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The photo above is of the Chicago landscape at night. I had the pleasure of seeing a similar image as I flew into Midway airport recently. I was mesmerized as I looked out my window and could not peel my eyes off the glittering landscape below. During daytime one can usually discern the layout of a city by the blocks and ribbons of white and red lights on the road. However, at night, cities frequently turn into patches of fuzzy yellow light and darkness. Chicago is startling, for the logic of the city is actually more apparent at night than during the day.
This view illuminates Daniel Burnham's genius. Chicago's grid – not quite radiating, but rather flowing – from its central loop is traced by row upon row of perfectly aligned street lights. The grid at once appears startling simple – straight lines conversing an entire city – and and overwhelmingly complex – thinking of how many people utilize that landscape, and for how many purposes. Moreover, as a directionally-challenged individual, I love seeing straight streets, logically spaced, running perfectly north, south, east and west. Perhaps it also arises from my love affair with Philadelphia's Penn-laid grid.
In my opinion, cities are one of the greatest creations of man. Cities themselves are organisms, incredibly complex and beautiful. There is an astounding brilliance in the operation of a great city. The grid of Chicago makes the city look both like a beautiful organism and an astounding machine. Each city has its imperfections, but the night view makes Chicago glimmer.


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New tool could change rescues across Iowa
Some Iowa fire departments are getting a new tool that could significantly improve the chances for rescuing people alive inside grain bins.
Most grain bin rescues end badly, such as the one near Dayton in July that killed a 30-year-old man. The corn acts like quicksand, pouring in around the person struggling to get free.
The new tool works to create a safe space around the person. It has six panels that can be moved inside the small doors on the bin and then assembled into a tube around the person.
"It's going to save lives," said Don Ashenfelter, Professional Rescue Innovations instructor.
Once locked into place, the panels form a tube that prevents the corn or beans from continuing to move in around the person. People trapped in grain bins can die in two ways: Being crushed by the sheer weight or by suffocation.
"The tube is actually a tool that will actually isolate the grain around the victim," said Ashenfelter.
Firefighters from Goldfield recently trained using the tool.
Firefighters said the tube method is much safer and more efficient than the old way, which including throwing plywood or other objects into the bin to use to stop the grain.
"Where these are made to come in small openings; just snap them together and you've got a useful tool," said Chief Jeff Slaikeu.
The tubes cost about $2,500 each.
The Gold Eagle Co-op bought eight tubes and has donated them to neighboring fire departments, including Goldfield.

subset: commoncrawl