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You’re on track: DIY rail opus

If you visit our site often, you'll know how much we love trains and the railways.  In these days of a worrisome climatic future, and the growth of the global population and diminishing resources, we need to be efficient.  Rail is just that . . and more. Recently, probably the longest train trip has been…

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Wherefore art now?

This may sound trite, but art is art, isn't it?  Artists follow their muse to amaze / amuse / surprise us with what the human mind can conjure up.  We may not always "get it" but there never seems to be a shortage of those who create something compelling. Interestingly, there are also those who…

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Roadkill

It is almost certain that you recently interacted closely with an invisible giant, as the Harvard landscape ecologist Richard T T Forman has described it. Others have called roads ‘the single most destructive element in the process of habitat fragmentation’, declaring that ‘Few forces have been more influential in modifying the Earth than transportation.’  But, the engineering…

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12th century DIY

Looking for a new home improvement project? Well, we have the projects for you! A choice of seven.  Perfect for any level of skills.  Building materials are easy to find.  Good bones to start of your project.   Includes helpful videos. What could possibly go wrong? Read more here courtesy of AtlasObscura.com You'll want to visit…

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Finally!

If you visit our site, you'll know that we are huge proponents of rail travel.  What's not to like?  High-speed, comfort and better for the environment. Most countries have highspeed rail options in place, and have had for many years.  But there has always been one rather glaring exception - the USA.  Train travel works there…

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VRtigo

Although the world is starting to open up again, from the Covid-19 pandemic, it can still be a bit of a dicey proposition:  you never know when someone won't be "cooperating" with the efforts to quell the pandemic.  And, there is always the chance that your flight will be surreptitiously cancelled. Well, if you're still clamouring…

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The fifteen minute city

The world is certainly not getting any smaller, that's for sure.  And its capacity to hold us all is starting to become a strain on the planet.  But, as ever, there are clever humans who have ideas. The 15-minute city urban theory received the 2021 Obel Prize in recognition of the concept's value for creating sustainable…

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NYC . . . thin on the ground

As if encountering wafer-thin fashion models as they strut down Fifth Avenue in New York City  isn't enough to discombobulate your sense of self, now the high-rise apartments are getting into the act. New York has always been home to some of the world’s tallest towers, but in the last 10 years the city has seen…

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I’m afraid that is not possible

In certain markets, airlines compete directly with train operating companies. This is a common phenomenon in Europe, where countries like France and Germany have extensive high-speed rail networks. However, in some instances, airlines choose not to compete for various reasons. easyJet (an affiliate friend of ours)  is one such carrier, and Simple Flying recently learned why. And while…

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Hey, big spender

Is your life mundane?  Do you want power and influence? Do you have $2.75 million to spare? You could become the owner of a tiny desert outpost in rural California. The town of Nipton, California, is for sale after the idea to establish the community as a cannabis consumption destination went bust amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On any given…

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El Prado……corrado

If you have been to Madrid and have not visited the Prado Museum, then shame on you / you're really missing out. Without question, in the top five museums in the world, Prado has the ability to overwhelm you with the depth, breadth and sheer quality of its holdings.  Give yourself at least two full days…

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Not big enough. Try harder.

The future is sphere.  Have a look at these specifications for Las Vegas's new OTT spectacle. The MSG Sphere at The Venetian is a sphere-shaped music and entertainment arena being built in Paradise, Nevada, near the Las Vegas Strip and east of the Venetian resort. The 17,500-seat auditorium was initially scheduled to open in 2021…

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Go, cat go!

Elvis Presley was a lot of things, but never boring. Whether it's his Army hip-shaking' days, to his Qaalude and banana sandwiches legend, The King will never disappear from the world stage. If you want to learn more, Peter Guralnick's two-volume work is currently considered the definitive Presley biography. His Last Train to Memphis: The Rise…

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300 kph kitty

Manga?  Man, go! Japan is a wonderous place of so many contrasts. Surgically-focused mega-corporations.  Almost unreal scenery.  Respectful and warm humans. And a Hello Kitty bullet train.  Never again will your commute be mundane.  You can even be the engineer - sort of. Enjoy the video below and experience it yourself.  Bullet trains in Japan are just…

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Whatever state you’re in….

Doesn't it sometimes feel like there is some supercomputer that airlines use to change the price of your flight every time you look away from your screen? Well, the always useful Scott's Cheap Flights (affiliate friends of ours) have got the latest tips  ... they crunched the numbers to find out which destinations had the…

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Here’s looking at Loo, kid

Loo =  toilet (UK) Public works are often joyless, utilitarian, just-get-it-done affairs.  Whether it's a road, or a bridge or even public restrooms, it makes you wonder why a little je ne sais quoi can't be in the building specifications. Happily, though, that's not always the case.  And here are some fine examples of where good taste…

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