Category Archives: Technology and Society

Economics, Philosophy, Technology and Society

Cornucopians In Space

May 10, 2012 Rand Simberg 10 Comments

Some thoughts on Planetary Resources and Peter Diamandis’ abundance thesis over at Zero Hedge. I need to give it some thought, but I think there is a definitional issue here of what constitutes a “resource.” It’s somewhat related to the question of whether gravity existed before Newton invented it, though a little less philosophical. I’m on a couple deadlines right now, but have at it in comments.

Humor, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Technology and Society

#AskMichelle

May 8, 2012 Rand Simberg 4 Comments

What could go wrong?

I wonder if the Obama administration is starting to wish that this Twitter thing had never been invented.

Popular Culture, Technology and Society

The Dirigible

May 7, 2012 Rand Simberg 22 Comments

Is the dream dead?

As noted in comments, they still have specialized applications, which may expand with evolving technology, though helium prices are an issue.

This freaked me out, though:

A dock at the top of the Empire State Building, it was thought, would allow airships like the Graf Zeppelin to fly passengers directly to Midtown Manhattan — where the vessels would “swing in the breeze” while those passengers walked an attached gangplank down to the street below.

“Walk” over a quarter of a mile on a “gangplank” that extended to the street? Not for me. No. Way. In. Hell.

That couldn’t be serious. Ignoring the wind issues at that altitude (that can’t be ignored), maybe mating it to the 86th-floor observation deck with something like a long jetway (I know I wouldn’t want to be looking down), so they could take the elevators, but the notion of walking all the way to the street from that height would be insane, even for the non-acrophobes.

[Update a while later]

Here’s a fascinating account of the history (and yes, they were supposed to embark/debark from the 103rd floor). It was so crazy it never happened.