Monday, March 06, 2006

Modern Technology

Here is a look at the different levee systems around the world.


Here's how the British hold back the waters from flooding London:




And the Dutch solution to protecting an entire nation that mostly rests below sea level:




The Italians are defending their city on the sea, Venice:

Giant platforms on hinges raise up to break the waves when they get too high.



US:


....something to ponder!

29 comments:

jiggs said...

SCIENCE!

first!

Hotboy said...

Only one comment here!! Yeah, it look as if they spent a bit more on the other ones than they spent on New Orleans. Why is that? Hotboy

WDKY said...

The boat trip down the Thames to the barrier is a good one, and the extent of redevelopment along the banks of the river is unbelievable.

The barrier, like the M25 motorway, was underspecified. Still, it looks wonderful when the sun's shining!

DJ MotorCityMonk said...

Bravo!

So how many millions/billions has it cost us in Iraq so far...maybe stepping up the technology for levees/dams would be money better spent?!

Becky said...

LOL, the Europeans must've been laughing at us for being such dumb asses, not like they don't do that anyways...

Dave Morris said...

Thanks for pissing me off. This is a great reminder of how far (down) we've come.

mikster said...

Yeah...looks they have the heads up on us there...lol

Lee Ann said...

Naval ~ Go Science!

Hotboy ~ Yes it does, and I do not know why! mmm, mmm, mmm...

Wdky ~ I imagine it is unbelievable, I would love to see it.

Monk ~ yes, good point!

Becky ~ you are probably right.

Dave ~ Sorry I pissed you off. I just found it amazing that the USA couldn't do better. Those other systems are amazing looking.

Mike ~ Yes, it does look that way doesn't it!

AndyW said...

Great topic!

Not to get to geeky here but National Geographic TV has a cool show on how they built the levees that protect the Netherlands.

Nice to know the Dutch do a better job at protecting their citizens than the richest nation in the world.

Ellen said...

Goes to show you where our priorities are, huh?

I'm afraid if I got started on the problems, I'd never stop....

Karl the Sorcerer said...

All I know about Europe is, I seen ten kids go in. And I see nine come out. I ain't sayin' there's a shark in there, but you do the math.

Doesn't add up.

truckdriver_sefl said...

and the bad thing Lee Ann we knew it:-{

jiggs said...

I've always thought that the dutch hold back flooding by putting their fingers in the dykes.

The dutch are damn dirty perverts.

Polyman2 said...

This administration is too shortsighted and focused on world democracy to notice our own doorstep crumbling.
Never expect a pig to fly!

Ticharu said...

All of the coastal cities are doomed. Building any city below sea level is moronic, and as sea levels rise and the storms become more intense, there isn't a levee system built that will save these cities.
The fact that our levee system is so pathetic should serve as proof of our increasing 3rd world status.
We can't afford to re-build. We can't even afford to maintain the infrastructure we've got.

onan the bavarian said...

Lee Ann - very true, and funny, and worrying.

Hotboy - could it possibly be cos all the money and talent is being blown in Iraq?

BeckEye said...

Even the old blues guys (and later, Robert Plant) knew that, "if it keeps on raining the levee's gonna break". Might seem like an obvious observation, but it doesn't seem to be one our government made.

Bathroom Hippo said...




Damn it!



Literally.

freethoughtguy said...

This American lives up on a hill ... Nob Hill!

Lee Ann said...

Andy ~ It is definitely something to ponder isn't it!

Ellen ~ I do understand what you are saying!

Karl ~ hmmm....sounds suspicious to me!

Trucker ~ tsk, tsk! Right?

Jiggs ~ Hmmm...You might be right! Joran van der Sloot, the guy in the Natalee Holloway case is Dutch. That case is big news in this area. She went to my High School.
I shouldn't say that, because he is the only Dutch person I have heard of, I do not know any in person!

Poly ~ Very good point!

Tich ~ I hear ya!

Rob ~ I know, it is sad, really sad.

Beckeye ~ Yes, that is right! People should have listened even back then!

Lee Ann said...

Hippo ~ YES!

Free ~ Best place to be in this situation!!!

jamwall said...

a big ass pile of sandbags it the american way....or a buncha concrete and stuff put together and stuff...

yee ha!

Lee Ann said...

Jams ~ The "Yee ha" got me! haha

Heather said...

Wow. We so suck.

Lee Ann said...

Heather ~ You have me giggling!

Lee Ann said...

Shannon ~ I know, I totally agree!

henri Banks said...

Look like the British have real big vacuum cleaners!!

Neo said...

Lee Ann - Gotta love that hardware eh?

Peace & Hugs,

- Neo

Lee Ann said...

Henri ~ They could look like that, maybe they work like that!

Neo ~ yes, pretty amazing.
Peace and hugs back.