There is a phenomenon in Japan that has been growing increasingly prevalent called hikikomori, which translates roughly to “to withdraw inwards.” Hikikomori is not simply introversion, it is a complete social isolation which makes someone a hermit in their own homes. These people stay locked away in their rooms, rejecting any kind of connection to […]
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Judging from my own experiences traveling around the United States, I’d estimate 95% of urban/suburban environments are created in a completely utilitarian manner. These places are not constructed with any artistic intent, and therefore lack a sense of place. The feeling you get when walking through a neighborhood like this is that of being somewhere […]
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Death, taxes, and new strip mall construction, the inevitabilities of life. I’ll leave it to the eccentric billionaires of Silicon Valley to try and tackle the whole death problem, and let the libertarians handle taxes. Strip Malls, on the other hand are a much more complicated phenomena, one as American as apple pie eating contests. […]
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By Dan Goodman Once upon a time, cities grew from the center as one cohesive system, kind of like a miniature big bang. The plaza in the center from which the city developed was called the town square. Smaller plazas throughout the city would often mark centers of individual neighborhoods. These days cities are […]
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By Dan Goodman While my last post was a little harsh on front lawns, I’ve decided to be more positive on the subject. After all, not all front lawns are useless right? A lot of the monotony a pedestrian endures on a typical suburban street could be cured with some well placed gnomes. […]
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Odd Grain Custom Woodwork 