The Tech Portal (TTP): March 2024

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.