WSC (the best is yet to be)

What was Australia's 2009 internet plan?

To provide super-fast fiber-based Internet to 93% of the population.

What did the 2013 revision of Australia's internet plan involve?

Reusing existing copper wire infrastructure (FTTN).

What issue persists in Australia's broadband in 2025?

Many households still have no or slow Internet.

What is FTTP?

Fibre-to-the-premise: fiber cables to each home; reliable but costly.

What is FTTN?

Fibre-to-the-node: fiber to a hub, then copper wires to homes; cheaper but less reliable.

How many households remained below 25mbps in Australia by 2025?

230,000 households.

Why was Australia’s broadband project criticized?

Overbudget, poorly managed, and included incompatible infrastructure.

Which political parties influenced the Australian broadband network?

Labor (pro-FTTP) and Liberal (shifted to FTTN).

Why does Canada lack HSR despite studies?

High costs, low population density, and complex logistics.

Which Canadian rail corridors are studied for HSR?

Calgary–Edmonton and Windsor Corridor.

What is Canada's proposed fix instead of HSR?

Higher-frequency train service to improve efficiency.

What is 'Alto' in Canadian HSR context?

A newly commissioned HSR line in the Windsor corridor.

Why is HSR logistically difficult in Canada?

High planning, land, and construction costs; low population density.

What defines a megaproject?

A project costing $1 billion or more.

What is 'survival of the unfittest' in megaprojects?

Over-optimistic cost projections leading to poorly managed projects.

What are 'black swans' in megaprojects?

Unexpected setbacks causing delays.

Why are megaprojects considered recession-proof?

Stopping them is often more expensive than continuing.

What was the Big Dig?

A failed highway rerouting megaproject in Boston that was overbudget and delayed.

What issues did the Big Dig face?

Poor materials, water leaks, and a fatal roof collapse.

What is the Channel Tunnel?

A successful tunnel project connecting the UK and France with HSR.

What problems did the Channel Tunnel face?

Fires, train failures, and illegal immigration issues.

What is California’s High Speed Rail (CASHR)?

An ongoing megaproject aiming to connect LA to SF with HSR.

What slowed down the CASHR project?

Land acquisition issues, legal problems, and funding delays.

What is Sejong City?

South Korea's administrative capital, built as a smart city.

Why is Sejong City criticized?

Low population and perceived as inaccessible or inconvenient.

What is Hambantota?

Sri Lanka’s second urban hub with a Chinese-developed port.

Why is Hambantota controversial?

Suspicions of China's political motives and economic influence.

What is NEOM?

A $8.8 trillion megaproject in Saudi Arabia, including 'The Line'.

Why is NEOM controversial?

Delays, poor labor conditions, and forced relocations.

What are the Khazar Islands?

Planned manmade islands in Azerbaijan halted due to oil price crashes.

What is the Three Gorges Dam?

The world’s largest hydroelectric dam in China.

What are issues with the Three Gorges Dam?

Displacement, cultural loss, and biodiversity damage.

What is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai Bridge?

World's longest sea bridge connecting HK, Macau, and Zhuhai.

What are issues with the HK-Zhuhai Bridge?

Low traffic, safety concerns, and environmental impact.

What is the New Eurasian Land Bridge?

A rail route linking China and Europe via Central Asia, avoiding Russia.

What did the WHO declare about loneliness in 2023?

A global public health threat.

How does loneliness affect health?

Similar to smoking 15 cigarettes/day, increasing stroke and dementia risk.

Where is loneliness especially prevalent?

Africa and Japan.

What is 'kodokushi' in Japan?

People dying alone, often unnoticed for long periods.

What are 'hikikomori'?

People who withdraw from society, often young but increasingly older.

What is 'Paro'?

A robotic seal used in Japan to comfort lonely elderly.

Why do some loneliness robots fail?

Create more work for caregivers or become boring.

What is 'outsourcing empathy'?

Volunteers connecting with lonely individuals in person.

What are 'parasocial relationships'?

One-sided connections people form with media figures like podcast hosts.

What’s the downside of parasocial podcast relationships?

They may replace real-life social connections.

Who was Charles Guiteau?

Garfield's assassin who believed they were close due to parasocial delusion.

How does social media relate to loneliness?

High usage correlates with loneliness, envy, and poor sleep.

What is 'FOMO'?

Fear of Missing Out, worsened by constant connectivity.

How does cyberbullying affect people?

Major impact on mental health and ability to socialize.

What is Section 230?

A law giving internet platforms immunity for user-generated content.

What happened during the Rohingya genocide?

Facebook was accused of amplifying anti-Rohingya content.

Why is Section 230 controversial?

It protects platforms even when harmful content is spread.

How does negative news affect people?

Leads to stress, fear, and skewed worldviews.

What is the 'negativity bias'?

Our tendency to focus more on negative information.

What happened after the Boston Marathon bombing?

People who watched 6+ hours of news were more distressed than witnesses.

What is the framing effect in news?

Different phrasing can drastically change how facts are perceived.

Why does news saturation hurt mental health?

Creates doomscrolling, anxiety, and physical symptoms.

What is the issue with traumatic news online?

It distresses vulnerable groups, especially children.

How do platforms address traumatic content?

Age checks, content warnings, and content moderation.

What was the issue with the Seattle megaproject involving Bertha?

Bertha, a tunnel-boring machine, overheated just 11% into the project. Repairs required a year of digging it out, replacing parts, fixing water damage, and stabilizing the city's foundation.

What does Bertha's failure exemplify about megaprojects?

It shows how large projects are vulnerable to unexpected failures and delays, often caused by technical issues or mismanagement.