So I'm reading the January 7 issue of the journal Science the other day -- because that's the kind of fun I have -- and I noticed two stories that looked related to me, though apparently not to the editors, who separated them. Science is subscription only on the Web, but I'll put links to the citations, at least. The first was from the journal's NetWatch page, where they highlight cool stuff around the Web.
So I'm reading the January 7 issue of the journal Science the other day -- because that's the kind of fun I have -- and I noticed two stories that looked related to me, though apparently not to the editors, who separated them. Science is subscription only on the Web, but I'll put links to the citations, at least.
The first was from the journal's NetWatch page, where they highlight cool stuff around the Web. It's a site that gives you 3-D images of 151 bird species from around the globe, like the peregrine falcon at right.
So, neat, says I.
But then, seven pages later, there's a news article about how the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia is cutting three of its 10 curators, including Leo Joseph, who was responsible for a 200-year-old collection of preserved birds.
The holdings include many of the earliest specimens collected by North American ornithologists as well as the Australia collection of John Gould.... Experts worry that the absence of a curator to add specimens and conduct his or her own research could undermine it.
You get where I'm going, right? The Web coughs up samples of birds (that you can't touch or hold) at the same time as a rock-solid institution in one of the US' more interesting cities threatens to restrict access to its collection of birds.
Putting aside the old argument about whether the Web is or isn't good because it's restricted to visual and audible stimuli, what's unarguably good about cities is the full spectrum of stimuli and stimulation they offer. And each city is special. We seek out in cities that which is unique -- tallest, oldest, unlike anywhere else. The souk in Cairo. The Empire State Building. The glass flowers at Harvard. The Tower of London.
And we go to these places not just because we're tourists -- even though sometimes we are -- but because you can't see this stuff anywhere else. And getting a look at a spinning 3-D model on the Web is no replacement for being there.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024
The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.

Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy
The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.
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