that if you are looking for unique gifts to give or cards to send this holiday, check out our store. New items are added frequently! Click on the green MARKETPLACE at the top.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.13.04 @ 13:05PST

Monday, October 11th

Federal Spending Up: Details By State
The federal government spent $2.1 trillion in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and outlying areas during 2003, according to two reports released recently by the U.S. Census Bureau. This was a 6 percent increase over 2002.

First in total government outlays, California received $220 billion, followed by Texas ($140 billion), New York ($138 billion), Florida ($113 billion) and Pennsylvania ($90 billion). One-third of all federal expenditures went to these five states, which account for 37 percent of the total U.S. population.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid accounted for $950 billion (46 percent) of the U.S. government’s 2003 domestic spending.

The largest percentage increases in fiscal year 2003 federal spending were in the categories of procurement awards, grants, and salaries and wages. Procurement awards, at $327 billion, increased 14 percent over fiscal year 2002, with Department of Defense (DOD) contracts totaling $201 billion, or 61 percent.

Federal government salaries and wages were $211 billion, up 5.9 percent over 2002, with the Department of Defense (39 percent) and the U.S. Postal Service (24 percent) making up nearly two-thirds of the total.

Direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability reached $636 billion in 2003, up 3.8 percent over 2002, with Social Security alone totaling $509 billion, a 3.6 percent increase.

Other direct payments totaled $446 billion, an increase of 5.2 percent over 2002. These payments included Medicare at $274 billion, up 9.1 percent, plus unemployment compensation ($51 billion), excess earned income tax credits ($33 billion) and food stamp payments ($21 billion).

At the county or county-equivalent level, Los Angeles County, Calif., with $56.5 billion, led the list of recipients. It was followed by New York City, N.Y. ($56.3 billion); Cook County, Ill. ($31.4 billion); San Diego County, Calif. ($24.0 billion); and Maricopa County, Ariz. ($19.1 billion).

Per capita federal spending among states, meanwhile, was highest in Alaska ($12,244), Virginia ($11,163), Maryland ($10,464), New Mexico ($9,995) and North Dakota ($9,033). The rest of the top 10, in order, were: Hawaii ($8,961), Wyoming ($8,432), Connecticut ($8,209), Alabama ($8,192) and South Dakota ($8,114). Factors affecting per capita spending were the state’s population, the number of its federally funded programs and the number of federal employees residing in the state.

The Department of Defense spent a total of $320 billion domestically in 2003, up 12.2 percent over 2002. This amount included procurement contracts, payroll, military pensions and grants.

Defense Department spending in 2003 was the highest in the following five states: California ($39.2 billion), Virginia ($32.7 billion), Texas ($30.4 billion), Florida ($16.0 billion) and Maryland ($11.4 billion). The top five counties or equivalents in federal defense expenditures were: Los Angeles ($11.2 billion) and San Diego ($10.6 billion) counties in California; Tarrant County, Texas ($10.4 billion); Fairfax County, Va. ($7.6 billion); and Maricopa County, Ariz. ($5.2 billion).

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.11.04 @ 19:13PST

Sunday, October 10th

Seven Compelling Reasons to Make Your Home a Pit Stop: A Good Fit for Urban-Minded People
Some time ago, my cousin, a freelance photographer, ended an e-mail message with the following paragraph:

"I refuse to narrowly define my "American Dream" to the confines of four walls. A home is a pit stop, not a destination. Living is not working all week just to work on the house all weekend. The end of life will feel like tomorrow when you get there. Get out and have fun!"

I couldn't agree more.

There is so much joy, stimulation, and learning to be had in the outside world. And once smitten with the bug to explore and uncover all we can, we'll invariably feel like we need several lifetimes to pursue all of our interests.

With such a perspective, it would be highly unlikely that home improvement projects, hosing down the deck, turf building, or weekly lawn mowing could be enough to fill our need for intellectual depth, and meaningful artistic expression.

SEVEN REASONS TO RELEGATE YOUR HOME TO PIT STOP STATUS

1. Too many cities like New York, Washington D.C., Paris, London, Rome, Tokyo, San Francisco, Berlin, and Hong Kong, each of which beckon for a lifetime of discovery, particularly for people with passions for art, history, city life, museums, culture, and new ideas. If your mind's on fire, such a place is a veritable paradise, a treasure chest of inexhaustible riches.

2. Too many fascinating state and national parks. The Oregon Coast, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, the Badlands of South Dakota, Devils Tower, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Everglades, and on and on. Even at a pace of three quick week long camping trips a year, it would take a lifetime to see and fully appreciate all of these places.

3. Too many interesting people in your own city to meet. What about that inventor who lives on the other side of town? What about that retired man down the street who parachuted into Normandy on D-day? What about that World War I veteran with lots of stories? What about the lady who gives wonderful tours of the local botanical garden? Chances are no matter where you live, there are people in your immediate vicinity with interesting backgrounds and fascinating hobbies.

4. Too many local learning events. There is a wide variety of evening and weekend lectures (usually free admission) at places like the local historical society, university, public library, or town hall. What a great way to learn from experts and enthusiasts about things like water conservation, archaeology, bird watching, model rocketry, bookbinding, local history and more.

5. Too many chances for art education and artistic expression. There's your community art museum with ever-changing exhibits, artists in residence, and special programs. There are arts and crafts classes. You need time to master cartooning. Then you may be bitten by the watercolor bug. And that could lead to a passion for sculpting, weaving, or pottery.

6. Too many volunteer opportunities. The history museum needs a docent. The science museum needs a tour guide. The arboretum needs tree pruners. The rhododendron garden needs families to rake debris. . The local church needs someone to visit the elderly. The parks department needs people to tend a public rose garden. The library needs help with checking in and reshelving books. The list goes on an on.

7. Too many fascinating subjects to pursue. Too many books to read. Too many films to view. Too many scenes to photograph. Too many train rides to take. Too many stories to write. Too many historic battlefields to explore. Too many names of trees, plant, and animals to learn. Too many trails to hike. Too many lovely days to enjoy.

In a nutshell, the world is so overflowing with interesting things for us to do, that perhaps it's unwise to pass them up in favor of spending our irreplaceable leisure time attaining, maintaining, and upgrading a home. Life is just too short.

Far more sensible is my cousin's simple advice to "get out, and have fun." And before it's too late, I might add.

John Andersen (editor@unconventionalideas.com), on 10.10.04 @ 08:38PST

Wednesday, October 6th

Pittsburgh Showing of "The End of Suburbia"
Oil Awareness Meetup and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Sustainable Students will jointly presenting the video "The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream" at 7PM on Wednesday, October 13. Other groups are hosting screenings around the globe (see below for list)

Here's a bit of the synopsis... "But as we enter the 21st century, serious questions are beginning to emerge about the sustainability of this way of life. World Oil Peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now, some scientists and policy makers argue in this documentary. What does Oil Peak mean for North America? As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today's suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid The End of Suburbia?"

Created by the Post Carbon Institute, the "End of Suburbia" will be shown in the New House TV Lounge on the CMU Campus (located on Morewood Avenue between Forbes and Fifth).

Additional Screenings

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.06.04 @ 06:54PST

Monday, October 4th

Mayors, Local and County Officials Hold Bi-Partisan Press Conf. on Eve of Debate Urging VP Candidates to Address the Real Issues
CLEVELAND-- On the eve of the vice presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio, leaders from three national organizations -- The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), the National League of Cities (NLC), and the National Association of Counties (NACo) -- Republicans and Democrats -- have come together to call on both candidates to address the real issues that are important to the American people.

At a joint, bi-partisan press conference on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, the site of the vice presidential debate, these national leaders, representing rural, suburban, and urban America, are respectfully urging both President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) to focus their attention on domestic and economic issues that critically impact the citizens of this country.

"I think it's time that the candidates give equal attention to what matters most to Americans-whether they can afford a safe and clean place to live; how they can better navigate the growing congestion to their workplace; how to get and retain a job that will provide long-term financial security for themselves and their families," said Charles Lyons, president of the National League of Cities and selectman from Arlington, Mass.

Lyons cited a recent NLC survey identifying current perceptions about the American Dream. It found that more than two-thirds of Americans believe that the American Dream is becoming harder to achieve primarily because of financial insecurity and poor quality public education. The poll also found that while Americans believe the government should play a role in helping them achieve the American Dream, they are skeptical about whether the government can actually get the job done.

"This is an alarming finding that shows the need to work together at all levels of government and across party lines to ensure hope, fairness and opportunity," Lyons said.

The disparity between income and affordable housing continues to be a real concern for the American people. According to NACo's "Paycheck to Paycheck" survey, released in July, income lags dramatically behind housing costs nationwide.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.04.04 @ 17:16PST

Sunday, October 3rd

Two-Thirds Believe American Dream Harder to Achieve
Two-thirds of the American people say the American Dream is becoming harder to achieve, especially for young families, and they point to financial insecurity and poor quality public education as the most significant barriers, according to a new survey released today by the National League of Cities (NLC).

The survey found that more than one in three Americans feel that they are not living the American Dream and nearly half think it is unattainable for them. The survey also shows considerable growth in the number of people who say government makes it more difficult to achieve the American Dream. Since 2001, there has been an 11 percent increase in the number of Americans who say the government is more of a hindrance than a help.

Although Americans remain optimistic, significant numbers of older Americans, women, single parents, minorities and blue-collar workers believe the American Dream is out of their reach. 
- Adults living in urban cities (39%) are more likely to believe than suburbanites (19%) that where they live has affected their ability to achieve the American Dream.
- Fifty-three percent of African-Americans said they are not living the American Dream; 36% of Hispanics and 32% of Caucasians have the same view.
- Almost twice as many single parents (52%) as married parents (27%) report they are not living the American Dream.  
- More than half of renters (52%) and 28% of home owners find they are not living the American Dream.
 - Democrats (79%) and Independents (75%) are more likely to say the American Dream is harder for young families to achieve than Republicans (56%).

Lack of Quality Education, Financial Security Top Concerns: A lack of quality public education and uncertainty over financial security top the list of barriers to the American Dream.  Caucasian (27%) and Hispanic (29%) adults cite poor quality of education as the main barrier, with African-Americans more likely to report racial or ethnic discrimination as the main obstacle (28%).

A solid majority of all Americans (72%) believe that the government should actively work to help people achieve the American Dream. This is particularly true of young people (90% of 18 to 22-year-olds agree). But almost half (45%) believe the government has done more to hinder their pursuit of the American Dream than help, up from 34% in 2001.  Eighty-five percent say that local, state and federal government must work together to give people a fair shot at achieving the American Dream.

MORE

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.03.04 @ 18:36PST

Urban Real Estate Opportunity
"Homeownership lies at the heart of the American Dream. It is a key to upward mobility for low- and middle-income Americans. It is an anchor for families and a source of stability for communities. It serves as the foundation of many people's financial security. And it is a source of pride for people who have worked hard to provide for their families."

President George W. Bush

June, 2001

Imagine yourself in a spacious home that's all yours. In many parts of the country, living in a cramped apartment, this doesn't seem like an obtainable goal. Even in the more expensive regions, comparing home ownership to renting can show a substantial savings over time. More, when you own a home you can sell it and get your money back! (Check out this calculator to find out how much you can save over time from buying rather than renting)

In Pittsburgh, not owning a home seems absolutely ridiculous. I have personally toured the home pictured above. It is a spacious and graceful home waiting to be restored. It has a beautiful staircase, a wide hallway and several mantles. I would purchase and restore it myself, but the size makes it most appropriate for an owner-occupant (and I already have other projects underway). The price? Less than $10,000. There could even federal money available to fix it up.

There are other reasons to become a homeowner. Like an investment, your home increases in value in most cases. In many cases you can borrow money against your home to start a business or finance education. Therefore, home ownership is important because of the role it plays in social mobility.

Home ownership has become available to increasing numbers of Americans. In 1900, only 46.5 percent of Americans owned their own homes. Today the nationwide homeownership rate stands at an impressive 68 percent.

Of course there are barriers to home ownership that need to be overcome. Among these as outlined by the White House recently include:

(1) a lack of understanding of the home-buying process; (2) a lack of access to affordable mortgage credit; (3) weak credit histories, often arising from a poor understanding of financial matters and where financial counseling is required; and (4) a lack of information about available homeownership programs in the community.

Of course I am in part preaching to the choir on the merits of home ownership. A majority of Americans believe owning their own home leads to personal financial security, improved school performance for their children and greater community involvement, according to a recent poll of 1000 adults commissioned by the Homeownership Alliance. The poll also finds that homeowners as a whole are more likely to vote.

Specifically, the new Homeownership Alliance polling data found:

*66 percent of those surveyed believe that children who grow up in homes that their families own are more likely to do better in school.

*80 percent think that owning a home gives you a stronger sense of connection to the community in which you live.

*87 percent agree that homeowners are more likely to be involved in community organizations and local government.

*76 percent agree that people who own their own homes are more likely to take the time to vote in national elections.

*69 percent agree that the federal government should provide incentives to make housing more affordable.

*85 percent agree that a home is a more secure investment than the current stock market.

That said, it's important to grow on the 68 percent of homeowners we have today, specifically increasing the amount of "affordable" housing in less affordable urban areas and increasing the number of home owner occupants in city homes that have been abandoned when their occupants moved to the suburbs. Showcasing the benefits of urban life will help maintain urban real estate develop that is needed to balance and even reverse the half-century trend of greenfield development.

Save the city for people, save the farms for food.

Eric Miller (editor@newcolonist.com), on 10.03.04 @ 18:27PST

Saturday, October 2nd

Freeways as Fences
Here's an interesting quote from Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago, by Mike Royko:

Containing the Negro was unspoken city policy. Even expressways were planned as man-made barriers, the unofficial borders. The Dan Ryan, for instance, was shifted several blocks during the planning stage to make one of the ghetto walls....

And even when they're not planned that way, they end up segregating us all from each other, walling us off from the wider worlds of nature and of our own humanity, which we can express only with others....

Richard Risemberg (rrisemberg@newcolonist.com), on 10.02.04 @ 00:34PST