Transparency...?

For years the IMF and World Bank have rightfully been encouraging borrowing countries to increase the transparency of their governments. I think it is a pretty good idea to know where all of those tax dollars (including the invisible inflation tax) are going. Wouldn't you expect the same in America? Aren't we supposed to be leading those poor developing nations by example. Well, unfortunately, nobody really knows right now how nor where $2 trillion worth of tax payer money has gone for emergency lending during this financial crisis. Bloomberg wants to know, and they have filed lawsuit against the Federal Reserve to find out. The Federal Reserve is currently keeping a very tight lip.

Bloomberg files suit against Federal Reserve

Green Hive

I really like the Green Hive effect suggested by this artist's conception. The design has the vertical elements that reduce the human footprint and the lateral connectivity that adds cohesion. I would love to see something like this happen in Korea, although I know the government would probably choose the most pristine natural area available to build it on.

Check out the article.

I HATE TO BOAST, BUT YOU KNOW I LIKE TO

Now I don't actually think Portland deserves as much credit as it receives for its urban growth boundary, but I do think it is a special city. I actually suspect that Vancouver, B.C. has done a better job of limiting urban sprawl than Portland, but that might be due to the encompassing mountains. Once you get out of P-town proper, the landscape becomes quite a bit more generic, suburban Americana. It's actually quite a spread out metropolitan region in my opinion. However, within Portland proper, I doubt you will find another North American city with as many cyclists as Portland. When I worked downtown, a significant number of my co-workers commuted daily (rain, snow, or shine) to work, and they didn't give it a second thought. It was just part of their daily life.

Here's a nice article giving P-town some props.

Portland, Oregon