THE RURBAN FRINGE

Build a Tower, Build a Team

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading ideas. 
TEDTalks began as a simple attempt to share what happens at TED events with others across the globe.  At present, more than 700 TEDTalks are available, released under a Creative Commons license, so they can be freely shared and reposted online.     
The range and depth of [...]

Saving a Dollar, Losing Your Community and The Art of Listening

My online colleague Becky McCray at Small Biz Survival recently shared a ripping good blog post by Melyn Johnson, Main Street Manager for Guymon, Oklahoma.
The post, When Saving a Dollar Could Lose You a Community, is a great opinion piece about how and why you should support local businesses because, in the end, they are the ones [...]

Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome

Here’s another reason to love the rurban life … lack of pedestrian rage. 
A University of Hawaii researcher says Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome is a real ‘condition’ and demonstrates these traits:

Having denigrating thoughts about other pedestrians
Walking by a slower moving pedestrian and cutting back too soon
Feeling competitive with other pedestrians
Acting in a hostile manner (staring, presenting a mean face, moving [...]

New Online Atlas of Rural America

Today, the US Department of Agriculture  announced the release of an online mapping tool that captures a broad range of demographic, economic and agricultural data on rural areas across the United States.
The Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America provides county-level mapping of over 60 statistical indicators depicting trends and conditions across different types of rural [...]

Mid-Size Cities on the Grow

The Boston Globe has discovered that mid-size towns across Massachusetts are ditching the mall and revitalizing their downtowns.
Quincy, Mass., for instance, is on the cusp of a $1.3 billion restoration plan, while the communities of Worcester, Springfield, New Bedford and Lowell are also investing in their downtowns.
“Supporters of downtown redevelopment say the mixed-use projects will [...]

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