Ice cubes meltin'

Most of us are battling with issues of sustainability, but all of us love eight-year-old rappers on YouTube.



This is from NPR's Planet Money podcast from 30 Nov 2009.
Fixing Climate Change is Going to Cost You

Aqualta

A project by Studio Lindfors forecasts what NYC and Tokyo will look like in a hundred or so years due to rising sea levels. Check it out!

My mouth just hit the ground...

Guys...guys...

















http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/24/us/AP-US-Silverdome-Sale.html

http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/729769--toronto-developer-snaps-up-vacant-pontiac-silverdome


$583,000?! 127 acres! AND AN 80,000 SEAT DOMED STADIUM?! Had I know, I would have written a check! (OK, I don't have $583,000...but I'd have found it real quick.) Wow, Michigan is really hurting.

PS...I think perhaps GSAPP should buy a property like this. Design/build studio anyone?

Zombie Buildings!

There's a big problem with newly built and half-built abandoned property built before the economic crisis that never were able to be finished and occupied. The developers have all of their loans coming due, and no money to pay it back.

Take a look at the video.

High Altitude Wind Generators

The best wind energy isn't on the ground, it's up in the air! Here are some new ideas on kite-like wind turbines, from SFGate.

Water Infrastructure Overhaul in California

The California legislature is in the process of passing some pretty major overhaul of the state's water infrastructure, especially the Sacramento River Delta and its (potential new) connection to the Los Angeles Aqueduct, along with conservation requirements for urban areas.

SFGate Article: Major Components of Water Overhaul Pass Senate
(from SF Chronicle 3 Nov 2009)

Up in the gym workin on my... water?

Too corny to be true or too GOOD to be true?
Synchronicity Island by Jakub Szczęsny

And how do we get involved with this? Anyone?

MoMA is funding and exhibiting projects about Manhattan's coastline, rising water levels, and where the city will be in 2080. It will architecturally push Obama's stimulus plan and find new, creative ways to solve our water issue.

Check this out! It says Bergdoll is going to announce teams in a few weeks. How do we get involved?

Stimulus Jobs vs Unemployment Rates

This New York Times article points out that the new jobs created by stimulus spending have been going disproportionately to states with unemployment levels below the national average. Oops.

Fiber Reinforced Plastics

I'm glad the NYTimes feeds me information at the most opportune times.

Coming in at a lower cost than a tradition cast in place concrete bridge, this new system of resin injected tubular ribs with carbon- and glass-fiber fabric is the newest breakthrough in FRP, or fiber reinforced plastics.

Mitch Epstein, Photographer

Not sure why I am compelled to post this, but it may give some energy leads.

Stimulus Schools

The AIA says we should spend stimulus money on rebuilding NYC schools. Conference Oct 23-25.

LA Population Growth

2000 Population:


2030 Population:


From the Southern California Association of Governments

Maglev in Los Angeles

Hey Maglev/High Speed Rail people! Check out this plan I found from the Southern California Association of Governments. Here is a collection of their maps, many with projections into the future.

LA River Test Model

The US Army Corps of Engineers Modeled the LA River Channel in the 40's:



"But will it flow?"





"Look at that, boys!"

Michigan

New Initiatives in Michigan from the Michigan Economic Develpopment Corporation

Solar Cells as a Liquid

Probably you've already seen this, but here's a company making liquid silicon that can be added to ink. They are inkjetting solar cells with an ink jet printer. Aslo, there are lots of articles about solar paint...

Visual Atlas of the LA Aqueduct

For those of you (us) interested in the LA River/Aqueduct, this project at ultramoderne.net traces its entire route.

Shrinking Cities: Detroit

I know a few of you are interested in Detroit.
Here is some great info to get started:

From Shrinking Cities: Detroit

Michigan Coverting Old Car Manufacturing Plants into Green Energy Plants

Michigan, struggling as more thousands of jobs are slated to be cut, is actively converting old car manufacturing plants into green energy plants that will produce solar and wind energy technology.

The NY Times article

A Second Article

And Wayne County, MI, which constitutes Detroit, has set up a land bank to "encourage investment, revitalization, and rehabilitation in Wayne County" by "selling abandoned property at affordable rates to those who will use it productively."

Parasite Prefab - Lara Calder Architects

Literally living on infrastructure... from ArchDaily.

Living the Map

50 states, 50 weeks, 50 jobs...

I.B.M. makes Dubuque, Iowa smarter?

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/the-smartest-us-city-is-dubuque/

IBM is giving Dubuque's government and citizens the digital tools to measure, and alter, the way they use water, electricity, and transportation.

Is knowing half the battle?

Getz the Dataz

Some of my favorite websites for stats:

Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Airline, Rail, Interstate, Border Crossings, Personal Travel...

American FactFinder (Census)
Population, Race, Household Size...

Bureau of Labor Statistics
especially the American Time Use Survey

Economic Census
There's a bajillion different kinds of businesses.

Data.gov
Basically everything, which means it's a bit unwieldy

Reference USA
(Available through Columbia Libraries) It's difficult to describe how much information is here... and it all has Geographic coordinates so you can map it if you want.

Enjoy!

GE Smart Grid Fun

This is too fun: GE Plug into the Smart Grid
Like I said.. too fun:

Check this project..

http://matsysdesign.com/category/projects/sietch-nevada/

NY Times Toxic Waters Project

http://projects.nytimes.com/toxic-waters

Data.gov

Lots of data here, including geospatial:

http://www.data.gov

Recovery.gov

Hello World!