We’re guessing you’re pretty tired of hearing about the problems of today’s world rather than about the solutions. So meet John Quale, an assistant professor at UVA’s School of Architecture, and the subject of a profile by Kathryn Faulkner. Quale doesn’t just dream of solutions to the energy and affordability crises; he designs them. Not only that, he’s teaching the next generation of architects to keep going green. Read the article, and don’t forget to tell us what you think.
Month: February 2009
If Punxsutawney Phil, now that his big day is over, were settling in for some Internet reading, here’s what I’d recommend he check out first:
From Greater Greater Washington, a perspective on Inauguration Day that’s unexpected: not oratory but plain old traffic, and what the historic day might teach us about how to efficiently move people on ordinary days.
From Inhabitat, a discussion of the relative greenness of Ikea. Is the furniture giant sustainable? The quick answer: no, but they’re trying. Anyone looking for a case study of the complexities of greener capitalism, here’s one place to start.
On Better World Betty, an account of the e-recycling event outside Crutchfield last weekend. Our own C-VILLE editor Cathy Harding weighed in on this one too. Sounds like the overall effect was overwhelming—great that people were doing the right thing with their crap, but Lord, do we have a lot of crap!
On that note, UVA’s Tim Beatley offers this illuminating post on the blog of Island Press, in which he describes how the “library” concept can be extended to things other than books (i.e., toys and tools) and how that might save quite a lot of resources. Seems to me that Charlottesville would be a great candidate for toy and tool libraries…
From the Times, a story about how unexpected industries are going green, at least around the fringes—in this case, the moving industry. Makes a lot of sense. (Not that plastic’s a perfect solution to disposable cardboard, but…)
And finally, a tale of unintended consequences, or maybe just willful blindness to consequences, concerning the cringe-worthy border fence being built in the southwestern U.S. Seems wildlife migrations might be affected along with human ones. Surprise—our fences, roads and subdivisions actually have an impact on species other than our own!
Who’s got more eco-reads to share? Post your links!
As bricking and demolition continue this week, C-VILLE is finally getting a first-person perspective on just what its like to have Mall construction going on in front of your office. Greeting us now, not five steps out the office door, are the omnipresent green barriers.
Once completed, the Mall will once again hustle and bustle with sounds of children laughing, buskers playing music and dishes clinking onto metal tables. But right now, all Brick Watch can hear are saws, drills, and hammers outside. C-VILLE’s Publisher’s Assistant Christina Luke says the noise is especially bad "when someone opens the door."
Given these joys of the brick, we thought we would share the joys of some famous bricks. From fairy tales and pop music, to stockcar racing and outdoor shopping plazas, bricks are pretty much everywhere. Here’s the who’s who of bricks:
1. Legos: The Danish sure do know how to make bricks fun! Whoopee!
2. The Wizard of Oz: Basically a movie about the Mall, except they changed the color of the bricks. Elton John’s famous double album, Yellow Brick Road, also gives this movie a boost.
3. Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall: Hello? Of course their three-part anti-establishment anthem would make this list.
4. Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Any NASCAR fans out there?
5. The Commodores, "Brick House": This poetic extended metaphor for a beautiful woman is, well, about as evolved as a brick itself.
That’s all for today, folks. But we’ll leave you with this, which quite spectacularly combines No. 1 and No. 3.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell announced this morning that he is resigning as Virginia Attorney General effective February 20 to focus on the gubernatorial race.
"The taxpayers deserve a full-time Attorney General," said McDonnell in a farewell address. "You deserve a full-time Attorney General. This campaign now demands a full-time candidate."
Because McDonnell is stepping down while the General Assembly is in session, it is the legislative body’s duty to choose his successor. He urged the General Assembly to appoint Deputy Chief Bill Mims.
"There is not a single person more qualified, or more prepared, to serve as Attorney General than Bill," he said.
McDonnell’s decision leaves Democrat Creigh Deeds, Charlottesville’s rep in the state senate, as the only gubernatorial candidate who is still employed.
That might not be a good thing for Deeds, who is restricted from fundraising while the General Assembly is in session and is falling behind his Democratic rivals in polling as well as fundraising.
According to a poll released yesterday, the Public Policy Polling survey found that Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe is tied in the lead with fellow Democratic candidate Brian Moran with 18 percent. Deeds is in third with 11 percent.
When I spoke with Meghan Eckman last March about the Corner parking lot, the subject of her in-progress documentary film, the local filmmaker had 125 hours of footage and an increasingly clear idea about the lot’s role in the city and the people that gravitate towards it.
"The amazing thing about the lot is that it is an autonomous space,” said Eckman. “It’s surrounded by formal structures of establishment—businesses, bars, the University’s system of rules. But it’s an in-between place.”
At the time, it was hard to get a feel for how such a film might turn out. Now, thanks to a pair of trailers, it’s possible to tease out details about what The Parking Lot Movie might look like upon its completion. Watch the trailers now.
The lot, managed by filmmaker Chris Farina (who filmed the asphalt-concerned West Main Street) has a history of employing students and locals, in addition to the occasional budding rock musician, and the employees seem to be cut from a distinctive type of cloth, although I’d be reluctant to say what that cloth is or where it came from. Instead, you tell me: Anyone have an interesting run-in at the Corner lot? Figurative or literal?
Whole lot of love: Meghan Eckman releases trailers for The Parking Lot Movie. Which is probably easier than parking a trailer in the Corner lot.
There was reason to celebrate in Charlottesville for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won the Super Bowl. Former UVA star and Steeler tight end Heath Miller (No. 83) excelled, says USA Today, and football master John Madden had only kind words for Miller’s blocking in yesterday’s 27-23 win against the Arizona Cardinals.
In last night’s game, Miller had 5 receptions for 57 yards. Fellow former Cavalier James Farrior (No. 51) started at linebacker for the Steelers and led the team with six tackles.
Despite the tough guy image, Miller likes to take long walks with his dogs Charlie and Maria.
"I like to take them hiking, just to be outside," he told USA Today. "My wife (Katie) says I always tend to want to do something. It’s hard for me to sit around."
In 2004, Miller was the first ACC player to win the Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end while at UVA.
Heath Miller was lauded by John Madden for his blocking. The Steelers won against Arizona 27-23.
Good Monday, brick watchers. After a hearty, morale-boosting meal, the weather is unseasonably warm and the crews are working diligently through the start of phase 4 (which, according to the phasing plan, was to start yesterday). Last week’s snowfall meant weekend-long work to make up for lost time. Project Manager Chris Weatherford says, "I wouldn’t say ‘caught up,’ but I’d say we’re catching up." And, he adds, "Now the schedule’s starting to roll."
Here’s what to expect this week:
Completion of the 400 block.
Demolition at the 300 block east (in front of the C-VILLE offices) and at Central Place. (In case you’re confused, Central Place is mainly complete, but crews are finishing up the southern side in front of the Landmark Hotel.)
Installation of granite at the 200 and 400 blocks east.
Utility work at the 200 and 500 blocks east.
Laying of bricks at the 200 block west.
And because we here at Brick Watch love a good visual aid, we’d like to show and tell you about a large Allied Concrete truck that was taking up a portion of W. Second Street at lunchtime. It’s creating a brick-colored grout mixture that will be used to fill holes previously opened to install electrical conduit and, says a worker, "will take a few days to dry."
Speaking of staying dry, Brick Watch hears tonight may bring a mix of rain and snow. Do we see another working weekend in our future?
Is President Obama’s honeymoon over? This question began circulating the media circuit just a day after Obama’s inauguration.
In an essay titled “The Danger of Obama,” John Whitehead, founder and president of The Rutherford Institute here in Charlottesville, makes the case that the end of a bad presidency does not mean the end of bad policy making.
He says that even if Obama has already kept his word on a few campaign promises, the problems that are facing the nation are “insurmountable”: an esclating national debt, a national ID card for every citizen, to name just a few.
“It’s tempting to buy into the idea that Barack Obama, with a stroke of his pen, could make it all go away. But that’s not going to happen. The grim reality is that not every bad policy put in place by George W. Bush and his predecessors will be—or can be—undone by Obama,” he writes.
Are the nation’s problems really insurmountable?
John Whitehead is a constitutional attorney, and author.