ZinZam

Firefox

March 28, 2008

My Firefox plushie came today.

If you don't already use Firefox, then Get Firefox today!


Also here is a picture:

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Addicted to the Motor Vehicle

March 22, 2008

Ever since Boston displayed their motor way in the 1900's as a model for new cities of the future, cities have been designed with the motor vehicle in mind. Australia was none too slow on picking up on this and building massive road infrastructure, neglecting rail services for more than 40 years.

Still we neglect rail giving only million dollar upgrades compared with $3 bn road tunnels. Encouraging road use by undoing a decade of work to try and influence the other way (in a half arsed manner) by removing bus lanes.

Talking to real people they agree, wouldn't it be great if Brisbane, or Sydney had an underground metro. But the thing is we could, but who would be prepared to give up their $3 bn toll road tunnel to pay for it. Our cities are designed for the motor vehicle, take the riverside expressway in Brisbane for example, for all it's need of a new coat of paint, it has that 60s futuristic look to it.

In the late 1900s we took the bold move to create the road network. It is about time we took the bold move in the early 2000s to create a world class metro. We have hit peak oil, and with petrol prices in Sydney about to hit $1.50 per litre (from $0.60 per litre 10 years ago), petrol is more expensive than it was in the 70s during the oil crisis when you factor in inflation.

Not only because we are running out of easy to pump oil fast, (anyone for digging up the tundra?), but because of the environmental damage caused by burning it. Not only the much touted carbon footprint, but the release of sulphates, and nitrates which cause acid rain. Gaia must be hurting really bad, where are you planeteers when we need you.

Then again this is all a pipe dream, we are all addicted to the convenience in our poorly planned cities that were all designed around every man and his dog owning and driving a motor car everywhere. The only problem is there is not enough road to hold all those cars anymore. We could always move to inner Melbourne, the envy of all cities who removed their trams systems in the late 1900s because of the motor vehicle.

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Sydney Night Time lapse

March 20, 2008

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