"Autotopia in 2024 and Beyond: Navigating Our Mobility Evolution" 11 March 2024 Talk @ Madlit

Ray Mandli is scheduled to discuss Autopia at the Madison Literary Club's 11 March 2024 meeting:

This exploration delves into "Autotopia," examining its implications for mobility in 2024 and beyond, while also tracing the history of roads and the supporting infrastructure. We analyze the evolution of mobility, from ancient pathways to modern highways, and speculate on future trends. By considering advancements in transportation technology, urban planning, and societal preferences, alongside infrastructure development, we gain insights into transformative changes shaping how we move. From shared mobility to sustainability initiatives, we explore the impact on society, the economy, and the environment. This examination offers a deeper understanding of Autotopia's driving forces and the opportunities and challenges it presents for individuals, businesses, and policymakers.

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A few links from Ray:

Is your car spying on you? ABC's Megan Norwood explores if driver data is being shared with insurance companies.

Report reveals safety shortfalls in partially automated cars.

The UW Now Livestream. The future of electric vehicles:

If you’ve recently been in the market for a new car or truck, chances are you’ve seen news about the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). What are the benefits and drawbacks of driving electric? What would be the impact on overall U.S. emissions if more or all Americans were to choose an EV? Can the U.S. meet the increased demand for electricity needed to power EVs that has been seen in other countries? Who will become the world leader in EV production?

Join us online this Tuesday, Mar. 12, at 7 p.m. CDT as we moderate a live discussion with leading experts on electric vehicles. Afterward, the guests will take questions from the audience via live chat. You can join the livestream here, or request a reminder now to receive an email a half hour before the program starts. To watch past programs, check out the Wisconsin Alumni Association YouTube channel.

Learn more at madlit.org

Above the Mississippi River, AR edition

Madeline Heim recently wrote about a proposed federal taxpayer $300M plan for the Mississippi River Basin:

Advocates for the Mississippi River argue that the river is long overdue to have its own such program. Millions of people up and down a swath of the central United States rely on it for drinking water, commerce and recreation, and its floodplains provide food and habitat for hundreds of fish and wildlife species. But the river and its floodplain are facing a multitude of challenges, from extreme weather to habitat loss to persistent agricultural and industrial pollution. That pollution contributes to the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico, which last year was almost as big as Yellowstone Park.

Explore the mighty Mississippi with amuz VR scenes from the source in Northern Minnesota's Itasca Park to the mouth in Louisiana, and plenty of stops in between, including several mounds.

Enjoy!

"New York Comes to us" - AR edition

The Statue of Liberty, a product of the 1979 UW-Madison Pail & Shovel party, infrequently appears on frozen Lake Mendota.

The Backstory: During transport from New York by a helicopter, the cable snapped and Lady Liberty found herself on Lake Mendota.

I recorded a number of visitor impressions during a 2009 appearance, available in the amuz app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and Vision Pro. (Tap Play category, navigate to Lake Mendota just off the Memorial Union and tap the icon. Swipe through the media and tap to view videos or VR scenes).

An excerpt:

History of Lady Liberty on Lake Mendota (2009) UW News and 2019 with a new version

Extra Credit: A mockup of the Statue of Liberty -used for fundraising- can be seen at the excellent Minnesota Maritime Museum in Winona, or via a few taps in amuz.







Note: AR (augmented reality) scene captured at Madison's sublime Wonderstate coffee.

iPhone iPad and Android examples.

KaDeWe + 117 years

Berlin's opulent department store has been in the news recently amidst a curious mix of financial troubles at its landlord and parent.



Sam Jones writes:

KaDeWe, Germany’s most famous and exclusive department store, filed for administration on Monday, becoming the latest casualty of René Benko’s crumbling property empire.

Management of the 116-year-old Berlin institution said that despite booming sales they could not afford to pay rising rents demanded by the Signa Group and the business needed urgent restructuring.

Signa co-owns the KaDeWe operating company with Thailand’s Central Group, but it separately owns the KaDeWe building. The steep increase in the valuation of the building under Signa’s ownership was justified by the rents that could be squeezed from its captive tenant.

rbb24 takes a deep dive:

From then on, the KaDeWe earned an excellent reputation inside and outside Berlin through its huge product selection. Still in the opening year 1907, the King of Siam, Chulalongkorn, bought in the KaDeWe for two consecutive days. He is said to have spent 250,000 Reichsmarks at the time - at a time when the average salary in Germany was 1,000 marks per year.

Today, according to the company, up to 50,000 people visit the KaDeWe every day - in the Christmas season there are twice as many. Every day at 10 a.m., the original iron grille from 1907 rises for the customers. Like back then, the KaDeWe is also a consumer temple of superlatives today. With its 34,000 products on a shopping area of over 7,000 square meters, the legendary delicatessen department is considered the largest of its kind in Europe.

The KaDeWe has changed its face again and again in the twelve decades of its existence. A part of Berlin's city history is also reflected in every epoch.

Explore Berlin's KaDeWe in amuz. VR, too.




The app for explorers.

Tagesspiegel takes a deeper dive on the finances:

The cosmetics association VKE makes accusations against the financially troubled KaDeWe Group. The luxury department store company, which filed for insolvency this week, has recently not paid numerous invoices or only after threat of legal action, said Association Managing Director Andreas Fuhlisch to the German Press Agency. The KaDeWe Group did not respond to requests for comments. Previously, the "Lebensmittel Zeitung" had reported.

Eliot Brown, Margot Patrick and Konrad Putzier:

Some properties, however, had a layer of debt on corporate shells that sat between the properties and the real-estate company, which itself had numerous layers of debt.

Benko’s 50% calculation typically omitted billions of dollars in liabilities that increasingly weighed on its finances. Called Genussscheine, a hybrid between debt and equity, it promised investors a share of any profits in a year from Signa companies or individual projects. Even though under German accounting principles it isn’t technically categorized as debt, interest was steep—in the high single digits—on some of these notes and they had to be repaid or refinanced upon maturity.

KaDeWe

Delight your customers: Madison Sourdough Edition

Creating what in my view are the best croissants in Madison daily for decades is no small feat. Complementing said croissants with a wide variety of interesting breads, baked goods and entrees makes Madison Sourdough a compelling and frequent destination.

Obviously with a name like Madison Sourdough you know that bread is the focus. This attention to detail starts with the grain. It is milled on site. Madison Sourdough continues to innovate and hone the variables to create their namesake sourdough. The pastry and restaurant offerings are a feast for the eyes and palate.



We have an opportunity to hear from owner Drew Hutchison on Monday evening, 12 February 2024. The Madison Literary Club is hosting Drew's talk at 7:30p.m.

email jim@amuz.com if you'd like to attend this meeting as a Madison Literary Club guest.

A few appetizers for Drew's talk:

1. Wisconsin Foodie visits:



2. Celebrating 30 years of Madison Sourdough (!)

3. Milling in house.

Lindsay Christians:

Milling in-house allows Hutchison to control for issues in the grain and respond very quickly to problems. The flour is also fresher.

“The freshness — I noticed it right away,” Hutchison said. “It’s like a really good tomato next to a just-okay one.”

When a grain of wheat cracks, it begins to oxidize right away. Fresh flour is considered “unstable,” Hutchison explained, and oxidation equalizes it and makes it more stable and consistent.

Barry Adams:

“There’s more connection between the farmer, miller and baker and that really resonates with people,” said Hutchinson, whose products are sold at the cafe and at 12 grocery stores. “It’s demanding. You have to have the staff for it and you have to have the systems in place to do it. You either need to find a distributor or do the distributing on your own. It’s just demanding. Its 365 days a year for us.”

Anna Thomas Bates:

A traditional long fermentation is one of the ways Madison Sourdough sets itself apart from other bakers. This is the original way of leavening bread and it helps unlock nutrients. Hutchison lists a number of other ways Madison Sourdough is unique: “We pay our staff good wages, everything is made by hand, we use local grains that we mill ourselves, and the bread is pretty delicious.” Hutchison grew up working summer and part-time jobs in the food industry, so he was always comfortable in a kitchen, including working the wee morning hours of an opening baker. “There’s something romantic about it that I enjoy—the solitude, the focus, the discipline of getting up early.”

4. Student bakers:

Then the class got interactive. Apron-clad students each took a plug of Madison Sourdough’s 30-plus year old starter, added water and flour and began to work with it. Hutchison teaches a method called “slap and fold.” “Your bread is only ever going to be as good as your sourdough starter is healthy and vigorous,” he said.

## We're excited to announce that Ronnie Hess will serve as a Respondent for Andrew's talk.

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Madison Sourdough.

The Inn Above The Clouds

Location, location, location. Since 1912 the views of primeval forests and cool blue Pacific at the Mountain Home Inn have welcomed visitors.

As one winds their way up the road to the Mountain Home Inn the aroma of eucalyptus and the proximity to the primeval forest invites relaxation. It is so beautiful it almost seems like a simulation. The sweet staff and comfy relaxed California decor at the inn are welcoming. In addition to incredible views there is proximity to legendary hiking trails. The Inn is literally 1.5 miles from the Muir Woods trail and is atop the Mt.Tamalpais ridge line.

Even better nature puts on show for free as the stars come out at night. When the fog rolls in across the Bay and city below it almost seems surreal. Meals may be enjoyed on the deck with views of the Bay and Mt.Tampalpais.

The wood burning fireplaces in the dining room and lounge encourage one to kick back and adjust or recoup from “ mountain time”. Help yourself to board games or pick up a book while you lounge. An impressive binder includes overview of local hikes and includes complimentary trail maps.

The Inn offers dining options several nights a week. A bar is open nightly. Breakfast is included in the room rate, tipping is highly encouraged.

Book in advance as the inn is small and particularly popular on weekends and in the summer. Parking is free for inn guests. Live music and local entertainment occur throughout the year.The Inn also hosts weddings.

Explore the the Mountain Home Inn in amuz [App Store] [Play Store]

A Delightful Place

"delight your customers" - Deming

"the complacency of fools will destroy them" - Proverbs

Has delight become the exception on our daily journey? Memories of strolling through Berlin Mitte's elegant Hackesher Markt pop into my mind as I see soulless high rise apartments blotting many landscapes.



The Hackesher Markt visitor enjoys:

• Visual fun: cool architecture
• Vibe: an interesting crowd exploring cafes and shops
• Advanced shopping
• S-Bahn to anywhere

Explore Hackesher Markt in the amuz app: app store // play store