Strangers, Work, Attention, Success, Slowness, Leadership

Interesting conversations on life matters:

• Strangers - The Importance of 'Consequential Strangers,' 9-7-09, Talk of the Nation, NPR [radio, 30min]
• Work - Why we love or hate our work, 9-7-09, Marketplace, NPR [radio]
• Attention - Horizon of Attention, 9-2009, Human Media, [radio]
• Success - A kinder, gentler, philosophy of success, 7-2009, TED [video, 17 min]
• Slowness - Carl Honore praises slowness, 6-2005, TED [video, 20 min]
• Leadership - Patrick Awuah on educating leaders, 6-2007, TED [video, 18 min]

High-Speed Rail in the US: Dream or Reality?

There has been lots of talk at the Federal and State level about revamping and building high-speed rail in a number of corridors in the U.S. President Obama has already approved $8 billion dollars in funding. If you have traveled to Germany, France, Spain, and Japan, you know what it's like - but is this feasible in the US with it's landscape and car-centric culture? Is it worth the investment?

Here's some food for thought:

• Comparing U.S. Trains To Foreign Lines, 9-4-09, All Things Considered, NPR [radio]
• Traveling on fast trains in Europe, 9-3-09, The World, PRI [radio]
• Obama talks About High-Speed Rail Project, Federal Railroad Administration [video]
• California Edges Ahead In High-Speed-Train 'Race,' 9-3-09, All Things Considered, PRI [radio]
• California High Speed Rail Blog
• High-Speed Rail Skeptic Outlines Position, 9-3-09, All Things Considered, NPR [radio]
• A Hitch For Rail Riders: Getting To Final Destination, 9-2-09, All Things Considered, NPR [radio]
• Some Regions Better Prepared For High-Speed Rail, 9-1-09, All Things Considered, NPR [radio]
• U.S. High-Speed-Rail Proposals, 8-31-09, All Things Considered, NPR