Improbable Things

Urban Ecology

I've been writing a paper for my class. 

No, actually, I haven't. Total brain block. So, ok, here are some thoughts to the world in general, thinking maybe it'll get me started. I'm being hindered by too much time as a hobbyist linguist.

Urban Ecology. What is it?

Ecology originated in a limited scope to mean the interactions of living organisms. But we love mucking up language, so it's grown in meaning to encompass anything that might could act in an environmental or ecological manner, by which many assume we mean "environmentally friendly." I don't assume the friendly part, which is over simplified and too messy. (Half of everything "environmentally friendly or preferable" results in ecological nightmares. Don't get me started on ethanol.) So, can cities act in an ecological manner? Seems pretty obvious that they can and do.

Is it about how to bring ecologically balanced processes to urban areas
or about understanding the ecological processes already at play in urban areas
or about the ecology and evolution of the urban space as an entity
Or about them all? Or something else?

Urban. Even here there is treacherous ground. Can Dubai be compared to Melbourne be compared to New York be compared to Charlottesville? Is DC just the city inside the District lines or the whole metro area? What about density? Portland and DC (District only) have about the same number of inhabitants but are vastly different in area. Should we begin to look at urban areas in terms of their biospheres (watersheds, arable land)? Obviously the impact on the environment of Dubai (desert city) is different from Chicago (close to water and agricultural lands).

Put them together and what do we get? Or are we trying to figure out what we want?

Why I live on Metro

I don't often blog on planning stuff, but it is another thing I geek out on.

The MN Star Tribune has an article on how the cost of gas is increasing the cost of homeownership. The logic has been that it's cheaper to move further out: "Drive until you can afford." But if your commute costs start to reach $500 or even $900 a month, you start to realize that this wasn't truly a wise or sustainable choice.

No lie - that's $6000 to $12000 a year spent on gas alone (no wear and tear, repairs, nothing else) in order to have the house you have. If you only 'saved' $50,K by moving 30 miles out, you'll lose that savings in less than 8 years. Add in that cars are just money-losers (not investments, stop thinking they are) and nothing of the money spent on operating a car is tax-deductible and it really begs the question of how much 'cheaper' the house was.

If you had instead opted to put the money into a more expensive, closer-in house, you'd get a return on the investment, earn a fatter mortgage interest deduction, and spend less time and money on gas. Even if moving in closer only cut a fraction off your commute costs, it's several months' mortgage payment a year. Much better idea.

MURP. MURP.

My day consisted of dressing up in a suit and claiming there are 15,9 billion students in the country. Er. OK, maybe not. But I managed, channeling the power of the Goddess of PowerPoint and finally, really, the degree is completed.

Yes, I do feel relief. I didn't think I would. Is it crazy that I am thinking of classes to take in the Spring? Pottery though this time. Something more tangible.

I came home and made tapioca from scratch, read young adult books, and drank scotch. Double boilers and scotch - not highly recommended, but it worked out in the end. Bill was only lightly singed.

So what amd I doing with my new Masters in Urban and Regional Planning? MURP. Say it with me, it's fun. MURP. MURP. MURP. I have a full time job as a publications manager for an urban planning research group. MURP and BEG (Bachelors of English & German) make me... a marketer? Essentially, yes. Marketing, Education, Community Outreach, Sales - I've never been really clear on the differences. The pay is fine, the hours are good, it's metro accessible, and it's where i already work, so I just do what I do, but Get Paid More! Sweet!

PrintingPrintingPrinting

It is done... for now at least. It may sound weird, but I am hoping it gets kicked back to me for more work. I am actually excited for some real constructive feedback from my advisor and reader.

campsu, capmus, casmup, camsup...
university, univeristy, univeracity...

I have typed these words so often in the last 7 years, you'd think I would have no trouble by now. Instead I can't seem to ever get them right.

Special thanks to Auntie M, Goaty, FMrell and Ms. Daughtrey for reading different parts of different versions. Ya'll kept me concise. No small feat.

WritingWritingWriting: Part II

I think my butt is asleep permanently.

Update: I'm reworking the intro for the third time, totally flipped the thesis around on its head and had a great interview with a guy at Arizona State University (which is ASU, which totally confuses this poor NC girl. ASU is Appalachian State, darn it!).

WritingWritingWriting

until I am donedonedone.

Truth be told, I write the best from 7 pm to 2 am. Which is not to say I write well. I have lost all confidence in my writing after years of having all the soul and individuality sucked out of it. Which is kinda what happens in any large organization, but I lost my own voice in there. I think I once had a knack... but I think it was a skill crafted by practice, not a talent. A skill now rusty.

Rusty creaky writing... wordswordswords, filling pagespagespages. A few good ideas...

I'll be donedonedone so soonsoonsoon.