More speed 1

Hyperloop - fast and autonomous - isn't being developed in the U.S., but faster and/or autonomous transportation appeals to just about everybody. Variations are already used in multiple locations all over the world.

Dubai (UAE) on the Arabian Peninsula has an eye-catching system. Autonomous cars move people along a monorail system between major landmarks like Palm Jumeirah.  Here are 44 other monorail locations.

photo

China had no high-speed rail at the turn of the century, but now has 45,000 network miles, the world's longest HSR. The fastest commercial train in the world runs between Shanghai and its international airport. With peak speed of 268 mph, it makes the 19-mile trip in a little over 7 minutes. It uses "maglev" technology, the magnetic levitation idea connected with the hyperloop concept.

Japan's bullet train was the world's first HSR to operate way back in 1964.

Come to Maui

Hawaii's island of Maui is devastated. Wildfires destroyed the city of Lahaina, where 300 homes, businesses and landmarks were burned to the ground (see the fire locations here).  More than a thousand people are reported missing. 

Hawaii-native actor Jason Momoa has publicly urged tourists to stay away, to let them recover in peace: "Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now,” the 44-year-old actor wrote. “DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI.” 

But his opinion is not held by everyone. They don't need gawkers at the tragedy, but they do still need tourists. Most of the island is still intact, and their economy depends on tourism. Surviving businesses are trying to help the victims while their own incomes are in danger. 

Here they are (one of them was on a Guy Fieri show) making their case to the public:

from Daily Signal

Eclipse trip

We were there yesterday, directly in the path of totality for the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017.

We were late making plans, but got a 12x20 hilltop spot for our tent on the grassy grounds of a local business. (Hotel reservations maxed out months ago by people who understood the significance of this eclipse early and who are not procrastinators.) Lawn chairs and coolers lined parking lots early in the day to stake out viewing positions.

The sky started out partly cloudy, then overcast, then it started to rain. We were washed out. The freeway was overwhelmed, a 7 or 8 hour drive home became almost 11 hours.

Not everything turns out great.

NZ reforms

If it had not been for Lord of the Rings being filmed there, some of us would not know anything about New Zealand. Go here to see the natural diversity of this beautiful island-nation.

 Around the time that they were ending farm subsidies (Monday's and Tuesday's posts), they were making other really significant reforms.

The Dept. of Transportation had 5,600 employees,  which they shrunk down to 53 employees. The same thing was done to 35 agencies. Those agencies cost New Zealanders $l billion before the reforms, but after the reforms they made about a billion in revenues and taxes.

There were lots of reforms and they resulted in more prosperity and more freedom for those kiwis. Go here to find out how they did it.

Break

The third annual August break is coming up next week, so no new blog posts will appear here until Monday, August 24.

This year I'll be in New York City with my niece for sightseeing, museums, theater, exploring neighborhoods and restaurants.

As a camping/outdoor/forest/farm/garden lover, this is not my typical vacation - but it will be good, and I'll share something about it when we get back.

"Chief Explorer" job

Jauntaroo has been conducting a search for their new "Chief World Explorer," and they've narrowed the field down to just five candidates.  One of them will be traveling for a year and creating content for the website.

See what kinds of people go for this job and deliver an effective performance in front of the camera.

Travel + $100k

Jauntaroo.com is a two-year-old travel website that matches your interests and budget to travel destinations.  Travel websites, it seems, is a crowded field so Jauntaroo has come up with something to catch your attention:  "Best Job Around the World" as Chief World Explorer.

They're partnering with organizations to include some altruistic features.

The job starts next January and will pay $100k/year.  Jauntaroo will share expenses of your travel with the localities, who will of course also benefit from the resulting publicity.  If you get this job, you will write stories about your adventures for the website.

It may be the best job opportunity ever - for someone.  Hopefully I'll remember to check in to the website and follow the unfolding of this job.