FACTOIDS THE FACTOR HARNESSING LATENT NETWORK CAPACITY ARTCH TECTURE THE Wonders OF THE WORLD BEST STATES TO LIVE IN THE TOBY AWARDS THE HUMOR OF NORM CROSBY PLACES WITH THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE DEFENSE BY DESIGN TR E DAT WHY U.S. CITIES ARE MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD ON ODD-SHAPED LOTS VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTY REAL ESTATE F THE FU URE THE BEST AND THE WORST RUN CITIES IN THE U.S. IMMIGRATION DETENTION ON MILITARY BASES C NTEST: SONGS WITH CITIES OR STATES IN THE TITLE : THE OLYMPICS THE PAGE ENERGY STAR IN DANGER – A CALL TO ACTION
from the pages of
From Where I Sit
The Editor’s Page in is almost totally devoted to humor and wisdom and this is a collection of some of the best of them.
The Best Diversions
Give yourself the gift of smiles. J
A handsome, artbook-style volume with the best Diversions to appear in over the last decade. A compendium you will treasure for years to come.
"This collection is laugh-out-loud funny!"
Kirkland Review of Books "Prescription: Read 3-4 pages a day for a month. It’ll brighten your day! And make it last a month."
Susan Carnegie, The Montreal Voice
Vertical Lines I, II, III and IV
Compilations of Sarcasm, Word Play, and Witticisms from the pages of
"This is simply genius. I kept on laughing the whole day when I read it."
Maria Tariq
"...absolutely hilarious! I laughed so hard that it brought tears to my eyes."
Randal Maynard
also from The CREST Publications Group
My Hand Book
"Incisive yet expansive - as if the psychology of R.D. Laing encountered the self-exploration of Hugh Prather to help readers delve into their own thought, experiences and behaviours."
The Rockford Tribune
"Curiously intense and ironic. This is a work that will make you think and feel and you will revisit it over and over.
Marion Danziger, The Toronto Town Crier
S.H.I.T. from the Internet
“An often off-color (but always entertaining and almost always hilarious) collection of jokes that you will read, enjoy – and probably tell –over and over.”
Joey Cousins, The Greenwich Times
Leading With My Heart
"It matters not who we have been, or why, with whom, or how. What matters is that we have met and who we are from now."
Original reflections on new love, its flame, intensity, and all-consuming spirit. Short, poetic expressions of heartfelt longing, passion, and desire. Intimate expressions of tenderness and adoration, accompanied by romantic pictures. A wonderful gift for someone you love.
Available at your favorite online bookstores –click on the links at the top of the page.
“So simple. So eloquent and beautiful. Absolutely wonderful!”
Allison Templeton
A Book
"A perfect companion to Vertical Lineshumor in bite-sized pieces.”
Ellen Campbell, Sinclair Book Reviews "Dyslexics of the world, untie!”
L. Bartow. The Network Bookshelf unite! this!
Punsters of the world, read shit!"
09 INB X | ON THE
12 FACTOIDS
TITTLE, TIME TO EAT, MOMENT, A COCK-&-BULL STORY, GENERICIDE, BOBBY PINS, ROUND ROBIN, HAMBURGER, HOT DOG, FRANKFURTER AND FRENCH FRIES, MONEY DYSMORPHIA, THE MERCATOR PROJECTION
17 TR E
DAT
THE $5 BILL, OCTOPUSES, LIMES, GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE, WORDS ENDING IN ‘DOUS,’ BAKED BEANS, THE PHILIPPINES, TRUEL, ELLIS ISLAND, BEEFALO, THE TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY, THE WINDY CITY, THE MICROWAVE OVEN
19 PICTORIAL HUMOR
22 ICE WRONGFUL DETENTIONS
A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
24 THE Wonders OF THE WORLD
OUR SEVENTH INSTALLMENT –THE SEVEN WONDERS OF INDIAN/HINDU ARCHITECTURE
32 ARTCH TECTURE
JOSEBA ELORZA (MIRA RUIDO) –SURREAL COLLAGE
44 TRENDI G - THE BEST & WORST RUN CITIES IN AMERICA – 2025 A WALLETHUB REPORT
48 THE PAGE
JOAN OF ARC -THE WARRIOR SAINT WHO DEFIED HISTORY
57 THE HUMOR OF NORM CROSBY - THE MASTER OF MALAPROPISMS
49 THE U.S. POPULATION IS AGING A STUDY BY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
53 – WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WHY? AND HOW?
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ROXANA TOFAN EXAMINES THE OLYMPICS
55 THE PAGE
OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SATIRIZES THE STATE OF (AND DANGERS TO) OUR DEMOCRACY AND INVITES OUR READERS’ OPINIONS
52 THINKING OUT LOUD
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR T.J. EDWARDS LOOKS AT IMMIGRATION DETENTION ON MILITARY BASES
60 THE LINK MARKETPLACE, BIDDER’S LIST & DIRECTORY
62 BACKPAGE
OUR ADVERTISERS, WINNERS FROM LAST ISSUE’S CONTEST
63 C NTEST: SONGS WITH CITIES OR STATES IN THE TITLE DIVERSI NS 15 ECONOSORT
61
OUTDOOR SEATBELT RECIPES QUICKIE BACK TO THE FUTURE TIME WON’T WAIT HAPPILY MARRIED PECKER’S CUTOFF
62 ARE YOU DRUNK? BRING A DESSERT A HAPPY COUPLE FU KING RESTAURANT HAND JOBS MOUNT RUSHMORE
20 TRENDI G - OBBBA AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS
THE U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL IS BEING SHUT DOWN
21 50 YEARS OF THE AMERICAN HOUSING SURVEY (1973-2023)
59 THE FACTOR: SEOUL MUSEUMS
31 IN THE N WS A CALL TO ACTION: ENERGY STAR IN DANGER
36 HARNESSING LATENT NETWORK CAPACITY
ETHAR’S TONY HODGSON PRESENTS THE THIRD OF A MULTI-PART SERIES: A NEW FRONTIER FOR AUGMENTED REALITY
38 DEFENSE BY DESIGN INFO-LINKS’ JON FITZGERALD PRESENTS THE SECOND INSTALLMENT IN A SERIES: WHY SMART BUILDINGS NEED NETWORK ISOLATION AND CONVERGENCE AT THE SAME TIME
42 VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES TURNING LIABILITIES INTO ASSETS
46 THE GE GRAPHY PAGES PLACES WITH THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE
45 REAL ESTATE F THE FU URE BRIDGING THE GAP –BRIDGES AS PROTECTED PUBLIC PROPERTIES
50 TRENDI G - THE BEST STATES TO LIVE IN (2025) A WALLETHUB REPORT
28 THE TOBY AWARDS BOMA’S CATEGORY WINNERS FOR 2025
40 WHY U.S. STATES AND CITIES ARE MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD ON ODD-SHAPED LOTS THE IMPACT ON THE HOUSING SHORTAGE CRISIS
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 / VOL 33 / ISSUE 5
ABOUT US
Now in our 33rd year, reaches millions of architects, engineers, developers, brokers, construction managers, property and facility managers, bankers, lawyers, appraisers, investors, service providers, and many more throughout the U.S. via subscription and social media! We proudly serve and service any and all real estate associations bimonthly. If your group would like to be included, please let us know. Email: aafelder@thenetworkmagazine.org or call the number above.
CREST Publications Group EXECUTIVE STAFF
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ROXANA TOFAN: 6Q –Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. T. J. EDWARDS : Thinking Out Loud
Anthony Barbieri Roxana Tofan
T. J. Edwards
CHECK
WHAT OUR READERS ARE saying
ADVISORY BOARD
LINDSEY KOREN, Director of Communications, American Society of Interior Designers.
JONATHAN KRAATZ, Executive Director, USGBC Texas. Rick Lackey, CEO, REAL Professionals Network.
AIMÉE LEE, National Accounts Director, Recycle Across America.
LESLIE ROBINETT, Marketing and Communications Manager, International Facility Management Association.
LAURA MACDONALD STEWART, RID, FASID, IIDA, LEED AP, Editor of Plinth & Chintz.
JESSICA WARRIOR, Director of Property Management, Granite Properties.
Maria Tariq Mark Angle Mukul Tripathi (Sam)
The more I get to know people, the more I understand why Noah only let animals on the boat.
THE AGING GOLFER
Jim was 85 years old, and he’d been playing golf every single day since he’d retired from work 20 years earlier. One day, he arrived home from golf and was obviously agitated. “What’s the matter, dear?” his wife inquired.
“I’m going to give up golf,” Jim responded. “My eyesight is so bad that after I hit the ball, I can’t see where it went.” She could see that Jim was distraught, so she made an effort to be as sympathetic as possible.
“Don’t worry, dear. Let me make you a nice cup of coffee. You’ll feel better after that,” she said. As they both sat down with their coffees, she said, “Hey, I’ve got an idea. Next time you play golf, you could take my brother Ted with you.”
“How will that help?” asked Jim, “He’s 96!”
“Yes”, said his wife, “but he still has perfect eyesight. He can be your eyes when you play.” Jim agreed that it was worth a try, and he made arrangements with Ted for the next day.
At the first tee, Jim teed up and took a giant swing. Then he squinted down the fairway, trying to see where his ball had gone. “Ted, did you see where my ball went?” asked Jim.
“Sure did!” said Ted. “I still have 20-20 eyesight.”
Jim waited a moment, anticipating some further information from Ted, but he got nothing. “So where did it go then?” asked Jim.
Ted looked at him a little confused and said, “Where did what go?”
Editor’s note
GOOD LUCK, MR. GORSKY
When Apollo 11 Mission Astronaut
Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon (on July 20, 1969), he not only made his famous "One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind" statement, but also followed it with several remarks, including the usual COM traffic between him, the other astronauts, and Mission Control. Before he re-entered the lander, he made the enigmatic remark, "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky."
Many people at NASA thought it was a casual remark concerning some rival Soviet Cosmonaut. However, they found there was no Gorsky in either the Russian or American space programs.
Over the years, many people questioned him as to what the "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky" statement meant. Then, on July 5, 1995 in Tampa Bay, FL, while answering questions following a speech, a reporter again raised the 26-yearold question to Armstrong, and this time, he responded. It seems that Mr. Gorsky had died, and so Armstrong felt he could answer the question.
When he was a kid, Neil was playing baseball with his brother in the backyard. His brother hit a fly ball, which landed in front of his neighbor's bedroom window. The neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. Gorsky.
As he leaned down to pick up the ball, he heard Mrs. Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky, "Oral sex? Oral sex, you want? You'll get oral sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!"
THE PARROT
Mary received a parrot for her birthday. The parrot was fully grown, with an appalling attitude and worse vocabulary. Every other word was an expletive; those that weren't expletives were, to say the least, rude. Mary tried to change the bird's attitude by constantly saying polite words, playing soft music, and doing anything she could think of. Nothing worked. She yelled at the bird, and the bird’s behavior worsened. She shook the bird, and the bird got madder and ruder. Finally, in a moment of desperation, Mary put the parrot in the freezer to get a minute of peace. For a few moments, she heard the bird swearing, squawking, kicking, and screaming, and then, suddenly, there was absolute quiet. Mary was frightened that she might have actually hurt the bird and quickly opened the freezer door.
The parrot calmly stepped out onto Mary's extended arm and said, "I'm very sorry that I offended you with my language and my actions, and I ask your forgiveness. I will endeavor to correct my behavior, and I am sure it will never happen again."
Mary was astounded at the change in the bird's attitude and was about to ask what had changed him when the parrot asked, "May I ask what the chicken did?"
BY ANDREW FELDER Managing Editor
MICKY & MINNIE
Micky and Minnie Mouse appeared before Judge Bea Leavitt of the Family Court in Orange County, Florida. From the bench, the judge addressed the parties: “Mr. Mouse, I must say that I am shocked and saddened to see you and Mrs. Mouse before me today,” he said. “For me, and I'm sure for fans the world over, you both embody what marriage is supposed to be about—wholesomeness, happiness, foreverness.” Today is, indeed, a sad day.
But having read your divorce petition, Mr. Mouse, I must advise you that insanity is not a ground for divorce in this state—even if you are able to prove it.”
“Your Honor,” said Micky, “I didn’t say that she’s crazy. I said she’s f**king Goofy!”
A WABBIT
A little girl walked into a pet shop and asked in the sweetest slight lisp,"Excuthe me, mithter, do you have wittle wabbits?"
The shopkeeper got down on his knees, to be on her level, and asked, "Do you want a wittle white wabby or a soft and fuwwy black wabby or maybe one like that cute wittle brown wabby over there?"
The little girl turned, put her hands on her knees, leaned forward, and said in a quiet voice, "I don't fink my pyfon weally gives a phuck!" n
BRIGADIER GENERAL
THOMAS J. EDWARDS (P. 52) retired from the U.S. Army after 30 years of distinguished service, earning accolades such as the Distinguished Service Medal, five Legion of Merit awards, and the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in combat. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, the Military Officer’s Association of America, and the 82nd Airborne Division Association. T.J. holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and Master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma, the Naval War College, and the Army War College. In May 2022, he relocated to San Antonio, Texas, earned his Texas Real Estate license, and joined Clear Integrity Group (CIG) as a partner, where he applies his leadership expertise to optimize the company's commercial real estate portfolios and operations.
JOHN KIERNAN (P. 50) has covered the credit card industry for more than 15 years as a writer and editor for WalletHub. Major media outlets, including The Washington Post, Fox News, and The New York Times have featured his work. It has been cited by industry regulators such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Contributing Writers
JON FITZGERALD (P. 38) is an entrepreneur specializing in wireless communications with over 30 years of experience, including service in the Army Signal Corps. Since 2013, he has successfully led the team at InfoLink through hundreds of successful projects, combining technical expertise with strategic management to drive business success. InfoLink focuses on innovative wireless solutions that cater to the ever-evolving needs of enterprises, governments, and industries. Collaborating with the exceptional team at InfoLink, Jon is dedicated to driving innovation for impact in the fast-paced wireless sector.
ADAM MCCANN (P. 44 and 55) is a personal finance writer for Wallet-Hub who also helps produce WalletHub's weekly 'Best and Worst' studies. At Hopkins he took a wide variety of classes in writing, English, economics, political science, history, and language. While pursuing his education, Adam worked part-time in the Special Collections department of JHU's Milton S. Eisenhower library, where he helped out with the university's collection of rare books and manuscripts.
TONY HODGSON (P. 36) is the founder and CEO of Ethar, Inc., an engineering and scientific firm developing best-in-class spatial computing solutions. Since starting his career supporting NASA and commercial aerospace programs, Tony has started and grown several software companies, led one of the largest technology incubators in the US, started the AR/Wearables group for Verizon’s marketing organization, and chaired global standards initiatives developing open and interoperable AR/VR solutions. He holds multiple industry certifications, and engineering degrees from Texas A&M and the University of Texas-Arlington.
ROXANA TOFAN (P. 53) is the founder and principal broker of Clear Integrity Group, specializing in commercial real estate across Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. With a focus on multi-family and commercial properties, she excels in acquisitions, dispositions, and property management, particularly in transforming underperforming assets through strategic operations and team building. Roxana is a dedicated community advocate and enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and supporting charitable causes. She has also served as a contributing editor for for over 15 years, covering topics including commercial real estate, business ownership, sports, and travel.
THE UPSIDE OF DOWNTIME...
Fans of will love these compilations of humor from the last decade. The Best of Diversions is just that –the very best of the hilarious Diversions that have appeared on the pages of the magazine. Each Vertical Lines book is over one hundred and fifty pages of wit, witticisms and sarcasm that have appeared between the pages (”in the gutter”, as they say). They are both available at your favorite online bookseller and you can see samples at the link here. My Handbook is... well... look at the cover comments and a few sample pages. You’ll know soon enough if it’s for you. bookshelf on days off on off-days on rainy Sundays if you’re alone if you need a break to pass the time to brighten your day to sharpen your skills to open your mind to make you smile turn to thenetworkmagazine.org
I have a pretty big ass so when I half-ass something, you're still getting something impressive.
I take for granite people’s poor grammar. More specifically, how there always thinking for intensive purposes is supposably correct.
INB X ON THE COVER
Loved the engaging wrap-up—this edition was a fun and informative read from start to finish!
Totally agree with other readers that the opinion(s), fact(s), diversion(s) & totality of the magazine, promotes food for thought.
MARTI
COOK, FREEHOLD, NJ
(In response to our between-issue email entitled MOTHER NATURE) This is so well written... such a scary reality we are living in. Would it be alright if I were to share this on my social media?
AIMÉE LEE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
I really enjoyed the new Opinion page and look forward to seeing what it has in store.
ROBERT REIMAN, WASHINGTON DC
I want to commend your team for the outstanding work you’ve done with . Each issue strikes a rare balance: the content is thoughtful and engaging, while the design is both elegant and inviting. The writing manages to be insightful without ever feeling heavy, and the well-chosen photography makes the magazine a pleasure to linger over, cover to cover.
In a world overflowing with disposable media, stands out as something crafted with care. I look forward to each new issue with genuine anticipation.
ALEXANDER
SMITH-PENDLETON, CAMBRIDGE, MA
CORRECTIONS & AMPLIFICATIONS
Did we make a mistake? Or does something we wrote about need further clarification? Let us know. editor@thenetworkmagazine.org
‘INSIDE WORLDS NO. 1’
by MIRA RUIDO
"Inside Worlds No. 1" marks the genesis of the artist's surrealist rooms. This piece was the first in a series born from the 2021 pandemic lockdown, an attempt to visualize the inner worlds people created when deprived of the outside world. It encapsulates a personal theme for the artist: the tension between the safety of the indoors and the captivating beauty of the world outside. This foundational artwork paved the way for his subsequent "Roomscapes" series.
#1
DISPLAY the standardized labels on your bins to help everyone, everywhere to recycle right. Order labels for you bins today at: recycleacrossamerica.org
#2 #3
WHEREVER ACCEPTED, RECYCLE ALL: clean office paper
clean flattened cardboard
empty metal cans
empty glass bottles and jars
empty plastic bottles and jugs
If we ALL recycle ALL of these items properly, it will change the world dramatically. Remember to check locally to find out what can be recycled in your area, and when in doubt, throw it out.
NEVER put these items in general recycling bins:
NO plastic bags
NO plastic wrap
NO napkins or tissues NO coffee cups
A NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO BUSINESS COLLECTIONS
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The company you choose will be handling your money, talking to your customers, and representing you in the marketplace. You want your money as soon as possible – but you don’t want to lose clients.
At Arsenal Business Collections (ABC), you’re never out-of-pocket for our services. We collect (at prearranged terms) and when – and only when – we succeed (i.e., once we collect money owed to you), do we get paid. There is no fee UNLESS and UNTIL we collect!
Our payment is contingent upon your recovery – so our success is integrally tied to yours.
As a privately-owned company, we make decisions based on what is best for clients, not shareholders or outside investors. Our focus is exclusively on improving your bottom line, and we have the knowledge and experience to deliver exceptional results.
FACTOIDS Betcha didn’t know...
WHAT’S A TITTLE?
The small disTinguishing mark you see over a lowercase i and a lowercase j is called a tittle—an interesting name that looks like a portmanteau (combination) of tiny and little, and refers to a small point or stroke in writing and printing. Derived from the Latin word titulus, meaning “inscription, heading,” the tittle initially appeared in Latin manuscripts beginning in the 11th century as a means of distinguishing the neighboring letters i and j in handwriting. With the introduction of the Roman-style typeface in the late 1400s, the original large mark was reduced to the small dot we use today.
MOMENT
First used in the late 14th century, a moment is a very brief portion of time. A moment has duration; an instant does not. The sense of importance or opportunity in a moment is clear in phrases like "seize the moment," "moment of truth," "aha moment," "watershed moment, "or “Come to Jesus moment.”
TIME TO EAT
Breakfast is an English word that developed to denote the first meal eaten after a person wakes up. They’ve been sleeping, and so not eating, which means any food is ‘breaking the fast they’ve been engaged in.
As late as the mid-20th century, dinner referred to the meal eaten in the middle of the day, not the one eaten at the end. Oddly, the word ‘dinner’ comes from the 11th-century Old French word disner, which meant ‘to eat breakfast.’ As the word was absorbed into English as dinner, it came to refer to the main meal of the day, the timing of which changed over the centuries. Over time, the largest meal of the day moved later and later in the day, until it was the evening meal. Supper was originally a secondary lighter evening meal. Dinner [the main meal of the day] used to be served closer to what is known as lunchtime, around the middle of the day, but crept later over the centuries, mainly over the 19th century. When dinner was still early, eating a lighter supper in the evening was very common.
As dinner became established as a meal eaten in the evening or at night, there came a need for a meal in the middle of the day…or for some sustenance. Lunch is short for luncheon, a word dating to the 1650s that once meant “thick hunk,” as in a thick hunk of meat. At the same time, there was an English word nuncheon, which meant a midday meal. That word is a combination of “noon” and an obsolete word schench, which meant “to have a drink.”
BONUS: SNACK
While it might seem like the notion of having a small meal in between the other, bigger meals is a modern invention or the result of advances in marketing and food storage technology, the word 'snack' dates back to the 1300s. It’s derived from a Middle Dutch word, snacken, meaning to snatch or snap— like a jaw quickly scarfing down some food. The first written use of "snack" as a noun dates back to the late 18th century. A few decades later, people in Europe and the Americas were using “snack” as a verb to refer to eating a little bit of something to get them through a few hours.
This morning, my son said that his ear hurt, and I asked if it was on the inside or the outside. So he walked out the front door, came back in and said, “Both.” Moments like this make me wonder if I'm saving too much for college.
Get to know the metric system. You get more with a liter.
A COCK-&-BULL STORY
In the heyday of travel by horse and buggy, The Cock and The Bull were two pubs side by side on the main road fifty miles north of London. Often, the London-bound traffic would pull into one inn, and the outward-bound traffic would head into the other, both naturally bringing news from their towns or places of origin. Gossip grew increasingly bizarre as it bounced back and forth between inn customers. Sometimes the tales became so outlandish that these incredible or misleading yarns became known as cock-and-bull stories.
GENERICIDE
When a brand name becomes the default term for an entire category, it is referred to as genericide or generic trademarking. It's a bittersweet success: the brand is wildly successful, but legally, it risks losing trademark protection. Here are some brand names that have either become fully genericized in public usage or are commonly misused as generic terms—even if the companies still hold legal trademarks:
XEROX – used generically for photocopying.
THERMOS – often used for any vacuum-insulated container.
VELCRO – the hook-and-loop fastener.
POST-IT – often used for any sticky note.
SCOTCH TAPE – used generically for clear adhesive tape.
SHARPIE – commonly used to mean any permanent marker.
BUBBLE WRAP – technically a trademark of Sealed Air Corporation.
STYROFOAM –often used to describe any polystyrene foam (though technically Dow Chemical's brand for a specific product.)
KLEENEX – used to refer to any facial tissue.
BAND-AID – a generic term for adhesive bandages.
CHAPSTICK – often used to refer to any lip balm.
Q-TIPS – commonly used for all cotton swabs.
VASELINE – often used to refer to petroleum jelly in general.
TUPPERWARE – used generically for any food storage containers.
ZIPLOC – widely used to refer to resealable plastic bags.
LYSOL – often used generically to refer to any disinfectant spray.
CLOROX – often used generically for bleach.
WINDEX – often used for any glass cleaner.
ROLLERBLADE – used generically for inline skates.
FEBREZE – used to refer to any fabric refresher spray.
POPSICLE – used for any frozen juice on a stick.
JELL-O – widely used for any gelatin dessert.
COOL WHIP – often used generically to refer to whipped topping.
BOBBY PINS
Bobby pins, the familiar hair clips used to keep hair in place or even pick locks, their name from the bob hairstyle trend of the early 20th century cuts gained popularity after dancer Irene Castle adopted the "Castle bob," prompting women to seek out short styles despite initial resis tance from salons. As the style gained was referred to as "the bob," the hair clips used to secure it became known as bobby pins.
CROCK-POT – used to describe any slow cooker.
GOOGLE – commonly used as a verb for ‘search online.’
PHOTOSHOP – used as a verb for image editing, even with other software. –a generic term for video conferencing. – sometimes used generically to refer to any tablet. – sometimes used generically for off-road vehicles.
SEGWAY – used generically for any self-balancing scooter. – a Kawasaki trademark, but used generically for personal watercraft.
DUMPSTER – originally a brand name by Dempster Brothers.
(All-Terrain Vehicle) – originally a trademark of Honda.
REALTOR – any real estate agent (actually a trademark of the National Association of Realtors).
ROOMBA – any robotic vacuum.
FORMICA – any laminate countertop.
JACUZZI – any hot tub or whirlpool bath.
ROUND ROBIN
A round robin is a sequence or series in which every participant (often in a tournament) has the opportunity to play every other participant.
The term may also refer to a letter or document sent sequentially to a specific group of people. Each person adds information to the document, removes their old information when the document is returned to them, and adds new information before sending the document to the next person in sequence.
But what’s really interesting is that the term dates from the 17th-century [French Rond ruban (round ribbon)]— the practice of signatories to petitions against authority (usually government officials petitioning the Crown, or sailors petitioning to their captain) appending their names on a document in a non-hierarchical circle or ribbon pattern, to disguise the order in which they have signed, so that none could be identified as a ringleader.
Jessé de Forest was the leader of a group of Walloon Huguenots who fled Europe due to religious persecution. They emigrated to what would become New Netherland in 1624. His Freedom Petition is pictured here and you can read more about this fascinating story here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess%C3%A9_de_Forest
HAMBURGER, HOT DOG, FRANKFURTER AND FRENCH FRIES
HAMBURGER: The term hamburger comes from Hamburg, Germany—but not because the food contains ham. In the 19th century, German immigrants brought over a dish called the Hamburg steak, a seasoned, ground beef patty that was popular among sailors from Hamburg. By the early 1900s, the patty had evolved—served between slices of bread or a bun—and started being called a hamburger sandwich The addition of the bun, an American innovation, helped popularize the hamburger at fairs and diners—especially during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
FRANKFURTER: A frankfurter means "something from Frankfurt." Specifically, it refers to a type of thin, pork-based sausage that was traditionally made in Frankfurt. Frankfurt celebrates 1487 as the year of the official invention of the Frankfurter Würstchen. German immigrants brought frankfurters to the United States in the 19th century. Once in the U.S., these sausages were often referred to as "frankfurters" or "franks" and eventually became associated with the hot dog.
Frankfurter: Originated in Frankfurt—mainly made of pork. Wiener: Originated in Vienna (Wien in German)—made of pork and beef. (Wienerwurst means "Viennese sausage.")
HOT DOG: The exact origin is contested, but the sausage itself traces back to German “dachshund sausages” or frankfurters (named after Frankfurt). The nickname “hot dog” likely originated as a joke about the long, skinny sausages resembling dachshund dogs.
FRENCH FRIES: Despite the name, French fries may come from Belgium, where villagers in the late 1600s fried thin slices of potato. American soldiers stationed in French-speaking parts of Belgium during World War I are believed to have named them “French fries.” The term gained traction in the early 20th century in the U.S., and fries became a staple of American fast food by the mid-1900s. [In 2003, during the Iraq War, some American politicians controversially dubbed them “freedom fries” as a political protest against France.]
If you have to ask if it's too early to drink, you're an amateur and we can't be friends.
I found $20.00 in a parking lot and thought to myself, 'What would Jesus do?’ So, I turned it into wine.
MONEY DYSMORPHIA
A new term, “money dysmorphia,” attempts to describe the distorted view of one’s finances that 29% of Americans say they now experience, according to a recent report by Credit Karma. It often stems from comparing their financial situation to others’ and feeling inadequate. “Money dysmorphia is kind of like today’s version of keeping up with the Joneses,” said Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma. Not surprisingly, money dysmorphia is even more prevalent among younger generations, according to Credit Karma. Roughly 43% of Gen Z and 41% of millennials struggle with comparisons to others and feel behind financially.
In the world of mental health, “dysmorphia” describes an obsessive focus on perceived defects in one’s body. People with body dysmorphic disorder may find themselves constantly comparing themselves unfavorably with the appearance of others.
“This has been a problem for a very long time, but social media has taken it to a whole new level,” said Carolyn McClanahan, a certified financial planner and founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida. Many of those who experience money dysmorphia have above-average savings, Credit Karma also found. However, they are also likely to admit to being obsessed with the idea of being rich—a distortion between perception and reality. [Only 14% of Americans consider themselves wealthy.]
That feeling of being well off is increasingly elusive, regardless of how much money you have. The average household’s net worth has soared in recent years, rising 37% between 2019 and 2022, according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances. Still, more than half of Americans earning more than $100,000 a year say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to a report by LendingClub.
A prolonged period of high inflation and instability has eroded the buying power and confidence of most consumers. Instagram is also partly to blame. There is “a really strong connection between feeling badly about your money situation and how much time you spend on social media,” said Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning at Edelman Financial Engines.
DIVERSI NS THE DYSTOPIAN HIERARCHY
“Before EconoSort, I didn’t know where to put my crushed dreams. Now I have 6 stylish bins and 0 illusions.” Janet, 34, aspiring homeowner
THE MERCATOR PROJECTION
Most maps of the world are wrong. The Mercator projection was first presented by Flemish geographer and mapmaker Gerardus Mercator in 1569. In the 18th century, it became the standard map projection for navigation due to its property of representing rhumb lines as straight lines. When applied to world
maps, the Mercator projection inflates the size of lands the further they are from the equator. Therefore, landmasses such as Greenland and Antarctica appear far larger than they actually are relative to landmasses near the equator. Nowadays, the Mercator projection is widely used because, aside from marine navigation, it is well suited
for internet web maps. [Look at the map and consider these facts: The area of Alaska is 665,384 sq. miles; the area of Greenland is 836,000 sq. miles; the area of the U.S.’s 48 contiguous states is 3.12 million sq. miles; the area of Canada is 3.86 million sq. miles; and the area of Brazil is 3.39 sq. miles.] n
After my last colonoscopy, I asked the doctor to write a note to my wife telling her that my head was not up there.
The Philippines is an archipelago, which means it’s made up of a group of islands—7,641 islands, to be exact. That figure does not include the thousands of sandbars and other landforms that emerge during low tide.
TR E DAT
Octopuses don’t have tentacles. They have eight limbs, but they're arms (for most species). Technically, when talking about cephalopods (octopuses, squids, etc.), scientists define tentacles as limbs with suckers at their end. Octopus arms have suckers down most of their length.
A duel between three people is called a truel.
German chocolate cake was invented in Texas. The name comes from Samuel German, who, in 1852, created the formula for a sweet baking chocolate bar for Baker’s Chocolate Company in Massachusetts, which subsequently named the product Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate.
Baked beans aren’t baked. They’re stewed.
There are only four words in the English language that end in DOUS: tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
On Jan. 1, 1892, Annie Moore was the first passenger to pass through Ellis Island immigration on its opening day. She had traveled to the United States with her two younger brothers aboard the S.S. Nevada after departing from Queenstown, Ireland (now known as Cobh).
Beefalo, which has been around since the early 1970s, is produced in more than 35 states. It was developed by D.C. “Bud” Basolo, a California rancher who successfully crossbred American bison and domestic cattle, according to the American Beefalo Association. It contains fewer calories, less cholesterol, less fat, and more protein than conventional beef.
At 5,771 miles, the Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railroad in Russia and the longest single-rail system in the world. The journey takes seven days, during which time passengers pass through eight different time zones.
JAN. -1, 1892
The Windy City nickname has nothing to do with Chicago’s weather. It was coined by 19th-century journalists, referring to the city’s politicians being long-winded or boastful “windbags” or being “full of hot air.”
The microwave oven was invented after a researcher accidentally discovered that a radar tube and a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted.
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A farrago is a jumble of odds and ends—a random collection of items, a disorganized mix of things that don't fit together. Farrago sounds more formal than hodgepodge or mishmash, but it means about the same thing. We hope you enjoy this new feature of
Sir Fartsalot was knocked off his ass while dueling for the hand of the princess
No Fly Zone
"It'll be my pleasure to get you into bedding"
'Absence of a Soul Brothers'
On View Now-John Dickenger's Dill
"You Can't Be Syrian!"
"...but the sign says it's allowed!?!?"
Lord of the Files
Come to Jesus Moment
Yahoo
TRENDI G
PresidenT donald TrumP’s one Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) represents a shake-up to U.S. housing policy, and multifamily developers are scrambling to rework their models.
Included in the new law is a massive expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which could finance up to 1.2 million new affordable units by 2035. It also reduces the bond financing requirement for projects from 50% to 25%, potentially unlocking stalled deals in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Opportunity Zones are now permanent, with new rules to steer capital more directly into distressed areas.
Senior policy strategists, veteran developers, and community advocates offer sharply different takes. On one hand, there’s cautious
OBBBA and Affordable Housing Homelessness
The mission of The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is “to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and to create a national partnership at every level of government and, together with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation while maximizing the effectiveness of the federal government in contributing to the end of homelessness.
Congress initially authorized the USICH through Title II of the landmark Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 to serve as an independent establishment in the executive branch. The agency was most recently reauthorized by the 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to
optimism. As noted, the expanded tax credits could finally tip the scales for long-delayed projects, especially in markets where affordable housing has been little more than a political talking point. But the devil’s in the details. The loss of green incentives is already shifting capital away from sustainability.
On the other side, tenant groups warn that the Medicaid cuts threaten to overwhelm vulnerable households. They argue that you can’t subsidize bricks and mortar housing while stripping away health security. There could be a wave of evictions in 2026, coinciding with the introduction of new units.
Meanwhile, city officials in legacy Opportunity Zones are scrambling to update their investment plans. Some hope to attract fresh capital for neglected neighborhoods, while others worry the permanent designation will only accelerate gentrification. “We want revitalization, not displacement,” said a councilmember from the South Bronx.
Housing (HEARTH) Act. The Council Members are: AmeriCorps, Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Education (ED), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of the Interior, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), General Services Administration (GSA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Social Security Administration (SSA), United States Postal Service (USPS), the White House Faith Office.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) remains in existence today. It is authorized through at least 2028, with a small staff and budget based in Washington, D.C. However, in March of this year, President Trump issued an executive order directing the elimination of the USICH “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”
The Trump administration under HUD Secretary Scott Turner and the "Department of Government Efficiency" (formerly led by Elon Musk) views the USICH and its "housingfirst" model as an inefficient bureaucracy. They view permanent housing as secondary to treatment, favoring mandatory treatment or faith-based interventions over immediate housing.
They view homelessness primarily as an issue of urban aesthetics and public safety, rather than as a humanitarian or public health crisis. President Trump has described homeless people as choosing that lifestyle or living in "hell," but believes they should be managed mainly for cleanliness and order in cities. By sidelining (though not legally dismantling) the Council, the administration aims to break the federal consensus on housing-first and shift policy toward local law enforcement and treatment-first approaches.
So, is this actually a lifeline for affordable housing? A windfall for condo developers? Or a ticking time bomb for America’s rental economy? As the dust settles, developers are weighing rapid pivots: incorporating more affordable units, seeking alternative funding for upgrades, and reassessing risk models. The bill’s impact, it seems, will be shaped as much by local politics and market ingenuity as by anything written into law. The next few quarters promise a bumpy ride—one that could redefine the nation’s housing landscape for a generation.
In April, nearly the entire USICH staff was put on administrative leave, effectively suspending most agency operations despite its legal authorization. Funding for homelessness programs was frozen, including a $3.6 billion block on homelessness grants, as part of a larger cutback in HUD and related initiatives. n
Scott Turner is the 19th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He previously served as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), where he led the interagency Opportunity Zones Initiative, working with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments across the country to revitalize economically distressed areas, promote affordable housing, and create new businesses. Before his career in public service, Turner played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos. n
A physicist is someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in a way you don’t understand.
Changes in Householder Race and Ethnicity
Household Size Decreased
Number in household
One person
Two people
Householder Age Increased
Age distribution of owners
Age distribution of renters
Household Composition Changed
Married householder living with spouse
Householder living with own children
Householder living with extended family
Householder living with nonrelatives
Note: Data on race/ethnicity, marital status, household social characteristics, age, veteran or active military status, and move-in pertain to the householder (the primary owner, renter, or occupant). Household composition categories are not mutually exclusive. More than one category may apply to a unit. “Extended family” means a relative of the householder who is not their spouse or child. When necessary, variables from 2023 and 1973 were recoded for compatibility. Note that in 1973, the military variable refects householder’s service status as of 1970 (three years prior to the survey), whereas in 2023, the military variable refects householder’s current service status. All percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. All comparisons between 1973 and 2023 are signifcantly dierent at the 90 percent level, except for one age comparison. Defnitions and more information on confdentiality protection, methodology, and sampling and nonsampling error are available at <www.census.gov/ahs>. The U.S. Census Bureau has reviewed this data product to ensure appropriate access, use, and disclosure avoidance protection of the confdential source data used to produce this product (Data Management System [DMS] number: P-7533599; Disclosure Review Board [DRB] approval number: CBDRB-FY25-SEHSD003-066).
*Not statistically dierent between 1973 and 2023.
More Veterans and Service Members Became Homeowners
Percent of householders with veteran or active military status
Fewer Owners and Renters Recently Moved
Percent of householders who moved in within last 12 months
The AHS, sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, is the most comprehensive national housing survey in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1973 and 2023 American Housing Surveys.
ICE Wrongful Detentions
Statistical Analysis Under The 2025 Trump Administration
WHY WERE THEY WRONGFULLY DETAINED?
during The currenT TrumP administration, wrongful ICE detentions have surged, with the majority of detainees having no criminal conviction. The main reasons for wrongful detentions include mistaken identity, database errors, racial profiling, and failure to verify legal status. Approximately 52% of individuals who were wrongfully detained were ultimately deported (21,039 individuals). Those wrongfully detained spanned a range of immigration statuses: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), DACA recipients, and individuals with valid visas or pending legal status.
WHAT TYPE OF VISA (IF ANY) DID THEY HAVE?
ICE DETENTION POPULATION BREAKDOWN (JULY 2025)
VISUAL ANALYSIS
Instead of John, I call my bathroom Jim. It sounds better when I say I went to the Jim first thing in the morning.
DEPORTATION DESTINATIONS
I’m not entirely useless; I can be used as a bad example.
WRONGFUL DEPORTATION: RETURN RATES
Approximately 3.7% of wrongfully deported individuals have been returned to the U.S. The overwhelming majority—over 90%—remain detained abroad, mainly in El Salvador’s CECOT prison, often without criminal convictions or due process. Most of these cases are entangled in ongoing legal battles, with advocacy groups and courts pushing for
their return, but government compliance has been slow and inconsistent.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Wrongful ICE detentions under the 2025 Trump administration have affected tens of thousands, with over half of the wrongfully detained individuals actually deported. The problem is systemic, rooted in administrative errors, profiling, and policy incentives, and impacts not just undocumented immigrants but also U.S. citizens and those with legal status.
The statistics reported here are based on official ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and DHS (U.S. Department of Homeland Security) data, as well as advocacy group reports and legal case summaries, as examined by TIME Magazine. n
Approximately 200 individuals are held in El Salvador’s CECOT prison, many without criminal convictions. Detentions are often based on tenuous evidence (e.g., tattoos, clothing) rather than proven criminal activity. Some are held at the request of U.S. authorities, with their legal status unresolved. Many deportees were removed without due process, violating their constitutional rights. Federal courts have ordered the U.S. government to facilitate returns and provide hearings, but compliance is slow. Some cases are in a state of "legal limbo," with the U.S. government arguing that responsibility lies with the foreign country. Multiple class action lawsuits and individual cases are pending in federal courts. Courts have found the government in probable contempt for failing to comply with return orders. Legal advocacy groups are pressing for systemic reforms and individual relief. Organizations such as Americans for Immigrant Justice, United We Dream, and the "Chance to Come Home" campaign are actively tracking cases, providing legal support, and advocating for policy change, both in securing individual returns and in reforming the system to prevent future wrongful deportations.
The Seven Wonders
of Indian/Hindu Architecture
THE KAILASHANATHA TEMPLE OF ELLORA, INDIA
The Kailash (or Kailashanatha) temple is the largest of the 34 Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cave temples and monasteries known collectively as the Ellora Caves in the state of Maharashtra, India. A megalith carved into a cliff face, it is considered one of the most remarkable cave temples in the world because of its size, architecture, and sculptural treatment. It has been described as "the climax of the rock-cut phase of Indian architecture.” The top of the structure over the sanctuary is 107 feet above the level of the court below, and archaeologists believe it was sculpted from a single rock.
THE WESTERN GROUP OF TEMPLES OF KHAJURAHO, INDIA
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India. They are famous for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism and a few erotic sculptures.
Most Khajuraho temples were built between 885 CE and 1000 CE by the Chandela dynasty. Historical records indicate that the Khajuraho temple site comprised 85 temples by the 12th century, spread over an area of 7.7 square miles. Of these, only about 25 temples have survived, including the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, which is adorned with a profusion of sculptures featuring intricate details, symbolism, and the expressiveness characteristic of ancient Indian art. The temple complex was forgotten and overgrown by the jungle until 1838, when Captain T.S. Burt, a British engineer, visited the complex and reported his findings in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
When these monuments were built, the boys in the place lived in hermitages, as brahmacharyas (bachelors) until they attained manhood, and these sculptures helped them to learn about the worldly role of 'householder'. The Khajuraho group of temples was built together but was dedicated to two religions, Hinduism and Jainism, suggesting a tradition of acceptance and respect for diverse religious views among Hindus and Jains in the region. Due to their outstanding architecture, diverse temple forms, and testimony to the Chandela civilization, the monuments at Khajuraho were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986.
Sizes: 10% of women think their ass is too skinny; 30% of women think their ass is too fat; 60% say they don’t care.
Ass
Women’s
é Kailash Temple.
They love him; he’s a good man, and they wouldn’t trade him for the world.
ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA
Angkor Wat ("City/Capital of Temples") is a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia. Located on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (401.8 acres) within the ancient Khmer capital city of Angkor, it was originally constructed in 1150 CE as a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Vishnu. It was later gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the century. One of the largest religious structures in the world, it is regarded as one of the finest examples of Khmer architecture and a symbol of Cambodia, featured prominently in the Cambodian national flag.
Angkor Wat was built at the behest of the Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mountain and the later galleried temple. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, the home of the devas in Hindu mythology, and is surrounded by a moat that is more than 3miles in diameter. The expansive Temple complex covers an area of 400 acres.
BALI, INDONESIA
Bali is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province encompasses the island of Bali and several
smaller offshore islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan, located to the southeast. The provincial capital, Denpasar, is the most populous city in the Lesser Sunda Islands and the second-largest, after Makassar, in Eastern Indonesia. The upland town of Ubud in Greater Denpasar is considered Bali's cultural center. The province of Bali is Indonesia's leading tourist destination, and tourism-related businesses make up 80% of the island's economy
Bali is the only province in Indonesia with a Hindu majority, with 86.40% of the population adhering to Balinese Hinduism. It is renowned for its highly developed arts, including traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leatherwork, metalworking, and music.
Bali is part of the Coral Triangle, an area renowned for its high diversity of marine species, particularly fish and turtles. (In this area alone, over 500 reef-building coral species can be found.) This is about seven times as many as in the entire Caribbean.
THE MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE OF MADURAI, INDIA
Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, her consort Sundareśvarar, a form of Shiva and her brother Aḻagar, a form of Vishnu. The temple is theologically significant as it represents a confluence of the Shaivism, Shaktism, and Vaishnavism denominations of Hinduism.
It was built by Pandyan Emperor Sadayavarman Kulasekaran I (1190–1205 CE), whom traditional texts refer to as a poetsaint king. Though the temple has historic roots, most of the present campus structure was rebuilt after the 14th century
é View of the central structure of Angkor Wat.
CE, further repaired, renovated, and expanded in the 17th century. In the early 14th century, the armies of the Delhi Sultanate led by Malik Kafur plundered the temple, looted it of its valuables, and destroyed the Madurai temple town along with many other temple towns of South India. The contemporary temple is the result of rebuilding efforts started by the Vijayanagara Empire rulers who rebuilt the core and reopened the temple. In the 16th century, the temple complex was further expanded and fortified by the Nayak ruler Vishwanatha Nayakar and later others. The restored
THE RED FORT OF DELHI, INDIA
The Red Fort (a/k/a Lal Qila) is a historic Mughal fort located in Delhi, India. It served as the primary residence of the Mughal emperors. Commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639, the fort was constructed after he decided to shift the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi. Adorned initially in red and white, the fort's design is attributed to Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the architect of the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort epitomizes the height of Mughal architecture during Shah Jahan's reign, blending Persian palace influences with indigenous Indian architectural elements. It was plundered and stripped of its artwork and jewels during Nadir Shah's invasion in 1739. Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, many of its marble structures were demolished by the British, although
complex now houses 14 gopurams (gateway towers), ranging in height from 148 to 170 feet.
The temple is a major pilgrimage destination, attracting over a million pilgrims and visitors during the annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival.
the defensive walls remained largely intact. The fort was later repurposed as a military garrison.
On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, hoisted the Indian flag above the Lahori Gate (the main entrance of the Red Fort) and since then, the Prime Minister of India has ceremonially raised the national flag at the main gate of the Red Fort each year on Independence Day, delivering a nationally broadcast address from its ramparts.
The Red Fort was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
A worm is a pretty disappointing prize for getting up early, if you ask me.
é A view of the Red Fort's Lahori Gate.
If stupid could fly, you’d be a jet.
THE TAJ MAHAL OF AGRA, INDIA
The Taj Mahal ('Crown of the Palace') is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658) to house the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centerpiece of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.
Construction was completed in 1648, but work continued on other phases of the project for another five years. The first ceremony held at the mausoleum was an observance by Shah Jahan on 6 February 1643, marking the 12th anniversary of Mumtaz Mahal's death. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be the equivalent of $827 million in 2015 U.S. dollars.
The building complex incorporates the design traditions of Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture. It employs symmetrical constructions, utilizing various shapes and symbols. While the mausoleum is constructed of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, red sandstone was used for the other buildings in the complex, a style similar to the Mughal era buildings of the time. The construction project employed more than 20,000 workers and artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the court architect to the emperor. The Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Islamic art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.” It is regarded as one of the best examples of Mughal architecture and a symbol of Indian history. The Taj Mahal is a major tourist attraction, attracting more than five million visitors annually. n
TOBY 2025 CATEGORY WINNERS
The ToBy awards are more than the result of a oneyear competition. They are the rewards of many years of dedication, attention to detail, and relentless passion for excellence. It is truly a testament to the character of all those who contribute to making it happen. A reputation is the
opinion of others, and all of the nominees have earned an outstanding reputation. Character is who you are.
Since 1985, the Outstanding Building of the Year Award has recognized excellence in building management, operating efficiency, tenant retention, emergency plan-
ning, and community impact. It is among the most prestigious and comprehensive programs of its kind.
At the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International’s annual conference in Boston, 17 commercial properties were honored with The (2025) Outstanding Building of the Year® (TOBY®) Awards. These buildings first won a TOBY Award from their BOMA local association and then
went on to compete and win at the regional level. Judging is based on criteria that include community impact, occupant and employee relations, sustainability, accessibility, emergency evacuation procedures, building personnel training programs, and overall quality indicators. A team of industry experts also conducted comprehensive building inspections.
The 2025 BOMA International TOBY Award winners are:
tell secrets in the garden. The potatoes have eyes, the corn has ears, and the beanstalk.
Don’t
Never blame someone else for the road you’re on. That’s your own asphalt.
ENERGY STAR
A CALL TO ACTION
esTaBlished in 1992 By the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President George H. W. Bush (EPA’s John S. Hoffman led the effort), EnergyStar is a voluntary, joint EPA-Department of Energy (DOE) program that certifies appliances, electronics, homes, and buildings meeting high energy-efficiency standards. Today, over 75 product categories carry the blue Energy Star label, signaling a roughly 9–20% better efficiency compared to standard models.
Since its creation, Energy Star has helped consumers save:
• ~5 trillion kWh of electricity,
• ~$500 billion in energy costs,
• and avoided ~4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
According to the Washington Post, it consistently delivers a stellar return— approximately $350 saved per dollar spent. It has a federal budget of around $32 million/year.
Eighty-nine percent of U.S. households recognize the Energy Star label. It bridges private sector innovation and public trust: manufacturers voluntarily pursue certification to meet consumer demand for efficiency. Beyond consumer goods, Energy Star-certified homes comprise approximately 25% of new U.S. housing starts, helping to cut peak electricity demand and strengthen grid resilience.
In May of this year, the EPA informed its internal staff that its Office of Atmospheric Protection— which manages Energy Star—would be dissolved as part of a significant reorganization. The FY 2026 budget request proposes zero funding for the Energy Star program. Led by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the adminis -
tration argues the program isn’t statutorily required and could be privatized or run by DOE.
According to Scientific American, without Energy Star, households risk losing $450–$500/year in savings. According to The New Yorker, the label provides easy shorthand for shoppers—its removal will complicate decision-making. Environment America notes that higher energy use will lead to increased carbon emissions and pollutants, thereby undermining the U.S.'s energy and climate objectives. And, under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, EPA and DOE are directed to “preserve the integrity of the Energy Star label.” Dismantling it may face legal challenges.
Over 1,000 companies (e.g., Bosch, Carrier, AHRI, Chamber of Commerce) wrote to the EPA urging continued support. And it has bipartisan support in Congress, which may impede funding changes. The ACEEE, the Sierra Club, the EDF, the U.S. Green Building Council, and other environmental groups denounce the rollback as short-sighted and fiscally imprudent.
If the Energy Star appliance certification program is eliminated, the only certainty is that uncertainty will prevail in its wake. It will throw into turmoil a once near-universal method of determining energy efficiency for a vast array of building fixtures and appliances. Developers and property owners will be unsure about the level of energy efficiency in their buildings and
how to demonstrate to investors and prospective tenants that their buildings are high-performance properties. Transparency and good information —the cornerstone of efficient market operation—will be gone.
Energy Star-certified multifamily properties consume 20-30% less energy than standard buildings, benefiting both residents and owners. Residents achieve yearly utility savings of $200 to $400 per unit, and owners experience thousands of dollars in lower operating costs per building as a result of the efficiency gains. Without the program, utility costs are likely to increase, adding further pressure on housing affordability. The better a multifamily building’s energy efficiency, the more it can hike net operating income, which enhances the asset’s cash flow. In short, greater multifamily energy efficiency translates to better results for everyone in the industry, and terminating Energy Star could disrupt the industry in ways that are not foreseeable.
Energy Star is more than a label—it’s a trusted, cost-saving mechanism woven into consumer behavior and industry standards. Its termination would raise household energy bills, represent a retreat from climate policy, and trigger legal controversies around statutory mandates. Energy Star is a rare public-private success story— cost-effective, popular, efficient, and environmentally impactful. The Trump administration’s push to eliminate it follows broader deregulatory ambitions but clashes with legislative mandates and cross-party support. If carried through, its demise would hit households, markets, and emissions goals, potentially sparking legal and political backlash. n
We urge you to write to your representatives, encouraging them to support the continuation of the Energy Star program.
é Lee Zeldin with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
ARTCH TECTURE
SURREAL COLLAGE
‘Mira’ translates to ‘look’ or ‘observe’ in Spanish, while ‘Ruido’ means ‘noise’. Together, they form 'Mira Ruido', the artistic name I’ve used for over 15 years.
JoseBa elorza, also known as Mira Ruido, was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a small city in northern Spain. He studied to be a sound technician, but his artistic interests led him towards collage, a technique he has been practicing for over 20 years. Shortly after publishing his first works online, he received his first com-
missions for different magazines. Since then, his illustrations have appeared in publications such as Esquire, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hollywood Reporter, among many others.
In his eagerness to continue developing his technique, in 2013 he began to animate his collages, adding the dimension of time to his work. With the publication of his first animations, the first commissions began to arrive, with music videos being one of his main focuses of interest. Since then, he has directed and animated videos for bands such as Green Day and brands including National Geographic Channel and Amazon Studios, among others.
During these two decades of his creative career, he has combined client work with small personal projects that have served as a spearhead for his creative development. Mira Ruido employs copy and paste as a technique to decontextualize general knowledge, reconfigure our senses, and remix the known past with the unknown future. His works show us snapshots of a different world, in which everything seems possible, and convey a sense of ironic humor directed at society, presenting ordinary, well-known things in a new and confusing way. n
Many of the artworks displayed here are available as prints in various sizes, with or without frames. Visit the artist’s store to view all the available pieces and subscribe to his newsletter to stay up to date with new releases and exclusive discounts.
WHY ARTCH TECTURE?
Great art is among the most sublime, meaningful, and redeeming creations of all civilization. Few endeavors can equal the power of great artwork to capture aesthetic beauty, to move and inspire, to change perceptions, and to communicate the nature of human experience. Great art is also complex, mysterious, and challenging. Filled with symbolism, cultural and historical references, and often visionary imagery, great artworks oblige us to reckon with their many meanings.
Architects and designers (many of our readers) have a lot of influence on the way we perceive the world. A structure often plays a significant part in how we experience a place. (Think of a restaurant, a museum, an arena, a stadium... even an office building - virtually anywhere!) The interior design impacts our sensory perception, our comfort, and our physical connection and there is also artistry in the exterior design. (That’s why we call it artchitecture.)
June 12, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Innovation & The Future of Facility Management
LEARNING
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DISCOVER. CONNECT. GROW.
Be part of the inaugural IFMA Global LATAM Conference — the must-attend event for Facility Management professionals across Latin America. This extraordinary one-day event in Mexico City is packed with insights, connections and opportunities designed to shape the future of the built environment.
CONNECTIONS
Meet the Global FM Community. Forge powerful connections with top industry experts, thought leaders and decision-makers from around the world.
DISCOVERY
Experience the magic of Mexico. Beyond the conference, Mexico City offers an unforgettable cultural journey — from historic landmarks and museums to world-class cuisine and vibrant markets.
BY TONY HODGSON
HARNESSING LATENT NETWORK CAPACITY: A NEW FRONTIER FOR
AUGMENTED REALITY
whaT if The quieTesT corners of your building's digital infrastructure held the key to its most dynamic and engaging experiences? We're not talking about a major network overhaul or a milliondollar investment in new hardware. We're talking about the untapped potential of your existing building communication network -the secondary “Out of Band” (OOB) channels and unused bandwidth that, with the right approach, can be transformed into a powerful platform for Augmented Reality (AR).
In the last issue, we explored how AR-as-a-Service (ARaaS) is revolutionizing the way we experience physical spaces. Now, let's delve deeper into the "how"—specifically, how to deploy these immersive AR experiences without disrupting the critical dayto-day operations of your facility. The answer lies in leveraging the latent capacity of your network.
THE POWER OF THE SECONDARY NETWORK
Every modern commercial and multi-use facility has a complex network architecture. Beyond the primary cor-
porate network, there are often secondary networks for guests, dedicated networks for IoT devices, and significant pockets of unused bandwidth during off-peak hours. These "quiet zones" are the perfect environment for deploying AR applications.
By utilizing this latent capacity, you can:
• ISOLATE AR TRAFFIC: Prevent AR applications from impacting the performance of mission-critical business systems.
• ENSURE A SEAMLESS USER EXPERIENCE: Provide the high bandwidth and low latency that AR applications demand, without jitter or lag.
• MAXIMIZE YOUR EXISTING INVESTMENT: Get more value out of the network infrastructure you already have in place.
PRACTICAL AR APPLICATIONS FOR YOUR SECONDARY NETWORK
So, what kind of AR experiences can you run on your network's "B-side"? The possibilities are as vast as your imagination:
• IMMERSIVE WAYFINDING: Guide visitors through a sprawling corporate campus
or a multi-level retail complex with AR-powered directional arrows and interactive points of interest, all running on the guest Wi-Fi network.
• INTERACTIVE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS: Equip your maintenance staff with AR-enabled tablets or smart glasses that overlay digital schematics, repair instructions, and real-time data onto physical equipment. This can be run on a dedicated, secure network for operational technology.
• ENGAGING TENANT AND VISITOR EXPERIENCES: Transform your lobby into a virtual art gallery, create an interactive historical tour of your building, or launch a location-based AR game to drive foot traffic to retail tenants. These experiences are ideal for a public-facing secondary network.
• ENHANCED SAFETY AND SECURITY: In an emergency, AR can be a lifesaver. Augmented reality overlays can provide building occupants with the fastest and safest evacuation routes, and first responders with critical information about the building's layout and potential hazards. This can be deployed on a high-priority, resilient network.
THE FUTURE IS NOW
The good news is that you don't need to be a network engineer to bring these AR experiences to life. With an AR-as-aService platform like Ethar, you can easily create, manage, and deploy AR
It’s not really procrastination if I have no intention of ever doing it.
content across your entire facility. Our platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing network infrastructure, and our team of experts can help you identify and unlock the untapped potential of your network.
The rise of 5G and Wi-Fi 6 will only make it easier to deploy high-quality AR experiences. But you don't have to wait for the future to get started. The technology is here today, and the opportunities are immense. n
About Ethar, Inc.
Ethar, Inc. is a Huntsville, Alabamabased technology company pioneering the future of spatial computing. Our platform empowers organizations to create, share, and monetize augmented reality experiences with ease. From property development and manufacturing to tourism and education, Ethar helps clients blend the physical and digital worlds in meaningful ways. We offer advanced tools for AR content creation, geospatial anchoring, and intelligent context-aware delivery—accessible on mobile devices and wearables. Learn more at ethar.com.
Tony Hodgson, CEO, Ethar, Inc. thodgson@ethar.com
é Secondary Network.
BY JON FITZGERALD
DEFENSE BY DESIGN: WHY
SMART BUILDINGS NEED NETWORK ISOLATION AND CONVERGENCE AT THE SAME TIME
in a world defined by relentless technological change, planning facility infrastructure—both wired and wireless—demands strategies that maximize long-term ROI (return on investment) while balancing budgets and security. Central to this challenge is the separation of critical enterprise networks from less securable systems such as guest-facing Wi-Fi and building IoT-like access control for lighting, energy and environmental management.
THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORK SEGMENTATION
Modern commercial buildings face a dynamic cyber threat environment. Threats include vulnerabilities in IoT devices, targeted attacks on tenant networks, or spyware introduced via an unsuspecting employee’s personal device. It is essential to understand how network segmentation serves as a frontline defense against these threats, shielding vital systems. That segmentation can be physical, logical, or both.
Physical separation of networks involves using distinct, dedicated infrastructure for each network, while logical separation isolates
é An example of network reuse. CWDM uses beam splitters and wavelength-specific SFPs to create multiple fiber connections using a single fiber.
network traffic using methods like VLANs or access controls within shared hardware, ensuring security boundaries even when resources are physically shared. These concepts also extend to wireless networks, especially crucial for safeguarding the most sensitive elements of an enterprise.
Physical isolation in wired and wireless networks focuses on guest Wi-Fi, IoT devices, and cellular BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), all of which should run on a physically distinct infrastructure. This doesn’t require separate locations, but rather careful planning to ensure internet traffic routes do not overlap or intermingle between trusted and untrusted resources.
APPLYING OUT OF BAND (OOB) CONCEPTS TO PHYSICAL BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
Blending critical control networks with Wi-Fi and IoT traffic increases the attack surface and the risk of service interruptions or breaches. IoT devices, while becoming essential for smart building operations, are often designed with functionality in mind rather than robust secu-
rity. Guest Wi-Fi networks, by nature, must be open and convenient, making them especially vulnerable to unauthorized access and lateral movement by threat actors.
All this infrastructure and security sounds expensive. It is. But there are strategies for improving ROI while laying the groundwork for rapid adoption of emerging technologies and modes of engagement.
An example of a solution for expanding network infrastructure without requiring extensive physical upgrades is Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM). CWDM technology enables multiple, separate data streams to be transmitted simultaneously over a single optical fiber by assigning each stream a unique wavelength. This approach not only maximizes the existing structured cable investment but also allows organizations to introduce new, isolated fiber paths for business-critical, wireless, and IoT networks with minimal disruption. By increasing available bandwidth through the use of distinct wavelengths or channels, CWDM facilitates robust physical separation, enabling easier support for security boundaries and scaling smart building capabilities as demands evolve.
Another example of a transformative advancement in modern facility design is the integration of multiple cellular carriers on a unified Distributed Antenna System (DAS), or ‘common carrier’ DAS. The latest technology is Software-Defined Radio (SDR), which can automatically adapt to changing conditions. These systems have the potential to be the ‘Swiss Army knife’ of wireless connectivity. By centralizing multi-carrier support within a shared DAS, facilities can reduce operational complexity and provide seamless coverage for mobile operators.
Q. Why did the art thief’s van run out of gas as he drove away from the museum? A. Because he had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh.
When is ‘old enough to know better’ supposed to kick in?
é Digital twin of an office building. The models are used to visualize wireless coverage with considerations for building materials and equipment specified.
The introduction of multi-technology-enabled smart antennas extends this advantage, allowing IoT devices to use the same infrastructure as cell phones. This convergence simplifies the deployment of diverse IoT sensors, actuators, and controls throughout the building. These sensor networks can enable Location Based Service (LBS) services like environmental monitoring, indoor wayfinding, gunshot detection, and panic buttons integrated over the same infrastructure as cellular coverage.
CONVERGENCE IN FIRST RESPONDER NETWORKS
An often-overlooked opportunity in smart building infrastructure is the reuse of indoor DAS for public safety wireless networks.
Over the decades, indoor communications for firefighters and other first responders have evolved from rudimentary alarm circuits and hard-wired voice systems to complex, networked infrastructures that support real-time alerts and integrated emergency response. Modern approaches can now blend dedicated public safety radio systems with intelligent sensors and wireless coverage, ensuring rapid information flow and reliable connectivity throughout every corner of a facility.
Traditionally, interoperable P25 public safety two-way systems require coordination with the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), often the Fire Marshal. These systems must follow fire codes and address survivability requirements. While local regulations vary, both public safety and commercial cellular networks rely on robust, wide-area signal coverage throughout a building. The existing infrastructure— cabling, conduit pathways, and antenna placements—used for emergency communications can often be adapted to support commercial cellular service. By using the backbone built for public safety, such as dedicated fiber runs or RF cabling, organizations can enhance cellular DAS coverage without duplicating expensive physical resources. This strategy streamlines deployment, reduces costs, and prioritizes mission-critical communications
COURTESY OF INFOLINK USA, INC.
while also providing reliable cellular connectivity for daily business operations and the needs of occupants.
Investing in robust network segmentation does add cost, but the expense can be justified by the increased security and reliability it provides. An informed perspective, combined with a vision of modern modes of interaction, can translate into both perceived and actual value for your tenants.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Ubiquitous cellular devices and coverage indoors, coupled with interactive tools such as Augmented Reality (AR) that anchor information to real-world facilities, can translate into massive gains in access to information and resources, and ultimately in productivity and real-world value; not to mention the applications can be super cool.
é Augmented Reality systems can be designed to support a broad diversity of applications
Wireless AR, combined with access to edge computing and cloud resources, requires informed and inspired engineering to deliver value to businesses and the public. To be compelling and useful, applications must be both secured and accessible at the same time. Long-term vision is key to counterbalancing the silos created during the appropriations and integration processes. Due to the intricate nature of both wired and wireless technologies, it is often necessary to outsource the design and operation to outside integrators. Building owners can offset costs by offering connectivity as a standard utility for applications and their associated networks rather than building completely independent networks.
Enabling LBS for first responders and emergency management can save lives. The real potential of enabling building with viewable, real-time location-anchored metadata can serve multiple purposes and business cases.
As IoT adoption accelerates and ubiquitous wireless coverage is a requirement, adopting advanced architectural strategies, particularly
using common infrastructure, can enable scalable and efficient networks in complex indoor environments. Physically and logically isolating those disparate systems can help your IT managers sleep at night; doing it by reusing infrastructure means you do more with less, giving your CFO a reason to rest easy as well.
THE TLDR
Building smart infrastructure depends on isolating enterprise networks from guest Wi-Fi and IoT devices to enhance security and future flexibility. Both physical and logical segmentation are crucial for minimizing cyber risks and adapting to emerging technologies.
• SEGMENTATION STRATEGIES: Separate enterprise, guest, and IoT networks with dedicated infrastructure to contain security threats and support adaptability.
• OPTIMIZING INVESTMENT: Tools like multi-carrier DAS and CWDM increase resources and allow for isolated data streams over the same wireless infrastructure and fiber, supporting growth and mitigating costly rewiring.
• MODERN WIRELESS: Software-defined DAS and smart antennas can support multiple carriers, IoT, and location-based services, all with streamlined management and strong coverage.
• CONVERGED PUBLIC SAFETY AND CARRIER NETWORKS: When designed appropriately, DAS infrastructure can support public safety and commercial wireless needs, offering opportunities to lower costs while enhancing emergency communication.
• UTILITY APPROACH: Establishing connectivity as a shared utility can significantly lower costs across multiple layers while facilitating future upgrades and the integration of new applications.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Strategic network separation balanced with effective infrastructure reuse can provide security, flexibility, and lasting value for smart buildings. n
For 27 years, InfoLink USA has specialized in enabling productivity at the network edges. Their seasoned team of engineers and technicians, in the bustling hub city of Lafayette, Louisiana, have partnered with the healthcare, real estate, government, manufacturing, and energy sectors to make wireless work!
Questions or Comments?
Please reach out at info@infoLink-USA.com
Jon Fitzgerald, Team Leader. InfoLink-USA.com
WHY U.S. STATES AND CITIES ARE MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD ON ODD-SHAPED LOTS
ADDRESSING THE HOUSING SHORTAGE CRISIS
The uniTed sTaTes is experiencing a severe housing shortage, with an estimated deficit of 7.1 million affordable housing units. Only about 78,000 affordable rental units are built annually, which is far below the amount needed to meet demand. This crisis affects both major cities and traditionally more affordable regions. Restrictive zoning laws and high development costs have historically limited the construction of new housing, especially affordable units. By making it easier to build on irregular and overlooked lots, cities and states aim to increase the housing supply and alleviate this crisis.
Many urban areas have large numbers of vacant, underutilized, or oddly shaped lots that are difficult to develop under traditional zoning rules. Reforming these rules allows cities to make more efficient use of their existing land, promoting higher density and reducing urban sprawl. This is particularly important as approximately 70% of residential areas in major cities restrict or ban apartments, limiting housing options and driving up prices.
Developing overlooked lots can increase the local tax base, generating more property tax revenue for cities and states. Land value taxation and similar policies encourage the productive use of land, discouraging speculation and vacancy. By facilitating development, cities can redistribute the tax burden more equitably and fund public services more effectively.
Vacant and irregular lots can contribute to neighborhood blight and disinvestment. By enabling development on these parcels, cities hope to revitalize neighborhoods, attract new residents, and improve local amenities. This can also help address issues of urban decay and underutilization of infrastructure.
Cities like Seattle and Minneapolis, as well as states such as California and Oregon, have enacted zoning reforms to allow more flexible land use, including the legalization of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and multi-family housing in areas previously restricted to single-family homes. These reforms are driven by the need to modernize outdated zoning codes and address evolving housing needs.
BENEFITS OF FACILITATING DEVELOPMENT ON IRREGULAR AND OVERLOOKED LOTS
By unlocking more land for development, especially in high-demand urban areas, these policy changes can help increase the supply of affordable housing. Allowing higher density and diverse housing types spreads land and infrastructure costs across more units, making housing more affordable.
Repurposing vacant or underused lots can revitalize neighborhoods, reduce blight, and attract new investment. Community engagement in these projects can ensure that development aligns with local needs and preserves neighborhood character. And develop-
ing on irregular lots maximizes the use of existing urban land, reducing the need for outward expansion and supporting more sustainable, transitoriented communities. Mixed-use and higher-density developments can reduce car dependence and support local businesses.
New development increases the property tax base, providing more revenue for local governments to invest in infrastructure, schools, and public services. It also creates jobs in construction and related industries. Allowing development on non-standard lots encourages architectural innovation and more diverse housing options, which can better meet the needs of a changing population.
RISKS AND CRITICISMS
Increased development, especially in previously underutilized areas, can strain existing infrastructure such as water, sewage, transportation, and emergency services. Cities may face higher maintenance costs and need to invest in upgrades to support new residents. Revitalizing overlooked lots can also lead to rising property values and rents, potentially displacing long-term, lower-income residents. This process, known as gentrification, can erode community identity and reduce cultural diversity, especially in historically marginalized neighborhoods.
Irregular lots may present unique construction challenges, such as uneven
On
Diarrhea Week.
I’ve decided that I’ll never get down to my original weight... and I’m okay with that. After all, 6 lbs. 3 oz is just not realistic.
The Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building occupies a triangular city block in New York City bounded by Fifth Avenue to the west, Broadway to the east, and 22nd Street to the south. The western and eastern façades converge, forming a "peak" at its northern corner where Fifth Avenue and Broadway intersect with East 23rd Street. The shape of the site is determined by Broadway's diagonal alignment relative to the Manhattan street grid. The site measures 197.5 feet on Fifth Avenue, 214.5 feet on Broadway, and 86 feet on 22nd Street. Above ground level, all three corners of the triangle are rounded. (Despite the building's name, the site is shaped like a scalene right triangle, rather than an isosceles triangle, as flatirons are shaped.
The Flatiron Building was developed as the headquarters of the Fuller Company, a construction firm that acquired the site in 1901. (It was initially known as the Fuller Building.) It changed hands several times over the years, and in October 2023, the building's owners announced that it would be converted to residential condominiums. The project is planned to be completed by 2026.
Called "one of the world's most iconic skyscrapers and a quintessential symbol of New York City", the building (which opened in 1902) stands 22 stories and 285 feet tall. (Daniel Burnham and Frederick P. Dinkelberg designed it). The neighborhood around it is called the Flatiron District after its signature, iconic building. It was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
terrain, flood risk, or soil instability. There is a risk that, in the rush to build, safety standards may be overlooked, leading to potential hazards for future residents. And some residents oppose increased density or changes to neigh-
borhood character, fearing that new developments will not fit architecturally or will bring unwanted changes. Lack of public participation in planning processes can fuel distrust and resistance. Consider also that developing
on irregular lots can be more expensive due to site-specific challenges, and developers may require incentives or regulatory streamlining to make such projects viable. There is also a risk that policy changes may disproportionately benefit developers rather than existing residents.
CONCLUSION
The movement to make it easier to build on irregular and long-overlooked lots in U.S. cities and states is driven by the urgent need to address the housing shortage, promote efficient land use, revitalize neighborhoods, and increase tax revenue. While these changes offer significant benefits—including more affordable housing, economic growth, and sustainable urban development—they also carry risks related to infrastructure, gentrification, building safety, and community acceptance. Successful implementation requires careful planning, community engagement, and ongoing oversight to ensure that the benefits are realized equitably and sustainably. n
VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES: TURNING LIABILITIES INTO ASSETS
VacanT and aBandoned ProPerTies are a persistent challenge for cities across the United States. These properties, often the result of economic downturns, population shifts, or housing market failures, are more than just eyesores—they are catalysts for crime, financial drains on municipal budgets, and contributors to neighborhood decline. Yet, with innovative policies, community engagement, and strategic investment, these liabilities can be transformed into valuable community assets. This article examines the scale and impact of vacant properties, the mechanisms that perpetuate their negative effects, and the strategies cities are implementing to reclaim and revitalize these spaces.
As of 2022, the United States had approximately 15.1 million vacant homes, representing 10.5% of the nation’s total housing inventory. While this figure has declined from the post2008 housing crisis peak of nearly 19 million, it remains a significant concern for many urban and rural communities.
The distribution of vacant properties is uneven: some cities, particularly those in regions with high tourism, such as Florida, have high vacancy rates due to
the prevalence of seasonal or vacation homes. In contrast, legacy cities in the Midwest and Northeast—places such as Detroit, Cleveland, and Baltimore— struggle with long-term, non-seasonal vacancies tied to economic decline and population decline.
The nature of the vacancy also varies. In many counties, the largest share of vacant housing is for “seasonal, recreational, or occasional use.” Still, in urban cores, vacant properties are more likely to be abandoned, tax-delinquent, or in disrepair.
THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TOLL: CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Vacant and abandoned properties are closely linked to increased crime rates, particularly arson. These structures, often unsecured and unmonitored, become magnets for illegal activity. The “broken windows theory” posits that visible signs of disorder—like boarded-up homes—signal a lack of social control, inviting further criminal behavior. Empirical studies support this. In Detroit, for example, 85% of the 9,000 structural fires in 2011 occurred in vacant buildings. Research in Pittsburgh found that violent crime rates within 250
feet of a foreclosed home increased by nearly 19% upon vacancy, with the risk peaking after 12-18 months of abandonment.
The absence of residents and active surveillance in these properties creates opportunities for vandalism, drug use, and arson, further destabilizing neighborhoods and straining public safety resources.
The presence of vacant properties depresses the value of surrounding homes. In Philadelphia, studies have shown that a single vacant property can reduce the value of neighboring properties by as much as 20%. The effect is highly localized: properties more than 450 feet away from a vacant home are less likely to see a significant decrease in value. This decline in property values erodes household wealth, particularly for low-and moderate-income homeowners, and can trigger a cycle of disinvestment as residents and businesses leave the area.
Vacant properties are a financial burden for cities. They generate less property tax revenue. Toledo, Ohio, for instance, lost $2.7 million in tax revenue directly attributable to vacant properties. At the same time, cities must allocate more resources to public safety, code enforcement, and property maintenance. Costs include mowing overgrown lots, boarding up buildings, and, in some cases, demolition—expenses that can run into the millions annually for large cities. These fiscal pressures can limit a city’s ability to provide essential services and invest in community development.
POLICY FRAMEWORKS AND MUNICIPAL STRATEGIES
Recognizing the multifaceted impact of vacant properties, cities have developed a range of policy tools and management strategies. Many municipalities require
I've heard people say that you don't need coffee to wake you up. You also don't need a parachute to skydive, but it helps.
TOP 10 METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS BY RENTAL VACANCY RATE (2024)
é Entire block of abandoned rowhomes in Philadelphia.
Plagiarism: getting in trouble for something you didn't do.
owners of vacant properties to register them with the city, pay a fee, and provide contact information. This helps cities track problem properties, enforce maintenance codes, and generate revenue for abatement efforts.
Land banks are public or quasi-public entities that acquire, manage, and repurpose vacant and tax-delinquent properties. With the authority to clear titles and liens, land banks can make properties more attractive for redevelopment and ensure that reuse aligns with community needs. Data-driven code enforcement targets the most problematic properties, stabilizing neighborhoods and preventing further decline. By focusing resources on areas with high concentrations of vacancies, cities can maximize the impact of limited budgets.
Cities like Baltimore, MD and Mobile, AL use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mobile apps to map and analyze vacant properties, overlaying market data to prioritize investments and interventions. Successful revitalization efforts often involve residents in the planning and decision-making process. Community-driven development ensures that projects meet local needs and fosters a sense of ownership, which is critical for long-term sustainability. Collaborations between government, private developers, and nonprofits pool resources and expertise, making large-scale redevelopment feasible. These partnerships can leverage public land or incentives with private capital and know-how.
TURNING LIABILITIES INTO ASSETS: CASE STUDIES AND INNOVATIONS
Across the country, cities are experimenting with creative approaches to transform vacant properties into community assets. Both Philadelphia and Cleveland have implemented resilient strategies to reclaim vacant properties. In Philadelphia, the transformation of vacant lots into informal parks has been linked to increased property values and reduced crime rates. Cleveland’s land bank has played a pivotal role in acquiring and repurposing thousands of abandoned homes, stabilizing neighborhoods and attracting new investment.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Detroiters have reclaimed 17,000 vacant homes through a combination of land banking, community engagement, and targeted investment. This large-scale effort is reversing decades of decline and providing affordable housing for residents. The Reclaiming Chicago initiative, led by United Power for Action and Justice, aims to build over 2,000 new homes on vacant land in the city’s South and West Sides. Detailed mapping of vacant parcels enables strategic planning and acquisition, while community involvement ensures that new development meets local needs. In Englewood, the Quality of Life Initiative has transformed vacant lots into an urban agricultural district. The Englewood Nature Trail, which repurposes a former rail corridor, has become a network of farms and green spaces that enhance food access, environmental quality, and community health.
Grassroots projects in Baltimore have transformed vacant lots into vibrant green spaces, eliminating blight and fostering environments that promote positive social interaction. These efforts, often led by local residents and nonprofits, demonstrate the power of community-driven revitalization. In Chicago, the transformation of disused freight tracks into The 606, a bike and pedestrian path, brought new investment and vibrancy to surrounding neighborhoods. However, it also highlighted the need for affordable housing policies to prevent displacement—a reminder that revitalization must be paired with equity-focused measures.
increasingly turning to innovative financing mechanisms and public-private partnerships (PPPs). For example:
TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF): Future tax revenues generated by increased property values are used to finance redevelopment projects.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS: Federal funds support local efforts to rehabilitate or repurpose vacant properties.
ASSET RECYCLING AND LAND VALUE CAPTURE: Cities can lease or sell public assets to generate funds for new projects or capture the increase in land value resulting from public investment.
RISK-SHARING IN PPPS: By partnering with private developers, cities can shift some financial risks while leveraging the expertise and capital of the private sector.
These approaches enable cities to stretch limited public resources and attract private investment, making large-scale revitalization possible. Effective management of vacant properties often requires supportive state and local legislation. State policies can empower municipalities to acquire and repurpose vacant properties, clear titles, and enforce maintenance codes. Local ordinances, such as VPROs and land bank authorizations, provide the legal framework for action.
Vacant and abandoned properties are not an inevitable blight on the urban landscape. With the right mix of policy, community engagement, and investment, these liabilities can be transformed into assets that strengthen neighborhoods, boost local economies, and improve quality of life. The experiences of cities like Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, and Baltimore demonstrate that revitalization is possible, even in the most challenging contexts. The path forward requires a holistic approach: robust data and technology to guide interventions, strong policy frameworks, creative financing, and, above all, the active participation of residents. By turning vacant properties into homes, parks, gardens, and businesses, cities can reclaim their future—one lot at a time. n
é The 606 in Chicago.
BY JOHN S. KIERNAN
The PasT year has been an actual test of the effectiveness of local leadership. City leaders have had to deal with economic difficulties like high inflation, as well as other issues, such as mass shootings, with over 500 reported in 2024, keeping gun crime in the political spotlight.
Even during less challenging times, running a city is a daunting task. The larger the city, the more complex it becomes to manage. In addition to representing the residents, local leaders must balance the public’s diverse interests with the city’s limited resources. That often means not everyone’s needs can or will be met. Leaders must carefully consider which
2025’s Best & Worst Run Cities in America
services are most essential, which agencies’ budgets to cut or boost, and whether and how much to raise taxes, among other decisions.
But how do we measure the effectiveness of local leadership? One way is by determining a city’s operating efficiency. In other words, we can assess how effectively city officials
manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of services residents receive with the city’s total budget.
Using that approach, WalletHub compared the operating efficiency of 148 of the largest U.S. cities to determine which among them are managed most effectively. They constructed a “Quality of Services” score comprising 36 metrics grouped into six service categories, which we then measured against the city’s per-capita budget.
To view the full report and your city’s rank, visit: wallethub.com/edu/best-run-cities/22869 n
John S. Kiernan is the Managing Editor of WalletHub.
No matter how far you push the envelope, it remains stationery.
REAL ESTATE F THE FU URE
BRIDGING THE GAP
u.s. courTs consisTenTly TreaT bridges as protected public properties — part of the public trust — and crimes committed on or against them are prosecuted as crimes against real property. In Italy, the legal treatment of bridges, tunnels, and similar infrastructure is broadly like that in the U.S. — though shaped by civil law rather than common law. These structures are considered immovable property (or beni immobili) and are generally treated as part of the public domain (demanio pubblico) when owned by the state. Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia, like Italy, follow civil law traditions influenced by Islamic law (Shari’a) and continental European codes. So the legal treatment of bridges and tunnels in those countries is also similar in principle: they are considered immovable property and often part of the public domain, with legal protections against trespass and vandalism.
STRAIT OF MESSINA BRIDGE
A 2,278-mile-long bridge is planned to connect Sicily to the mainland of Italy. If built, it will be the world's longest suspension bridge (surpassing the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey as the world's longest single-span bridge). It will extend over the Strait of Messina and accommodate both road and rail transport. The project is being developed by a consortium led by Italian construction company Webuild and, according to the Strait of Messina company, is expected to be completed in 2032.
The 197-foot-wide bridge deck will feature six vehicle lanes and two railway tracks, allowing trains to travel in both directions. It will have a capacity of 6,000 vehicles per hour and accommodate 200 trains per day. Approval for the project was given by Italy's Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS) in August, after a decades-long delay due to environmental and financial concerns.
BRIDGE TO CONNECT AFRICA AND ASIA
Egypt's transport minister Kamel al-Wazir (who is also Egypt's deputy prime minister ) has announced that plans are progressing for a bridge connecting Egypt and Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea. If completed, the bridge will link Ras Alsheikh Hamid in Saudi Arabia with Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, crossing Tiran Island in between.
Aiming to boost trade and tourism between Africa and Asia, the project is planned as a high-speed railway that will transport cargo over the Straits of Tiran sea passage. Expected to cost around $4 billion, the major infrastructure project will be financed by Saudi Arabia and is set to complement the country's Neom giga project, which borders the Red Sea. (Neom's most high-profile project. The Line megacity has been featured on the pages of the network on several occasions.)
THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE REBUILD
Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in early 2024 (after a container ship struck a pier), the Maryland Transportation Authority has released designs for its reconstruction. It will be Maryland's first highway cable-stayed bridge.
Its design provides an increase in clearance height underneath the bridge from 185 feet to 230 feet, as well as a larger gap between the central towers. The bridge's height will also increase significantly (from 358 feet to 600 feet). There will be four total lanes on the bridge, two in each direction – the same as the former design. Following final design and regulatory approvals, construction will commence on the project with completion slated for 2028. n
THE GE GRAPHY PAGES
PLACES WITH THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE
across The gloBe, a quiet revolution is reshaping the relationship between humanity and nature: the legal recognition of personhood for rivers, forests, mountains, and ecosystems. Natural entities are being granted legal rights that have traditionally been reserved for people and corporations. This growing movement— rooted in indigenous worldviews, environmental advocacy, and innovative legal thinking—aims to protect fragile ecosystems by giving them a voice in courtrooms and policy debates. As climate change accelerates and environmental degradation intensifies, the idea of nature as a rights-bearing subject is no longer just philosophical—it’s becoming law.
Mar Menor is a 52-square-mile lagoon located in southern Spain, approximately 280 miles southeast of Madrid …and it is the only ecosystem in Europe that can be a plaintiff or defendant in a legal case. In September 2022, the Spanish Senate granted legal personhood to the largest saltwater lagoon in the Mediterranean. Since then, anyone who has wanted to help Mar Menor could represent it in court.
For those in the Rights of Nature movement, who recognize the planet and all its ecosystems as living beings with inalienable rights, the Mar Menor victory was a breakthrough. The first body of water in Europe to be granted legal personhood, the move caught up the region with similar legal successes elsewhere, such as Colombia’s Atrato River in 2016 and New Zealand’s Whanganui River in 2017 (see below).
Protection for Mar Menor came after a series of mass ravages of the ecosystem. In 2016, excessive nutrient runoff triggered a massive algae bloom that turned parts of the lagoon a misty green and killed 85% of its marine vegetation. Then in 2019, and again in 2021, nutrient runoff stripped the lagoon of oxygen, suffocating thousands of fish and crustaceans, and littering its shores with creatures gasping for air.
Spurred by the crises, environmental activists, lawmakers, and local residents banded together. They collected around 640,000 signatures and, in 2022, successfully pushed a citizen initiative through the Spanish parliament’s upper chamber. Their efforts resulted in a new law granting Mar Menor and its surrounding basin rights in every sense of the word: the right to live and flourish; the right to be protected; and the right to recover. Article 6 of the law stated that any person or relevant legal entity “is entitled to defend the ecosystem of the Mar Menor.”
Granting legal personhood to Mar Menor poses a profound challenge to judges, as well as to politicians and others tasked with balancing the region’s agricultural production with the health of the lagoon. The designation is a call to arms for those
who live around the lagoon, but it also illustrates the complexities of the situation it can create.
In May, the Mar Menor lagoon—acting in its capacity as a legal entity under Spain’s Rights of Nature Law—was due to appear in court as a plaintiff in the so-called “Topillo” case against agricultural polluters. The case aimed to recognize the lagoon as an “offended party” in criminal proceedings. However, the High Court in Cartagena ruled against the lagoon, determining that Mar Menor did not have standing as a criminally offended party in that context. In effect, Mar Menor was not permitted to participate as a plaintiff in the proceedings.
The Atrato River is a 400-mile-long river in northwestern Colombia. In 2016, the Constitutional Court of Colombia granted the river legal rights of personhood after years of degradation caused by large-scale mining and illegal logging practices, which severely affected the traditional ways of life for Afro-Colombians and Indigenous peoples. (Illegal logging changed the flow of the river, and illicit mining released toxic chemicals
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[i.e., mercury and cyanide] into the river system, threatening local biodiversity and harming the health of these vulnerable communities.)
In November 2016, the Colombian Constitutional Court declared the legal personhood of the Atrato River, granting it rights to ’protection, conservation, maintenance, and restoration.’ While the Colombian Constitution does not explicitly recognize Rights of Nature [RoN]*, it states that these are a set of ‘’biocultural rights’’ that can be inferred from protections for biodiversity, culture, and humanitarian needs. The ‘biocultural rights’ argument emphasized that the cultural rights of Colombian Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities are tightly linked to the biological rights of the Atrato River. As a result, the judge ruled that these biocultural rights should drive the conservation, restoration, and sustainable development of the river.
The North Island (Māori: Te Ika-a-Māu [lit. 'the fish of Māui'] is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of 43,911 sq mi), it is the world's 14th-largest island, constituting 43% of New Zealand's land area. It has a population of 4,044,600 (as of June 2024), which accounts for 76% of New Zealand's residents, making it the most populous island in Polynesia and the 28th most populous island in the world.
River’s legal personhood as a precedent. Following this example, the court ordered the creation of a guardian body –the Commission of the Guardians of Atrato River — to represent the river’s interests and manage its resources sustainably in line with its legal personhood status. Initially, the commission would include government representatives and one community member, but civil society requested that fourteen council members serve instead of just one. The request was granted, and the council was formed in May 2018.
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the country's third-longest river (180 miles), and has special status owing to its importance to the region's Māori people. In March 2017, it became the world's second natural resource (after Te Urewera) to be given its own legal identity, with the rights, duties, and liabilities of a legal person. The Whanganui Treaty settlement brought to an end the longest-running litigation in New Zealand’s history.
In 1954, a large area of Te Urewera was designated Te Urewera National Park by the New Zealand Government. A land settlement was signed in June 2013 after being ratified by all Tūhoe members. The Tūhoe received financial, commercial, and cultural redress valued at approximately $170 million; a historical account and Crown apology; and the co-governance of Te Urewera (the Tūhoe Claims Settlement Act 2014). The protected area is now administered by the Te Urewera Board, which comprises joint Tūhoe and Crown membership. Te Urewera has legal personhood and owns itself, having become, in 2014, the first natural resource in the world to be awarded the same legal rights as a person. n
*The Rights of Nature is a legal and philosophical framework that recognizes natural entities—such as rivers, forests, mountains, and ecosystems—as living rights-bearing entities, rather than as mere property or resources. This approach grants nature legal rights similar to those enjoyed by humans and corporations, including the right to exist, thrive, regenerate, and be restored. The movement seeks to allow action to be taken on behalf of nature itself. This helps prevent environmental degradation and promotes ecological restoration and sustainability.
• Nature is treated as a subject of the law, not an object.
• Legal guardians or representatives (often local communities, NGOs, or indigenous groups) may act on nature’s behalf in court.
• It challenges traditional anthropocentric (human-centered) legal systems and aligns more closely with ecocentric or indigenous worldviews, which see humans as part of a broader ecological community.
• The Whanganui River was the first river in the world to be granted legal personhood in 2017.
• In Ecuador, the 2008 Constitution enshrined the Rights of Nature (known as Pachamama)—the first country to do so at the constitutional level.
In its ruling, the court referenced New Zealand’s Te Awa Tupua Act (Whanganui River (Claims Settlement) and cited New Zealand’s recognition of the Whanganui
Te Urewera is an area of mostly forested, sparsely populated, and rugged hill country on the North Island, located between the Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay. It is the historical home of Tūhoe, a Māori tribe known for its stance on Māori sovereignty.
• Bolivia passed the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth in 2010.
• Spain recognized the Mar Menor lagoon as a legal person in 2022.
é Te Urewera, the New Zealand Rainforest with Legal Personhood Status.
JOAN OF ARC: THE WARRIOR SAINT
WHO DEFIED HISTORY
in The annals of history, few figures blaze as brightly—and as briefly—as Joan of Arc. A peasant girl who became a military leader, mystic, martyr, and eventually a Catholic saint, her story is one of extraordinary courage in the face of seemingly impossible odds. Her rise from obscurity to leading armies, defying both gender norms and political conventions of the 15th century, is not only remarkable but also enduringly relevant in a world still struggling with the boundaries of faith, power, and identity.
Born around 1412 in the small village of Domrémy in northeastern France, Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc in French) came of age during the violent and chaotic Hundred Years’ War between France and England. At the time, France was politically fragmented, partially occupied, and spiritually demoralized.
At the age of 13, she began experiencing visions. According to her later testimony, she was visited by saints—most notably St. Michael, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Margaret of Antioch—who told her that God had chosen her to help drive the English out of France and restore the French crown to the Dauphin, Charles VII. These were not gentle spiritual nudges. They were commands, and Joan, barely a teenager, obeyed them.
What followed was nothing short of miraculous. Joan persuaded a local commander to escort her to the royal court at Chinon, where she somehow convinced the skeptical Charles that her mission was divine. (Legend has it that she identified him in disguise among a crowd, a detail often cited as proof of her divine inspiration.)
Despite her lack of military training or noble lineage, she was given armor, a horse, and troops. This was no symbolic gesture—Joan would lead men into battle, bearing a banner instead of a sword, claim-
ing she never personally killed anyone. Her presence reinvigorated French forces, many of whom saw her as a living sign of God's favor.
In 1429, she achieved a stunning victory at the Siege of Orléans, lifting a monthslong blockade and turning the tide of the war, and, shortly afterward, she helped ensure Charles VII’s formal coronation at Reims Cathedral, fulfilling one of her core prophetic goals.
But glory is fleeting. After Reims, Joan’s influence began to wane. The royal court, once reliant on her charisma and perceived holiness, grew uneasy. She was wounded in battle but returned to the field. In 1430, during a campaign to liberate Compiègne, she was captured by Burgundian forces, French allies of the English, and sold to the English for a substantial ransom.
Her capture was more than a military loss; it was a propaganda windfall for the English, who feared her mythic status among the French. Rather than treat her as a prisoner of war, they orchestrated a heresy trial under the auspices of the Inquisition, hoping to discredit her divine claims and taint the legitimacy of Charles’s kingship. The trial was a farce—rigged, illegal, and driven more by politics than theology. She was interrogated for months, denied legal counsel, and subjected to trick questions. Still, Joan held firm. When asked if she believed she was in God’s grace, she replied, “If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.” It was an answer so theologically precise that it stunned her judges.
In May 1431, at the age of 19, Joan was declared a relapsed heretic and burned at the stake in Rouen. Witnesses report that she met her death with composure, crying “Jesus” as the flames rose around
her. Her ashes were scattered in the Seine to prevent any future relics from being venerated.
But she did not remain in disgrace. A posthumous retrial, authorized by Pope Callixtus III in 1456, exonerated her, declaring her innocent and condemning the original trial as corrupt. Over time, her legend grew. To some, she was a saint; to others, a nationalist symbol; to still others, a proto-feminist icon centuries ahead of her time. In 1920, nearly 500 years after her death, Joan of Arc was canonized by Pope Benedict XV, formally recognized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. Today, she is one of the patron saints of France and remains an emblem of courage, conviction, and spiritual resilience.
Joan’s story has inspired generations of writers, artists, philosophers, and political leaders. Shakespeare, Voltaire, Mark Twain, and George Bernard Shaw all took turns interpreting her life, often reflecting the concerns of their own times. Her image has appeared in paintings, operas, films, and even video games.
She has also been invoked by ideologically opposing forces—from the French Resistance during World War II to far-right nationalist parties. How is it possible for one figure to represent so many contradictory ideals? The answer may lie in the purity of her purpose. Joan wasn’t fighting for power, wealth, or even fame. She was fighting for what she believed was God's will. Her sincerity—whether viewed through a lens of faith or skepticism—is what continues to captivate
Joan of Arc’s brief life was a collision of faith and politics, mysticism and military might, peasantry and royalty. She defied gender norms, political expectations, and ecclesiastical authority—not out of rebellion, but out of obedience to what she believed was a divine mission.
Whether saint or symbol, hero or heretic, Joan’s legacy endures because it reminds us of the power of conviction. In an age filled with cynicism, her story remains a beacon—an eternal flame that speaks to the capacity of a single individual to shape the destiny of a nation. n
Fear
The U.S. Population is Aging
The u.s. PoPulaTion age 65 and older rose by 3.1% (to 61.2 million). In comparison, the population under age 18 decreased by 0.2% (to 73.1 million) from 2023 to 2024, according to the Vintage 2024 Population Estimates released in June by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The data show the population continued to age, with the share of the population age 65 and older steadily increasing from 12.4% in 2004 to 18.0% in 2024, and the share of children declining from 25.0% to 21.5%.
Ongoing growth among the older population, coupled with persistent annual declines in the population under age 18, has reduced the size difference between these two age groups from just over 20 million in 2020 to just below 12 million in 2024. Between 2020 and 2024, the older population increased by 13.0%, significantly outpacing the 1.4% growth of working-age adults (ages 18 to 64), while the number of children declined by 1.7%.
Children still outnumber older adults in the United States, despite a decline in births
this decade,” said Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Branch. "However, the gap is narrowing as baby boomers continue to age into their retirement years. In fact, the number of states and counties where older adults outnumber children is on the rise, especially in sparsely populated areas.”
As recently as 2020, there were just three states where older adults outnumbered child-
ren: Maine, Vermont, and Florida. By 2024, this number had increased to 11, with Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia joining their ranks.
Similarly, from 2020 to 2024, the number of U.S. metro areas with more older adults than children increased from 58 to 112. This represents nearly 30% of the nation’s 387 metro areas. Additionally, in 2024, three metro areas with at least 1 million people (Cleveland, OH; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA; and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT) had more older people than younger people for the first time.
Older Adults Outnumber Children in 11 States and Nearly Half of U.S. Counties
In 2020, 31.3% (or 983) of the nation’s 3,144 counties had more older adults than children. This figure increased to almost 45% (1,411 counties) in 2024. In both years, most of these counties had small populations and were located outside of metro and micro areas.
Friday, July 11th was World Population Day. The world population reached 8 billion in 2023. It is projected to reach 9 billion in 2038, 10 billion in 2057, and peak at 10.9 billion in 2098 before declining, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s International Database projections. n
BY ADAM MCCANN
Best States to Live In – 2025
wiTh around 7.8% of Americans having moved according to the latest data, (slightly less than the year before), to help Americans settle down in the best and most affordable place possible, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 51 key indicators of livability, ranging from housing costs and income growth to the education rate and quality of hospitals. Some states clearly outshine others in specific categories.
The
Best States to Live In Massachusetts is the best state to live in, primarily due to its strong healthcare system and high-quality education. It has the lowest premature death rate in the country, the fifth-lowest share of adults in fair or poor health, and the highest share of residents with health insurance coverage (97.4%). The Bay State also ranks first
TRENDI G
for the quality of its school systems. It has the 10th-best high school graduation rate in the country (at roughly 90%)—and quality education has helped the state’s residents succeed financially, with the second-highest median household income (over $101,000). In addition, Massachusetts has the
third-lowest property crime rate in the country and the third-best access to public transportation.
Idaho is the second-best state to live in, boasting one of the lowest median real estate tax rates in the country (0.5%) and the seventh-highest homeown-
of major roads in poor or mediocre condition. This naturally leads to some of the lowest average commute times in the country. And Idaho is generally considered a safe state, with the 13th-lowest violent crime rate and the lowest property crime rate in the country.
New Jersey is the thirdbest state to live in, boasting the third-highest median household income in the country (exceeding $101,000). In addition, New Jersey residents have the second-lowest median debt, equivalent to around 29% of their annual income. And the Garden State has also done a commendable job of addressing poverty, with a sixth-lowest share of the population living below the poverty line and a 10th-lowest food insecurity rate. New Jersey residents have the second-lowest premature death rate in the nation, the sixth-lowest obesity rate, and the seventhbest overall life expectancy.
One reason for the low obesity rate is that the state has the sixth-most miles of trails and the fifth-most fitness centers per capita, providing people with numerous opportunities to stay active. The state has the ninth-lowest violent crime rate and the 11th-lowest property crime rate, partly due to its high number of law enforcement employees per capita.
ership rate. It also has the fourth-lowest tax rates overall and the highest median household income growth, making it a great place to build and grow
To view the full report and your state’s rank, to understand the methodology and read expert commentary, click <HERE>. n wealth. The Gem State also has the seventh-lowest share of urban interstates experiencing congestion during peak hours and the third-smallest proportion
Adam McCann is a personal finance writer for WalletHub.
BY BRIGADIER GENERAL (RET) T.J. EDWARDS
IMMIGRATION DETENTION ON MILITARY BASES: A NEW NORMAL?
in 2025, The uniTed States is undergoing one of the most aggressive expansions of immigration detention in its history. With Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) planning to nearly double capacity this year, the federal government has turned to an unconventional solution: military bases.
At first glance, the logic appears straightforward. Bases already have secure perimeters, medical facilities, and unused housing that can be repurposed far more quickly than building new centers from scratch. But while the military may offer logistical convenience, the more profound implications are far from straightforward. Housing migrants—many of them asylum seekers and families—on military grounds raises profound legal, ethical, and political questions, and risks normalizing a model of enforcement that critics say treats migrants less like people seeking refuge and more like security threats.
THE RISE OF BASE-BASED DETENTION
This year alone, several high-profile facilities have been converted into detention centers. On August 17, Fort Bliss in Texas became home to a sprawling soft-sided camp known as Camp East Montana, built under a $231.8 million Department of Defense contract. Starting with 1,000 detainees, it is expected to expand to 5,000, making it potentially the largest civilian immigration detention center in U.S. history. ICE has promised access to legal, medical, and religious services; however, concerns remain over the contractors’ lack of experience and the limitations of external oversight.
THINKING OUT LOUD
Other bases have followed. Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst in New Jersey and Camp Atterbury in Indiana have each been approved to hold around 1,000 detainees. Even Guantánamo Bay, long associated with extraordinary detention practices, is slated for expansion. Its Migrant Operations Center could soon hold up to 30,000 people—a move that would double ICE’s current detention capacity in one stroke and reignite debate about the blurred lines between immigration enforcement and military detention.
Not all facilities are traditional bases. In July, ICE constructed a makeshift camp in the Everglades—dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Built in just eight days and already housing more than 700 people, it has faced intense backlash for unsafe and unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, limited water access, and environmental risks. Lawyers report difficulty in reaching detainees, raising concerns over potential legal due process violations.
Taken together, these examples reflect the speed and scale of the government’s 2025 expansion—and the deep tension between efficiency and human rights.
ADVANTAGES AND RISKS
From Washington’s perspective, the case for using military bases is clear. They provide ready-made infrastructure, reduce construction costs, and allow for rapid deployment during migration surges. In times of political pressure, such efficiencies are attractive.
But the risks are equally stark. Housing civilians on military grounds blurs the line between civil and military authority—an American tradition meant to safeguard democracy. Access for lawyers, advocates, and even family members is often restricted, raising concerns about due process. Reports of staged oversight visits and blocked inspections have only deepened skepticism about transparency.
Conditions inside these facilities remain another flashpoint. Human rights groups warn that mass, rapid conversions often prioritize capacity over care, with predictable consequences: overcrowding, medical neglect, and long-term trauma, particularly among children.
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL FALLOUT
The use of military installations is a politically charged issue. Critics argue that it militarizes immigration enforcement, sending a message that migrants are threats rather than vulnerable people seeking refuge. Supporters counter that the military’s logistical capacity makes it uniquely capable of responding to large-scale humanitarian crises.
Communities near the bases often voice unease. Local leaders raise concerns about security, resource strains, and the economic impacts of long-term detention operations. Within the military itself, some officials warn that such missions can erode morale and distract from core defense priorities. In New Jersey, backlash has been especially sharp. Governor Phil Murphy, joined by Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, condemned the proposal to use state facilities, branding it a “Garden State Gulag.” Their opposition highlights how the policy debate extends beyond enforcement to encompass national identity and the role of the armed forces in civilian life.
WHO STANDS TO GAIN?
ICE’s detention expansion is not simply about emergency management. Internal documents reveal plans to grow national capacity from roughly 50,000 to more than 107,000 beds by the end of 2025, with 125 new or expanded facilities nationwide. The effort is backed by $45 billion in funding from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), passed by Congress this summer (see page 20).
Private prison contractors stand to benefit most. GEO Group and CoreCivic—already dominant players in the detention industry—are projected to gain more than $500 million each annually in new contracts. Their stock prices have surged as ICE has leaned heavily on no-bid agreements and emergency procurement processes. Analysts warn that such reliance reduces transparency and limits accountability, entrenching corporate influence in immigration policy.
Civil rights organizations have raised alarm at both the speed and scope of the buildout. They warn that soft-sided camps and rural prisons will deepen risks of neglect and trauma, while OBBBA’s provisions—capping immigration judges and expanding detention authority—could effectively enable indefinite detention.
BEYOND DETENTION: A BROADER ENFORCEMENT MACHINE
The $45 billion dedicated to detention is part of a far larger $170 billion enforcement
é Alligator Alcatraz.
package stretching through 2029. In addition to detention centers, the law funds new border walls, expanded surveillance, and thousands of enforcement personnel, with a stated goal of deporting up to one million people annually.
Watchdog groups argue that much of this money disproportionately benefits political donors. GEO Group and CoreCivic, for example, have a long track record of contributing to pro-detention political campaigns. The overlap between policymaking, private profit, and political patronage raises troubling questions about whether enforcement strategy is being driven more by security needs or by corporate influence.
HISTORICAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
Globally, the use of military-linked detention facilities is not a new phenomenon. Australia and the United Kingdom have both relied on military or offshore sites during migration surges, often attracting international criticism. Within the U.S., military bases have been periodically repurposed in times of crisis. In the 1970s, bases housed Southeast Asian refugees, while under the Obama administration, facilities such as Lackland and Fort Sill temporarily sheltered unaccompanied children.
The difference in 2025 is the sheer scale and apparent permanence of the shift. What was once framed as a temporary, humanitarian response is now evolving into a long-term enforcement infrastructure. This signals a fundamental change in how the U.S. manages migration.
LOOKING AHEAD
Transparency battles loom large. Lawmakers report being denied unannounced visits to detention sites, prompting lawsuits over the constitutionality of restricted oversight. Meanwhile, projects like Camp East Montana, “Alligator Alcatraz,” and Guantánamo’s expanded Migrant Operations Center stand as symbols of a historic escalation in immigration enforcement.
The central question is whether this reliance on military bases reflects a temporary crisismanagement strategy or a more profound structural shift toward militarized immigration control. The answer will shape not only the trajectory of U.S. immigration policy but also the nation’s balance between security, humanitarian responsibility, and civil rights. For now, America’s approach suggests a profound recalibration—where the line between crisis response and permanent infrastructure grows thinner by the day.
A MILITARY PERSPECTIVE
As a retired Army general officer with more than three decades of service across the country and around the world, I see serious risks in using military bases for immigration detention. While bases offer logistical advantages, diverting personnel and resources from national defense missions strains readiness and morale, potentially undermining the military’s core purpose.
I commanded the Army garrison installation at Fort Knox from 2013 to 2015. Fort Knox is probably America’s most recognized military installation with an ongoing non-military mission. Since 1937, Fort Knox, Kentucky, has been home to the United States Bullion Depository. Roughly half of the U.S. Treasury’s gold reserves are stored and guarded at Fort Knox by the U.S. Mint Police and the U.S. Army. Over the years, the mission of storage and security of precious metal bullion reserves has fit nicely with Fort Knox’s overall base security and force protection efforts.
Today, service members at military installations are asked to live and work among these new migrant detention facilities — often where families and children are in vulnerable conditions—facing moral and psychological stressors, ethical dilemmas, and even potential legal exposure. At an institutional level, this practice blurs the critical line between civilian and military authority, eroding the public’s trust in the armed forces and setting a precedent that could lead to the militarization of domestic policy, thereby weakening democratic norms. For the country, this approach risks tarnishing our human rights record and inflaming political polarization. At the same time, the military bears the burden of defending both national security and its own institutional integrity.
(See related article on page 22) n
T. J. Edwards retired from the U.S. Army after 30 years of service. He is a Contributing Editor of . tjedwardsjr23@gmail.com
THE OLYMPICS: A GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF SPORT
OLYMPICS?
The olymPics are The world’s biggest international sports event, where athletes from countries all over the world come together to compete in a wide range of sports. The Games are split into the Summer Olympics, featuring sports like swimming, gymnastics, and track and field, and the Winter Olympics, which include skiing, ice skating, and snowboarding. Held every four years with Summer and Winter Games alternating every two years, the Olympics are more than just athletic competitions—they symbolize friendship, unity, and fair play, bringing nations together to celebrate human achievement and the power of sport.
The number of sports at the Olympics varies between the Summer and Winter Games. The Summer Olympics currently feature 33 sports across 50 disciplines, including popular events like athletics, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, and cycling. The Winter Olympics have 7 sports with 15 disciplines, such as skiing, ice skating, bobsledding, snowboarding, and ice hockey. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) can add or remove sports for each edition of the Games, so the total number of events may change over time.
BY ROXANA TOFAN
DID THE OLYMPICS START?
The Olympics began in ancient Greece in 776 B.C. in the city of Olympia, where they were held every four years to honor the god Zeus. These early Games featured events such as running, wrestling, and chariot racing, and continued for several centuries before coming to an end in the 4th century A.D. The modern Olympics were revived in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin, with the first modern Games held in Athens, Greece. Since then, the Olympics have been celebrated every four years, with separate Summer and Winter Games, becoming the world’s largest international sporting event.
WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE OLYMPICS?
Athletes from around the world participate in the Olympics, representing their countries in various sports. Each nation selects its top athletes, who train for years to compete at the highest level. Some athletes are professionals, while others are young rising stars making their first international appearance. In addition to the athletes, the Olympics also involve coaches, referees, and officials who help ensure fair play. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) oversees the Games, while millions of fans from around the world watch and cheer for their countries, making the Olympics a truly global event. The Olympics bring together athletes from all 7 continents of the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia (Oceania), and even Antarctica, which is represented symbolically, since researchers stationed there are citizens of other countries.
As for countries, participation has grown over time. At the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, 206 countries and territories (collectively referred to as National Olympic Committees, or NOCs) sent athletes. This number includes almost every recognized nation on Earth, as well as some territories, such as Puerto Rico and Hong Kong, that compete independently.
HOW DO THE OLYMPICS TAKE PLACE?
The Olympics take place over about two weeks and begin with the Opening Ceremony, which features the Parade of Nations, where athletes march behind their country’s flag. The lighting of the Olympic torch follows this. During the Games, athletes compete in a wide range of sports, from swimming and gymnastics to skiing and ice hockey, depending on whether it is the Summer or Winter Olympics. Medals— gold, silver, and bronze—are awarded to the top three performers in each event. The Games are managed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), while host cities provide venues, accommodations, and transportation. The Olympics conclude with the Closing Ceremony, which celebrates the athletes’ achievements and passes the Olympic flag to the next host city.
WHERE ARE THE OLYMPICS HELD?
The Olympics are held in different cities around the world, with a new location chosen for each Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The host city builds and prepares stadiums, arenas, and facilities to welcome athletes and fans from across the globe. For example, Paris, France, hosted the Summer Olympics in 2024, while Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, will host the Winter Olympics in 2026. By moving from one country to another every four years, the Olympics provide nations with the opportunity to showcase their culture and hospitality on a global stage.
The country that has hosted the most Olympics is the United States, with a total of 9 Olympic Games—4 Winter Games and 5 Summer
Games. Some of the most famous U.S. host cities include Los Angeles (1932 and 1984, with a return in 2028), Atlanta (1996), Lake Placid (1932 and 1980), and Salt Lake City (2002). By hosting multiple times, the U.S. has played a significant role in Olympic history and remains one of the most active participants in the Games.
Other countries with multiple hostings include France (six, including Paris 2024), Japan (four), Canada, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom (three each). By hosting repeatedly, these nations have played a significant role in Olympic history, showcasing their culture, sports facilities, and hospitality to the world.
WHY ARE THE OLYMPICS IMPORTANT?
The Olympics are significant because they unite the world through sport, promoting peace, unity, and friendship among nations. They give athletes the chance to showcase years of hard work, talent, and dedication on a global stage. Beyond competition, the Games inspire people of all ages, encourage teamwork and fair play, and celebrate human achievement. They also allow host countries to share their culture and history with the world, making the Olympics a symbol not just of athletic excellence, but of global connection and understanding.
The Olympics are far more than just a series of sporting events; they represent a rich tradition that stretches back over two and a half millennia, linking the achievements of the past with the aspirations of the present.
From their origins in ancient Greece to the modern Games, the Olympics have served as a stage where history, culture, and human ingenuity intersect. Every four years, athletes from around the world gather to compete at the highest level, showcasing extraordinary skill, dedication, and perseverance. Beyond the competition, the Games inspire millions of people globally, fostering a sense of unity, friendship, and mutual respect among nations. They celebrate not only athletic excellence but also the enduring human spirit and the shared hope for a brighter, more connected future. n
Roxana Tofan is a commercial real estate and business broker and the founder and owner of Clear Integrity Group in San Antonio. She is also a Contributing Editor of roxana@clearintegritygroup.com
Police have confirmed that the man who fell from the roof of the nightclub and died was not a bouncer.
i BelieVe ThaT, in today’s post-reality world, if you have a platform, you are morally obligated to use it. What is happening in our country as we chaotically ricochet from democracy to autocracy, led by a narcissistic man filled with hate and with no moral compass, and who is surrounded by guileful sycophants, is something no one should tolerate or ignore. Nothing less than the fate of our country is at stake.
Each of us, regardless of station or influence, must commit to vigilance and action—whether through voting, speaking out, or supporting initiatives that safeguard our freedoms. Complacency is complicity, and history has shown us time and again that silence in the face of tyranny only emboldens its grip. Our voices, united, are the most potent antidote to the erosion of liberty.
will publish letters, articles, and/or comic panels from any and all perspectives (provided that the author is identified). Please send to editor@thenetworkmagazine.org
THE STATE OF THE TRUMPION
The Greatest Speech in the History of Speeches (according to many people, who are saying it’s tremendous) delivered from a golden podium atop a golf cart, wearing a red tie the length of a garden hose
We are here today because of something very special: me. I have done more for this country than any president in the history of the universe. Lincoln? Nice beard, but not even close. Washington? Wooden teeth. Sad!
The fake news media—they’re horrible, folks, just horrible— won’t tell you the truth. But let me tell you, a lot of people are saying I’m doing a fantastic job. Some say the best ever. Nobody does jobs like me. Jobs, jobs, jobs! They’re everywhere. You might trip over one after this speech. You're welcome.
Now, I hear the radical left is trying to rig the system again. It’s a total witch hunt. A hoax! Just like Russia. And impeachment. And Jeffrey Epstein. And Diet Coke shortages. And the last election. We won big. Everyone knows it. You know it, I know it, everybody knows it. Except the fake news and Dominion voting machines. Probably run by Antifa. Maybe ghosts. All hoaxes!
They say I’m in legal trouble. But it’s not me they’re after— they’re after YOU. I’m just in the way. I’m the human shield of freedom. I’ve been treated very unfairly. So unfair. So, so unfair. Like nobody’s ever seen.
And folks, let’s talk about the economy. Under me? Greatest economy in the history of history, in the history of oxygen. Under Biden? A total disaster. Complete joke. The likes of which we’ve never seen. I gave you the biggest tax cuts ever—even if you
WAIT A MINUTE, ANOTHER GREAT IDEA IS COMING
BY ANDREW FELDER
Don’t Get Me Started
"Witch Hunt" "Crooked [Hillary]" "Sleepy [Joe]" “Little Marco [Rubio]” "[Ron] DeSanctimonious" "No collusion!" "Everybody’s saying..." "A lot of people are saying..." "Tremendous" "Huge" "The best" "Nobody does ….. better than me" "Total disaster" "We’re winning so much, you’ll be tired of winning." "The most important election in history." "I alone can fix it." "Many people don’t know that….." "We love the police / the military / our veterans." "Radical Left" "Far-Left Lunatics" "They're coming after me because I’m fighting for you." "Greatest economy in the history of the world." "The likes of which no one has ever seen." "We’re going to take our country back!" "We had everything going perfectly, and then..." "They rigged the election!" "The wall is being built /was built /will be built." "I’ve been treated very unfairly." "Nobody has done more for ….. than me." "It’s a disgrace!" "You know it, I know it, everybody knows it." "You won’t believe what’s happening." "Only in America!" "I don’t know, but some people are saying..." "What happened to…..? It’s a total mess now." "I’ve done more in….. years than any president in history." "We’re not gonna’ take it anymore!" "Total exoneration!" "I’m a very stable genius." "Nobody knew it could be so complicated."
didn’t feel them, they were there. Invisible, like windmills causing cancer. Which, by the way, they do. Many people don’t know that.
Now let me say this about the border: We built the wall. We finished it. The wall was so strong, people bounced off it. It was beautiful. Then Biden came in and made it invisible. Poof! It was tall, too. Taller than Obama’s ego. And we’re bringing it back. Speaking of Obama: Where’s his birth certificate? Still waiting. I don’t know, folks, but some people are saying...
Let’s not forget: we’re gonna’ win so much, you’ll get tired of winning. You’ll beg me, “Please, sir, just a little bit of losing.” And I’ll say: “No. We only do winning here. Tremendous winning. The best winning.” Also: I’m a very stable genius. Very. My IQ? Through the roof. Off the charts. They had to make a new chart, folks. The old one couldn’t contain me.
So what’s next? I’ll tell you what’s next. We’re taking our country back. From who? Doesn’t matter. Just cheer. We’re not gonna’ take it anymore! (Cue Twisted Sister blast from speakers).
We’re building it back—big, beautiful, better than ever. With gold trim. Like my bathroom."
To the Editor,
I am writing to express my outrage, disgust, disbelief, and confusion (mostly confusion) at your recent so-called “article” about our rightful President, Donald J. Trump, which was not only riddled with lies and slander, but also had way too many words. Honestly, I didn’t read the whole thing because my cousin Randy said it was liberal garbage, and I trust Randy more than any “fact.”
You people call yourselves journalists, but I call you fake news traitors with a communist agenda. You sit there in your high-rise latte towers, judging a man who built towers with his own tiny hands. A man who has done more for America than Abraham Lincoln, Santa Claus, and Jesus COMBINED!
You say Trump “lied.” Well, guess what? That’s your opinion. Ever heard of free speech? Or the Constitution, which I carry in my truck glove compartment next to my pepper spray and an unopened jar of pickles? The Constitution says we the people have the right to bear facts. My fact is: Trump won the 2020 election.
You say he incited a riot? I say he inspired tourism. Those patriots weren’t rioting—they were just aggressively sightseeing. And how do you even know it was Trump supporters? Could have been Antifa. Or aliens. Some people are saying that.
Furthermore, your article mocked his spelling and grammar. That’s elitist. Not everybody went to Yale, okay? Some of us graduated from the University of Life, minored in Truck Nuts. Trump speaks like the common man. And if the common man occasionally types “covfefe,” that just proves he’s authentic.
And don’t even get me started on your accusations about “criminal behavior.” You say ‘91 indictments’ as if it’s a bad thing. Maybe he's just THAT effective. Ever think about that? You indict a man that many times, you’re basically admitting he’s powerful. I say we need MORE presidents like that. Ones who aren’t afraid to break the law if it makes the country great again.
In conclusion, your article was unfair, biased, unpatriotic, and used too many big words. I am canceling my subscription to your magazine immediately—even though I never subscribed. And I will be telling my friends to burn your magazine in our next backyard bonfire/political rally/cookout. You’ve been warned!
Trump 2028, 2032, infinity.
Sincerely,
Barb “Freedom Blaze” Jenkins
Proud American, Uniformed but Passionate Owner of
3 bald
eagle tattoos and one suspended Facebook account Barb Jenkins
Norman Lawrence Crosby
To walk out and have an ovulation like that, it just means so much.
My Daddy is a Beethovenist (chauvinist) pig!
He's not the brightest (sharpest) knife in the drawer.
The doctor told me I had a high hurdle (hiatal) hernia.
Let dead (sleeping) dogs lie.
It's as easy as falling off a bike (riding a bike).
It was en exercise in fertility (futility).
ACCORDING TO MY CAREFUL PROSTHESIS (PROGNOSIS), YOUR PLAN WILL FAIL.
We have all the anemones (amenities) of life.
It's a doggie dog world (dog eat dog).
I think the statue (statute) of limitations has expired. ...and then, just as we got there, loan (low) and behold he showed up!
It looks like it's time to trim this ivory (ivy).
It sure is uncomfortable today. The humility (humidity) must be very high.
At the hospital, they attached electrons (electrodes) to my head.
norman lawrence crosBy (1927 – 2020) was an American comedian born in Boston. He was often referred to as "The Master of Malaprop." In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he became a commercial pitchman for Anheuser-Busch Natural Light beer and he appeared as a celebrity guest on
The prospectors (prosecutors) will work the trial in the second phase.
We've got to get our inertia up.
John Smith is being tried for decaffinating (decapitating) another person.
A malapropism (a/k/a a malaprop, acyrologia or Dogberryism) is the incorrect use of a word in place of a word with a similar sound, either unintentionally or for comedic effect, resulting in something nonsensical and often humorous. (For example, Yogi Berra once said, "He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious.” Norm Crosby’s malaprops were intentional. J)
Mediocrity (curiosity) killed the cat Here's a classy (classic) example
The pond water looks hazy because you stirred-up a lot of old sentiments (sediments).
There's one for the wrecker (record) books.
They use geyser (Geiger) counters to look for uranium.
Those medical records of your are strictly confidant (confidentiality).
The sour drink made her pierce (purse) her lips.
Hey bartender I'll have another one of those heifer vision (hefewiezen) beers please.
That girl who ate the squid... did she eat the testicles (tentacles) too?
many game shows, including Celebrity Bowling, Liar's Club, Tattletales, and Hollywood Squares. From 1983 until the program's dissociation from Jerry Lewis in 2010, Crosby co-hosted and contributed to the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.
Once one child gets Chicken Pops (Pocks) it's best to expose all their siblings to it.
That state park has beautiful sand dooms (dunes).
He has to work on New Year's Eve because of that Will it be O.K.(Y2K) computer thing.
SHE WAS ON THOSE PHEASANT (PHEN-FEN) PILLS TO LOSE WEIGHT.
I heard that in Denmark, you can get room and broad (board) for pretty cheap.
Darth Maul used a labor (laser) sword as a weapon.
We were at a club and saw a translucent (transvestite) sitting at the bar.
We learned all about idiots (idioms) in English today.
When he was in Russia, he exchanged money on the black mark-up (market).
I have to admit that it was a baldfaced (bold-faced) lie.
He felt like she was taking him completely for granite (granted).
This rash on my face is a touch of emphysema (eczema).
While we were in England we had tea and crumples (crumpets).
We had a 15 inch erotic (exotic) house plant in our living room.
I need the afternoon off to attend my brother's consummation (convocation).
That's a mute (moot) point. Sexually (actually), I've been very busy with school work.
That is a good ideal (idea). They called President Kennedy's presidency a camel's lot (Camelot).
The character in that book had leopardsy (leprosy).
My managed care plan won't cover preconceived notions (preexisting conditions).
They call that ground cover mush (mulch).
The flora and vulva (fauna) of this area are extremely diverse.
The attorney objected to the questioning because it was irrevocable (irrelevant).
Person tuning a ukulele: My dog has feces, my dog has feces (fleas).
Oh, I just love those impersonal (impressionist) painters, especially Monet. Mom, if girls get girl (grilled) cheese sandwiches, then what do boys eat?
Doing heroin is like a million organisms (orgasms) all at once!
She put her funds into what they call a monkey (money) market account.
Change is inedible (inevitable).
He fished in Montana and caught a bunch of those rain-grown (rainbow) trout.
Watch for a drop in the baritone (barometric) pressure.
The fancy uniform that your Grandpa wore had epileptics (epaulets) on the sleeves.
That's nothing but an old wise (wives') tale.
The man determines the sex of the baby by his technicals (testicles).
You made your boat (bed), now lie in it. I don't have very good blind (hind) sight.
They gave the accident victim artificial insemination (respiration).
She made a slide (snide) remark to me the other day.
Let's just play it by year (ear).
Enlisted troops may leave at 1300 at the desecration (discretion) of their supervisor.
I HAVE VERY LOW SELF OF STEAM (SELF ESTEEM).
Those Mongolia (Magnolia) trees are simply magnificent when they are in bloom.
Change is inedible (inevitable).
Since the doctor knew the symptoms were fake, he prescribed a placenta (placebo).
She doesn't feel comfortable behind the wheel, so she drives very erotically (neurotically).
That man has the worst blind (hind) sight in the world.
How did your autopsy (biopsy) go?
She so skinny, she's totally emancipated (emaciated).
He was so so happy it felt like he was in Ethiopia (Utopia).
Magellan circumcised (circumnavigated) the earth with a 50 foot clipper.
After her Cadillac (cataract) surgery her vision was much improved.
They had such beautiful voices, they were singing Acapulco (acapella).
When she was a baby she had spiny whiny Jesus (spinal meningitis).
The symphony was wonderful... the music was beautiful and so, so... urethral (ethereal)!"
I ripped the cartridge (cartilage) up in my knee and tore some tenants (tendons).
"I'll never forget the time my brother choked at dinner and my father gave him the Hemlock Remover."
The answer may not lie at the bottom of a bottle of wine... but you should at least check.
SEOUL MUSEUMS THE FACTOR
nesTled on The souThern half of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea is a dynamic nation where ancient traditions meet cutting-edge modernity. Known for its rapid technological advancement, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant pop culture, the country has become a global hub for tourism, innovation, and the arts. At the heart of it all lies Seoul, the bustling capital city. With over 600 years of history, Seoul is a sprawling metropolis that harmoniously blends royal palaces and Buddhist temples with skyscrapers and neon lights. Among its many attractions, Seoul is home to some of Asia’s most engaging museums—each offering unique insights into Korea’s past, present, and future.
Austrian firm Jadric Architektur and local studio 1990uao designed the Photography Seoul Museum of Art (Photo SeMA), a 75,860 square-foot structure, the country’s first museum dedicated solely to photography. They drew upon the appearance of a camera's iris to create the building's twisted form, designed to change as visitors move around it—"the transience of photography". "Wrapped in grey horizontal panels, the façade changes depending on the light and the viewer's perspective – a tribute to the transience of photography.
Located atop an underground car park, the building's four stories feature two gallery spaces, a library, an archive, educational rooms, and a bookshop and café, all connected by a central staircase. "Architecture and photography have many things in common," said the studios. "Photography is painting with light; architecture is the play of forms gathered in light."
The museum was also designed to both contrast and complement its neighbor, the white, egg-shaped Seoul Robot & AI Museum (RAIM), recently completed by Istanbul studio Melike Altınışık Architects. It spans approximately 79,700 square feet, dedicated to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). "The museums interact harmoniously with each other, the material and color concept reminiscent of 'ebony and ivory' and enhanced by two basic geometric shapes: the cube and the sphere," they added. n
LINK : MARKETPLACE, BIDDER’S LIST &
Products Inc.
WEB DEVELOPMENT
PECKER'S CUTOFF
REACH YOUR FOR LESS
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ORIGINAL EUROZONE MEMBERS: Austria – Schilling (ATS) / Belgium – Belgian franc (BEF) / Finland – Markka (FIM) / France – Franc (FRF) / Germany –Deutsche Mark (DEM) / Greece –Drachma (GRD) (joined eurozone in 2001) / Ireland –Irish pound (IEP) / Italy –Lira (ITL) / Luxembourg –Luxembourgish franc (LUF) / Netherlands – Guilder (NLG) / Portugal – Escudo (PTE) / Spain – Peseta (ESP)
LATER ADOPTERS OF THE EURO: Slovenia –Tolar (SIT) (2007) / Cyprus –Cypriot pound (CYP) (2008) / Malta –Maltese lira (MTL) (2008) / Slovakia –Slovak koruna (SKK) (2009) / Estonia – Kroon (EEK) (2011) / Latvia – Lats (LVL) (2014) / Lithuania – Litas (LTL) (2015) / Croatia – Kuna (HRK) (2023.)
C NTEST: SONGS WITH CITIES OR STATES IN THE TITLE
There are rock groups named after places (Chicago, Boston, Phoenix, and the Miami Sound Machine quickly come to mind), and there are groups that sang about places. This is about the latter. Can you match the name of the band to the name of the song?
1. __________"Empire State of Mind"
2. __________"Viva Las Vegas"
3. __________"Georgia on My Mind"
4. __________ "California Gurls"
5. __________ "Hotel California"
6. __________ "Sweet Home Alabama"
7. __________"Midnight Train to Georgia"
Scan or copy this page and send your entry to editor@thenetworkmagazine.org or fax it to 817.924.7116 on or before October 3rd for a chance to win a valuable prize.
8. __________ "I Love L.A." 9. __________"Nashville Skyline Rag" 10. __________"Going to California" 11. __________"New York, New York" 12. "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" 13. "Philadelphia Freedom" 14. "Jackson" 15. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" 16. "Detroit Rock City" 17. __________"Albuquerque" 18. __________"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" 19. __________"Kansas City" 20. __________"Hollywood Nights" 1. Gladys Knight & the Pips
. Randy Newman
. Elton John
. Johnny Cash & June Carter
. Jay-Z featuring. Alicia Keys)
. Bob Dylan
. Elvis Presley
. KISS
. Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg
. Frank Sinatra
. John Denver
. Eagles
. Bob Seger
. Ray Charles
. "Weird Al" Yankovic
. Dionne Warwick
. Wilbert Harrison
. Led Zeppelin
. Beastie Boys
. Lynyrd Skynyrd
...BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S WHAT YOU KNOW
We Speak Real Estate
The Arsenal Companies are a diversified consulting, educational and publishing group, dedicated to service in the real estate industry. With national reach, regional strength and local sensibilities, we serve and service large and small companies as well as governmental entities in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, licensing, contracting, procurement, insurance certificate tracking, educational program development, mediation services and collections.
Our Contracts and Procurement Services Division provides solutions and services that help real estate owners and companies effectively manage their contractual needs and commitments. We provide industry knowledge and we practice deal facilitation rather than obstruction. Whether you are a property, facility or asset manager, your functions are integrally related to real estate contracts. Quality management is all about contracts.
Leases are highly specialized documents. A few words can make a world of difference. Anyone with experience.
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Acquisitions, dispositions, renewals, surrenders, amendments, abstracting, administration, interpretation –our professionals are experienced in residential, commercial, industrial, professional and retail leasing issues of all kinds.
Don’t assume that problems won’t occur. Plan what you can do to avoid them. A small reduction in costs can be the equivalent of a substantial increase in value. We suggest ‘refinements’ to improve language and reduce direct and indirect costs. Our attorneys have successfully resolved leasing issues for both small and Fortune 100 corporations –effectuating $millions in savings.
Are the contracts for services and supplies which your organization uses prepared for your organization –or are they the vendor’s or contractor’s agreement forms? Wouldn’t you be better off if those agreements and purchase orders were revisited from your perspective? Isn’t it time you fortified your real estate related contracts?
Contract Negotiation and Drafting Services
Do you have contract issues that call out for review, interpretation and the advice of a specialist? Do you have a service contract which is about to expire and will need to be renewed or replaced? Do you have oversight of a real estate or facilities function which has been given savings targets? Have you considered ‘outsourcing’ this part of your real estate function but fear a loss of control?
We analyze the details of your proposed service contracts before they begin - while you still have leverage. Or, we can review your existing service contracts, help reveal cost efficiencies and/or savings opportunities. We look for pragmatic solutions that are sensitive to your business interests, anticipating issues that may arise, and we assist in minimizing those risks that cannot be avoided.
