Thread by @Noahpinion

Now at a talk called "Cities: The First 6000 Years", by Monica L. Smith (my aunt)!

(Just kidding, no relation. Probably.)

Smith: "There's no sign outside of San Francisco that says 'Go away, we're full'."

Me: o rly

I love showing up to Long Now events wearing a shirt that says "The Future Is Stupid", because when they challenge me on it, I just say that the future never arrives because "now" is so long.

I should probably get a life, huh.

Smith: One similarity between ancient and modern cities is monumental architecture - buildings that are spectacular but not functional.

Me: Have you, perchance, been to Dallas?

I expected this talk to have more Dixit-Stiglitz production functions and iceberg transport costs...

I now know that cities have lots of infrastructure, and also open spaces where people do various different kinds of things, and that you can meet many strangers in cities.

Smith: "It's hard to get people excited about infrastructure"

Me: Are you kidding? We've been on the edge of our seats waiting for Infrastructure Week to start for 2.5 years now

Whoa, they rebranded the Paris sewers the "Tunnel of Love"???

...sounds about right

Smith calls out Japanese construction workers for being very performative and doing lots of unnecessary displays as they work.

Me: At least in Japan there ARE workers at the construction site!

Ugh. I was writing down a question about why dynastic capitals change and decline, and while I was writing it she answered it.

Lesson: Never ask questions.

Smith downplays the effects of climate change on cities!

Cities have always handled flooding, she says. The rate and frequency will increase, but cities will deal with it.

Smith: In the last 1000 years, there has not been a single city that has been abandoned.

...really?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_g…

Question from the audience: "Please explain Phoenix."

Smith: Phoenix just keeps sucking in people and resources, against all common sense.

On an unrelated note, anyone want to get a bunch of horse archers together and conquer Phoenix?