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Even if it's not the same as the hyperloop I still find it very interesting to see that similar ideas have already appeared in the 1950's and obviously not been

by Joe-Z 13y ago

Even if it's not the same as the hyperloop I still find it very interesting to see that similar ideas have already appeared in the 1950's and obviously not been executed. I saw this talk a while back by Peter Thiel ("You're not a lottery ticket")* where he specifically mentions the decline of big infrastructure projects, beginning around the 50's-60's. (I don't know how true this claim is though, since I haven't really studied the development of infrastructure in the USA in the 2nd half of the 20th century). I often wonder if Elon Musk could be more than just a guy making money off of awesome ideas but also a catalyzer for bigger societal changes as far as optimism in big infrastructure and future investments is concerned. *http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/29931127?utm_campaign=t.co&utm_source=29931127&utm_medium=social http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/29931127?utm_campaign=t.co&ut...

adrianN 13y ago
If you like the engineering ideas of yore you should get your hands on a copy of "Engineer's Dreams" by Ley. It's full of delightful megaprojects, some of which, like the channel tunnel, have actually become reality by now.
Tloewald 13y ago
We probably had to pick between big infrastructure projects that benefited ordinary people (e.g. bridge maintenance, universal health care) and big infrastructure projects for the military industrial complex (e.g. a bewildering variety of fortified / mobile / densely packed / widely spaced ICBM launchers, enormous early warning systems, fleets of bombers capable of flying high or low, fast or slow around the world and back with multiple thermonuclear weapons, enough aircraft carriers to control the world's oceans and rotate for maintenance and shore leave, an even larger number of nuclear submarines to launch ICBMs, hunt rival submarines, perform covert intelligence-gathering missions in "enemy" waters, and protect the aforementioned aircraft carriers, SDI, etc.). You can only spend more money on the military than the rest of the world combined and undertake so many other projects.

by Joe-Z 13y ago

adrianN 13y ago

If you like the engineering ideas of yore you should get your hands on a copy of "Engineer's Dreams" by Ley. It's full of delightful megaprojects, some of which, like the channel tunnel, have actually become reality by now.

Tloewald 13y ago

We probably had to pick between big infrastructure projects that benefited ordinary people (e.g. bridge maintenance, universal health care) and big infrastructure projects for the military industrial complex (e.g. a bewildering variety of fortified / mobile / densely packed / widely spaced ICBM launchers, enormous early warning systems, fleets of bombers capable of flying high or low, fast or slow around the world and back with multiple thermonuclear weapons, enough aircraft carriers to control the world's oceans and rotate for maintenance and shore leave, an even larger number of nuclear submarines to launch ICBMs, hunt rival submarines, perform covert intelligence-gathering missions in "enemy" waters, and protect the aforementioned aircraft carriers, SDI, etc.). You can only spend more money on the military than the rest of the world combined and undertake so many other projects.