Transportation: Airport Security Check Times Compared

Three airport security screening times in late June and early July 2009:

50 minutes New York JFK with two screening lines,
10 minutes at Milan Malpensa MXP and
2 minutes at Frankfurt FRA with at the gate security screening.

Public Services: Office Design in Zurich

One Zurich city employment office is in the old town east of the river and his shelled in stainless steel trim with a white vinyl applique mural of various types of job seekers. The office entrance looks like an upscale hotel lobby.

Transportation - High Speed Rail Italy

An illuminated column in front of the Milan Central Station counts down the days to a one hour ride for the 80 mile trip from Milan to Torino by rail and reverse shows a high speed rail map of Italy with links completed and in progress.

Transportation: Air City Links

The Malpensa (MXP) airport has a large billboard in the luggage claim area describing in detail the trasportation options to Milan, their prices and directions on how to access them. Options include bus (cheapeast option at about 7 euros), rail, and taxi.

WiFi on Commuter Buses in Utah

The Deseret Morning News September 29, 2006 published a story that the Utah Transit Authority demonstrated WiFi on three commuter buses. As reported in Governing Magazine August 2007 UTA is now expanding it to all commuter buses. It found that the offer of WiFi attracted riders. The cost of equipment was $5,000 per bus and the average number of riders is 6,000 per month. There is as yet no charge for the service.

Social Indicators: U.S. Life Spans Lag -- Now Ranks 42nd

Stephen Ohlemacher wrote for the Associated Press (reprinted in the Hartford Courant August 12, 2007) that people in the U.Sl do not live as long as people in 41 other countries. The U.S. has been slipping for decades in international rankings of life expectancy. A baby born in 2004 can expect to live to 77.9 giving a rank of 42 down from 11th two decades ago. The top five in life expectancy: Andorra, Japan, Macau, San Marino and Singapore. The full story is online for a limited time at: http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-lifeexpect0812.artaug12,0,7311656,full.story (Note 4). (Image source: www.halorejuvenator.com/images/lifespan.jpg)

Infrastructure: Can't Do Nation

John McQuaid wrote for the Washington Post (reprinted in the Hartford Courant August 12, 2007) on the decline in our ability to get big things done right in the area of infrastructure. One core claim: "outsourcing eliminates incentives to perform well and shields contractors from accountability." The story is available online for a limited time at: http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-commentarybig0812.artaug12,0,3373676,full.story