If only dinosaurs had invented beano, they’d still be around.  Or at least that’s the belief of those attributing pre-historic climate change to… dinosaur flatulence.

A forgotten New York City “Hidden” Subway station is both visually stunning and an illustration of how elaborate top-down economic planning (shovel-ready, even)  is often outpaced by technological development, creating massive waste. 

It was opened in 1904, with the hope of making it the crowning glory of the New York subway system in elegant architecture and a place for commemorative plaques to honour the work that had resulted in such a successful underground mass transit system.……..The reason for its closure was that newer longer cars were required ……… as the stations tracks were severely curved, a dangerous gap between the train doors and the platform was formed making it an unsafe area. This combined with the fact that only about 600 people used it, resulted in its closure with only mythical plans of turning it into a transit museum.

Stunning pictures.  Someone should use it as the setting for some urban fantasy movie.

THE END OF AN ERA?  Japan ‘switching off’ final nuclear reactor.

UPDATE: Link was broken before. Fixed now. Sorry!

Catastrophic change in publishing meets the education bubble?  The cost of textbooks used to be justifiable given small print runs, need for frequently updated editions, etc.  Electronic publishing removes those justifications.  Academic publishers have fought the e-model tooth and nail.  Reality can’t be ignored forever, though, and things are starting to change.

My name is Sarah A. Hoyt and I’m a writer.  It’s been six hours since I last wrote–  Oh, wait, wrong place.  So, hi.  I normally blog here.  I will be one of the people filling Glenn’s not inconsiderable shoes.   Needless to say, honored to be here.  I feel like the kid who is used to his tricycle and just got handed the keys to a Ferrari.