Oklahoma Dreaming: Make Your House Affordable
by Donna Schoenkopf
Don't throw away ANY wood. It is unbelievable what you can build with it. Just lay it on the ground if it is in plank form and you have instant walkways and decks. Hey, if it rots, just put in another plank. You can make gorgeous walkways of all different kinds of wood. Your artistic ability is all that is needed. {more from Donna}
Masterplanning!
Political Development, De-Political Design
(part 1)
by Tony Chavira
The response he got was practically unanimous: "This project’s too big. Get a city council member on your side and then we’ll see about that research you need." {more from Tony}
Bad Developments: 12 - Rain, Rain, Go Away
by Nathan Walpow
I dreamed I was playing with the L.A. Philharmonic. I was in charge of the cymbals, responsible for one big crash. Right before it was due I lost count of the measures and freaked out. Then Michelle Obama came out of the wings and crashed the cymbals and saved my ass. {start at the beginning} {more from Nathan}
I Am Pigeon Man (part 2)
by Pat Devine
The sound coming from atop my ceiling was akin to a brawl between two clumsy drunks on a peanut shelled bar floor. After a crash that sounded like something was going to come through the ceiling in my kitchen I threw off my covers and did what any lunatic without a weapon does. I sat for an hour and composed an e-mail.
Lost in OC: Parched and Gay, Welcome to the New California
by Jim Washburn
For about $109,870,000 less than the production budget of Live Free or Die Hard, real-life terrorists could cut off the conduits supplying LA’s water—or flood it with salt water by blowing some Central Cal dikes—and then sit back to see how soon the white-on-white killing starts over that last latte on La Brea. {more from Jim}
Up From the Co-op: On Our Way to Suburbia
by Robin Starr
Almost every wall was covered with white paneling with gold streaks (which covered two layers of hideous 1950s and 1960s wallpaper). The carpet was a sculpted Kelly green, and the kitchen was a mess, metallic copper appliances and all. The main bath had pink and black tile with red fleur-de-lis flocked wallpaper.
What if Global Warming Were a Gigantic Liberal Lie?
by Tony Chavira
Let's assume that this thrust toward environmentalism is really all a lie imposed on United States legislation. Let's assume that the Earth is not in peril, and instead that this is all just an attempt for knee-jerk liberal types to try and gain control of our federal agenda and force socialist regulation on us. {more from Tony}
Bent Flyvbjerg: Teach Your Kids It's Not a Dirty Word
by David Deutsch
Know his name. Care about what he has to say. Because he's probably the world's leading expert on wasteful public works projects. And he can prove with scientific certainty that the vast majority of public works projects will likely cost a lot more than their publicly-touted price. And this is not an accident.
How to Gain and Lose a House in Ten Months
by Mike Plunkett
In a sign of perpetual political irony, Congress passed a resolution celebrating April as "Financial Literacy Month." This came as the President decried Congress for not doing anything to pass his legislation to boost the economy, while Congress decried the President and Republicans for stonewalling legislation. {more from Mike}
Daddy, How Come I'm Named Char-Lanta
and My Brother is Named Greater Tokyo?
Mike Plunkett reviews Who's Your City? by Dr. Richard Florida
Globalization amalgamates the world and redefines community and neighbor. Physicality is reassigned value in the hierarchy of needs. Place is immaterial. Mike kindly translates the academic-speak into English. {more from Mike}
Video Interview: Tent City Redux
conducted by Jim Washburn
Homeless Go Home! That's pretty much the message in Ontario these days, where March 24 was the city-imposed moving day for hundreds of homeless persons living in ramshackle Tent City near Ontario Airport. Residents who couldn't provide proof of having lived in Ontario were asked to move on. {more video interviews}
Video Interview: Irvine Mayor Beth Krom
conducted by Jim Washburn
Irvine has more affordable housing units than most cities, so it came as a shock last year when the SoCal Association of Governments ordained that it must build 21,000 affordable units by 2014. Mayor Beth Krom is none too pleased about this, as you'll discover in this second of two parts of her FourStory interview. {more video interviews}
The Underbelly: The Final Installment
by Gary Phillips
The first chunk of The Underbelly was one of three stories we posted in FourStory's initial week, seven long months ago. New pieces have appeared like clockwork, every two weeks. But now Magrady's journey comes to an end—at least for the time being. Check out the exciting conclusion. (Came in late? You can find Installment 01 here and an index to all episodes here.)
At least an order of magnitude more news coverage.