NYC grid everywhere: Mumbai, India
What does the New York City grid look like if we extend it throughout the world? Well, Extend NY helps visualize what those streets look like.
Right now I’m at the intersection of East 74,461 Ave and 94,097th Street. Which subway should I take home?
Dutch Water Line
Zonsondergang bij de Geniedijk, a photo by M-MZ on Flickr.
The Dutch Water Line was a series of water based defenses conceived by Maurice of Nassau in the early 17th century. Fortifying and combining natural bodies of water, it could be used to transform the Dutch Republic almost into a fortified island. Sluices were constructed in dikes and forts and fortified towns were created at strategic points along the line with guns covering especially the dikes that traversed the water line. The water level in the flooded areas was carefully maintained to a level deep enough to make an advance on foot precarious and shallow enough to rule out effective use of boats (other than the flat bottomed gun barges used by the Dutch defenders).
This is fascinating.
Naarden, NL – not to be confused with Coevorden, NL
Instead of merely using ramped earth, the Dutch used shallow ponds full of water to repel invaders. Only an early frost permitted Napoleon to breach the defense. In addition to the shallow ponds (30cm / 12″ deep) the Dutch also fortified strategic locations starting with Renaissance fortifications – much like Coevorden, NL, then Martello towers then combined fortifications which ultimately became obsolete as war-fighting became mobile and airborne.
Today, most of the water line is still intact with the Stelling van Amsterdam (below, simplified image) declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site (you know how I love those Heritage Sites). I would love to visit these installations and undertake a long study of them.
More information:
Conan Building Battle: Empire State Building Versus various LA Buildings
Random Building, Mumbai
The building we visited was named “Miriam.” This was next to the building named “Random.”
I love India.
EPCOT Motion Logo
Updates on previous entries for 28 Oct 2011*
*Q: Excuse me? A: These previously published entries have been updated with new information recently. You can find past updates here.
Diwali must be Hindi for Explosives
Diwali is upon us – the Festival of Lights – where large candles are set out in the hallways and picture windows, lights are strung from buildings and small-calibre munitions are exploded throughout the dense metropolis. Instead of the infinite, and unending, sidewalk cricket matches sprinkled throughout the city, matches which make Test Cricket look like temporary vacations, the youth of the neighborhood cluster in an apparent attempt to catch my flat on fire.
While I do have twelve floors in elevation on them, the amount of airborne explosions is shockingly high. For the last three nights fireworks have rained throughout the neighborhood, attesting to the unending supply of explosives and enthusiasum and the need to banish evil spirits. This confirms my suspicion that India celebrates better, or at least with better endurance than other countries I have visited. Why celebrate one night when you can celebrate five nights in a row?
At least the view is pretty.
I cannot begrudge the semi-professional firework displays, since after each blast the children of the neighborhood scream and cheer with such enthusiasm, their excitement filtering through the secondary explosions. While I prefer the sharing of sweets and welcoming the grace of Lakshmi and Ganesh to my door who will hopefully shower us with both wealth and auspicious beginnings, I’ll take the sound of children cheering any day.
Happy Diwali!
Shelter from the Storm
Well I’m living in a foreign country but I’m bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor’s edge someday I’ll make it mine
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born
“Come in” she said
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”