National Infrastructure: solved

This idea must've been stolen from Georgia. After missing out on all the federal high speed rail dollars,I can see this type of 'progressive' solution being debated on the GA Senate floor. "Bullet buses will make it from the Capitol down to Macon in less than an hour. And their sleek aerodynamic noses will reduce fuel costs." "...retrofitted and modernized for as little as $40."


Obama Replaces Costly High-Speed Rail Plan With High-Speed Bus Plan

Youth

Great video looking at three generations of youth culture. This is from a Brazilian social and behavioral market ing research group Box1824.
Good senior editor Patrick James says:
"What stands out most about the Millennials might not be the dissolution of social groups or boundaries, but that we possess an unrivaled propensity for conspicuous navel-gazing. That said, our generation's willful surrender of privacy will, for better or worse, shape our collective consciousness. Though, as this video points out, by the time we make heads or tails of ourselves, there will be a whole new crop of young things changing the world. "

It is always weird for me since, by the numbers, I fall at the junction of Gen X and the Millennials. Perhaps that means I can embody parts of both. But I am well past what the video calls the top of the influential pyramid. 30 Rock does a great job of demonstrating how the middle agers are consistently out of the loop and trying desperately to fit in with the youth around them.

AJC Heads for the Hills

The AJC, Atlanta's newspaper has moved its operation to the northern suburbs signaling a change in scope and depth as well. They are evening asking writers to avoid the use of words like sprawl that may offend the readership of its new locale. Below is a faux cover created as part of this story in Creative Loafing this week.

Alternative Perimeter Visualization

From here; related to this.

Vancouver

Last weekend, Lauren and I went to Vancouver for the IDSA conference. I had never been to Vancouver prior to this but had made a trip out to British Columbia to do the West Coast Trail. I wanted to get to Vancouver then but didn't have the chance and always hoped I'd get back out there soon. Now that I've visited the city I'm even more eager to revisit the area and spend more time there.

Vancouver feels like the city of the next 100 years. Everything is new, spotless, thoughtfully designed, safe, diverse, busy, on-time, and appropriate. It seems ideal in many respects. There is landscaping everywhere - in all the medians, and little gaps next to sidewalks. There is a great main park with beaches, huge trees, trails, and views. I think it says a lot when some of the most desirable, attractive and potentially profitable land is set aside for the public. The transit works well and the scale of the city is very manageable while still being dense enough to be very interesting.

I did a lot of walking around and working at various cafes and shops while Lauren was at the conference. One thing I found surprising was that there were not wireless networks at many places, particularly coffee shops. I thought this was the city of the future? We hopped on the bus and headed south for some world class Indian, and took the sea bus over to North Vancouver and trekked up the Grouse Grind, also known as Nature's Stair Master. It climbs over 800m in just under 3km. Earlier this year someone broke his own record by completing the trail 14 times in one 24-hour span. The view at the top was great and we even saw some snow on our way down. Overall the weather was fine, a little drizzle here or there but most sidewalks feature ample awnings and if you are packing a raincoat or umbrella you should be fine.

On our last day we took a ferry over to Granville Island. This is a little spot underneath the Granville Ave. Bridge that has been converted from an industrial center into an artisan fair. There is a large market space and several small galleries and boutique production workshops. We walked from there to South Granville. I wish we could have rented bikes and seen more of Stanley Park but I think the way we enjoyed the place was great.

There is something weird about Canada. All its orderliness and rule-following, it feels a little sterile, but a great place to live. We were nervous to cross the street mid-block or against the crossing sign for fear of arrest and/or scowl. It is very Scandinavian in that way. Another odd thing is that the place is so diverse and feel so foreign that you are constantly surprised to hear people speaking English. Atlanta can be like that too, except you expect to hear English and can't always understand what people are saying to you.

Perimeter

Other US cities in Atlanta's Perimeter

iPhone Photo Oct. 20, 2010

October 19, 2010 6:53 PM
Kirkwood Halloween Graveyard

names include:
Hannah Montana, MARTA, June Cleaver, Michael Jackson, NPR Fund Drive, voter enthusiasm, Law and Order, Myspace, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Sarah Palin's Career

iPhone Photo October 2, 2010

October 2, 2010 4:45 PM
Behind 'Panty Dropper' on I-85

iPhone Photo October 1, 2010

October 1, 2010 10:22 AM
Woman with a dog in a baby stroller on MARTA

iPhone Photo September 29, 2010

September 29, 2010 11:36 AM
Three blue Porsches at movie shooting on Rogers St.