The Past

History, that is our knowledge of the past, can inform or help us understand current events.  As bad as things may seem, there usually is a time in the past when things were worse.  Present time thinking has a way of fogging a long-term view, both past and future.  Technology and persons may change, but similarities between events exist.  Many communities like to have some slogan to describe and promote their city or village, many related to a historic event or the start of some event that made the community fairly well known.  Time, however, has a way of diluting this heritage and at some point the city or chamber motto may well lack any connection or relevance to current public recognition or reality outside of the host community.  Milwaukee and Detroit are not the beer and motor cities they were in forty or fifty years ago.  The City of Edmonton, in Canada, eh, last year removed its motto as they believed it no longer relevant.  Their motto was “City of Champions.”  

Man Mound Park, northeast of Baraboo, WI (author photo)

Some time was spent this past Saturday in Baraboo, WI.  Baraboo is an older community with a nice courthouse, as the county seat of Sauk County, and posseses a downtown with some well-kept buildings.  Some parts of the downtown are, however, getting tired looking, having become victim to the suburban shopping movement.   It is odd how we as a nation like to visit these small quaint downtown areas that are link to the past when a central business district was truly a central business district, but yet often visit the sprawl mall, making those historic downtowns less desirable.  Today, in Baraboo second hand stores and food and beverage places seem more prevalent nestled among the financial institutions.  Baraboo calls itself, the “Gem City” not because of diamonds, emeralds or sapphires, but due to attractions near and in the community.  Baraboo is just north of Devil’s Lake State Park, one of most visited parks in the state of Wisconsin.  It is south of the International Crane Foundation, and the large Man Mound Indian mound located on Man Mound Road, now almost too close to the city edge. Other than Devil’s Lake, iBaraboo is most defined by the Circus World Museum.  The museum is located on the former winter grounds of the Ringling Brothers Circus, along the banks of the Baraboo River, only  few blocks south of the courthouse. 

Sauk County Courthouse, Baraboo WI (author photo)

The problem is that circuses’ seem to be a thing of the past.  Attendance at the museum has been spotty in recent years.  Years ago, a circus would travel to destinations by wagon, then it was by train, and now by semi.  They would stake their tents on an open field, and parade through the town with their gleaming circus wagons to attract interest.  Today few do the tents, desiring the indoor arenas.   Perhps acknowlding the past, or looking for unspent stamps by collectors, the postal service this year has stamps out recognizing the Ringling Circus.  Years ago my wife and I took our children to Circus World Museum, the one and only time I was on to the grounds.  The former circus parade, consisting primarily of museum circus wagons used to be held annually in Milwaukee, has seen costs rise to the point it is no longer viable to stage.  It shifted to Baraboo, but it too is falling victim to costs.  Yet, as famous as the Ringling Brothers circus was, it may be coming a past memory, and may not be in the collective conscience of millennials, the i-generation and other young souls. 

Ringling Brothers (Google Images)

Five of seven Ringling brothers began performing acts in town halls across the state in 1882.  In 1884 they entered the big leagues when they founded the Ringling Brothers Circus.  Ringling Brothers bought out the Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1907, hence giving the name most recognized today, and the moniker “The Greatest Show on Earth”.  The Gollmar Brothers Circus was also founded in Baraboo by cousins of the Ringling’s in 1891.  Beyond the Circus World Museum, Baraboo contains a few other gems related to its past circus heritage which had come to define the city, and the city now uses to define itself.  There is the Al Ringling home, built of dark red stone, which is now in the process of being restored and to become a Bed and Breakfast after years of use as the local Elk’s Club.  There is the Al Ringling Theater which was recently restored, and is a masterpiece for a small town.  For a few years I had the pleasure of working in the Baraboo Courthouse and the desk (really table) I occupied looked out over the theater.   There is a wood sided Ringling home along Hwy 33 a couple blocks from downtown, already a B&B.  But, there may be a growing disconnect.  On our visit to Baraboo one of the plans was to possibly tour the Al Ringling home. When mentioned to one of our children that we may be doing this, he confessed that he had never heard of Al Ringling, or the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.  The Greatest Show in Earth, is apparently no longer well known.  Other avenues and events have been opened and available to children today compared with children 100 years ago.  Our son was very young, about two, on our trip to the Circus World Museum.  With creepy clowns continuing to terrorize there will likely be even less interest in a circus since they did so much to popularize clowns.

Downtown Baraboo (Google Images)

With this disconnect, how long can Baraboo and its nod to the circus heritage continue?  It is already 98 when the Ringlings ceased using Baraboo as their winter quarters.   Yet, signs of the circus are well prevalent in the community.  Bike racks are in the shape of a wagon wheel, the water tower is painted like a big top tents of old, and even the new Highway 12 bypass contains circus images, as artwork, on its over/under passes.  The old winter grounds, and hometown of the Ringling’s still defines Baraboo to a large degree.  As years go by, and the circus history of the community moves out of memory, the Al Ringling home and theater will be less known for its circus history than as landmarks in a town from a once wealthy citizen.  One may not know if he was a brewer, financier, or industrialist of a once past industry during the gilded age.  What remains, and hopefully will continue to remain, is the link these buildings provide to a national past that is long fading into the sunset of our collective memory.  

Interior of Al Ringling Theater (Google Images)

November 8

This year on November 8 the United States will be electing the 45th person to hold the office of the presidency. Politics, is not new, nor are elections with dirty tricks, or personal attacks on the opposition candidate. Politics have probably been around as long as the human race has been able to communicate. Aristotle (384 BC to 322 BC) once wrote that human beings by nature are political animals. Our political nature, according to Aristotle, primarily comes from our ability to communicate certain moral concepts such as justice. To say that this presidential election has tested the national patience would be a vast understatement. To adjust from Thomas Paine: these are the times that try our souls. This makes me recall the famous beginning statement of Cicero's first attack on Catiline in 63 BC: "When, O Catiline, do you mean to cease abusing our patience?" The purpose of this piece is to not discuss the current election cycle, rather it is to discuss the events and circumstances surrounding what historians call the Catiline Conspiracy, and a few of the many similarities to current events.

Catiline

In the year 63 BC both Cicero and Catiline were near the top of the political hierarchy.  Cicero had some tremendous skills as an orator, which to his advantage that early November day in 63 BC.  Cicero was born into a wealthy landed family, not in Rome, but in a community about 70 miles north, Arpinum.  Even though born to wealth, Cicero's roots were surpassed in the amount of blue-blood by Catiline who counted among his ancestors one of the ancient mythical founders of the Eternal City.  In addition, Catiline's great grandfather was a hero of the wars against the man with the elephants--Hannibal.  However, from a political stand point Cicero was Counsel, at the time the highest position within the republic of Rome.  Showing that the favored blue-blood line, often thought to be a high advantage in Roman politics, had its limits Catiline had twice run for Counsel, but had been denied, most recently in that year of 63BC.

Cicero

The Counsel election between the two was testy, and even though Cicero was a "new man", that is not of the blue-blood stock that Catiline possessed. Catiline was hampered by his past which included an acquittal of violating a Vestal Virgin.  Cicero would go on to win the election with the backing of the rich and the powerful.  According to classical historian Mary Beard, the "Roman electoral system openly and unashamedly gave extra weight to the votes of the rich."  In the end, the powerful rich elites of Rome would see to the election of the new man. Control of a political system by the rich and the elites is not new, they put their interests first, as observed by Julian Assange.  The US system is less openly, but just as unashamedly, interested in promoting the political elites.  All Bernie Sanders desired was a level playing field, but interplay between the national media and the DNC would not provide such.  Democracy depends upon a free and independent media, (a fourth check and balance, if you will) but such exists in name only and certainly not in practice. 

Roman Curia Building.  Last rebuilt in 283 AD
1990 photo by author

What was different for Catiline?  Why did a blue-blood son of Rome fall?  While born into money, the economic times just prior to 63 BC left him with a great deal of debt, almost bankrupt. A Roman version of our great recession.  Perhaps he overextended on loans unable to pay them back due to economic rough times.  More likely, as reported, his two runs for Counsel would have required significant resources leaving him near bankrupt.  To reclaim his funds, and his honor, Catiline took on a very populist agenda, one that would seal his fate.  Not only did he promote cancellation of debt, but he wanted to put forth proscription of wealthy citizens into military service, and other items to champion the oppressed and the poor.  This would appeal to a wide arrange of Romans, but the vote of the underclass was not enough to overcome the extra weight given the rich.  As Beard says: "claiming that he was a down-and-out standing up for other down-and-outs could hardly have endeared him to the elite voters." Rich Romans were beginning to raise eye brows with their plush private houses, fitted with Greek sculpture and paintings.  They would not wish to their lifestyle challenged.  Less than one year ago former President Bill Clinton said in a speech that  lower income whites don't have anything to look forward to when they get up in the morning."  Catiline understood this about ancient Rome, and it would lead him to make a decision which in our 21st century mind we would find abhorrent, but was not uncommon, and would become more common in the years of the empire, rebellion and possibly murder.

Famous painting of Cicero's Oration.  Catiiline  sits alone.
It lacks historical accuracy in a number of ways.

Cicero, was one of two counsels, and believed a rebellion would lead to his death.  Cicero would find out about Catiline's potential adventure and with the oration provided by his experience as a lawyer, he would take to the Temple Jupiter before a crowd of 600 senators to lay out a case against Catiline.  Mixing fact, with fiction and innuendo, and adding theatrics, such as wearing a breast plate and entering with an armed guard, Cicero would make an argument against Catiline.  As a Rome slumlord, Cicero knew his fortunes would falter if Catiline were successful with his proposed reforms.  Catiline, who was in attendance as a senator, attempted to defend himself.  Realizing his fate, he would leave town that evening.  Catiline was not alone, he had garnered support not just among the poor and indigent, but also among others of the ruling class that had seen their fortunes decline.

Part of Roman Forum
1990 photo by author

Cicero would formulate a brilliant plot to weed these men out.  As Counsel, Cicero obtained from the senate powers to do what was necessary to protect the republic.  Today we would call these emergency powers.  In his methods, Cicero's actions would bring to the fore the question of what level of civil rights should be sacrificed for the good of the republic.  Over 2000 years later there is still not an answer as western democracies still struggle with this issue.  A number of Catiline's supporters were captured and within a month Cicero discussed what should be done with the men in custody.  Relying on the decree of emergency powers, and with support of some senators, Cicero had the men executed. Julius Caesar, would suggest that the men simply be imprisoned, a rather novel idea at the time since prisons were likely viewed only holding cells for an upcoming execution. Catiline would meet death leading forces against the Roman army in 62 BC.

The phrase has entered the popular lexicon

Typical of members of ruling class and their ever increasing levels of hubris, Cicero had the men executed without trial. In first century BC Rome the people made the laws, and elected (well sort of) the Counsels.  In 58 BC opponents of Cicero would argue that whatever the emergency powers granted to him, the executions of Catiline's followers deprived Roman citizens of a fundamental right--that being a fair trial. One could say it was Cicero's version of a drone strike.  Resentment to his actions peaked and Cicero was exiled for a year, and his main home destroyed.  The decline of his career would parallel the decline of the Roman Republic.  Cicero had supported Julius Caesar's rival Pompey, and after Caesar's assassination, he supported Brutus for Governor.   Within 20 years the Roman Republic would end, and following Caesar's assassination, leading to the rise of Augustus (Gaius Octavius).  Republics are fragile institutions dependant upon moral concepts of justice and right and wrong.  Whatever the outcome of this election, we can expect something similar to that by Cicero in 63 BC: "Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra".

Falling Leaves

Fall, is the season before winter, and is the only one of the four to have two names--fall and autumn.  Many commentators say that in the English speaking world most persons, up until the late 18th century at least, only recognized the seasons as summer and winter.  The season we know as fall was first known as harvest.  Autumn is an English version of a French word that likely not only had its origins in Latin, but also in Etruscan.  Fall likely got its name from what happens to leaves this time of year.  While the English may have chosen not to discuss much about spring and fall (autumn) until the late 18th century, famed Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi had already written the work for which he is most famous--"The Four Seasons." This work was written about 1723.  Vivaldi obviously wanted to recognize the four seasons.

Autumn Purple Ash, Oct 1, 2013

Many people like fall, not for having to rake leaves, but for the cooler temperatures, and sometimes brisk days.  One can enjoy a hot beverage, or comfort foods such as soup and chili and let them do what they do best--warm you up inside.  Of course, every year sees its variety of weather, and this year the wet and cloudy days did not for fall color viewing make.  On October 20 my wife and I took our first excursion to New Glarus Woods State Park hoping to see what we may of the fall colors.  But, we were too late as the colors were well past their peak.  The weekend prior to October 20 was dull and gray, and it was during the intermediate week that the wind and rain took their toll on many trees.

Autumn Purple Ash, Oct. 1, 2016

Last week Friday (October 28), my wife and I both took off work to celebrate our anniversary which was on Thursday.  We of course did what most couples would do on their anniversary--we took a hike. This hike was undertaken at Lapham Peak unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.  The area is full of hiking trails, and the Ice Age trail runs through the park.  The fall colors at this location were also past peak, but not to the same degree as at New Glarus Woods five days earlier. The park also contains the highest point in Waukesha County--Lapham Peak, which had been known as Government Hill, until renamed by initiative of the Waukesha County Historical Society to recognize the efforts of famed UW Scientist Increase Lapham.  At this location his efforts mainly focused on weather forecasting.  One wonders what Increase would make of the climate and change Wisconsin and world face today.

Neighbor's street tree looking as viewed from the south

Nature, like weather, is variable.  Some trees are now just at their peak, and a maple in our yard has yet to show signs of turning.  Unfortunately, this maple lacks any of the expressive red and yellows of the street tree in our neighbor's yard.  Saturday, October 29, was a nice warm day but as the wind picked up over the course of the day this maple street tree was losing its leaves at an abundant rate.  Later in the afternoon the brisk breeze was on its last legs and the neighbor on whose property the tree sits started to rack up the leaves, even though many more have yet to fall.  With Wisconsin weather, one never knows what the next day will bring, so perhaps she thought it best to do what she could.  Her young toddler son was enjoying an activity that most kids enjoy--playing in the leaf pile.  Even as an adult leaf piles can be fun to jump into.  As I was outside, the youngest son of the neighbors on the other side of us started running over to the house with the maple.  After yelling, Hi Tom!, he was off with arms wide open.  The toddler got out of the leaf pile and was toddling toward him with arms wide open as well, but the older boy just kept going and jumped  into the leaf pile.  I thought they were to give each other a hug, and the toddler's mom, by the comment given, thought the same.  The leaf pile was too much of a distraction.  After all, we are talking about boys, for who a leaf pile will not remain a leaf pile for long. (I did not notice the toddler's six year old sister playing in the leaf pile.)  I know this from past experience.  The joy of the child is just another work activity for the adult, but on a nice day like last Saturday raking is accomplished with a measure of love.    Leaves and love perhaps an odd combination, but it is a way to enjoy the season as is a warm cup of hot cider.

Neighbor's street as viewed from north

What is also interesting about the maple tree in that one neighbor's yard is that the leaves facing northerly tended to appear more yellow than red, while the leaves facing southerly tended to be appear more red.  Photos do not justice do to what the eye can see, but perhaps the color change is also related in part to the sun received.  My own autumn purple ash, saw an abrupt end to its color extravaganza, and the cloudy, rainy days this fall left little to be enjoyed by its unique color so different than most of the earth tone colors of the leaves of other neighboring trees.  The autumn purple ash and Increase Lapham have at least one thing in common--do you know what it is?

Lapham Peak, Oct. 28, 2016

As I was viewing the tree canopy at Lapham Peak from the 45 foot observation tower which sits atop the glacial knoll, I could look over all the tree tops.  One child could not help but keep saying "I can see for miles."  The joys of a young child of this sight may only be surpassed by his ability to jump in a leaf pile.  If the day was less hazy the miles would have increased.  What struck me as I looked across the forest of deciduous and evergreens, was that I was looking at nature's carpet.  A thick plush carpet that will soon be all gone as the lability of fall is overtaken by the cold dark days of winter.  Fall certainly matches its name, but this year the colors, likely due to the cloudy, damp, and varied temperatures lacked the vibrancy of past years.

Chocolate Chip

One of the kitchen cabinets in our house contains an oblong, but rather short in height, Tupperware
storage container that holds chocolate chips. The container is near the salt, vanilla extract, brown sugar,  powdered sugar, corn meal, baking powder, baking soda, and other common baking ingredients. Chocolate chips often bring a good deal of joy to one’s taste buds, and one’s belly, whether or not in a cookie. Interestingly, it seems that chocolate chip cookies were invented first in the late 1930’s by a lady in Massachusetts. The legend goes that Ruth Wakefield, lacking a final ingredient, decided to cut up a semi-sweet chocolate bar and mix the chunks in with the dough. What she discovered was that the chunked chocolate, held its shape. Wakefield later teamed with Nestle’s and the infamous Toll House cookies were born. The name is derived from the Toll House Inn, the location where she made the first chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate morsels, or chips to most of us, would take on the widely known tear shape. Some argue that it is better to use chunked chocolate in making chocolate chip (chunk?) cookies as the chunks provide a different and varied texture to the cookie compared to the use of regular sized chocolate chips. To each their own taste buds and belly as to what is best to use, chocolate in chunks or chips.

Source:  Google Images

Source:  Google images

Situated as it is in the baking side of the cupboard, one would think that the chocolate chips were meant solely for use in baking. After all, no one eats baking powder out of a container, so why should they do so for chocolate chips, right nearby? Chocolate chips, however, are not baking powder. Whether chips or morsels, small or large, they taste good. Hence the problem. In the household of two, one person often goes to the chocolate chip container to grab a handful to directly eat, or more commonly, to place on top of banana, pumpkin or zucchini bread that has first seen a nice thick layer of peanut butter slathered on the sweet bread. What better way to enhance the bread.  It of course is not sufficient for the person to eat the piece of bread without a condiment. No, the person has to add toppings, not unlike if it were a dish of ice cream.  Some may take the view that it is destroying the flavor of the bread.  It cannot be the simple addition of butter, but it is peanut butter. Nor does a simple layer of peanut butter suffice, it has to be thick. But, even this is not enough, the baking cupboard is opened to obtain access to the chocolate chips. This prompts the other person, who is really the first citizen of the household, to sling the question, often in an accusing prosecutorial tone of voice that would well outdo Ken Kratz of “making a Murderer” fame: “Are you in the chocolate chips again?”  With strong emphasis on “again”, like it occurs daily.  Apparently, the first citizen of the household feels that chocolate chips belong in the cupboard equivalent of Fort Knox. Although come to think of it, the tone of voice used is best described as a one of a mother making an accusation at one of her children, which is the tone no one ever wants to hear, much less debate.

Step 1:  Cut a Piece of Zucchini Bread
Author photo

However, the chocolate chips were not always in the baking cupboard. They used to be on the side that contains the peanut butter; in this way there was a match between two great tastes that go well together. First citizen’s rearranging of the cupboards and moving of the chocolate chips to the baking side may have well been a statement for the other member of the household to keep their hands off the chocolate chips but for baking, and occasional use in a home-made sauce for ice cream. If the relocation of the chocolate chips was accomplished to send a warning shot, it went unnoticed until the writing of this blog post. It may be that the first citizen of the home does not wish to come up empty when it is time to bake some chocolate chip cookies, or zucchini bread with chocolate chips, or whatever. The corollary of course, is to make sure that the household always has plenty of chocolate chips on hand, just as it is known to have plenty of peanut butter on hand.

Step 2:  Layer on the Peanut Butter, Nice and Thick
Author photo

Access to the chocolate chips sometimes comes with no comment. In fact, this past weekend, two other times came without any such comment, but the envelope was pushed on the third time in three days and the question came out. The derisive question meant to dissuade ignominious activity was followed by silence of the perpetrator in response. The silence followed with another comment by the questioner: “There has to be a blog post in this….”   While the person making the comment did not write this post, but instead it is written by the person on the receiving end of the question of once again being in the chocolate chips. Chocolate chips are good in more than just cookies, ice cream, or baked in zucchini bread. They also go well with a number of other items, and as Reese’s shows, chocolate and peanut butter go well together.

Step 3:  Cover with Chocolate Chips

The concept of what goes with chocolate chips should not be foreign as the first citizen of the house well knows that I am the one who used to make and eat peanut butter, chocolate chip and bologna sandwiches. Nestle, those of the very best chocolate advertisers, never approached me for the possibility of marketing such a sandwich. I suspect they did not wish my use of chocolate chips with bologna to outpace Toll House cookies in fame and fortune.  Their loss, not mine.  My use of chocolate chips may not rate up there with Mrs. Wakefield, but in my house they are treated by one occupant as needing to belong in the cupboard of Fort Knox. My taste buds and stomach revolt to such a thought.

Leaves

Over two weeks ago I was looking out my office window pondering problems for projects in a rather diverse community.  By race and ethnicity, Fitchburg is the most diverse municipality in Dane County.  It is also the most diverse from a land use perspective, going from rural to high density areas.  It is the only city in Wisconsin to have exclusive agricultural zoning, and the only community in Wisconsin to adopt the transect based SmartCode zoning, which is a form-based neo-traditional zoning code.  The landscape I viewed out my north office window is also diverse.  I see standard  suburban development with the resultant expanse of asphalt; I see prairie; and I see the dome of the state capitol building almost directly north.  I see the University of Wisconsin campus, and on dark days, if the Camp Randall score board is on, I can see that too.  What struck me was not the urban use or the prairie landscape, but the landscape of shade trees in the islands of the Community Center parking lot as I view north.  A few weeks ago, of the five honey locust trees, one was still all green, two were well changed in color to a legal-pad yellow, one was beyond the yellow to a golden rust color losing its leaves, and one was just starting to turn.  A few weeks later the legal-pad yellow colored trees were the golden-rust, the golden rust has lost all its leaves, and the even the one starting to turn yellow, is now the golden rust.  The tree that was all green leavea a few weeks ago is now yellow and its leaf loss is now in progress, while as of October 17, the others are pretty well leaf-less.  

Community Center north parking lot.  Oct. 11, 2016
More than a week after my first observation of the locust trees
(Taken on one  of the few days of sun this fall)

Living organisms all have some differences.  Given this I would expect differences among the honey locust trees, but the differences in leaf cycle of the trees is all the more striking considering their similarities.  The trees share a very similar macro and micro-climate, soil conditions, and other climatic factors.  They are all within 130’ of one another.   They all were purchased at the same time, from the same nursery, transported to the site the same way, at purchase all near the same size, all are the same variety and all were planted on the same day 28 years ago.  Changes have occurred over the last 28 years.  City Hall has been constructed to the west of the Community Center, although tree root zones were little affected by construction.  Curb and gutter was installed around the parking lot islands about 12 years ago, and about four years ago an addition to this parking lot side of  the Community Center was constructed.  The trees span over a month  in their leaf cycle, from when I first noticed the striking differences three weeks ago. 

Front yard locust tree (Autumn Purple Ash behind)
notice most all leaves are off.

Leaf cycle is said to be related to a number of factors, but the one major factor to lead to the changing color of leaves is said to be the change in day light.  From the summer solstice the days get shorter and shorter and about the third week of September we have the autumnal equinox which provides the same amount of day light as does the spring equinox in March.  Given this supposed major factor, the difference in leaf cycle seems rather remarkable.  I have noticed the difference among locust trees at my house.  However, they were planted in different years, and of varied size at time of planting.  Their microclimates are rather different, as one is near the street and drive, and two are in the backyard.  Of the two in the back yard one is in more shade than the other.  The tree by the street changes first and as of the week of October 10 has lost almost all its leaves.  The more shaded of the two in the backyard is now losing its legal-pad yellow leaves, and the other is still very much green, and receiving its tinge of yellow color. 

Locust trees in backyard. one to left, partially obscured is yellow and loosing leaves,
one in center is mainly green

The one difference of my unscientific experiment of locust trees at the Fitchburg Community Center is that the one that turned late has a bio-infiltration facility next to it.  During its construction four years ago this facility would have disturbed some of the tree’s root zone.  Does the extra water in a rain garden that does not work well (water stays in for weeks so it is almost a pond that a bio-filtration facility) affect its change of color?  Or perhaps in combination of the water it is added nutrients that can enter its root zone from the trapped storm water?  In addition to recharge of storm water, another purpose of bio-infiltration facility is to trap nutrients in the soil structure and avoid their transfer to surface waters.  I made an inquiry to the city’s urban forester, and she commented that it the change of color is most related to shortening days and was surprised at the significant difference.  The problem is,  I just noticed the difference this year, and do not recall if the difference was present before the building addition and rain garden were built.

Looking up at tree in backyard that was well turned, with non-turned locust to the right.

The power of observation would have served me better if I had recalled having noticed differences among the trees in this one parking lot during a prior year.  (Even the forester, whose job it is to look and observe trees, had not noticed the differences.) Maybe there were no significant differences, and that is why it did not register.  We observe much, but not all resonates in our mind.  Memory can be selective, but observation can also be powerful, and if we take sometime to think of what we see we may see the beauty and diversity of nature at play.

Traits Two

This past weekend while at a birthday party for three relatives the issue of automobiles arose.  My sister and her husband had just purchased a small sized Sport Utility Vehicle to replace a Chevy Envoy that was on its last legs.  The new vehicle has pretty much all the bells and whistles one could want on a vehicle.  My sister, the primary driver, should not want for a vehicle feature.  The boatload of features brings us to the purpose of this post.  It is almost like a Wife App II, or a sequel to my original post that introduced my idea of the Wife App last June.  The post was titled Traits. 

Pioneer

My sister was regaling our millennial nephew with all of the safety features of her new pet.  It had of course standard items, such as ABS, airbags, and some of the newer technology with cameras which provide a host of options.  These options include where the vehicle will parallel park on its own, notification when you deviate from a lane without having used your signal, and of course the back-up camera to let you know what awaits behind the cars backside.  Mirrors and head looking back may miss what is directly in back of the vehicle.  However, there is one feature that most intrigued my nephew and that was the steering wheel giving you a slight tug if you deviate out of your lane without having used a turn signal.  He wondered if it was hard to override, does it feel unsafe, and a host of other questions.  Apparently, the tone sound of such a deviation is not enough, and the car provides this other little reminder—like do you really want to do that.  In that way it is very much like my wife.  My sister’s car may have the tug in the steering wheel, but I have my wife with her varied voice commands.  Believe me, I do not need a self-correcting car when my wife is in the passenger seat.  Showing the limited readership of this blog, my nephew had not read the Traits blog that dealt with the wife app. 

Old man in a tree

But, if I thought my wife was full of commentary, I had to count my blessings on the actions of my sister-in-law, the mother of my nephew. During the discussion of the new SUV, I noted how the car has many of the features my wife provides.  Nephew seemed surprised at how his beloved red-haired aunt would be so engaged on a road trip.  I, however, noted to him that last year (2015) in June on a way to Conover that his mother was much more involved as a backseat driver than I have ever known my wife wife.  At some points you have to count your blessings, and that was a time to count mine.  Now, the father of my nephew car has some of the fancy features associated with cameras, such as the tone sound when deviating without a signal.  I don't beleive it has parallel park assist nor the tug of the steering wheel.  Yet, my brother’s wife was still there in the back seat commenting on lane deviation, speed and other aspects to keep us four safe on the four hour road trip.  His reaction, of disbeleif that his mother was a backseat driver made me wonder if my sister-in-law was doing it for a show while we were on that roadtrip that early Saturday morning.  I find it difficult to believe that she does not do as much commentary when her prized possessions are in the car with her and my brother.  On the other hand, perhaps he is thinking about other things while on a road trip with his parents, or perhaps he was sleeping.

Headwaters of the WIsconsin River

I suppose at some point technology and robots will make the wife app less likely to be involved in commentary, but as with my sister-in-law it still may not make much of a difference.  After all, she still is involved even though the car has a number of the safety features associated with cameras.  When it comes time for our next vehicle, the use of cameras may be as ubiquitous as the use of airbags, so I may get that built in measure of safety, but I will not count on it silencing my spouse, as she is so observant, she would beat the cameras to the punch and let me know before a tone would sound.  Humans still have some advantages over technology.  And, my wife app works when there is no defined (i.e. painted) center line or road edge line.  Technology still has to advance before it beats my wife app.

What is a human doing here?

Photos by author, June 2015 on road trip to Vilas County

Own Reality

In April 2013 while at a national planning conference, I attended a session on traffic management.  Traffic is a word that a planner will always hear regarding a proposed development or redevelopment.  And, the comments always focus on there being too much.  Human nature is, down to its core, somewhat selfish.  Self-preservation has been part of the human race since early humans ran around with lions, and tigers and bears.  Many wish to be the last one in the door, so to speak.  This is particularly true, it seems, in suburban and exurban areas, where (as an example) a person who has the house in the woods wants to be the last house in the woods.  There are many different aspects to human behavior, but people and groups form their own reality.

Row houses in Pullman

On that cool weekend day that April that I found myself stuffed three levels below street grade in a non-descript ball room of the conference hotel listening to the session on traffic management.  I had expected to hear about varied methods of transportation demand management, and other strategies that may assist with the ever seemingly congested Fish Hatchery Road.  I knew the speakers came from California, and I figured what better state than car clogged California to present on traffic management.  One speaker focused on how some counties in California will allow businesses to grow, provided they do not increase their traffic above a certain amount.  Stanford University is one example where they are now building housing for professors on campus in order to reduce the number of external car trips associated with their growth. Under this scenario, the nation may start redeveloping the company towns of old—think Pullman in Chicago, or Coalwood in the movie “October Sky.”

High Tech Company Genentech bus

Getting people around has been a mainstay of community development.  Early humans likely used animal trails, and of course the Romans are famous for street construction.  Hence, connectivity is important to any community.  The most interesting speaker at this session, however, focused on bus transportation.  I know, buses are that often overlooked form of transportation.  A dislike for buses and the thought that they are for the lower masses, has places where they look like a trolley, or even bus rapid transit is made to look like a train.  The presenter did not talk above municipal bus systems, but rather private buses.   Not privately owned systems for public use, but systems for a particular employer.  He noted that many technology firms in the area of and around Silicon Valley have found that providing their own bus system to get employees to and from work is better than building large parking ramps, and it also allows more building construction on property already owned—densification.  They have found the in-building  infrastructure is often too great a cost which would limit movement to a new site.  In other words, they prefer their current location, but need to add office space.  Offices, instead of large surface parking benefits the community too.  The private buses provide certain amenities public buses do not.  Besides keeping the new high-tech patrician stock from mingling with the plebeians, they also provide wi-fi.  Keeping the millennials connected without them having to use their data is smart for business.  During the drive time they are not viewing Facebook or checking the performance of their fantasy sports team.  The companies, the speaker reported, have increased productivity because the drive time is now used more for work production, over private purposes.  Check your email, schedule meetings, and review documents all from the seat of your company bus while going to and from work.  More productivity without the hassle of having to pay.   Socially the riders are clumped together with others of like business interests. It becomes their tribe.

Genentech bus stop sign
Some say near riots have occurred with private buses using public stops

The self-identity of tech employees at these large companies is perhaps best manifested in their large self-contained buildings.  One writer has noted that many have levels of security that would make the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv jealous.  These places are often self-contained.  As one described it they have three full organic meals a day, can get everything from a haircut to doggie day care.  Oh wait, but for the housing they are a company town.  These new company towns create their own reality.  Research Park Triangle, one of the first high-tech agglomerations in the nation located in Raleigh, NC, has realized that millennials do not want a traditional corporate setting so they are looking at ways to ramp up company life as human life.  Breathe and die for the company.  Sounds like the corporations of old.  Millennials are used to being coddled, after all it was their parents from whom the descriptor helicopter parent derived.  Although, Allison Arieff, writing in “Architecture Boston” with an article titled “Company Town, 2.0”  notes that perhaps it is not so much a company town as it is a more of a post-college campus.  New York City’s “WeLive” provides furnished housing on a month-to-month basis.  What better way to recognize that the millennials that are 25-34 tend to only work three to five years in the same place.  Tech companies want the best and the brightest even if it takes coddling and creation of their own reality.

"Trolley" bus in Madison, WI
An attempt to make bus travel more likable

Employment, whether coddled or not, is often provided as a way to get public subsidy for a company.  Most often used is Tax Increment District (TID) financing, which takes the added property assessed value and pours it back in as a subsidy to the business.  But, TID should be used to create more than a Disney-esque place.  In the past, TID’s often counted on spin off effects from the business; for example, the local restaurants, service businesses (think haircuts) hotels and office supply would benefit.  The economy of scale would help the community.   It is this spin off effect that is used to justify a billion dollars for a new sport stadium, even for a season with only ten home games.  Let me provide two examples of TID used for private businesses without much gain to other businesses in the community.  First, Twitter received TID money from the city of San Francisco to place offices near downtown.  Following the trends of other large technology giants—Apple, Google and others, Twitter created an almost self-contained building, and as one urbanist living in the area has said, that few employees venture beyond their headquarters.  Twitterverse may like the money from the city, but the small shops and shop owners sighting of a twitter employee will be as rare as a sighting of a Scarlet Tanager in my backyard (and yes, it is a bird found in Wisconsin).  They do little for the local economy.

New Apple Headquarters

The second example, is in Dane County, WI.  One large technology firm was provided millions in TID incentives by the city of Verona, but anecdotal evidence would point to little boom to the restaurants and shops of Verona.  The local spillover effect has not been as great as what those businesses hoped.  While I hear they have great food at Epic (I havae aq brother-in-law who is one of the chefs at Epic), that is probably not what the Verona restaurants want to hear. Epic even seldom uses local hotels in Verona.  The economy of scale is not necessarily at work in the world of high technology office buildings.  Epic does contract with the local public bus company, but it is a route that is predominantly geared to Epic employees, so they do not have to worry about the plebeians getting in the way.  Of course, some aspects are self-inflicted.  Verona limits multi-family housing to 150 units per year, and it is said most Epic employees live in apartments.  The knowledge and high-tech economy is one of mobility, and home ownership is, in the long-run, is not consistent with mobility.  Recall how short millennials stay in one place of employment. 

Headquarters of a giant

The cultural world in which we live is changing.  We have companies that create their own reality to manage mployee lives almost as much as the former company towns.  The reasons may be different, but the outcome is similar.  In the end, the small shops and service businesses have a difficult time competing with massive Amazon, and have even a greater difficulty seeing any measurable spin off from the business assisted by TID financing.  What this will mean in the long run for our neighborhoods and communities is yet to be seen.  The intensification of offices is better than sprawl, and running their own buses is better than more cars clogging California highways.  Culture affects planning, and that session on traffic management provided insights into the workings of large technology companies.  Some large corporate headquarter buildings, like Apple, and Epic seem to work counter to the ideas of encounter and engagement the company says they value.  They may encounter their own high tech patrician, but not the everday plebs that may provide a different outlook and values.  Showing an inconsistency, the current trend in planning is to form the ability to provide encounters with varied housing, and uses in a neighborhood.  We all have our own reality. How much we create of it ourselves, may not be fully in our grasp.