And the huge liability of screwing up. If it can be automated without the risk of killing someone, an accident might be more palatable since these job sites are already hugely restricted.

Just a note, during log trips the engine is in steady state operation. Hybrid systems don’t help in this situation, they’re just excess weight. However, if the system allowed for increased takeoff power, a smaller gas engine could be used the same as your typical hybrid car and using that smaller engine would be where…

Came here for this, was not disappointed.

The original hyperloop proposal used 0.5g as a maximum (relative) acceleration. That would be 0.5 forward/back/left/right and 1.5 down/0.5 up. 1.2g doesn’t sound like much but you’d be surprised how sensitive you are to acceleration changes since what I listed is more than typical airliner acceleration.

Interesting to see Wichita KS listed as a candidate. Geographically, it’s almost in the exact center of the country although there honestly isn’t much there besides the aircraft industry. Who knows, might be a good spot for maintenance since most of the tech used in the hyperloop capsules will be similar to aircraft…

You’re not supposed to tell the cops you have drugs but will never find them.

Probably my all time favorite Archer episode.

I think we’re already at the point you describe. Everything is effectively metric but not enough people use it in their day-to-day lives that it still seems unfamiliar. I'm just waiting for the act of congress to require dual labeling.

Automotive is already largely metric the only thing that isn’t is legacy design. As for things that are traditionally English standard sizes like material stock, “soft metric” sizes are used. e.g. 12.7 mm for 1/2”, 6.35 mm for 1/4” as well as various gauge sizes that don’t match up to inch fractions. Raw materials are…

After having played Kerbal Space Program and getting a good understanding of what it takes to deploy large heavy things in space, conventional weapons seem much more practical for everything short of a bunker penetrator.

This is like the combat equivalent of posting a video of yourself riding a wheelie then getting a ticket in the mail for reckless driving.

That's what I was wondering. That kind of thing happens with surprising regularity in the auto industry.

Rocket motors contain both fuel and oxidizer. Once they’re lit, they are self-sustaining and will continue until fuel or oxidizer is exhausted.

No, that’s 50 shades of Automatic Transmission Equipped Corvette.

While I’ve never heard of fan blade icing, fuel system icing is a very real problem that several aircraft have experienced. Water in the fuel tank can clog pumps and filters pretty easily starving the engine of fuel only to have it all melt when a lower altitude is achieved. They used to include anti-icing inhibitor…

Is it about boring missionary sex with your socks on?

Everyone should read Voltaire. One of the few things I read in high school that I didn't completely abhor.

The common sense advice is to use common sense.

Would that be the missile in the Volvo? Because that’s pretty epic.

The key to hitting word or page minimums is to go on long, unnecessary tangents and somehow tie them back into the the conversation. Like how Mark Twain appears in episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and in his travels meets up with both Jean-Luc Picard and Data who would also agree that colorful language is…