June 2010
Updates
Recent happenings on old blog posts:
More Public Schools: In March 2009,I wrote aboutThe Public School a website where people propose, discuss, and coordinate free, offline classes taught by volunteers. The project has since expanded from Los Angeles to 6 more cities including New York, Paris, and San Juan. And still more coming soon! I taught a class onMapping as Activism last month and had a great time. |  |
Listener Supported: In December 2008,I wrote aboutSpot.us, a site for crowd-funded news where anyone can pitch and help pay a journalist to produce a local story. Last week,Public Radio Exchange announced they will pick up the software to launchStoryMarket to bring the model to public radio. |  |
Guerilla Wayfinding in NYC: In March 2006,I proposed a compass rose stencil at the exits of New York City subway stations. Shortly after, stencilsstarted appearing! A year later, City officials decided to implement a few test marksof their own, and I found out the idea had been proposedback in 1992. Now it’s 2010 and newcompass stencils have popped up at downtown subway exits. |  |
The Trouble with Hippos:In February 2006,I wrote about the Hippo Water Roller, a rugged, round water container designed to be transport water on tough rural roads. Last year,Alissa Walker reported on some of the obstacles the project encountered with extended use, and when trying to scale up production. |  |
Public Designer: Myfirst article forCommunication Arts ran in February 2005 on citizens designing for better government. It included several examples orchestrated bySylvia Harris. This month the AIGA published agreat interview with her that’s worth checking out. Harris is a public designer if ever there was. |  |
Get the E out of NYC:In 2004,I wrote about New York City’s trial collection ofelectronic waste for recycling. On May 29, 2010, New York State decided it’s illegal to throw away your electronic waste in the regular trash. Governor Pattersonjust signed a producer responsibility law requiring manufacturers to pay for collection and recycling of e-waste from consumers (including individuals, schools, municipalities, small businesses and non-profits.) |  |
28 June 2010 |LINK | Filed incompass rose,e-waste,education,guerilla civic improvement,guerilla wayfinding,nyc,product,subwayAuto
There are plenty of structural issues around the crisis in the Gulf, but this one was on my mind tonight. PDF versionhere.
North and South
Just this week:
- Belgian Frontrunner Wants to Break up Nation: “Carving up Belgium has been a cherished dream for the far-right in Flanders, Belgium’s economically dominant north, and a nightmare scenario for poorer French-speaking [south.]”
- Sudan Must Prepare for Oil-Rich South’s Secession, Hassan Says
- South Korea Asks U.N. Council to Act Against North Korea
Also:
- Italy’s Northern League, currently in coalition with Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party, has also advocated a split between the rich north and the impoverished south.
- North-South Divide Persists Decades After Vietnam War
- Kyrgyzstan: North-South Divide Is A Factor In Politics
“A take-out restaurant that only serves cuisine from countries that the United States is in conflict with. The food is served out of a take-out style storefront, which will rotate identities every 4 months to highlight another country.” The current iteration, Kubideh Kitchen, serves Iraniankubideh from astylish pop-up facade. “The sandwich is packaged in acustom-designed wrapper that includes interviews with Iranians both in Pittsburgh and Iran on subjects ranging from Iranian food and poetry to the current political turmoil.”
