Cities need Goldilocks housing density

Cities need Goldilocks housing density--not too high or low, but just right
by Lloyd Alter
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/16/cities-need-goldilocks-housing-density-not-too-high-low-just-right

Good explanation of Designation of Origin for foods

Good explanation of Designation of Origin for foods
http://www.hamazing.com/articles/what-does-protected-designation-of-origin-pgo-mean/

Designation of Origin is the manifestation of the principle of local functional specialization that has been prevalent in Europe for centuries: individual places specializing unique products, like Rocquefort cheese or Champagne. What a great deal for these places to have a monopoly on their own names! Must bring in millions of Euros. In a world of commodified produce of often untraceable origins, destination of origin laws guarantee that your food came from one specific spot that specializes in that product.


Rioja wine
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Portuguese cheese "DOP" Protected destination of origin

Great history of Europe's medieval new towns

“…Most people know 13th century France as the era of the great cathedrals…far fewer persons have heard of, and fewer still have seen… the new towns created in wholesale quantities in the southwestern part of the country.…”– John Reps

Great history of Europe's medieval new towns

Bastides: New Urbanism in 13th Century France
http://www.charrettecenter.com/nucouncil/go.asp?a=spf&pfk=3&gk=59

This is a transcript of an audio recording made in 2002, wide ranging discussion.


Medieval festival in Monpazier, Aquitaine, France

"Intersection density" - highest predictor of walkability

The power of intersection density by Laurence Aurbach on PedShed.net
http://pedshed.net/?p=574#more-574

"Intersection density is the most important factor for walking and one of the most important factors for increasing transit use and reducing miles driven, but gets relatively little attention in research and in public policy."
Key point: the underlying physical structure of a city sets a range of possibilities for walkability that no amount of tinkering with housing/street use/density can change.

PedShed - Great blog on walkable urban design and sustainability

PedShed - Great blog on walkable urban design and sustainability
http://pedshed.net/

Good article on Italian homelessness, illegal immigration

Good article on Italian homelessness, illegal immigration

Alarming growth in Italian homelessness - The NewsHub

In the wake of the credit crunch homelessness across the EU increased by 45%. But in Italy the number has tripled

https://www.the-newshub.com/stories/more-and-more-italians-homeless


'We have two entrances, one for Italians and one for foreigners. We already had enough fights, here.'

Videos on Europe today

Germany's mighty Mittelstand - CNN - 5 min
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/24/business/german-economy-mittelstand/

The cost of youth unemployment across Europe - Huffington Post - 5 min
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/youth-unemployment-europe_n_6554804.html

Vienna, Austria's coffeehouses - DW Euromaxx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YmAqeS2Ei0

Paris' suburban badlands - AFP news 2:30 minhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXtu8xYWR3o

Wild Balkans - ScienceVision-See the book maps for locations of the Carpathian Mts., Danube River, Black Sea and countries of the Balkans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXe46A0rmGQ