W.T. Dore @WT_Dore@octodon.social
you've seen me on Metafilter, now see me here.
#mefite 'the man of twists and turns'
got me thinking a lot about gradations of politeness and what can be signalled via formal rituals. Like serving high-ranking someones on the second-best set.
just finished reread of #AncillarySword and #AncillaryMercy, am now pricing tea services.
"Problem:
Nobody wants fast through #traffic going by their homes.
Solution:
Lay out local roads so that they form loops. A loop is defined as any stretch of road which makes it impossible for cars that don't have destinations on it to use it as a shortcut. Do not allow any one loop to serve more than 50 cars, and keep the road really narrow - 17 to 20 feet is quite enough." Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language #patternlanguage #christopheralexander
trying to prove to myself I can do basic maintenance and routinely #bikecommute before upgrading.
replaced rear tube and tire, removed chain and cleaned, regreased it. #bikemaintenance
... The houses may be in rows or "hills" with shops beneath, or they may be free-standing, so long as they mix with the other functions, and make the entire area "lived-in."" Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language #patternlanguage #christopheralexander
"Problem:
Wherever there is a sharp separation between residential and nonresidential parts of town, the nonresidential areas will quickly turn to slums.
Solution:
Build houses into the fabric of shops, small industry, schools, public services, universities - all those parts of cities which draw people in during the day, but which tend to be "nonresidential." ...
Turns out #WickerMan is not a date movie
... Solution:
Gradually develop a network of small health centers, perhaps one per community of 7000, across the city; each equipped to treat everyday disease - both mental and physical, in children and adults - but organized essentially around a functional emphasis on those recreational and educational activities which help keep people in good health, like swimming and dancing." Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language #patternlanguage #christopheralexander
"Problem:
More than 90 per cent of the people walking about in an ordinary neighborhood are unhealthy, judged by simple biological criteria. This ill health cannot be cured by hospitals or medicine....
I love markets like this. Or shopping streets, that have the bakery, deli, fruit, cheesemonger, hot foods, all in a row.
... Build the structure of the market as a minimum, which provides no more than a roof, columns which define aisles, and basic services. Within this structure allow the different shops to create their own environment, according to their individual taste and needs." Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language #patternlanguage #christopheralexander
"Problem:
It is natural and convenient to want a market where all the different foods and household goods you need can be bought under a single roof. But when the market has a single management, like a supermarket, the foods are bland, and there is no joy in going there.
Solution:
Instead of modern #supermarkets, establish frequent #marketplaces, each one made up of many smaller shops which are autonomous and specialized (cheese, meat, grain, fruit, and so on). ...
... Front these shops on a busy path, and lease them for a minimum rent to ad hoc community groups for political work, trial services, research, and advocate groups. No ideological restrictions." Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language #patternlanguage #christopheralexander
"Problem:
The local town hall will not be an honest part of the community which lives around it, unless it is itself surrounded by all kinds of small #community activities and projects, generated by the people for themselves.
Solution:
Allow the growth of shop-size spaces around the local #townhall, and any other appropriate community building. ...
... Give the building three parts: an arena for public discussion, public services around the arena, and space to rent out to ad hoc community projects." Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language #patternlanguage #christopheralexander
"Problem:
Local #government of #communities and local control by the inhabitants, will only happen if each community has its own physical town hall which forms the nucleus of its political activity.
Solution
To make the political control of local functions real, establish a small #townhall for each community of 7000, and even for each neighborhood; locate it near the busiest intersection in the community. ...
Got a flat tire on my #bikecommute home. pro - 3/4 of way there. Con: at last bus stop, had to walk rest of way
... Physically, the university marketplace has a central crossroads where its main buildings and offices are, and the meeting rooms and labs ripple out from this crossroads - at first concentrated in small buildings along pedestrian streets and then gradually becoming more dispersed and mixed with the town." Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language #patternlanguage #christopheralexander
"Problem:
Concentrated, cloistered #universities, with closed admission policies and rigid procedures which dictate who may teach a course, kill opportunities for #learning.
Solution:
Establish the #university as a marketplace of #highereducation. As a social conception this means that the university is open to people of all ages, on a full-time, part-time, or course by course basis. Anyone can offer a class. Anyone can take a class. ...
