Cul de Sacs Really Are Important
As an intro to his comment on China on IN THE NEWS – VOL I, Groveton said that the China problem “was slightly more important” than Cul de Sacs in Virginia. Well, China is important as the comments on IN THE NEWS – CHINA attest but so is the topic of Cul de Sacs.
The annals of Paleontology, Archeology, Zoology, Anthropology and Architecture are replete with evidence that animals, including Homo sapiens and their ancestors, favor cul de sacs – nests, borrows, caves, huts, pueblos – for many activities related to reproduction, eating, sleeping, safety and loafing.
Every human dwelling Unit is a combination of halls and cul de sacs. All Urban human settlement patterns – including scattered Urban dwellings in the Countryside – are combinations of cul de sacs and halls and Streets and Roads.
Almost every high value place of human activity of Cluster, Neighborhood or Village scale is a network of Streets with Cul de Sacs for people to live work and seek recreation. See Lewenz “How to Build a Village.”
On the other hand a GRID of Roads with a monoculture of Cul de Sac Units is little better than a “subdivision” of Cul de Sac mini-Roads for most economic, social and physical activities.
(NB: There is an important difference between Streets and Roads. These differences impact human activity at all scales of settlement form the Unit to the Planet. See GLOSSARY)
The PROBLEM with “sub”urban Cul de Sacs mini-Roads is that humans bring home their Large, Private Vehicles (aka, Autonomobiles).
Bringing home the Autonomobile results in three toxic conditions:
1. Disaggregation of human settlement patterns at both ends of the Autonomobile trip. Widespread use of Autonomobiles results in dysfunction at all scales of settlement patterns.
2. Having a Large, Private Vehicle gives humans the mistaken impression they need to share NOTHING with the adjacent Households or Enterprises. Social isolation and lack of critical mass to create economic prosperity are the cumulative results.
3. A large number of citizens having to rely on Large, Private Vehicles for Mobility and Access results in Regional transport dysfunction – The Mobility and Access Crisis.
The reliance on Large, Private Vehicles is made very clear in THE PROBLEM WITH CARS.
Virginia Cul de Sacs are a prime driver of The Mobility and Access Crisis, The Affordable and Accessible Housing Crisis and The Helter Skelter Crisis – dysfunctional human settlement patterns. Virginia must evolve functional human settlement patterns soon because that is the most important and fastest step to shrink humans ecological footprint. For starters, functional settlement patterns allows citizens to drastically reduce importing and burning through Natural Capital. If citizens do not shrink their ecological footprint Collapse is on the horizon. So the Cul de Sac issue IS important.
There is no way to overestimate the impact of Cul de Sacs on the economic, social and physical disaggregation of society for the simple reason that lack of understanding of the impact of Cul de Sacs leads to activities that drive settlement pattern dysfunction.
EMR
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
ZIP CODES AS DATA SOURCES
Months ago EMR promised Larry Gross a response on the issue of Zip Codes as a source of information. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 35 in PART TEN of TRILO-G:
.....................
Data from Postal Zip Codes provides an excellent example of what is wrong with current data resources. This post might be labeled “More on the Problems of Zip Cones.” Readers can find 21 references in The Shape of the Future to the problems caused by Zip Cones when one is trying to understand human settlement pattern.
Zip Code data is “interesting” BUT...
Recently a person who comments often on the Bacons Rebellion Blog emailed the author information on a web site that he assumed would help answer settlement pattern questions: ZipWho.com.
The site is a useful one. However, just one example – that was typical of several trial comparisons by the author – documents the pitfalls of Zip Code data.
........ the example is included as the first comment on this post .........
If one understands human settlement patterns and has other sources of information as well as accurate maps, the ZipWho.com data can be useful. Without this understanding and additional information, the data is at best deceptive.
As noted in The Shape of the Future, Zip Codes are NOT organic components of human settlement. They vary widely in size and the configurations reflect the distribution of power among appointed Postmasters when Zip Codes were established and when they are revised.
EMR
.....................
Data from Postal Zip Codes provides an excellent example of what is wrong with current data resources. This post might be labeled “More on the Problems of Zip Cones.” Readers can find 21 references in The Shape of the Future to the problems caused by Zip Cones when one is trying to understand human settlement pattern.
Zip Code data is “interesting” BUT...
Recently a person who comments often on the Bacons Rebellion Blog emailed the author information on a web site that he assumed would help answer settlement pattern questions: ZipWho.com.
The site is a useful one. However, just one example – that was typical of several trial comparisons by the author – documents the pitfalls of Zip Code data.
........ the example is included as the first comment on this post .........
If one understands human settlement patterns and has other sources of information as well as accurate maps, the ZipWho.com data can be useful. Without this understanding and additional information, the data is at best deceptive.
As noted in The Shape of the Future, Zip Codes are NOT organic components of human settlement. They vary widely in size and the configurations reflect the distribution of power among appointed Postmasters when Zip Codes were established and when they are revised.
EMR
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
IN THE NEWS -- CHINA
At 3/23/09 6:21 PM On IN THE NEWS: VOLUME ONE, Groveton said...
“........ there is a slightly more important story in play:
“http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7851925a-17a2-11de-8c9d-0000779fd2ac.html
“From the article:
“This is a clear sign that China, as the largest holder of US dollar financial assets, is concerned about the potential inflationary risk of the US Federal Reserve printing money,” said Qu Hongbin, chief China economist for HSBC.
“I never thought I'd live in a world where the only people making economic sense are the Communist Chinese.”
................
Groveton is right to be concerned.
The Chinese have been using their trade surplus to buy up US Treasury Bonds. Now they are threatening to sell them and / or not buy any more unless they have “assurances”.... In effect controlling the US of A economy.
There are, however, other problems:
China is using the excess profits from burning through its own Natural (and social) Capital and the Mass OverConsumption of its trading ‘partners’ to buy up resources on the cheap.
“China Gains Key Assets In Spate of Purchases: Oil, Mineral Are Among Acquisitions Worldwide” 17 May 2009 WaPo
China is also suggesting that nation-states importing its manufactures provide China with carbon off-sets so they can continue Business-As-Usual.
“China Seeks Export Carbon Relief: China has proposed the importers of Chinese-made good should be responsible for the carbon dioxide emitted during their manufacture.” 17 March 2009 BBC
EMR would amplify Grovetons observation (“I never thought I'd live in a world where the only people making economic sense are the Communist Chinese.”) with this:
“China governance structure is far more effective than the nation-states that purport to have democracies with market economies when it comes to managing what might be called “Libertarian Capitalism” or “Top of the Ziggurat Capital Selfishness” that characterizes Supercapitalism and widens the Wealth Gap.
As EMR spelled out in The Shape of the Future:
In the quest to find a sustainable trajectory for civilization, THERE ARE NO VILLAINS.
However:
The vast majority of humans on the planet do not yet have governance structures or the information that would allow them to seek their individual and collective best interest.
Much worse, the vast majority of citizens in US of A and other quasi-democracies with quasi-market economies are badly informed and thus do not understand the cumulative impact of their actions and do not take actions to further their individual / Household enlightened self-interest.
Will China give other trading blocks, nation-states and Regions the incentive to undertake Fundamental Transformations?
Or will China control because others fail to make Fundamental Transformations?
The answer may be in the hands of the 20,000,000 who have lost their jobs recently in China. Will they understand the need for Fundamental Transformation in China?
As Louise Omundson of Great Falls (Montana) said some time back:
“Want Change (Fundamental Transformation)?
“Keep it in your pocket.
“Your dollar is your vote.
“Oppose the empire: Buy Local (Regional, “local” is a Core Confusing Word)”
NB: This issue is key to the future of the Commonwealth and thus a candidate for discussion on this Blog. For those interested in the settlement pattern issue, the prior post has generated several useful perspectives.
EMR
“........ there is a slightly more important story in play:
“http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7851925a-17a2-11de-8c9d-0000779fd2ac.html
“From the article:
“This is a clear sign that China, as the largest holder of US dollar financial assets, is concerned about the potential inflationary risk of the US Federal Reserve printing money,” said Qu Hongbin, chief China economist for HSBC.
“I never thought I'd live in a world where the only people making economic sense are the Communist Chinese.”
................
Groveton is right to be concerned.
The Chinese have been using their trade surplus to buy up US Treasury Bonds. Now they are threatening to sell them and / or not buy any more unless they have “assurances”.... In effect controlling the US of A economy.
There are, however, other problems:
China is using the excess profits from burning through its own Natural (and social) Capital and the Mass OverConsumption of its trading ‘partners’ to buy up resources on the cheap.
“China Gains Key Assets In Spate of Purchases: Oil, Mineral Are Among Acquisitions Worldwide” 17 May 2009 WaPo
China is also suggesting that nation-states importing its manufactures provide China with carbon off-sets so they can continue Business-As-Usual.
“China Seeks Export Carbon Relief: China has proposed the importers of Chinese-made good should be responsible for the carbon dioxide emitted during their manufacture.” 17 March 2009 BBC
EMR would amplify Grovetons observation (“I never thought I'd live in a world where the only people making economic sense are the Communist Chinese.”) with this:
“China governance structure is far more effective than the nation-states that purport to have democracies with market economies when it comes to managing what might be called “Libertarian Capitalism” or “Top of the Ziggurat Capital Selfishness” that characterizes Supercapitalism and widens the Wealth Gap.
As EMR spelled out in The Shape of the Future:
In the quest to find a sustainable trajectory for civilization, THERE ARE NO VILLAINS.
However:
The vast majority of humans on the planet do not yet have governance structures or the information that would allow them to seek their individual and collective best interest.
Much worse, the vast majority of citizens in US of A and other quasi-democracies with quasi-market economies are badly informed and thus do not understand the cumulative impact of their actions and do not take actions to further their individual / Household enlightened self-interest.
Will China give other trading blocks, nation-states and Regions the incentive to undertake Fundamental Transformations?
Or will China control because others fail to make Fundamental Transformations?
The answer may be in the hands of the 20,000,000 who have lost their jobs recently in China. Will they understand the need for Fundamental Transformation in China?
As Louise Omundson of Great Falls (Montana) said some time back:
“Want Change (Fundamental Transformation)?
“Keep it in your pocket.
“Your dollar is your vote.
“Oppose the empire: Buy Local (Regional, “local” is a Core Confusing Word)”
NB: This issue is key to the future of the Commonwealth and thus a candidate for discussion on this Blog. For those interested in the settlement pattern issue, the prior post has generated several useful perspectives.
EMR
Monday, March 23, 2009
IN THE NEWS: VOLUME ONE
Topics that have been the focus of past Bacon’s Rebellion Columns and Posts:
Item One:
The Wealth Gap was still getting wider in 2007 – the latest numbers from Federal Reserve.
Fundamental Transformation of the economic system (as well as Fundamental Transformation of the settlement pattern and Fundamental Transformation of the governance structure) or Collapse.
Item Two:
Working at home seems to lead to layoffs for Teleworkers.
Too bad that Telework was not more intelligently positioned as a strategy to support the evolution of Balanced Communities instead of a crutch for long commutes.
Item Three:
US Census says migration to “the Outer Suburbs nearly halts” in the National Capital Subregion
Eat your heart out NVTA and the 12.5 Percenters.
Item Four:
Commonwealth Transportation Board has set new regs that will discourage cul-de-sad subdivisions. A favorite topic of Jim Bacon’s
Only 35 years too late. EMR testified against them and in favor of inter-Cluster connections in 1973. Wake us when municipalities and the Commonwealth agree to retrofit / interconnect Orphan Subdivisions to create interconnected Clusters, Neighborhoods and Villages.
Item Five:
CNN has to updating it’s running tab of newspaper closings hourly.
Another Jim Bacon favorite: Who WILL gather and report the news? See THE ESTATES MATRIX
EMR
Item One:
The Wealth Gap was still getting wider in 2007 – the latest numbers from Federal Reserve.
Fundamental Transformation of the economic system (as well as Fundamental Transformation of the settlement pattern and Fundamental Transformation of the governance structure) or Collapse.
Item Two:
Working at home seems to lead to layoffs for Teleworkers.
Too bad that Telework was not more intelligently positioned as a strategy to support the evolution of Balanced Communities instead of a crutch for long commutes.
Item Three:
US Census says migration to “the Outer Suburbs nearly halts” in the National Capital Subregion
Eat your heart out NVTA and the 12.5 Percenters.
Item Four:
Commonwealth Transportation Board has set new regs that will discourage cul-de-sad subdivisions. A favorite topic of Jim Bacon’s
Only 35 years too late. EMR testified against them and in favor of inter-Cluster connections in 1973. Wake us when municipalities and the Commonwealth agree to retrofit / interconnect Orphan Subdivisions to create interconnected Clusters, Neighborhoods and Villages.
Item Five:
CNN has to updating it’s running tab of newspaper closings hourly.
Another Jim Bacon favorite: Who WILL gather and report the news? See THE ESTATES MATRIX
EMR
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