Monthly Archives: August 2017
The Pipe Dream: A Roundaloop?
21st-century ground transportation:
Envisioned by Elon Musk.
Traveling from Point A to Point B seems (and can literally be) pedestrian. In the modern world, there seem to be far too many detours, connecting flights, complications and mind-numbing traffic patterns to conceptualize a simplistic, easy-going path from Point A to Point B.
Then a big idea happened. And then that big idea was built and tested.
And what happens next?
Innovator Elon Musk founded The Boring Company, which is the firm that is building the Hyperloop (featured in the video above). While people won’t be lining up just yet to experience this futuristic form of transportation, the fact that a proof of concept has been achieved is a giant first step towards the reimagined American railroad. To be more precise, the reimagined American train and railroad system.
The Boring Company has essentially taken the archaic railroad system from 19th and 20th centuries and created a significantly faster 21st-century upgrade. Is it the right upgrade? Is the Hyperloop the next great innovative masterpiece in transportation we’ve been waiting for? Would you ride in the Hyperloop?
Fortunately, there’s a model (actually, a few models) to follow for judging the future progress and success of Hyperloop’s introduction to the American traveler, current and new:
Tesla.
Now, who is the co-founder and CEO of that innovative car company…?
Friends Forever
For those wondering, the title refers to the show, not the song. However, both are equally awesome.
(Bonus points if you can name the show that featured the aforementioned song)
When lightning in a bottle happens, specifically regarding sitcoms, there’s an eternal fascination with everything involving the show. True story (name the character and/or sitcom!). The shelf life is forever. The stories, characters and the tone often define entire decades, generations and/or certain parts of the country from a treasured moment in time for millions of viewers. And as soon as the sitcom series finale airs, there’s a strange juxtaposition of sadness and uplifting nostalgia from fans.
I know because I’m one of these fans.
There’s a personal investment to learn everything from these shows that was an treasured part of growing up. These facts include interesting tidbits from in front of the camera, as well as from behind the camera.
Just when you thought there was nothing new to learn about Friends…
With this brand new behind-the-scenes story in August of 2017 (series finale was in 2004), it’s safe to presume that a Friends super fan now knows everything about this show in a genuinely comprehensive sense. You could even say a Friends super fan knows Friends like the back of their hand.
Wait, their hand or that Las Vegas blackjack dealer’s hand?
(Double bonus points if you can name the actor who played that Las Vegas blackjack dealer!)
Seeing a Fantasy = Believing Reality?
Winnie-the-Pooh’s origin story began with a war?
Reality and fantasy are opposite points of view, each clamoring for our allegiance in a myriad of situations throughout our lives. Which branch on this tree should we reach for? There are rational reasonings for leaning towards both reality and fantasy, given certain circumstances and moments.
But what if the two were interlinked?
For the British author A.A. Milne (who died on January 31, 1956), he discovered a moment in his life when he didn’t have to choose between reality and fantasy.
The second trailer for Goodbye Christopher Robin was recently released.
Goodbye Christopher Robin arrives in theaters on October 13, 2017.
It’s still surreal that A.A. Milne made the jump from the lasting effects of war to talking stuffed animals.
Surreal, yet very real.
Or, in other words: Fantastical, yet firmly rooted in reality.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 