A Different Approach to Driving (before 2028, please!)

Robert Braathe — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:21:29 -0400

After an endless battle with Exits 3 to 6 today on Interstate 84, I realized that it's not the roads that need to change, it's the drivers.

I sat back about three car lengths or more, traveling between 10 and 35 miles per hour. Not once did I stop completely. Yet I watched the domino effect of those driving around me who sped into the traffic, only to approach a screeching halt.

I look back to 20 years ago, when speed limits were 55 on most interstates. I don't recall their being this much congestion, but I do remember seeing as many cars.

Magazines in 2028

Robert Braathe — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:23:04 -0500

1988 - Circulation for the top three business magazines are nearly 10.5 million (source - Journalism.org).

2008 - Same magazines are down to approximately 9.2 million as of 2006 (source - Journalism.org), due to many factors, including decreased ad revenues, online subscriptions, and decreased interest of readers. The Kindle debuts from Amazon.com, and the Zinio reader also enables users to read magazines in digital format.

Interstate Highways in 2028

Robert Braathe — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:08:49 -0500

1988 - The final stretches of interstate highway from the original Eisenhower plan near completion. In 1991, the last traffic light is removed from I-90 to essentially complete the interstate highway system. Tolls become less frequent and are essentially totally removed from many stretches of highway.

2008 - As traffic increases in major cities, HOV lanes and road expansion continues. Highways in New York and other locations are privatized (example - the New York State Thruway.) New highways become part of the interstate system and are being built through the Mid-South.

Shopping Malls in 2028

Robert Braathe — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:57:45 -0500

1988 - The shopping mall is a big hit. Suburban sprawl leads to malls in every corner you look.

2008 - As malls have fallen from favor (see deadmalls.com), new renovations spring up to make malls more of an entertainment destination, with restaurants like Cheesecake Factory and stores like Williams Sonoma and Apple attracting experiences vs just shopping

Baseball in 2028

Robert Braathe — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:09:46 -0500

1988 - First Night Game at Wrigley Field

2008 - New Yankee Stadium and Citi Field Built, featuring state of the art multimedia, food service, and convention space

2028 - ?????

1988 saw Wrigley Field have its first night game. This seemed to start a trend of restoring old ballparks (like Fenway) and building new parks to reflect the old times (Camden Yards, PNC Park, AT+T Park).