Wednesday, July 31, 2013

CHINA'S proposed NEW TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD--construction postponed

China is an architectural powerhouse.  The proposed Sky City will knock Burj Khalifa in Dubai to second place in the tallest buildings in the world.  When it is completed remarkably in just months according to construction firm Broad Sustainable Building Technology using pre-fabricated components that slot together to complete construction so rapidly.  This is an astonishing short period of time, considering it took approximately six years to complete the Burj.

Construction had begun until recently when it was stopped construction due to lack of government approval.

Sky City will be located in Changsha in central China.  It will be 2,749ft tall (838 metres) surpassing the Burj Khalif by 27ft in height (2,722 ft, 830).  Once completed the 220-story (the Burj has 163-stories) structure will  include schools, a hospital, office facilities, 17 helipads and apartments for over 30,000 people.  Of the total space available, nearly 83% will be for residential purposes. 5% will be for the hotel housing 1000, while 3% each will be dedicated to schools, hospitals, offices and shops.

Broad has already constructed 20 buildings in China using this new methodology of pre-fabrication.  According to the company, 95% of Sky City will be built in Broad's factory before any excavation takes place at the construction site.




Sources:





Thursday, July 25, 2013

China is really KNOCKING out some STUNNING architecture these DAYS


http://www.designboom.com/architecture/mad-architects-sheraton-huzhou-hot-spring-resort/



New Sheraton hotel in Huzhou (near Shanghai) China.   This stunning simple design, which reflects the new non-linear, geometric structures that I love in today's contemporary architecture (Gehry, Hadid, etc).

This is elegant.  It is beautiful.  It is proportional.
The 27-story Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort offers 321 spacious guest rooms, including 44 suites and 39 villas(1) on Lake Taihu.   

This stunning design features a horizontal exterior facade that accentuates the horseshoe shape and makes for a stunning piece of sculpture when lit at night or reflected in the lake's waters below.  

The hotel is designed by Beijing-born architect Ma Yanson, MAD Architects. (3)  What an astonishing portfolio of incredible designs and completed structures.   Visit their website for more (MAD Architects).

The interior design in the interior public spaces seems a bit outré?   Very opulent.   But maybe a bit too Vegas-ish.   Or to be kinder, Dubai-ish.


However hotel rooms are quite lovely. 
All rooms have a balcony.  Note the exterior facade.
A suite with balcony which shows the exterior facade.  Note circular design of the room
This is really a beautiful new building.  

The exterior public spaces reflect the beauty of the building, as shown. 
















According to Daily News Huzhou is:  "Known as 'The City of Silk', the ancient metropolis is situated on the southern shores of Lake Taihu in the northern part of Zheijang Province. It is hailed as the birthplace of the Far East's famous tea culture." (2) 

The charm of the local city--Huzhou's Water Village.
A beautiful sunset on Lake Taihu

(1)  Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2376911/Sheraton-Huzhou-Hot-Spring-Resort-gigantic-glowing-doughnut-hotel-China.html#ixzz2a1neeCA1 
(2)  Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2376911/Sheraton-Huzhou-Hot-Spring-Resort-gigantic-glowing-doughnut-hotel-China.html#ixzz2a1uiKHiO 
(3)  Credits and Info:
Architect: MAD Architect Co., Ltd.,
Associate Engineers: Shanghai SianDai Architecture Design (Group) Co., Ltd.,
Structural Engineer: China Majesty Steel Structural Design Co., Ltd.,
Façade/Cladding Consultants: Zhejiang Zhongnan Curtain Wall Co., Ltd., Shanghai Timalco Curtain Wall Engineering Co., Ltd.,
Landscape Architect: EDSA – Landscape Design
http://www.arch2o.com/sheraton-huzhou-hot-spring-resort-mad-architects/

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

I LOVE dolphins....they are so intelligent, beautiful and elegant.


I saw this great article in Daily Mail, titled:  "Dolphins are so intelligent they have individual NAMES and call for each other just like humans."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2373831/Dolphins-intelligent-individual-NAMES-just-like-humans.html#ixzz2Zq6gMAgr
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2373831/Dolphins-intelligent-individual-NAMES-just-like-humans.html


Friday, July 19, 2013

Company ET3 proposes supersonic train which would travel from NYC to LA in 45 minutes



I love this.  Somehow I think that we as a nation have devolved to such a point that we could never see this great idea to fruition.  But maybe United Arab Emirates or China will.   This technology advances our world in such a remarkable way.  We had a SST aircraft and it flew for many years but nothing was developed to replace it and it was retired a few years ago.



This proposal seems logical to the lay mind.  I've worked in businesses that utilized and I've been a customer of banks who used the pneumatic tube systems from the past.  We still haven't figured out how to take a human or living being and translate it into something digital that can be translated electronically.   Until that can be done, this seems like a revolutionary design.  Send we humans in a little tube at very high speeds, just as we did with the pneumatic systems of the not so distant past.  

From wired.com:
[ET3] wants to revolutionize transportation. Again. The serial entrepreneur envisions a future where mag-lev trains in enormous pneumatic tubes whisk us from Los Angeles to New York in 45 minutes. Need to be in Beijing tomorrow? No problem. It’s a two-hour ride away  
Daily Mail
As crazy as it sounds, Musk is merely updating an idea that’s been around since the early 1900s, and at least one company is working on a functional prototype. But according to Wired sources, his involvement won’t be nearly as hands-on as Musk’s other endeavors at Tesla Motors and SpaceX.
The engineering behind the Hyperloop is similar to the old-school pneumatic tube systems used by banks to suck your deposit to the teller at the drive-through. But naturally, it’s more complicated than that.
A massive vacuum tube — mounted either above ground or even under water — would be combined with a magnetic levitation system used on conventional bullet trains. That means no friction, no wind resistance, no chance of collisions, and insanely high speeds:  http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/07/ford-transit-supervan/

The proposed train would travel at 400 mph transcontinentally and 4,000 mph internationally.  Based upon those speeds, ET3 suggests that you could travel between NY-LA in 45 minutes and ultimately New York to Bejing in two-hours.

Elon Musk, the owner of ET3, one of the companies exploring this technology, described this train thusly:  "a cross between a Concorde, a railgun and an air hockey table.

It is interesting.  This technology is based upon proposals in early 20th century for "vactrains" which never reached fruition.  

It also provides a very cost efficient alternative to the best technology we have today.   "The tech entrepreneur claims that his hyperloop super train could be three to four times faster than a Japanese bullet train." (1)

These kind of ideas are so rare in this day age.  We seem to be stuck in 1950 in this country, despite some advances.  But this kind of hyper-liberal thinking is what created the technologically-advanced world that we live in today.   Alas, we haven't advance spiritually.

But this blog is really about celebration.  This is an exciting concept using old technology which was quite successful and moved our civilization forward (if not spiritually).  Sure, we could wait for physicists to finally discover how to break down living beings to the atomic level and then transport them digitally, as we do with documents, photos, etc. 

I love this concept.   Here's more photos and be sure and check out the video below:







Here's more photos
















(1)  Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2369993/How-Elon-Musk-s-Hyperloop-actually-work-Experts-guess-plans-LA-San-Francisco-30-minutes-come-fruition.html#ixzz2ZSsaKKJO 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

TEAM Trayvon Martin/Rachel Jeantel. And shame on the "cracker" goat-like defense attorney Don West

"Dignity and grace" had she.   That is Rachel Jeantel.  I'm watching Piers Morgan on CNN.  I watched every moment of her astonishing testimony.  I was in awe with her ability to stand up to that arrogant, condescending, repugnant defense attorney Don West.  He made me truly embarrassed to be caucasian.  His behavior represents every stereotype about bigoted white, straight men.

She was a star on Piers Morgan tonight.  She is the smartest fucking person involved in the whole Trayvon Martin distaster.

That goatish, asshole, defense attorney Done West, should apologize publicly to Ms. Jeantel.  He is a shame to his race.


The ice cream photo he posted online was worse than the bad joke on the opening.  It illustrates "cracka-dom" at it's worst.

 I am white.  But I hope all of you bigoted white people start to change their arrogant perception which is about "stupidity."  Like the six non-black ladies who voted George Zimmerman "not guilty".  Their hatred, and Don West's, against non-white people is coming to an end.  White people like me who do not agree with you are fed up.   Our system is fucked.   And your days of abusing our system like this are I hope soon over.

As Rachel said to all you white racists out there:  "your old school....my generation" is different.  Rachel....you're brilliant.

To the Martin family, my sincerest condolences.  Please sign the petition by the ACLU to call for investigation by the justice department.

To the Zimmerman's, I hope George suffers consequences for the rest of his life for having killed that boy.  That's the way the world works in the white "cracka" world.

One upbeat note, Tom Joyner has offered to give this brilliant woman a college degree scholarship http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/16/rachel-jeantel-scholarship_n_3606038.html.  Rachel wins and the old goat stinks to high heavens.   "Preciousness" triumphs over "goatish-ness".   Beauty triumphs over ugliness.   Rachel Jeantel, you are my hero.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Zach Braff is an adorable, charming DOLL FACE

Zach contributed to a wedding video proposal for a couple in the UK.   Zach is utterly charming.   And so is the video.  I couldn't see the groom very well, but based upon his amazing proposal artwork on camera, I'd marry him in a second (as well as Braff).

Check out this charming video where "Scrubs" actor (and hottie) proposes to the this dude's wife.  I found it on Huntington-Post in an article titled:  "Matt Hulbert Gets 'Scrubs' Star To Help Him Pop The Question".

Hulbert also enlists family and friends to contribute their vote for a "Yes" answer the proposal in video and then compiles it all into the most beautiful and clever representation of love...without being disgusting.  Although, it might be self-serving.   Hulbert's career as a "graphic designer" into a larger trajectory as a result of this.

There are so MANY vignettes in this short video.  Somehow, it's Braff's star power and charm, though, that truly sets the tone.

Personally, I found the two dudes, one who worked for EasyJet Airlines, filmed several "responses" in glorious European cities.

This is really a wonderful show of love.  And evidence of many talented people.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Sorry, Roman Abramowich. Yours isn't the biggest in the world now.


The biggest yacht in the world, that is.




Roman Abramovich, my favorite Russian oligarch (who is also the most attractive, IMHO), who had the world's largest yacht (533 feet), the "Eclipse," has fallen to second place.

A Middle Eastern oligarch has taken the title of "World's Largest Yacht" owner with the recent launch of the 590-foot "Azzam."  Built by Germany's Lürssen Yachts for just $609 million, this ship is not only the largest, but it is also the fastest superyachts in the world.  In its initial first trial tests it achieved 30 knots (34.5mph).

The sleek and elegant exterior design was done by Nauta Yachts.  The interior design was done by French designer Christophe Leoni using a theme of the Empire style.








Read more about this new achievement of pissing contests.   All I can say is she is beautiful, remarkable and elegant at the following links:










Sunday, July 7, 2013

Sexy ANDY MURRAY wins Wimbledon 2013 title


The dude's been on a roll.....I'm so glad that he won the Wimbledon Men's Title today, defeating the gorgeous Novak Djokovic (he is one of the hottest tennis players ever, IMH, along with Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, to name a few).   Talk about a sexy competition.  Murray with his lean and muscular 6' 3" frame and Scottish brogue versus Serbian 6' 2" Djokovic provided a feast for the eyes for those who enjoy male beauty. 

Today's win makes him the first British male to win the British tournament in 77 years.  This dude is on fire.   Good for him!   And a great day for Her Majesty's kingdom.




Today's win makes him the first British male to win the British tournament in 77 years.  This dude is on fire.   Good for him!   And a great day for Her Majesty's kingdom.

I particularly found this shot to be beautiful.   Congratulations, Mr. Murray and the United Kingdom.

Andy Murray showing a very fine ass and it looks like he wears tightie whities?

Here's a little bit more eye-candy from the final match between Murray and Djokovic.   Check out Bradley Cooper and mate Gerard Butler watching the match together.  Both looking quite dapper, aren't they?

Duchess of Cambridge's brother, James Middleton, looking quite fine with the scruffy face

Djokovic has a beautiful hairy chest.
All photos are from The Daily Mail and are copyright of AP and/or Getty as indicated.  Read more about the match by visiting the Daily Mail online article:  Andy-Murray-WINS-WIMBLEDON-ending-77-years-British-tennis-hurt-beating-Djokovic-straight-sets-Centre-Court

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Anderson Cooper & Jeff Corwin and BEAUTIFUL elephants

From a 2007 Anderson Cooper 360 episode (http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2007/03/what-its-like-to-be-tossed-by-elephant.html) about Asian elephants in Cambodia, another almost extinct  animal thanks to mankind's greed.

Great photo......

Jeff Corwin and Anderson Cooper in CNN documentary about Cambodian Asian elephants.  Copyright CNN

See a video clip of the show.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Sir Richard Branson's LIAT complaint letter example posted on TWITTER

Sir Richard Brandson recently tweeted (or "twitted" as I call that forum or whatever the fuck it is called) one of the most remarkably witty missives I've ever read in English:  "How to write a complaint letter – read this hilarious note from a frustrated airline passenger."

It is a complaint letter written by a dissatisfied customer to an airliner after a particularly horrible trip.  This letter is utterly biting.  Utterly witty.  But most of all, utterly effective.   And that is why  Branson tweeted to his Twitter followers the letter that is excerpted below from Huntington Post (click here to see the Huntington-Post article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/liat-complaint-letter-arthur-hicks-branson_n_3529385.html)

Dear LIAT:
May I say how considerate it is of you to enable your passengers such an in-depth and thorough tour of the Caribbean.

Most other airlines I have travelled on would simply wish to take me from point A to B in rather a hurry. I was intrigued that we were allowed to stop at not a lowly one or two but a magnificent six airports yesterday. And who wants to fly on the same airplane the entire time? We got to change and refuel every step of the way!

I particularly enjoyed sampling the security scanners at each and every airport. I find it preposterous that people imagine them all to be the same. And as for being patted down by a variety of islanders, well, I feel as if I’ve been hugged by most of the Caribbean already.

I also found it unique that this was all done on “island time,” because I do like to have time to absorb the atmosphere of the various departure lounges. As for our arrival, well, who wants to have to take a ferry at the end of all that flying anyway? I’m glad the boat was long gone by the time we arrived into Tortola last night — and that all those noisy bars and restaurants were closed.

So thank you, LIAT. I now truly understand why you are “The Caribbean Airline.”

Arthur Hicks

P.S. Keep the bag. I never liked it anyway.