As some of you know, I take a French class one evening every week. I have chosen to go in person, but apparently the majority of students enrolled at the school, don't. They do it online, which is obviously easier for everyone. Call me old school, but I prefer being in a classroom, especially when trying to learn and perfect a language.

I was reminded of this as I read through this recent article by Alain Bertaud. Alain is perhaps best known for his book, Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities, and so it's no surprise that he would write an article praising the randomness of cities. In it, he talks about how it is, of course, possible to never leave home. Meetings, food, entertainment, and exercise all happen online.

This is convenient and all, but:

Randomness makes city life exciting and productive, and how we design cities can multiply or reduce the chances of serendipitous encounters of people and ideas. Creativity and innovation, two of the most desirable traits of metropolitan environments, depend on unplanned meetings between people of different skills, tastes, and backgrounds.

So here's to leaving home, sometimes.

As some of you know, I take a French class one evening every week. I have chosen to go in person, but apparently the majority of students enrolled at the school, don't. They do it online, which is obviously easier for everyone. Call me old school, but I prefer being in a classroom, especially when trying to learn and perfect a language.

I was reminded of this as I read through this recent article by Alain Bertaud. Alain is perhaps best known for his book, Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities, and so it's no surprise that he would write an article praising the randomness of cities. In it, he talks about how it is, of course, possible to never leave home. Meetings, food, entertainment, and exercise all happen online.

This is convenient and all, but:

Randomness makes city life exciting and productive, and how we design cities can multiply or reduce the chances of serendipitous encounters of people and ideas. Creativity and innovation, two of the most desirable traits of metropolitan environments, depend on unplanned meetings between people of different skills, tastes, and backgrounds.

So here's to leaving home, sometimes.