LOCAL CULTURE.

In National Geographic’s March issue they have a terrific photo essay entitled Shanghai Dreams. Fritz Hoffman’s photos juxtapose Shanghai’s older aspects & traditions against new architecture & highspeed tendencies. As spotted on Boing Boing – they report: “There are lots of places in the world where seamless high-tech and ancient cobblestones exist side by side, but I’ve never been anywhere in which you can go from one to the other so quickly as Shanghai.” Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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TRAVEL INNOVATIONS.

We’ll go anywhere on a train. It doesn’t matter how far. The comfort, the stress free check-in and ability to get boat loads of work done make it worthwhile. Sounds crazy? We know, but it’s the truth. Luckily, this is something airlines are starting to realize. It’s a slow process but they’re coming around. The more they help us forget about the stresses of travel, the better off everyone is. Give us wifi, free meals, and a comfortable lounge (see Porter) and they’ll see more and more passengers become a charming, happy and empathetic bunch. Proof of this comes by way of Air New Zealand.

As reported by Gizmodo: “When you’re flying 90 odd-hrs just to get to Auckland, you’d be wanting to charge your iPod or laptop at least once. Air New Zealand’s done a major overhaul of its Boeing 777 plane, with sockets and USB ports galore. It’s not just for the suit-clad first class and business class passengers either. 11 Skycouches that turn into flat beds for two will make those weeks in the air fly past quickly, with the other seats providing extra leg room and comfort.” Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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ART.

The context of art history is all around us – especially if you’re visiting Mike Ballard’s exhibit at the University of Arts London. The Art Gallery is displaying his atmospheric piece depicting an interesting interpretation of Art and its history. As weheart describes it, “The All of Everything features the artist’s almost apocalyptic vision of arts history, the installation encompasses the entire space of the gallery with floors, ceilings and walls depicting all that art has given us, psychedelically fused with Ballard’s archaic vision of all that art will ever give… “

The All of Everything will be on display at The Arts Gallery from now until February when the gallery is scheduled to be demolished making way for the Crossrail’s new Railway System.

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TRAVEL: Britain gets a taste of the speedy life. Their first fully domestic high speed rail service opened yesterday. As the DailyMail reports, “A full timetable of the Japanese-built 140mph trains is now running from London to Kent, on sections of the High Speed one (HS1) Channel Tunnel rail link. But passengers have to pay more to use the super-fast trains, operated by the Southeastern train company, than those using the ‘normal’ services.” Click Read More for additional information.

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TRAVEL MOMENTS: Shanghai combines light and speed for an entertaining ride underground. In between Pudong and the Bund, subway riders are treated to a short light show. The above image is from the Boston Globe’s big picture. In it the photographer is in the front car and put his camera up to the window as an oncoming train enters. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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ART: Series & Progression pits neon lighting against dark space. Much like James Turrell, Clar, or the the folks at Lab[au] – Dan Flavin was a master of letting his work speak for itself. As Dan once described, “It is what it is, and it ain’t nothin’ else. Everything is clearly, openly, plainly delivered. There is no overwhelming spirituality you are supposed to come into contact with. I like my use of light to be openly situational in the sense that there is no invitation to meditate, to contemplate. It’s in a sense a ‘get-in-get-out’ situation. And it is very easy to understand. One might not think of light as a matter of fact, but I do. And it is, as I said, as plain and open and direct an art as you will ever find.”

The David Zwirner Gallery in NYC will display Dan’s work until December 19. Be sure to check it out if you’re in town. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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TRAVEL: Google proves again that it’s not your average company. In a move that goes beyond typical advertising, they’re offering free wi-fi to travelers at 47 participating airports from now until January 15, 2010. Well played Google.

As reported by MacWorld: “Google’s doing this to make the holiday travel crush a little easier. To that end, the company is working with Boingo, Advanced Wireless Group, Time Warner Cable, Electronic Media Systems, Lilypad, and other airport Wi-Fi providers to foot the bill for airport travelers. The search giant also struck a similar deal earlier this year with airline Virgin America to provide free Wi-Fi on its flights.” Click Read More for additional information.

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