Et Cetera

Now Streaming: A Master Class in Public Speaking

Kate Wagner, creator of the popular blog McMansion Hell, uses humor during her TED Talk to connect with the audience. Courtesy TED.

Whether you work in affordable housing, land use, environmental protection, or some other aspect of the field, being able to speak persuasively to the public may mean the difference between successful implementation and a plan that sits on the shelf or never even gets written. With that in mind, this month's column highlights some TED Talks that do double duty: cover the latest in planning and showcase some of the best public speakers in the business.

The name "TED" derives from the initial letters of "Technology, Entertainment, and Design," all of which are on display in these and a host of other offerings. Importantly, though, while high-technology tools, data visualization, animated video, and beautiful graphics are emphasized, the talks employ these tools to highlight the speaker and the message, not to distract or confuse. The real technology on display is the people on the stage.

So remember: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Watch, learn, and then try these techniques at your next public hearing.

WHY THE 'WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS' IS USUALLY THE EAST SIDE OF CITIES: Anthropologist Stephen DeBerry starts by exploring a curious aspect of cultural geography, leading to some profound implications for broader questions of the connections between ecology, economics, and racial justice.

I HATE MCMANSIONS — AND YOU SHOULD TOO: Of particular relevance to historic preservationists, architectural purists, and harried development-review planners, Kate Wagner, creator of McMansion Hell, explains this suburban phenomenon with a critical and humorous eye.

WHAT A DRIVERLESS WORLD COULD LOOK LIKE: Wanis Kabbaj, director of global strategy for healthcare logistics at UPS, shares related developments in mobility and logistics to prepare — and inspire — us for the future.

Ezra Haber Glenn, AICP, is Planning's regular film reviewer. He teaches at MIT's Department of Urban Studies & Planning and writes at urbanfilm.org.

Games: Design Therapy

Illustration courtesy Steam.

Eager to lose yourself in a place untouched by the pandemic? Try Steam's new game, the simple but addicting Townscraper. From an empty expanse of water, users can lay a foundation and start building — sans people. Get some self-directed design therapy.

Kelly Wilson is APA's digital asset specialist.

Mapped: GIS and Racial Equity

Map courtesy Esri.

Esri is curating a set of new and old tools that provide some empirical evidence of systemic racism. The GIS giant recently updated its Racial Equity GIS Hub — a trove of data, articles, and other resources — with a new redlining layer for ArcGIS. The data adds important context to how advantaged or disadvantaged some areas were — and still are.

Kelly Wilson is APA's digital asset specialist.