You knew there would be an architecture-themed review of 'Inception', didn't you?

[Link to The Inception Architecture Review]

[Link to When the Levee Breaks from Bleak Design]

Be there. Or be elsewhere.

[Link to Film Fest 2010]

"Who is allowed to shape our cities, and how do they do it? Unlike many other fields of design, cities aren't created by any one specialist or expert. There are many contributors to urban change, including ordinary citizens who can have a great impact improving the cities in which they live. By exploring a diverse range of urban design projects around the world, Urbanized will frame a global discussion on the future of cities."

Gary Hustwit's (previously made Helvitica and Objectified) Urbanized, a documentary on an investigation of urban design is currently in production and will premiere in 2011. Follow him on Twitter at @gary_hustwit

[Link to Urbanized - Investigation of Urban Design]

"Right now, there are millions and millions of people who want to “employ” our “unemployed” housing stock: immigrants. Simply let more of them in and they will buy, rent, and live in these empty homes."

Could it be really that simple? Nah! We lack the political will to do it.

[Link to An unemployment problem with an easy solution]

[Link to Why Biking Is Good For Your Legs]

You don't know when and how opportunity will knock so listen carefully. This behavior is based in confidence in the American economy which indicates signs of renewal.

[Link to Doubling Down on Housing]

"The city of Montpellier hosted the 5th Festival of Lively Architecture (see previous). For the duration of the festival the historical town is transformed into a mass gallery by teams of architects and artists aiming to capture the theme "between shadow and light."

Click below for some pictures.

[Link to Between Shadow and Light]

"Robert Siegel talks to professor Monica Ponce de Leon, dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan, about changes in architecture and design 20 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act."

[Link to How The Disabilities Act Has Influenced Architecture]

[Link to Bars with Views]

"Have an old phone booth in your neighborhood sitting empty? Fill it with books! Book booths are an easy way to acquire new books (for free), bring your community together and transform a neighborhood eyesore into a neighborhood gem."

I love such simple ideas that transform relative eyesores into utilitarian projects that bring community together.

[Link to Turn a Payphone Into A Library]

"Want to see the proposed site for yourself? Click here for a Google Map of the location, which coincidentally enough (or not) is fortuitously close to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport."

Implications for Austin's economic development? Is Texas the suitable location for a largely non-American auto-racing sport? F1 fans are known to travel well and are relative spenders so this bodes well for Austin's economy. The questions is whether the city will be ready by 2012 when the F1 contract goes into effect.

[Link to Austin F1 track location revealed]

"Researchers are finding that people’s bad decisions and behavior involving transportation, health, finances and many other areas of life are often not aberrations. Time and time again, in similar circumstances, people will make the same mistakes and bad choices."

Maybe it is genetic? Just kidding. No comment from researchers on gender and racial stereotypes.

[Link to (The Same) Travelers Behaving Badly]

"America’s system of rail freight is the world’s best. High-speed passenger trains could ruin it."

It may be a choice between lower prices thanks to efficient freight transport and reliable & better passenger transport. How willing are we to make the tradeoff?

[Link to High-speed railroading]

"Everything will reflect in this — the trees, the birds, the clouds, the sun, everything. So it should be invisible nearly in the forest."

[Link to Almost invisible mirrored tree house built in Sweden]

A playground fence that can be as much a part of the playground as the border [via]

Since I am currently neck deep in research design studies and formulating my research proposal, I can completely relate to this. Click image to enlarge.

Do Americans know little about geography because they don’t have enough maps? Well, at least Miss Teen South Carolina seems to think so. I guess we can excuse her this time and let her go to college first but I’m sure Little Miss Sunshine would have given a more honest answer.

You can't make up anything anymore. The world itself is a satire. All you're doing is recording it.

 - Art Buchwald