A friend of mine who's a biophysicist popped in to see me the other day. He was all excited and showed me his “patent pending” letter for his newest invention.
Christmas
Friday Funny: Residential Snowman Regulations
The planners at Hogle-Ireland have developed a handy set of Holiday Design Guidelines, including Minimum Chimney Access Requirements and Sleigh Parking and Access Standards.
Hogle-Ireland
The Politics of the Public Christmas Tree
Leon Neyfakh of The Boston Globe examines the unexpectedly cohesive political roots of the controversial civic symbol.
The Boston Globe
What Is Christmas Without the Department Store?
Robert David Sullivan writes that the Main Street America department store is a holiday tradition, a grand public crossroads for celebrating the season.
Boston Globe
Christmas Downtown is Saved
Downtown Elizabethtown, North Carolina is in the middle of a huge redevelopment project, and customers were avoiding the mess causing a blue Christmas for shopowners. City Hall stepped in and put a hold on revitalization, and Santa is back in town.
WWAY3
An Urban Santa Claus for New York
For 21 years this urban St. Nick has been delighting visitors to the South Street Seaport in New York.
The New York Times
This Season, Some Light Displays Sacrificed
Around the country, cities have been forced to scrimp by cutting back on holiday-themed light displays.
USA Today
Xmas Gift for the Transit Nut
Lionel is offering its first ever model subway set, recreating the New York subway system complete with station announcements and subway sounds.
The New York Times
The Year Without A Santa Claus
Cities facing budget cuts are cutting back on Christmas decorations and events. Has the Grinch stolen Christmas?
The Wall St. Journal






















