Baton Rouge Coffee House

[BRPJ]

Appreciate the props BRPJ! There is a few more people drawing these maps than I realized! That would be cool if you could post some of your maps too  That's a smiley we don't see very often...I can dig it! 

 

On the 2nd map not completed yet...I am implementing a riverwalk/narrow waterway thru the open-air Mall/Entertainment District near the Convention Center/Arena/Times Square/Observation Tower meandering thru the Uptown residential district; thru the large Botanical Gardens connecting the High-rise casino hotel(I don't gamble)/ forming a mini-island next to Horse Racing Track along the coast....it's hard to see the waterway in the pic near the top.

 

Thanks for showing the flag Mr Bernham...though similar to the NOLA flag...can appreciate the creativity; using the Amite River as well.

Oh wow, so much detail! Your cities are far more advanced than mine.  I don't use paper that large, but I should cause its been limiting the possibilities.  What kind of tools do you use to achieve that sort of precision? I need to step my game up. 

 

This hobby led me to playing Sim City 4, which lets you design and plan cities.  I waste hours playing that game.

Edited July 5, 2014 by BRPJ

[Antrell Williams]

Do any of you guys play Cities XL?

[all2neat]

I've thought about checking it out but still play SC4.

[richyb83]

Never played or even heard of Cities XL...But it looks pretty cool...like the graphics!

 

Tried SIM City briefly way back...but was not patient enough to build things up. Wonder how SC4 would work?

 

LOL BRPJ!! Thanks again...Nothing special.... just use a clear little straight edge & .7mm & .5mm pencil. Even with the bigger poster board sized paper; find myself running out of room!

 

 

Oh wow, so much detail! Your cities are far more advanced than mine.  I don't use paper that large, but I should cause its been limiting the possibilities.  What kind of tools do you use to achieve that sort of precision? I need to step my game up. 

 

This hobby led me to playing Sim City 4, which lets you design and plan cities.  I waste hours playing that game.

[oneman83]

I'm still playing SC4 Deluxe Edition!

[BRPJ]

Do any of you guys play Cities XL?

No. Is it really similar to Sim City?  I bought the new Sim City that came out last year, and I don't really like it.  Although the graphics are awesome, you are limited with your ambitions in the beginning and you have to really work from the ground up.  I kinda like the freedom on SC4.

[all2neat]

I recently purchased the new sim city and really the only thing I wish was that you could play the whole region and we're able to make your own maps. I like how they did roads though I wish there was more options. It's a solid foundation for a great game. Hopefully they merge the best of SC4 and sc2013.

[Renzo]

Do any of you guys play Cities XL?

Yes, I've played casually and I enjoy it. A lot more options than SC4 (I still love SC4, that's not a jab) I can't say I've played the new Sim City though, heard people weren't into it.

[Mr. Burnham]

So what does everyone here think about Be Fair BR?

[dan326]

What is that?

[richyb83]

I think the State Fair is a bit over rated....does it not start until October?

[dan326]

Oh the fair.  It's fun to me.  The last time I went they have a baby deer and alpaca in the petting zoo.  Lol! 

[Mr. Burnham]

What is that?

 

 

I think the State Fair is a bit over rated....does it not start until October?

 

 

Oh the fair.  It's fun to me.  The last time I went they have a baby deer and alpaca in the petting zoo.  Lol! 

 

No, I'm not talking about that. I am talking about the law that will go before the council tomorrow to decide whether the LGBT community can be discriminated against or not. The organization that is pushing it is called Be Fair BR. There was a big article in the Advocate about it this weekend. 

[Antrell Williams]

Well since the climate here is guarded and typically against all forms of change and acceptance, we will probably remain in societies ethical shadows for another 25 years.

 

Let the progress roll.

[buckett5425]

Its refreshing to see a group, Be Fair BR, rally support for a cause the majority of the city supports. It will be interesting to see what cause they promote next, is this a reincarnation of the now defunct organization "Progress Is?"


The ordinance is needed to protect individuals from demeaning statements such as, "...since indulging in sexual desires is now portrayed to be a vital necessity..."

[Mr. Burnham]

I'm not sure how I feel about it. On one hand I agree that you should not be discriminated based on who you are, but at the same time I personally disagree with the private life that some gay people take part in. Then again it is private. I think economically and image wise it would be best for the city and state...especially when we are in between the most ultra-conservative states in the nation. 

[dan326]

Hmm, my comment was deleted....

I should have said it in a nicer way, I agree no one should be harassed and this would be a good PR move.

But depending on how you frame/process

certain elements make things seem questionable.

[Mr. Burnham]

Hmm, my comment was deleted....

I should have said it in a nicer way, I agree no one should be harassed and this would be a good PR move.

But depending on how you frame/process

certain elements make things seem questionable.

I agree...I think that Baton Rouge at heart is much more liberal then most in Louisiana. 

[Antrell Williams]

I agree...I think that Baton Rouge at heart is much more liberal then most in Louisiana. 

Liberal? No way. Democratic, yes.

 

The most liberal thing about Baton Rouge is LSU campus and that's not a sea of blue.

[all2neat]

AW, exactly. And even Democratic I question. BR is a shade of purple and the surrounding unincorporated area plus surrounding parishes is very red.

[Mr. Burnham]

Liberal? No way. Democratic, yes.

 

The most liberal thing about Baton Rouge is LSU campus and that's not a sea of blue.

Going on the true meaning of liberalism, Baton Rouge is liberal. The city expresses that liberal streak through the Democratic Party. While the city in no way is as Liberal as say Chicago, San Francisco, LA, or New York, it is much more liberal then say Shreveport, Houston, Jackson, or Mobile. 

AW, exactly. And even Democratic I question. BR is a shade of purple and the surrounding unincorporated area plus surrounding parishes is very red.

I would agree with this notion...but I tend to view the city in three groups. Not surprisingly these groups also effect opinions on city growth:

 

On one hand is a group of people that want Baton Rouge to be a large, sprawled, capital city. These people generally are conservative minded and live in the outermost sprawled areas. As a result they do not see the benefits of living in dense cities with designated centers. These people also fail to see how a cities economy greatly benefits from density. Additionally this group of people see the city models of Houston or Atlanta as ones Baton Rouge can follow. However, they fail to look at the negative side of those cities.

 

The other side of the arguments are people who want Baton Rouge to be a dense, cosmopolitan, capital city. These people are generally liberal minded and live close to the cities center or more dense regions. As a result they see the benefits of living in dense cities with designated centers. These people see how a cities economy greatly benefits from density, but do fail to see the positives that sprawl can bring. Additionally this group of people see the city models of San Francisco or Chicago as models Baton Rouge can follow. However, they too fail to see the negative sides of those cities.

 

The final group is in the middle. They typically would like to see Baton Rouge as a livable, culturally rich, capital city. These people are generally in the center of the political spectrum and live in between the cities center and outermost sprawl areas. As a result they see both the positives and negatives of sprawl and density. These people also see how cities economies can benefit from sprawl and density. Additionally this group views the city models of Austin and Sydney as models Baton Rouge can follow. They see both the positives and negatives of these cities.

[garrett_225]

The notion that Democrat = Liberal is a total misconception.

[Mr. Burnham]

The notion that Democrat = Liberal is a total misconception.

Modern liberals are Democrats...true Liberalism is more in line with Independent views...hell our country was founded on liberal ideals. 

 

It is only recently that liberalism has been misconceived, and become an intolorent dogma that has nothing to do with what liberalism really is. 

[Antrell Williams]

Going on the true meaning of liberalism, Baton Rouge is liberal. The city expresses that liberal streak through the Democratic Party. While the city in no way is as Liberal as say Chicago, San Francisco, LA, or New York, it is much more liberal then say Shreveport, Houston, Jackson, or Mobile. 

I would agree with this notion...but I tend to view the city in three groups. Not surprisingly these groups also effect opinions on city growth:

 

On one hand is a group of people that want Baton Rouge to be a large, sprawled, capital city. These people generally are conservative minded and live in the outermost sprawled areas. As a result they do not see the benefits of living in dense cities with designated centers. These people also fail to see how a cities economy greatly benefits from density. Additionally this group of people see the city models of Houston or Atlanta as ones Baton Rouge can follow. However, they fail to look at the negative side of those cities.

 

The other side of the arguments are people who want Baton Rouge to be a dense, cosmopolitan, capital city. These people are generally liberal minded and live close to the cities center or more dense regions. As a result they see the benefits of living in dense cities with designated centers. These people see how a cities economy greatly benefits from density, but do fail to see the positives that sprawl can bring. Additionally this group of people see the city models of San Francisco or Chicago as models Baton Rouge can follow. However, they too fail to see the negative sides of those cities.

 

The final group is in the middle. They typically would like to see Baton Rouge as a livable, culturally rich, capital city. These people are generally in the center of the political spectrum and live in between the cities center and outermost sprawl areas. As a result they see both the positives and negatives of sprawl and density. These people also see how cities economies can benefit from sprawl and density. Additionally this group views the city models of Austin and Sydney as models Baton Rouge can follow. They see both the positives and negatives of these cities.

Baton Rouge is not liberal at all, Houston has the nations first openly gay mayor, it is quite more blue than Baton Rouge. I believed Harris County even voted for Obama in 2012.

 

Where have you met these people to draw such a concise conclusion? I have been in all inner city neighborhoods, you don't find many liberals at all. There's plenty of Vitter and "Beat Landrieu" in yards. Even in blue areas you don't see anyone clamoring for marriage equality or banning guns.

 

All in all I think most people here want Baton Rouge to perform like Houston, but look and act like lil ol' Baton Rouge from 1980.

The notion that Democrat = Liberal is a total misconception.

This!

 

Modern liberals are Democrats...true Liberalism is more in line with Independent views...hell our country was founded on liberal ideals. 

 

It is only recently that liberalism has been misconceived, and become an intolorent dogma that has nothing to do with what liberalism really is. 

Sounds alot like conservatism.

[Mr. Burnham]

Sounds alot like conservatism.

That is what it really is. 

 

Baton Rouge is not liberal at all, Houston has the nations first openly gay mayor, it is quite more blue than Baton Rouge. I believed Harris County even voted for Obama in 2012.

 

Where have you met these people to draw such a concise conclusion? I have been in all inner city neighborhoods, you don't find many liberals at all. There's plenty of Vitter and "Beat Landrieu" in yards. Even in blue areas you don't see anyone clamoring for marriage equality or banning guns.

 

All in all I think most people here want Baton Rouge to perform like Houston, but look and act like lil ol' Baton Rouge from 1980.

These conclusions are less facts and more observations I have made by the people I have met on both sides. The whole topic is mute anyways at this point because I was obviously saying the wrong thing. Baton Rouge is not as blue as I had previously thought, as you all have pointed out it is much more purple. Sorry for creating a huge debate about it, you all obviously know much more then me about this city. 

 

Personally I do not like Houston. Sure it is a beautiful city with one of the best economic profiles internationally, but I'm not fond of their massive sprawl. I'm more of a Sydney kinda guy. I think that Baton Rouge could do very well development wise with a good 'Sydney styled' mix. Now economically Baton Rouge can certainly follow Houston's example, but I would shy away from Houston's developmental example.