The Tech Portal (TTP)

Why is it that long before there was digital technology or cinematography, some people had descriptions of what seemed to be glosts on some kind of a time loop. Would such sightings be indicative that this world might be part of a cosmic simulation?

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Aftershocks rattle NYC and the Northeast after rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/05/us/earthquake-nyc-nj-northeast/index.html

Fortunately, this part of the world doesn't have the same frequency of earthquakes as Japan and California.

https://abc7ny.com/new-jersey-earthquake-residents-across-tri-state-report-feeling-shaking-as-48-quake-rocks-region/14622009/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/magnitude-55-earthquake-strikes-new-york-new-jersey-emsc-2024-04-05/

NYC earthquake MTA subway-bridges-tunnels-closures-delays

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nyc-trains-earthquake-mta-subway-bridges-tunnels-closures-delays/

Of course it takes time to assess if there was any significant earthquake damage.

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/earthquake-new-york-city-aging-buildings

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-10-most-earthquake-prone-countries.html

https://www.worldatlas.com/natural-disasters/the-12-most-earthquake-vulnerable-cities-in-the-world.html

Urban earthquakes can be the most dangerous & disruptive, simply because of the concentration of people & infrastructure.

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/which-country-has-most-earthquakes

Statue of Liberty heavy shaking during NYC earthquake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITwm3PVq620

Of course NYC, Boston & Chicago aren't as earthquake prepared as LA, SF & Seattle.

https://www.ksbw.com/article/monterey-county-sheriffs-statue-liberty-earthquake-shakes-new-york-california-4-8/60412551

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/earthquake-videos-new-york-city-area/60411727

Urban Seismology: on the origin of earth vibrations within a city https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15499-y

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abl3564

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/26276/new-challenges-for-seismic-risk-mitigation-in-urban-areas/magazine

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-10-most-earthquake-prone-countries.html

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/24/13165

https://www.worldatlas.com/natural-disasters/the-12-most-earthquake-vulnerable-cities-in-the-world.html

Of course the ability to predict earthquakes would be so beneficial.

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/which-country-has-most-earthquakes

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

The Baltimore bridge collapse investigation continues

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/investigation-into-baltimore-bridge-collapse-picks-up-speed-as-divers-search-for-missing-workers/3374336/

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

How safe are bridges at Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach?

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/how-safe-bridges-at-ports-of-los-angeles-and-long-beach/3373516/

Baltimore bridge collapse shares eerie similarities with the Tampa Bay’s Skyway disaster

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2024/03/26/florida-sunshine-skyway-bridge-disaster-collapse/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Summit_Venture#1980_Skyway_incident Collisions between ships and bridges are never a good situation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge#1980_collapse

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13239929/bridge-collapses-florida-great-yarmouth-baltimore.html

The Tampa+Bay+Sunshine+Skyway+Bridge or crossing, has been greatly improved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge#Replacement_bridge

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Scott_Key_Bridge_collapse

Fortunately, most times ships don't crash into bridges.

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-deadliest-bridge-collapse-in-modern-history

https://libguides.lindahall.org/bridges/failures/collapses

https://www.history.com/news/deadly-bridge-collapses

http://www.historyofbridges.com/facts-about-bridges/bridge-failures/

http://www.bridgesdb.com/bridge-history-facts/famous-bridge-collapses/

Francis+Scott+Key+Bridge+in+Baltimore+collapses+after+being+struck+by+cargo+ship

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Is Neuralink The Worst Thing Ever Made?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi_NVIbYGCk Like any tool or device, it can be used in a good way or a malevolent way.

https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-neuralinks-first-human-patient-plays-chess-with-his-mind-150031220.html

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/man-with-elon-musks-neuralink-brain-chip-posts-tweet-on-x-just-by-thinking-5300011

https://seekingalpha.com/news/4083073-elon-musk-celebrates-neuralink-patient-tweets

https://futurism.com/neoscope/elon-musk-neuralink-blind-monkeys-see-again

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68622781

https://www.businessinsider.com/neuralink-elon-musk-microchips-brains-ai-2021-2

https://twitter.com/neuralink?lang=en

The Matrix Awakens

The_Matrix_Awakens was released into the market in December 2021, so a lot of people have had an opportunity to try it since then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix_Awakens#Background

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-matrix-awakens-unreal-engine-5-demo-might-make-you-wonder-whats-real/1100-6498843

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16385248/

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Matrix

Friday, March 22, 2024

Is Apple's spatial computing headset worth the price?

Well, that might depend upon how virtually crazy one wants to become.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-vision-pro-faq-price-features-hands-on-insights-and-everything-you-need-to-know

https://www.theverge.com/23689334/apple-mixed-reality-headset-augmented-virtual-reality-ar-vr-rumors-specs-features , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdwaWxY11jQ

https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/apple-vision-pro/

https://www.vox.com/technology/2024/2/1/24057024/apple-vision-pro-headset-virtual-mixed-reality-meta-oculus-spatial-computing

https://www.theverge.com/24054862/apple-vision-pro-review-vr-ar-headset-features-price

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/06/hands-on-with-apple-vision-pro-this-is-not-a-vr-headset/

Using Apple Vision Pro: What It’s Actually Like! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtp6b76pMak

The Apple Vision Pro is NOT what you think it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REo1ugX5GSI

Thursday, March 21, 2024

How is technology changing our way to experience cities?

https://parametric-architecture.com/walking-internet-and-the-cyberflaneur-how-is-technology-changing-our-way-to-experience-cities

Urban technology can be a great thing, as long as it doesn't become used to facilitate a totalitarian nightmare. Thus, human visualization must be never replace by total AI. Unless one wants to have a Borg like world.

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=AI

Architecture-in-video-game-design-for-creating-new-realms

https://parametric-architecture.com/parametric-architecture-in-video-game-design-for-creating-new-realms

https://parametric-architecture.com/architectural-visualization-by-using-game-engines/

The Capitol Records Building

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Records_Building Its certainly a modern classic structure.

https://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-worlds-most-amazing-circular-buildings/20110720.htm

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/most-beautiful-skyscrapers-world

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Sam Altman: OpenAI, GPT-5, Sora, Board Saga, Elon Musk, Ilya, Power & AGI | Lex Fridman Podcast #419

https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/comments/1bht59s/sam_altman_openai_gpt5_sora_board_saga_elon_musk/

https://www.reddit.com/r/lexfridman/comments/1bbr7z9/questions_for_sam_altman_post_from_lex/

Grok AI vs. ChatGPT

https://www.pcguide.com/ai/chatgpt-vs-grok-ai

Is it just a matter of preference?

https://em360tech.com/tech-article/grok-vs-chatgpt-which-is-better

https://cointelegraph.com/learn/chatgpt-vs-grok-ai-differences

https://textcortex.com/post/grok-ai-vs-chatgpt

https://cloudfoundation.com/blog/grok-vs-chatgpt/

https://neuroflash.com/blog/chatbot-for-companies-grok-ai-vs-chatgpt-in-comparison

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=AI

Monday, March 18, 2024

Futuristic skylines and totalitarian control areas

https://blog.richardvanhooijdonk.com/en/futuristic-skylines-exploring-the-worlds-most-innovative-urban-projects

A city can allow for the freedom of movement, or it can be a contact-tracing totalitarian nightmare.

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2014/jan/29/future-cities-in-film

https://gizmodo.com/dark-city-cool-art-awesome-neo-noir-and-urban-fantasy-5803812

https://www.intjournal.com/thinkpieces/alphaville-is-50-after-modernism-lost-it-meaning-it-still-had-its-looks An enduring example of a totalitarin smartcity from a 1960s perspective.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphaville_(film)

https://medium.com/hope-lies-at-24-frames-per-second/on-jean-luc-godards-alphaville-a-film-about-the-theft-of-talent-9bef162d4070

https://ivypanda.com/essays/representations-of-the-distopian-city

http://www.visionsofthecity.com/alphaville.htm

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Metropolis-film-1927

https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2016/feature-articles/alienation-alphaville-playtime/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/dark-city-cool-art-awesome-neonoir-and-urban-fantasy-cityscapes--451837775098168088/

The story of the song "Virtual Insanity" is weirder than you thought

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-LT6L1T6Is

Some songs and videos can hint or suggest what might gradually unfold in the tech world, indeed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Insanity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm6DS3BeTdM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Insanity#In_popular_culture

High-density housing vs. better amenities

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/real-estate-news/vancouver-neighbourhood-divided-high-density-housing-vs-better-amenities-8453134

Vancouver has impose decades of severe building restrictions that the BC government finally had to implement higher housing standards, but it still might not be enough. Edmonton, Calgary & Seattle all have allowed a taller residential tower than what is permitted in strict Vancouver. If more affordable housing was included on the lower floors, then the high cost upper floors can offset the overall building costs.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

17 Ave. S.E. Bus Rapid Transit, Cushing Bridge, Calgary

https://www.calgary.ca/council/ward-9/h-17-av-se-bus-rapid-transit.html Of course Calgary would get around to doing this type of crossing, long before Vancouver would. The BRT bridge next to the Cushing+Bridge

The 4 lane Cushing+Bridge could have easily remained as a Vancouver type bottleneck or chokepoint, but building a bus-bridge next to it, makes all the difference. The Greater Vancouver area has so many narrow streets & bridges. Its as if there is a different set of physics in BC than in Alberta. Fortunately unlike slow moving Vancouver, Calgary was able to get the 17_Avenue_Transitway mostly completed, years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_Transit#Bus_rapid_transit_and_future

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_(Calgary)#BRT_routes

Of course Calgary seems to have a better system of bike bridges than Vancouver as well.

https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/stories-from-calgary/10-epic-bike-pathways-in-calgary

https://outandacross.com/5-best-bike-paths-calgary/

https://www.calgary.ca/bike-walk-roll/pathways.html

Friday, March 15, 2024

Chicago River dyeing for St. Patrick's Day

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-river-dyeing-2024-guide-when-it-takes-place-who-dyes-it-how-long-it-lasts-and-more/3383597/

It's always a nice effect.

https://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/dyeing-of-the-chicago-river

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/15/watch-dyeing-chicago-river-green/72975103007/

https://urbnexplorer.com/2024/02/13/the-secret-behind-dyeing-the-chicago-river-green/

Chicago street named one of the coolest in the world by Time Out

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-street-named-one-of-the-coolest-in-the-world-by-time-out/3382900/

Every city wants to have the best street.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Melbourne’s High Street crowned coolest city in the world

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/melbournes-high-street-crowned-coolest-city-in-the-world/news-story/57119efc3063e1a0736faeba356a2ce7

Some streets just have the right amount of energy & services...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13194605/High-Street-Northcote-inner-city-Melbourne-named-worlds-coolest-Time-Out.html

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/high-st-in-melbournes-inner-north-named-the-coolest-street-in-the-world-by-time-out/news-story/81d11d5d75b785ba5371e901fe64f90e

https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/news/high-street-in-melbournes-north-is-officially-the-coolest-street-in-the-world-031324

The Impact of Population Growth on Urban Planning and Design

https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a12262-the-impact-of-population-growth-on-urban-planning-and-design/

If housing continues to become even more unaffordable, will that mean even more people will end up living & dying on the streets?

https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a12256-us-housing-crisis-impact-of-the-housing-crisis-on-vulnerable-populations/

Effective economic & efficient Urban+Planning must take all income levels into consideration.

Inflection AI launches new model for Pi chatbot

https://venturebeat.com/ai/inflection-ai-launches-new-model-for-pi-chatbot-nearly-matches-gpt-4/

https://siliconangle.com/2024/03/07/inflection-ai-rolls-new-large-language-model-pi-chatbot/

https://pi.ai/onboarding

https://inflection.ai/inflection-2-5

https://www.reuters.com/technology/inflection-ais-chatbot-pi-surpasses-1-million-daily-active-users-2024-03-07/

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=A+Chatbot+for+City+Planning

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=AI

A Prototype Chatbot for City Planning

https://steins.medium.com/the-future-is-now-a-prototype-chatbot-for-city-planning-8801ab53c566

A+Chatbot+for+City+Planning, why not?

https://www.planetizen.com/news/2023/11/125523-denver-inspired-chatbot-serves-prototype-ai-city-planning-and-zoning

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Jacque Fresco

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacque_Fresco

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skeena-terrace-vancouver-bc-housing-rezoning-approved

Monday, March 11, 2024

Disney plan for long-term major development in Anaheim clears crucial hurdle

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-11/disney-seeking-ok-on-major-expansion-more-flexibility-for-future-projects-in-anaheim

Of course such places are always in high demand & occasionally have to be expanded.

https://deadline.com/2024/03/disneyland-expansion-plan-progress-1235855538

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/disneyland-expansion-anaheim-planning-commission/3360642

https://nypost.com/2024/03/11/business/disneyland-in-california-wants-to-add-2b-in-new-attractions/

https://www.micechat.com/286075-disneylandforward-explained-future-expansion

Senakw: Vancouver’s new mega-development is big, ambitious and undeniably Indigenous

https://macleans.ca/society/sen%cc%93a%e1%b8%b5w-vancouver

https://www.squamish.net/divisions/community-services/senakw-operations

https://reveryarchitecture.com/projects/sen%CC%93a%E1%B8%B5w/

https://senakw.com

It's difficult for some people to accept that the downtown area must grow in relation to the region.

https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=140535 The tallest building in the complex will only be 170.6 m or 560 feet. https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=104623189&page=10

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=1&status=15

Kennedy Expressway construction in Chicago

https://abc7chicago.com/kennedy-expressway-construction-traffic-chicago-near-me-highway/14515489/

The urban parts of the USA is so synonymous with multilane corridors.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/kennedy-expressway-construction-express-lanes-closed/

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/kennedy-expressway-construction-to-monday-express-lanes-will-be-shut-down-for-8-months/3378737/

https://idot.illinois.gov/transportation-system/transportation-management/featured-projects/cook-county---interstate-90-kennedy-bridge-study.html

https://news.wttw.com/2024/03/08/expect-delays-next-phase-kennedy-expressway-construction-begin-monday-reversible-express

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/2/6/23949386/kennedy-eisenhower-dan-ryan-expressway-highway-construction-traffic-segregation-urban-renewal-race

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1209.html

https://chicagostudies.uchicago.edu/grid

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roads_and_expressways_in_Chicago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnham_Plan_of_Chicago#A_regional_highway_system

https://www.city-data.com/forum/chicago/1135708-widest-roads-chicago.html

Chicago Bears' new stadium plan shifts to a publicly owned domed stadium on Museum Campus

https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/chicago-bears-new-stadium-plan-shifts-to-publicly-owned-domed-stadium-on-museum-campus-source-says/3378910/

Cruise ship season in Seattle

https://www.cruisecritic.com/find-a-cruise/port-seattle

https://www.portseattle.org/places/smith-cove-cruise-terminal-pier-91

https://www.cruisecritic.com/find-a-cruise/departure-port-seattle

https://www.portseattle.org/cruise-lines

https://www.globaljourneys.com/cruises/from-seattle-to-vancouver

https://cruiseweb.com/ports/departs-seattle-washington

Last year was already very good for Seattle.

https://komonews.com/news/local/record-setting-cruise-season-seattle-celebration-princess-cruises-million-passengers-port-boat-economic-recovery-revenue-industry-power-reduce-emissions-local-hospitality-group-longshore-representative-coast-guard

Unlike Vancouver, Seattle has been steadily increasing its hotel room stock over the decades.

Hotel rooms available in Downtown Seattle: 14,861
Hotel rooms available in King County: 43,490

https://visitseattle.org/press/press-kit/seattle-facts

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Seattle

The Vancouver Cruise Ship Season Starts

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/03/11/vancouver-cruise-season-businesses

Maintaining a growing tourism economy takes constant effort.

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/vancouver-s-cruise-season-kicks-off-with-arrival-of-disney-wonder-1.6802579

There always has to be enough hotels & other essential services.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-place-vancouver-cruise-ship-season-kickoff

https://vancouversun.com/news/disney-wonder-kicks-off-vancouvers-busy-2024-cruise-ship-season

https://www.portvancouver.com/news-and-media/news/port-of-vancouver-on-course-for-record-breaking-cruise-season-in-2024/

https://canadiantrainvacations.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-vancouver

Fortunately, many other cities don't have to contend with a Vancouver approach to things.

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Vancouver+faces+hotel+shortage

410 WEST GEORGIA BUILDING (DELOITTE SUMMIT), VANCOUVER, BC

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/westbank-sells-deloitte-summit-tower-allied

It's a very nice building, but it's so small.

https://www2.deloitte.com/ca/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/deloitte-summit.html

https://www.canam.com/en/project/deloitte-summit-au-400-west-georgia/

https://merrickarch.com/work/400-west-georgia/

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/deloitte-summit-tower-410-west-georgia-street-vancouver-westbank

Unfortunately, in that part of the city, nothing is permitted to be as tall as the Lippo_Centre_in_Hong_Kong).

The extreme height restrictions meant that the 91.74 m or 301 foot building is even shorter than 8 King East. And even shorter than the Old_City_Hall_in_Toronto, which is 103.64 m (340.0 ft).

Yet, the land & living costs in small minded Vancouver keep getting higher. Fortunately, Toronto & HK will never be Vancouverized, as most cities are allowed to be on a much grander scale than what is permitted in small-minded backwater BC.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Why is the Yarra River so brown?

https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/news/why-is-the-yarra-river-so-brown-we-asked-an-expert-030824

Well, Chicago will have a green river on the 17th.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/when-the-chicago-river-will-be-dyed-green-for-st-patricks-day-and-how-its-done/3347247/

https://www.enjoyillinois.com/travel-illinois/the-history-of-chicago-river-dyeing

California Forever releases a new map of a proposed Bay Area utopian city

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-forever-new-map-bay-area-city-18709651.php

California_Forever could be a good thing, as long as it doesn't become a smart city trap.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/03/08/california-forever-releases-new-renderings-cable-ad/

https://www.kron4.com/news/california-forever-releases-aerial-rendering-of-proposed-solano-county-community/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/vision-for-new-affordable-city-in-california-meets-skepticism-from-locals

https://calmatters.org/economy/2024/02/california-forever-promises/

https://www.fastcompany.com/91015457/the-real-problem-with-california-forever-the-bay-areas-new-billionaire-backed-city

https://californiaforever.com

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=smart+city

The rent in Vancouver is more than double the Edmonton rates

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/asking-rent-vancouver-march-2024-rentals

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Renovation planned for Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nat-bailey-stadium-vancouver-renovations

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/dan-fumano-nat-bailey-stadium-set-for-20-million-upgrade-city-memo-says

https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/files/MEMO-NatBaileyFacilityImprovements-20240202.pdf

https://theprovince.com/sports/baseball/vancouver-canadians-upgrades-to-nat-bailey-stadium-slated-to-begin-this-winter It really takes a long time to get things done in Vancouver.

https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/03/13/planned-nat-bailey-stadium-upgrades-stalled-by-audit/

Could Nat_Bailey_Stadium ever undergo an extensive expansion? That remains to be seen.

"The stadium's seating capacity is 6,500 and as of 2019 they led the short-season A clubs in attendance and outdrew Vancouver's AAA team." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Bailey_Stadium#Stadium_history

Perhaps the baseball stadium in Winnipeg is in a better setting. It certainly has a little more capacity than NBS.

Theirs is in Downtown_Winnipeg, right by the Red River. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Winnipeg#Broadway-Assiniboine

"Blue_Cross_Park opened on May 24, 1999."

"Blue Cross Park has a seating capacity of 7,481, as well as 30 luxury skysuites, a picnic area, and an open patio overlooking the field from the right field corner." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Cross_Park#Features

Of course Seattle has a big-time baseball stadium.

Capacity	Baseball: 47,929

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_Park Having a baseball stadium near the water doesn't effect the game, one way or another. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Coliseum However, a baseball stadium next to a river, the ocean or a lake, just might add to the overall setting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogers_Centre

Sunday, March 3, 2024

City Skylines and Cultural Identity: The Intersection of Design and Heritage

https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a12193-city-skylines-and-cultural-identity-the-intersection-of-design-and-heritage/

San Diego's Historic Gaslamp Quarter

https://www.sandiego.org/articles/downtown/historic-gaslamp-quarter.aspx

The Gaslamp+Quarter is quite a nice interesting and entertaining part of the city.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslamp_Quarter,_San_Diego

https://www.sandiego.org/articles/downtown/gaslamp-10-fun-facts.aspx

https://www.sandiego.org/explore/downtown-urban/downtown.aspx

https://gaslamp.org/listings/map/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslamp_Quarter_station

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Trolley#Lines

Friday, March 1, 2024

Latest costs for FIFA World Cup in Vancouver hidden by non-disclosure agreements

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/latest-costs-for-fifa-world-cup-in-vancouver-hidden-by-non-disclosure-agreements-1.6791500

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/03/01/bc-2026-fifa-world-cup-funding-questions/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_2026_FIFA_World_Cup_bid#Canada

85-storey skyscraper about to launch into Toronto skyline

https://dailyhive.com/toronto/383-yonge-street-skyscraper-toronto

Mayor Chow ‘saddled’ with making World Cup successful despite ballooning costs for Toronto

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/02/29/mayor-chow-saddled-with-making-world-cup-successful-despite-ballooning-costs/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/chow-world-cup-costs-1.7129827

https://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2024/02/costs-toronto-host-fifa-world-cup-games-rising/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_2026_FIFA_World_Cup_bid#Canada

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Emerald City Comic Con

https://www.emeraldcitycomiccon.com/

https://seattleconventioncenter.com/

https://seattleconventioncenter.com/venues/summit-addition Quite a very nice new building for Seattle.

https://visitseattle.org/meeting-professionals/convention-center/summit-overview/

https://www.arup.com/projects/seattle-convention-center-summit-building

https://crosscut.com/culture/2023/01/seattles-new-convention-center-features-775m-local-art

NYC’s $15 congestion pricing toll

https://nypost.com/us-news/nyc-congestion-pricing-toll-what-to-know/

https://nypost.com/2024/02/29/us-news/heres-what-new-yorkers-think-about-the-controversial-15-congestion-pricing-toll-as-mta-opens-public-hearings/

Too costly to drive, take the train, but it might cost you your life.

https://nypost.com/2024/02/22/opinion/the-mta-has-a-crime-epidemic-that-robots-cant-even-fix

Of course more police and increased security overall, can make a big difference.

What's going on at The One, Toronto's troubled $2-billion mega-tower?

https://financialpost.com/real-estate/the-one-toronto-troubled-2-billion-mega-tower

Looks like its going to be a fine tower, if it ever gets completed.

https://streetsoftoronto.com/why-are-some-toronto-homeowners-paying-less-tax/

https://www.thestar.com/business/mizrahi-pushed-out-of-the-one-skyscraper-development-inside-details-of-what-he-told-employees/article_b5d4a16c-d50b-11ee-a3dc-2fec3209e8e6.html

https://storeys.com/mizrahi-forced-out-the-one/

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/one.5048

https://www.gta-homes.com/real-insights/news/the-one-condo-goes-into-receivership-whats-next/

https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2023/10/company-takes-over-torontos-one-tower/

NYC subway violence surge comes after police patrols plummeted to levels not seen since de Blasio administration

https://nypost.com/2024/02/28/us-news/nyc-subway-violence-surge-came-after-police-patrols-plummeted-to-levels-not-seen-since-de-blasio-administration/

Any train system can be made to be safer, if there are enough police & security people around.

https://nypost.com/2024/02/20/us-news/nyc-subway-crime-jumps-by-nearly-20-this-year-compared-to-2023-data-shows/

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Pinnacle One Yonge, Toronto

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/pinnacle-one-yonge.6918

Height	345 m (1,131 ft) 307 m (1,006 ft) 217 m (712 ft)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnacle_One_Yonge The first building in Canada to reach or exceed 100 stories.

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/canada

The One at Yonge and Bloor in Toronto

https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2024/02/the-one-yonge-bloor-mizrahi-toronto/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_One_(Toronto)#Receivership

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/one.5048

At 328.4 metres (1,077 feet)^[1]^[4] and 91 storeys,^[5] it will be taller than First Canadian Place, which has been Canada's tallest building since 1975. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_One_(Toronto)

Despite being a little shorter, a tower in Melbourne has more levels than The One in Toronto.

It's almost like there is a different set of physics for Canada vs. the rest of the planet. Not just NYC & Chicago, but Melbourne would have its first residential tower of at least 100 floors before Toronto.

"...development project consists of a 316.7-metre-tall (1,039 ft) apartment building with 1,105 apartments over 100 floors." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_108

HEIGHT

To Tip:

318.7 m / 1,046 ft

Architectural:

316.7 m / 1,039 ft

Occupied:

312.4 m / 1,025 ft

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/melbourne/australia-108/14817/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_108#Planning,_design,_and_approval

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Melbourne#Overall

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/australia

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/canada

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

The UK could face blackouts by 2028 as delays to the delivery of a major nuclear power station continue

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1871416/urgent-blackout-warning-power-cuts-french-project

The Bakerloo line extension

https://www.londonworld.com/news/traffic-and-travel/tfl-bakerloo-line-extension-construction-boris-johnson-sadiq-khan-4532715

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1869126/600m-London-Underground-Bakerloo-line-plan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakerloo_line , https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/route/bakerloo/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakerloo_line#Future_developments

https://www.londontubemap.org/en-1-Bakerloo-line-map.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakerloo_line#Future_rolling_stock

https://londonist.com/london/history/a-brief-history-of-the-bakerloo-line

https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/stories/transport/bakerloo-line

NYC congestion pricing will spike tolls for bus operator

https://nypost.com/2024/02/26/business/hampton-jitney-warns-of-cost-hikes-when-nyc-congestion-pricing-takes-effect/

Public & private high occupancy vehicles should be encouraged, not taxed.

https://nypost.com/2024/02/25/us-news/private-bus-operator-shocked-they-wont-be-exempt-from-nycs-congestion-toll-plan-part-of-the-solution/

The Décarie Expressway or Autoroute Décarie in Montreal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_Autoroute_15#Decarie_Autoroute

There should have been a provision on this Autoroute for a bus & HOV lane. While there is an emergency lane on each side, it looks like its not quite the width for a standard lane.

https://www.montrealroads.com/roads/decarie/

https://globalnews.ca/tag/decarie-expressway/

The Slow and Steady Death of the Gowanus Expressway in NYC

https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/2920/the-slow-and-steady-death-of-the-gowanus-expressway

Of course several highways & freeways built between the 1940s & 1970s were bulldozed through neighborhoods.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_278#Gowanus_Expressway

One would be hard-pressed to find such expressways that were bulldozed through upper middle-class or wealthy neighborhoods.

http://www.nycroads.com/roads/gowanus , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_278

In a lot of cases, urban highways could have been built above or beside railway corridors or through industrial areas.

https://michaelminn.net/newyork/areas/sunset-park-waterfront/gowanus-expressway/index.html

However, there would still have to be arterial roads & streets connecting to the various expressways or motorways.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offices/region11/projects/project-repository/gowanus/about.html

The Go wasn't designed to have bus & HOV lanes.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/content/delivery/region11/projects/X73081-Home/construction

A lot of it doesn't even have full width emergency lanes, which could have become bus lanes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_278

https://www.eastcoastroads.com/states/ny/inter/i278

Monday, February 26, 2024

Sydney, One of world's most beautiful cities getting 46 new stations as £15.7bn splashed on trains

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1870994/world-most-beautiful-cities-46-new-stations-15-7bn-trains

The Scene on Some of England's Worst Streets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U0wQPMwvVc , https://www.youtube.com/@baldandbankrupt/videos

There used to be various film clips & TV spots in the 1960s & 70s depicting the 21st century as a fine & dandy time. No serious issues or problems, because everything was going to be out-of-sight, but it all just turned into SHITE!

https://www.churchillsupportservices.com/resources/news-insights/most-dangerous-areas-in-england-and-wales-2023/

No significant amount of unemployment or crime.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/23544336/britains-most-dangerous-street-slade-road-birmingham/

No obvious signs of poverty & homelessness.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/property/778970/crime-report-residential-street

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inside-britains-worst-street-dubbed-13894350

The year 2000 & 24 years on, some people would like to give WW3 a try.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1871190/ww3-vladimir-putin-russia-nato-war

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/10-safest-countries-to-live-in-if-world-war-iii-happens/photostory/107912785.cms

Thursday, February 22, 2024

When will AI be flying a plane full of passengers?

https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/when-ai-flying-passenger-planes

It would always be good to never totally eliminate the human factor.

https://www.aviationfile.com/will-ai-replace-pilots-examining-the-future-of-aviation

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2023/11/06/artificial-intelligence-wont-fly-planes-but-will-make-flying-better/?sh=69eb171634ac

https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-05-20/how-artificial-intelligence-could-completely-reshape-aircraft-future

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2023-06-14/beyond-automation-how-ai-transforming-aviation

https://simpleflying.com/aviation-future-ai-uses-list

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=AI

The Paradox of Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwSzpaTHyS8

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Simulation+Theory

Star Trek: 10 Best Holodeck Episodes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AXcBGGQyHY

Star Trek TNG -- The Holodeck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy5DAxGhV_c

Hidden Tech of the Holodeck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dafUcwyC6vM

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Simulation+Theory

OpenAI's "World Simulator" SHOCKS The Entire Industry | Simulation Theory Proven?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH9FU7Gd6v8

https://openai.com/sora#capabilities

In 1999 people got to watch The_Matrix & The_Thirteenth_Floor & ponder what it might be like to be in some kind of a very advanced simulation.

The Holodeck concept in the Star Trek universe is essentially a VR and AR interactive projection room. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodeck#Depiction

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Holodeck

https://gamerant.com/star-trek-how-does-holodeck-technology-work/

https://openai.com/research/video-generation-models-as-world-simulators

New Evidence For The Simulation Hypothesis? Donald Hoffman on The Simulation Argument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhAgpq26Noc

We Live in a Simulation. The evidence is everywhere. All you have to do is look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wMhXxZ1zNM

Humans are detached from reality | Donald Hoffman and Lex Fridman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM_FOUCpJ3I

Do we see reality as it is? | Donald Hoffman | TED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYp5XuGYqqY

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Simulation+Theory

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

San Diego’s historic Chinatown

https://coolsandiegosights.com/2015/12/03/cool-sights-in-san-diegos-historic-chinatown/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Pacific_Thematic_Historic_District , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc8h0zkApgk

https://www.sandiego.org/members/history-and-heritage/san-diego-chinese-historical-society-and-museum.aspx

https://www.sandiego.org/articles/downtown/gaslamp-10-fun-facts.aspx

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6e65b313a36a49c8b6bbf30fde342958

https://gaslamp.org/news/tour-san-diego-chinese-historical-museum/

https://gaslamp.org/listings/map/

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Airports with the most runways

https://lauraclery.com/what-airport-has-the-most-runways

Unless the big jet planes are eventually replace with large V/STOL, long runways will remain as a key airport requerment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V/STOL#Supersonic

https://jetsplore.com/en/aviation-news/which-airport-has-the-greatest-number-of-runways

https://wanderwisdom.com/transportation/Top-5-Largest-Airports-in-the-World

https://simpleflying.com/us-airports-most-runways-list

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/web-stories/airports-with-most-number-of-runways-in-the-world-including-delhi/photostory/101760290.cms

https://curlytales.com/web-stories/8-airports-with-the-most-number-of-runways/

https://www.fliteline.com/blog/the-worlds-most-runway-rich-charter-airports

https://jetsplore.com/en/aviation-news/differences-between-concrete-and-asphalt-runway/

https://simpleflying.com/category/aviation-news/airports/

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=LAX

Globally prominent technology centers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_technology_centers#Globally_prominent_clusters

Despite more people working from home, there is still a need for various tech offices & factories...

https://siteselection.com/issues/2024/jan/24-for-24.cfm

https://www.sovtech.com/blog/worlds-biggest-tech-hubs

https://www.fullstackacademy.com/blog/top-cities-for-tech-roles

https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/best-cities-for-tech-jobs

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/biggest-tech-talent-hubs-in-us-canada/

https://dealroom.co/guides/top-tech-ecosystems

Hardware, because it's not just about software. Unfortunately, automation will gradually continue to reduce jobs for people.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Eiffel Tower closes as staff go on strike

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/02/19/eiffel-tower-closes-as-staff-go-on-strike_6539005_7.html

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20240219-strike-closes-eiffel-tower-again-as-staff-denounce-paris-financial-management

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240219-eiffel-tower-closes-as-staff-go-on-strike

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#Transport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#Taller_structures

Vancouver faces hotel shortage ahead of 2026 World Cup

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-hotel-shortage-2026-world-cup-1.7117696

The city has failed in attracting many more hotels over the decades.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/09/08/vancouver-hotels-shortage-city-councillor/

With so many strict & extremely limiting building restrictions, Vancouver has made it tougher for more hotels to set up shop in the city. A 30-40 story hotel with 30-40 condominium floors above that would provide a great incentive for more hotels to be built.

Unfortunately, there has been a strong, KEEP VANCOUVER SMALL agenda for several decades.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/seattle-vancover-tourism-infrastructure-facilities-economy-strengths Fortunatly, Seattle isn't under any of the Vancouver type restrictions & limitations.

www.seattletimes.com/business/as-seattle-area-keeps-building-hotels-there-soon-may-be-too-much-room-at-the-inn If only BC had such an issue, but it's the total opposite in Vancouver.

https://www.costar.com/article/1967732614/seattle-experiences-influx-of-hotel-rooms-in-construction

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/downtown-seattle-hotels-occupancy-nearing-pre-pandemic-levels/281-fffc5a41-8145-46f4-a375-f90384c34158

"As of 2022, Metro Vancouver has a hotel supply of 23,292 rooms across 163 properties, including 13,290 rooms in 78 properties within the City of Vancouver." https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-hotel-supply-shortage-demand

Hotel rooms available in Downtown Seattle: 14,861
Hotel rooms available in King County: 43,490

https://visitseattle.org/press/press-kit/seattle-facts

Seattle like Calgary, Toronto & Montreal, have a think big & plan ahead mentality, which Vancouver continues to avoid.

https://versus.com/en/seattle-vs-vancouver

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Paris in the Twentieth Century and Alphaville

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_in_the_Twentieth_Century It was written in 1863 & set in the year 1960. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_in_the_Twentieth_Century#Predictions_for_1960

In the early 1860s, JV wrote about 300 m towers in a future Paris. However, it would take until the 1880s for Paris to have its first 1000 foot tower.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emile_Nouguier#Contribution_to_the_Eiffel_Tower

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Koechlin#Major_designs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Sauvestre#Career

Alphaville was released in 1965 & is a cautionary story about the totalitarian Alpha 60, a sentient computer system running the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphaville_(film)#Production

Smart cities might not be such a bright idea https://www.ft.com/content/9039f4de-cec8-11e7-947e-f1ea5435bcc7

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/337109.Paris_in_the_Twentieth_Century

https://lithub.com/on-the-1863-novel-that-predicted-the-internet-cars-skyscrapers-and-electronic-dance-music

The Eiffel_Tower isn't just a symbolic icon for Paris, but France, overall. It will always be known as the first 100 m tower in France.

Height
Architectural	300 m (984 ft)^[1]
Tip	330 m (1,083 ft)
Top floor	276 m (906 ft)^[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#History

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/explore , https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/explore/top

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/history-and-culture/everything-you-need-know-about-eiffel-tower-night

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/key-figures

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#Transport

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eiffel-tower-grows-six-metres-after-new-antenna-attached-2022-03-15/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower#Taller_structures

Open AI's SECRET AGI Breakthrough Has Everyone STUNNED! (SORAS Secret Breakthrough!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xv6uSeXbJ4

AGI Before 2026? Sam Altman & Max Tegmark on Humanity's Greatest Challenge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFQvL3KVaOQ

What Is Q*? The Leaked AGI BREAKTHROUGH That Almost Killed OpenAI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6E41eXStsU

Intelligent Thinking About Artificial Intelligence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caepEUi2IZ4

Jaron Lanier Looks into AI's Future https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8vU9QtcMZw

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=AI