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Walt King's avatar

It's an absolute nightmare.

Shenzhen has a population approaching 14 million and a very high proportion owns an electric scooter. Think about that. Millions of silent chunks of metal infesting the pavements riding in both directions at remarkable speeds ignoring all traffic rules, swarming across green-lit pedestrian crossings while watching their phones so that walking anywhere in town is a constant battle to avoid glancing blows. I have been bruised several times and friends have suffered injuries needing hospital treatment. The idea that in a few years they will have taken to the air around us as well makes me glad I shall not be around much longer!

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

When watching The Jetsons cartoons in the 1960s, I always marveled that there were no accidents portrayed since they were very commonplace where I lived in California. So, your observation is shared, although I recall when gyrocopters appeared similar worries were expressed--the cost factor seems to have served as the inhibiting factor.

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Lubica's avatar

Reading your post, I have recalled The Jetsons — well, at least, it was about ‘improved’ human condition and not the iPhone screen resolution that a human eye cannot even see 😘

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

I only use my cell phone for emergencies. and still have a landline at home I let my wife navigate smart phones and such since she's had lots of practice.

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Lubica's avatar

Likewise! 😘

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Kiki's avatar

I can't wait to see the races who could not master ground transportation take to the air. lmao

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uncle tungsten's avatar

I want a marine version to cruise my waterways and fish occasionally. That rig with pontoons would do. I am sure to get into strife at my age ;))

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

I've given thought to using drones to fish or monitor crab pots, but they would need to be similar in size. And the upkeep costs in a marine environment would be steeper than keeping the boat I recently sold. As I wrote, a curiosity to take our minds off geopolitics for a few moments.

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Acco Hengst's avatar

Propellers, still no Jetsons. Formula 1 and Gran Prix motorcycles (TT Assen) indeed.

High Speed rail in the US will not happen in my lifetime because of right of way issues. I worked for Amtrak for two years (1999-2001) and it is a black female DC dominated company that is unlikely to change.

BioPharm might still be an area where the US still leads technically but it does not visualize well.

DEI has been hurting the US for decades. I will never forget a college recruiting trip to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in the late eighties. The brightest of their Electrical Engineering grads told me that corporate America was not interested in white males. Xerox HR told me that they were looking for Latino male engineers.

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

I remember from the 1980s when tax credits were "earned" when hiring from certain minority groups--TJTC: Targeted Jobs Tax Credit was the program. It probably still exists or was modified.

Jetsons used anti-gravity in ways that were never explained, just portrayed.

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Denis's avatar

If it hits you, all it takes is one spinning blade to fly off and kiss yourself goodbye. lol

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

Yeah, I like gyrocopters and ultralights better. IMO, the display is incomplete as it needs landing gear and other essentials.

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susan mullen's avatar

The Chinese must've seen the Jetsons cartoon show on tv in 1960s and later in syndication. George Jetson would get from place to place in his airborne car.

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jo6pac's avatar

I need one off these. I think we're about the same age and as a youth I spent time at Laguna Seca. We need to follow this to see if become real, hell I might even buy s lotto ticket;-)

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

My favs were the Can-Am cars, the Porsche 911-10 with its 1000HP flat 12 was awesome. IMO, if it was geared properly, it would've been the fastest car ever on the salt flats. Sitting at the top of the corkscrew was our favorite vantage point. Yeah, we're likely similar vintage. During the 1970s, I lived in Los Gatos.

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jo6pac's avatar

Yes, Can-Am, F-5000, and F-A that only ran one year. We set at old turn three and the corkscrew. I have been since the first Renn Sport event.

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

Wow! Far more dedicated race fan than I. We made the trek a few years to Long Beach for the GP, but then life took over.

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