The advances you talk about are possible, perhaps, but in the time frame you mention (50 years) only likely in the most highly developed part of the world.
The most important environmental challenges are those in the developing world, where a lack of technological innovation results in slash and burn farming and the use of fuels that cause excessive damage to the environment.
While the technology you're talking about will certainly be helpful, spreading existing technology to less-developed parts of the world will have a much more powerful effect immediately than waiting and wishful thinking.
The White Knight will no doubt be significantly cheaper than a B52.
Just take a look at the two:
B52 - 8 big jet engines, combat crew of 5 (probably smaller for most NASA missions), 159 feet long.
White Knight - Not entirely familiar with the specs on this plane, but it looks like it has two engines, a crew of one or two, and is probably about 45 feet long or so (just guessing from photos and comparing it to length of X 37).
The White Knight is likely much cheaper to operate than a B-52, so that would probably explain it.
I did make those numbers up, but as someone who has spent a fair amount of time in Latin America, I can say that your inflation figures aren't entirely out of the realm of possibility;-)
Rocket hitting your barn full of cows, sheep, and Soviet Bloc farm equipment - 677912345234621 Rubles (roughly $20 US).
Reselling the rocket to random scrap metal dealers - priceless, or at least 76790823485724429234 rubles (roughly $45 US).
A lot of seniors vote using absentee ballots (from nursing homes, particularly) months before the elections, and it is not uncommon for many of them to die before all ballots are counted.
Some of us are on ISPs (Ok, more like a college network) that don't allow torrents, and some of us are mac users who can't/would rather not mess with viewing wmv files.
Any way to get a full-length video that's mac friendly?
Gah! Can't they change the controller? Just a little bit?
I loved the good old NES controllers, found the SNES controllers to be a bit much but still easily manageable, the Nintendo 64 controllers to be far too big/"buttony", couldn't stand the playstation controllers, and haven't purchased a new gaming console system since.
The first time I tried to play the XBox, I was immediately turned off by the controller - far too complex, hard to memorize for a first timer, and huge. Even after a few hours I just couldn't get it right.
Don't get me wrong, I love PC gaming and using the whole keyboard. That's fine, I already know the keyboard, and it's set up quite easily so I can get to the keys I need. But the control pads on console game systems have just gone overboard, in my opinion - too many buttons, too big, too hard to just pick it up and start playing.
Gone are the days of AB, select, start, and directional pad... Sure games are more complex, and there needs to be more control, but there's got to be a better way to implement that.
I don't know, maybe I've just got two left thumbs and I should get more practice...
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The advances you talk about are possible, perhaps, but in the time frame you mention (50 years) only likely in the most highly developed part of the world.
The most important environmental challenges are those in the developing world, where a lack of technological innovation results in slash and burn farming and the use of fuels that cause excessive damage to the environment.
While the technology you're talking about will certainly be helpful, spreading existing technology to less-developed parts of the world will have a much more powerful effect immediately than waiting and wishful thinking.
What, do 3rd graders bring laptops with them to the playground, hide behind trees, and sell copies of word cruncher for lunch money now?
Wow, times sure have changed...
So is the B-52... only the things it carries are more likely to go "boom" than "voom" ;-)
The White Knight will no doubt be significantly cheaper than a B52.
Just take a look at the two:
B52 - 8 big jet engines, combat crew of 5 (probably smaller for most NASA missions), 159 feet long.
White Knight - Not entirely familiar with the specs on this plane, but it looks like it has two engines, a crew of one or two, and is probably about 45 feet long or so (just guessing from photos and comparing it to length of X 37).
The White Knight is likely much cheaper to operate than a B-52, so that would probably explain it.
I'm one of the first to have posted saying this, and I'm marked as "Redundant"?
That word, I do not think it means what you think it means.
I did make those numbers up, but as someone who has spent a fair amount of time in Latin America, I can say that your inflation figures aren't entirely out of the realm of possibility ;-)
Rocket hitting your barn full of cows, sheep, and Soviet Bloc farm equipment - 677912345234621 Rubles (roughly $20 US). Reselling the rocket to random scrap metal dealers - priceless, or at least 76790823485724429234 rubles (roughly $45 US).
Wow... they can handle an assault from huge rockets upon their land, but they have no chance against a vicious /.ing...
I don't know, let me go ask somebody...
A lot of seniors vote using absentee ballots (from nursing homes, particularly) months before the elections, and it is not uncommon for many of them to die before all ballots are counted.
No video, just the song? What gives? Maybe mplayer isn't working right...
Thanks for the link! Sorry 'bout that, kind of new to this whole mac thing...
Some of us are on ISPs (Ok, more like a college network) that don't allow torrents, and some of us are mac users who can't/would rather not mess with viewing wmv files.
Any way to get a full-length video that's mac friendly?
Gah! Can't they change the controller? Just a little bit?
I loved the good old NES controllers, found the SNES controllers to be a bit much but still easily manageable, the Nintendo 64 controllers to be far too big/"buttony", couldn't stand the playstation controllers, and haven't purchased a new gaming console system since.
The first time I tried to play the XBox, I was immediately turned off by the controller - far too complex, hard to memorize for a first timer, and huge. Even after a few hours I just couldn't get it right.
Don't get me wrong, I love PC gaming and using the whole keyboard. That's fine, I already know the keyboard, and it's set up quite easily so I can get to the keys I need. But the control pads on console game systems have just gone overboard, in my opinion - too many buttons, too big, too hard to just pick it up and start playing.
Gone are the days of AB, select, start, and directional pad... Sure games are more complex, and there needs to be more control, but there's got to be a better way to implement that.
I don't know, maybe I've just got two left thumbs and I should get more practice...