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Book Review: The Color of Law

Years ago, I don't remember exactly when, I learned about redlining , disinvestment in America's cities, and how African American families were denied the opportunities given to white families to buy homes in new suburban neighborhoods throughout the early to mid 20th century.  But I thought these racist practices were pursued by individual banks and maybe local governments; I didn't think much about the widely-heard statement that de facto segregation (that is, individual or socially-enforced segregation, not government-enforced segregation) was the common practice during the Jim Crow era (1870s-1960s) .  But it turns out I was wrong, as historian Richard Rothstein persuasively argues in The Color of Law (2017), and it was actually de jure , government-sponsored and enforced, segregation that afflicted American cities across the country.  It was not just the racism of specific banks or bankers that created redlining and white flight, but government policies, at the fe
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Spotlight On: Design & Construction Disasters

In graduate school, we took mandatory courses in "Building Technology" that covered structural and mechanical design, with some general information about other building systems thrown in.  The focus was on understanding how to select appropriate systems, in general terms, so that we could work well in the future with engineers and other building professionals.  Architects typically rely on structural engineers, MEP engineers, sometimes even building envelope consultants, and others, to complete the technical design parts of the project (produce structural calculations, fixture calculations, etc), but we are expected to understand this work well enough to properly advise our clients, ensure that the project meets all of its objectives, and is designed as a coordinated whole. That said, I am not too surprised that we did not spend any time learning about building failures, except in a vague and anecdotal way.  I think most architects are familiar with the famous Frank Lloyd

The Great Move 2019: A Southern Sabbatical

Hello from Virginia, our new, albeit temporary, home! As part of a program through J's work, we will be spending the next four months in Hampton, Virginia, a town in the Virginia Beach - Norfolk - Newport News area, also known as Hampton Roads .  J will be teaching first-year computer science at Hampton University , a historically black university (HBCU), as part of the Google-in-Residence  (GIR) program.  As for me, I have left CAW, and will be taking a sabbatical while I figure out what's next.  Our plan is to return to the Bay Area in January, and move to San Francisco. We vacated our apartment at the beginning of August, put everything into storage, and left for DC, where J had training before starting at Hampton.  While we were sorry to leave our great apartment in Mountain View, I think we were both ready for something new.  We also said good-bye to my beloved 2006 Pontiac Vibe, which went to a new home. During our week in DC, I took the opportunity to visit

Visiting Death Valley

Last month, J's parents invited us and his brother to meet them in Death Valley for a weekend trip over Easter weekend.  Somehow Easter in Death Valley seemed appropriate, so we agreed.  We packed up our best western gear and headed for the desert. Day 1 - Friday We had an uneventful flight from San Jose to Las Vegas, where we met J’s brother at the airport, and were picked up by his parents in a giant, black Jeep Wrangler, nicknamed Monique, which would be our road trip vehicle for the weekend. Our first stop was Whole Foods, to stock up on provisions, which for today’s modern family includes water, shrimp rolls, artisanal cheese and crackers, a mango smoothie, and chocolate-covered almonds -- only the essentials. We then drove out to Death Valley, losing signal as soon as we left the Whole Foods parking lot, and relying on the downloaded maps I had remembered to save to my phone before we left home. We took NV-160 through Pahrump and Death Valley Junction, following the

Visiting Vancouver

This past weekend, we went to Vancouver for a few days so that J could participate in Lindy Bout.  I went along to see the sights and visit with college friends who live nearby.  I would try to say something cute about the weather, but I think my humor would be too dry for this climate.  Suffice to say, it rained some of the time, but I didn't let it dampen my spirits.  For the full photo set, use this link. We arrived Thursday night after a delayed flight, and took the SkyTrain and bus to our Airbnb close to Granville Island.  J went to dance, and I went to bed. Friday Our Airbnb host was excellent and gave us an orientation and suggestions for places to check out.  I started the day with a blueberry-jasmine croissant from Beaucoup Bakery , which he recommended, and which was just a couple blocks away.  The croissant was delicious, and I got crumbs everywhere while waiting for the bus to downtown.  The bus ride was less than 15 minutes and put me right in the middle of down