The Best is Yet to Be, or Not To Be?

Why did Australia’s internet project fail?

Political interference, switching to MTM (much slower), and cost overruns significantly contributed to the failure of Australia's internet project.

Why was Canada so slow to adopting HSR? (High speed rail)

High costs, uncertain funding, and existing infrastructure is outdated.

Why are megaprojects a “waste of time” according to Jacques Leslie and many others?

Cost overruns, previous failures of past megaprojects, and argue that smaller improvements are better.

What is the “Iron law of megaprojects”

The idea that megaprojects are consistently over budget, over time, and under benefits.

What is the “Black Swan Theory”

a metaphor for an event that is rare and unexpected, which has a big impact. (relates with megaprojects due to have unpredictable they could be, weather, regulation changes, etc.

Bent Flyvbjerg’s research shows that over 90% of megaprojects exceed budgets due to unforeseen risks.

What is the Seattle Tunnel Project (Bertha)

What is the Big Dig

The most expensive highway project in the US. This was originally planned and developed to fix Boston’s outdated streets, built before modern cars. However, this megaproject was overrun by costs increasing, criminal charges and arrests, deaths, and many design flaws, this lead to accusations of poor execution, and inferior/cheap materials.

What is the Channel Tunnel

One of the more successful ones here, it connects France and the UK through an underwater tunnel passing the English Channel. It carries high speed passenger trains, services for freight trains, and even regular driving. 

This was attempted to be built earlier but due to concerns of security from British citizens, this was cancelled for the time being.

What is the Californian High-Speed rail (and why did it not work out/fail)

Didn’t get enough funding, was poorly managed due to lack of funding, and planning was all over the place. Many others argued that the money should be spent on other transportation/infrastructure projects. Another reason it was controversial was that the first segment was started in the Central Valley rather than in dense urban areas.

What is Sejong City (and why did it not work out/fail)

New capital planned for South Korea, 2007. Wanted it to be more centrally located, and encourage investment away from Seoul. However, not really successful at replacing the capital.

What is NEOM (The Line) (and why did it not work out/fail)

Planned city by Saudia, you’ve probably heard about this before, the LINE city that they’re planning, planned to be completed by 2039.

Criticised for human rights violations, displacing locals, and many environmental violations.

Cost estimates skyrocketed, causing the proposed ~200 KM+ city to be reduced to below 7 KM

What are the Khazar Islands (and why did it not work out/fail)

Artificial islands off the coast of Baku, Azerbaijan's capital. 41 islands construction came to a stop after the crash of oil prices in 2015, it has not continued since then, nor is there any sign of it resuming.

What is the Three Gorges Dam

Hydroelectric dam in central china, the largest power station by installed capacity, completed construction 2006, and fully operational  by 2012, and the last major component of the project, the ship life, was completed in 2015. One of the more successful ones on the list.

What is the Hong Kong Zhuhai Bridge (and why did it not work out/fail)

Codenamed the HZMB, three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and 4 artificial islands. It is both the longest sea crossing and the longest open-sea fixed link in the world, designed to last for 120 years, and originally set to open to the public in 2016, however finished in feb 2018. 

Many residents claimed that it was a waste of taxpayers money, due to how restrictive the bridge  is, and needing lots of administrative paperwork to even get on the bridge; less

than 9,000 vehicles per day used the bridge in 2023.

Why are people more lonely these days?

CVOID-19, and the rise of social media.

Who is Paro and what does he do?

This is Paro, a robotic seal used to fight loneliness in Japan through providing therapy, and social interactions for older people.

What does “karoshi” mean? And why is it relevant.

Term in Japanese used to refer to overworked people in Japan. Relevant due to the loneliness and isolation it causes.

What is the “Pepper robot”, and who created it?

a humanoid robot, which is used as a substitute for children, or grandchildren, created by softbanks robotics.

What is the Telenoid R1

Telenoid R1, minimalised, usually for men, for relationship uses, i’ll let the image below explain.

What did the US surgeon general equate the morality effects of being lonely to?

“effects are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day”

What is “HDI”

Human Development Index

What is “The Meta Crisis”

Refers to the unconnected, complex crises that overlap and amplify one another. The complex intersection of finance, tech, climate change, and AI creates this “Meta Crisis,” this multifaceted challenged will and has already reshaped the global economy, and should force politicians to consider the broader society implications facing communities locally and globally.

TL;DR, many different issues such as climate change, AI, economic stagnation, etc all tangle with each other.

What’s happening in Nagoro, Japan?

Due to population decline in that village, and the lack of childern causing an empty environment, a grandma started to fill the village with dolls that she made to at least fill up the village. 

What is the “The Canadian solution”

Canada has turned to immigration to counter the declining birthrate.

What is the “The Hungarian solution”

Tax cuts and benefits for women for stay home and have more children, birth 4 children and you will no taxes, have housing support, SUV subsidies, etc. New recent program offers lifetime income tax exemption for any woman who has a child in her 20s.

What is “The Swedish Solution”

The Swedish government allows for women to have children without sacrificing their career unlike Hungary. 

Parents receive 480 days of parental leave, and parents are paid 80% of their salary to look after a sick child. Few Swedish parents have affordability issues when it comes to children.