Biswa Bangla Gate: New Town, Kolkata

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biswa_Bangla_Gate  https://www.biswabanglagatekolkata.in 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Town,_Kolkata , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYdzByPqjk , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcd1sStSBZs

Kolkata Gets Its First Hanging Restaurant Biswa Bangla Gate | Curly Tales 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCT3jPPLyMg

Justin Trudeau called out for ‘burning 100 tons of greenhouse gases’ on VIP flights

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

https://extinctionrebellion.uk/2024/01/27/greta-thunberg-were-not-going-to-let-the-rich-get-away-with-sacrificing-people-and-the-planet-to-maintain-their-extreme-lifestyles/

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.cnbc.com/2018/02/08/the-road-zipper-eliminated-head-on-collisions-on-golden-gate-bridge.html

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://www.kqed.org/news/11594879/the-mesmerizing-machine-that-makes-driving-across-the-golden-gate-bridge-less-terrifying

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrier_transfer_machine#Permanent_locations

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

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.

The B$ of Phrenology

Phrenology is total B$!

https://www.britannica.com/topic/phrenology

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

https://nypost.com/2024/01/26/lifestyle/do-you-look-rich-or-poor-study-reveals-how-face-can-determine-wealth/

What is (urban) Artificial Intelligence?

 https://parametric-architecture.com/explained-what-is-artificial-intelligence-ai

https://medium.com/urban-ai/urban-artificial-intelligence-from-real-world-observations-to-a-paradigm-shifting-concept-27f4c5aa20f6

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

https://www.urban-ai.org/home

https://gouai.cidob.org/atlas

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. 

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

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.

https://quantumzeitgeist.com/metas-ai-chief-yann-lecun-questions-future-of-quantum-computing-and-artificial-general-intelligence

Like any tool or device, it can be used in various ways.

https://alagraphy.medium.com/quantum-intelligence-quantum-computing-artificial-intelligence-the-ultimate-agi-2b09245b8435

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://medium.com/@allen.westley/quantum-computing-ai-and-agi-examining-the-known-and-the-unknown-113bd21b32ac#

https://insidetheperimeter.ca/quantum-computing-and-artificial-intelligence-experts-join-forces-to-fuel-next-technology-revolution/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2023/06/02/a-quantum-leap-in-ai-ionq-aims-to-create-quantum-machine-learning-models-at-the-level-of-general-human-intelligence/?sh=d2a932f7b88a

https://community.openai.com/t/what-is-q-and-when-we-will-hear-more/521343/45?page=3

Q AI

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

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12988679/First-look-inside-Icon-Seas-Mail-boards-worlds-biggest-cruise-ship-ahead-maiden-voyage-footage-showing-bars-pools-shows-more.html

https://people.com/everything-to-know-about-the-world-s-largest-cruise-ship-royal-caribbean-s-icon-of-the-seas-8546493

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/articles/biggest-cruise-ship-icon-of-the-seas-maiden-voyage-miami/

Of course there are some people that don't like to see such large vessels, or any big entertainment facility.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-22/royal-caribbean-s-icon-of-the-seas-highlights-climate-impact-of-cruises

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

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12995775/The-future-entertainment-Inside-worlds-Hologram-Zoo-Australia-animals-jump-whales-swim-suspended-mid-air.html

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://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/blog/entry/the-making-of-a-city-how-expo-88-changed-brisbane-forever

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.

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

https://www.designboom.com/art/king-size-marco-brambilla-traces-elvis-presley-legacy-in-monumental-video-collage-interview-09-29-2023

Melbourne, Victoria

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12909863/Natural-beauty-vibrant-culture-haven-foodies-Journey-Melbourne-Victoria-holiday-youll-never-forget-award-winning-airline-thatll-style.html

The world's best 50 cities in 2024?

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12995255/Time-names-50-best-cities-world-2024-New-York-No-1-London-fourth-Liverpool-seventh-Dubai-doesnt-make-20.html

A new-bridge-will link-Toronto's-union-station-to a park

 https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/01/new-bridge-link-toronto-union-station-park/

The world's busiest international flight routes

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12974037/Fascinating-map-reveals-worlds-busiest-international-flight-routes-Kuala-Lumpur-Singapore-Changi-No-1-London-JFK-ranking-eighth.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12959137/Nervous-flyer-fascinating-interactive-map-reveals-flight-encounter-turbulence-rough-itll-be.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12955395/turbulent-flight-routes-world-turbli.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12968221/Travel-expert-wisk-evtol-pilotless-planes.html

How TransLink uses hockey sticks to keep SkyTrains moving in BC

 https://bc.ctvnews.ca/most-canadian-solution-how-translink-uses-hockey-sticks-to-keep-skytrains-moving-1.6732173

In contrast, the Montreal_Metro is all underground, so the weather is never a problem. 

https://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/metro

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Metro#Rolling_stock

The 25 safest airlines for 2024

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12965319/25-safest-airlines-2024-Air-New-Zealand-number-1.html

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

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=wide+streets

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)

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=wide+streets

Steelers-Bills Fans Might Be Sitting in Big Piles of Snow

 https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/01/15/wild-photo-bills-steelers-fans-might-be-sitting-piles-snow

https://nypost.com/2024/01/15/sports/bills-soliciting-shovelers-hours-before-playoff-game-vs-steelers/

Buffalo Bills ask for help shoveling snow out of stadium ahead of delayed Steelers wild-card game

 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/buffalo-bills-shoveling-snow-highmark-stadium-steelers-wild-card-game-new-york/

Too much!

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/steelers-bills-monday-buffalo-not-delayed-kathy-hochul/

COP28: What Was Achieved and What Happens Next?

 https://unfccc.int/cop28

https://unfccc.int/cop28/5-key-takeaways

https://www.cop28.com/en/

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

 https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2024/01/12/extreme-cold-40c-forecast-in-edmonton-as-snow-causes-road-havoc-in-metro-vancouver/

There is the usual cold winter weather and then there is very dangerously cold weather.

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/wind-chill-values-expected-to-bottom-out-at-50-in-calgary-this-weekend-1.6723509

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

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/winter-has-set-in-the-city-s-plan-to-tackle-winnipeg-s-first-heavy-snowfall-of-the-season-1.6721369

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/winnipeggers-weren-t-expecting-first-winter-storm-to-be-this-dramatic-1.6722542

Saudi Arabia unveils vision for 'ultra-luxury upside-down skyscraper' built INSIDE a 1,500ft mountain

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12952183/Saudi-Arabia-unveils-vision-ultra-luxury-upside-skyscraper-built-INSIDE-1-500ft-mountain-accessed-underground-canal-trillion-pound-plans-futuristic-city-NEOM.html

Treasure Island's changing skyline signals rise of affordable city housing

 https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/treasure-island-changing-skyline-affordable-city-housing/?intcid=CNR-01-0623

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

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

Metro and Subway Systems

 https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Countries_Around_the_World

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/2024/01/metro-and-subway-systems.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

Washington, D.C. transit system

 https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.

The Washington,_D.C._Metro is a modern high capacity subway.

https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/United_States

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/2024/01/metro-and-subway-systems.html

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

The London Underground and Overground

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

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

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Overground#Rolling_stock

trains

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

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

https://www.engadget.com/rabbit-r1-is-an-adorable-ai-powered-assistant-co-designed-by-teenage-engineering-001051537.html

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://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/highway-413-could-expand-to-10-lanes-by-2041-documents-7879679

https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/12/13/whats-the-deal-with-highway-413/

https://www.highway413.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Technically-Preferred-Route-Roll-Plan_Aerial-Photography.pdf

https://environmentaldefence.ca/hwy-413-map/

https://news.ontario.ca/en/statement/1003963/ontario-achieves-legal-certainty-to-move-forward-with-ontario-place-calls-for-additional-clarity-for-highway-413

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.

The second-tallest skyscraper in the USA could be in Oklahoma City

 https://www.dezeen.com/2024/01/08/ao-architects-second-tallest-skyscraper-us-oklahoma-city

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.

https://www.archdaily.com/948255/zaha-hadid-designs-2-murray-road-replacing-a-multi-story-car-park-in-hong-kong-china

https://www.dezeen.com/architecture/skyscrapers

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.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/industry-news/property-report/article-vancouver-high-rise-canadas-first-new-commercial-build-to-achieve-net/

It was tough enough just for Vancouver to permit The Stack to have 38 levels above the basement.

https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/projects/2023/09/striking-stack-building-opens-in-downtown-vancouver

https://storeys.com/james-cheng-the-stack-vancouver/

https://www.constructioncanada.net/vancouvers-the-stack-becomes-one-of-canadas-largest-zero-carbon-builds/

https://www.urbanyvr.com/oxford-properties-announces-major-tenants-of-the-stack-at-1133-melville/

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

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

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

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.

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/montreal-politicians-debate-whether-to-allow-skyscrapers-higher-than-mount-royal-1.5401429

Just allowing a 50-60 story building is still a big deal for Montreal.

https://cultmtl.com/2021/05/in-defence-of-building-height-restrictions-in-montreal-mount-royal-urban-plan-denis-coderre

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

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

No fireworks in Vancouver, BC for New Year's Eve 2023

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/no-fireworks-in-vancouver-for-new-years-eve-2023-8043481 Its all part of being a provincial backwater. Just one of the many bizzare things about Vancouver & BC.

However, Vancouver wasn't able to stop Seattle and Calgary with their NYE plans. Of course it's not Vancouver, its the Vancouver & BC mentality, but it seems to have no effect on Washington State or Alberta. That's why they have been able to do so much more through the years. 

"Also as is now tradition, there will not be any (official) New Year's Eve fireworks, which have not taken place since 2018." https://storeys.com/new-years-2023-open-closed

"There will be no fireworks lighting up Vancouver's night sky on New Year's Eve again this year.

Event organizers announced Thursday that the official celebration on Dec. 31, 2023 has been cancelled." https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nye-fireworks-cancelled-vancouver-1.7017024

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=No+fireworks+in+Vancouver

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=New+Year's+Eve

Adelaide

The Adelaide_skyline is starting to grow.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide#Urban_layout

https://southaustralia.com/destinations/adelaide

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide#Infrastructure

 https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/

Perth, WA

Perth is the westernmost city in Australia. There is Carnarvon, but that's just a town.

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/new-year-s-eve-in-wa-the-best-spots-to-see-in-2024-20231231-p5eue6.html

It's always nice to see what WA can do, simply because its not subjected to anything like the BC B$ quagmire approach to things.

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

Some of the best places for New Year’s Eve fireworks and parties...

 https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/30/travel/new-years-eve-top-places/index.html

Some places really like to go all out with various forms of entertainment.

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-places-new-year-celebrations-around-the-world

https://www.visittheusa.ca/experience/9-awesome-spots-celebrate-new-years-eve-usa

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=New+Year's+Eve

Jakarta

Jakarta is such a big and dynamic city.

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

https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2023/12/29/jakarta-gears-up-for-new-years-eve-celebrations.html

Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver

Toronto is the largest city and metropolitan area in Canada. Calgary is the largest city in Western canada. Greater Vancouver is the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Canada.

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/worlds-most-livable-cities-toronto-vancouver-calgary

Montreal is the largest culturally French city outside of France.

Vancouver's little Canoe Bridge vs. much better examples

The Canoe+Bridge_in_Vancouver,+BC is a fine example of a quaint little bridge to nowhere. 

https://miss604.com/2013/01/vancouver-icons-canoe-bridge.html 

The Elizabeth+Quay+Bridge+in+Perth, WA is a far better pedestrian bridge.

For some reason, Greater_Vancouver refuses to build a system of proper pedestrian, bike & bus bridges that could actually help to relieve traffic congestion. 

Unlike in Calgary, Edmonton & Winnipeg, there just isn't an adequate amount of pedestrian, bike & bus bridges crossing the Fraser River between Vancouver, Burnaby, NW, Delta, Surrey & Langley.

So many other cities are able to build new pedestrian, bike or bus bridges, without removing lanes from the older bridges. Thus, actually reducing congestion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurilpa_Bridge , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Pesch_Bridge

Adelaide has The+Riverbank+Precinct+Pedestrian+Bridge

Winnipeg has the Esplanade+Riel+Footbridge Unlike the Vancouver approach, no lanes were removed on the Provencher_Bridge#The_pedestrian_bridge , https://salutcanada.ca/en/listings/winnipegs-esplanade-riel-a-magnificent-bridge-connecting-people-and-cultures , 

https://www.travelmanitoba.com/blog/8-super-cool-bridges-you-must-cross-in-manitoba/

The new Disraeli+Bridge_in_Winnipeg should have had a provision for 2 bus lanes & even 2 HOV lanes, so its a little like a 4 lane BC bridge. The highway at either end of the bridge is wider than the bridge itself, so its like some Vancouver narrow-mindedness was put into the design.  

https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/PublicWorks/construction/pastProjects/DisraeliBridges No bus or emegency lanes makes it like a narrow Vancouver bridge. https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/disraelibridge.shtml Unfortunatly, unless the bridge was designed to be expanded from 4 to 6 lanes, a parallel bus bridge might have to be built someday. Especially if the city is intending to expand its rapid-bus-transit-route-network. https://info.winnipegtransit.com/en/service/blue-rapid-transit/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_in_Calgary - 

https://everydaytourist.ca/calgary-visitor-information/2015/1/17/tale-of-three-calgary-pedestrian-bridges

Fortunately, the Vancouver mentality wasn't able to take hold in Calgary & so many other cities.

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Bridge_(Calgary)

The John+Hextall+Bridge,+Pedestrian+Bridge_in_Calgary,+AB

Harry+Boothman+Bridge,+Calgary,+AB

https://www.creb.com/News/CREBNow/2018/March/bridging_the_gap

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_in_Calgary#/media/File:C-Train_bridge-lower_deck Of course the first Skytrain bride in BC has no such provision, let alone bike & bus lanes. That's the backward BC way.

The Walterdale+Bridge in Edmonton. https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/walterdale-bridge , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walterdale_Bridge#Replacement_bridge_(2017-present)

https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/roads/100-street-pedestrian-bridge , 

https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/terwillegar_drive/142-street-pedestrian-cyclist-bridge , 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-bridges-landmark-low-level-high-level-strathcona-county-1.6459690

Interstate I-5 Bridge Replacement over the Columbia River

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiIbdCE4-iA

The challenge is to build a new high capacity multimodal bridge that is a nice fit for Portland & not some narrow Vancouver, BC bottleneck bridge. Thus, unlike V, BC, Vancouver ,WA has the potential of getting a nice new adequate bridge.

Even modern bridges in cities should be wide enough to accomodate all sorts of transportation modes.

The old way was to bulldoze right through a neighborhood, when in many cases there were industrial areas, which could have been a less disruptive option.

Remnants of Portland's Unbuilt Freeways https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeV31IcUkPM

The Forgotten Story of Harbor Drive: Portland's Demolished Freeway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2_yNrP0hCY

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

Portland OR and Vancouver, WA: A Tale of Two Cities

 https://portlandreloguide.com/portland-and-vancouver-a-tale-of-two-cities

This is a stunted region, when compared to the larger scale of Greater Seattle & especially the San_Francisco_Bay_Area. Then of course there is LA, Chicago & NYC.

https://www.travelportland.com/region/vancouver

https://www.visitvancouverwa.com/blog/post/vancouver-vs-portland

https://www.portlandrealestate.com/blog/portland-vs-vancouver-wa

Greater Portland has nothing as big as Seattle's Columbia_Center or the Salesforce_Tower in SF.

https://living-inportlandoregon.com/living-in-vancouver-washington-vs-portland-oregon

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/oct/22/skybridge-new-buildings-part-of-vision-for-vancouvers-waterfront-gateway

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

Tilikum Crossing in Portland vs. other bridges

The Tilikum_Crossing is the type of transit structure that should be in various parts of Greater Vancouver, BC. While such planning isn't a problem in Oregon, for BC, it might as well be something out of science fiction story.

https://trimet.org/tilikum , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIYPA7jyELs

https://www.tylin.com/work/projects/tilikum-crossing-bridge-people

The North_Arm_Bridge should have had similar features to what the Tilikum_Crossing would have. Unfortunately, as part of the Canada_Line_and_Skytrain, it had to be symbolically underbuilt. Even with first phase budget limitations, the bridge could have been designed to eventually be at least as wide as what the Tilikum would be. Just because it's a light rail train line, all the stations could have been designed to eventually be 152m, like the high capacity Montreal Metro stations are, instead of the 50m joke that it has become. Thus, the Catheter_Line is one of the best examples of infrastructure financial drainage. Indeed, for all of its cost, the bridge should have been twice its width by now & the stations at least 3 times longer, simply by designing it with the potential to become a proper big city train.

 

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Tilikum+Crossing

Adelaide, SA

Adelaide is much larger than Hobart, but smaller than Perth. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide#21st_century Some taller buildings have been permitted in recent years.

The Adelaide_urban_layout is still a far cry from the big 3, Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane.  

https://waytostay.com/is-adelaide-safe

Hays County opens $39M alternative road to I-35 in San Marcos, Texas

 https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/hays-county-i35-18568064.php

Vancouver’s office real estate market

 https://biv.com/article/2023/12/vancouver-offices-face-first-tenants-market-20-years

The world's tallest hybrid timber residential tower will be in Perth, WA, not Vancouver, BC

 https://www.dezeen.com/2023/12/19/fraser-partners-c6-worlds-tallest-hybrid-timber-residential-tower-perth A 50 floor, 189m tower.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/03/worlds-tallest-timber-building-c6-to-be-built-in-perth-after-developers-win-approval

https://ndy.com/experience/c6-south-perth-western-australia

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/c6-perth/45703

https://c6perth.com

https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/08/shop-architects-and-bvn-design-worlds-tallest-hybrid-timber-tower-for-atlassian-in-sydney A 40 story office tower.

https://structurecraft.com/projects/canada-earth-tower Seems small when compared to what's allowed in Australia.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/renderings-mass-timber-tower-mount-pleasant-vancouver-5980411

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/despite-the-hype-b-c-still-has-just-two-wooden-highrises Almost everything in Vancouver is wattered down. Fortunately, that's not the case in Australia, because the Vancouver & BC provincial mentality never seemed to catch on there.

https://www.dezeen.com/2021/09/29/kpf-burrard-exchange-vancouver-mass-timber-building Vancouverized towers are always stunted & sometimes outright stumpy buildings. 

Is The Economy Of The UK In Serious Trouble?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUnAr0Msx9c

Is life better in Canada or the UK? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Dp5IhgnkE

Nippon Steel Corporation

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

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/12/19/companies/nippon-steel-us-steel-buy

The 1982 movie, Blade_Runner dpicted a strong Asian influence in America. However, it wouldn't be until late 2023 when it was announced  that a Japanese corporation would by US Steel. 

https://thegaijinghost.com/blog/omoide-yokocho-tokyo-blade-runner-question

https://www.openculture.com/2014/12/blade-runner-spoofed-in-three-japanese-commercials.html

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/10/26/films/blade-runner-universe-2049

 https://www.globaldata.com/company-profile/nippon-steel-corp/locations/

https://www.nipponsteel.com/en/company/offices/

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

https://www.kankyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/climate/top30.files/Marunouchi_Park_Building.pdf

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231219_33/

https://office.mec.co.jp/en/search/detail/011418

https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/network/japan/tokyo.html

https://filmschoolrejects.com/blade-runner-anxieties-today

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2021/11/05/tv/blade-runner-black-lotus/

Oriental Cities, Postmodern Futures: "Naked Lunch, Blade Runner", and "Neuromancer" 

Timothy Yu https://www.jstor.org/stable/20343507

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/365655/summary

https://japanposter.co.uk/products/blade-runner-original-release-japanese-movie-poster-1982-b3-size

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Nippon+Steel+to+acquire+U.S.+Steel

Japan's Nippon Steel to acquire U.S. Steel

 https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/japans-nippon-steel-plans-acquire-us-steel-7-bln-nikkei-2023-12-18

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/investing/us-steel-nippon-steel-deal/index.html

https://thegaijinghost.com/blog/omoide-yokocho-tokyo-blade-runner-question

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Steel#The_USX_period

"The U.S. Steel Tower, also known as the Steel Building, UPMC Building, or USX Tower (1988–2001), is a 64-story skyscraper at 600 Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The interior has 2,300,000 sq ft (210,000 m²) of leasable space. It held its opening dedication on September 30, 1971." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Steel_Tower

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Steel#Recent_history

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67752123 

"The building was designed in the International Style by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and completed in 1973. It is 743 ft (226 m) tall and has 54 floors. At 2.3 million sq ft (210,000 m²), each floor offers almost 1 acre (0.40 ha) of office space, making it one of the largest office buildings in New York by usable interior space." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Liberty_Plaza

https://filmschoolrejects.com/blade-runner-anxieties-today

https://www.openculture.com/2014/12/blade-runner-spoofed-in-three-japanese-commercials.html

https://japanposter.co.uk/products/blade-runner-original-release-japanese-movie-poster-1982-b3-size

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/10/26/films/blade-runner-universe-2049

Ford celebrates 'special 'Blade Runner' in Japan - AP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G65Aa6AvgmM

https://therabbitportal.blogspot.com/search?q=Nippon+Steel+to+acquire+U.S.+Steel

The Steel Bridge in Portland vs. the New Westminster Rail Bridge

The current Steel_Bridge opened in 1912 with tremendous capacity well over a century later. Perhaps the designers looked at the narrow New Westminster Rail Bridge & decided to avoid the BC bottleneck approach to things. 

Upper: 2 outer lanes for general traffic, 2 inner lanes solely for MAX Light Rail, and sidewalks on both sides
Lower: Union Pacific Railroad (incl. Amtrak toward Eugene) and walkway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Bridge#History - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r02EbmjuNfw

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Westminster_Bridge Opened in 1904 and like so much infrastructure in BC, it wasn't built for any significant future capacity.

https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=britishcolumbia/newwestminsterrailwaybridge

http://www.gvgc.ca/v_Rail.aspx

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/biens-property/construction/new-westminster-eng.html

https://thetyee.ca/News/2009/06/01/RailFix

Unlike Portland, NW never seemed to ever want to become a big bustling river city, just another provincial backwater. There was a time in the 1800s when NW could have acquired what would eventually become known as the Tri-Cities. However, that wouldn't fit within its backwater BC mentality. 

Indeed, to this day, the former BC capital & Victoria are quite small when compared to Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg & Q. City. However, since little NW is in the middle of Greater_Vancouver, it has been gradually encouraged to take on more big city attributes.

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

The Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_International_Airport#Theme_Building , LAX_Theme_Building-Restaurant

https://wikimedia.org/Interior_of_Encounter_Restaurant_Bar_at_Los_Angeles_International_Airport

Landing a Landmark : LAX Monument to ‘60s Optimism Granted Historical Status https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-19-me-1999-story.html

https://www.atomic-ranch.com/architecture-design/lax-theme-building

LA

The Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_Canal_Bridge The SCB should have HOV & bus-lanes in all of its three 4 lane sections, or at least on the lower deck. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ajGMRXlYmg

It's not amazing to have a 12-lane section of highway in Ontario and even in Queensland. 10 lanes in Alberta, but it would take until 2015 for all 10 lanes to open up on the new Port_Mann_Bridge in BC. The 8 lane Fremont_Bridge_in_Portland,_Oregon opened in 1973 with 2 levels. Far beyond the 4 lane joke that was the old Port_Mann_Bridge of the 1960s.

https://historylink.org/File/3312 For Seattle to have a 12 lane structure so close to BC in the early 1960s, was amazing, but so was the Space_Needle. 

https://mynorthwest.com/3931367/when-i-5-ship-canal-bridge-became-13-million-parking-lot/

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

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

https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/bridges-stairs-and-other-structures/bridges

Of course the decades of simply building more & more traffic lanes have become quite evident for the induced demand argument. However, today it should be about making streets, roads & highways much more efficient. More bus & HOV lanes & alternate powered vehicles can really help. While the EV option can be a good thing, there should also be more hybrid vehicles.