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There are some insane developments in the works in Dubai.

According to World Architecture News, a concept will soon be revealed for the Ziggurat, a carbon-neutral super structure that could house over 1 million residents all connected with a public transit system that runs both horizontally and vertically. New energy management technologies enable the entire pyramid to be self-sustaining and completely off the grid.

While a structure like this is clearly decades away, many of the technologies and concepts have been patented and are in development. Is this a glimpse into the (not too distant) future?

I’ve discovered that one of the best ways to generate a creative spark is to find a creative a cool environment to work.

I’ve been working intermittently out of the lobby of the W Hotel in San Francisco for the last couple of days. As fans of the W chain will know, they use interior design, materials, audio/visual (and even scent) to craft a provocative experience for their guests. The W known for being hip and attracting the same with their clientele (myself excluded!)

The lobby at the San Francisco W is a little loud and there is constant action and people milling about—basically there’s a lot of distractions. Nonetheless, I’ve been able to get a large amount of work done, both in quantity and quality. I’m finding that the environment is inspiring and clearly conducive to getting work done.

When you get busy and under pressure there’s a normal inclination to hole up in your office, seek quiet, and hole up with the familiar. The last couple of days have shown me that contrary just may be just as true. Working somewhere new and cool may be just what you need to get you out of your creative funk.

Unfortunately I’ll have to wait until August of 2009 for the W Hotel Boston to open…

I think we’ve all come to automatically dismiss claims made on infomercials. No those pancake puffs probably don’t taste as good as look, or will the Navy Seal pushup gadget get you ripped. However, I can attest that one infomercialized product—the Bose Noise Cancelling headphones indeed lives up to their claims.

I bought a pair of the QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones to help me through a number of cross-country trips I have planned. I’ve never been able to get comfortable on an airplane, and can never seem to relax. The constant engine and passenger noise gets to me after awhile and tends to accentuate my fidgetiness. I couple of frequent travelers I know swear by the noise cancelling headphones, so I decided to give it a try.

The Bose headphones are not cheap. The latest generate go for well over $300.00. While there are cheaper knock-offs available, I was warned that Bose sells the only “real deal” when it comes to noise cancelling technology. The headphones come with a nifty case and a handful of jacks and cords. The QuietComfort 3 comes with a rechargeable battery (previous models required battery replacement) which, according to the sales guy, lasts up to eight hours. My headphones made it through a six-hour flight without problem.

So in practice…they really work. They cancelled out the majority of underlying airplane engine noise. While they don’t filter out all sounds, even the loud noises are subdued and muffled. Sound quality from my iPod was great, although I did think it could be better; noise cancellation is the real value of this product – not the audio quality. I’ve also used them on the MBTA and noticed that even filter out a good portion of the subway noise. Too bad Bose doesn’t make a smell canceller.

Another more subtle element of these headphones is that they send out a strong signal that you do not want to be disturbed. This is nice if you’re not a fan of airline chit-chat. While they didn’t completely filter out the grad student behind me from describing his thesis in painful detail, I can safely say that the headphones muted him enough so that it didn’t bug me.

I highly recommend picking up a pair if you’re a frequent traveler who, like me, has difficulty relaxing on long flights. The price is on the high side but if you think about in terms of increased airline productivity, it could be a good investment. Believe the infomercial hype. Now about the Kinoki Detox foot pads…