Taupe. Dull ocher. Light gray. These are the exterior colors available in a new housing development I passed in the outer suburbs of Des Moines. The houses are attached and identically sized. There are slight, symmetrically-occurring variations in the facades. Some people covet these abodes. No chance the neighbors will decide to paint purple -- not allowed! No chance that someone will display a prized lawn gargoyle, or replace the standard-issue … [Read more...]