The power of negative thinking

We should all spend more time considering the prospect of failure and what we might do about it

We should all spend more time thinking about the prospect of failure and what we might do about it, as it is a useful mental habit albeit neither easy nor enjoyable, says the writer. PHOTO: REUTERS

(FINANCIAL TIMES) - For a road sign to be a road sign, it needs to be placed in proximity to traffic. Inevitably, it is only a matter of time before someone drives into the pole. If the pole is sturdy, the results may be fatal.

The 99% Invisible City, a delightful new book about the under-appreciated wonders of good design, explains a solution. The poles that support street furniture are often mounted on a "slip base", which joins an upper pole to a mostly buried lower pole using easily breakable bolts.

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