Waterpod Project (renderings by James Halverson of Lux Visual Effects)
A recurring theme for the future seems to be alternative housing. The Waterpod Project intends to be a model for the future of architecture and living. It is concerned with the same basic problems as other projects, climate change and increasing world population, but takes a different approach. Where Polar Cities and Lilypad are primarily concerned with physical survival, Waterpod is interested in creativity and expression.
The Waterpod is inspiring because it has moved past the hypothetical, it is currently being constructed in New York. Being a model for future building, sustainability is the key. The Waterpod is being built on a retired industrial barge using salvaged materials. It features three domes to be used for artistic space, sleeping quarters, and agriculture.
It is currently scheduled to launch in New York in May, 2009, from the Newtown Creek between Brooklyn and Queens, navigate down the East River, explore the waters of New York Harbor, and stopping at each of the five boroughs it will dock at several Manhattan piers on the Hudson River, then beyond.
—Waterpod Structure
Waterpod artist residency building
To begin with there will be five residents who will live and work and be completely sustained on the barge. They plan to travel around to teach, give tours, and have exhibitions. They hope to be a model and inspiration for the future, to prepare and to encourage innovation.
This forces me to focus on certain things that I have been putting off for too long, and forces me to live like we will probably all need to live sooner or later.
—Mary Mattingly
In response to all this hubbub about YACHT being a pirate, I’ve been thinking about what software I’ve purchased. So here, more or less, comprehensive as hell, my list:
- Every “major” product that Panic has made including Transmit, Coda, and Unison. I used Unison a lot initially, but I can’t say I’ve opened it in a while.
- BBEdit, which I bought a long time ago and has since retired from my applications folder. I loved it.
- TextMate, which came as a replacement for BBEdit. Suckily, I found TextMate just before Coda came out. I still use it from time to time though.
- Adobe CS2/Macromedia Stuff 8. (Before the merger, I haven’t delved into CS4 yet, but I’ve heard many bad things.)
- QuarkXPress 7, still my favorite page layout application.
- Ecto, which I haven’t used in a long time, but it was the blogging tool for me.
- I upgraded OmniOutliner from 2 to 3, and I’ve almost purchased OmniWeb several times.
- Remember The Milk pro, for the Blackberry syncing.
- And of course Flickr.
(A lot of the other software I use is freeware… Also, I’ve been thinking about purchasing FontExplorer.)
I frequent a handful of forums, and most of my favorites use Vanilla. Vanilla is great because the first view you see is a list of all recent discussions instead of categories, which is nice because it is only one click to read a thread rather than two or more. Also, the objective of Vanilla is to be a minimalist forum, not many default features, very fast, very extensible. Because Vanilla is very basic by default, it is fun to customize. I use it for Nice.
These screenshots are of some really nicely designed forums that I like. They are used as support and bug reporting for different services. Similarly, I use a Vanilla powered forum to manage freelance work and other projects.
Anyhow, use Vanilla, it is cool. Use it.
I was listening to an interview with Sally Carson (Fixpert) on Bike Talk on KPFK today and she was saying cool stuff about the way you should act as a cyclist. About not being all aggro and flipping the bird, but just trucking along in all weather having a good time. When you send out positive vibes to drivers, you inspire them to bike because it looks so fun (and then you won’t inspire drivers to hate cyclists more).
I needed to hear that. I sometimes get really frustrated with cars and suvs cutting me off or almost hitting me and I yell and flip the bird. It can really get to me, about how cars have more rights, and can just run you off the road, and that the police or whoever would take their side. And how cars contribute to smog and exhaust just choking me and shortening my life. Bitches.
But like Laura tells me, it is not worth getting so mad and worked up over. Also, like Sally said, you can inspire them to ride bikes, which is like better for the whole world. And they were talking about on the show that anyone on any kind of bike (road, mountain, beach cruiser, fixed gear, whatever) is GREAT because it is SO MUCH BETTER than them driving around in SUVs. There is no reason to be an elitist about it. The main goals of the cycling community should always to have more people riding.
I have always been inspired by people like that, being so cool and nice to everyone. I feel like there are elitist and accepting cool people in any community. I would like to be more like that, not all aggro and elitist all the time, but be really cool, positive, and accepting. We all have a right to love life and not to be shamed for trying.
