Wheels of the future: This awesome infograph highlights the next wave of vehicle technologies to hit your car
(Source: Symphony Services via Mashable.com)
Image Courtesy: Mashable.com
A logical demolition of a 20th century myth that still dogs air travelers – Compelling video explains why we should end the stupid cellphone ban
(via Gizmodo)
Is it actually dangerous to use cell phones or other portable electronics on board an aircraft? NOPE. NOPE. NOPE.
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A warrior’s final journey – NASA Space Shuttle Discovery Makes Final Flight Over Nation’s Capitol; Leaves Behind A Lot of Inspired People and A Beautiful Legacy
(via National Geographic)
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After decades of tireless hardwork and 39 trips, a national icon – NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery – made its final journey to its resting place in Washington, DC region today. The shuttle will be permanently retired at the Smithsonian Udvar Hazy Center near Dulles, VA. NASA coordinated with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to navigate through the restricted air space over Washington, D.C. I got a chance to see the shuttle fly-by as it floated majestically perched atop a NASA jet. It was a bitter sweet moment watching it fly-by for not just me but for the entire nation that grew up watching the marvelous machines soar into the space. Not only did the shuttles ferry supplies to the space station but along the way they inspired a generation of innovators and encouraged many of us to dream big.
Image Courtesy: Washington Post (Photo by Linda Davidson)
On this momentous occasion, the shuttle in one single fly-by also accomplished what usually takes a government billions of dollars and decades of hard work . It left people inspired at what is possible if we put our heads together and encouraged everyone to dream big. The pic. above, taken by Linda Davidson (courtesy of Washington Post) shows the excitement on the faces of a few from the next generation of dreamers. Look at the inspiration on the faces of these children as they react to the shuttle Discovery fly-by. Priceless!
What kind of sorcery is this – Turntable Ride (and kit) Converts Bike Into Electronic Instrument
(Source: LaughingSquid.com)
Turntable Rider was created by BMX rider Kotaro Tanaka, DJ Baku, and artist Toshiyuki Sugai for Japanese bikesharing service Cogoo (making-of video). More deets.
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Star Trek? Awe Struck!!! Star Wars Fan Dressed Up As Storm Trooper Walks 5000 Kilometers Across Australia to Raise Funds for Charity
Jacob French is not your average Star Wars fan. He dressed up as a storm trooper and walked across Australia from Perth to Sydney. He apparently lost 12 kilos in weight and wore out 7 pairs of shoes before completing his nine month journey pushing a little cart. Why was he walking 10hrs a day wearing a stromtrooper costume for 9 months in that stifling heat across flies-infested lands. Is he nuts? No, he did it to raise awareness for the Star Light Foundation. He raised $100,000, $50K more than he set out to raise. This is an awesome video showing him walking in full gear matched to a beautiful John Williams score.
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Escalator Boondoggle – The Never Ending Nightmare of Failed Escalators in Wash. DC Metro Documented in Video
The video from Reason.TV says it all. . For those who care to read, check the Reason Foundation’s blog post, which gives a good idea of what is wrong with DC’s WMATA and its escalator management..
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And seen below a customer’s creative and preemptive response for the agency’s yet-to-begin-customer survey. After seeing the video above, don’t you think he and other riders like him are shelling $$ on this system are justified to deliver such a verdit (actually the video doesn’t even address the plethora of other problems beyond the elevators and escalators that is plaguing the system) I’m sure many rider in the DC metropolitan area feel the same way..
Image courtesy: @dcmetrosucks via Twitter
Engineered in Britain – These iconic Brompton fold-up bicycles give Brits one more reason to feel proud –
(Source: Institution for Mechanical Engineers, UK)
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The video says it all.. Quite an awesome product. Wondering if anyone in the Washington, DC managed to snag one of these bikes? If you are a proud owner of a Brampton and you are reading this, please drop a note (in the “Comments” section below) sharing your personal experience riding/owning this beauty. Though the bikes are made towards the Urban commuter market, it seems to be very versatile as shown in this BBC video. Also to note is the fast growing popularity of these bikes – 30,000 units churned out of the Brampton factory per year – despite the steep price (around $1400 – $1600 as seen on the web). It will be nice to know what it feels like to ride one of these.
Google’s Self-Driving Car Demo With Legally Blind Driver Shows a World of Possibilities
(Source: Google)
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Google hits a home-run with this real-life demonstration of its autonomous vehicle by putting a vision-impaired person behind the driving wheel in the regular streets. Steve Mahan, the man behind the wheel, is legally blind (95% gone) and he goes about what most of us drivers do in a normal day – runs errands, stops by a drive-through window for a burrito, picks up his dry cleaning, etc – all this without touching the steering wheel. For people like him this self-driving car should feel like a god-sent and the level of autonomy it offers should be priceless.
Publication Alert: An Action Plan to Integrate Plug-In Electric Vehicles with the U.S. Electrical Grid
(Source: AASHTO)
Recently found this nice 62-page report on vehicle electrification via an AASHTO e-mail and felt compelled to share. Here are some excerpts from the AASHTO Journal:
Plug-in electric vehicles can lessen U.S. dependence on imported oil, address rising gas prices, enhance air quality, and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, but their full potential will only be realized through a broad-based group of stakeholders working together, concludes a report released Tuesday by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and co-sponsored by AASHTO’s Center for Environmental Excellence.
The report presents several recommendations from a coalition that includes automakers, electrical utilities, environmental groups, and state officials. Coordinated public and private actions at the state and local levels can help ensure that plug-in owners are able to more readily charge their vehicles without overburdening the electric grid, the report states.
Recommendations include encouraging state public utility commissions and other policymakers to set up a consistent regulatory framework across the nation to better synchronize technical standards; streamlining the establishment of changing stations in both home and commercial settings; leveraging electricity rate structures to promote charging at off-peak times; helping local policymakers and other stakeholders in the appraisal of needs in their jurisidictions; strategically targeting public and private investments in related infrastructure; and providing credible information on the costs, benefits, and choices involving plug-ins.
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