A few links for you today, as today I have to work on the part of my job that takes up the bulk of my work time: writing editorials, an op-ed column and helping produce the daily Opinion pages of the Observer. So happy reading, y’all.
— MIT scientists say the country could slash the amount of fuel guzzled by a gas-guzzling nation by 30% to 50% by 2035, with such changes as lighter cars, hybrids and fuel cell cars. In other words, newer technologies. Here’s a link to a piece about it. Note, the words “MIT” and “scientists.” That means it’s not light reading.
— Outside magazine’s list of what it deems the Best Towns 2008. No Carolinas towns made this particular list, though Wilmington made the “Rest of the Best” category.
Excerpt: “WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA (POP. 95,900) … With nearby beaches along the Cape Fear coast, an ever-expanding Riverwalk, a National Register historic district comprising more than 230 blocks, and a renewed economy that has been fueled partly by an active filmmaking sector, “Wilmywood” has become much more than a shadow of its former self.”
— NY Times: Downtowns across the U.S. see streetcars in their future. Mentions Charlotte.
— San Jose tries to fight sprawl from the San Francisco Chronicle.