With all the pressing problem our country faces, House Republicans have decided that energy efficiency just doesn’t make American sense. Introduced by U.S. Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas) who is, frighteningly, the the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Michael Burgess, (R-Texas), the BULB (Better Use of Light Bulbs) Act seeks to repeal the…
Even if real streets are not becoming any more hospitable to cyclists, the virtual ones sure are. Today everyone’s favorite online map rolled out bicycling navigation as a native feature of Google maps. The bike routing is available in 150 cities, Chicago included, and also shows bike trails in addition to bike-friendly autoways. As a…
Is capitalism only relevant when it drives prices downward? If one chooses to purchase an item that is more expensive than its competition, for whatever reason, have we crossed a threshold to complacent pretension? A recent New York Times article, by Anand Giridharadas, purports that activism through purchasing power, lovingly referred to in the article…
Water Hazard is an ongoing architectural research project by moss. We are studying water related issues to become better stewards of this most precious resource. Below is the latest dispatch. (This report was originally published by moss in March of 2005) The United States is home to more than 23,000 golf courses, by far the…
Well, baloney is more of a real meat substance than whatever is used to concoct a whopper. This sign was spotted outside of at least five Memphis area Burger King locations. Sounds like someone needs a refresher on how CAFO’s operate?
So, the name of the blog. Straw bale construction is nothing new and, no, they are not to be confused with hay. Straw is the dried stalk of a cereal plant after the grain has been removed, an agricultural by-product. They typically clutter the ubiquitous landscape of the rural world and are usually burned by…
Another piece of the design world that needs better exploration is the food system. Outside influences have contributed to the dereliction of our food delivery system, probably best explained here and here. However, how to fix that system is oft described as a repair of the metaphorical link between people and their food. My common…