All I ever see in the monorail propaganda are shots that are at-level with the train. Looking at what is in Las Vegas and here, something tells me there is a reason for that.

If socialists had better architects, socialism would have defeated capitalism? What the hell, Charles?

Sometimes you write these things that sort of sound really nice but just make no sense whatsoever.

Look at the King County Admin building across the street from the jail. That is a pretty intimidating government building.

I'd go on some crazy long tangent... but naw. I'll just assert that architecture has more of an influence (and control) on your behavior that you give credit to.

The proposed monorail, with it's huge cement beams casting shadows over buildings, views and the street would have been one significant work of oppressive architecture. It would have had a slick view while riding in it (kinda like the oppressive viaduct).

And, done properly, it's super cool.

Those who provide the most benefit to society obviously---artists, baristas and fixie riders.

Sheila Fitzpatrick, in Everyday Stalinism, actually relates some fascinating information about apartment mobility as it related to party favoritism during the early Stalin years. In favor, up you move. Not in favor, down you go, eventually to be escorted from the building in the middle of the night.

Footnote: An artist, barista or fixie owner will be evicted if:

a) They:
1 - chop up a fighter jet and hang it inside a light rail station.
2 - forbid the touching of their outdoor artwork.
3 - create art that is:
i - too local
ii -or- not local enough
b) They work for:
1 - Starbucks
2 - A coffee shop bought out by Starbucks.
c) They side with the driver instead of Critical Mass.

These rules are all clearly printed on the back of your government sanctioned re-usable plastic bag. Didn't you get the memo?

No, in strangerland, what is edgy now is humdrum there. Thus, you would make quite a statement to use plastic over hemp. After all, what is rebellion if the government endorses it?

As to Socialism, I don't really want to talk about Bush or McSame any more, and their comrades in Red China and other countries.

Further, since Communist Stranger fixed global warming with it's recent ban on Bottled Water and SUV's, algae no longer grows in the ocean. Anti-Erica, using a Windows Brand Computer from her ten story hipster home in Newcastle, has began to worry about the environmental effects from our rapid decline in CO2.

Remember, in Strangerland, the Stranger could not exist. Everything is opposite because in Strangerland, everything hipsters do is the norm. Since The Stranger is Seattles Hipster Newspaper, in order to be hipster in Strangerland, the Stranger has to be against everything that made Strangerland exist in the first place.

Strange, isn't it.

"If my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bus."

Maybe Charles should read some more actual architecture theory and journalism before writing about buildings, because he doesn't know very much about them at all.