James Howard Kunstler ponders our built enironment and our insatiable thirst for cheap foreign oil.
"Now, six months into the 'War on Terrorism' our denial level concerning how we live -- and the peril this places us in -- remains sky-high. This is especially true concerning oil, the commodity underlying all of our current living arrangements and economic relations. Except on this subject, denial devolves into delusion."The truth is, we are nearly up against the wall where oil is concerned. As I write, the big cheese of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has proposed a one-month oil export boycott by Islamic nations against the US. Suicide bombers happily give their lives up for the chance to injure Americans and Israelis; do you suppose that members of that culture would not give up some revenue, too?"Alternative fuels are not going to solve these problems... I wish my fellow ex-hippies and environmentalist friends would give a little less of their time to projects like hybrid vehicles and concentrate instead on the walkable community side of the equation. That is where the big payoff in conservation lies for this nation."
Thanks to Dan Zack
FULL STORY: Maul of America

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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