Diary (May 17, 2020): Difference between revisions
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We incorrectly assumed that our righteous need for jet backpacks would cause the relevant laws of physics to suspend themselves in recognition of our Destiny in the Sky. | We incorrectly assumed that our righteous need for jet backpacks would cause the relevant laws of physics to suspend themselves in recognition of our Destiny in the Sky. | ||
The actual situation is that we have helicopters, which already do everything we want a flying car to do except drive on a road | The actual situation is that we have helicopters, which already do everything we want a flying car to do except drive on a road. (Driving a helicopter on the road is just an engineering problem.) | ||
Helicopters are loud, dangerous, and very expensive. Practical helicopter technology began around 1900, and since then enormous effort has been exerted in an effort to make helicopters less loud, less danger, and less expensive. Chances are they are as quiet, safe, and cheap as they are going to get. | |||
What about parking? You've seen helipads? You see the space requirements for landing and takeoff. Where will we store the helicopters we can't afford? | |||
Even if we could afford helicopters... would you really want to be *up the sky* in your flying car *with all those other people in their flying cars*? | Even if we could afford helicopters... would you really want to be *up the sky* in your flying car *with all those other people in their flying cars*? | ||
This is all idle chatter. We can't afford it and short of a world-changing source of cheap energy we're not ever going to afford it, so let's forget about flying cars and instead go hang gliding or hot air ballooning so weekend, get it out of our systems. | This is all idle chatter. We can't afford it and short of a world-changing source of cheap energy we're not ever going to afford it, so let's forget about flying cars and instead go hang gliding or hot air ballooning so weekend, get it out of our systems. | ||
(No, I can't lie to you: I will continue to dream about flying.) | |||
"Why There Will Never Be Flying Cars" by Neil degrasse Tyson: | "Why There Will Never Be Flying Cars" by Neil degrasse Tyson: | ||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdAQefnZsLk Joe Rogan - Neil deGrasse Tyson | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdAQefnZsLk Joe Rogan Experience #1159 - Neil deGrasse Tyson] @ YouTube | ||
* [ | |||
* [ Post] @ Facebook | |||
== In the News == | == In the News == | ||
Revision as of 17:33, 17 May 2020
Online diary of Karl Jones for Sunday May 17, 2020.
Previous: Diary (May 16, 2020) - Next: Diary (May 18, 2020)
Diary
Song of the Day for Howard Kranz
Thirteenth in a series of songs for Howard and me to cover, or be inspired by, or something.
(song title)
"..." by ...
...
- [ ] @ YouTube
- [ ]
- [ Post] @ Facebook
Flying cars
I too was incensed for decades about the lack of flying cars (and jet backpacks).
But I now understand the hidden assumptions which keep us grounded.
We incorrectly assumed that our righteous need for jet backpacks would cause the relevant laws of physics to suspend themselves in recognition of our Destiny in the Sky.
The actual situation is that we have helicopters, which already do everything we want a flying car to do except drive on a road. (Driving a helicopter on the road is just an engineering problem.)
Helicopters are loud, dangerous, and very expensive. Practical helicopter technology began around 1900, and since then enormous effort has been exerted in an effort to make helicopters less loud, less danger, and less expensive. Chances are they are as quiet, safe, and cheap as they are going to get.
What about parking? You've seen helipads? You see the space requirements for landing and takeoff. Where will we store the helicopters we can't afford?
Even if we could afford helicopters... would you really want to be *up the sky* in your flying car *with all those other people in their flying cars*?
This is all idle chatter. We can't afford it and short of a world-changing source of cheap energy we're not ever going to afford it, so let's forget about flying cars and instead go hang gliding or hot air ballooning so weekend, get it out of our systems.
(No, I can't lie to you: I will continue to dream about flying.)
"Why There Will Never Be Flying Cars" by Neil degrasse Tyson:
- [ Post] @ Facebook