Panama Hats

A bit like tax exiles with their endless excuses (*). Many of the big ships that plow the trade seas fly the panama flag - Flags of convenience, just like tax exiles. In some ways it is fitting for the ships as at least there is a great merchant tradition in Panama. Of course they're also thinking of expanding. A similar huge feat of engineering is being considered for the Suez Canal.

At least panama flagged vessels however "fake" and pretentious are at least nominally from Panama. Unlike Panama Hats which are from China. Oh only kidding. They're from Ecuador. Panama hats are light-colored, lightweight, and breathable, and now associated with the seaside and tropical locations. Originally from Ecuador the highest quality "superfino" Panama hat can hold water, and when rolled for storage, can pass through a wedding ring.

So I don't like tax exiles. I do like panama hats although I don't actually own one. And my sympathies begin to lie with pirates, surely they could hit some tax havens and so us all a favour. Um. Maybe the wealthy ones actually live in tax exile, maybe that's why tax domains are havens from piracy!

* Just admit it, You're doing it to be richer. You grew up in a community with all the benefits that brings and now you have the money, you want to keep more and more of it. So now its all about you and your wealth and nowt to do about being social or being part of the fabric of society. You're now entitled to it. Why? Because you have it.

Trompe-l'oeil takes affect

A modern take on those German style fake towns that have trompe l'oeil windows and doors that just look so real. Well now some inspired people have come up with complex optics to mimic the way the sun refracts through standard glass in particular situations. This could be a great architectural design feature, with the added benefits like those winter sunshine lamps are supposed to provide.

Or maybe it turns out to be more closely resembling wallpapers that show countryside views or lakes, cheap tat that does nothing for body or soul. There's some interesting articles on the graphics of design just for fun. Look forward to seeing it for real (sic) sometime soon. Brilliant idea!

Le Tour Re-visited...

Well the TdF has been and gone, and the UK stages were brilliant, followed by near-tragedy on the cobbles of the North, followed by mountain climbing inspiration from Nibali and a great final stage win for the big sprinter, Marcel Kittel on the glorious Champs-Élysées. So much better than the past

Driverless Cars

I thought there were already. Maybe it's just their actual style of driving...anyway. Looks like the UK Government have decided to go ahead with the idea and allow them on the roads (good job really as they would be rubbish cluttering up the pavements). Um so there an idea.

The new city of Milton Keynes is one of those trying out the concept. Here's more information about these MK Driverless cars, similar in concept to the Heathrow pods.

But it seems rather than some sort of real-life Scalextric we are now going for actual driverless cars. As the Cambridge driverless bus took years and never worked it will be curious to see how the new era of motoring gets off. Maybe they will have a bloke with a red flag walking in front of them!

People in glass building’s shouldn’t...

Architectural fashions change and now its suggested that glass skyscrapers are falling (no, that in that way) out of favour with the architectural elite. We have had granite and stone so if architects start to move away from glass then what’s left? Well, it will have to be a sexy new material, and expensive. Car and cycle designers seem to love carbon so maybe that will be the new one. Matt black office buildings of the future! Or maybe Apple will design one and it will be ultra-light aluminium and too thin to fit in! I My suggestion, create them out of the most inexpensive material you can find that works really well and the cover them in (no, not in chocolate) in greenery. And you still shouldn’t throw stones (among other things).

Le Tour

The Tour De France (TdF) is here, yes starting in England and winding thru Yorkshire, Cambridge and fast finish into London. To celebrate the occasion Yorkshire have set up street art along the way. What inspired thinking and relevant cycle homage. Allez allez!!