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I did an earlier post about the Hindenberg that is relevant to this discussion. Basically, airships themselves were doomed simply by their nature, and on top of all that would be incredibly expensive to be in if you really wanted to book a flight on one like you would on a passenger cruise line.

It is fore this reason, and because fixed-wing heavier than air vehicles (normal commercial aviation that we now have) generally get you to where you want to go cheaply and quickly...usually anywhere in the world in less than 48 hours, sometimes less.

The only real benefit of the lighter-than-air airships is the grand view you can have of the world as you fly over it. Now that is truly something that can be marketed by itself, but other areas that the Hindenberg would have excelled in (rapid transit between Europe and America, delivery of bulk goods in less than a week across continents, etc.) are now done through other transportation systems. This cuts out most of the potential markets that could have supported and sustained the airship industry.

If you want to buy one right now, there are companies that will sell one to you. Also, back in 2000 there was regular passenger airship service offered in the Las Vegas area. (If you want to see the web pages, you need to go to www.archive.org to see them.) Unfortunately the service was discontinued and is no longer available. In this case it looks like the internet bubble took this enterprise down with it.

This reinforces my thesis, that with today's economic climate it just isn't practical. The technology is available and plenty of money has been poured down on trying to get it to work since the 1920's.

Cheap Champagne. Check.
Cheap diamonds. Check.
Cheap wedding. Check.
Now all I need is a cheap bride.

I think this happened to the Vegas.com sports betting lines page. Only thing is that that page has been like that for several days. *shrug*

Later,
Patrick

It is completely feasible to use a linear motor on conventional wheeled "people movers."

Although this application is rare since linear motors typical consume more energy than rotary motors.

Having lived with my father who was in the nuclear business for well over 40 years, I got do do lots of projects on how to dispose of and handle waste. He gave me the most convincing evidence that I have ever heard to say that Yucca mountain is in fact quite safe.

Back in the early days of atomic bomb testing, after above ground explosions were ruled illegal, they had to find some areas of ground to bury them in. And, surprise, guess where over 500 tests were done? That's right, Yucca Mountain range. If the mountains are good enough to contain all those active blasts, they are certainly good enough to hold a few barrels. Look here to see a history of some of the tests there

The point has also been made already, but it's worth saying again. There is no perfect solution - but there has to be A solution, else the temporary sites used at power plants now will just continue to leak.

Nuclear power is, by far, the cleanest realistic way to make power, and so we need to find a way to make it work. Some will argue wind, water, etc. are better. But to those, I suggest you take an economic theory class and a power system distribution class as I have before you profess those ideas too much. They work great in some locations, for some needs, but on the whole, they just can't cut it.

We need one of these traveling to and from every major metropolitan area and Vegas!"

The group is Cirque du Soleil. More photos can be found here and here.