I wrote a blog post last week about fires being caused by dead trees. Well, even though that is true, wildfires are also being caused by climate change "and require new strategies from states to prevent ever-greater destruction of people's lives and property."
"High temperatures, drought and wind have combined to create a number of fires that have caused at least two deaths in California." The first wildfire this summer has burned through over 1,200 acres and is threatening thousands of homes.
Warming temperatures have dried out vegetation and soils which leads to fires. An infestation of beetles has made trees less resilient to fires. In the past 30 years, fire season has grown from 84 to 220 days and the amount of area burned has grown by 1,200%.
To combat the wildfire risks, states "should be using controlled burns and chemical treatments to make forests less like a tinderbox and more predictable during wildfire season."
The Guardian Article Wildfires Engulfing The West Coast Are Fueled By Climate Change, Experts Warn: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/30/wildfires-california-fueled-by-climate-change
Dead Trees Are Leading To Fires In California: http://ridewithmark.blogspot.com/2016/06/dead-trees-are-leading-to-fires-in.html
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Thursday, June 30, 2016
Route 66 Is Going Solar
Route 66 is getting an upgrade. Missouri is putting in "a set of energy-generating photovoltaic pavers along a section of the famous highway-the first such panels on a public right of way in the U.S."
The company Solar Roadways, created by Scott and Julie Brusaw developed street pavers. They raised over $2.2 million in "crowdfunding in 2014 to bring their technology to market." Missouri's transportation department is creating their own crowdfunding campaign "to support their energy experiment and expects the hexagonal solar panels to be fully installed and operational by the end of the year."
I think putting in solar panels on Route 66 is a great idea. Route 66 is headed in the right direction.
U.S.'s First Public Solar Road Will Roll Out On Route 66: http://www.curbed.com/2016/6/21/11976224/solar-panel-street-pavers-missouri-energy-route-66
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Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Berlin Has Stopped Using Fossil Fuels
Berlin has decided to "pull its money out of coal, gas and oil companies." By 2050, Germany wants to completely stop using carbon. Sweden "vowed to end its investments in fossil fuels companies, making Berlin the seventh major Western city to join a divestment movement that already includes Paris, Copenhagen, Oslo, Seattle, Portland and Melbourne. In September, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio urged the city's five pension funds- worth a collective $160 billion- to sell their $33 million exposure to coal, by the far the dirtiest fossil fuel."
In April, the Paris Agreement was signed by about 170 nations at the United Nations in New York. "More than 500 institutions-including well-endowed universities, pension funds and religious organizations collectively representing $3.4 trillion- have agreed to stop investing in fossil fuels since the campaign began."
Global temperatures are supposed to rise above 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century. For the last decade "Germany has aggressively pushed to transition from an economy powered by fossil fuels to one propelled by clean energy under a policy called Energiewende." In 2014, Germany ha generated 26.2 percent of its power from renewable energy.
Huffington Post Article Berlin Is The Latest City To Pull Out Of Fossil Fuels: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/berlin-fossil-fuels-divest_us_576bf316e4b08cbaeab18794
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The First Corvette Assembled On June 28, 1953
I'm not going to lie, I have been staring at this computer screen trying to think of something to write about for at least 40 minutes. I tuned into my surroundings to try and find inventive ideas, I scanned through news outlets to find something interesting, I turned on some music hoping that it would jolt some creativity into me, but my brain was still empty. I decided to look up on Google, "what happened today in history" and lo and behold, something interesting popped up. On June 28, 1953 the first Corvette was assembled in Flint, Michigan. The first Corvette was a "two-seater sports car that would become an American icon. The first completed production car rolled off the assembly lines two days later, one of just 300 Corvettes made that year."
The idea for the Corvette came from Harley J. Earl, a General Motors pioneering designer. "In January 1953, GM debuted the Corvette concept car at its Motorama auto show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City." The Corvette had a fiberglass body and a six-cylinder engine.
On June 30, 1953 the first Corvette was completed and came off the production line. It was hand-assembled and had a "Polo White exterior and red interior, two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, a wraparound windshield, whitewall tires and detachable plastic curtains instead of side windows." The early Corvettes did not have exterior door handles. The car also had a clock, cigarette lighter and a "red warning light that activated when the parking brake was applied-a new feature at the time." The Corvette was priced at $3,490 "and could go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 11 or 12 seconds, then considered a fairly average speed."
The Corvette went into mass production in 1954, but the sales were not great and GM was thinking about discontinuing the car. Ford came out with the two-seater Thunderbird around the same time and GM "did not want to be seen bowing to the competition." In 1955, the Corvette was supplied with a more powerful V-8 engine. The Corvette earned the nickname "America's sports car" "and became ingrained in pop culture through multiple references in movies, television and music."
The first Corvette Assembled: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/workers-assemble-first-corvette-in-flint-michigan
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The idea for the Corvette came from Harley J. Earl, a General Motors pioneering designer. "In January 1953, GM debuted the Corvette concept car at its Motorama auto show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City." The Corvette had a fiberglass body and a six-cylinder engine.
On June 30, 1953 the first Corvette was completed and came off the production line. It was hand-assembled and had a "Polo White exterior and red interior, two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, a wraparound windshield, whitewall tires and detachable plastic curtains instead of side windows." The early Corvettes did not have exterior door handles. The car also had a clock, cigarette lighter and a "red warning light that activated when the parking brake was applied-a new feature at the time." The Corvette was priced at $3,490 "and could go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 11 or 12 seconds, then considered a fairly average speed."
The Corvette went into mass production in 1954, but the sales were not great and GM was thinking about discontinuing the car. Ford came out with the two-seater Thunderbird around the same time and GM "did not want to be seen bowing to the competition." In 1955, the Corvette was supplied with a more powerful V-8 engine. The Corvette earned the nickname "America's sports car" "and became ingrained in pop culture through multiple references in movies, television and music."
The first Corvette Assembled: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/workers-assemble-first-corvette-in-flint-michigan
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Monday, June 27, 2016
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is an organization that works "to protect the lands and waters that plants and animals need to survive-for us and for future generations." Their priorities include lands, waters, oceans, cities and climate. Currently the Nature Conservancy works in 69 countries and in all 50 states. Some areas where they work include North America, the Caribbean, Africa and many more.
The Nature Conservancy works to protect lands and waters around the world. The organization was founded in 1951 and currently has more than one million members. They have "protected more than 119 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide." The Nature Conservation also addresses "threats to conservation involving climate change, fresh water, oceans and conservation lands.
The Nature Conservancy has hundreds of scientists that are constantly at work and has partnered with indigenous communities and non-profits. "The missions of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends." The organization wishes to create a world where everyone participates in the conservation of nature.
If you feel passionate about their organization, you can become a member of The Nature Conservancy or donate to their organization.
The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/?intc=nature.tnav.logo
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The Nature Conservancy works to protect lands and waters around the world. The organization was founded in 1951 and currently has more than one million members. They have "protected more than 119 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide." The Nature Conservation also addresses "threats to conservation involving climate change, fresh water, oceans and conservation lands.The Nature Conservancy has hundreds of scientists that are constantly at work and has partnered with indigenous communities and non-profits. "The missions of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends." The organization wishes to create a world where everyone participates in the conservation of nature.
If you feel passionate about their organization, you can become a member of The Nature Conservancy or donate to their organization.
The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/?intc=nature.tnav.logo
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Saturday, June 25, 2016
Dead Trees Are Leading To Fires In California
If you live in California, or even if you don't, I'm sure you have seen the rapidly increasing amount of fires we have had so far this summer. People are being evacuated from their homes and as soon as one fire is contained, another one begins.
According to a Guardian article I read titled 66 Million Dead Trees in California Could Fuel Catastrophic Wildfires, Officials Say, "since 2010, an estimated 66 million trees have died in a six-county region of the central and southern Sierra hardest hit by the epidemic."
Dead patches have turned a rust colored red and the "mortality from Tuolumne to Kern counties has increased by 65% since the last count announced in October, which found 40m dead trees."
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the California drought. I would rather be celebrating the fifth anniversary of an abundance of water flowing through California, but we don't always get what we wish for. The drought has deprived trees from the water they need which makes them more vulnerable to beetle attacks.
Governor Jerry Brown created a taskforce in October that are trying to find ways of removing the trees that threaten mountain communities. "Brown pushed for burning the trees at biomass plants to generate electricity, sending them to lumber mills or burning them in large incinerators, removing fuel for wildfires."
The Forest Service has donated $32 million to California's current epidemic and "the state budgeted $11m for the California department of forestry and fire protection to buy tree removal equipment and to grant local communities money for their own work." The Forest Service has cut down 77,000 trees that are at risk to people.
Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/22/dead-trees-california-wildfire-risk-sierra-nevada
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According to a Guardian article I read titled 66 Million Dead Trees in California Could Fuel Catastrophic Wildfires, Officials Say, "since 2010, an estimated 66 million trees have died in a six-county region of the central and southern Sierra hardest hit by the epidemic."
Dead patches have turned a rust colored red and the "mortality from Tuolumne to Kern counties has increased by 65% since the last count announced in October, which found 40m dead trees."
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the California drought. I would rather be celebrating the fifth anniversary of an abundance of water flowing through California, but we don't always get what we wish for. The drought has deprived trees from the water they need which makes them more vulnerable to beetle attacks.
Governor Jerry Brown created a taskforce in October that are trying to find ways of removing the trees that threaten mountain communities. "Brown pushed for burning the trees at biomass plants to generate electricity, sending them to lumber mills or burning them in large incinerators, removing fuel for wildfires."
The Forest Service has donated $32 million to California's current epidemic and "the state budgeted $11m for the California department of forestry and fire protection to buy tree removal equipment and to grant local communities money for their own work." The Forest Service has cut down 77,000 trees that are at risk to people.
Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/22/dead-trees-california-wildfire-risk-sierra-nevada
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Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Strawberry Moon
Monday, June 20th, marked the first day of summer. Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and it arrived at 6:34 P.M. This year, the first day of summer also brought along the strawberry moon. The strawberry moon is June's full moon and it hasn't coincided with the summer solstice since 1967. It won't happen again until 2062, so I hope you were able to fully enjoy it.Around 10 P.M. on Monday I looked outside and saw the pink colored moon in the sky. It was a sight to see. If you missed it you can watch it online.
Summer is here, the sun is out, the fruit is ripe and the moon is pink.
CBS article: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/strawberry-moon-arrives-with-the-summer-solstice/
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Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Life On Mars
The first close up picture of Mars was in 1965. Mars has "polar ice caps and clouds in its atmosphere, seasonal weather patterns, volcanoes, canyons and other recognizable features." Mars is sterile beneath its pink sky and NASA has discovered that "today's Martian wasteland hints at a formerly volatile world where volcanoes once raged, meteors plowed deep craters and flash floods rushed over the land."There is a possibility of liquid water on Mars. On Earth, wherever there is water, there is life. If Mars once had, or still does have water than that means that there could be life on Mars.
NASA has recently released a series of recruitment posters for potential positions on Mars. The posters feature ads for teachers, surveyors, farmers and many other positions.
NASA won't need anyone for these positions for awhile. NASA released their three step "Journey to Mars" plan in 2015. They don't think that people will be living and working on Mars until 2030.
About Mars: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/overview/index.html
NASA advertisements: http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/design/nasa-mars-posters/index.html?sr=fbCNN061916nasa-mars-posters1101PMStoryGalLink&linkId=25636334
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Coral Bleaching
Coral bleaching has become a wide spread issue among our oceans and has destroyed large amounts of coral reefs. It is now the most widespread in recorded history "and is likely to continue for an unprecedented third year, according to the U.S. weather agency."
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration have stated that the warm ocean temperatures are going to cause "bleaching in the northern hemisphere, including Hawaii, Micronesia, the Florida Keys and Puerto Rico."
"About 93% of the reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have been affected and almost a quarter of the reef on the 2,300km stretch is now dead."
Both Hawaii and the Florida Keys have been affected by coral bleaching in mid-2014 and mid-2015. Reefs around the Maldives,Western Australia and the rest of the Pacific, Red Sea and the Caribbean have also been affected by severe bleaching.
Coral begins to bleach when water temperatures are warmer than normal for more than two weeks. "Climate change has caused global sea surface temperatures to rise by about 1C over the past century, pushing corals closer to their bleaching threshold." El Niño also caused an increase in temperature.
Coral bleaching is not going away anytime soon and the warmer ocean temperatures are only increasing the amount of coral that is being bleached.
Coral Bleaching Event Now Biggest In History-And About To Get Worse (The Guardian Article): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/21/coral-bleaching-event-now-biggest-in-history-and-about-to-get-worse
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National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration have stated that the warm ocean temperatures are going to cause "bleaching in the northern hemisphere, including Hawaii, Micronesia, the Florida Keys and Puerto Rico."
"About 93% of the reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have been affected and almost a quarter of the reef on the 2,300km stretch is now dead."
Both Hawaii and the Florida Keys have been affected by coral bleaching in mid-2014 and mid-2015. Reefs around the Maldives,Western Australia and the rest of the Pacific, Red Sea and the Caribbean have also been affected by severe bleaching.Coral begins to bleach when water temperatures are warmer than normal for more than two weeks. "Climate change has caused global sea surface temperatures to rise by about 1C over the past century, pushing corals closer to their bleaching threshold." El Niño also caused an increase in temperature.
Coral bleaching is not going away anytime soon and the warmer ocean temperatures are only increasing the amount of coral that is being bleached.
Coral Bleaching Event Now Biggest In History-And About To Get Worse (The Guardian Article): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/21/coral-bleaching-event-now-biggest-in-history-and-about-to-get-worse
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Monday, June 20, 2016
One Small Step For Man, One Giant Leap For Mankind
Today marks the 47th anniversary of the first man landing on the moon. On June 20, 1969, at 10:56 P.M. EDT Neil Armstrong set his foot on the moon. Buzz Aldrin joined him and they placed an American flag on the moon that honored the fallen Apollo 1 crew. There was also a plaque that read "here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind."President John F. Kennedy's goal was to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade and he was able to accomplish his objective.
Today is an important day in history. A man landing on the moon was a major step for space exploration.
As Armstrong said "that's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
July 20, 1969: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html
Video of the first man walking on the moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxPbnFc7iU8
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Thursday, June 16, 2016
Father's Day
Sitting on the fire hydrant on the corner of my street, I waited for my dad to come home. As soon as I saw his car rounding the corner I would race him to our house. Of course, he always let me win. I did this almost everyday growing up. I would ask my mom what time my dad was coming home and wait on the same fire hydrant, gazing out on our street, looking for his car.
My dad used to take me everywhere with him. Anywhere he went, I went. It didn't matter where he was going, I just wanted to be with him, that's all. We would go to the drugstore, get an ice cream or go to the hardware store. We both could spend hours in the hardware store, aimlessly looking through the isles.
Growing up, we had one pharmacy that we always went to. In my drugstore there was a candy section. My dad would fill up a big bag of candy and then put it in the seat holder in between the two front seats in our car and we would go to town. We would talk and dig our hands into the bag, eating all the candy in sight.
My dad and I used to make puzzles or play games together. Little things like that leave a warm impression of the love of your father. My dad is the most honest, caring and loving person I know. Growing up, he set a perfect example of how a gentleman should behave. My dad has always been a strong driving force in my life. He has always been there for me, through good times and bad, with a nonjudgemental eye.
I could not ask for a better father or friend. Having the experiences of being with your father is something that you cannot replace. Today, I celebrate my father and all that he has done for me throughout my life.
My dad used to take me everywhere with him. Anywhere he went, I went. It didn't matter where he was going, I just wanted to be with him, that's all. We would go to the drugstore, get an ice cream or go to the hardware store. We both could spend hours in the hardware store, aimlessly looking through the isles.
Growing up, we had one pharmacy that we always went to. In my drugstore there was a candy section. My dad would fill up a big bag of candy and then put it in the seat holder in between the two front seats in our car and we would go to town. We would talk and dig our hands into the bag, eating all the candy in sight.
My dad and I used to make puzzles or play games together. Little things like that leave a warm impression of the love of your father. My dad is the most honest, caring and loving person I know. Growing up, he set a perfect example of how a gentleman should behave. My dad has always been a strong driving force in my life. He has always been there for me, through good times and bad, with a nonjudgemental eye.
I could not ask for a better father or friend. Having the experiences of being with your father is something that you cannot replace. Today, I celebrate my father and all that he has done for me throughout my life.
Elephants Are In Danger
The African elephant weighs up to eight tons and are characterized by their huge bodies, large ears and trunks. Asian elephants are much smaller, have straight ears and some Asian male elephants have tusks. Female elephants and calves often stick together while male elephants live in isolation.
Both African and Asian elephants need an abundance of lance to survive. "Roaming in herds and consuming hundreds of pounds of plant matter in a single day, both species of elephant require extensive amounts of food, water and space."
Elephants are often hunted for their ivory. "Rampant ivory poaching has reduced the elephant population in Tanzania's oldest and largest protected area by 90 percent in fewer than 40 years."
Elephants are important to our environment. They help maintain "forest and savanna ecosystems for other species."
The World Wild Fund for Nature "advocates an end to commercial elephant ivory sales in the U.S. and other major markets like China, Thailand and Hong Kong as the most effective and efficient solution to end this illegal ivory trade."
The WWF trains and teaches wildlife managers and different communities to use modern methods to diminish human-elephant conflict. The WWF's long term goal is "to put in place proper land use planning that gives elephants space for seasonal movements, combined with fences to protect crops and infrastructure. The WWF has also created a "flying squad" that has been taught to drive elephants back into forests and away from farms.
"In Mozambique, WWF helped the government establish Quirimbas National Park to conserve more than 2,300 square miles of miombo woodland and its resident elephants."
WWF has also partnered with TRAFFIC, an international wildlife trade monitoring network "to reduce the major threat that illegal and illicit domestic ivory markets pose to wild elephants."
WWF also works with elephant range state governments and non-governmental partners. WWF supports conservation landscapes like KAZA, "the largest transboundary conservation area in the world. Home to almost 250,000 elephants, we work to maintain this space to provide elephants freedom to roam."
The elephant population has dramatically decreased because of ivory poaching. The WWF is working hard to save the elephant population and create a life for this species that is filled with much more freedom.
WWF: http://www.worldwildlife.org/
WWF elephants: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant
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Both African and Asian elephants need an abundance of lance to survive. "Roaming in herds and consuming hundreds of pounds of plant matter in a single day, both species of elephant require extensive amounts of food, water and space."
Elephants are often hunted for their ivory. "Rampant ivory poaching has reduced the elephant population in Tanzania's oldest and largest protected area by 90 percent in fewer than 40 years."
The World Wild Fund for Nature "advocates an end to commercial elephant ivory sales in the U.S. and other major markets like China, Thailand and Hong Kong as the most effective and efficient solution to end this illegal ivory trade."
The WWF trains and teaches wildlife managers and different communities to use modern methods to diminish human-elephant conflict. The WWF's long term goal is "to put in place proper land use planning that gives elephants space for seasonal movements, combined with fences to protect crops and infrastructure. The WWF has also created a "flying squad" that has been taught to drive elephants back into forests and away from farms.
"In Mozambique, WWF helped the government establish Quirimbas National Park to conserve more than 2,300 square miles of miombo woodland and its resident elephants."
WWF has also partnered with TRAFFIC, an international wildlife trade monitoring network "to reduce the major threat that illegal and illicit domestic ivory markets pose to wild elephants."
WWF also works with elephant range state governments and non-governmental partners. WWF supports conservation landscapes like KAZA, "the largest transboundary conservation area in the world. Home to almost 250,000 elephants, we work to maintain this space to provide elephants freedom to roam."
The elephant population has dramatically decreased because of ivory poaching. The WWF is working hard to save the elephant population and create a life for this species that is filled with much more freedom.
WWF: http://www.worldwildlife.org/
WWF elephants: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant
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Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is an independent organization that promotes peace "by investigating, exposing and confronting environmental abuse, championing environmentally responsible solutions and advocating for the rights and well-being of all people."
Greenpeace has multiple campaigns that they're working on:
One of Greenpeace's campaigns is focused on saving the Arctic. The Arctic "spans eight countries, is home to more than 13 million people and provides a habitat for some of the most incredible wildlife on Earth." The Arctic Ocean has had to face the dangers of oil drilling and climate change. Greenpeace wants to make sure that the Arctic Ocean is off limits.
Another priority to Greenpeace are the forests. "Forests are crucial for the health and well-being of people, wildlife and our planet. They're home to roughly two-thirds of all land-dwelling plant and animal species, critical lifelines for communities big and small and one of the last lines of defense against catastrophic climate change." Many of the Earth's natural forests have been destroyed and half of global forest land has already been lost. Greenpeace's goal is to protect forests and look towards a future of thriving forests that can "sustain local communities and economies, are filled with unique wildlife and keep our air clean and pollution-free."
To learn about the other campaigns that Greenpeace has created, check out their website. I'll link it at the bottom of this blog post.
If you would like to get involved, you can donate, volunteer, intern or get a job with Greenpeace.
Greenpeace: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/
Greenpeace Campaigns: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/what-we-do/
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Greenpeace has multiple campaigns that they're working on:
One of Greenpeace's campaigns is focused on saving the Arctic. The Arctic "spans eight countries, is home to more than 13 million people and provides a habitat for some of the most incredible wildlife on Earth." The Arctic Ocean has had to face the dangers of oil drilling and climate change. Greenpeace wants to make sure that the Arctic Ocean is off limits.
Another priority to Greenpeace are the forests. "Forests are crucial for the health and well-being of people, wildlife and our planet. They're home to roughly two-thirds of all land-dwelling plant and animal species, critical lifelines for communities big and small and one of the last lines of defense against catastrophic climate change." Many of the Earth's natural forests have been destroyed and half of global forest land has already been lost. Greenpeace's goal is to protect forests and look towards a future of thriving forests that can "sustain local communities and economies, are filled with unique wildlife and keep our air clean and pollution-free."To learn about the other campaigns that Greenpeace has created, check out their website. I'll link it at the bottom of this blog post.
If you would like to get involved, you can donate, volunteer, intern or get a job with Greenpeace.
Greenpeace: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/
Greenpeace Campaigns: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/what-we-do/
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Remember The Memories
Have you ever looked around your room, your office, your kitchen, and actually thought about the STUFF that is sitting on your counters, your desk, your nightstand. We all collect books, knick knacks, photos or hand made gifts. We store them away or proudly place them out in the open so people can see and touch the possessions that make up who you are.
I was sitting in front of my computer the other day and after spending two hours looking at a computer screen, my brain felt like mush. I looked up and noticed the picture frames sitting on a shelf. Those picture frames have probably been on that shelf for ten years or more, but I didn't feel like I noticed them until that moment. I got up and walked over to my shelf filled with picture frames of my family. I spent ten minutes picking up every frame and looking at the picture, remembering when it was taken and the memories attached to them. There are pictures from my wedding day, from my daughters taking their first steps and pictures of me in my younger years playing tennis. I have seen all of these pictures thousands of times, but I felt like I had fresh eyes, seeing all of them for the first time.
We often get so used to our surroundings that we forget the details. We forget that memories, happiness and love is encompassing us. The pictures sitting in my office are filled with memories that are precious and priceless, but I have gotten so used to them being there that I forgot that THEY WERE THERE. I forgot the memories attached to them. I forgot when I put them up. I forgot their purpose. I needed to be reminded.
I think this happens often and happens to almost everyone. You put chairs in a room, books on shelves and picture frames on your desk. They become part of the room, part of the furniture and you forget why they are there. Life moves fast and sometimes we get so caught up in the tiny details that we forget about the bigger picture. We forget that life is not about waking up on time or making millions of dollars. Life is about the people surrounding you and the memories you make.
I think we all need to be aware of our surroundings a little more. Remember our memories a little more frequently. Sometimes you forget that important, treasurable items are all around you.
I was sitting in front of my computer the other day and after spending two hours looking at a computer screen, my brain felt like mush. I looked up and noticed the picture frames sitting on a shelf. Those picture frames have probably been on that shelf for ten years or more, but I didn't feel like I noticed them until that moment. I got up and walked over to my shelf filled with picture frames of my family. I spent ten minutes picking up every frame and looking at the picture, remembering when it was taken and the memories attached to them. There are pictures from my wedding day, from my daughters taking their first steps and pictures of me in my younger years playing tennis. I have seen all of these pictures thousands of times, but I felt like I had fresh eyes, seeing all of them for the first time.
We often get so used to our surroundings that we forget the details. We forget that memories, happiness and love is encompassing us. The pictures sitting in my office are filled with memories that are precious and priceless, but I have gotten so used to them being there that I forgot that THEY WERE THERE. I forgot the memories attached to them. I forgot when I put them up. I forgot their purpose. I needed to be reminded.
I think this happens often and happens to almost everyone. You put chairs in a room, books on shelves and picture frames on your desk. They become part of the room, part of the furniture and you forget why they are there. Life moves fast and sometimes we get so caught up in the tiny details that we forget about the bigger picture. We forget that life is not about waking up on time or making millions of dollars. Life is about the people surrounding you and the memories you make.
I think we all need to be aware of our surroundings a little more. Remember our memories a little more frequently. Sometimes you forget that important, treasurable items are all around you.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
The Future Of Self-driving Cars
Self-driving cars are the way of the future. Many still don't believe in self-driving cars. They think that it is safer for them to drive their car then to have their car drive itself. "Nearly 1.3 million people around the world die from automobile accidents every year, while another 20 million to 50 million become injured or disabled." Many of these accidents are caused by the people driving the cars, not the car itself.
"In April, a fleet of autonomous trucks successfully completed a cross-continental trip across Europe by a method called "platooning." Basically, trucks from six different types of manufactures traveled in small convoys. The truck that was leading everyone else set the speed and route and the other trucks followed that speed and route using Wi-Fi. "The wireless network ensured that braking and acceleration were in sync, while drivers in each vehicle handled the steering. Platooning allowed for less traffic, fewer accidents and reduced fuel consumption."
Many cars have the OnStar 4G LTE system that General Motors created. My wife has this in her car and it has been a life saver on trips. "Several GM vehicles also have the features Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist, which use camera sensors to detect environmental cues, like lane markings." GM also came out with Cruise Automation, which is a startup located in San Francisco. Cruise Automation is intended to speed up the development of self-driving car technology.
"GM has also worked with both the University of Michigan and MDOT(Michigan Department of Transportation) to create vehicle-to-infrastructure(V2I) communication technology-enabled corridors on more than 120 miles of metropolitan of metropolitan Detroit roads."
The future of self-driving cars is looking like it may come sooner than later.
The Guardian article: http://www.theguardian.com/general-motors-partner-zone/2016/jun/08/self-driving-cars-safety-roads-connectivity-wifi
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Sunday, June 12, 2016
Put Down Your Phone and Grab a Book
Walking into my office, you will find a book shelf stuffed with books. On the floor, you will find a neat stack of books, lined up in three or four horizontal rows, waiting to be read. I love to read. Before I go to sleep, I sit down with a book and a highlighter and spend an hour or longer soaking up the information that my eyes are taking in. I often wake up in the middle of the night with a book sitting on my chest because I fell a sleep reading, or I'll wake up and realize that I'm still sitting up, because I began to doze off after how ever many hours I spent turning the pages of my latest novel.
I enjoy reading about people, about their lives and about how they have overcome their struggles or fears. I am a believer in meditation, yoga, positivity and breaking free from anxiety and fear. Some of my favorite books are about people's journey's from the darkest points in their lives to how they climbed out of the negativity that was eating them alive to feeling free and happy.
Reading is a joy that I think everyone should experience and fall in love with. Reading a book can distract you from your reality, and sometimes that's a good thing. If you're stressed or overwhelmed, sometimes entering into a new world of imagination is a way to calm your self down or forget about your worries for an hour or two. I think reading is an underrated hobby. Many say that they don't have time to read, their too busy with work or they just can't find a way to appreciate it.
I believe that anyone can find time to read and if you say you don't enjoy reading, then you just haven't found the right book for you.
Reading is a way to nourish your brain and educate yourself. Sure, you can look up NASA or the environment or the biography of an influential person on Google, but why do that when you can hold a book in your hand and read the same information.
Book stores are becoming obsolete and that's a scary thought. I love going into book stores, especially on rainy days. I love roaming the isles and finding new books that interest me. It is sad to think that one day, kids and young adults will only be able to see a book store through a history book or through Google images.
I encourage you to go to a book store and stroll through the different sections and genres. I promise you that you will find a book that you love and find interesting. Even though book stores are scarce, I think it is important that you find a book store near you and take the time to feel the books around you.
Reading is not boring, dumb or a waste of time. It is a way to gain knowledge, understand different ways of thinking and a way to create and embrace your imagination.
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/markbuysdamagedcars/
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I enjoy reading about people, about their lives and about how they have overcome their struggles or fears. I am a believer in meditation, yoga, positivity and breaking free from anxiety and fear. Some of my favorite books are about people's journey's from the darkest points in their lives to how they climbed out of the negativity that was eating them alive to feeling free and happy.
Reading is a joy that I think everyone should experience and fall in love with. Reading a book can distract you from your reality, and sometimes that's a good thing. If you're stressed or overwhelmed, sometimes entering into a new world of imagination is a way to calm your self down or forget about your worries for an hour or two. I think reading is an underrated hobby. Many say that they don't have time to read, their too busy with work or they just can't find a way to appreciate it.
I believe that anyone can find time to read and if you say you don't enjoy reading, then you just haven't found the right book for you.
Reading is a way to nourish your brain and educate yourself. Sure, you can look up NASA or the environment or the biography of an influential person on Google, but why do that when you can hold a book in your hand and read the same information.
Book stores are becoming obsolete and that's a scary thought. I love going into book stores, especially on rainy days. I love roaming the isles and finding new books that interest me. It is sad to think that one day, kids and young adults will only be able to see a book store through a history book or through Google images.
I encourage you to go to a book store and stroll through the different sections and genres. I promise you that you will find a book that you love and find interesting. Even though book stores are scarce, I think it is important that you find a book store near you and take the time to feel the books around you.
Reading is not boring, dumb or a waste of time. It is a way to gain knowledge, understand different ways of thinking and a way to create and embrace your imagination.
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Thursday, June 9, 2016
Chef's Table
I finished my Netflix series a couple weeks ago and I felt lost. I had nothing to binge watch while eating dinner or cleaning the kitchen. I was driving home one afternoon and at a stop light I noticed a billboard add for a Netflix show titled "Chef's Table." I came home, sat down in the kitchen and looked up the show on Netflix. I'm still getting the hang of using Netflix on my T.V., so about three tries later I came across the show. I started the first episode and before I knew it my kitchen filled with my wife and my daughters. We were all watching intently as we observed chef Massimo Bottura make beautiful dishes in Modena, Italy.That night I watched three more episodes and before I knew it I finished the first season. I love watching shows that show different cultures, people and creative minds. "Chef's Table" is a documentary that shows you the lives and inventive thought processes of renowned international chefs.
Netflix is the new picture of T.V. I have become an official binge watcher in the last month and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I didn't quite understand how people could sit for hours on end watching episode after episode, but now I do. When you are imerced in a show that gets your creative juices flowing, it is very easy to watch an entire season in one night.
I'm going to link the trailer to "Chef's Table" below.
Chef's Table Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqj85oo2wI
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Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Conservation International: The Oceans
I was looking up different articles and facts on the ocean, and I came across Conservation International. Conservation International studies and measures the oceans as well as creating new models of ocean management.
"The ocean makes life on Earth possible. It nourishes our bodies and our souls. It influences our weather, fuels economies and connects distant lands. It is vast, deep, powerful and mysterious. And it's in trouble."
Conservation International brought up a good point. The ocean creates jobs for many people, through fishing, shopping and tourism.
The ocean provides 50% of Earth's oxygen and is a major part of the water cycle.
We have begun to take out more fish out of the ocean than the ocean can provide for us. Fishermen use nets to go down to the ocean floor or cut fins off of sharks. "Around 30% of the world's fisheries are overexploited or depleted."
"Coastal forests, tidal marshes and other shoreline ecosystems are Earth's carbon sponges. Nearly one-third of coastal regions have already been ruined."
The ocean helps keep our climate stable by absorbing carbon dioxide. The ocean has begun to absorb too much heat and carbon dioxide. This is causing the ocean to become warmer and more acidic. "Already, 75% of coral reefs- vital fish spawning grounds and barriers against storms- are in danger of dissolving or dying out."
Rivers run into the ocean, but they are filled with pollutants. There are "dead zones" in the ocean where nothing is able to live because the chemicals lurking suck up all of the oxygen.
Conservation International works with over 20 nations "to manage an area of sea the size of the moon. We also work to end destructive fishing practices- like trawling, shark finning and overfishing- so that fish stay in our ocean for generations."
Conservation International: http://www.conservation.org/what/pages/oceans.aspx
Nature Is Speaking: The Ocean: http://www.conservation.org/nature-is-speaking/Pages/Harrison-Ford-Is-the-Ocean.aspx
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"The ocean makes life on Earth possible. It nourishes our bodies and our souls. It influences our weather, fuels economies and connects distant lands. It is vast, deep, powerful and mysterious. And it's in trouble."
Conservation International brought up a good point. The ocean creates jobs for many people, through fishing, shopping and tourism.
The ocean provides 50% of Earth's oxygen and is a major part of the water cycle.
We have begun to take out more fish out of the ocean than the ocean can provide for us. Fishermen use nets to go down to the ocean floor or cut fins off of sharks. "Around 30% of the world's fisheries are overexploited or depleted."
"Coastal forests, tidal marshes and other shoreline ecosystems are Earth's carbon sponges. Nearly one-third of coastal regions have already been ruined."
The ocean helps keep our climate stable by absorbing carbon dioxide. The ocean has begun to absorb too much heat and carbon dioxide. This is causing the ocean to become warmer and more acidic. "Already, 75% of coral reefs- vital fish spawning grounds and barriers against storms- are in danger of dissolving or dying out."
Rivers run into the ocean, but they are filled with pollutants. There are "dead zones" in the ocean where nothing is able to live because the chemicals lurking suck up all of the oxygen.
Conservation International works with over 20 nations "to manage an area of sea the size of the moon. We also work to end destructive fishing practices- like trawling, shark finning and overfishing- so that fish stay in our ocean for generations."
Conservation International: http://www.conservation.org/what/pages/oceans.aspx
Nature Is Speaking: The Ocean: http://www.conservation.org/nature-is-speaking/Pages/Harrison-Ford-Is-the-Ocean.aspx
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Water.org
Water.org is an organization that is trying to bring clean water to the world. Their goal is to create safe and accessible water because they believe that "water is the way to empowering a better life that we can all share in, worldwide."
"We believe that water is the way. To break the cycle o f poverty. To achieve global equality. To make a bright future possible for all. We are here to break down the barriers between people and access to safe water and sanitation."
"We believe that water is the way. To break the cycle o f poverty. To achieve global equality. To make a bright future possible for all. We are here to break down the barriers between people and access to safe water and sanitation."
According to Water.org, 660 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.4 billion people lack access to a toilet.
Water.org has "transformed more than four million lives around the world through access to safe water and sanitation." Water.org was founded by Gary White and Matt Damon.
Here are some fast facts I found on Water.org:
"More people have a mobile phone than a toilet."
"Globally, 1/3 of all schools lack access to safe water and adequate sanitation."
"In lower and middle-income countries, 1/3 of all healthcare facilities lack a safe water source."
"Women and children spend 125 million hours each day collecting water."
"Women and girls living without a toilet spend 266 million hours each day finding a place to go."
"Women and girls often spend up to 6 hours each day collecting water."
"In Africa and Asia, women and children walk an average of 3.7 miles a day just to collect water."
"160 million children suffer from stunting and chronic malnutrition linked to water and sanitation."
Water.org has created the WaterCredit. It is a new way to "apply smart thinking to the world's water problem. It is the first program that has but microfinance tools in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector."
Water.org has partnered with microfinance institutions who provide loans to people or families who need water or toilets.
Once the loan is repaid, it can be passed on to the next person who needs it. "It is a pay-it-forward system that makes it possible to help more and more people in ways that will last."
To learn more about the economics, disease, women's crisis and where Water.org works, check out Water.org!
Water.org is a great non-profit organization that is trying to fix the water crisis.
Water.org: http://water.org/
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Monday, June 6, 2016
Laughter Is The Best Medicine
On Saturday night, my family and I went to see a comedy show at The Groundlings Theatre. We've gone twice before and left with pain in our stomachs from laughing so hard. We went to see the show called Action Playset. It was two hours of laughter and nonstop smiles. By the end of it my mouth hurt from smiling and my eyes were watering from hysterical laughter. The only thing I have to say about the show is three words. Men. In. Speedos.
Laughter is the best medicine. It relieves stress, releases endorphins and just makes you happier overall. A comedy show is a great way to let out a strong hard laugh. I always leave feeling good and care free.
After leaving the show, I felt lighter. I felt better. I blame it on the laughter. Not only are you laughing, but you're surrounded by people who are laughing just as hard as you. It's a room filled with people doubling over, clapping their hands and stomping their feet because they can not stop laughing.
The Groundlings also has a small band that sits in the corner and plays really great music while the crew is setting up for the next seen.
The Groundlings has a very positive vibe and feel. You walk in and the energy is uplifting and promising. Everyone is in high spirits.
I highly recommend buying a ticket for a comedy show and going with your friends or family. Or, just go by yourself. It doesn't have to be The Groundlings. There are millions of comedy clubs in Los Angeles and if you don't live in L.A., I'm sure there is an great comedy club near you.
Going to see a show that you know will be funny will raise your spirits, quite your mind and leave you with a smile.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
World Environment Day 2016
Today is World Environment Day!
World Environment Day (WED) began in 1974. Today WED is celebrated in over 100 different countries. World Environment Day "serves as the people's day for doing something to take care of the Earth or become an agent of change."
Every year WED follows a specific theme. This year's theme is "illegal trade in wildlife under the slogan Go Wild for Life." This year the country Angola is WED's host. Click the link at the end of this post to read more about what WED is.
Here's a little more on this year's theme:
"The booming illegal trade in wildlife products is eroding Earth's precious biodiversity, robbing us of our natural heritage and driving whole species to the brink of extinction."
Elephants, rhinos, tigers, gorillas and sea turtles are some of the animals that are in danger. "In 2011, a subspecies of Javan rhino went extinct in Vietnam, while the last western black rhinos vanished from Cameroon the same year." Along with the Javan rhino, great apes have gone extinct in Gambia, Burkina, Faso, Benin and Togo.
Take part in World Environment Day! "Many local extinctions will eventually add up to a global extinction!"
About WED: http://www.wed2016.com/content/what-is-wed
WED blog: http://www.wed2016.com/wed-blog
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/markbuysdamagedcars/
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World Environment Day (WED) began in 1974. Today WED is celebrated in over 100 different countries. World Environment Day "serves as the people's day for doing something to take care of the Earth or become an agent of change."
Every year WED follows a specific theme. This year's theme is "illegal trade in wildlife under the slogan Go Wild for Life." This year the country Angola is WED's host. Click the link at the end of this post to read more about what WED is.
Here's a little more on this year's theme:
"The booming illegal trade in wildlife products is eroding Earth's precious biodiversity, robbing us of our natural heritage and driving whole species to the brink of extinction."
Elephants, rhinos, tigers, gorillas and sea turtles are some of the animals that are in danger. "In 2011, a subspecies of Javan rhino went extinct in Vietnam, while the last western black rhinos vanished from Cameroon the same year." Along with the Javan rhino, great apes have gone extinct in Gambia, Burkina, Faso, Benin and Togo.
Take part in World Environment Day! "Many local extinctions will eventually add up to a global extinction!"
About WED: http://www.wed2016.com/content/what-is-wed
WED blog: http://www.wed2016.com/wed-blog
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Friday, June 3, 2016
Bringing Vintage Into the Future
On Memorial Day my family and I drove into Pasadena, California. We walked around, had lunch, picked up an ice cream and spent the day smiling. While we were eating lunch, my youngest daughter brought up the subject of cameras. She explained how she really wanted to get a film camera, but she didn't want to buy an original Olympus or Nikon because it's old, used and may not work as well. As she spoke, and I ate my salad, a bright light bulb went off in my head and fluttered over my dark, slightly gray, but still dark and handsome head of hair. I could immediately see my old 1978 Canon A-E1 film camera sitting on a shelf in our garage. I told her about it, and with a little hesitance and skepticism, she agreed to look at it when we got home.
To my surprise, the minute my key unlocked the front door, she asked me about my camera. I laughed, put my keys down and disappeared into the garage to try and find my newly important possession. A few minutes later, I came back in the kitchen holding my camera, along with two extra lenses. My daughter's eyes widened and a smile broke out on her face. She was in awe. I set everything down, took them out of their very dusty cases, and laid out the materials on the kitchen counter. After about 20 minutes of investigating, we realized we needed new batteries. My daughter and I hopped into my turbo beetle and hightailed it to Rite Aid(we didn't actually high tale it to Rite Aid, we drove very carefully and leisurely. It was Memorial Day, there was not traffic!) We traveled through the aisles, found the batteries we needed and the 35 mm color film that was necessary to actually use the camera. We grabbed the last 35 mm color film, so if that doesn't show you that it was meant to be, I don't know what will!
My daughter and I pulled into the garage, hopped out, went inside and spent the next half an hour fiddling with the settings, the batteries and the film. Finally, we got it to work and she took her first ever picture using a film camera. It was of me laughing. I can already tell she's going to be a great photographer.
My point in sharing this story is not to share a bonding moment I had with my daughter, or show that I had a great Memorial Day weekend. Those memories will be engrained in my brain forever, and I will look back on our 2016 Memorial Day film camera adventure fondly. My point in sharing this story was to show that the past can always be brought into the present. I kept my Canon film camera because I realized that it was an important asset to me. My daughter said to me, "I can't believe that you kept this! You always throw everything out." My response was "I never throw out the good things." I kept my camera thinking that maybe one day I would use it. I thought this is something special, why would I get rid of it? I was able to pass on what was left of my record collection to my daughter, and now I have something else to pass on to her as well. It's a great feeling to be able to give your daughter something that you were passionate about, and know that she's passionate about it as well. Now, when I think about my 1978 Canon film camera, I won't think about when I received it or when I used it, but when I was able to give it to my daughter, so she could use it for her own creativity.
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To my surprise, the minute my key unlocked the front door, she asked me about my camera. I laughed, put my keys down and disappeared into the garage to try and find my newly important possession. A few minutes later, I came back in the kitchen holding my camera, along with two extra lenses. My daughter's eyes widened and a smile broke out on her face. She was in awe. I set everything down, took them out of their very dusty cases, and laid out the materials on the kitchen counter. After about 20 minutes of investigating, we realized we needed new batteries. My daughter and I hopped into my turbo beetle and hightailed it to Rite Aid(we didn't actually high tale it to Rite Aid, we drove very carefully and leisurely. It was Memorial Day, there was not traffic!) We traveled through the aisles, found the batteries we needed and the 35 mm color film that was necessary to actually use the camera. We grabbed the last 35 mm color film, so if that doesn't show you that it was meant to be, I don't know what will!My daughter and I pulled into the garage, hopped out, went inside and spent the next half an hour fiddling with the settings, the batteries and the film. Finally, we got it to work and she took her first ever picture using a film camera. It was of me laughing. I can already tell she's going to be a great photographer.
My point in sharing this story is not to share a bonding moment I had with my daughter, or show that I had a great Memorial Day weekend. Those memories will be engrained in my brain forever, and I will look back on our 2016 Memorial Day film camera adventure fondly. My point in sharing this story was to show that the past can always be brought into the present. I kept my Canon film camera because I realized that it was an important asset to me. My daughter said to me, "I can't believe that you kept this! You always throw everything out." My response was "I never throw out the good things." I kept my camera thinking that maybe one day I would use it. I thought this is something special, why would I get rid of it? I was able to pass on what was left of my record collection to my daughter, and now I have something else to pass on to her as well. It's a great feeling to be able to give your daughter something that you were passionate about, and know that she's passionate about it as well. Now, when I think about my 1978 Canon film camera, I won't think about when I received it or when I used it, but when I was able to give it to my daughter, so she could use it for her own creativity.
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/markbuysdamagedcars/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/mwcars
My Instagram: Markbuysdamagedcars
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Toms Shoes: One for One
My oldest daughter loves Toms shoes and is very passionate about the company's sole purpose. She walked in with a new pair of Toms on yesterday and it inspired me to write a blog post on who Toms shoes is and the wonderful things they are doing for the world.
Toms slogan is One for One. When you purchase a Toms product, you help "provide shoes, water, safe birth and bullying prevention to people in need." Toms has given 60 million pairs of shoes to children in need.
When you purchase a pair of shoes, a pair of shoes goes to a child in need. When you purchase Toms eyewear, you help "restore sight to an individual through sight-saving surgery, prescription glasses or medical treatment."
"More than 780 million people don't have access to safe water. TOMS Roasting Co. purchases support water systems in seven countries- in the same regions where we source our coffee beans."
Purchasing a Toms bag provides the training needed for a successful child birth and provides "materials needed to help a woman safely give birth."
Purchasing items from the Toms High Road Backpack Collection will provide "training of school staff and crisis counselors to help prevent and respond to instances of bullying."
Not only has Toms helped different people in over 70 different countries around the world, but has also created over 700 jobs, has produced over 10 million pairs of shoes in 5 different countries and has employed an equal male to female ratio of workers. Toms has also been able to invest $2 million dollars into fighting Podoconiosis, "a debilitating disease that causes painful swelling of the feet and legs due to irritants found in certain countries' soils."
Click the Toms website link below to read more about the great things Toms is doing.
Toms website: http://www.toms.com/improving-lives
Toms blog: http://www.toms.com/stories/
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Toms slogan is One for One. When you purchase a Toms product, you help "provide shoes, water, safe birth and bullying prevention to people in need." Toms has given 60 million pairs of shoes to children in need.When you purchase a pair of shoes, a pair of shoes goes to a child in need. When you purchase Toms eyewear, you help "restore sight to an individual through sight-saving surgery, prescription glasses or medical treatment."
"More than 780 million people don't have access to safe water. TOMS Roasting Co. purchases support water systems in seven countries- in the same regions where we source our coffee beans."
Purchasing a Toms bag provides the training needed for a successful child birth and provides "materials needed to help a woman safely give birth."
Purchasing items from the Toms High Road Backpack Collection will provide "training of school staff and crisis counselors to help prevent and respond to instances of bullying."
Not only has Toms helped different people in over 70 different countries around the world, but has also created over 700 jobs, has produced over 10 million pairs of shoes in 5 different countries and has employed an equal male to female ratio of workers. Toms has also been able to invest $2 million dollars into fighting Podoconiosis, "a debilitating disease that causes painful swelling of the feet and legs due to irritants found in certain countries' soils."Click the Toms website link below to read more about the great things Toms is doing.
Toms website: http://www.toms.com/improving-lives
Toms blog: http://www.toms.com/stories/
My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/markbuysdamagedcars/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/mwcars
My Instagram: Markbuysdamagedcars
Smart Cities Challenge: San Francisco
As part of their Smart Cities Challenge, The Department of Transportation is giving $40 million dollars to one city to help them experiment with different transit options.
San Francisco is a finalist in the challenge. San Francisco wishes to create "a network of city-run cars and shuttles, where the on-demand businesses it's still struggling to regulate are a seamless part of life." The city wants to reduce traffic by creating autonomous cars, where people share one car instead of driving their own.
Keep reading to learn about the rest of San Francisco's big picture plan:
To help the self driving cars, sensors will be built in to the streets. Cars will also be able to talk to other vehicles.
The goal of San Francisco's self driving and autonomous cars is to persuade people to sell their cars and rely solely on city-run transit services.
Currently San Francisco's public transportation is facing many challenges. Their public transit is underfunded. San Fran's population is rapidly increasing and the city cannot keep up.
To ease people into the new plan, the city has come up with an app "that cobbles together a commute from an eclectic rang of options."
Someone can drive their car to the first stop, then leave it there for someone else to rent it throughout the day. A person can then use public transit, bikes or a ride-sharing service.
San Francisco also wants to create "vanpools, smarter maps and lockers so that delivery trucks can drop their goods off at night when there's less traffic."
San Francisco is one of the seven finalists in the Smart Cities Challenge. "Each of the finalists received $100,000 to refine its ideas." A winner will be chosen in June.
"Can a City Switch Entirely to Driverless Cars?" CNN Money Article: http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/31/technology/san-francisco-smart-city/
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San Francisco is a finalist in the challenge. San Francisco wishes to create "a network of city-run cars and shuttles, where the on-demand businesses it's still struggling to regulate are a seamless part of life." The city wants to reduce traffic by creating autonomous cars, where people share one car instead of driving their own.
To help the self driving cars, sensors will be built in to the streets. Cars will also be able to talk to other vehicles.
The goal of San Francisco's self driving and autonomous cars is to persuade people to sell their cars and rely solely on city-run transit services.
Currently San Francisco's public transportation is facing many challenges. Their public transit is underfunded. San Fran's population is rapidly increasing and the city cannot keep up.
To ease people into the new plan, the city has come up with an app "that cobbles together a commute from an eclectic rang of options."
Someone can drive their car to the first stop, then leave it there for someone else to rent it throughout the day. A person can then use public transit, bikes or a ride-sharing service.
San Francisco also wants to create "vanpools, smarter maps and lockers so that delivery trucks can drop their goods off at night when there's less traffic."
San Francisco is one of the seven finalists in the Smart Cities Challenge. "Each of the finalists received $100,000 to refine its ideas." A winner will be chosen in June.
"Can a City Switch Entirely to Driverless Cars?" CNN Money Article: http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/31/technology/san-francisco-smart-city/
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