Serendipity Book

Making stuff and thinking about it

A haiku by MIT's John Maeda set in type by the Mississippi-based Public Design Center:

The rise of the Commuter Marriage

PSFK pointed to an interesting article on the rise of the 'commuter marriage' in Forbes which states that in the most recent U.S. Census there were 3.8 million Americans in commuter marriages, a 30% increase over the previous six years.

Demographers define commuter marriages as couples who spend at least three nights apart each week for a minimum of three months.

Commuter marriages are interesting because they represent the extreme form of the modern work life balance dilemma that many families face as a function of the trends towards more women in the workplace and more dual-income familes. Whilst families in this situation are not representative of the experience of the majority, they are nonetheless illustrative of the problems that modern families face in getting time to really connect with each other.

The perception that technology can reduce the emotional separation of distance may be another  driver of the trend towards commuter marriages. However, as one of the inventors interviewed for the Forbes piece admits: "Technology is already bringing people closer together but we haven't figured out how to design these experiences so that they're something meaningful, with an intimate effect. That's where the next era of innovation will be."

And as Gregory Guldner, director of the Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships, says "While innovations like e-mail, video chatting, instant messaging, Twitter and Second Life have increased the volume of Internet chatter, they haven’t necessarily made long-distance relationships any more successful. Communication’s quality has always meant more than its frequency. Information technology has definitely led people to believe that long-distance relationships will work more than in the past. Whether that’s true is the big question we’re dealing with right now.”

A 2006 article in CNN Money called "Two Cities, Two Careers, Too Much?" also discusses the issues faced by families suffering from similar stresses. They quote a therapist who recommends that families who spend a lot of time apart have "a formal sit-down no less than once a month to discuss short- and long-term goals" because given their situation "it won't happen spontaneously."

This subject has been under discussion by sociologists since the late 1970's. For a full list of academic references go here.

The World of the Decotora

Check out Masara Tatsuki's photographs of the almost 10 years he spent amongst the Decotora, Japanese truckers who elaborately ornament their trucks with lights.

In the accompanying interview Tatsuki says "People are surprised that I spent ten years on this project, but it simply takes time to really understand something. And I wanted to really understand the things I wanted to express. That is why it took so long."  How wonderfully indulgent. Makes you wonder what project you would be willing to invest 10 years in doesn't it?

Via Jalopnik

100 degrees

This picture was taken two years ago this week as we drove to Vegas from Palm Springs via Joshua Tree and the Mojave Desert. It was 100 degrees.

One day I'll go back.

One day I will see the Northern Lights in person, until then this will have to do ...

Video: lapland aurora 3 More here. Via Miss Cellania @ Neatorama

Euphoria

Our little baby just took her first steps. Three of them. Wow.

This is how it feels to be a dad:

Underworld's blissful 'Two Month's Off'.

Holiday coming up

It's been 18 months since we last had a proper holiday. It was a truly great holiday though.

My caffeine consumption is now at an all time high but thankfully we go away again this Friday.

So glad I have a British holiday allowance and not an American one. I really don't know how people manage on 10 days plus Bank Holidays.

Where would you rather work?

Mercer have announced the results of their latest expat quality of life city survey and The Economist have kindly charted some of it for us. 

Mercer’s study is based on 39 measures grouped in the following categories:

• Political and social environment   (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc)
  
• Economic environment (currency   exchange regulations, banking services, etc)
  
• Socio-cultural environment   (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc)
  
• Health and sanitation (medical   supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air   pollution, etc)
• Schools and education (standard and   availability of international schools, etc)
• Public services and transportation   (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion,   etc)
• Recreation (restaurants, theatres,   cinemas, sports and leisure, etc)
• Consumer goods (availability of   food/daily consumption items, cars, etc)
  
• Housing (housing, household   appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc)

The complete rankings can be viewed here. Interesting that almost half of the 30 top-scoring cities surveyed are in Western Europe and yet London ranks at 39.

W hits the Maldives

Coolhunter reports that there is now a W hotel in the Maldives. There are also reports that Starwood, the owners of the W chain, intend to build a similar resort on The Palm, that naff fronded island off the UAE coast near Dubai.

I think I need a holiday

This sign reads "why do I still do this everyday?" and it is painted alongside the M40 to cheer up commuters as they approach London.

This blogger has written a poem about it.