World
Global issues, U.N., etc.
Is New Solar-Powered Ford a Game Changer?
Though their lack of emissions is admirable, the knock on electric vehicles is that their power is likely derived from dirty sources. Could a new solar-powered car unveiled by Ford kick-start the era of renewable energy-powered transportation?

5 City IT Projects to Watch in 2014
Here are five urban IT projects that are set to win big this year -- and serve as examples for cities everywhere.
U.S. Oil Boom to Reduce World Prices While Global Coal Consumption Surges
Gas prices will drop due to surging U.S. oil production according to an U.S. Energy Dept. report. Another report from the International Energy Agency points to surging carbon dioxide emissions, not from oil but from coal burning, largely from China.
Self-Driving Cars Will Rule the Road by 2050
A new study by IHS Automotive predicts that 54 million self-driving cars will be on the road by 2035, and that every car will be autonomous by 2050.
The Streets Have Spoken: 2013 Streetsies Awarded
Streetsblog has announced the winners of its annual readers' poll on the year's best in sustainable transportation and livable communities.
Global Warming Becomes Hot Spot for U.S. State Department
While secretary of state John Kerry has been jetting around the world pushing for peace in the world's hot spots, the State Department has been undergoing a top-down pivot to address a topic no less daunting: global warming.
Top 10 City Scandals of 2013
As we bid farewell to 2013, here are the Top 10 scandals that cast a negative light on some global cities this past year.
Building a Better Public Bench
A session on urban furniture at the 2013 ASLA Annual Meeting in Boston traced the history of the public bench, from 14th century Tuscan civic benches to 3D modeled seating arrangements that embrace "ergonomically-sound geometries".
A Lesson in Translating Archibabble
Much of the language used by globetrotting architects and academics to describe their projects and concepts is indecipherable to those not up to speed on biomorphology or french philosophy. BD offers a helpful guide for speaking architect.

Christmas Funny: Snowmen Protest Global Warming
On this winter holiday, it's important to remind each other of the overlooked victims of global warming: the world's snowmen and snowwomen. Read this classic, but no less relevant, story from the satirical newspaper The Onion.
Reaching the Limits of Passionate Defense: Time to Turn Back
Ben Brown confronts the politics of NO and finds -- spoiler alert(!) -- "to score, you need to shoot, and to shoot, you need the puck." Welcome to the waning days of Passionate D.
Friday Eye Candy: The Surreal Architecture of Victor Enrich
After seven months of work, Víctor Enrich has shared "NHDK", an enchanting exploration of how to rethink the everyday environments that surround us. The project is the artist's latest experiment in digital manipulation and provocation.
The Architectural Year in Review
Metropolis magazine has gathered some of the world's most influential critics and thinkers to propose the most important buildings, products, and events from the past year in architecture and design.
Will the "Copenhagen Wheel" Revolutionize Cycling?
Developed by researchers at MIT in consultation with representatives from the Danish capital, the Copenhagen Wheel is a new technology that transforms your bike into a "smart electric-hybrid".

The Best Maps of 2013
GIS Lounge is back with its list of the "most interesting and best" maps of the year. This year's honorees make traffic flows come to life, track global bike share inventory, and visualize regional differences in American speech.
Energy Boom Warrants Rethinking 1970's Energy Policies
Harkening back to the long lines at gas stations that erupted after the 1973 Arab oil embargo, followed by diminishing oil production, US crude oil exports were prohibited. With production booming, energy czar Ernest Moniz may reconsider that policy.
Is Peak Oil Demand In Sight?
With driving and oil consumption declining across many developed countries due to long-term structural shifts, Nick Butler sees reason to believe the world will soon reach peak oil demand.
Happy City Highlights
Hazel Borys shines today's PlaceShaker spotlight on "Happy City" by Charles Montgomery. Check it out and you'll be questioning our collective priorities in no time. C'mon get happy!
Friday Funny: The World's Worst Place to Raise a Child
The Mariana Trench has beaten out Mt. Everest, the cone of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano, and St. Louis to claim the title of the world's worst place to raise a child for the seventh consecutive year, reports the satirical newspaper The Onion.
These 10 Countries Are Ready for Renewable Energy
The World Economic Forum has reported on the state of national energy networks around the world and which countries are doing the most to embrace renewable energy technology.
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service