TED2004 In James Howard Kunstler’s view, public spaces should be inspired centers of civic life and the physical manifestation of the common good. Instead, he argues, what we have in America is a nation of places not worth caring about. (An oldie but a goodie.)

Maya Lin’s Green Memorial. What Is Missing? focuses on extinct and vanishing species, and incorporates sculpture, video, sound, hand-held electronics, printed material and an interactive website. More at Maya Lin’s Studio.

We’re trashing the planet. We’re trashing each other. And we’re not even having fun. So, let’s turn this spaceship planet earth around. Presented by the Story of Stuff Project and Free Range Studios.

The Rest Saving The West

The Competition: We live in a complex world, one full of inequities and wonderful things. Our fellows in the First World have been concerned for awhile with us having the major share of the badness, so we thought, why don’t we pay back? After all, their life isn’t problem-free either. And that’s where this competition starts. We’re calling artists, designers, tinkerers, makers, and thinkers with an idea to participate. Two con­ditions only: you were born in and live right now in a Developing Country and you are 13 years of age or older.

Areas of Focus:
• Reducing obesity.
• Addressing aging population and low birth rate.
• Reducing consumption rate of mass produced goods.
• Integrating the immigrant population.

Obsessive Consumption the Book

Our friend Kate, from the Office of Kate Bingaman-Burt, has a book out. It’s pretty great. Quoting now: “I love documenting the mundane and, in turn, putting a personal face on something that is mass-produced. I make work about personal consumerism, market economies, guilt, joy, excess, more guilt, gifts, celebration, repetition, and the community of these shared experiences.” She’s going on her Summer Zoom 2010. Really nice stuff. Enjoy.