New York Times: The History of the High-Rise

http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013/high-rise/?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=OT_ASH_20131008

This Times Op-Doc section has created an amazing (and visually stunning) rundown on the history of the skyscraper. The series looks more so how construction has changed from a social and cultural standpoint rather than an architectural one. This prove to be particarlly effective in showing the changes taking place in the out of control New York real estate market. In an age when a condo is going to set you back hundreds of thousands of dollars, there has to be a humane answer facing the quickly vanishing urban middle class.

9 Things That Have Changed Since the Last Government Shutdown

The United States government officially closed for first time in 16 years. Here are nine quick stats about what has changed since the last government shutdown of 1996.

1. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline ranged between $1.20 – $1.47 in 1996. Compare that to today’s national average price of $3.39 per gallon. This represents an increase of roughly 260 percent.

2. In 1996, American support of marriage equality stood at 27 percent. At that time, no states allowed same-sex marriage. Today, support for marriage equality stands at over 53 percent (and is continuing to rise). In addition, gays and lesbians can now get married in 13 states and Washington D.C.

3. The population of the United States stood at 269.39 million in 1996 compared to over 314.39 million today.

4. The Latino population of the United States was 27 million in 1996. Today, the population of Latinos living the United States has more than doubled to nearly 60 million.

5. Nielsen’s highest rated TV shows of 1996-1997 were (from most popular): E.R, Seinfeld, Suddenly Susan, and a tie between Friends and The Naked Truth.

6. Only three of the most visited websites in the United States existed in 1996. The other seven websites: Google, Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo!, LinkedIn, Wikipedia, and Twitter, did not exist yet.

7. Mark Zuckerberg was 13 years old.

8. Apple’s stock ranged between $5.50 – $8.50 a share in 1996. Today the stock is valued at over $486.00 a share. That is more than a 6000 percent increase.

9. The “Macarena” led Billboard’s chart of the Top 100 Songs of 1996. The “Macarena” was followed by “One Sweet Day,” by Mariah Carey, “Because You Loved Me,” By Celine Dion (a personal favorite), “Nobody Knows” by Tony Rich Project, and “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey.