Posted on 04/18/2012 11:35:33 PM PDT by neverdem
With no fanfare and little media notice, an extremely famous American will turn 60 years old this Sunday.
It was on Tax Day in 1952 that the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, hulking symbol of the Cold War, accident-prone target of the unkind acronym "B.U.F.F.," the bomber several generations believed would usher in the death of humanity, made its first flight.
Some interesting points about the B-52:
• It was considered old-fashioned even before its operational life began. In the late 1940s the Air Force almost shut down the plane’s development out of concerns that it would be obsolete by the time it entered service.
• It comes honestly by its status as a cultural icon. That first flight was made by storied test pilot Alvin M. "Tex" Johnston, who is widely believed to have been the model for Major T.J. "King" Kong, the colorful B-52 pilot played by Slim Pickens in the Stanley Kubrick movie Dr. Strangelove. Over the years the B-52 has lent its name to a cocktail, several motion pictures, countless nightclubs around the world, and a great dance band whose flamboyantly gay stylings now seem as quaint and dated as the bomber itself.
• Though it has a reputation as a nuclear-age terror weapon, it has never delivered nuclear ordnance. To this day, the only plane that has dropped atomic bombs in anger is the B-52’s propeller-driven predecessor B-29 Superfortress.
• Despite all the above, the B-52 is expected to remain in service until 2045. It performed shooting-war service this century over Afghanistan and Iraq. It will almost certainly outlast flashier successors like the Rockwell B-1 and the Northrop Grumman B-2. Given the vagaries of budget and the challenges of fully retiring any legacy system, it’s not impossible that the unloved B.U.F.F. could end up spending a full...
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Barf.
I drive ~ 1hr each way for work.
If I'm driving, I'm free to think about whatever ... which may or may not be work related.
Last thing I want is an automated car that becomes an extension of my office.
Besides that ... driving is fun.
Until the other side hacks the drones.
There is no computer system that is uncrackable. We have had some rather interesting things happen with US drones that suggest interference from the other side.
Is this like the idea that fighters didn’t need a gun because missiles were the wave of the future.
“I drive ~ 1hr each way for work.”
Glad I don’t have your gas bill.
“If I’m driving, I’m free to think about whatever ... which may or may not be work related.”
Do us all a favor and let us know when you’re on the road. I don’t know about most folks but I try to avoid drivers interested in situational awareness.
Freedom is a wonderful thing.
I try to avoid drivers interested in situational awareness.
That's a very strange thing for you to do ... but again, freedom is a wonderful thing.
Since I'm very aware of my situation, whether driving or doing anything else ... I'm sure you'll want to stay very far away from me.
And that's OK.
You may have to join a race track club and buy a special vehicle.
But average speed limits will increase dramatically.
The risk of a crash will fall close to zero.
Looky-Loo congestion will fall close to zero.
The space between cars on an expressway will be reduced by at least 50%, probably more, which means a three lane road becomes a virtual six lane road.
The cost of car insurance will drop dramatically.
I'll bet we'll have robotic commercial trucks on the Interstate Highway system by 2025.
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“Freedom is a wonderful thing.”
If you’ve got the money to burn for a two hour commute more power to you. Again I’m glad I don’t have to shell out mucho dollars just to get to work and can spend more time with my family instead of being on the road.
“I try to avoid drivers interested in situational awareness.”
Oops. Typo. Meant UNinterested in situational awareness.”
“Since I’m very aware of my situation”
Says you. What difference is there between your day dreaming and the lady yakking on the phone while putting on lipstick gunning down the highway over 70? You feel safe around that sort of inconsiderate hussy?
That's nice. Good for you. I hope you have a wonderful life.
What difference is there between your day dreaming
How's about you quit your failed attempts to read my mind, quit falsely accusing me, and get your head out of your ass?
“That’s nice. Good for you. I hope you have a wonderful life.”
I do actually. More money in my pocket and more time with my family is a big part of that. Enjoy your commuting & the accompanying $4.10 a gallon gas bill.
“How’s about you quit your failed attempts to read my mind, quit falsely accusing me, and get your head out of your ass?”
Bit touchy aren’t we? You were the one who gladly advertised how much you enjoy daydreaming while driving. Do us all a favor & keep your eyes and head focused on the road.
GFY.
per Jim’s house rules:
“Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.”
Just go away.
I bet we see robotic freight trains long before we see robotic commercial trucks.
LOL, you’re the one mouthing off like a 12 year. Let me guess - cranky from a long day’s drive?
I'm sure you perfectly enjoy it in your perfect little way.
Me?
I have better things to do with my life than waste it on perfect little people.
'Bye.
Two guys, a bunch of computers, a watchtower, and hundreds of freight cars, coupling, uncoupling, and moving around by themselves.
I did some work with Amazon Fresh a few months back.
They just bought a company, Kiva maybe?
Their little robots pick food orders right off warehouse shelves and deliver them to the correct trucks.
Some people can walk and chew gum at the same time. They generally can also drive and think about life at the same time.
Others find multi-tasking like that too difficult. They long for the day of drone chairs, carrying them down the sidewalk while they concentrate on chewing gum...
BTW - nearly 40 years of driving, thinking about other things, and my only accident was when I was at a stoplight, and a van behind me decided red lights were optional.
Yes, and we have a partly remote controlled, partly robotic rail system outside the yards. But there are still engineers and conductors on board.
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