Could you beat the bus?

I recently worked on a study for the CTA about a possible BRT option in Chicago. The papers I read about BRT and priority lane buses on the way made me realize how efficient even a priority lane (a dedicated lane for buses) can be for the public transit system. Mark Malkoff decided to test out the public transit system.... by racing a New York City bus on a Big Wheel and won! (I know.. I just gave away the ending)


But really, when the system is so bad that a grown man on a bike designed for a child can beat the bus (I can beat the bus walking according the the speed given on the video) it needs to be redesigned. If you include waiting time for the bus, the big wheel beats the bus way too easily. Watch the video, it is interesting to see all the people around, even if he is a LITTLE annoying for part of it. I think he makes a great point about the system, and one that needs to be addressed soon. I am all for priority lanes, free parking is one of the biggest reasons there is such bad congestion and a more efficient bus system can make a city so much more "livable". Click on the image for the link to the Good Magazine article about it and to watch the video, it is worth it to think about, and maybe test out in your own city!

R

I have an Android based phone, which means I have a cooler phone than the president!

I think this is really funny, apparently, President Obama asked for a "cool" phone in the white house, besides, based on this picture they are still using a land line! I think it's time the white house upgraded to 100% mobile, although, for security reasons that may not be a good idea. Click on the image to read the crunchgear article about this request.



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It's been a while

And this is really cute! I am slow at posting lately because the semester has finally caught up, but believe me, once I'm done with some work you will be flooded I have been saving things I want to comment on for a few weeks, so it might come all at once, I'll try to space it out a little.


Rock Paper Cynic is actually a pretty consistently fun comic to read, and this one just makes me go awww.

If you want to read more of the RPC comic you can click on the photo, because of course there is a link there!

R

Mismatched

A community college in Cambridgeshire, England has made rules specifically barring the students' right to wear mismatched socks.  I have worn mismatched socks nearly every day since high school, so I am completely offended!  Well...not really, but I would certainly never go there.  The principal claims that dressing inappropriately will not be allowed in a respectable workplace, well, in that case, wherever I work will not be respectable.

This principal also revokes the students' right to chew gum, talk on a visible cell phone, and a few other things.  The school contacted the students' parents to inform them of the new rules warning that the students would be put in a "time out" type of situation.  These students can make their own decisions, they will learn later how to dress appropriately, when you are young you are allowed to be a little crazy.  Personally I would get socks that looked matched near the shoe but were completely different above and below, then they would never know...and I would have to read a booklet about good behavior.

S

I love small apartments

And I hope that when I move into a small apartment I will decorate it as nicely as most of the people who enter the "Small Cool" contest on Apartment Therapy. 
Click the image for the description of the contest. They have 5 sections you can enter your apartment in:
     • TEENY-TINY 400 Square Feet and under

• TINY 600 Square Feet and under (but over 400 Square Feet) • LITTLE 800 Square Feet and under (but over 600 Square Feet) • SMALL Under 1,000 Square Feet (but over 800 Square Feet) • INTERNATIONAL All non-US entries (under 1,000 Square Feet)

And even better, they have a voting section! So get ready to be addicted to jealousy as you look at how some people have decorated their amazingly tiny apartments!

And on a side note check out this article about the limits of a small living space, just how small do you think you could go?  

For some reason I am on an apartment hype lately, it is almost time to start looking into moving, and re-nest.com and apartment therapy both always have such fun articles about decorating it isn't helping my wanderlust (or I guess I don't want to wander too far)! 

R 

Road Trip

I remember those days when we had to look up directions before we left the house, when we actually had to know where we were going before we left the house, and when maps were common place in the side door pockets of cars..... Oh I guess we haven't totally left that time period, and it's a good thing I didn't start to drive BEFORE the internet or I would have been totally lost. But I do love my phone with all of its fancy capabilities. And I think today is a day in which I need a laugh. The month of April has crept up on me, and it is promising to be the busiest in grad school yet, so if there are few posts this month, it's because I'm being a responsible student and working on projects.... Or at least TRYING to be a responsible student anyway.


R

Girl Scout Cookies

After tireless hours of walking from grocery store to grocery store a few weeks ago, I FINally found some Girl Scouts selling cookies on their last day! So of course I bought 5 boxes. But here's a funny graph about them. Honestly my favorite part is the bottom of the graph, but the rest of it is a little bit true, and a little bit funny.

R