https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGZfMMzQIAs
Exploring various portals into technology and mythology, science and fiction...
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Monday, January 29, 2024
The Greatest Bridges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDuvDi7LYhY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge , https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-to-climb-sydney-harbor-bridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco-Oakland_Bay_Bridge
The $1BN Race to Save The Golden Gate Bridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcV1btTEAVg
A Barrier_transfer_machine has made the bridge safer.
https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/bridge-operations/traffic-management/
https://mtc.ca.gov/whats-happening/news/special-features/golden-gate-bridge-moveable-median-barrier
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrier_transfer_machine#Permanent_locations
Is NEOM, the futuristic city in Saudi Arabia, turning into reality?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAzCFFQYZeU
As this structure has many levels above the ground, there would likely have to be some underground levels as well.
Friday, January 26, 2024
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
What is (urban) Artificial Intelligence?
https://parametric-architecture.com/explained-what-is-artificial-intelligence-ai
Alphaville is one of the best AI totalitarian movies abbot a smart-city totally bent on controlling people.
https://urbanai.fr/our-works/urban-ai-guide
THX_1138 is also one of the best cautionary AI totalitarian movies made.
AI can be quite a fantastic tool, but humans should never become totally under its control. Unless one wants to become part of an inhumane world.
What Canada can learn from Norway, the EV capital of the world
https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/canada-norway-evs-1.7092003
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway#Transport
The transition towards the EV should have been started in the 1980s, so that by now more people could have a choice.
https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around/by-car/electric-cars/
https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/how-norway-became-the-worlds-electric-car-capital
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_Norway#Bus_lane_congestion There will have to be sepparate EV & bus lanes. Otherwise, without enough space for EV, bus & HOV lanes, there will be even more congestion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Norway#Road_transport
The Lions_Gate_Bridge is a 3 lane joke. There should have been a parallel bus or train tunnel built decades ago. The new 4 lane Pattullo_Bridge will open without EV, bus & HOV lanes. Thus, busses, trucks & cars will all be funneled into a 2 lane each way bottleneck. No emergency lanes even though the main hospital for that part of the region is on the NW side of the river.
The new 8 lane George_Massey_Tunnel wasn't designed to have a provision for a future rail link. There will be a half-assed bus lane each way, but there should have been 2 bus & HOV lanes each way. So trucks & cars will be squeezed into 3 general lanes each way, when there should have been an extra truck lane to & from the port.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Fraser_River
How Close Are We To Quantum Artificial Intelligence?
https://thequantuminsider.com/2023/03/15/how-close-are-we-to-quantum-artificial-intelligence
EEVblog 1594 - Inside a Quantum Computer! with Andrea Morello https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIEH4-P2nyQ
Quantum_computing isn't just the next big thing, it's a-quantum-leap-in-ai. It can eventually merge into AGI and that it might become dangerous.
Like any tool or device, it can be used in various ways.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing#Quantum_information_processing
https://www.ibm.com/topics/quantum-computing
https://dataconomy.com/2022/06/21/quantum-artificial-intelligence/
https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/quantum-science-explained/quantum-computing-computers
https://www.newscientist.com/question/what-is-a-quantum-computer/
https://towardsai.net/p/l/quantum-computing-ai
https://community.openai.com/t/what-is-q-and-when-we-will-hear-more/521343/45?page=3
Q AI
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Icon of the Seas
The Icon_of_the_Seas has become the epitome of the luxurious floating hotel concept.
https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruise/royal-caribbean/icon-of-the-seas
Of course there are some people that don't like to see such large vessels, or any big entertainment facility.
https://jalopnik.com/the-icon-of-the-seas-is-250-000-tons-of-floating-carbon-1851189439
Fortunately, many people still like the idea of travelling and entertainment. Especially after the world was almost under a total lockdown, which would please any control freak.
Icon of the Seas 2024 Cruise Ship Tour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Sn705J0YY , https://www.youtube.com/@RoyalCaribbeanBlog/videos
https://cruiseweb.com/cruise-lines/royal-caribbean-international/ship-icon-of-the-seas
The Hologram Zoo in Brisbane and in LV, sort of
Brisbane has become quite a mighty city in the decades since World_Expo_88.
https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/destinations/brisbane/expo-1988-south-bank-parklands
https://u2tours.com/tours/concert/anz-stadium-brisbane-nov-20-1993
https://www.u2.com/tour/date/4129
https://www.u2gigs.com/show918.html
https://www.u2songs.com/shows/zootv
https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/559150109985110137
The U2-Sphere experience in LV didn't provide a holographic zoo of imagery, but most people will say that it's a spectacular show & not just a concert.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2023/10/01/las-vegas-sphere-u2-concert-orig-cprog-dp.cnn
https://mymodernmet.com/u2-sphere-las-vegas-artwork
"Es Devlin's Nevada Ark, a digital rendering of stone carvings of 26 local species that are threatened for extinction, graces "With or Without You" at the end of the show." https://www.npr.org/2023/10/24/1208060535/u2-las-vegas-residency-sphere
A Holodeck size sphere might still be decades away.
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Holodeck
Images of ELVIS were in the Sphere, but no Vic_Fontaine.
Thursday, January 18, 2024
How TransLink uses hockey sticks to keep SkyTrains moving in BC
In contrast, the Montreal_Metro is all underground, so the weather is never a problem.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Wide streets around the world
https://plazaperspective.com/why-are-modern-streets-so-wide
If wide+streets are mostly intended for cars & trucks, they won't be as efficient as if they are a multimodal transportation corridor.
https://restoftheiceberg.org/posts/2017/12/18/why-are-the-streets-so-wide-in-paris
https://plazaperspective.com/wide-street-paradise
https://plazaperspective.com/road-widening
https://en.theoutlook.com.ua/article/3435/city-paths.html
https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2018/10/8/wide-streets-as-a-tool-of-oppression
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_plan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_plan#Pedestrian_and_bicycle_movement
Broadway (Manhattan)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(Manhattan)
Wide+streets can still be quite beneficial as efficient multimodal transportation corridors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(Los_Angeles)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(San_Francisco)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway,_Sydney
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(Seattle)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(Vancouver)
Monday, January 15, 2024
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Friday, January 12, 2024
Living in a Train Tunnel for decades
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4kcJVkAQ_Y , https://eks.tv/mole-people
The Mole_people are nothing to laugh at. As rent & overall living costs keep on going up, some people live underground.
Amazing Home in the Tunnels Beneath New York https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlK3QbPAE-I
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_people#Cities
https://www.thetravel.com/20-secrets-about-the-mole-people-living-in-new-york-citys-tunnels
10 Years After He Lived in a Train Tunnel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHf8UA1QEvo
https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Living+Underground
Extreme cold of -40C to -50C forecast for Edmonton and Calgary
There is the usual cold winter weather and then there is very dangerously cold weather.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-it-s-dangerously-cold-outside-1.7080077
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/extreme-cold-warnings-in-parts-of-manitoba-set-in-1.6722324
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Treasure Island's changing skyline signals rise of affordable city housing
Treasure_Island is gradually becoming quite a very nice place to live. https://tisf.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_Island_Development
https://www.sf.gov/information/treasure-islandyerba-buena-island-development-project
Treasure_Island is such a cool location. https://tisf.com/about
https://sfyimby.com/2023/01/yimby-visits-treasure-island-san-francisco.html
Metro and Subway Trains
The Tram-Train can just be on the surface or become part of a subway line. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tram-train#Technology
The Muni_Metro in SF is a good example. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muni_Metro#Market_Street_subway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muni_Metro#Future
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Countries_Around_the_World
https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=metro+and+subway
Boston, Massachusetts
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Boston,_Massachusetts
Of course several parts of the MBTA_Rapid_Transit_Tracks or routes are old & worn.
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/United_States
https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/2024/01/metro-and-subway-systems.html
Why the Broad Street Line is so slow between Walnut-Locust and Lombard-South
https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/broad-septa-slow-walnut-locust-lombard-south-20240111.html
Philadelphia sure has its share of old & worn lines.
Older train lines must be improved in order to remain efficient.
Thus, a lot of lines or stations around the world require a retrofit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnut-Locust_station
https://iseptaphilly.com/blog/broadstreetline
https://railroad.net/history-of-the-broad-street-line-t65536-210.html
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/SEPTA_Broad_Street_Subway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_Street_Line#Proposed_extensions
https://www.phila.gov/media/20210222110702/OTIS-Philadelphia-Transit-Plan.pdf
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/United_States
https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/2024/01/metro-and-subway-systems.html
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Does the Cybertruck really encapsulate a dystopian future vision of lawlessness and chaos?
https://www.dezeen.com/2024/01/09/james-mclachlan-tesla-cybertruck-opinion
It's quite a kick-ass machine.
https://www.dezeen.com/2023/12/12/dezeen-agenda-tesla-cybertruck-reveal/
However, some people might see it as being like a vehicle right out of a post-apocalypse movie.
Elizabeth Quay Bridge in Perth, WA
https://developmentwa.com.au/projects/redevelopment/elizabeth-quay/elizabeth-quay-bridge
It's not surprising that the Elizabeth+Quay+Bridge is in Perth & not in Vancouver. So many cities seem to be able to do things better than how its done in Vancouver.
https://www.alluringworld.com/queen-elizabeth-quay-bridge
Such an alluring footbridge as the Elizabeth+Quay+Bridge just doesn't exist in Vancouver.
https://aqtr.com/association/actualites/elizabeth-quay-pedestrian-bridge-perth-jewel-quay
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Elizabeth+Quay+Bridge
The Canoe+Bridge in Vancouver, BC is nowhere as good as the Elizabeth Quay Bridge.
https://www.arup.com/projects/elizabeth-quay-ped-bridge
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Rabbits New AI AGENT (Rabbit R1 Device)
Rabbits New AI AGENT Device Just SHOCKED The Entire INDUSTRY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJnhh7YSr5Q
https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/9/24030667/rabbit-r1-ai-action-model-price-release-date
Rabbit’s Little Walkie-Talkie Learns Tasks That Stump Siri and Alexa https://www.wired.com/story/rabbit-r1
Rabbit AI
Ontario Highway 413
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_413 https://www.highway413.ca
Southern_Ontario has about half the equivalent of the population of Australia.
https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/12/13/whats-the-deal-with-highway-413/
https://environmentaldefence.ca/hwy-413-map/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ontario#Transportation
https://thenarwhal.ca/highway-413-life-ontario/
Texas has more people than Australia & California has more people than Canada.
Monday, January 8, 2024
The 2 Murray Road tower in Hong Kong
https://www.dezeen.com/2024/01/08/the-henderson-skyscraper-zaha-hadid-architects-hong-kong/
https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/zaha-hadid-architects-torre-2-murray-road-en-hong-kong-48b92-6
At only 36 stories, it seems small for HK.
https://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/2-murray-road , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjvUjOGDW3M
It's a nice looking building, but it should have been 1.5 or even twice its height.
Sunday, January 7, 2024
The Stack Tower in Vancouver, BC
It finally opened just in time for the autumn of 2023 & now by the winter, it's been filling up nicely.
https://macleans.ca/culture/building-vancouver-stack-work-life-balance
Montreal has only allowed one office-tower to have 51 stories. Vancouver has never permitted any office tower to even have a 40th floor.
It was tough enough just for Vancouver to permit The Stack to have 38 levels above the basement.
https://storeys.com/james-cheng-the-stack-vancouver/
https://www.urbanyvr.com/oxford-properties-announces-major-tenants-of-the-stack-at-1133-melville/
Unlike very restrictive Vancouver, some other parts of the Greater_Vancouver region want to capitalize on the allowance of taller buildings.
Sure, a lot of people prefer to work from home, but some day a 40 or even a 50 story office tower might be allowed in BC. It's just that it won't likely ever be allowed within the small city limits of provincial Vancouver. New office towers should be made adaptable if some floors ever become better suited for residential purposes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Vancouver#Tallest_buildings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Canada#Tallest_buildings_in_Canada
Friday, January 5, 2024
Building Height Restrictions in Various Cities
Height_restriction_laws can be a great way to hold back the vertical scale of a city. Usually, the cities with the tallest buildings are also the more economically prominent ones. However, that's not alway the case.
Honolulu has several buildings over 40 floors, but none are office towers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Honolulu
Phoenix only has one building with 40 floors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Phoenix , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Phoenix#Tallest_buildings:_approved,_site_plan_under_review_or_proposed
San_Diego has some buildings over 40 stories, but none of them are office towers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_San_Diego
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_restriction_laws#Canada Despite Canada having a vast area of land, only a tiny portion of that land has some very tall buildings on it.
Montreal is small when compared to Toronto, but big when compared to Vancouver.
https://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_dad=portal&_pageid=2762,3101387&_schema=PORTAL
Montreal won't be allowing any 100 story towers like those in NYC, Chicago or Melbourne anytime soon.
Just allowing a 50-60 story building is still a big deal for Montreal.
Vancouver won't permit any building to rival what is in Calgary or Seattle.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-view-cone-impacts-broadway-plan-cambie-street
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/central-broadway-plan-view-cones-mountains-queen-elizabeth-park
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-tower-building-shadowing-solar-access
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Exploring The Underside Of NYC
https://www.npr.org/2011/01/02/132482428/into-the-tunnels-exploring-the-underside-of-nyc
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Main_Page
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Around_New_York_City
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/United_States
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Countries_Around_the_World
https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/2024/01/metro-and-subway-systems.html
Thousands gathered on downtown Vancouver waterfront expecting New Year's Eve fireworks
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-years-eve-vancouver-fireworks-cancelled-2023-crowds
It's not essential for a city to have a fireworks display, but for several cities, it's such a nice extra.
Of course Vancouver takes a watered down or toned down approach to so many things.
https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=No+fireworks+in+Vancouver
https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=New+Year's+Eve