one last caltrans bit
December 26, 2004 by Eric Richardson
This quote comes from an article in the NY Times:
But in our security-obsessed age, the [Caltrans] building's spirit of openness makes it exceptional. Its vast "urban lobby" is carved through its core, sucking surrounding street life inside.
What?
If you wanted to suck street life inside the "lobby", you'd have punched a hole through to Los Angeles St. and the New Otani. As it is I don't even feel like I should be mounting the front steps. As is habit in LA, the plaza doesn't have anywhere to sit. It's concrete, with metal. That sort of an environment doesn't really suck many people in.
Hopefully the public eatery that's supposed to go in will change some of that.
revisiting the caltrans building
December 26, 2004 by Eric Richardson
The LA Times today comes back to the Caltrans building, talking about how some occupants think the fancy exterior led to skimping on the inside. I have heard that before, that the project's limited budget led to the bulk of the design money going into the shell of the building, leaving little imagination to the office space inside. I don't really have a take on the water fountain situation... If Caltrans is giving people free bottled water that seems fine, but I don't really know what the case is. I haven't taken much opportunity to come back and address the Caltrans building now that it's occupied... — Continue Reading...
is santa bringing more money?
December 25, 2004 by Eric Richardson
Blogging on Christmas? About actual news? Tisk tisk... Oh well.
The LA Times today has an article on neighborhood council spending. It paints a (favorable) picture of how councils use their money, and quotes several council members who say that the system needs more funding. That's a complicated issue.
merry christmas
December 24, 2004 by Eric Richardson
It's Christmas here, though I know those of you on the west coast have a couple more hours until the calendar flips over (and indeed the timestamp on this post will be Dec. 24). I still have to wrap two presents and finish up one more, but other than that I'm set.
Being back here in the snow and the cold really does remind me just how glad I am to be out in warm California. Say what you want about the place, but the weather is tough to top. The snow I just had to brush off the car tells me it's going to be a white Christmas (well, as does the snow already on the ground and the forecast high of 21). I'll take that, for a week or two, but as soon as possible I'll be back on that plane headed to LA, where tomorrow it's supposed to be 67.
All I want for Christmas is for the MTA to understand that NextBus is a really cool thing, and that not all of its buses run so frequently that it's not needed. I've just missed the 38 a few too many times for me to believe you on that one...
an honor and an anniversary
December 23, 2004 by Eric Richardson
I've spent most of the day today battling eThreads2, working on comments support and a couple other things I want to roll back out ASAP. Comments are getting really close... I still need to figure out a couple things, but I'm really hoping to have them up for Christmas.
Jonah over at LA Blogs named this blog one of the Notable Blogs - 2004. I join the other commenters on that post in saying that I really don't deserve the distinction. I've always figured I was the majority of my readership; I can't tell you how many times I've "remembered" something by looking up what I wrote about it here...