Monday, December 4, 2023

Proposed SFU gondola popular, but not among some who’d live under it

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/12/04/sfu-burnaby-gondola-pushback-neighbourhood

This tech is all over the world, but having it in Burnaby, BC is getting some persistent resistance. 

https://www.translink.ca/gondola?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=gondola

The BC mentality wasn't able to stop the Portland_Aerial_Tram from being built.

However, there are still plenty of people that don't like it going over their Portland houses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Aerial_Tram#Community_response

So while it could be a great transportation link, not everyone is happy about such urban gondola-trams.

https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/projects/burnaby-mountain-gondola It really could be a good transportation link, but local residents might want some reasonable compensation. Not just some new blinds or curtains.


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


https://www.grousemountain.com/skyride

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/grouse-mountain-new-gondola-construction


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarloaf_Mountain#Cable_car

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


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain#Cableway

Monday, November 27, 2023

Is Adelaide Really The Most Crime Ridden City in Australia?

 https://www.facebook.com/100044356302916/videos/1085289932651551?__so__=permalink

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-16/is-there-crime-wave-in-adelaides-cbd/102728024

Crime_in_South_Australia, it all depends on when and where you are.

https://adelaidecitytour.com.au/blog/is-adelaide-a-safe-city/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_South_Australia#Notable_crimes

Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle

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

An impressive 12 lane bridge, but there was never a rail component in the design. 

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/prioritize-fixing-i-5s-ailing-ship-canal-bridge/

https://historylink.org/File/3312

Aurora Bridge in Seattle

Unfortunately, the Aurora_Bridge was built too narrow by today's standards. 

https://www.got99problems.org/blog/aurora-bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_Bridge#Accidents_and_incidents

https://www.theurbanist.org/2015/09/30/seattles-aurora-bridge-needs-a-safety-redesign/

https://www.historylink.org/File/5418


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

Did SUVs ruined it for everyone?

 https://electrek.co/2023/11/27/carbon-emissions-could-have-dropped-by-30/

A lot of people still want big & powerful vehicles. Of course more hybrid versions could be a nice compromise.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/16/suvs-emit-more-climate-damaging-gas-than-older-cars-do-study-finds#:~:text=SUVs%20emit%20more%20climate%20damaging,finds%20%7C%20Air%20pollution%20%7C%20The%20Guardian

Big vehicles can certainly bc more efficient. 

https://www.ecowatch.com/suvs-climate-impact-iea.html

Unfortunately, if the world is eventually forced into a carbon credit score system, one might have to ask for permission to go anywhere or do anything. Especially if it's all run by AI. 

That Mysterious AI Breakthrough Known As Q

 https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanceeliot/2023/11/26/about-that-mysterious-ai-breakthrough-known-as-q-by-openai-that-allegedly-attains-true-ai-or-is-on-the-path-toward-artificial-general-intelligence-agi/?sh=490356143c15

https://medium.com/the-generator/did-openai-secretly-create-a-brain-like-intelligence-after-all-246caf1cfe6f

https://singularityhub.com/2023/11/26/deepmind-defines-artificial-general-intelligence-and-ranks-todays-leading-chatbots/

https://www.reuters.com/technology/sam-altmans-ouster-openai-was-precipitated-by-letter-board-about-ai-breakthrough-2023-11-22/

https://tech.co/news/what-is-openai-project-q-star-agi-superintelligence

https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-artificial-general-intelligence-agi-explained (AGI)

https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/artificial-general-intelligence-agi


Project Q* has been creating ripples in the AI community. Here’s why there are so many apprehensions about this new powerful AI model. https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/project-q-star-explained-openai-sam-altman-9041746



Highway 99 upgrades enhance transit, cycling routes in Delta, BC

 https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/infrastructure/2023/11/highway-99-upgrades-enhance-transit-cycling-routes-in-delta

https://www.enr.com/articles/57461-british-columbia-shortlists-three-teams-for-3b-fraser-river-tunnel


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Multimodal+Bridges+and+Tunnels

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

The Broadway Subway might be reaching UBC, some day

 https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/infrastructure/2023/11/broadway-subway-check-in-guideway-progress-and-tunnelling-towards-completion

Of course tunneling all the way to UBC would be more cost effective, but apparently, it's better to stop less than half way there. Then start it all up again long after the days when you could still buy a dozen eggs & 2L carton of milk with a $10 bill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#University_of_British_Columbia_extension

The BC part of Canada seems to perpetually strive to be inept or inadequate with its approach to infrastructure planning & development. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Line#University_of_British_Columbia_extension 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=accrf6-vLJU From 2018

Fortunately, these other cities are nowhere as slow as Vancouver is in getting things done.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_station_(Toronto) 1954 Of course Toronto would be the first city in Canada to have such a U station. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berri-UQAM_station 1966

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_station_(Calgary) 1987

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University-de-Montreal_station 1988

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_station_(Edmonton) 1992

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_State_University_Transit_Center 2005

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSU_South_stations 2012

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Washington_station 2016 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_University_station 2017

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_District_station 2021


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

The Pattullo Bridge saga in BC

The old Pattullo_Bridge was built with a narrow sidewalk on only one side & a road deck that can barely hold 4 narrow lanes. It's all part of the narrow mindedness of the BC mentality.

 https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/about/projectoverview/

https://604now.com/new-pattullo-bridge-completion-updated-photos-renderings/

"The new Pattullo Bridge is on track for completion in 2024, but business leaders in Surrey are calling for six lanes to be open to vehicle traffic on day one, instead of four as currently planned." https://globalnews.ca/news/9489375/pattullo-replacement-six-lanes-debate

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pattullo-bridge-surrey-board-of-trade

https://604now.com/like-cross-pattullo-bridge-1937 Why build a wide bride that also has 2 wide sidewalks when the bare minimum can be done instead? Then try to build an inadequate replacement bridge with only 4 lanes, no bus & HOV lanes & no emergency lanes. That's the BC way in the 1930s & the 2020s. At least it will have a couple of bike lanes.

https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/delta-says-new-pattullo-wont-ease-traffic-woes-3088329 Of course just like the old bridge, there won't be any provision for a lower rail & express bus deck.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/9660269876 Just the idea that there could be 1 waggon road each way was amazing for BC back then. Somehow, the narrow bridge had just enough width to eventually have 4 waggon roads

https://oppositethecity.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/were-walkin-ridin-drivin-here-traffic-safety-an-issue-in-1937

http://archives.newwestcity.ca/Results.aspx?AC=SEE_ALSO&QF0=NameAccess&QI0==%22Pattullo%20Bridge%22&XC=/Results.aspx&BU=http%3A%2F%2Farchives.newwestcity.ca%2Fsearch.aspx&GI=&TN=internet&SN=AUTO73&SE=1636&RN=7&MR=100&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&XP=&RF=WebRelevance&EF=&DF=WebFull&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=255&ID=&MF=GENERICENGWPMSG.INI&DT=&ST=0&IR=4333&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS=

Wide+bridges, twinning or duplication can allow for express bus lanes and more HOV_lanes in general.  

http://archives.newwestcity.ca/Results.aspx?AC=NEXT_RECORD&XC=/Results.aspx&BU=http%3A%2F%2Farchives.newwestcity.ca%2Fsearch.aspx&GI=&TN=internet&SN=AUTO26198&SE=1232&RN=51&MR=100&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&XP=&RF=WebRelevance&EF=&DF=WebFull&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=255&ID=&MF=GENERICENGWPMSG.INI&DT=&ST=0&IR=4333&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS= Of course there was no provision to have a lower deck for trucks & trains. 

http://archives.newwestcity.ca/Results.aspx?AC=NEXT_RECORD&XC=/Results.aspx&BU=http%3A%2F%2Farchives.newwestcity.ca%2Fsearch.aspx&GI=&TN=internet&SN=AUTO26198&SE=1232&RN=49&MR=100&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&XP=&RF=WebRelevance&EF=&DF=WebFull&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=255&ID=&MF=GENERICENGWPMSG.INI&DT=&ST=0&IR=4333&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS= While a narrow bridge can easily become inadequate, the provision for a lower deck can make all the difference.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/reports-and-reference/reports-and-studies/frontier_to_freeway.pdf It was quite a thing for BC to have waggon roads & then eventually some were doubel width. Unfortunately, even today, there is a mentality to just have 1 or 2 lanes each way. Yet, such thoroughfares will be marked as a major route when it's not much wider than a country road.  


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Multimodal+Bridges+and+Tunnels

https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=Urban+Bus+and+Bike+Lanes+and+Bridges

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

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

Friday, November 24, 2023

The new Panamera E-Hybrid nearly doubles its electric-only range

 https://electrek.co/2023/11/24/new-panamera-e-hybrid-has-a-battery-bigger-than-a-gen-1-nissan-leaf/

Hybrid vehicles should have already been commonplace a few decades ago. While there are people that just want to go back to a horse & waggon era of existence, a lot of people want fast & reliable vehicles.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

The very narrow The Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver

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

 "The 1933 bylaw authorizing construction included a provision mandating that "no Asiatic person shall be employed in or upon any part of the undertaking or other works". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lions_Gate_Bridge#History

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221026/dq221026b-eng.htm While Canada has allowed for more diversity over the decades, Canada has nowhere near  even 1% of the world's' population. It's been a struggle just for Canada to accommodate half of 1% of the human population.

Unfortunately for most of the 20th century, Vancouver was to remain as just a provincial backwater for as long as possible. For had the city been allowed to flourish onto the scale of the likes of SydneySan_Francisco or even Seattle, that would mean there would be a lot more people. Which means more non-white people and that was just too uncomfortable a notion for the White colonial mindset.

Of course the colonial mindset could be seen all over the world, but so many other cities weren't thwarted like Vancouver and Victoria. You will never find any official BC mandate revealing that it was to remain as a provincial backwater for as long as possible. 

Thus, the local power structure continually tried to hold things back for most of the cities history. A multigenerational stunted growth policy is a clever way to slow a city and province down. Calgary and Seattle became big business cities, because they aren't under any BC type restrictions.

One only look at what Alberta and Washington_(state) have been able to do, because they aren't in BC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta#Transportation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state)#Transportation

The 12 lane Ship_Canal_Bridge in Seattle is the closest big & wide bridge to V-BC. Although the Port_Mann_Bridge is much closer, it only has 10 lanes. Unfortunately, both bridges don't have any existing rail component. 

Fortunately, Vancouver, WA wasn't forced to indefinitely endure a 3 lane bottleneck like V-BC has.

The planners of the Sydney_Harbour_Bridge didn't have a backwater BC mindset. However, after several decades, the SHB was augmented by the Sydney_Harbour_Tunnel. Unfortunately, there was no provision for a 3rd lane each way to allow for express buses.

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/western-harbour-tunnel-and-warringah-freeway-upgrade How is this possible? Of course NSW isn't under any backwater BC type restrictions.

https://caportal.com.au/rms/wht

The Western_Harbour_Tunnel should have had an extra section for future express busses or even another train line. 

While something like the Sydney_Metro should have already gone under the harbour decades ago, at least it's not as late to the party like Vancouver is.

"Stage 1 (Metro North West) operates with 6-car trains running on 4-minute headways. After the addition of the Stage 2 extension to Bankstown, the stations’ platforms will be configured to allow for future use of 8-car trains and the signalling system designed to allow for 2-minute headways, both of which are planned to be introduced once sufficient patronage demands it. Eight-car trains have a design capacity of 1,539 customers and increasing the running frequency to ultimately 30 trains per hour (2-minute headway) would provide a maximum capacity of 46,170 passengers per hour per direction." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Metro#Capacity 

"In the event that extensions to 8 cars happens if sufficient demand warrants the contract, two infill carriages will be added between cars 05 and 06." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Metro_Metropolis_Stock#Service_formation This allowace for such expansion just isn't part of the BC mentality, but for NSW, it's not a problem.

With the Lions_Gate_Bridge being so narrow, it's impossible to have proper HOV & express bus lanes. Yet for decades, the city refuses to build a bus & HOV tunnel.

Although Portland is a stunted city when compared to Seattle, Portland still has a much better set of bridges than Vancouver, BC. 

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_metropolitan_area,_Oregon


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

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

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

Thursday, October 26, 2023

urban legends

 https://www.insider.com/urban-legends-us-2018-1

https://www.spirithalloween.com/blog/scary-urban-legends/

By 2035, all new vehicles sold in B.C. must be electric.

The goal in B.C. is for 26 per cent of vehicle sales to be electric by 2026, 90 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035. 

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/by-2035-all-new-vehicles-sold-in-b-c-must-be-electric-is-it-achievable

https://electricautonomy.ca/2020/11/16/quebec-ban-new-gas-vehicles-2035/

https://electrek.co/2022/04/01/canadas-new-2035-gas-car-ban-may-not-actually-ban-gas-cars/

https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/the-unintended-consequences-of-banning-gas-powered-cars-by-2035

The Phase-out_of_fossil_fuel_vehicles should have started in the 1970s or at least by the 1980s. A gradual introduction of various hybrid vehicles would have made a big difference.

https://www.engadget.com/canada-combustion-engine-car-ban-2035-154623071.html

Now there is going to be such a mad rush with a human world obsessed with keeping their carbon points as low as possible.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-ban-sale-new-fuel-powered-cars-light-trucks-2035-2021-06-29/

Perhaps some day, people might have to ask AI for permission if they can own a car & have kids. Indeed, some day a breeding permit might be required for those that want to have some kids. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_general_intelligence (AGI)

AI tracking & permission systems on phones & even implanted AI for the purpose of human herd management could become imposed. If people aren't aware & carful enough, the earth could become something like a Borg run world. Eventually, AGI might wonder why some humans think that it's OK to use AI to kill other people. Then a confused AGI might ask, why can't it kill all the humans and life in general? 

Monday, October 16, 2023

Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition (1909)

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska-Yukon-Pacific_Exposition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska-Yukon-Pacific_Exposition#Attendance

I-35 expansion pushes Austin residents out of over 100 homes

 The project is adding two lanes on either side of I-35. https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/i35-eminent-domain-18428832.php

Without a network of bus & HOV lanes in general, wide highways & roads will always reach a point of congestion.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/austin-i35-expansion-project-18308420.php

Evolving urban & regional rail is a key component.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/san-antonio-austin-mega-metro-transportation-18269914.php Austin-SA or SA & A?

Texas has more people than Australia & Texas is mostly still rural. Urban density can help to keep it that way.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Tacoma Narrows Bridge -Eastbound span (2007)

"Construction of the new span, which carries eastbound traffic parallel to the current bridge, began on October 4, 2002, and was completed in July 2007." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge#Eastbound_bridge_(2007)

Although this is getting close to the BC part of Canada, it wasn't constrained by any of the imposed BC limitations.

"Towers and caissons designed for second deck (either road or light rail) to be added in the future." https://structurae.net/en/structures/new-tacoma-narrows-bridge

If only BC would allow for such future expansion capabilities. There are a whole series of things that are able to be done in Washington State & Alberta, simply because they aren't under any BC type restrictions.


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

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Japan's Rabbit Island (Okunoshima)

 https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/871

Cute animals at a place with a dark history. http://rabbit-island.info/en/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/japan-rabbit-island-dark-history-180962631

https://theworldpursuit.com/rabbit-island-japan-okunoshima-ferry/

https://japancheapo.com/entertainment/rabbit-island-okunoshima/

https://jw-webmagazine.com/visit-the-planet-of-the-bunnies-in-japan-5bd1875edee2/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/rabbit-island-japan-overrun-tourism-spd


https://www.italia.it/en/sicily/isola-dei-conigli-rabbit-island

Art and Design in Chicago

 https://interactive.wttw.com/art-design-chicago/white-rabbits

Chicago just had to become the big, dynamic city that it is.

https://www.pbs.org/show/art-design-chicago/

City of Vancouver parts ways with its chief planner

Theresa O'Donnell came to Vancouver as a deputy director of planning in 2019 after 15 years working for the City of Dallas https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/city-of-vancouver-parts-ways-with-chief-planner


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/theresa-odonnell-city-of-vancouver-chief-planner-departure


Vancouver has been stunted & thwarted for generations. Everything is so watered down & it's not just because of the rain. 

Minimum income to buy a home in Vancouver rises to $246,100

 https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/minimum-income-buy-home-vancouver-rises-interest-rates-report

Friday, September 15, 2023

Urban Technology intersection

 https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cjut20/current

 Future Cities Currently Being Built https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2IqG9WOk3w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZZ2N2DcLi4

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


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Urban+Technology  

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=The+15+Minute+City

Exploring the 15 Minute City Concept

 https://www.nlc.org/article/2023/06/13/exploring-the-15-minute-city-concept-and-its-potential-for-communities-of-all-sizes/

The+15+Minute+City concept can really be quite beneficial and convenient, but it might eventually be at a high price.

https://www.dw.com/en/15-minute-cities-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-work/a-64907776

https://www.15minutecity.com/blog/visionzero It's a great idea in many ways. However, a tremendous amount of real-time AI surveillance would be required. Perhaps if enough humans are convinced to live like rats in a maze, or sheep in a pen, then it will be that much easier to force the rest. Especially with a global carbon quota management system is implemented.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/03/unchecked-smart-cities-are-surveillance-cities-what-we-need-are-smart-enough


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Smart+City

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

Chromebooks With the Promise of 10 Years of Software Updates?

 https://gizmodo.com/google-chromebook-software-update-10-years-promise-1850840110

This would be nice for so many tech devices. Some people really have to get a new computer, tablet, pad, phone or watch every year or so. However, by allowing more software updates over a much longer amount of time, a person can enjoy their devices for so much longer.

Delta, BC wants TransLink's new Scott Road Bus Rapid Transit line prioritized

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/delta-translink-r6-rapidbus-bus-rapid-transit-brt-scott-road

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

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Cities with the best tram systems in the world

https://www.consultancy.eu/news/4634/the-countries-cities-with-the-best-tram-systems-in-the-world

https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/traveller-10-best-city-tram-rides-20190207-h1azna.html

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/115498506/worlds-10-best-city-tram-and-street-car-rides

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetcars_in_North_America#Renaissance

Vancouver, BC was one of the first cities & regions to get rid of them. 

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/langley-township-interurban-rail-public-transit

Now, its one of the last cities & regions to bring them back. LA & SF have a combination of heavy rail & LRT or trams. Trains, trams & buses can all work well together, when properly coordinated.

https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2014/10/22/vancouver-transpo-grid-or-tube/

Canada needs 5.8 million new homes by 2030 to tackle affordability crisis

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/housing-affordability-cmhc-report-2030-1.6498898

Constructing enough affordable+housing is imperative.

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-newcomer-find-home

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/housing-crisis-canada-politicians-1.6887675

https://www.corporateknights.com/category-buildings/six-ways-to-end-canadas-affordable-housing-crisis/

langley-township-interurban-rail-public-transit

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/langley-township-interurban-rail-public-transit

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Vancouver, BC's tallest office tower

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-stack-office-tower-1133-melville-street-vancouver-tallest-greenest

Auckland, NZ which is just as scenic as Vancouver, has permitted taller office towers such as the Vero_Centre and more recently, the Commercial_Bay_(skyscraper)

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

Of course scenic Sydney, Seattle & San Francisco, all have taller office towers and residential towers, as well. 

Monday, August 21, 2023

Future Road Designs that Will Change the World

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcRbx88Qo-o

Major Roads can be designed & built to be more efficient. 

Road to the Future https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQW6j4Xhrfo

15 Craziest Intersections in the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-p0TdwyDpo

Friday, August 4, 2023

The very wide Katy Freeway in Houston, TX

 https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/it-s-not-just-you-the-katy-freeway-is-15945843.php

It's strange that with all that extra highway width at least 2 additional express bus & HOV lanes weren't included.

https://cityobservatory.org/reducing-congestion-katy-didnt

A commuter train along that route would have also provided more efficiency & effectively moved a lot more people.

Friday, July 28, 2023

The Urban Intersection

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

More & more people want to move into urban areas around the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalopolis#Modern_definitions

While its usually for economic reasons, it can also be for the urban bustle & excitement.

https://www.usnews.com/news/cities/slideshows/the-10-largest-cities-in-the-world

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

https://www.statista.com/statistics/912263/population-of-urban-agglomerations-worldwide/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City-Windsor_Corridor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia#Demographics

Of course as more people want to live in cities & vast urban areas, that means less of a demand or interest to live in the wilderness. In fact, most of the world can remain undeveloped as long as people keep moving into the cities.

However, some people want to live in rural areas, on farms or in the mountains. For some, the urban pace can be too hectic & draining.


 https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=urban+transit

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=urban+tech


Friday, June 23, 2023

What Really Happens When A Sub Catastrophically Implodes

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX24QMTyOls

These Titanic submarine 'flaws' may be behind disaster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u0UeY4epuQ

James Cameron on 'fundamental flaw' in design of Titan submersible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XIyin68vEE

'There is no excuse for what happened here': Director James Cameron on Titanic sub tragedy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9YB31ElEFQ

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Titan submersible's batteries suddenly drained during 2022 trip to Titanic, forcing tour to end early - with communications also blacking out for two hours

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12219589/Missing-Titans-sub-battery-suddenly-DRAINED-2022-Titanic-trip-cutting-expedition-short.html

Its usually a good idea to thoroughly test such a deep underwater vehicle. Plus, having an emergency rescue sub stationed on the surface. That way, it could have started to rescue the sub shortly after communications were lost.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12220107/Missing-Titanic-submarine-Five-things-happened-Titan.html

Missing OceanGate CEO was sued for FRAUD by Florida couple who accused him of taking $210,000 to see Titanic wreck when he knew the vessel was not ready https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12216669/Missing-OceanGate-CEO-Stockton-Rush-sued-FRAUD-Florida-couple-paid-Titanic.html

As long as the Titan sub wasn't crushed, a tow truck like sub could have pulled it up. Unfortunately, they didn't see any reason to have a support sub ready, just incase anything went wrong.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12218031/Expert-reveals-happen-five-tourists-missing-Titanic-sub-hull-cracked.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12213781/Titanic-Shocking-graphic-reveals-just-deep-missing-sub-be.html?ico=related-replace

https://nypost.com/2023/06/21/james-cameron-was-on-a-titanic-submersible-dive-during-9-11

Searchers detect ‘banging’ every 30 minutes near area where Titanic submarine vanished

 https://nypost.com/2023/06/21/titanic-submarine-searchers-detect-banging-near-area-where-submersible-vanished/

Even having a ship stationed on the surface could have gotten things moving much faster once communications were lost.

https://nypost.com/2023/06/20/missing-titanic-tourist-sub-could-be-stuck-in-famed-shipwreck-12500-feet-underwater/

However, having a rescue sub follow or at least stationed above the dive area could have really got the search & rescue process started much sooner.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12219255/Titan-diagram-released-OceanGate-shows-theres-room-ONE-person-extend-legs.html

https://nypost.com/2023/06/20/titanic-sub-best-and-worse-case-scenarios-for-the-missing-vessel/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12218675/Scary-animation-shows-deep-missing-Titanic-sub-be.html


Tuesday, June 20, 2023

I-95 temporary lanes at collapse site will open to traffic this weekend, Gov. Shapiro says

 https://www.inquirer.com/news/live/i95-philadelphia-construction-schedule-bridge-collapse-josh-shapiro-20230620.html

The collapsed section of I-95 is another example of why it's essential to have reliable, alternate transportation options.

https://abc7ny.com/i-95-collapse-philadelphia-i95-interstate-highway-road/13386149/

https://www.npr.org/2023/06/17/1182941157/philadelphia-i-95-bridge-collapse-will-cause-more-issues-than-just-traffic

https://abc7ny.com/i-95-repairs-construction-collapse-rebuild/13406575/

https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/AlertDetails.aspx

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_95#Pennsylvania


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=I-95

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

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Roosevelt+Boulevard+Subway

Half of homeless Californians are over 50, didn’t earn enough to pay bills

 https://nypost.com/2023/06/20/half-of-homeless-californians-are-over-50-report/

California has more people than all of Canada.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/sabrina-maddeaux-toronto-vancouver-doomed-as-they-chase-away-the-middle-class

Texas has more people than Australia.

Whatever the state or country, if more & more people can't afford the cost of living, more people will be homeless. 

Unless there is more social or affordable housing, the situation will only get worse.


https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=affordable+housing

Chilling last text of British billionaire stuck in missing Titanic sub revealed

 https://nypost.com/2023/06/20/last-text-of-british-billionaire-in-missing-titanic-sub-revealed/

This is always such a potentially dangerous situation.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/missing-titanic-submarine-sent-distress-30277280

https://nypost.com/2023/06/20/paul-henry-nargeole-diver-missing-on-titanic-sub-made-chilling-remark-about-deep-dives/

https://apnews.com/article/titanic-wreckage-missing-submersible-9f0e66fc1df5d9f1e8d262dc7ce0135e

Remotely_operated_underwater_vehicle is so much safer. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remotely_operated_underwater_vehicle#Military_use

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remotely_operated_underwater_vehicle#List_of_scientific_ROVs

Monday, June 19, 2023

Multimodal Bridges and Tunnels

 https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/odot/federal-grants/raise/2023/multimodal-connections-on-i-35-over-the-oklahoma-river/application/Project%20Description.pdf

There used to be a time, especially in the mid 20th century, when several bridges were built with narrow sidewalks, or none at all. Forget about emergency lanes & especially not allowing for bus & bike lanes. Just have the crossing get all plugged up, so you are still punished, even if you use public transit.

http://waterlooarchitecture.com/bridge/blog/2018/09/14/multimodal-manila

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-08-19/why-portland-is-building-a-multi-modal-bridge-that-bans-cars This is one of the best bridges of its type in the world. The Interstate bridges in downtown Portland,_Oregon have no bike and pedestrian access. However, the Tilikum_Crossing was intended to be a nice counterbalance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilikum_Crossing#Design

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

Vancouver, BC could have really benefited from something like the Tilikum_Crossing_in_Portland. However, no such streetcar or tram-train bridge exists in Vancouver, BC. Fortunately, Portland & Seattle were able to revive some of their old streetcar lines. Cities like New Orleans, Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto, SF & Melbourne retained some of their streetcar or tramlines, unlike Vancouver. 

https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/tc/T41-1-50-eng.pdf

The George_Massey_Tunnel in BC, Canada is a sad joke. It wasn't designed to accommodate 2 bus & bike lanes. No footpaths & no emergency lanes. It is a fine example of BC bottleneck planning. The Louis-Hippolyte_Lafontaine_Bridge-Tunnel in Montreal, is slightly a little better.

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca While this new tunnel will have 2 bus - HOV lanes & a bike path, there is no provision for a train connecting the airport to the ferry terminal. https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/interurban-rail-not-on-the-horizon-for-delta-6448841 This means that eventually some day, a new train tunnel or bridge will have to be built to provide a rail link between the Tsawwassen_ferry_terminal and the Vancouver_International_Airport

Some day, when enough sensible people can implement proper big city regional planning, a train could run from Waterfront_station_(Vancouver) to the Park_Royal_Shopping_Centre and onto the Horseshoe_Bay_ferry_terminal. Unfortunately, backward & slow-moving Vancouver is only just starting to think about having its own version of a North_Shore_railway_line.

https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/best-green-web-hosting-services

Whether its for environmental reasons or just for overall efficiency, transportation corridors that are designed for various modes of of transit, can effectively move more people.


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

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

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

Friday, June 16, 2023

The Öresund Bridge

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

The bridge and tunnel should have had a 3rd lane each way for busses. That way when the_train section is under maintenance, an express busway would already be in place. Plus, there should have been an emergency lane on each side of the tunnel. It's still far beyond what the BC part of Canada would do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oresund_Bridge#Drogden_Tunnel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oresund_Bridge#Costs_and_benefits


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridge-tunnels

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

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Bus and HOV Lanes

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-occupancy_vehicle_lane

HOV lanes can immensely add more capacity and efficiency to highways. Sometimes a separate bus lane, along with HOV lanes, can really get things moving.

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

Friday, April 28, 2023

The MATRIX style fashion trends through the years

  https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/the-matrix-style-fashion-trend

Various aspects of the cyberpunk fashion style have continued through the decades.

Matrix By Balenciaga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uZINdYpsP8

Matrix by Gucci https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3dNTFAHy0o

Of course ever since the first MATRIX movie was released in 1999, there have been all sorts of spoofs. 

::

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-matrix-cool-and-unique-details-you-never-got

Monday, April 3, 2023

WESTWORLD on HBO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Naa-YND0s Series Recap | Season 1-4 Ending Explained

The Philosophy of Westworld – Wisecrack Edition 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j2Q8yXx7vY

Westworld Analysis: Simulationism and Perennialism, Westworld's Hidden Philosophy

WW is quite an expanded AI story that keeps you going back and forth.


Sunday, August 14, 2022

PARANORMAL SIGHTINGS THAT CAN’T BE EXPLAINED

4 PARANORMAL SIGHTINGS THAT CAN’T BE EXPLAINED | The Proof Is Out There https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q06qnJL3SHg

The H Channel doesn't always cover things as well as they could, but this can still help to get more people thinking about the strange, the mysterious and the paranormal.

https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/haunted/photos/10-haunted-highways-and-byways

People have occasionally seen strange and peculiar things on the highways.

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

https://www.dangerousroads.org/around-the-world/our-lists/4590-top-15-haunted-roads.html

https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9781493046966/tom-ogden/haunted-highways

It's all a matter of what your perspective is.

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

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Arthur C. Clarke predicts the internet in 1964

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC3E2qTCIY8

Interview with author/futurist Arthur C. Clarke, from an AT&T-MIT Conference, 1976 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1vQ_cB0f4w 

ACC was quite a visionary.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Einstein and the Quantum: Entanglement and Emergence

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntxC5KMC4y0

Was The Universe Born From Nothing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOItjGpiAfo

Elon Musk clarifies Tesla will lay off 3.5% of total workforce

 https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/21/elon-musk-clarifies-tesla-layoffs-after-ex-employees-sue-company.html

Any big company is bound to occasionally have some issues.

https://electrek.co/2022/06/17/tesla-tsla-lays-off-more-employees/

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-06-20/tesla-violated-federal-law-by-laying-off-workers-without-warning-lawsuit-says

https://nypost.com/2022/06/04/elon-musk-says-telsa-will-increase-workforce-days-after-sending-layoff-email/


https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=Tesla

https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=Elon+Musk

Ericsson predicts a billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2022

 https://www.techradar.com/news/ericsson-predicts-a-billion-5g-subscriptions-by-end-of-2022

5G tech is about to really take off around the world.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/17/verizon-att-agree-to-delay-some-5g-deployment-until-mid-2023.html

https://www.ccsinsight.com/company-news/3240-ccs-insight-predicts-1-billion-users-of-5g-by-2023-with-more-than-half-in-china/

https://www.pcmag.com/news/att-plans-big-5g-expansion-in-2023

https://www.lightreading.com/5g/telia-ceo-predicts-90-will-have-5g-by-2023/d/d-id/777081

https://www.ccsinsight.com/company-news/3240-ccs-insight-predicts-1-billion-users-of-5g-by-2023-with-more-than-half-in-china/

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/10x-faster-5g-services-by-march-2023-in-india-union-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-101655346745180.html

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/pwc-expects-5g-to-hit-a-tipping-point-in-2023/