active commuting: cycling, walking, or running to and from work; such a daily routine provides a worker with the health benefits of physical exercise and lower transportation costs while benefiting the environment. *** TROVELOG *** Barely 3 percent of the American work force bikes or walks to work with any frequency, despite the obvious virtues: decreased risks [...]
third places: neutral, convenient, and comfortable public venues (e.g., coffee shops, bars, hair salons, bookstores, parks) where people regularly gather for conversation and companionship (i.e., "first place" is home; "second place" is work). The term was coined by urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his book, The Great Good Place. *** TROVELOG *** At issue, in essence, is whether [...]
range anxiety: the concern that the limited cruising distance of current electric cars -- and the lack of a charging infrastructure -- leaves drivers and passengers at risk of being stranded. *** TROVELOG *** The Bolt can travel nearly 240 miles on a single charge, according to General Motors. The company claims some drivers have traveled 300 [...]
accessory dwelling unit (ADU)/ granny flat: small manufactured or custom-built residential structures located on the lot of a larger home. Used for family member residence or rental income. #accessorydwellingunit #ADU #grannyflat @pat_clark @Nbuhayar @nate_berg *** TROVELOG *** Alexis Rivas opens his Mac laptop and zooms in on a 3D rendering of a house in Echo Park, a [...]
snowfall - Ranking of biggest cities by their record snowfalls. Philadelphia ranks first with 30.7 inches in1996. See graphic at: NYT 06Feb11 - Biggest Cities' Snowfall Records
When people ask me, an American expat, what it’s like living in Canada, I tell them, “It’s kind of like living in the States, if the States were on lithium.” See article at: NYT 02Jan11: "Canada Lights Up" Op-Ed by JOHN VAILLANT, author of “The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival”
homes financed by mortgage loans on which no payments are being made but have yet to be listed in a foreclosure sale. [R]eal estate agents and mortgage brokers wary of optimism are focusing on a new term that has entered the housing lexicon: ghost inventory. Banks appear to be sitting on thousands of homes [...]
