Misc. Thoughts
As you know, when you spend a lot of time alone, your mind is likely to make unfortunate and sometimes very wonderful connections. So here are three random thought patterns that I found quite exhilirating thinking. Hope you might as well.
New York License Plates
Many cars, trucks, signs, and logos have the WTC implanted in their logos or other identities. For some reason or other, the Great State of New York, in its infinite wisdom, decided, when it redid its license plates a few years ago, to use the Empire State building to represent the city. The “country” is represtented by big mountains, probably a cartoon of an Adirondack mtn. Could you imagine what would happen if every license plate had to be “recalled” in order for a designer to come up with a new theme or image?
The Value of Trees
Why are some neighborhoods “worth” more than others? Why does a building down the street from me go for $700,000 (asking but not getting) when other buildings not far away (oh, two miles or so) go for 1/2? I think it’s trees. There are a million and one reasons why people prefer locations to other locations, esp. in NYC. But here’s what trees do:
-Provide shade and color and coolness in summer and spring
-Protect pedestrians from cars and people who drive cars
-Direct the eye upward toward powerful skyful things
-Ensure a rooted feeling in the neighborhood (pun intended, yes)
So, the question is, why are there so few trees in the city, comparatively? What would it cost to put 10,000 or 200,000 trees all over NYC streets?
Basement Coolness
More a way of thinking than a question. I lived in two basement apartments in my life and recently visited a friend living in one now. I wonder, to what extent is the coolness felt in the basement of a city apartment, attributable to the fact that cool air sinks and stays at the ground and to what extent is it because the basement is close to the earth, which is coolish? My guess:
80/20. Thoughts? Email me?