Tacoma Urbanist
Dec. 13, 2007 at 12:01am
Tacoma Urbanist Interviewed on TNT Blog
TNT’s Blogger Mark Briggs Interviews Tacoma Urbanist
...
Erik Bjornson is a Tacoma lawyer and the writer behind the Tacoma Urbanist blog. It's an interesting mix of insight, and it's hosted at FeedTacoma. I particularly enjoyed his recent reviews of several local coffee joints and their preparation of a particular cappuccino.
I asked Erik via email a little about the blog to share here:
OSS: What compelled you to start a blog?
EB: I wanted to start a blog that would focus on urban design issues in downtown Tacoma.
Right now, Tacoma residents have been pretty (justifiably) reactionary when faced with bad designs such as blank walls being constructed or surface level parking lots where there should be buildings.
There is an emerging desire to have Tacoma be developed better and it often takes some analysis to determine what works and what doesn't. Unfortunately, there are no special interest groups in the city who advocate better urban design. Most groups are simply concerned about one or two projects going through.
OSS: What do you like most / least about having a blog?
EB: It allows some quicker response to some issues that arise in Tacoma. I have written a number of opinion pieces for the various newspapers in Tacoma. A blog allows a quicker exchange of information. However, each has its place. Sometimes a thorough analysis is better.
OSS: Tacoma is fortunate to have several good blogs. What kind of blog do you think is missing from the mix?
EB: I believe Feed Tacoma now has a 32 blogs "feeding" into it as well as the TNT blogs. There is alot of territory covered with a number of different categories. People write about what they care about. If there was one blog I would add it could be comprised of independent professional designers and architects who would analyze different issues the city is facing and render their opinion. There are certainly professionals who post on blogs but none that I know of that have their own blog. Perhaps this is because blogging can take up alot of time.
 by thriceallamerican on 12/13/2007 @ 8:01am | Uh....I'm not sure the TNT would appreciate you copy/pasting their content... |
 by Erik on 12/13/2007 @ 11:51am | Uh....I'm not sure the TNT would appreciate you copy/pasting their content...
Fair Use. Plus, most of it is my content. |
 by NineInchNachos on 12/13/2007 @ 12:45pm | man feed tacoma really needs some avatars for her blogs... imagine Tacoma Urbanist branded similar to the consumerist |
by thriceallamerican on 12/13/2007 @ 2:01pm | I guess you're the lawyer, so I can't necessarily argue fair use with you. I just have a feeling the TNT would feel differently about the fact that you reproduced the interview in its entirety... |
by Erik on 12/13/2007 @ 4:19pm | I just have a feeling the TNT would feel differently about the fact that you reproduced the interview in its entirety...
Thanks for the heads up. Its always a good topic how much one can cut and paste articles from another source and there is not a bright line. RR had a good exchnge with GritCity on this issue. Of course, there is also the initial question of who (if anyone) holds any right to the Q&A interview especially when there was no transcription involved and most of the interview is my original content. Without any copyright claim, we don't even have to go into the fair use analysis. |
by Erik on 12/13/2007 @ 4:21pm | man feed tacoma really needs some avatars for her blogs... imagine Tacoma Urbanist branded similar to the consumerist
Wow. Interesting site. You seem to know alot about marketing techniques and the inner workings of the consumerism machine. |
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About
A ongoing conversation to make Tacoma a better to live and work through better urban design.
See my Downtown and Neighborhood Pictures
-Erik B.
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1. Tacoma Coffee Shop Showdown
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New Urban News - Discussing traditional neighborhood development focusing on building mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods instead of conventional suburban subdivisions, shopping centers and office parks.