Okay, Shanghai's got a new integrated R&D center for Porsche, an indoor skatepark with killer views, and some "perfect day" itinerary courtesy of National Geographic. Big deal. Every city's got its shiny new toys and curated experiences designed to suck tourists dry. But is Shanghai really all that different? Let's be real.
This skatepark, the Moreprk Skyline thing. I gotta admit, the pictures look kinda cool. AAN Architects apparently looked to skateboarding trails when designing it. Steel-reinforced concrete and a glass box overlooking the city. Sounds like a dystopian dreamscape straight out of a William Gibson novel. But who's actually gonna use it? Wealthy kids with too much time on their hands? Instagram influencers looking for the next backdrop? Probably both. AAN Architects creates indoor skatepark overlooking Shanghai
And then you have the "historic waterside stroll" mentioned in the National Geographic piece, right? Antique brick storehouses, indie bookstores, galleries, and "artistic youth." Sounds quaint, right? Except they gloss over the actual history. The Sihang Warehouse, "pockmarked with bullet holes from a 1937 standoff." Yeah, let's just casually stroll past a building riddled with the scars of war and pretend it's all part of the "charm." Give me a break. It's like taking selfies at Ground Zero – offcourse it ain't the same thing, but still...it's a weird vibe.
I'm not saying Shanghai isn't interesting. It's just...it's trying too hard. Like a desperate middle-aged dude trying to recapture his youth by buying a sports car.
And now Porsche's getting in on the action with its new R&D center. "In China, for China," they keep saying. What does that even mean? Are they gonna start putting dragon decals on their Cayennes or something?
Dr. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, says that "China is leading the way in future mobility, combining electrification, digitalization, and new luxury concepts." Okay, Dr. Blume. Whatever you say. Sounds like corporate buzzword bingo to me.
They're bragging about "China Speed," cutting development times from "years to months." Sajjad Khan, member of the Executive Board Car-IT, says this allows them to respond to Chinese customer needs "with greater speed and in a more targeted manner." Translation: they wanna sell more cars, faster, to a market that's obsessed with the latest gadgets.
But what about the quality? Are they sacrificing German engineering for the sake of "China Speed"? Are they just churning out cheap knockoffs with a Porsche badge? I’m just asking the real questions here. Because let's be honest, that's what happens when you prioritize speed over substance. Maybe. I dunno.
Speaking of speed, let's talk about Delta. According to one of these articles, they've had a string of emergency landings lately, including one flight to Shanghai back in 2020 that had to dump fuel all over Los Angeles. Fuel dumping, engine failures, lithium-battery fires...are we sure it's even safe to fly to Shanghai these days?
Okay, that's probably an exaggeration. Planes are generally safe. But still, all these incidents make you wonder, right? Are airlines cutting corners to save money? Are they pushing their planes and crews too hard?
I mean, Delta's crews made "prompt decisions" to divert or return the aircraft, which is good. But what about preventing these emergencies in the first place? What about investing in better maintenance and training? Or are they just gonna keep patching things up and hoping for the best?
I don't know about you, but I'm starting to feel like I'm taking my life in my hands every time I step on a plane.
