Do American Fire Trucks Need To Be So Massive? – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. The average American fire truck is huge in comparison to its international counterparts. This size is the result of a hundred years of evolution in firefighting, but today the scale might actually be causing more problems. Connect with Cheddar! On Facebook: https://chddr.tv/3JmGgBe On Twitter: https://chddr.tv/3qaYQog On Instagram: https://chddr.tv/36u8tqY On Cheddar.com: https://chddr.tv/37GycgL Further reading:…

Why “Fake” Downtowns Are The New Malls – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. Call them what you want — lifestyle centers, suburban town centers, insta-cities. Found in suburban neighborhoods around our major cities, these compact outdoor malls are everywhere. But… why do they exist? Further reading: Slate https://slate.com/culture/2005/04/the-latest-incarnation-of-the-shopping-mall.html Salon https://www.salon.com/2012/09/22/invasion_of_the_faux_cities/ The Conversation https://theconversation.com/amp/lifestyle-centers-reinvented-communities-or-dressed-up-shopping-malls-36752 The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/mar/16/malls-cities-become-one-and-same Washingtonian https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/10/31/stop-hating-suburban-town-centers-rockville-mosaic-district-silver-spring/ Build a Better Burb http://buildabetterburb.org/real-benefits-fake-town-centers/ The Washington Post…

The Rise And Fall Of Planetariums – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. In 2017, NPR called school planetariums “relics of the space race.” Because that’s what they’ve become. But what about privately owned planetariums, or ones the planetariums schools have continued to invest in? With so many ways for us to see outer space, what is the advantage of the planetarium today? And how can…

Why Campaign Logos Matter More Than You Think – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. We see candidate logos all election season. Some are embraced while others are ruthlessly mocked (we all remember Jeb!). But what do these iconic designs mean? And what makes them good–or cringey? Also, be sure to check out Mr. Beat’s video on why people don’t vote! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5AzWepvOxs Further Reading: PBS https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/presidents/ Television’s First…

The Secrets Of NYC’s Fake Buildings – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. Why does New York City have so many fake buildings? What’s their purpose? We looked into it. Further Reading: Gothamist https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/58-joralemon-brooklyn-heights-secret-subway-exit-shaft-house-history AMNY https://www.amny.com/news/no-say-it-aint-faux-m-t-a-plant-hits-the-fan-2/ https://www.amny.com/news/its-an-insult-mulry-sq-fan-plan-is-really-panned/ Westview News http://westviewnews.org/2016/07/06/the-mtas-travesty-at-mulry-square/admin/ The Travel https://www.thetravel.com/where-to-find-fake-facades-of-nyc/ Business Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/8-fake-buildings-that-hide-substations-and-tunnels-2016-7 Untapped Cities https://untappedcities.com/2022/07/11/mysterious-monolithic-windowless-buildings/ The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/26/nyregion/thecity/a-puzzle-tucked-amid-the-brownstones.html Connect with Cheddar! On Facebook: https://chddr.tv/3JmGgBe On Twitter: https://chddr.tv/3qaYQog On Instagram: https://chddr.tv/36u8tqY…

The True Impact Of Vegan (Plastic) Leather – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. With the rise of the environmentally conscious consumer and veganism, fashion brands have looked for new sustainable fashion trends. Or at least, products that can be marketed as green. So, is vegan leather actually green, or is its environmental impact equal to – or worse – than real leather? Further reading: Harper’s Bazaar…

How The War On Shadows Shapes Our Cities – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. The war on skyscraper shadows has been passionately waged for years. Between light and shade, their significance is intensely debated. But in the shades of gray, what else are we losing in our cities? Further Reading: Atlas Obscura https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/right-to-light-law Harvard Law School Library https://h2o.law.harvard.edu/cases/10 Curbed https://ny.curbed.com/2013/3/15/10263912/the-equitable-building-and-the-birth-of-nyc-zoning-law AP News https://apnews.com/article/b91b5907820bf00b0e77e2ff8915500c MA Legislature https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2017/Chapter57 San…

Why New York Is Filled With Empty Plazas – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. New York City is home to more than 590 plazas or privately-owned public spaces. These spaces could be centers of culture and conversation like Piazza del Campo in Siena or Trafalgar Square in London. But most of them look empty and lifeless. Why? Well, they weren’t really designed for us anyway. Further reading:…

How The Most Elaborate Corn Mazes are Made – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. Behind the ubiquitous fall attraction is an industry grown around technology. Companies design mazes for clients and tour the United States machine-planting corn or whittling away at pre-planted fields. Corn maze construction is a niche industry, but the technology behind it, not so much. The key player in the corn maze game is…

Is Speeding REALLY Enforced By Aircraft? – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. Whether you’re driving across the country or to the mall, chances are you’ve seen this “speed enforced by aircraft” sign on the highway. At one point, Virginia alone had over 400 of these signs. But is local law enforcement actually hovering above us monitoring our speeds? CA.gov https://www.ca.gov/ Dept. of Justice https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/aircraft-used-law-enforcement-analysis-costs KQED…

How Dragons Were Redesigned For TV – Cheddar Explains

From Cheddar. Dragons have been part of a global mythology for thousands of years. No really, you can find them everywhere (except Antarctica). But something new is happening right now. We’re seeing dragons dominating our TV screens with epic renderings as seen in House of the Dragon. Let’s take a look back at how we’ve…