Random Photo Thread

[Hydrobond]

To be fair, it did kinda spring up overnight, once the baby boomer generation realized they wanted to retire someplace warm. 

Those major roads are exactly 1 mile apart, throughout the entire city, but they aren't the highways.

You can follow the highways here. http://maps.google.com/?i....006623,0.013947&z=17

[Sirgin]

Thanks!

Here's a picture of Brussels: http://maps.google.com/ma...k&z=12&iwloc=addr

 As you can see it's quite different.

[Hydrobond]

^When getting a link from google maps you have to click the "Link" button in the upper right hand corner.  Copy the text in the top box.  Otherwise, it just uses the last page you loaded from google maps.  In this case, Brussels looks a lot like Phoenix. :-)

[Sirgin]

Thanks, I didn't know that.

Now it should work... I think. http://maps.google.com/ma...k&z=12&iwloc=addr

[NES_Rules]

That's really neat how the streets don't meet at 90 degrees, gives it a very unique look. Although it probably gets annoying taking some of those corners when you're driving.

[Hydrobond]

Thanks, I didn't know that.

Now it should work... I think. http://maps.google.com/ma...k&z=12&iwloc=addr

Sad face that they haven't done street view there yet. Looks like a cool place for it.

[Sirgin]

That's really neat how the streets don't meet at 90 degrees, gives it a very unique look. Although it probably gets annoying taking some of those corners when you're driving.

It's interesting how something which is perfectly normal for me is "unique" for you. There are very little place here that are perfectly symmertrical like Phoenix.

The reason that the streets don't line up nicely here (and in most of Europe, I think) is because these cities are much older than cities in the U.S. (Brussels was founded around 1100-1200). In the Middle Ages people built their cities more in concentric circles (cities had walls around them) and much more maze-like. That's still visable in our cities today.

The red line indicates the original wall around brussels. (Some of the gates still exist today (as monuments))

[Hydrobond]

That's really neat how the streets don't meet at 90 degrees, gives it a very unique look. Although it probably gets annoying taking some of those corners when you're driving.

It's interesting how something which is perfectly normal for me is "unique" for you. There are very little place here that are perfectly symmertrical like Phoenix.

The reason that the streets don't line up nicely here (and in most of Europe, I think) is because these cities are much older than cities in the U.S. (Brussels was founded around 1100-1200). In the Middle Ages people built their cities more in concentric circles (cities had walls around them) and much more maze-like. That's still visable in our cities today.

The red line indicates the original wall around brussels. (Some of the gates still exist today (as monuments))

Not only that but they didn't have the survey equipment or central planning like the modern city.   Also, terrain is a big part of it.  I don't know the terrain of Brussels, but Phoenix is flat as a pancake, (Except for the mountains, but for the most part Phoenix grew around them) and has no reason to have anything but straight streets.  A city like Cincinnati on the other hand, is made up of a bunch of hills, and have very few straight or flat roads, even though it is much, much newer than Brussels. 

Just for a visual, these show a bit of the topography of Cincy. (mine)




Topography of Phoenix. (not mine)


The real striking difference between European cities and American cities is the density, since American cities were mostly built on cars there was no reason do develop up instead of out. 

(BTW, that daycare massacre you guys just had over there is terrible.  What a crazy nut-job.)

[logical123]

Just a question sirgin, but is the 'A' marked on the Brussels map your house?

[Sirgin]

(BTW, that daycare massacre you guys just had over there is terrible.  What a crazy nut-job.)

Yeah, I know.

We're not 100% sure yet but he was maybe copying "The Joker" of Batman because he painted his eyes black and his face white. No red lipstick though. Aparentely he was a "film freak".
It's irritating how the media always try to find something to blame instead of the person himself when stuff like this happens. It's either the music, the games, the movies, ...

Just a question sirgin, but is the 'A' marked on the Brussels map your house?

Nope, that's the point being identified as "brussels" when searching for that. I live just outside of Brussels actually, but I go to school there.
(Brussels is only 10min away by car, so I live in its suburbs if you will)

[James]

Haha.

http://maps.google.com/ma...455,,1,10.375837805207798

[Sirgin]

Haha.

http://maps.google.com/ma...455,,1,10.375837805207798

That's brilliant!

Question: how much time do you spend on Google Maps to find stuff like this, James?

[Hydrobond]

London. (A must see.)
http://www.boston.com/big...ndon_from_above_at_n.html

[Sirgin]

^ Those are fantastic.

[Ghost Soldier]

London. (A must see.)
http://www.boston.com/big...ndon_from_above_at_n.html

Beautiful pictures of London.  I hope to visit London one day.