A really neat (and really enlightening) way to visualize the interstate system in the US. It makes the idea of driving across the continent much more appealing somehow, though I’m sure that I’m romanticizing it and really should never, ever let be self be stuck in a car for more than a few hours.
By designer Cameron Booth, who seems to do a lot of similarly nerdy-neat projects. Credit where credit is due: found yesterday by Phil.
I don’t really have ten steps (though if I had a bit longer, I could come up with at least that. For now, here’s step 1:
Simplify your communication systems. I can get an e-mail/SMS warning me my flight is a bit late, learn that it’s due to a mechanical issue when I check in with the self-serve terminal, have a chat with the guy checking my bag about how’s it’s a flat tire that needs changing. But as soon as I get through customs/security, no one knows anything. The flight time is still listed as on-time, and the gate agents aren’t sure what’s going on, so tell everyone to remain in the area. I know that airlines, even their crews and information systems in any one airport, are massively complicated operations, but really… if anything, the place where a bit of information would calm me down the most is when I’m at or on my way to the gate. Not when I’m in a shuttle on the way to the airport. Just a thought.
Actually, sidenote: on the way out, I saw a billboard for greyhoud that said “there’s a reason you’ve never heard of bus rage”… But don’t be too smug, greyhound/bus operators. I feel at least as much rage every time I board a bus as I do in a car, if not more. Possibly because I’m a control freak and hate leaving whether or not I make it to the airport on time in someone else’s hands, but that’s another issue for another day.
Happy happy sxsw!
