The Sunday Diigo Links Post (weekly)

• Can Hobbyists and Hackers Transform Biotechnology? – Technology Review

  Wow. As a fan of the Commons, Hessel’s observation really rocks my boat:
  QUOTE
  Then there’s Andrew Hessel, a biohacker fed up with the biotech business model, which he believes is built on the hoarding of intellectual property and leads companies to prioritize one-size-fits-all blockbuster drugs. “During the sixty years or so that computers went from a roomful of vacuum tubes to iPhones, the pace of drug development has never quickened,” Hessel tells Wohlsen. Hoping to change that, Hessel is developing the first DIY drug development company, the Pink Army Cooperative, whose goal is to bioengineer custom-made viruses that will battle breast cancer. “Personalized therapies made just for you. In weeks or days, not years. Believe it. It’s time for a revolution,” the company’s website proclaims. “We are trying to be the Linux of cancer,” Hessel explains.
  UNQUOTE
  additional article link:
  http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/37444/?a=f

  tags: mit_techreview biotech diy hacking medicine

• Why Renewed Urbanization Will Drive Change in Retail Strategies

  A trend that might balance out the trend toward online retail?
  QUOTE
  As retirement looms for the older Boomers, 17 million, or 25 % of the cohort, will be senior citizens within the next decade.

  Baby Boomers have indicated in analyses that they are most concerned with obtaining affordable housing. They will also want to be in communities that are walkable or have public transit for both philosophical and physical reasons.

  It is likely they will prefer and eventually have to stop driving. For this reason, it is likely they will seek smaller, easier shopping formats that are closer to home.

  Indeed, walkability has become an important factor. Zillow, the popular online real estate database, in July 2007 began rating the walkability of the property to retail and transit infrastructure and other services on a scale of 0 to 100.

  For these reasons, we believe the Baby Boomers will either be inclined to move to or remain in urban areas. Also in the near term, they are unlikely to retire at typical retirement age.
  UNQUOTE

  tags: retail shopping cities urbanization urbanism boomerism real_estate

• Pattern Cities » Pattern Cities

  Pattern Cities’ page explaining the term “pattern cities”:
  QUOTE
  In the history of civilization, select settlements have played a greater role than others in shaping regional and global urban landscapes. Today, a handful of cities continue to establish innovative urban development paradigms. These places, which we call Pattern Cities, provide the foundation and inspiration for this website.
  UNQUOTE
  Cities listed: London, Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, New York, Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Curitiba, Bogota, Cairo, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Beijing.

  tags: cities pattern_recognition pattern_cities urbanism urban_design

• Pattern Cities » Concept

  Great blog and resource on urbanism. Emphasis is on “pattern cities,” derived from Jane Jacobs’ thesis on “pattern states” (in turn based on an idea of Sir George Clark’s).
  QUOTE
  Whatever their manifestation, patterns play an important role in understanding the past, and guiding the future of cities around the world. This blog is devoted to examining cities, the patterns they create, and the ideas they spread across the globe.
  UNQUOTE

  tags: cities pattern_recognition urbanism urban_design pattern_cities

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.